January Book Club Discussion thread

**Miss_Jane** · 03-01-2011, 05:47pm

Hello

I've just finished this book. I really liked it, I liked the style of writing and thought it was a good story.

I did not see the ending coming at all! I normally try to guess what is going to happen but with this book, I was just coasting along, thinking she was telling the detective and the murderer had been caught! I got such a shock when she said Mr Wright wasn't real. I did think there was something odd about William, especially when he called her Bee, it just seemed out of place and made me suspicious of him.

I thought that Kasia saved Bee, I really thought it was Bee's pager going off as I think William would have taken his away with him. But I am an optimist and like happy endings!

I'll come back to this thread when I have more time.

Oh, just remembered, I also thought that about the author's favourite book being the Life of Pi, quite a similar way of ending the book.

**claireh** · 03-01-2011, 06:53pm

I really enjoyed it at the time of writing but now I feel it was a tad depressing

Clearly the subject matter is not exactly a bundle of laughs but it was so so dark.

I do think that Kasia saved her.

It didn't occur to me tbh that it was William coming back.

Actually, did she not hear Kasia calling for her? My memory is rubbish just now so I could be mistaken.

I felt that latter part of the book was really rather rushed.

**Wench** · 03-01-2011, 07:01pm

I think she did hear Kasia calling, but as Bee was floating in and out of consciousness, I think it could easily have been a dream, because she wanted to believe it was Kasia.

It was terribly dark- I hope the author gave us a good ending, but I felt it so unlikely to be Kasia, and far more likely to be William (although why that twit didn't finishe her off when he had the chance, I'll never know).

**Maudie** · 03-01-2011, 09:15pm

I do think that Kasia found Beatrice. I actually thought her illness was that she had CF herself and I only twigged about 2/3rds in that it was actually her being drugged.

I did like the author's style of writing, I found it quite involving and because of that it was easier to forgive the medical errors. I liked the way Beatrice and her Mum's relationship evolved and how Xavier was finally accepted by her.

I found it very sad that Beatrice's knowledge and understanding of Tess deepened after she had died, as an elder sibling I often feel responsible for the relationships between myself and my younger sisters and often find myself lacking in this. It was very odd and strange that Beatrice ended up in Tess's flat, wearing her clothes, living with her friend etc.

I did like the book and found it a good read but I don't think it is a thriller

**Danna** · 04-01-2011, 11:11am

I really enjoyed the book but I did guess it was William from the first moment he appeared in the story. I hadn't connected Bee's failing health with her slowly dying in the toilets until I read the previous posts here though - idiot I am. I also had no idea that Mr Wright was a fictional character to her either but it was a very clever addition to the story. In my head though, William finished her off and Kasia's voice was just her hallucunating (sp?).

Its the first book I've read in about 8 months and I realise how much I miss it - so much so that I'm going to get the other three options for January book club from the library!

**irislili** · 04-01-2011, 11:25am

on the whole i enjoyed the book, I do think that the male characters are very stereotypical. I read on amazon (i think) that the author writes screen plays and I can totally imagine the book as a mini-series on TV

I'm still wondering what will happen to Kasia's baby? Will it die too?
I was suspicious of William 's character as he seemed so over-friendly with Bee and never for a moment thought that Mr Wright wasnt real.

**Zia** · 04-01-2011, 06:53pm

I didn't opt in to the book club on the other thread, but as I've just finished this book (I bought it a while ago when it was on the Richard and Judy book club list), I thought I'd share my thoughts (if I'm allowed!).

I really enjoyed it, and I liked the writing style. I didn't see the ending coming at all (that there was no Mr Wright), although I was suspicious of William early on (and found it very obvious later on). I kept wondering about Bee's illness, and was imagining all kinds of explanations as to what was wrong with her.

I can see how the ending can be ambiguous, although I felt certain that Bee was rescued. I was pleased to read the author's notes which said that the ending is up to readers to decide, but that she felt it had a positive outcome.

I really wanted to know what happened to William though (did he get caught?)!

As much as I enjoyed this book, for some reason I'm not that excited about the next book (as I am with some authors).

***SarahR*** · 04-01-2011, 07:55pm

Danna, I am the same, I am reading The Help now. The book club has kicked my ass into reading a bit more, I was taking a month to read every book before this.

I do like the fact that we have all drawn our own conclusions about the end. I want to
think that Kasia found her, and I am sure it was Bee's pager going off, but part of me
thinks that she grew too weak and drifted away before she was found. It didn't really feel
to me that William came back and finished the job.

I hadn't thought about the male characters before, but it is true, other than the fictional Mr Wright they all had major character flaws. The police seargent wasn't all bad, and you couldn't really blame him for thinking Bee was barking up every tree possible, but he was a bit weak. I guess that is why Mr Wright was Bee's Mr Right.

**irislili** · 04-01-2011, 08:03pm

Originally Posted by *SarahR*

Danna, I am the same, I am reading The Help now. The book club has kicked my ass into reading a bit more, I was taking a month to read every book before this.

I do like the fact that we have all drawn our own conclusions about the end. I want to
think that Kasia found her, and I am sure it was Bee's pager going off, but part of me
thinks that she grew too weak and drifted away before she was found. It didn't really feel
to me that William came back and finished the job.

it never crossed my mind until i read it on here that it could be Williams pager that was going off

**Dr Spouse** · 04-01-2011, 08:23pm

Originally Posted by irislili

it never crossed my mind until i read it on here

that it could be Williams pager that was going off

Me neither

**Vienna** · 04-01-2011, 08:30pm

Originally Posted by irislili

it never crossed my mind until i read it on here that it could be Williams pager that was going off

Nor mine. I'm going with the ending that it was Bee's pager and Kasia found her (I can't do with sad endings lol)

**twirlygirly** · 04-01-2011, 08:34pm

I've not started it yet, will try and get started tonight.

**Jelly** · 04-01-2011, 08:34pm

Originally Posted by irislili

it never crossed my mind until i read it on here that it could be Williams pager that was going off

Nor me. I'm going to keep to my own happy ending belief

***SarahR*** · 04-01-2011, 08:41pm

Originally Posted by irislili

it never crossed my mind until i read it on here that it could be Williams pager that was going off

Nor me!

**Shoppie** · 05-01-2011, 09:31pm

Overall, I was very hooked by the book, but honestly would never have chosen to read it if I'd known it featured the deaths of several babies, I'm so so sensitive about this right now

That said, I particularly enjoyed the female characters - Bee, Tess, Kasia and also the mother were very well drawn I think. I agree the males were rather more one-dimensional and yes I thought William was the baddy. I also thought Kasia would come to save her, and still am determined she is saved as like Vienna I don't 'do' sad endings

**BellaDonna** · 06-01-2011, 01:10pm

I think it is definitely meant to be a happy ending... I draw your attention to the garden, the planting of the bulbs, how Bee thought the garden was doomed but eventually saw green shoots of new life coming through.
I rest my case. Thank you.

**irislili** · 06-01-2011, 04:02pm

Originally Posted by BellaDonna

I think it is definitely meant to be a happy ending... I draw your attention to the garden, the planting of the bulbs, how Bee thought the garden was doomed but eventually saw green shoots of new life coming through.
I rest my case. Thank you.

**Vienna** · 06-01-2011, 06:38pm

Originally Posted by BellaDonna

I think it is definitely meant to be a happy ending... I draw your attention to the garden, the planting of the bulbs, how Bee thought the garden was doomed but eventually saw green shoots of new life coming through.
I rest my case. Thank you.

I like the way you looked at it

Shoppie that must be the Libran in us that doesn't do the sad ending

**Elle Driver** · 06-01-2011, 06:48pm

Omg I totally forgot that I wanted to give my feedback. I will come back to this thread. I didn't LOVE the book. It kept me hooked, for sure but

can't put my finger on why I didn't love it. I'll formulate an opinion and then return

**littlerose12345** · 13-01-2011, 01:55pm

Hello

I also didn't originally sign up for the Book Club officially but I've just finished reading it and have to say it hooked me completely - didn't take me long to read at all! (Which is good as I think it's spurred me to get my reading mojo back!)

I think Kasia saved her at the end. I was totally shocked that it was Williams too! I had always suspected the art friend who was stalking her but I suppose that would have been too obvious.

I also loved the writing style and was shocked that there was no Mr Wright!