Jamie

Jamie asked:

Can someone please tell me what happened at the darn BBQ? I honestly can't stand another chapter to find out. This book didn't do it for me.

324 likes · like
9 years ago
40 answers

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Mary Rugg Courtney OMG, thank you for asking this! The audio version is even worse. I got it to listen to on my long drive to work every day, and I JUST CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. The reader is just awful. Every time she says "the day of the barbecue" I want to punch someone! I am done with this.

Brie The book is not plot-driven. It is character-driven. I think the constant references to the BBQ are an invitation to consider: what kind of event would have the effect it does on each of the characters? E.g., a rift in C & S's marriage. Not that you could possibly figure out what had actually happened. It's too specific for that. But then when you do find out what it was, you can think about why that event had those effects, and that deepens your understanding of each character. Bottom line: if you're mainly focused on plot, this isn't the book for you. But I loved it for the reasons I love the other Moriartys I've read: you get the perspectives of different characters on the various interactions, along with backstories that explain why they have those different perspectives.

Debie

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)[***SPOILER***
Not sure how far you got in the book but first there was a build up to Erica and Oliver asking Clementine to be a donor for them to have a baby. They asked Clementine and Sam right before heading over to Tiffany and Vid's for the BBQ. At the BBQ Erica overheard Clementine tell Sam the idea of donating her eggs to Erica was repulsive to her. That's why Erica started drinking (after having taken her anti anxiety medicine right before asking Clementine & Sam.)

Then the second reveal is that Ruby ends up floating in Vid's fountain. All the parents were preoccupied: Tiffany was giving a lap dance to Clementine (after talking about Tiffany's days as a pole dancer/stripper), Sam & Vid were watching Tiffany, Oliver was in the bathroom, Erica was in the house. So everyone had all this guilt about not seeing Ruby fall in the fountain (including Tiffany's daughter, Dakota who had stopped playing with the little girls and went inside to read a book.) But Erica and Oliver resuscitated Ruby and she's helicoptered to the hospital, where after a bit of suspense, she ends up perfectly OK.

Even later it is revealed that Holly actually pushed her sister Ruby into the fountain. Erica finally remembers everything...The cranky neighbor Harry (who they finally explain his backstory of losing his wife and young son in an accident at a fair) saw it happening from his window and banged on the window to warn Erica. Erica (drunk & affected by her medication) didn't realize that it was Ruby floating in the fountain and let time slip by before actually running to help. In the meantime, Harry had tried to run down to help, slipped, hit his head and died... yes, that's the real reason he died.
Ruby ended up being fine. Everyone felt guilty, but the worst thing was that Holly finally revealed to Oliver and the grandma, Pam that she had pushed Ruby into the fountain (for touching her purse with her rock collection) and they let Holly think it wasn't her fault and gave her no consequences for nearly killing her baby sister.
Clementine and Sam nearly divorce but don't. Clementime starts the process of donating her eggs, but when Oliver finds out the truth of how Clementine felt they decline. Clementine starts to see her relationship with Erica in a different light, but it looks like Erica will finally put some distance between her and Clementine and their "friendship." Erica and Oliver decide to go on a 6-month trip abroad and will look into fostering a child when they get back. (hide spoiler)]

Ana Adams OMG, this book couldn`t move slower...
I picked this up during last summer because I loved The Husband`s Secret and Big Little Lies, but this book I could not stand. I kept putting it down and picking up for months and just plowed through it this week. If you are thinking about letting this go, please do, it is not worth the time.

Josie D'aniello Glad somebody is feeling the same as me. I am trhough to the 50% of the book and I can't read one more page too boring actually ....

Nancy I'm glad you posted this so that others will not feel so alone. I usually love her stuff but this one? No thank you.

BullDetector Maybe you chicks should stick with comic books...
This book is great. I always enjoyed LM's work, but postponed buying it because of all the silly complaints about it being too slow paced, repetitive or not to-the-point-soon-enough... fortunately I did and I am happy to say, I love it ! Great fun.

Greg

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Lesli Crighton I feel the same as most of the people commenting on here.
I loved Big Little Lies, The Husbands Secret and The Last Anniversary and was looking forward to this one too.
However when I reached the part when the events at the BBQ were revealed, i was really disappointed as so much had been hinted at.
There just didn't seem to be much to the book. None of the characters were that likeable and I just didn't care.
Felt like it was a waste of time to read,

Kathy Beckmann I agree...65% through the book until "it" happened. I truly couldn't wait for this book to be over!

Shawneshoo Eshoo I was getting antsy too. I almost skipped to the end. Needed to get to the point quicker.

Laura Trierweiler

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Tracy Adams Totally agree.... WTH??!!! I'm half way through and still have no clue. So annoyed. It's like someone saying... hey you know what... never mind.. then just leading you on FOREVER.

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Jodi I regret reading this book

Susan Rivera I am also listening to it in the car and felt the same way. Every chapter that begins "The day of the barbeque..." I thought, finally I will find out, but no. I did finally find out yesterday in chapter 50 something. Can't image what is left on the 4 more disks.

Jennifer Guse Seriously, this is exactly how I felt THROUGH THE ENTIRE BOOK. So annoying and frustrating, and I didn't want to finish reading it.

Rachel Gaspers Thank You SOOOOO much for asking this: the book is, at least, 200 pages too long to be playing this "cat and mouse game".....

Angeladyrcz Thanks for asking this. She is usually one of my favorites but this one was just awful.

Laura So what DOES happen at the BBQ?

Julie Ugh. I skipped to halfway just to get on with it. So irritating.

Patricia Maestro The youngest daugther drowns but is revived by the friend couple.

Nancy Thank you so much for providing the spoilers! This book just became so irritating which was disappointing as I've so enjoyed her previous books.

Ilona I literally had the same response to this book. I just slammed it shut at one point and called my friend, who had recommended it to me. I said 'you're going to tell me what happened at the BBQ NOW or I'm burning the book'. She told me.

I told her I was going to burn the book anyway.

Stef Rozitis There is a lap-dance just before "the thing" happens so if you like that sort of thing then read on. LOL. No I wouldn't bother. I actually thought it was well plotted and the idea of the book was good...if only the characters were less unrelatable and just AWFUL. So, so privileged and yet whiny and harboring so much hatred for each other (at least Erica and Oliver have some sort of affection for each other...but even that was only wonderful in contrast to everyone else in the book).

Fiona Leonard Too funny. I was so tempted to come and post the same question. The first half of the book drove me insane with it's 'if only they hadn't gone to the bbq' cliff hangers. It's frustrating. I enjoyed the rest of the book, if only the editor had very kindly suggested that maybe they prune out all the bbq one liners from the first half of the book.

Carol My thoughts exactly. I started reading ahead to find out and it really didn't ruin a thing. Do it!

Francine I'm feeling exactly the same way right now . . .

Marina Sweet I went to book club last week and asked the same questions?!? Just couldn't do it.

Darlene Q On page 225 and still have no idea what happens. How have I read SO MUCH but still only know the same amount of Information as I did from reading the back of the book?!?!

Pam I am listening now and love the narrator. Don't know about the BBQ yet but I am sure you have found out by now.

LINDA SHEPARD Let me start by saying I have read three or four Liane Moriarty books and have really enjoyed them all. I am on page 132 if this book and was wondering the same thing. Another chapter or so and it’s going into the library donation pile.

Cathy Dunwiddie It took me over 200 pages before the book started to get good - then it automatically returned to the library (digital)! I finally wanted to see how it ends and now I have to wait till I can check it out again. Ugh! I would not recommend it, but I always have to finish what I start, so I drudged through it.

Valerie Rimmer Read Haha, I felt exactly the same! It took me 11 months to read the first half of the book and then it improved. I read the second half in three weeks. Perhaps you've found the same.

Linda Jasso I also could not bring myself to keep reading this book! It just seemed to drag....and drag. Read a little over half of this book and just couldn't keep going:(
Bummer, I really enjoy Liane Moriarty's books.

Sue Williams I agree with the other commentors, you can give this book a pass ... I did finnish out of sheer determination, but this book just drags in ridiculous twists and turns.

Elaine Nickolan Thought it was just me and was hoping it would be revealed before too long. However, based on some of these comments I have a long way to go to find out. Not really feeling this book. If this is one of the authors best, I would be hard pressed to read another by her.

stephanie I'm just starting chapter 6 and ready to stop and give up.

Renee Can someone tell me when something will actually happen? Not sure why this was on a Best Fiction list but I'll be patient...

Peggy I, too, found it tiresome how long readers have to find out what happened at the BBQ. I had just finished reading Fractured which employs the same plot structure. I thought the characters were well developed and the story was interesting though.

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Truly Madly Guilty

by Liane Moriarty (Goodreads Author)

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