Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Cinnamon]

Chat here for this book,which I read a few months ago & really enjoyed

 

Next book is another old read for me - 'Snow Flower & the Secret Fan' by Lisa See.

[chickencam]

I really enjoyed this book and read it within a week which is pretty good for me.

 

It gave a real insight into what it was like to live in middleclass society in the 1950's, there was a lot of isolation and loneliness. It was very difficult for anyone to show their individuality and follow their hearts. We don't realise how lucky we are today, to have much more freedom of expression. If you were a woman who liked your own company, life could get pretty tedious. I know that I would hate the entertaining and being the lady of the house, able to give orders to a housekeeper but unable to do much myself.

 

It also gave us a great insight into mental illness and the pressures of being a teenager unable to express your feelings. I found it so sad that the two main characters Lewis and Kit were both starved of affection. Lewis had at least had his mother's love for the first 10 years of his life, but poor Kit lived in a very loveless world. Those kinds of attitudes to parenting are so far removed from the way that most of us now bring up our families, it is hard to realise that there have been so many generations of people who have been brought up in that way.

 

I found the book very atmospheric and gripping, definitely one that I would recommend.

[Seagazer]

I'm glad you both enjoyed it as it was my choice. I was a bit worried about it.

 

I read this a couple of years ago on holiday and I don't think I've ever read a book so quickly as I just wanted to know what happened to Lewis that got him sent to prison. I felt so strongly for him, he was so misunderstood and alone. I know my dad talks about my granddad as having been a very distant father, no hugging etc and almost ignored. It makes me feel really sad. I felt so sorry for Lewis' mum and step mother, they seemed so unhappy yet unable to do anything really about their lifes.

 

(I'm half way through the book again - been caught up in reading Boy George's autobiography ) so will get on and finish it again.

[P&P]

I also enjoyed this book - the difficulties of both the children and the adults in the two families made quite disturbing reading, and I read it quite quickly, desperately hoping that things would get better for Lewis, while all the time they just got worse, until the very end. Although our society of today is very different, I fear that for many youngsters it is equally difficult today for them to express themselves, and many still grow up in families devoid of love and understanding. Thank you for recommending it.

 

Pauline

[chickencam]

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only person who had read this excellent book.

 

I would love the book group to thrive again, because I have read so many good books that I would probably not otherwise have read since the group started. I am sure once the winter months come along there will be more time for reading

[Seagazer]

I seem to remember it slowing down last summer, I think people get caught up in the holidays and don't get around to the forum so much.

 

I must look at the list and order the next couple of books.

 

I'm glad everyone has enjoyed the book so far, as I said before, it really touched me and I felt so glad that I'd read it. I just wanted to scoop Lewis and Kit up and take them far away from their families.

[Janepie33]

Have finally got round to reading this wonderful book. I'm a bit behind and out of order with the book group at the moment!

 

I loved it - even though it was very difficult to read in places, Lewis' mum drowning, Lewis cutting himself, Kit's beatings. It was so sad that Kit and Lewis really needed each other but it took Lewis so long to realise it!

The fathers made me so angry! How dare they treat their families in such a way! But, as said before, that was the way of the 50's. Thank goodness we are a bit more enlightened these days, although there are still young people suffering this form of abuse.

The local GP was a bit feeble and the rest of the village. How they could all sit in church and not see what was going on under their noses!

I loved the ending. It gave us hope that Lewis and Kit will be just fine and finally together.