How it All Began - Chapters 01-03 (March 2017)

[Casceil]

This thread is for comments on the first three chapters, in which we meet most of the main characters. No spoilers past Chapter 3, please.

[Hugh]

I enjoyed this part of the book and the way it introduces the overall structure of events rippling out from a single cause. It does seem inevitable that this imposes constraints on conventional narrative, but as always Lively's prose is entertaining and full of perceptive observations.

[Peter]

I like the throw-away reference to chaos theory in there. Life is like that often times.

[Kathleen]

My first Lively, and so far I like her writing style--there's sort of an empathetic sarcasm to the way she describes her characters and events. Really enjoying this!

[Casceil]

"Empathetic sarcasm" is a great way to describe it. Her characters seem to me like people I know. Take Henry, Lord Peters. When Rose first met him, he was "newly retired, brisk and self-important." Over time he has "mutated into a querulous, though still self-important, seventy-six-year-old with a gammy knee, a high consumption of claret and certain unpredictable behavior patterns." (from p. 3.) This character could easily turn into a caricature, but he doesn't. The author's view of him sometimes pokes fun at him, but never ridicules him, even when he seems to deserve it.

[Nutmegger]

Kathleen wrote: "My first Lively, and so far I like her writing style--there's sort of an empathetic sarcasm to the way she describes her characters and events. Really enjoying this!"

Empathetic sarcasm, I like that description. Lively is close enough to her characters to feel their quirks and yet poke at them

[Casceil]

Also, she pokes at them gently. There is humor, but no meanness.

[Nutmegger]

Casceil wrote: "Also, she pokes at them gently. There is humor, but no meanness."

Exactly. It's as if they're old friends.