AET Book Club

124

Comments

  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    yeah, I haven't read such a good book in ages and i'm gonna be gutted when it's over! :o
    I love the way you get completely sucked in and indentify with the characters. I can really see Joseph growing up, how his attitude towards Augusta Falls changes and how he develops through the experiences he goes through... and for some reason I really like Reilly...

    jeez, how sad am i?! :rolleyes:
    I get sad when I am coming to the close of a good book...though I am a bit off from that now.
    I tend to start to read really slow...or limit it to a chapter a night.
    I get so attached to the characters.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • PJSerfPJSerf Posts: 637
    Finally got the book yesterday, I'll be reading it down the shore this weekend.
    "If you love someone, set them free... if someone loves you, don't fuck up" - EV
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    this book is excellent....good choice.... one of those books that i can't wait to get back to!
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    nfanel wrote:
    this book is excellent....good choice.... one of those books that i can't wait to get back to!
    I agree....just want to curl up in bed with it.
    I am at a loss for what the hell is going to happen....I love the whole first person narrative in the present tense.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    I just finished the book this morning...I think I started crying around pg 325 and cried until the end.
    I truly could not believe what was happening.
    The writing grabs you and pulls you in so closely and then rips your heart out and touches your soul.
    I was so moved by this book.
    Thank you Dunk for bringing it to everyone's attention.
    I am so grateful to you.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • TrixieCat wrote:
    I just finished the book this morning...I think I started crying around pg 325 and cried until the end.
    I truly could not believe what was happening.
    The writing grabs you and pulls you in so closely and then rips your heart out and touches your soul.
    I was so moved by this book.
    Thank you Dunk for bringing it to everyone's attention.
    I am so grateful to you.

    I'm finishing it tonight... I can't wait :o
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    I'm finishing it tonight... I can't wait :o
    I tried to drag it out but flew through alot last night and purposely saved 25 pgs to read this morning.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • TrixieCat wrote:
    I tried to drag it out but flew through alot last night and purposely saved 25 pgs to read this morning.

    I've dragged it out. I only have 50 odd pages left, they're gonna be gone by tonight. I'm gutted it's ending tbh :(:o
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • surfanddestroysurfanddestroy Posts: 2,786
    I keep meaning to get this but still haven't gotten round to it yet.
    Astoria 20/04/06, Leeds 25/08/06, Prague 22/09/06, Wembley 18/06/07,
    Dusseldorf 21/06/07, Manchester 17/08/09, London 18/08/09, LA 06/10/09, LA 07/10/09.

    Ain't gonna be any middle anymore.
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    TrixieCat wrote:
    I just finished the book this morning...I think I started crying around pg 325 and cried until the end.
    I truly could not believe what was happening.
    The writing grabs you and pulls you in so closely and then rips your heart out and touches your soul.
    I was so moved by this book.
    Thank you Dunk for bringing it to everyone's attention.
    I am so grateful to you.
    it's taking me forever to finish because i just haven't had much time for reading, but i'm glad - i don't want it to end! i haven't been this attached to a book in a while. i'm at the point where he just got to brooklyn. it is really great storytelling.
  • urbanhippieurbanhippie Posts: 3,007
    TrixieCat wrote:
    I just finished the book this morning...I think I started crying around pg 325 and cried until the end.
    I truly could not believe what was happening.
    The writing grabs you and pulls you in so closely and then rips your heart out and touches your soul.
    I was so moved by this book.
    Thank you Dunk for bringing it to everyone's attention.
    I am so grateful to you.
    I think I cried solidly through the last couple of chapters...A great story, and beautifully written...Thanks Dunk :)
    A human being that was given to fly.

    Wembley 18/06/07

    If there was a reason, it was you.

    O2 Arena 18/09/09
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    i finished today. i'm bummed it's over. great book.
  • chimechime Posts: 7,839
    Reading all your reactions to this book I ordered it and it arrived on Saturday. Am currently 100 pages in ...
    So are we strangers now? Like rock and roll and the radio?
  • just tinajust tina Posts: 277
    which book are you all reading/finishing right now? i've gone back a few pages but i haven't come across the answer...
  • which book are you all reading/finishing right now? i've gone back a few pages but i haven't come across the answer...

    'A Quiet Belief in Angels' by R.J. Ellory.

    It's awesome :o
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    We still need to chat about it a bit and then someone needs to pick the next book.
    :)
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • just tinajust tina Posts: 277
    thank you
  • TrixieCat wrote:
    We still need to chat about it a bit and then someone needs to pick the next book.
    :)

    I'm all too happy to chat about it Trix! :D

    Has everyone finished though? I don't want to reveal anything! :o
    Been to this many PJ shows: Reading 2006 London 2007 Manchester & London 2009 Dublin, Belfast, London, Nijmegen & Berlin 2010 Manchester 1 & Manchester 2 2012...

    ... and I still think Drive-By Truckers are better.
  • chimechime Posts: 7,839
    I'm all too happy to chat about it Trix! :D

    Has everyone finished though? I don't want to reveal anything! :o

    I;ve only just started really so it's not fair on you guys being held up by the stragglers who've only just got the book. I'll just know not to read this thread again until I'm finished :)
    So are we strangers now? Like rock and roll and the radio?
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Chime wrote:
    I;ve only just started really so it's not fair on you guys being held up by the stragglers who've only just got the book. I'll just know not to read this thread again until I'm finished :)
    Yeah...stay away...just when you think, ok, cool....it just gets crazy again.
    So I finally found some discussion questions.
    Let's start with the first one.
    Remember...no wrong answers..just opinions.

    Why does Joseph write?
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • urbanhippieurbanhippie Posts: 3,007
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Yeah...stay away...just when you think, ok, cool....it just gets crazy again.
    So I finally found some discussion questions.
    Let's start with the first one.
    Remember...no wrong answers..just opinions.

    Why does Joseph write?
    Catharsis, therapy... a need to make sense of the world...
    A human being that was given to fly.

    Wembley 18/06/07

    If there was a reason, it was you.

    O2 Arena 18/09/09
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Catharsis, therapy... a need to make sense of the world...
    Yeah, definitely cathartic.
    To deal with his feelings about his mom and the loss of Alex. They were the 2 people that really encouraged him to write. I think he did it mostly for Alex.

    And when he was in prison..I think he felt a sense of obligation to Hennessey...what an awesome character. In my mind he is played by Paul Bettany. And the sheriff is played by Tommy Lee Jones.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • nfanelnfanel Posts: 2,558
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Yeah, definitely cathartic.
    To deal with his feelings about his mom and the loss of Alex. They were the 2 people that really encouraged him to write. I think he did it mostly for Alex.

    And when he was in prison..I think he felt a sense of obligation to Hennessey...what an awesome character. In my mind he is played by Paul Bettany. And the sheriff is played by Tommy Lee Jones.
    ah, good answer. when i first read your question i thought it meant why did he initially write...in which case i was going to say his crush on alex was responsible...at that age when someone you have a crush on tells you that you are good at something and should pursue it...well not much is going to stop you. :)

    and oh my god, that is FREAKY! i pictured paul bettany, too! at first i was thinking "the friend from a beautiful mind"....and then went to look up who paul bettany was and saw it was the same guy! weird!
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    nfanel wrote:
    ah, good answer. when i first read your question i thought it meant why did he initially write...in which case i was going to say his crush on alex was responsible...at that age when someone you have a crush on tells you that you are good at something and should pursue it...well not much is going to stop you. :)

    and oh my god, that is FREAKY! i pictured paul bettany, too! at first i was thinking "the friend from a beautiful mind"....and then went to look up who paul bettany was and saw it was the same guy! weird!
    Voodoo....:)
    I had the fortunate opportunity to meet him and work with him years ago...right before he broke out. He is an awesome person. Funny as hell and the perfect gentleman...and wicked smart. :p
    He is totally Hennessey.
    I loved the whole relationship with Alex. And though she was much older...it never felt dirty or wrong or forced. It was romantic and realistic at the same time. Joseph knowing what to do with her and her body was perfect. He knew because he was so in love with her.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • TrixieCatTrixieCat Posts: 5,756
    Am I the only one that was suspecting that Alex was the killer for a while??
    I think Ellory did a good job at keeping us guessing for a long time, even though Dearing was always in the back of my mind.
    Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
    And I don't feel right when you're gone away
  • just tinajust tina Posts: 277
    this is not an easy book to come by is it...
    i went to order it on amazon, only used copies and not very many. but it sounds like i need to read it too after hearing all of you talk about it.
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    TrixieCat wrote:
    Am I the only one that was suspecting that Alex was the killer for a while??
    I think Ellory did a good job at keeping us guessing for a long time, even though Dearing was always in the back of my mind.

    I thought it was Alex for a good part of the book.. I also thought it was the eldest german kid...

    upon reflection this has to be one of the best books i've ever read... i sometimes stop and think about it... but my only complaint during the reading of it was the long luxurious descriptions during those early years which take up half the book... and then he does like 13 years in prison in under 10 pages or something... but i realise reading all about those 13 years would have been boring.... and so the first half of the book is almost perfect in my eyes... i genuinely thought i could smell and feel Augusta Falls... it was such good descriptive writing.

    especially the shagging bits.
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    this is not an easy book to come by is it...
    i went to order it on amazon, only used copies and not very many. but it sounds like i need to read it too after hearing all of you talk about it.

    maybe one of your fellow countrypeople on here will send you their used copy? :)
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • just tinajust tina Posts: 277
    dunkman wrote:
    maybe one of your fellow countrypeople on here will send you their used copy? :)
    possibly :) but i don't really know anyone here so...
    its not a big deal, i think i can still get a copy at amazon, i was just surprised.
  • urbanhippieurbanhippie Posts: 3,007
    I never thought Alex was the killer, although I did flirt with the idea of it being Reilly for a while...awesome character btw.

    The same with the German boy...it wasn't until quite near the end I entertained the thought of it being Dearing.
    A human being that was given to fly.

    Wembley 18/06/07

    If there was a reason, it was you.

    O2 Arena 18/09/09
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