A Good Thriller discussion
Group Read Archive
>
Group Read - White Is The Coldest Colour by John Nicholl - July
OK, WE CAN DISCUSS ANYTHING NOW WITHOUT HAVING TO USE SPOILERS!!
Im still reading it but, ill pop in when im done wich should be tonight. So carry on without spoilers if thats the plan.
Stefanie wrote: "Jan wrote: "Hi John, here's a question I've been waiting to ask, will put in spoiler because I know Cameron is still reading I'm curious as to why Dr G didn't abuse his daughters, outside of igno..."
You all can use spoilers, I don't care. Let's face it, if I cared about spoilers, I would not have joined this group. Stefanie, are you done, too? Am I the only one not done? I am sorry guys. I had a stroke a few years back and I read a lot slower. I hope that this is not a problem with anyone.
Hi Cameron, There is absolutely no rush as far as I'm concerned. My reading also slowed after a back injury.
Bless you Cameron, read at your own pace! :) no need to apologise.
Cameron wrote: "Stefanie wrote: "Jan wrote: "Hi John, here's a question I've been waiting to ask, will put in spoiler because I know Cameron is still reading I'm curious as to why Dr G didn't abuse his daughters..."
Take your time, none of us care at all! Just wanted to make sure we wouldn't ruin anything for anyone :)
I think now is a good time to have that discussion about the title and its meaning! Ishita-would you like yo chime in with your thoughts first? I know myself and a few others were anxious to here. :)
Cameron wrote: "Stefanie wrote: "Jan wrote: "Hi John, here's a question I've been waiting to ask, will put in spoiler because I know Cameron is still reading I'm curious as to why Dr G didn't abuse his daughters..."
Take as long as you need Cam, I was rushing myself at first because I got a late start and then with my son's birthday I had little time to read. It was ruining my enjoyment of the book. Take as much time as you need!!
John wrote: "Hi Stefanie, I'm interested to know in what context you studied abnormal psychology?"Hey John,
I have a Bachleor's Degree in Neuroscience and was applying to medical schools when I realized I was pregnant. So my career plans have changed. I am interested in Forensic Psychology, perhaps working with a police department or in a prison and I am currently preparing applications to graduate schools for clinical psychology doctoral programs. I took abnormal psychology because (1) it really interests me and (2) I needed a few more psychology credits to apply to graduate school.
Thanks for the interest!
John wrote: "Hi Ishita, They wouldn't all be handcuffed. There would be violence, threats of violence, and manipulative psychological pressure such as that inflicted on Anthony."So they'd just let them do anything? Absolutely anything?
I'm sorry but this is just really hard for me to grasp, terrifying as it is.
Jan wrote: "I think now is a good time to have that discussion about the title and its meaning! Ishita-would you like yo chime in with your thoughts first? I know myself and a few others were anxious to here. :)"I might be over-thinking but I have my own theory. Experience let the author decide that he wanted his antagonist to be a doctor; and what's the first thing that you think of when you hear the word "doctor"? A person dressed in white with a stethoscope around his neck. The author chose to focus on white and stress on it throughout the book- the White Room, the White Van! However obvious, that was a clever thing to pick up on. And what horror must the color rise in these children every time they saw a white space! Of course since the doctor is the head of the Ring, he has to be the coldest of them all; hence- White Is The Coldest Colour.
LOL, I hope I didn't spark a lot of interest to fall short with this explanation. Sorry if I did but I get really excited about the titles.
Also, Janet, I'd like to know what you meant when you said it was "obvious" :)
Stefanie, that is some serious education. Congratulations and all the best!
Oh I love your answer Ishita, very insightful!! I too was thinking that it was in reference to the white jackets Dr.'s wear, esp with the needle in the title on the book cover. But I did not relate the white room and white van as a part of it as well. *smacks herself in the forehead for missing it!*
Hi Ishita, You're correct re the name. As to your other point, it's not a case of let, it's a case of forced. The children are powerless in the situation until they speak to a right minded adult who acts on their allergations. Hi Stefanie, very impressive. I guessed some of the group are extremely well informed.
I did not relate it either until the chapter 12 when on being questioned about the kind of van used for the transportation, the boy said "it was white". I literally spent the next 10 minutes gushing about the realization before I decided to post it here, LOL.
Hi John, thank you, and kudos- that was ingenious on your part!I get that. It's just horrible.
I associated it with all the references to white in the book, even the white that Galbraith's wife wore and the white linen napkins that she used on the breakfast table as she tried to be perfect in an effort to avoid her husband's wrath. Also, as mentioned, the white van, the white tiles, the white garb that Galbraith and his accomplice wore when they abducted Anthony, versus the symbolism of purity and innocence that is stolen from the victims.
My thoughts were focused on the white tiles and the white van, plus the white/pale look of death on Anthony's cover shot. Interestingly, the white coat reference didn't ring bells for me, probably because I have always associated white coats with desire to heal.Dr. Chris
Jean, yes, those white clothes were on my mind too but not so much the white linen, I'm afraid. I did associate white with clarity and purity but I didn't want to explain and make it all complicated so I left that out.
Christine wrote: "I am. Infectious Diseases."Indeed you are Christine.
Jan wrote: "Oh I love your answer Ishita, very insightful!! I too was thinking that it was in reference to the white jackets Dr.'s wear, esp with the needle in the title on the book cover. But I did not relate..."
Jan, where did you get that red spot on your forehead?
John, maybe I am missing something, but why would the police leave the piece of glass on the bedroom floor? Evidence is evidence and you don't know what you've got until it's gone.Also, how about the excrement smell? Would they not notice that in other parts of the cottage? Would they not suspect something. I used to work with dead bodies and that was always reason for suspicion. They did not need to narrow that suspicion to Molly, either. Would this not at least led to some contriving?
BTW, Ishita, I agree with Jan, good answer. I do not know how many times over-thinking a situation has gotten me nowhere. But, while we're at it, I was thinking the White Room thing and I also thought about white crime, that is, that this book deals with unsteady characters that deal in white crimes of passion that are extremely cowardly. Then, I thought that I was over-thinking it. However, I do think that these perps are very white IMOHO, and very cowardly, and furthermore that they are barking up the wrong tree when they believe that nobody understands them or their sensitive needs. What about the sensitive needs of the innocent victims! Sorry I blew up there.
Cameron, that is an interesting theory you've got there. Come to think of it, these are just white crimes done without any real purpose and just acts of passion. I like that theory! So far as the emotional needs of the children go- it's a sad thing but rarely do these people give a rat's ass about it, if ever.
Hi Cameron, the two detectives are small town police officers in the 90s. They have a great deal of experience, but not of this kind of crime. Molly would have lost control of her bowel. There would have been a smell of faeces. As to the glass, it's an error of judgement on the part of the police.
Cameron wrote: "Christine wrote: "I am. Infectious Diseases."Indeed you are Christine.
Jan wrote: "Oh I love your answer Ishita, very insightful!! I too was thinking that it was in reference to the white jacket..."
Oh, I didn't mean it like that (sounds like an arrogant American Express ad)!!!!! Rephrasing:
Yes, John, I am a medical doctor with my specialty being infections. That's better. (-:
Cameron wrote: "John, maybe I am missing something, but why would the police leave the piece of glass on the bedroom floor? Evidence is evidence and you don't know what you've got until it's gone.Also, how about..."
Cameron, love your take on the white connection. And what were you doing with dead bodies??? Was it a mortuary job?
Jean wrote: "Stefanie, I am impressed!"Thanks Jean!
John wrote: "Hi Ishita, You're correct re the name. As to your other point, it's not a case of let, it's a case of forced. The children are powerless in the situation until they speak to a right minded adult wh..."Thanks John!
Christine wrote: "My thoughts were focused on the white tiles and the white van, plus the white/pale look of death on Anthony's cover shot. Interestingly, the white coat reference didn't ring bells for me, probably..."I could see that Chris, makes sense ;)
Cameron wrote: "John, maybe I am missing something, but why would the police leave the piece of glass on the bedroom floor? Evidence is evidence and you don't know what you've got until it's gone.Also, how about..."
I had a similar thought about the glass Cam, In what respect did you work with the deceased. Sorry to sound morbid, but forensics and pathology have always been interests of mine
Jan wrote: "Oh I love your answer Ishita, very insightful!! I too was thinking that it was in reference to the white jackets Dr.'s wear, esp with the needle in the title on the book cover. But I did not relate..."I totally overlooked it Jan, so smack me too!
By the way everyone, just wanted to let you all know my review is up and posted as of a day or so ago. Thanks for this experience everyone and especially John for his whole hearted participation, this has been great!
Ishita wrote: "Stefanie, that is some serious education. Congratulations and all the best!"Thanks Ishita, and kudos to you for hitting the nail on the head with the title. I was so absorbed in the reading I lost sight of the big picture and totally missed it !
Thanks Stef. I wasn't sure if it made sense at all. Like I said earlier, I have a weird thing with titles and overthinking. And given the amount of interest it sparked, I gave it a long nice thought before posting it. Guess I was hoping people would just forget about it, lol :PAnd my review is up too. Been since last night :)
Ishita, I'd be really grateful if you'd add a spoiler alert to the start of your review. Thanks, John
Jan wrote: "Oh I love your answer Ishita, very insightful!! I too was thinking that it was in reference to the white jackets Dr.'s wear, esp with the needle in the title on the book cover. But I did not relate..."Hey, Jan, sit, rest, and have a V8. ;-)
Stefanie wrote: "John wrote: "Hi Stefanie, I'm interested to know in what context you studied abnormal psychology?"Hey John,
I have a Bachleor's Degree in Neuroscience and was applying to medical schools when I r..."
I'm impressed, too!! And not with just your education and the desire to continue, but with your commitment to your son! How on earth do you find time to read?
Ishita and Jean, you picked up on whites that I didn't notice!
Mod
Every surface of the cellar was covered in white tiles. That's the key white reference, although I built other whites into the story. The cold refers to the room and Galbraith's personality.
Brenda wrote: "Jan wrote: "Oh I love your answer Ishita, very insightful!! I too was thinking that it was in reference to the white jackets Dr.'s wear, esp with the needle in the title on the book cover. But I di..."Haha! You and Cameron crack me up!!! :)
Is any color mentioned for the barn? Cuz the worst things happened to the kids who went to the white cellar
Hi Stefanie, I'm grateful you took the time to write a review. I'm glad you liked the ending. It seems to have divided opinion, but as you say, that's not a bad thing. Civilised disagreement is the breath of life. I think the regular use of names in conversation is a Welsh peculiarity, if that's the correct word to describe it. Neither editor picked me up on it, but I agree I may have overdone it in places. Thanks again, and I'm pleased you liked the book.
Is there anyone out there who is looking in, but is NOT ready to dispense with spoilers?"
I put up a post about this as well yesterday and no one responded so I think we're okay to discuss the book without out ruining it. The only person that I think hasn't finished is Cameron but he hasn't checked in on this thread to know for sure