We had a nice sized turnout after so many members not being able to make the earlier summer meetings. In attendance were Amy, Betty Rose, Jana, Myra, Cheryl, Lisa, Lori, Nan, Michelle, Pam and Emily, who was our hostess and moderator.
Here are just a few of the discussion points this book generated:
1. so many characters with secrets
2. ease/difficulty of assuming another's identity--in the 1940's vs. 2011,
in America vs. Britain
3. the effect of the wartime setting
4. The author's portrayal of aging (not a pretty picture!)
The consensus rating of this book was a 4 or 4.5, and a few gave it a 5.
The majority seemed to agree that the story kept us interested with the twists, and the characters were developed fairly well. The author's style of constant shifting back and forth between past and present was annoying to some, as well as the use of parenthetical style to add additional details, but most declared this was a book that kept one guessing and entertained. Some comparisons were also made between the author's earlier book we read, The Forgotten Garden.
Quotes of the night:
"rusted-on loyalties" - from a discussion question
"where DID that birthday knife (with the red ribbon) go?" - Amy
"was that in parentheses?" - Lisa
Note changes to the October meeting!
NEW DATE: Thursday, October 10th
NEW BOOK: instead of Devil in the White City, the book has been changed to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce.
