Opening Chapters

[Rachel-K]

Please use this thread to discuss the first chapters of the novel, from the opening, through chapter 11.

[ostenji]

I thought this part of the book moved rather slow. I knew it Pat was putting a powerful message in about life before the war, but it took a while to get into. Everyone I spoke with said "Keep Reading!" so I'm interested to see what the middle and last sections bring!

[Rachel-K]

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ostenji wrote:
I thought this part of the book moved rather slow. I knew it Pat was putting a powerful message in about life before the war, but it took a while to get into. Everyone I spoke with said "Keep Reading!" so I'm interested to see what the middle and last sections bring!

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I really enjoyed the pace of this novel, something leisurely, almost  lackadaisical, about those opening art school chapters--in contrast to the overwhelming grim intensity of the war. But I don't think the war chapters have any feel of being hurried either--just intense. I'll look forward to what you think. Is the pace very different from other recent novels you've read?

[Kat727]

right before i read this book i had finished a book i couldn't put down, so i enjoyed the slow pace of the book. i think this part was vital in showing us how the characters related to each other without the drama of war, so that we could see how those relationships changed later on.