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Post by claire on Aug 13, 2006 19:06:47 GMT
Monday night at 8pm we begin with Catherines French Affaire. If you can't make feel free to leave your thoughts on the book here.
hope to see you monday
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Post by Karen on Aug 13, 2006 19:09:51 GMT
Unfortunately I haven't been able to read this book so wont be able to join in the discussion. Sorry.
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Post by claire on Aug 13, 2006 19:29:42 GMT
that's fine Karen,there might some chat going on too.
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Post by Oonagh on Aug 13, 2006 20:29:23 GMT
Im working till 9 but ill come on the minute I come in from work!
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Post by megan on Aug 13, 2006 20:45:20 GMT
I will be there to chat but will need to be reminded of the characters' names as it is so long since I've read it. (The only name I can remember is Evie and I think her daughter is Holly.)
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Post by Shirley on Aug 13, 2006 21:05:48 GMT
I haven't read it yet. This will be the first bookclub in ages I've missed! Might pop online just after it to say hello.
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 9:41:09 GMT
Looks like I might be late for the book club this evening. Some work has come up that I want to take. Just thought I'd let you know Claire in case you may be on your own there at 8pm!
But to start the ball rolling with my immediate thoughts:
I liked the pace of the novel - it really moved and I read it in a matter of days! I also enjoyed the french atmosphere - the description of the house and countryside. When Evie's ex-boyfriend (Alex I think!) turned up on the scene in France I was sure that they would end up back together, but then the whole story turned around and so did his character. He seemed to completely change in the second half of the story and turned into a right old crotchety moan! Part of me was glad because it meant that she didn't end up with him the way I predicted but part of me was miffed that he wasn't what he seemed to be at the start of the book. Did any one else feel that way?
I was frustrated with Evie's next boyfriend (can't remember his name) and his loyalty to Alex, thus not pursuing her but I did enjoy the scenes when they got it together!!!
I can't imagine the reason for Evie and Alex's split happening in real life (the wife sending the fake letters) but I swallowed it in this story and thought it worked!
That's all from me for now looking forward to seeing what the rest of you think of it!
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 19:39:24 GMT
Hi everyone
bit late myself, busy here at the mo.
Let me think....A French Affair, I really enjoyed it. I loved the pace, so much happened in the begining my heart was racing at times. There was a twist of 'Tracy Culleton' in there.Two best friends, one living in France and one in Dublin, with a lovely little girl, Holly. I loved the descriptions of the French countryside, felt like I was there at times.
Like Megan it's a while since I read it, bear with me
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 19:42:14 GMT
oh boy looks like i'm on my own here again. I know some will be late and not everyone has read it, but girls you should it was a great story.
posted too soon
Monique was the one living in Franch, had some french blood in her veins and had always felt very much at home there. She sold houses for a living mostly to tourists. She came from Bristol and traveled back and forth at lot to visit a boyfriend. He turns out to be bad news and now she can't get rid of him. Her friend Evie lives in Dublin with her daughter Holly, I think she is 4 years old. Evie an Monique became friends when Evie lived in Bristol. Holly's father is the ex boss of Evies, but he knows nothing of her, his name Alex. He has bought a house from Monique, not knowing of her tie to Evie. Evie is coming to stay with her friend for a week without Holly and when she gets there she hears about the house Alex had bought.
want to hear more
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 19:53:44 GMT
Hi Claire,
I am just home and in the middle of cooking dinner! Thanks for reminding me of all the names!
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 19:58:22 GMT
thank God your here, don't burn the dinner, now!
During the week holiday the ex boyfriend of monique makes an apperance. I'm trying to remember how it went exactly, can you remember Megan
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 20:00:48 GMT
I have another point to make on this book. I remember when I had finished it wondering if it was the location of France that motivated the author (Catherine) to write it. IT is such a strong theme in the book that it was at least as important as the story!
Also another thing - it's coming back to me now. Didn't Evie's 'new boyfriend' in France fall for her very quickly - because she was so distant and not really that interested? Isn't it always the way??!!
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 20:09:30 GMT
We live and dream of it happening to us too don't we? But if I remember right she still diddn't fall straight into his arms, she took it slow. I think Catherine holidays a lot in that part of Franch. On her site there is a link to a beautiful house there... www.lanquais.com |
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 20:13:32 GMT
I think Monique's ex boyfriend is waiting for her in the dark one evening, and beats her up. Then legs it and Alex is suspected of attacking her.
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 20:14:17 GMT
And there is a lot of house buying abroad going on. People moving to other countries to start new lives, rebuilding old ruins, that sort of thing. With the wonderful ''www'' it is possible to work anywhere now-a-days.
I was glad that evie didn't get back with Alex. But I think that it was the accident that had really changed him. I did like they way that they could at least get along and that Holly got to meet his other kids and got to know her father. I think the guy that was mad about Monique was some man to keep hanging around for so long
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 20:17:53 GMT
I think Monique's ex boyfriend is waiting for her in the dark one evening, and beats her up. Then legs it and Alex is suspected of attacking her. That's right and then he is trying to prove how innocent he is. The accident was horrible, a bit gory to read |
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 20:18:52 GMT
I really liked that guy who hung around and waiting for Monique - like a faithful puppy! That's the way to have em!
Was it the acccident that changed Alex? If so that makes sense, I didn't notice that when I read it.
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 20:24:00 GMT
He tried to make a go of things with his wife when evie 'left' but she still left him, so he is bitter but I think that the accident had something to do with his change
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 20:26:44 GMT
At the start of the book he sounded like a really attractive man, but by the end of it he was portrayed as middle aged and way too old for Evie. I found the turn around too extreme.
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 20:35:30 GMT
A man in a mid life crisis maybe?
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 20:41:12 GMT
Maybe Claire, but he seemed even OLDER than that to me by the end of it!!
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Post by claire on Aug 14, 2006 20:50:25 GMT
yeah I agree with you, he aged a lot by the end.
was there anything else you loved or hated about it.
I liked the way it flowed, plenty happening throughout............just lost my train of thought theresorry
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Post by megan on Aug 14, 2006 21:06:15 GMT
I liked the scene near the beginning of the book where Evie and Monique were out having a few drinks with the two good looking guys from the village. I liked imagining what they were drinking. I could really picture that scene.
Something I didn't like at the very start of the book which I don't like in many books. was the description of Evie and Holly. I can't remember it exactly. But I think Holly had dark eyes and curls - the women and girls are always so pretty!!! I want some plain heroines! And I also get bored when there is too much description of physical features - (mind you later I realised why there was so much detail on Holly's looks in this book - it was relevant later as she looked so like Alex). But in general I am sick of cascading curls, chocolate eyes, and the mens' muscles, lean bodies and tight jaws - yawn!!!
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Post by Oonagh on Aug 15, 2006 10:44:18 GMT
Hi Girls,
This is a must read for ye this year. i really enjoyed it! I loved Evie! She's living in Dublin but is contemplating moving to France. She has a little girl Holly. Evie is friends with Monique is living in France already. I dont want to say too much because I Dont want it to be spoiled for ye. I must go to France after this . It sounded gorgeous. The descriptions nearly had me running to France but i Dont think id make it on one leg!lol . Once you get into this book you wont be able to put it down. I wish you every success with it Catherine as you deserve it.
xx
This is what i wrote when i read it! It was a great page turner. I loved france. I really want to go there! There was great suspense in the book especially with Monique and the other male character! Sorry i couldnt get on last night we had relatives here so I logged on but had to go fairly quick again!
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Post by Oonagh on Aug 15, 2006 10:48:20 GMT
But in general I am sick of cascading curls, chocolate eyes, and the mens' muscles, lean bodies and tight jaws -
Megan a girl s gotta dream!!!!
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Post by megan on Aug 15, 2006 15:17:07 GMT
That's very true Oonagh!!! (I do love to dream!)
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Post by claire on Aug 15, 2006 15:38:18 GMT
I know what you mean megan, it's the same in them all. And I do love to dream too
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Post by Oonagh on Aug 15, 2006 17:14:36 GMT
lol!!!
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Post by megan on Aug 15, 2006 17:34:27 GMT
In the next book that I write I am going to do my best to make my heroine and hero ordinary looking!
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Post by claire on Aug 15, 2006 19:40:11 GMT
no Megan not ordinary but normal!
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