Audra’s Comments (group member since Dec 28, 2013)

Audra’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

@Sarah - I thought the same thing! JP has something to do with Janie's murder. I felt a lot of suspense around the Connor character as well.

@Sharon - Very interesting connection with one of the kids looking different from the others... I hadn't thought that it could have been the other way around. And yes, my view of Cecilia changed after her motor mouth scene, haha.

@Jessica - I liked the way you worded it and also thought the same thing about "a betrayal of the heart would hurt far worse than a betrayal of the body." And yes, it is very true that it can hurt more to live than it is to die when someone you love so deeply is gone. YES! I think JP and Connor are involved with Janie!!

@Jkmays - The idea of the double family crossed my mind too! I don't think anyone else has brought up the idea of Will and Felicity trying to protect their morals by not sleeping together. I hope that is true! And yes, they should have removed themselves when the feelings arose in the first place. Someone would have had to make the first "move" to get such a relationship started.

@Mirliz - It does make you think more about what other people think of you when our opinions of Cecilia changed so quickly after seeing her through Tess's eyes.

@Zonnah - I think I'm going to start writing the characters down too!

7. Ah - the suspense! If the letter really is what John-Paul claims, why would he not want her to open it? It's not what he says! Maybe between the letter and the fact that the book is called The Husband's SECRET I just don't have much trust in the character from the get-go.

8. Will seems to think it is important that Tess knows he didn't actually sleep with Felicity. Do you think that is a good thing? (For me it in some ways makes it worse as it means he believes he is in love with Felicity, that it is not just a physical thing.) No, I don't believe it's a good thing at all and I agree it makes it much worse. That means he truly loves Felicity more than his wife and the mother of his child. I'm heartbroken for Tess.

9. Tess' mother guessed that it was Felicity and Will. Does that mean it was obvious to everyone but Tess? That could very well be the case. But maybe it could be just because she already knows how much time they all spend together.

10. There have been a few references to the Berlin wall, first in "Cecilia's chapter" and now in the flashback to Rachel and Ed. What do you think is the relevance of this? I think it might just be symbolism or a way to signify that something happened around that time to create the connection between the characters in the story. Still a little unsure about this one!

11. The reveal of what happened to Rachel (with Janie) was heartbreaking. Do you think she is being an over bearing mother-in-law with Jacob, or is it understandable? Not at all overbearing, and completely understandable. The dreams she had for her daughter was crushed and that makes Jacob just that more important to her. Seeing my parents after my own brother passed away a year ago makes it hit close to home. I know when I have kids my parents will be extremely involved, no if's, and's, or but's. The dreams she had for her daughter was crushed and that makes Jacob just that more important to her.

12. Cecilia starts to theorise about what is in the letter (an affair, revelation her husband is gay etc.) Do you have a theory? I think it could have something to do with the death of Janie.

13. The meeting between Tess and Cecilia was interesting as we got to see Cecilia from another person's POV. Your thoughts?
"Tess blinked. It was like being buried in an avalanche of detail. The myriad of tiny logistical manouvres that made up someone else's life" Oh my gosh! She would wear me out. Slow down and chill girlfriend.

14. So the school is what brings together the meeting of Cecilia, Tess and Rachel although I'm still not sure how/if they will become 'friends'. I quite liked Tess' mum being honest with Rachel "Of course I'm sure it's exciting for your son and daughter in law. It's just that after all you've been through, losing Janie like - the way you did, and then your husband..." I think it's better to address the situations than act like it never happened or her daughter never existed. They also talk about the looks and hesitation that Rachel gets when people talk to her. From experience, that drives me crazy.

15. Connor Whitby could be a love interest for Tess? Or am I way off base? I'm thinking that maybe he had something to do with Janie as well. Both Conner and JP?! Who knows. Someone has to be connected with her sudden passing. It sounds like they may have been acquaintances in the past.

16. Oh the awkwardness of the conversation between Tess and her father! I loved how it was described It was always excruciating. No matter how hard she tried she could never seem to synchronise her conversations with her father" Have you ever found yourself in this kind of situation? Oh yes! That awkward conversation of someone you haven't seen since you were really young and you don't remember what commonalities you may still have. Also with my biological grandfather. Don't know him because of an affair he had before I was born so when he showed up to my brother's funeral this was exactly the situation. No clue what to say to the man.

Same as Kristie! The Thursday thing really threw me off at the beginning but I did the same as you. Must be a difference in the US and Australian print of the books? I will just make sure I read to go with the questions!

Chapter 7 ended at question 12, are we also reading Chapter 8 then?

The Australian setting took a little adjusting to and I have to constantly remind myself! It goes right back to what I was talking to my students about today... when you read a book you just assume the characters are the same ethnicity as you without realizing it. It's good to get out of our bubble!

Jessica wrote: "Just noticing nobody has mentioned that the stories are somewhat tied together already. But In ch 2 Tess has a memory of the Fitzgerald boys and JP is the oldest of those boys and Rachel is the rec..."

Oh wow! Way to make those connections. I'm going to have to pay closer attention. It will be interesting to see how those connections end up playing out now!

@Karen

Which Picoult book did you read? Maybe I can help you find a better one. :)

Jessica wrote: "I thought Moriarty was going a bit overboard with Cecilia's agonizing over opening the letter or not. Though, I am also someone who does things before thinking of the consequences. But once the pho..."

I'm very intrigued by your interpretation of the Biggest Loser! I think you are definitely on the right track. Makes much more sense to me now. :)

Karen and Sarah,

I agree with what you said about the point of view switching in Chapter Two and then just wanting to read on because you NEED to find out what happens next to that character. Another reason this style of writing really gets the reader hooked!!

1. I'm loving the book so far! I enjoy the writing style a lot, and it reminds me of Jodi Picoult's style of writing. I like being able to see the story from different characters points of view and then see how they end up crossing. Also reminds me of Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner.

2. I thought the story of Pandora was a good introduction to the book. It was almost humorous to see the story in that point of view. And yes, the cover seems fitting.

3. I do like Cecilia's character. Although she is extremely organized around the house, she does not seem to be the same way in the way that she thinks! Gives her that relatable quality, at least to me.

4. I would have asked my husband about it first... but then read it!

5. It definitely would have to be something hidden in the past. Maybe the thing in 1984 was a child Rachel had that is actually Cecilia's husband. And the spiderboy could be a child from an affair that Cecilia's husband had. I'm not exactly sure how they could be intersecting lives, but it has to be more than just a Biggest Loser episode!

6. The relationship between Will and Felicity is so irritating! I noticed some people said Will should have told her privately but I'm thinking that it should have been Felicity. Especially since they were "closer than sisters" all their lives. I laughed when they suggested all living together, seriously?! I have a feeling we are going to be seeing quite a few more "you go girl"moments from Cecilia!

Ready to go and excited for my first online book club!