Sandra’s Comments (group member since Jan 21, 2020)

Sandra’s comments from the The Obscure Reading Group group.

Welcome to all you newcomers! I’m enjoying just reading your introductions, so it looks like we will have a lively discussion.

Ken. One of my favorite Dickens is Little Dorrit. I see you didn’t mention it. But I can’t nominate it since I already read it. 😐

Welcome, Matt.

Hurray and Welcome, Daniel! I’m a retired English teacher! We have great discussions here.

Amazing recommendations! But I see the one for me.

Hey, everybody. Good to hear you are doing okay during this difficult time. Sue, get better fast! Jan, wow. I am so relieved I am retired, and I hear from my teacher friends that everything is so challenging right now. I also know you are a devoted teacher and will do well regardless of the pandemic! Ken, thanks for your dedication to keeping this obscure group alive. I have been incredibly busy with getting that first book of poetry finished, but it’s finally published, thank goodness. I won’t be offering any suggestions for our next book, but I look forward to reading whichever one we select. Cheers.

Thank you, Candi! Ken, I have very little motivation to contact small book publishing companies...nor any idea how...but good luck to you!

Candi, I love Dickens, so I’m sure you’re enjoying DC. I just started The Lotus Eaters. I see it’s ten years old, but I read a review on Goodreads and realized I’ve never read a novel about Viet Nam. I read Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried years ago, so I decided on this book. I have had a very slow start since I’ve been revising and editing poems for my very first book of poetry, inspired by Ken to finally self publish. Are you still writing your poems, Ken?

Love the front porch idea!!

I agree that this book would be considered more of a coming-of-age story than a mystery. It is a good story about a young girl during a horrendous time in history. I learned a bit about Hungary’s role in WW2. I enjoyed the unique setting of the school as well. The identity of Abigail added suspense, and for a time we were guessing who it could be. However, that particular plot device, whatever Szabó’s intentions, became tiresome. Maybe the author decided at some point that it wasn’t important to keep Abigail a secret to the reader, but to keep it from Gina. Although there are many things I liked while reading the book, other elements(which others have pointed out) kept me from a five star rating. The best part was reading all your insights and perceptions!

Yes, Cindy! I agree with everything you said. A mystery that isn’t a mystery...

I finally was able to finish the book tonight, staying up way past my normal bedtime. Overall I liked it. I guess, as I’ve said before, I liked the poetic rhythm of the writing; that was my favorite thing about this book...and it was a translation. I also enjoyed the child’s point of view during wartime. Sometimes the storyline felt like the game of Clue and we were held to the plot by guessing who Abigail was. But we all figured out it was Konig due to—as Ken pointed out—an abundance of “clues.” I don’t like mysteries that are so obvious and predictable. I will probably have more to say tomorrow after a little much needed sleep!

Yes! A sequel would have been my next book.

I’m loving the end of this story. The action really picked up speed. Almost finished and will be so interested in what you all think.

Welcome, Erin. So nice to gain yet another perspective in our “obscure” group! Thanks for sharing such wonderful background about yourself.

Great! Welcome, Sarah. It’s such a wonderful group!

Yes, Angela. Developing empathy is a long and gradual process. The fact that Gina didn’t immediately grow up seems realistic. And I agree Dianne. Konig is kind and helpful. I just hope he isn’t Abigail because that would be too predictable!

Jan, thanks so much for your comments on my poem. I really had no idea how much it would relate to this story. The last line about leaving is layered. It hopefully suggests growing up, leaving home, and my father’s absence.

Wow. What amazing work you and your sister are doing. How nice you could see her! My sister lives about two hours from me and we have not seen each other since January. But soon, hopefully!

Yes! She and I have discovered that connection. Small world until a pandemic keeps family so far apart😔

Thank you, Jeremy! He loves Singapore but he’s an outdoor educator who takes students on kayaking trips and travels to China, Australia, New Zealand...many places...so distance learning doesn’t work so well!

Jan, I appreciate your reference to the poem I shared about 1945. I see many similarities in “Abigail.” The train story with the soldiers and the girls watching reminded me of my poem.