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The Cuckoo's Calling
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The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K.Rowling)
Nick wrote: "Right now I'm hoping that she dumps Matt, and just signs on as Strikes assistant full time. (I am okay with a little underlying sexual tension that never amounts to anything, but I guess we've got that already."I'd be quite happy with that. I'm nearing the end now, and I think you're absolutely right: Robin is definitely the highlight of all the characters, although I also quite enjoyed Guy and Ciara. (Which, incidentally, is pronounced "key-ara" in the audiobook. That wasn't at all how I'd been pronouncing it before.)
"BTW in my checkered career I've been blessed with several of these "Wonder Woman" assistants, and they saved my ass over and over again."
Robin's pretty remarkable. In my vision of the future, she takes over Strike's agency when he's ready to retire.
Esse wrote: "Nick wrote: "Right now I'm hoping that she dumps Matt, and just signs on as Strikes assistant full time. (I am okay with a little underlying sexual tension that never amounts to anything, but I gue..."I'm sure she will eventually become a full partner... and, yes, eventually retire. There should be a novel where Robin is the main character and principle investigator.
Okay finished it. I'll have a full review soon including likes and dislikes. But I have a question... something I'm sure I missed. But please only read this spoiler if you've actually finished the book. (view spoiler)
Oh wow. She has an alias. Cool.
I am about 60% through and I have a question. Around 58% when Strike and Robin tour the apartments with Wilson, as they are coming down the stairs, Wilson suddenly remembers that he had fallen on his butt and that it was a puddle of water. I was following Strike's thinking and questioning up to this point but why does he make point to ask about if the water was wet snow or drips or a puddle? It says that it clears up a question he had had. What was he questioning or does that come up later in the book?
Karen B. wrote: "I am about 60% through and I have a question. Around 58% when Strike and Robin tour the apartments with Wilson, as they are coming down the stairs, Wilson suddenly remembers that he had fallen on h..."I can't think of any previous reference, but it does come up later.
Something has happened to my Goodreads membership, etc. and all kinds of things have appeared and disappeared. Argh!Will try to restore/ remedy this situation but really don't know how. I "thought" that I posted some thoughts about Strike/Robin's relationship, my thoughts about Guy Some and perhaps an answer to Nick's phone question , etc. but.... it has never appeared. I swear that there are gremlins in my 'puter :( Plus, my photo is gone and my name has been changed from Betsy to Elizabeth . Sorry, I had to vent.... Curious if this will go through.
Betsy wrote: "Something has happened to my Goodreads membership, etc. and all kinds of things have appeared and disappeared. Argh!Will try to restore/ remedy this situation but really don't know how. I "thought..."
It did, Elizabeth :-) But not your answer to my question. So what is it. And please, remember set it up as a spoiler.
Betsy wrote: "Something has happened to my Goodreads membership, etc. and all kinds of things have appeared and disappeared. Argh!Will try to restore/ remedy this situation but really don't know how. I "thought..."
I can see your picture and your name appears as "Betsy" but maybe you already know that...;)
Thanks, Kandice, for confirming that. I'm really a tech dinosaur but hopefully, what I was able to do worked, for now :)And, Nick, this is just for you , again :) re. the phone in the safe.
I went back and re-read from ~ 78%. I think that (view spoiler) knew that many people heard, or thought they heard, that Lula would leave her 10 million to him. But then when she discovered her (view spoiler) So, she met Rochelle in that dressing room cubicle to make a call to him , arranging a meeting and telling him about his inheritance. Remember, Lula's phone had been hacked and Rochelle's was Lula's secure means of communication. But now, the KILLER has Rochelle's phone (view spoiler) and her phone has this damning evidence which he does not want to come out, thus he puts it into the safe to which only he has the combination. Does this make any sense? My head says, "Why not just destroy the phone?"
I have a similar problem: WHY would Lula HIDE her will (view spoiler) ?? That didn't make sense to me either.
(view spoiler) Is this the best that Rowling could come up with :) Damn these spoilers ! Gives me a headache!
While I still have a voice, and a headache, I would like to express my feelings re. Strike and Robin.I do not see them having a romantic relationship. At ~51%, Robin made the comment that the possibility of Strike making a pass at her was "distasteful"; she didn't find him physically attractive. However, she really did admire him for his many attractive qualities e.g. his intelligence, for one. Sexual tension, yes, as he did find Robin sexy (especially in that green dress and what a gift!) I also don't think that she would ever just become a comical sidekick. Strike was totally impressed with her initiative and performance and considered her a very valuable asset. And since he's only 35, with a business to get back on track, I see them working together as a team to make this happen for a long time.
Now, it must be the wine talking, only kidding.... someone mentioned Guy Some as a great secondary character, and I totally agree with that! He may have been the only one to call Lula "Cuckoo" ? Guy told it the way it is: "Her family is the reason she's so fu*ked up." He told Strike that he and Lula had a pact that they would call one another IF they ever even considered killing themselves and, of course, that never happened. He said, "She would have called me first." Then he played the last phone message from her, "I have something BIG to tell you; I'm SO happy." Guy was convinced that his Cuckoo did (view spoiler)
Betsy wrote: "Something has happened to my Goodreads membership, etc. and all kinds of things have appeared and disappeared. Argh!Will try to restore/ remedy this situation but really don't know how. I "thought..."
Betsy how horrible! Let us know what you find out about everything being messed up.
Betsy, I think it appeared as Elizabeth in the other group. Because I remember reading a post from Elizabeth and thinking "that sounds like Betsy"
Betsy wrote: "Thanks, Kandice, for confirming that. I'm really a tech dinosaur but hopefully, what I was able to do worked, for now :)And, Nick, this is just for you , again :) re. the phone in the safe.
I w..."
Betsy - thanks for clearing that all up. My mistake was (view spoiler)As for Robin and Strike, I totally agree they make a great team. She should end up being his partner. Then he can be her comical sidekick.
I just finished last night. It was a great read and I think all my questions were answered (at least the ones I have thought of so far). Cuckoo's death: (view spoiler)
Now, would someone please clarify for me a question that I have asked twice, last one message #51 as to WHAT was the final lie that Charlotte told Strike that led to their final break - up ? I think that I know but would like someone's clarification. Thanks!
ah Betsy, there's the question that I forgot about and for which I have no answer. What do YOU think it was about? Was it ever revealed in the book? I don't think it was.
You know how some things just stick in your head and won't let go? This isn't really that significant to the entire plot anyway but.... just something that bugs me. I started to wonder about this final lie around 10% when
Charlotte gave Strike shifting dates, she refused to check with a doctor or chemist, never gave him an answer when he asked for clarification and announced that IT was over with no shred of proof it had been real. So, what was It ????
Betsy wrote: "You know how some things just stick in your head and won't let go? This isn't really that significant to the entire plot anyway but.... just something that bugs me. I started to wonder about this ..."
I had the sense that Strike discovered that she was starting to hook up with her ex again while she continued to insist that she loved only him... but the actual lie might have been that (view spoiler) maybe not... maybe I was hallucinating.
Nick and Betsy, I suspected the same thing you have both mentioned in your spoilers.
Betsy only read this if you aren't afraid to be spoiled because I don't remember if you find out in Cuckoo or The Silkworm (view spoiler)
Kandice wrote: "Betsy only read this if you aren't afraid to be spoiled because I don't remember if you find out in Cuckoo or The Silkworm [spoilers removed]"Kandice - I'm not going to read this because (after failing to work out a fix on my playback of The Eyes of The Dragon with iTunes - those guys must be the descendants of the the builders of ancient labyrinths) I dove right into The Silkworm but am only a few chapters in.
Nick wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Betsy only read this if you aren't afraid to be spoiled because I don't remember if you find out in Cuckoo or The Silkworm [spoilers removed]"Kandice - I'm not goi..."
I really didn't want to spoil anyone, but have read all three in this series so wanted to warn anyone against a possible spoiler. I'm glad you believed me!
Oh, Kandice, I thank you for finally solving this "mystery" for me, one less thing to bug me :) And, spoilers do not bother me.And, btw, what did you think of THE SILKWORM? Would you recommend it ? I only gave CUCKOO'S.... a 3 star.
And, since we are talking characters....
WHAT is your impression of Evan Duffield, Lula's boyfriend and his relationship w/ Lula ?
I thoroughly enjoyed each of the three books in the series so far, but have to say that after finishing one and going on to the other I don't remember much about the peripheral characters, but I do feel I know the main characters very, very well. I think that's the joy of a series written in a way that can be read as stand-alones, which these are.If you have questions about Robin, Matt, Robin's parents, Strike or Strike's friends, I can answer those with some heat!
Betsy wrote: "Oh, Kandice, I thank you for finally solving this "mystery" for me, one less thing to bug me :) And, spoilers do not bother me.And, btw, what did you think of THE SILKWORM? Would you recommend it..."
Actually (view spoiler)
You know who I felt was a piece of work, Rochelle.What were your feelings about her?
How important a role did she have in all this?
I didn't like Duffield. Yes he loved Lula, but he was manipulative, controlling and self-centered. I saw him as correlating in attitude to Charlotte. Neither of them treated their "lover" with respect. Probably Charlotte was worse. But that didn't make me like Duffield any more.
Karen B. wrote: "I didn't like Duffield. Yes he loved Lula, but he was manipulative, controlling and self-centered. I saw him as correlating in attitude to Charlotte. Neither of them treated their "lover" with resp..."I agree and think Galbraith/Rowling did this on purpose. She wanted to show you two controlling unsuitable suitors. They were perfect examples that love isn't always enough.
Still would like to know your thoughts about Rochelle, for although I didn't like her, she was an interesting character and certainly played an important role. What did you think of her, her relationship to Lula, and what important role (s) did she play ?
She's pivotal to the story of course. But she sure isn't painted as likable, and she's not. (view spoiler)
Nick can you explain your spoiler? I didn't see that character that way at all.
Karen, Think of what Rochelle was DOING (view spoiler) Does that help? And, how did you see Rochelle's character?
You're right.... Rochelle was a user, a freeloader, and a taker and certainly not Lula's friend, a "what's in it for me" person, which does not make her a villain, just a bad person. I do think that (view spoiler) may qualify one as a villain, no ? Strike even warned her that she might be in danger , but she was greedy.Remind me, HOW did Rochelle know WHO the killer was anyway?
Wow I'm so deep into the next book I'm having a hard time remembering exactly what happened. Where's Kandice when we need her? (view spoiler) One of the problems with listening to an audiobook is that you can't go back and reread later, you can't double check your interpretations. If you misunderstand a section you can't easily go back and double check. Anyway, that's what I thought.
I liked this book and am going to read the next one. In fact as it was coming to an end I didn't know there was a sequel and was hoping for one.As far as Strike is concerned I really liked his character and was rooting for him the whole way. I wish there was more of Robin in the book because she is an interesting character to.
I don't understand people thinking that Rochelle is a villain. I see her as a homeless person trying to hustle to get what she needed to live. I don't see that as being a villain.
BTW, Nick, I am trying to decide whether to continue on with the Srike/Robin series with THE SILKWORM. Would you recommend that I do so ??
Nick, I also agree with your spoiler!Betsy, I think you should continue. Like I said, the details of the individual cases are jumbled in my head, but the characters are not. Rowling/Galbraith does such a great job of creating characters we care about, the details of whatever plot devices she uses to write about them seem almost inconsequential not long after finishing the story.
I think that's something she has in common with King. Her plots are interesting, but not as important as the characters. Does that make sense?
Thanks, Kandice; I appreciate that you gave me something solid e.g character development on which to base your recommendation. That is one of King's greatest strengths, and I look forward to continuing that with more re. Strike/Robin.
Betsy, want to buddy read this next month? Unless others want to read it with us.
I'm a third of the way into the silkworm and I have to say so far there is even less of Robin than in the first book, the author has created a fiction within a fiction that is more outrageous and obscene than anything I've ever read anywhere, and so far at least, overall it's quite a mystery.
Betsy wrote: "Thanks, Nick, for making that clear to me as you're right. Rochelle did hear [spoilers removed]"Right, but apparently I was wrong in thinking that (view spoiler)So now I have to go back and buy the paperback so I can review those chapters.
So, Nick, would you recommend THE SILKWORM? "Outrageous and obscene" don't quite do it for me :)
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We're definitely on different sides of things here; this is one thing that would absolutely guarantee I'..."
I still haven't finished this so I don't know what if anything happens. But I do agree with you Esse, on the fact that having Strike/Robin turn into a romantic relationship does cheapen the female's character quite a bit. And now I have to go back and take a look at how many of the novels I've written end up with the female becoming cheapened in that way. Not sure. Anyway, I don't want Robin to become a comical sidekick for Strike either (Robin to his Batman - so to speak) which she could easily turn into also. Right now I'm hoping that she dumps Matt, and just signs on as Strikes assistant full time. (I am okay with a little underlying sexual tension that never amounts to anything, but I guess we've got that already.
BTW in my checkered career I've been blessed with several of these "Wonder Woman" assistants, and they saved my ass over and over again. I promoted them all as soon as I could.