Wrapping it up

[Houston]

As September comes to a close, we'll be wrapping up discussion of The After Party next week. Just a few final questions about your experience with this novel:

Did you find the plot engaging; in other words, did the story itself interest you? Were you surprised by the complications and twists in the story? Did DiScaflani's book live up to your expectations? Any closing remarks?

[[deleted user]]

I really liked this book. I also happen to like dramatic stories with desperate and kind of helpless characters, so there's that. For whatever reason, I did not see the end coming. I just thought Joan was trying to escape Houston society and the oppression and expectations she felt constantly.

I'm glad everything wrapped up the way it did; it seemed like everyone was at least on the path to healing, and that made me happy.

[HPL Dan]

In many ways, this is book was like a mystery novel, with the events of Joan’s missing year at the center of the puzzle. The story unfolds as the pages progress, and bit by bit, we learn more about Cece’s mother’s death, her semi-adoption by the Fortiers, her year living in the Specimen Jar, and her meeting and falling for Roy. Likewise, we learn about Joan’s furtive activities with Sid. In many ways, the novel is more about the things that happen than it is about reflecting on the motivations for the characters’ actions. Although I didn’t think I would like this book, I was pleasantly absorbed with the twin mysteries of what happened in Hollywood (or Dallas as it turns out) and what Sid’s presence in Joan’s life could mean. While Joan’s increased debauchery seemed to be a somewhat predictable spiral out of control, DiSclafani managed to keep my interest through the novel. I had not had incredibly high hopes for the novel (I had voted for a different book), but I gave it an honest chance and it surprised me; I enjoyed The After Party, and while it’s not my favorite book, I would recommend it to a friend.