Week two Discussion of Bereft

[whiteginger]

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thewanderingjew wrote:

At times, I did wonder about their relationship, in the context of the murder. Some scenes, like their spooning in the bed or her cat and mouse behavior, or her odd tenderness and caretaking of him, at times, made me wonder if the implication was that he had molested his sister and was working it out with his relationship with Sadie. Was this more than two lost souls helping each other survive? Was their relationship more than it appeared to be and was it meant to mimic his relationship with Sarah? I did wonder if there was something sinister about it?

If she was older, their relationship might not have had the mostly innocent tone that I thought prevailed, but would have perhaps been more suggestive of the erotic, incestuous relationship between the siblings that was implied and that I wondered about, at first.

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TWJ, I had not read your comment as thinking at this point that Sadie's/Sarah's and Quinn's relationship was sexual.  My reread confirms that for me. I, like you, have considered many possibilities at different points in my reading.  I think Elaine is right that Chris has tossed out many red herrings.  

Muse, what an interesting thought that Sadie could be Robert's by-blow (and I had to look that up!).  

[Fozzie]

This book is so wonderful that it was all I could do to tear myself away from it to come post some thoughts!

As I mentioned last week, I didn’t really read the blurb on the back of the book, so I was shocked with the introduction of Sadie and the question of magic.  I admit that I did read the entire blurb after finishing this section.  I didn’t know if I was in for more big surprises!  I guess I still don’t know since the blurb didn’t reveal anything further!

What a turn of expectation for Quinn --- planning to tell his mother what really happened the day Sarah was murdered, but not being able to because Quinn believed the truth “would surely kill her.”  I wonder how this is going to affect Quinn, having to keep quiet even after he expected to be able to reveal the truth?  I guess the fact that he was able to tell Sadie, if not his mother, helped his mental state.

The book has taken on a spiritual tone, which I think adds another layer of interest and meaning to it.  The reader is exposed to a sampling of Biblical quotes, potential magic and/or witchcraft, meetings for communication with the dead, scrimshaw tattoos, and a viewing of the body of Saint Solange.  What a variety!

The writing is exquisite.  Here are two of my favorite passages:

“Ten years of days.”  (pg. 92)

Mary was describing how long had passed since Sarah’s murder.

“There were no words to convey the horror of what he saw during the war, or, rather, that to describe it would require every word of the language, all of them at once, until they no longer made sense.”   (pg. 104)

The title is mentioned in this section. 

“Quinn, there isn’t even a word for a parent who has lost a child?  Strange, isn’t it?  You would think, after all these centuries of war and disease and trouble, but no, there is a hole in the English language.  It is unspeakable.  Bereft.”

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

It is killing me not knowing the message from Sarah, via note from Margaret of the séance parlor!

[Fozzie]

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dhaupt wrote:

2. How relevant is the fact that Sadie is the same age as when Sarah was murdered
or is it

3. Trust between Quinn and Sadie is slow to develop and is at most tenuous
Do you like the way the author treats this relationship

7. At the end of week two Quinn is caught in his mother’s sick room as his father stands outside the window when his mother asks his father to tell her what happened on the day Sarah died. Quinn thinks this may be a trap
do you

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I hadn’t realized that Sadie is the same age as Sarah was when she was killed.  I did originally think the image of the girl on the cover was Sarah.  After reading this section, I initially thought it was Sadie.  Upon reflection, I think it might represent them both.  That, coupled with the spirituality that has been introduced into the story, led me to think about Sadie being some kind of reincarnation of Sarah.

The development of the relationship between Sadie and Quinn has been done very well.  The lack of trust is completely realistic and each of their actions reflect their experiences.  I can’t help but wonder if Sadie has been sexually assaulted based on how she reacted to Quinn trying to touch her, only to remove a piece of orange from her face.

I do not think the arrival of Quinn’s father while Quinn was there speaking with his mother is a set up.  I do not feel completely sure about my understanding of the relationship between Quinn’s mother and father, but I don’t believe his mother would set him up.

[Fozzie]

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whiteginger wrote:

So much to say—and I should read other’s comments before I continue.  Someone else may have already voiced my thoughts much more succinctly than I can. 

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I like reading everyone's thoughts, so please post everything you want to say!  

[Fozzie]

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thewanderingjew wrote:

Sadie reminded me of the child, Faina, in The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, based on a Russian fairytale, 

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This book looks interesting to me.  Would you recommend it?

[Fozzie]

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thewanderingjew wrote:

At times, I did wonder about their relationship, in the context of the murder. Some scenes, like their spooning in the bed or her cat and mouse behavior, or her odd tenderness and caretaking of him, at times, made me wonder if the implication was that he had molested his sister and was working it out with his relationship with Sadie. Was this more than two lost souls helping each other survive? Was their relationship more than it appeared to be and was it meant to mimic his relationship with Sarah? I did wonder if there was something sinister about it?

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The spooning while sleeping made me go hhmmm...But, remember that she initiated it.

[christopherw]

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whiteginger wrote:

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elaine_hf wrote:

. . . You don't really mention it, but the small scars that start appearing on Quinn's body is another mystery that feels connected to Sadie. It would be hard to fathom having someone cut on your body and not wake up, but those scars and cuts have the feel of some kind of religious and/or mysterious event that Quinn is experiencing.

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april wrote:

. . .When Quinn carves the ragged cross into his chest, I was reminded how young Sadie really was . . .she wanted Quinn to take a blood oath though, I caught a glimpse of the little girl she was and the small amount of innocence she still had left. . . . 

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It seems that yesterday was a long, busy Monday for many of us   I've finally had time to read others' first thoughts and come back to other points that made me wonder.  

The scars immediately made me think of stigmata, but, of course, Quinn's scars are specifically shaped like moons and stars and not on Quinn's hands, feet, and sides. ( And then--honest --I thought of Rosemary's Baby, and the scratches that Rosemary discovers on her body when she awakens in the morning.)   I had automatically read the lamb and snake as Christian symbols of good vs. evil and put Sadie on the side of "good"--as in Christian good. And although the Sadie's suggestion that Quinn murder Dalton is more along the lines of a mythological good vs. evil battle, I was still OK with my more Christian view of her when she made that suggestion; afterall, merciful God does tell us to smite evil--but, of course, that's more of an Old Testament view of God.  Then Sadie (Chris!) surprised me in her conversation  with Quinn:

Quinn:   . . . revenge is not our business.  It belongs to God

Sadie:  . . .God isn't even watching. . . . I prayed you here.  For someone to come and help me. . . . I brought you here.

Quinn: . . . I thought you said God didn't pay us any attention . . . . He was shocked to detect an unappealing, triumphant note in his voice.

Sadie: Yes.  But there are others that do.   (Echos of "Every angel is terrible" from the opening page?)

  Is Quinn going to be an epic hero in a mythic battle of good vs. evil? Are the carvings on his body magical protection/empowerment symbols?  

Is Quinn being seduced or tricked by evil to kill another human? (Are the carvings, like the scratches on Rosemary's body, signs that evil is invading him?)  

  I connected the above conversation with the markings which appear later on Quinn's body, but even if the two have no connection, I still find this conversation interesting.  Quinn has always contended that he is NOT brave, so is his first statement about revenge belonging to God simply his attempt to avoid doing what he MUST do? And who are the others Sadie mentions, a reference that makes Quinn shiver.

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Ooh, Rosemary's Baby - I love that film!

And that's a good call (which means I probably didn't even think of it that way myself!) about Quinn absolving himself of responsibility by deferring to 'God'.

[christopherw]

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Fozzie wrote:

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thewanderingjew wrote:

At times, I did wonder about their relationship, in the context of the murder. Some scenes, like their spooning in the bed or her cat and mouse behavior, or her odd tenderness and caretaking of him, at times, made me wonder if the implication was that he had molested his sister and was working it out with his relationship with Sadie. Was this more than two lost souls helping each other survive? Was their relationship more than it appeared to be and was it meant to mimic his relationship with Sarah? I did wonder if there was something sinister about it?

---

The spooning while sleeping made me go hhmmm...But, remember that she initiated it.

---

Is there something sinister about it? I guess you'll have to read on and find out!

[Mountain_Muse]

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Fozzie wrote:

This book is so wonderful that it was all I could do to tear myself away from it to come post some thoughts!

As I mentioned last week, I didn’t really read the blurb on the back of the book, so I was shocked with the introduction of Sadie and the question of magic.  I admit that I did read the entire blurb after finishing this section.  I didn’t know if I was in for more big surprises!  I guess I still don’t know since the blurb didn’t reveal anything further!

What a turn of expectation for Quinn --- planning to tell his mother what really happened the day Sarah was murdered, but not being able to because Quinn believed the truth “would surely kill her.”  I wonder how this is going to affect Quinn, having to keep quiet even after he expected to be able to reveal the truth?  I guess the fact that he was able to tell Sadie, if not his mother, helped his mental state.

The book has taken on a spiritual tone, which I think adds another layer of interest and meaning to it.  The reader is exposed to a sampling of Biblical quotes, potential magic and/or witchcraft, meetings for communication with the dead, scrimshaw tattoos, and a viewing of the body of Saint Solange.  What a variety!

The writing is exquisite.  Here are two of my favorite passages:

“Ten years of days.”  (pg. 92)

Mary was describing how long had passed since Sarah’s murder.

“There were no words to convey the horror of what he saw during the war, or, rather, that to describe it would require every word of the language, all of them at once, until they no longer made sense.”   (pg. 104)

The title is mentioned in this section. 

“Quinn, there isn’t even a word for a parent who has lost a child?  Strange, isn’t it?  You would think, after all these centuries of war and disease and trouble, but no, there is a hole in the English language.  It is unspeakable.  Bereft.”

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

It is killing me not knowing the message from Sarah, via note from Margaret of the séance parlor!

---

Fozzie,

What you have to say is so well stated and reflects the deep thought that so many of us are finding in the depths of this book.  I like you love Chris' style of writing, how he wraps you in the words and phrases and wrings your soul of it's last ounce of pain, or compassion or dispair.  But other times he rivals the best out the on tantalyzing you with tidbits that leave you dangling with hope or leave you holding your breath, just waiting to exhale...much like Alfred Hitchcock accomplished in many of his movies with the blowing curtain in a window with a cut to a new scene.  You sit there asking "Why the blowing curtain in the open window?" and it tickles the back of your conscience for the next 30 minutes while the story goes a different direction.

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

Yes, isn't that where this whole book is going?  Isn't it, character by character, community, and world making us see and feel what Bereft is and means?  Chris has us walking down the road, whether or not we want to.  For some reason, I do not see a happy ending to this story, for if there was, then we would not truly fee bereft at the end.  

Muse

[Mountain_Muse]

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christopherw wrote:

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Fozzie wrote:

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thewanderingjew wrote:

At times, I did wonder about their relationship, in the context of the murder. Some scenes, like their spooning in the bed or her cat and mouse behavior, or her odd tenderness and caretaking of him, at times, made me wonder if the implication was that he had molested his sister and was working it out with his relationship with Sadie. Was this more than two lost souls helping each other survive? Was their relationship more than it appeared to be and was it meant to mimic his relationship with Sarah? I did wonder if there was something sinister about it?

---

The spooning while sleeping made me go hhmmm...But, remember that she initiated it.

---

Is there something sinister about it? I guess you'll have to read on and find out!

---

Ah, but I saw the spooning as a tenuous finger of trust and an acquiescence to the need of solace and comfort of another human being.  Sadie's need to be held and feel secure (as she did in the arms of her brother and/or mother) out weighed her PTSD and fear of touch.  At least that is how I saw it.

I have seen this happen in children who have been severely abused (physical and/or sexually).  The need to love and be loved and the need for human touch finally overcoming the great fear of touch and of the unknown of "that person" touching them, as well as the innate fear of rejection if their touch is rejected.

Just a thought.

Muse

[dhaupt]

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Mountain_Muse wrote:

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Fozzie wrote:

This book is so wonderful that it was all I could do to tear myself away from it to come post some thoughts!

As I mentioned last week, I didn’t really read the blurb on the back of the book, so I was shocked with the introduction of Sadie and the question of magic.  I admit that I did read the entire blurb after finishing this section.  I didn’t know if I was in for more big surprises!  I guess I still don’t know since the blurb didn’t reveal anything further!

What a turn of expectation for Quinn --- planning to tell his mother what really happened the day Sarah was murdered, but not being able to because Quinn believed the truth “would surely kill her.”  I wonder how this is going to affect Quinn, having to keep quiet even after he expected to be able to reveal the truth?  I guess the fact that he was able to tell Sadie, if not his mother, helped his mental state.

The book has taken on a spiritual tone, which I think adds another layer of interest and meaning to it.  The reader is exposed to a sampling of Biblical quotes, potential magic and/or witchcraft, meetings for communication with the dead, scrimshaw tattoos, and a viewing of the body of Saint Solange.  What a variety!

The writing is exquisite.  Here are two of my favorite passages:

“Ten years of days.”  (pg. 92)

Mary was describing how long had passed since Sarah’s murder.

“There were no words to convey the horror of what he saw during the war, or, rather, that to describe it would require every word of the language, all of them at once, until they no longer made sense.”   (pg. 104)

The title is mentioned in this section. 

“Quinn, there isn’t even a word for a parent who has lost a child?  Strange, isn’t it?  You would think, after all these centuries of war and disease and trouble, but no, there is a hole in the English language.  It is unspeakable.  Bereft.”

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

It is killing me not knowing the message from Sarah, via note from Margaret of the séance parlor!

---

Fozzie,

What you have to say is so well stated and reflects the deep thought that so many of us are finding in the depths of this book.  I like you love Chris' style of writing, how he wraps you in the words and phrases and wrings your soul of it's last ounce of pain, or compassion or dispair.  But other times he rivals the best out the on tantalyzing you with tidbits that leave you dangling with hope or leave you holding your breath, just waiting to exhale...much like Alfred Hitchcock accomplished in many of his movies with the blowing curtain in a window with a cut to a new scene.  You sit there asking "Why the blowing curtain in the open window?" and it tickles the back of your conscience for the next 30 minutes while the story goes a different direction.

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

Yes, isn't that where this whole book is going?  Isn't it, character by character, community, and world making us see and feel what Bereft is and means?  Chris has us walking down the road, whether or not we want to.  For some reason, I do not see a happy ending to this story, for if there was, then we would not truly fee bereft at the end.  

Muse

---

Ah but Bereft isn't the definition or description of this novel it's the title, so we'll leave the ending til next week

And I really like the visual of Chris having us walk down the road with the characters, very apt description

[Mountain_Muse]

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dhaupt wrote:

---

Mountain_Muse wrote:

---

Fozzie wrote:

This book is so wonderful that it was all I could do to tear myself away from it to come post some thoughts!

The writing is exquisite.  Here are two of my favorite passages:

“Ten years of days.”  (pg. 92)

Mary was describing how long had passed since Sarah’s murder.

“There were no words to convey the horror of what he saw during the war, or, rather, that to describe it would require every word of the language, all of them at once, until they no longer made sense.”   (pg. 104)

The title is mentioned in this section. 

“Quinn, there isn’t even a word for a parent who has lost a child?  Strange, isn’t it?  You would think, after all these centuries of war and disease and trouble, but no, there is a hole in the English language.  It is unspeakable.  Bereft.”

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

It is killing me not knowing the message from Sarah, via note from Margaret of the séance parlor!

---

Fozzie,

What you have to say is so well stated and reflects the deep thought that so many of us are finding in the depths of this book.  I like you love Chris' style of writing, how he wraps you in the words and phrases and wrings your soul of it's last ounce of pain, or compassion or dispair.  But other times he rivals the best out the on tantalyzing you with tidbits that leave you dangling with hope or leave you holding your breath, just waiting to exhale...much like Alfred Hitchcock accomplished in many of his movies with the blowing curtain in a window with a cut to a new scene.  You sit there asking "Why the blowing curtain in the open window?" and it tickles the back of your conscience for the next 30 minutes while the story goes a different direction.

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

Yes, isn't that where this whole book is going?  Isn't it, character by character, community, and world making us see and feel what Bereft is and means?  Chris has us walking down the road, whether or not we want to.  For some reason, I do not see a happy ending to this story, for if there was, then we would not truly fee bereft at the end.  

Muse

---

Ah but Bereft isn't the definition or description of this novel it's the title, so we'll leave the ending til next week

And I really like the visual of Chris having us walk down the road with the characters, very apt description

---

Yes, Deb, it is the Title, but not having read to the end, it is the way I am seeing the book headed.  This is not a book about resolution and happy endings.  It is a book about dispair and pain and suffering with little or no hope.  But within that setting finding that small candle of light, that small glimmer of life and how we manage to carry on.  

The end of WWI was such a dark period in world history.  It wasn't only the war and Europe that suffered, but the Influenza pandemic.  It seemed like there was not a living soul that was not touched by deep sorrow during that period.  I think Chris does a wonderful job of giving a voice to that mass sorrow through this story.  Even though the story is focused around Chris and his sister, Sarah, much is revealed and made of the mass suffering of everyone, everywhere Chris goes, everyone Chris sees.  Through Chris' eyes we are even able to observe the wide variety of ways people deal with sorrow and despair; everything from suicide to denial and throwing up the skirts in their seeking of happiness.

I remember my Uncle Jack, and the stories my family told of his coming back from WWI and changed person.  After his return, he told me (late in life) that the family always referred to him as the "Black Sheep" of the family for his wild ways, because when he came home he "lived life to it's fullest" and sought thrills.  This was not exactly acceptable for his staunch Presbyterian family with their roots from Kentucky/Tennessee.  Personally, as a six year old, I thought he was "great fun"  and loved him very much.

Sorry for being maudlin, but I agree with the literary awards Chris has received.  This book has a great depth and so many layers to it.  There much beyond a simple story of a boy and his dead sister.  Well,,,,Debbie, I guess maybe I should read the rest of the book before I start with a review, huh?  Lol

BTW  I love what everyone is saying.  There isn't much to argue about, for each of us is seeing our own story within the story and have been able to pull so much from so many layers, that I am thankful they have seen what I have missed.  

Sorry I haven't been around this week for more input, but have enjoyed allllllll the comments.

Muse

[dhaupt]

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Mountain_Muse wrote:

---

dhaupt wrote:

---

Mountain_Muse wrote:

---

Fozzie wrote:

This book is so wonderful that it was all I could do to tear myself away from it to come post some thoughts!

The writing is exquisite.  Here are two of my favorite passages:

“Ten years of days.”  (pg. 92)

Mary was describing how long had passed since Sarah’s murder.

“There were no words to convey the horror of what he saw during the war, or, rather, that to describe it would require every word of the language, all of them at once, until they no longer made sense.”   (pg. 104)

The title is mentioned in this section. 

“Quinn, there isn’t even a word for a parent who has lost a child?  Strange, isn’t it?  You would think, after all these centuries of war and disease and trouble, but no, there is a hole in the English language.  It is unspeakable.  Bereft.”

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

It is killing me not knowing the message from Sarah, via note from Margaret of the séance parlor!

---

Fozzie,

What you have to say is so well stated and reflects the deep thought that so many of us are finding in the depths of this book.  I like you love Chris' style of writing, how he wraps you in the words and phrases and wrings your soul of it's last ounce of pain, or compassion or dispair.  But other times he rivals the best out the on tantalyzing you with tidbits that leave you dangling with hope or leave you holding your breath, just waiting to exhale...much like Alfred Hitchcock accomplished in many of his movies with the blowing curtain in a window with a cut to a new scene.  You sit there asking "Why the blowing curtain in the open window?" and it tickles the back of your conscience for the next 30 minutes while the story goes a different direction.

Bereft essentially means deprived by death.  Now I am going to contemplate what the characters have been deprived of by Sarah’s death.  That brings further thoughts about what death by war deprives people of, or what society has been deprived of due to death from war and murder.

Yes, isn't that where this whole book is going?  Isn't it, character by character, community, and world making us see and feel what Bereft is and means?  Chris has us walking down the road, whether or not we want to.  For some reason, I do not see a happy ending to this story, for if there was, then we would not truly fee bereft at the end.  

Muse

---

Ah but Bereft isn't the definition or description of this novel it's the title, so we'll leave the ending til next week

And I really like the visual of Chris having us walk down the road with the characters, very apt description

---

Yes, Deb, it is the Title, but not having read to the end, it is the way I am seeing the book headed.  This is not a book about resolution and happy endings.  It is a book about dispair and pain and suffering with little or no hope.  But within that setting finding that small candle of light, that small glimmer of life and how we manage to carry on.  

The end of WWI was such a dark period in world history.  It wasn't only the war and Europe that suffered, but the Influenza pandemic.  It seemed like there was not a living soul that was not touched by deep sorrow during that period.  I think Chris does a wonderful job of giving a voice to that mass sorrow through this story.  Even though the story is focused around Chris and his sister, Sarah, much is revealed and made of the mass suffering of everyone, everywhere Chris goes, everyone Chris sees.  Through Chris' eyes we are even able to observe the wide variety of ways people deal with sorrow and despair; everything from suicide to denial and throwing up the skirts in their seeking of happiness.

I remember my Uncle Jack, and the stories my family told of his coming back from WWI and changed person.  After his return, he told me (late in life) that the family always referred to him as the "Black Sheep" of the family for his wild ways, because when he came home he "lived life to it's fullest" and sought thrills.  This was not exactly acceptable for his staunch Presbyterian family with their roots from Kentucky/Tennessee.  Personally, as a six year old, I thought he was "great fun"  and loved him very much.

Sorry for being maudlin, but I agree with the literary awards Chris has received.  This book has a great depth and so many layers to it.  There much beyond a simple story of a boy and his dead sister.  Well,,,,Debbie, I guess maybe I should read the rest of the book before I start with a review, huh?  Lol

BTW  I love what everyone is saying.  There isn't much to argue about, for each of us is seeing our own story within the story and have been able to pull so much from so many layers, that I am thankful they have seen what I have missed.  

Sorry I haven't been around this week for more input, but have enjoyed allllllll the comments.

Muse

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Thanks Muse I agree with the critics too.

I'm glad you're enjoying the read, and the comaraderie

[whiteginger]

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Mountain_Muse wrote:

. . .  I agree with the literary awards Chris has received.  This book has a great depth and so many layers to it.  . . . BTW  I love what everyone is saying.  There isn't much to argue about, for each of us is seeing our own story within the story and have been able to pull so much from so many layers, that I am thankful they have seen what I have missed.  . . . 

Muse

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EVERYTHING Muse said!

Two other points from Part II I've been pondering--

• The note "from Sarah"  passed surepticiously to Quinn after the seance in London
• The other boy/man Quinn saw with Robert at Sarah's murder (possibly Quinn's older brother?!?)

[dhaupt]

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whiteginger wrote:

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Mountain_Muse wrote:

. . .  I agree with the literary awards Chris has received.  This book has a great depth and so many layers to it.  . . . BTW  I love what everyone is saying.  There isn't much to argue about, for each of us is seeing our own story within the story and have been able to pull so much from so many layers, that I am thankful they have seen what I have missed.  . . . 

Muse

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EVERYTHING Muse said!

Two other points from Part II I've been pondering--

• The note "from Sarah"  passed surepticiously to Quinn after the seance in London
• The other boy/man Quinn saw with Robert at Sarah's murder (possibly Quinn's older brother?!?)

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Oh, I didn't think of the "other boy/man" hmmm.

[dhaupt]

It's been a lively conversation this week and we'll finish up the read and visit with Chris next week when all your questions about Bereft will be answered, or maybe not.

I know it's only Thrusday but I'm off tomorrow with limited access to the web, I'll be checking in but not as extensively as I usually do on weekdays

There is one thing I'd like all of you to do when we end the read, go to the product page

here and say a few words about the novel, give your rating. Readers thoughts and reviews really do help other readers decide if a novel is for them or not.

See you tomorrow

[kimba88]

I am finding this book to be delightful..I am curious about Sadie and oh the scene in this Mom's room with the father lisiting..and oh the note from Sarah..*squeaks* You have no idea how hard it was to hold off reading more till next week....LOL

[thewanderingjew]

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Fozzie wrote:

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thewanderingjew wrote:

Sadie reminded me of the child, Faina, in The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, based on a Russian fairytale, 

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This book looks interesting to me.  Would you recommend it?

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I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/288765928

[pen21]

Ok I admit I couldn't stop reading the book and just kept going to the end. I have been following this thread and the great discussion. So many ideas that didn't occur to me. I have been having trouble posting this week also. Anyone else have trouble this week?

[dhaupt]

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pen21 wrote:

Ok I admit I couldn't stop reading the book and just kept going to the end. I have been following this thread and the great discussion. So many ideas that didn't occur to me. I have been having trouble posting this week also. Anyone else have trouble this week?

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pen, I'm sorry you've been having problems posting, I haven't had any. And please if you're experiencing trouble on the boards let me know and I'll inform my admin here, sometimes it's browser trouble but who knows.

I'm glad you enjoyed the novel