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Post by claire on Nov 30, 2007 8:48:16 GMT
Megan. leave your comments here on the book. I'll get back later with mine
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Post by megan on Nov 30, 2007 18:05:30 GMT
Thanks for this Claire. Well as I said on the 'What are you reading?' thread, I put a lot of effort into reading this book and felt the story didn't deserve it. I SO wanted Norah and David to have a showdown. Instead I felt the ending was a real let down. David was dead and when Norah and Her son (can't remember his name) meet Phoebe, it's all about them overcoming their prejudices against people with Down Syndrome. Yes, that is important but where was the drama?? I think this book must have sold so many copies because it might be one of the first written about this issue, not because it is a compelling story. (well , it was at first but didn't turn out that way.) I felt exhausted by the end of it and bored too! However, there is always something to be learned from reading a novel. The structure was interesting i.e the turning point when David meets Rosemary in his old home. But she should have come into the end of the story more. I would have liked her to explain to Norah all that David told her that night. But Rosemary got married and simply disappeared!
A literary novel with not much action and a little preachy at the end. (more drama might have avoided that) What did you think Claire?
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Post by Oonagh on Dec 1, 2007 15:26:43 GMT
Totally agree Megan. i read this on hols god it seems like a 100 years ago. It was great that they spoke about Down s Syndrome but to be honest it was heart breaking what David done? It just lacked everything. the descriptions were brillant but besides that i was totally disappointed with it.
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Post by claire on Dec 1, 2007 17:50:05 GMT
I'm still gathering my thoughts on this one
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Post by claire on Dec 5, 2007 13:20:53 GMT
I think a whole lot more could have been done with this story, she only barely skimmed the surface as to what it was like to have a child with any kind of handicap. I could not understand what David did, giving hie daughter away like that, and him being a doctor. How could her tell his wife that their child died?? I could understand her need for closure on the whole thing but I felt so sorry for her through out the book. Her depression and not being able to talk to her husband was so sad, no wonder the grew apart. I was glad she got to see her daughter in the end and found out the story of what happened. I felt annoyed, even 'robbed' when David died and we weren't there for it. It was just barely mentioned, that nearly made me throw the book out. It wasn't until his wife was going through the photo files that I could see that he truly regretted what he did and how much he missed his daughter. I admired the nurse for what she did but would have loving to have heard more about her and the girl, was her name Phoebe? The way the nurse fought for her rights was truly amazing, I really admired her. It was for me an odd book, not the usual style of writing I'm used to and I'm still not sure bout whether I'm disappointed or not.
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Post by susanmay on Dec 21, 2007 19:20:01 GMT
I'm still reading this book but I had to put it down now; for a few hours.
Call me crazy getting worked up over a book but I'm angry with David!!!! How dare he decide to give away Phoebe without his wife's knowledge.
I understand he wanted to shield her from what he and his family endured; when their offspring died - but that was not for him to decide alone.
I've tried to look at it from his point of view. It was 1964 and the times were a lot different then they are now. I do believe he loved his wife very much and in his own way thought he was releasing her from a life of hardship and grief.
I suppose there's a lesson to be learnt from this - let people speak for themselves and have their own minds!
The writing is fantastic - very descriptive. I'm sure the author is delighted her book got so many people talking! I'm sure that was her intention.
I'll read on further tonight and let you know what I think of the ending.
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Post by megan on Dec 21, 2007 22:48:36 GMT
Do, Susan. It is an interesting one.
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Post by Oonagh on Dec 22, 2007 21:35:38 GMT
I was very cross as well with me but you ended up feeling sympathy for him.
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Post by susanmay on Jan 3, 2008 20:34:34 GMT
I pretty much agree with all of your comments on this book. Megan, you say you felt exhausted at the end of this book - well I felt hollow! I've never read a book that's left me speechless like this one has. I had prepared myself for the lack of drama but this took the word monotone too the extreme. The second biggest shock for me as a reader was not being there for David's death. At this stage I was about to abandon the book altogether. Earlier in the novel I thought the author was very descriptive but as I read I found she wasn't given enough details in the area's I wanted to know more about. I'm still in two minds about book.
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Post by claire on Jan 4, 2008 8:41:06 GMT
I felt the same about Davids death and I agree about the descriptions
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