Cinnamon Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Chat here about this book, which hopefully everyone read over the Christmas period. Next book on the list is 'A Time To Speak' by Helen Lewis (sadly not available on Kindle) & chat will start about that on March 1st, or thereabouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I tried twice to get into this book and failed both times, sorry; just didn't like the style at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I also tried to get into it but failed It's not like me to give up on a book, I just couldn't get to grips with it at all, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 I love this book, it is a real epic,but it is not an easy read,is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Im reading it, but finding it hard going I keep wanting someone to punch the father I loved the bits where they were travelling and carried all of their stuff because it was too heavy for their luggage allowance, every step they clunked I will continue to read and try and finish it. cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janepie33 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I didn't read it as part of the book group as I read it a long long time ago (don't tend to re read books). But I did finish it and sort of enjoyed it even though it was a hard read and extremely sad. What struck me at the time of reading was the way the women were treated and the fact that Reverend Nathan Price thought he was so right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Just downloaded it. I'll try to read it over the next couple of weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P&P Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I read this a while back, and really enjoyed it. Not the sort of thing I would normally read, but right from the start I was interested, and found the initial descriptions of their journey there and initial impressions quite amusing, although it developed into a very serious account of their experiences. As it was about an area of the world that I know little about, I found the descriptions and the historical aspect very interesting. Although at times I found the changes in narrator a bit confusing, it was fascinating to see how each member of the family viewed their experiences in a different way. Took a dislike to the father early on as he was so immovable in his views: I did think at one point that it would have been interesting to have his version of things included too, but that would have changed the nature of the whole book, so maybe not. When it became obvious that something had happened to one of the girls, I was gripped, and read frantically to discover more... As they grew up and developed their own lives and personalities it would have been easy to dislike the older daughter intensely for her shallowness, but getting all sides of the story made it easier to have sympathy with all parties. A great story, and I would certainly consider reading other books by this author. Thank you for recommending it!Pauline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I struggled too with this book but I did persevere with it but it took me a long time to get through it although it did pick up a bit from about the middle but then became a bit boring towards the end. I also got really annoyed with the father but didn't really think that any of the other characters pulled me in. I couldn't even visualise them which means a that I've not really got into the book. I did say to my hubby that if it wasn't for the fact it was a book club book then I wouldn't have carried on reading it. I'm not sure if it was because of reading each chapter from a different sister or just the writer's writing style but it just didn't grab me and at the end I was just ok its finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticjudyann Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I read half of this but got very bogged down and like others wanted to smack Nathan Price. In the end I gave up because it wasn't a very easy read Maybe I need to try a little harder Sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 it's one of my favourite books of all time.... My book group raged over it for ages, fabulous discussions and I just reread it to savour it all over again. So worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Sorry to be late to my own suggestion for reading. I really enjoyed it which was why I recommended it. I felt the same as several of you to start with and was extremely angry with Nathan Price. In a way I think that's what kept me going, to ensure he got his come-uppance in some way I liked the varied narration getting a different spin from each daughter. I felt angry too that his wife did not fight harder for her children- but I guess it was typical of it's time in terms of women's rights back then and whether or not they had a voice within a marriage. So glad I read it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I've just finished this. It took me an age to plough through it. Like everyone else I found Nathan Price to be loathsome, and a woefully inadequate father and husband. I kept having to remind myself that his wartime experiences had made him the man he was. His wife was a weak and ineffectual character, worn out by bearing 3 of her four children in a short space of time, with no support, and being stuck with a man whose character had changed because of his unacknowledged mental problems. The paternalistic attitude towards the local people made me cringe, and at one point I almost abandoned the book because of it, although I imagine it was typical of the type of people that the Prices were, but something made me plough on, and I'm glad I persisted. The history of the country made fascinating reading. I was vaguely aware of the situation in neighbouring Angola as a child, and recognised some of the politicians names mentioned. A beautifully written book which captures the essence of Africa and gives an insight into the damage caused by the meddlesome and greedy West, both missionary and political. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 This is definitely one of my Desert Island books, I absolutely loved it. it was one of those books that I looked at every time I was in a bookshop, but never quite got round to buying. My son's girlfriend, who has very similar literary tastes to me, said it was one of her favourite books so I bought it to read on holiday last year, and am so glad I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 Really glad to hear that some of you enjoyed it - it is set in the Belgian Congo though not Angola! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 This is one of my favourite books ever. I love the desciptions, both of the history and the various parts of Africa in which the story takes place. The 1960's was a turbulent time in the history of the African countries mentioned in the book (the Congo, Angola, South Africa), and the book gives an interesting perspective on how ordinary people's lives were transformed (or not) as a result of the political upheaval of that decade. Having grown up in South Africa I can sadly say that the arrogance and paternalistic attitude towards the local people is typical of the era and the type of characters, for example the Prices (each in their own different way), the Underdowns and the slimy mr. Eeben Axelroot. It does make the book very believable I thought. Also, the Afrikaans bits in the book are all correct, so hats off to the author for her thorough research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
