January Book Club Discussion thread

**katiepeanuts** · 02-01-2011, 11:55am

I also liked the style of writing in the book- reminded me a bit of "The Lovely Bones".

I didn't guess about Mr Wright, but did wonder about her illness. I liked the characte of Kasia, and I didn't really pick up the medical errors (I'm not very up on any of that, though).

I would be interested to read the next book from the author.

***SarahR*** · 02-01-2011, 01:00pm

Wench, Kasia had been on at Bee to lay flowers where Tess was found, so Bee's text was to tell her that she had, so it would have led Kasia there. It was in Polish I think, I can't remember why it was fingerprint that she said?

And you are right, the end is very ambiguous. I still can't decide whether I think she was found safely, or whether she was saying sorry to Tess at the end because she couldn't finish the story...

**Dr Spouse** · 02-01-2011, 01:11pm

There was a Polish phrase for leaving a tribute which was literally translated as leaving a fingerprint.

**Wench** · 02-01-2011, 02:25pm

Originally Posted by Dr Spouse

There was a Polish phrase for leaving a tribute which was literally translated as leaving a fingerprint.

ah yes, but why did that help Kasia? that's the part I don't get- why would it alert her to Bee being in danger or where to find her?

**Wench** · 02-01-2011, 02:26pm

Originally Posted by *SarahR*

Wench, Kasia had been on at Bee to lay flowers where Tess was found, so Bee's text was to tell her that she had, so it would have led Kasia there. It was in Polish I think, I can't remember why it was fingerprint that she said?

And you are right, the end is very ambiguous. I still can't decide whether I think she was found safely, or whether she was saying sorry to Tess at the end because she couldn't finish the story...

ahhh! sorry- didn't see this reply before I just posted!

Thank you!

**coolfm** · 02-01-2011, 06:45pm

I did assume that Kasia would go looking for Bee after the fingerprint text, but didn't guess about Mr Wright.

I think the portrayal of men in the book overall is alarmingly negative.

I enjoyed the writing style and the portrayal of various relationships. I was beginning to think that Mr Wright was drugging her (he was always making sure she had drinks etc.) and I thought that might be why she was feeling ill. Obviously, however, he actually was the perfect man, only existing in fantasy, though.

I also couldn't decide what happened at the end, so many possibilities. I thought the pager Bee could hear was her own, which Kasia was using to find her, but I wasn't sure if this was all part of Bee's faltering consciousness.

**Vienna** · 02-01-2011, 10:19pm

Ive just finished this book and really enjoyed it.

It didn't end how I expected it to end and was gutted Mr Wright wasn't real (I'm a romantic at heart though ) I did have a little inkling about William, he was a bit suspicious to me especially when he called her Bee. I have no idea about the medical bit though so can't really comment about that. I did find the text to Kasia a bit confusing, not up on my Polish to be honest, but after reading the others posts on here I understand a bit more.

Would definitely read more of this author and can't wait for her next book.

**Princess Lollipop** · 03-01-2011, 11:11am

Finished!

I read the book in just over 24 hours as I was hooked!

I really enjoyed the book, although I felt that it lost it's way a little bit towards the end when there was the whole chunk about CF, genetics etc. This might just be me though as I have no medical knowledge or interest whatsoever.

I thought that the whole concept of 'Mr Wright' and retelling the story through a letter to Tess was very clever. I am assuming that when Bee described herself as blacking out, feeling poorly etc was actually her losing consciousness and lucidity whilst lay on the toilet floor.

My interpretation of the ending was that Kasia found Bee on the toilet floor. It is definitely ambiguous but in the Q&A section with Rosamund Lupton at the back of the book, she indicates a positive ending too.

Interestingly in the Q&A bit the author also says that the central characters had different names originally and she changed them at the final draft. I thought that naming of Tess was particularly clever. My knowledge of Tess of the D'urbervilles is a tad sketchy these days

but, from what I remember, Tess Durbeyfield is a tragic protagonist, abused and manipulated by men and also gives birth to a baby boy who dies

I am sure that I will come back to this thread later on in the day.

**bluestar** · 03-01-2011, 12:39pm

Originally Posted by *SarahR*

Bella, I'm not sure, but I assumed that the illness was her drifting in and out of consciousness as she was lying in the toilets.

I wasn't sure about this until the end but the references to her weakening body etc made sense when you realised that it was a "verbal letter" when she was on the floor.

**bluestar** · 03-01-2011, 12:41pm

Originally Posted by Princess Lollipop

F
My interpretation of the ending was that Kasia found Bee on the toilet floor. It is definitely ambiguous but in the Q&A section with Rosamund Lupton at the back of the book, she indicates a positive ending too.

She does, but also says that she's left it deliberately open so people can form their own opinions. I'm with you though that I think Kasia finds Bee