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Post by megan on May 14, 2007 17:10:06 GMT
Hi Gals,
Claire won't be able to be on line this evening for the book club so she asked me or Oonagh to take care of it. I can't set up a thread under the usual Book Club section of the site as my membership doesn't allow me to, so I thought I would set it temporarily up here and perhaps Claire can move it later, if it suits her to.
So log in time is 8 pm as usual. I know many of you have read and enjoyed this book so tonight is your chance to chat all about it!
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Post by Shirley on May 14, 2007 19:05:33 GMT
Enjoy the bookclub girls. Sorry I haven't read enough of it yet to join in. I'm just at the stage where Meg gets the job with the little old lady! I'll have to head now in case I read stuff relating to the ending!
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Post by Oonagh on May 14, 2007 19:08:42 GMT
hi girls, sorry i m a wee bit late i was just having my dinner!!
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Post by Shirley on May 14, 2007 19:12:02 GMT
I hope you won't be here on your own Oons! It seems to be just you and me, and I'm heading in a minute! You might as well get the chat started. What did you like best about the book?
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Post by Shirley on May 14, 2007 19:14:23 GMT
You're back Megan - it said a few seconds ago that only Oons and I were logged in!
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Post by Oonagh on May 14, 2007 19:14:43 GMT
I loved this book!!! I love sarah' s books full stop!! *I think its because she s a great story teller!!! she makes me engrossed in the books!!! the one critism is meg was too bloody moany!!! argh!!! Always bloody giving out!!! A great book for me is when they pull on people s emotion this definetly done this for me as I cried like a baby reading this book. Already looking forward to another book by Sarah
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Post by Oonagh on May 14, 2007 19:17:05 GMT
I dont have a best thing i dont think shirley!!! I must think!!
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Post by megan on May 14, 2007 19:24:21 GMT
I didn't think Meg was moany enough!! I thought she was really easy going and shrugged her shoulders at things that drive me mad!  |
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Post by Oonagh on May 14, 2007 19:30:44 GMT
no way!! I thought she was a right moany michael
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Post by sMurphy on May 14, 2007 20:01:06 GMT
That's funny guys - how people see different things in people/characters.
I really enjoyed this book; the dialogue was great, the characters were very authentic and although I thought it was a little slow moving at the start, it really caught pace and gripped me for its duration.
Actually for some reason, I associated Meg with you Megan - purely because you're the only Megan I know (I do love that name) and I know your hubby is very into sailing or is it windsurfing, ... I kept waiting for her to mention her writing!!
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Post by sMurphy on May 14, 2007 20:12:16 GMT
la, la, la... getting lonely in here guys! Anyone out there?
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Post by Karen on May 14, 2007 20:13:42 GMT
Girls, I am so sorry. I had totally forgotten that it was book club night tonight so my apologies to you all.
It's been a while since I read this book so I will need to search out my review and try and familiarize myself with the characters and storyline again. I'll post my thoughts once I've done so.
Once again, sorry for forgetting.
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Post by sMurphy on May 14, 2007 20:23:58 GMT
Oh great Karen, looking forward to it... You always do great reviews...
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Post by jofromoz on May 15, 2007 8:31:56 GMT
I must apologise for not being here last night for the book club, but when i work nights, the days are all upside down for me even more than usual!!
I LOVED this book. It was the easiest, most enjoyable read I have had in a long time! I could relate to the story of Meg so much, especially with the mother-in-law trouble!! Lol.
The ex husband was the image of a friend's ex here, and he drives me to distraction with his opinion he only has to snap his scrawny fingers and my friend would go running back to him. As if! There are so many men around like this, and they use the kids from the relationship to their benefit shamelessly. My friend is like Meg, too kind to use strong words to dispel his home grown beliefs of the effect his charms have!!
Loved Meg's sister too...bit ditsy, but she was a like a breath of fresh air to the story.
I really can't say there was anything I didn't like about the story, or couldn't believe or relate to, as it was as if Sarah had had an inside look at my life and the lives of my friends and rellies before writing this book....madness, happiness, confusion, delight, guilt, irritating exes, innocent and cheeky kids, flirty men, b****chy women of their 'own' wives club (who do these women think they really are anyway??), and of course the occasional sane older woman who gives the herione in need, a view to the way forward!! Loved it!! Thankyou Sarah for such a great read....and more please!!
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Post by susanmay on May 15, 2007 9:01:46 GMT
It's a long time since I read this book. So my minds a bit rusty on the characters names!
Loved this book too. I think it is Sarah's best to date.
What a witch the mother-in-law was! The father-in-law seemed to keep things together so I liked his character.
It was one of the most realistic books I've read in a long time.
Hattie's character was particularly funny. I think I used every emotion whilst reading this book from laughter, annoyance to sadness.
Meg's next door neighbours husband almost brought me to distraction! I detest men like him. She was so lucky to eventually have him out of her life. What did you all think of her fling with Mattie?
I can see both your points Oons and Megan - Meg moaned about the most trivia thing and not about the subject matters that needed to be groaned about.
Meg's hubbie was living the life of a single man and in my eyes she was allowing it.
There was some other great characters who had small parts in the book. Apologies can't remember their names now.
I really liked the American girl who looked after the boating wives children. How she took the cheek from some of those blighter's I don't know!
Felt so sorry for that dreadful woman in the boating clubs mother. Was delighted when Meg stood up to her and defended the mother.
When Meg found her hubbie in the room with the other men and that woman that was letting it all hang out ! - I personally would have walked out of the marriage for good.
Thanks for a great read Sarah.
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Post by jofromoz on May 15, 2007 9:13:21 GMT
Susanmay I agree with you...especially about the husband in the room with those awful sailing club people. I would not have given him all the second chances Meg seemed to be constantly giving him. Turning a blind eye can be a good thing at times, but it was verging on the rediculous, and I sometimes felt like shaking her....but it is so close to reality, I just enjoyed all the feelings I had while reading the book.
The neighbour's affair with Mattie (I'm like you, can't remember their names, but you at least have recalled more names than I had!) was a given...you could see it coming from the start. I have friends with husbands like the neighbour's louse of a husband, and honestly in my opinion they put up with the garbage for the sake of having a nice home and money. My happiness and self worth is worth far more than a big house and fat bank account!!
Hattie (glad you remembered her name Susanmay) was just a joy really, although she was a bit 'easy' with the guys, but in a nice way.
As I said before, I could relate to every character in this book one way or another. Yep, even the father-in-law....although he was too nice to be like mine, but I know so many guys like him. They are real gems in the family!
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Post by susanmay on May 15, 2007 10:28:39 GMT
Your right Jo its all about having the nice home and the new car. Thats why these woman put up with so much. A lady I know her husband walked out after twenty years. It was completely unexpected and she was devastated. It takes a lot to shock me and in this case I was dumb-founded cause this guy seemed so family orientated etc. Her main concern was her financial security. I think my dignity would be worth a lot more.
I'd love a sequel to this book. Also Dan was so mature for his age. I always find that women like Meg confide in their eldest child - which isn't fair.
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Post by jofromoz on May 15, 2007 11:05:31 GMT
Yep, the mother of my favourite nephew has done that with him since he was 5 and she was suddenly single again....that kid is now 18 and is so mature and level headed. But, and the big but is, he has had a lot of worrying times in his young life, and at times it was almost as if he was the parent and she the child. He and I go out for lunch sometimes (and shopping, I've trained him to like shopping over the years!! Hee hee), and we have a ball as he can forget being the 'responsible' one and relax and be his age. His sense of humour is very dry and mature, which makes for great sms lines for me while at work!! He cracks me up.
His mother is still the same even though now she has a new partner...she will ring Steven before she makes any major decisions....I really think it's grossly unfair on the part of the parent. Kids should be kids.
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Post by Oonagh on May 15, 2007 15:09:27 GMT
I loved mattie!! yeah i felt like giving meg a slap when she took him back after she forgave her partner after the scene in the bedroom
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Post by susanmay on May 15, 2007 15:28:26 GMT
Agree Oons. I
had a love hate relationship with Meg's mother! There was something about her character I liked and disliked. The father was just adorable. It was sad when he became ill.
Meg's younger bro was funny and I liked his relationship with the foreign girl.
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Post by Oonagh on May 15, 2007 15:52:22 GMT
i liked that relationship as well!!
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Post by sMurphy on May 15, 2007 19:23:44 GMT
Yeah me too! It's amazing how you could relate so well to the characters alright.
I really liked Mattie too, and was delighted to see him getting it together with Meg's neighbour. But I also loved the ex -- I think I liked his mischievious side and found I was always attracted to those sort of men (the wrong ones!) when I was younger! Thank God, like Meg, I grew out of them!!
Would definitely love a sequel as I so didn't want this book to end. But I did love the high note that it ended on, nothing like the feel good factor!!
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Post by susanmay on May 15, 2007 19:57:47 GMT
LOL Renate I liked the idea of the ex too but mind you I'd rather leave him in the pages of the book were he belongs! I've had my share of a man like him an it ain't any fun!
The scene in the bedroom completely rattled my cage! I've become completely non tolerant these days!
What scares me the most is a vision of being left at home with children and your partner out and about having a ball. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it.
I would have loved to know more about Ivy the little old lady that Meg helped clear out her house.
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Post by claire on May 16, 2007 7:33:26 GMT
I loved the relationship that Meg and her father had. I enjoyed reading about them together and loved the idea that a girl can have just as wonderful a relationship with her father as with her mother. It's always mother/daughter and the father on the side line.
I enjoyed the book too and just loved Hattie and her mad ways but I found her insecure at times. I felt sorry for her the way Ryan used her, he was a real pig.
Megs mother(stepmother) had a lot of patience with her, she put up with a lot from Meg. And Meg still had a lot of issues with her own mothers death so long ago. She blamed her step mother all this time. I think her moaning about the little things was holding her back from the bigger picture. She knew there was more to it than that, deep down, and her step mother helped in a way to show her what was really wrong.
The MIL was a b**ch but sometimes I don't think she meant it like that. The FIL was great at keeping the peace.
I wasn't mad on the story of the neighbor Tina with her husband and mattie. But Tina was Megs friend and that's how she fitted in.
I couldn't understand Simon doing what he did in the bedroom. Knowing how Meg felt being around these people and he still left her. She put up with a lot from him. There is a lot more to this story, maybe even a second part where Simon settles down for good!
sorry I couldn't make the other night but life is a bit hectic at the mo. 10 days to the twins Communion and I still have loads to do, so I won't be around much.
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Post by susanmay on May 16, 2007 8:51:34 GMT
Megs mother(stepmother) had a lot of patience with her, she put up with a lot from Meg. And Meg still had a lot of issues with her own mothers death so long ago. She blamed her step mother all this time. I think her moaning about the little things was holding her back from the bigger picture. She knew there was more to it than that, deep down, and her step mother helped in a way to show her what was really wrong.quote] Thats true. I completely forgot about Megs mother being dead so long. Meg really needed to grow up in some ways. I loved the scenes too with her and her father especially at the end when they all met up outside the coffee shop. |
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Post by SarahW on May 16, 2007 10:12:59 GMT
Hi All, I've been trying to work but failing. I'm all over the place today as my much loved Godmother, June died on Friday and her funeral was yesterday. She was a bit like Ivy, the little old lady Susan was talking about, sweet yet strong, pink wash in her hair; I'll miss her dreadfully. She was my greatest fan. I was having a pretty rubbish day until I read your lovely comments here on my book. When readers really connect with a book it makes everything worthwhile. I'm so glad you liked the characters and enjoyed the story. I'm working on the next book and it's been slow going - life seems to be getting firmly in the way at the moment - but your kind and honest comments will spur me on. And I'll reread them if I need some encouragement. So thank you so much - all of you - Oonagh, Megan, Shirley, Susan, Karen, Jo and Claire. And do add more comments - it's all so useful for a writer - thanks for taking the time to respond to the book. Warmest wishes, SarahXXX PS There's a lovely photo of me, June and Ryan Tubridy on my website - www.sarahwebb.info - in the photo gallery She's gone but will never be forgotten. |
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Post by susanmay on May 16, 2007 10:48:40 GMT
I'm so sorry to hear about your Godmother, Sarah. She looked such a sweet lady. What a lovely photograph to cherish - June along side you at one of your launches.
Take care
Susan X
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Post by claire on May 16, 2007 10:57:53 GMT
that's sad Sarah, I'm so sorry to hear it.
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Post by Shirley on May 16, 2007 12:20:40 GMT
Sorry to hear your bad news Sarah. I just clicked on your photo gallery there - she looked like a real sweetheart. I hope you are ok - take it easy on yourself over the coming weeks.
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Post by Shirley on May 16, 2007 12:22:36 GMT
PS Sarah, sorry I didn't get the book read in time for the club. You might have seen my post about it - to make a long story short, someone else had my copy of the book for a while and I only just got it back, but didn't get it all read before the club! But I will leave my comments at a later stage. I'm loving Ivy so far!
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