Question 1. Rate it!

[Ashley]

Let’s get this one out of the way: Rating and why.

[Carol]

I rated this book 4.5 stars. It really touched me with the relations between husbands and wives, the love and commitments they had for one another. I really liked all six of the main characters in the book. All very different, all have a huge diversity of talents and abilities, they love people and have a close bond. Great stuff!!!

[Lauren]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I put it down without finishing (well, I put it down after skipping ahead and reading the last chapter).

I've had this book on my to-read list for months and was really looking forward to the book club discussion. For the life of me, I couldn't get into it.

I'm blaming some of the other novels I read recently. I think they maxed me out on overwrought angst.

[Carol]

It's a fairly fast read. You'd still have some time to finish if you'd like. :-) And you already have some of it read! :-)

[Ashley]

I put my review here: http://sharingtheshelf.blogspot.com/2...

I gave it a 5. I loved it. LOVED it. I loved the relationships, the fairy tale atmosphere, the redefining of what it meant to be a mother, all of it. I thought the writing was gorgeous and I mourned a bit when I finished it. In fact, I was bummed it was a library book, because if I had actually bought it, this was one I would've held onto (and I very rarely keep books).

[Ashley]

Oh, and Lauren, I think I get your "angst" thing. I just finished a different book that was heartbreaking, but I was sort of too tired to enjoy it. Ya know?

[Lauren]

That's it exactly, Ashley. It sounds almost heartless, but my "sympathy for fictional characters" gets maxed out and I find myself not caring, which defeats the purpose of reading fiction.

On the flip side, I just finished The Fault in Our Stars and despite being depressing and having me in tears, it didn't emotionally exhaust me. It broke my heart, but I totally get the hype around it.

[Carol]

Lauren: I just read my niece's review of "The Fault in Our Stars," and it sounds like she agrees with you.

"what can I say about this book? It was funny, sad, beautiful and frustrating. It started out so easy to read, and finished so difficult to read. At any rate, I loved it."