How It All Began - Whole Book Discussion, Spoilers Allowed (March 2017)

[Casceil]

This thread is for those who have finished reading the book.

[Hugh]

I read the second half of the book yesterday, and I enjoyed it, but I always find Lively pleasant reading and I don't think this quite matches her best work. Having read a few of her books I wasn't expecting twists and plot contrivances.

[Casceil]

Which of Lively's books do you consider her best work, Hugh? The only other book of hers I have read is Moon Tiger. I loved that, but it has been more than 20 years since I read it.

[Hugh]

Moon Tiger is an obvious choice. According to Mark, Making it Up and her non-fiction book Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time are my other favourites. I haven't rated any of them fewer than 4 stars.

[Casceil]

I will have to check out "Making it Up." I like Penelope Lively, and I wanted to discuss one of her novels, but not many fit this group's criteria (first published 2000 or later).

[Peter]

I do find that somehow I enjoy having read this book more than I enjoyed actually reading it much of the time. It seems to be a book that works very nicely in retrospect.

[LindaJ^]

I don't have the book in hand so could not comment on the threads divided by chapters. Overall I enjoyed the book. I especially liked Charlotte and how she worked through the how the mugging changed her comfortable routine. Marion and Jeremy were mostly annoying, especially Jeremy. I'd have to say that despite the financial setback, Marion ended up in a better position than where she started. Anton provided a nice glimpse into an immigrant experience. Rose and her husband seemed to me to be folks who early on made a decision not to push the envelope but to just take the safe road. I did wonder why Rose did that, given her parents.

[Nicole]

I just finished the book and overall I thought it was a pretty enjoyable read. I agree, Linda, that Jeremy was rather annoying. I thought Marion was too, at first, but she quickly grew on me as she became more irritated with Jeremy. Although I didn't love this book, I liked it enough to become more interested in Penelope Lively's other books. I'll probably pick up Moon Tiger sometime in the near future.

[Casceil]

What did you think of Lively's writing style? She often uses sentence fragments to convey how a character thinks. It's a little like stream of consciousness but not really. At least, I find it much easier to read.

[LindaJ^]

I did not think of it as stream of consciousness, at all -- certainly nothing like Dave Eggers's in A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius! The sentence fragments seem realistic to me. I don't often think, or talk to myself, in complete sentences. I read criticisms of the fragments in a couple of reviews and that was what made me aware of them.

[Nicole]

I felt like the writing style was realistic too. It did take some getting used to in the beginning, but it never bothered me.

[Kathleen]

I just finished and the word "pleasant" used above seems perfect. I didn't find any of the characters annoying, really. I think the fact I liked them all means I liked Lively's style. I agree it felt realistic, down-to-earth.

I was going to ask for recommendations, since this was the first of her books that I've read, but Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time that Hugh mentioned above sounds like something I'd love. I think her musings about aging were my favorite part of this novel. Not just old age, but across the spectrum. (She even threw in something profound about babies at the end, how with no past lives they live from emotion to emotion.)

[CatBee]

This refers to a discussion in the non-spoiler general thread as well as here. I assume the author deliberately created Anton to introduce the immigrant experience (as Linda J notes), which always puts our middle class issues into perspective. I did enjoy Rose and Anton, and was disappointed they did not find a way to be together. Perhaps Rose's spouse could have come out as gay (adding more diversity), as a way for them to amicably separate. Regardless, I'd like to try another of Lively's books.

[Nicole]

Catherine wrote: "This refers to a discussion in the non-spoiler general thread as well as here. I assume the author deliberately created Anton to introduce the immigrant experience (as Linda J notes), which always ..."

I think it was more realistic this way. I'm personally not a fan of books that have happy endings due to problems that are easily solved and things just fall conveniently in place.

[Kathleen]

I agree--with both. I would have loved for Rose and Anton to end up together, but the realism was powerful. That was a big part of what I liked about this, the way Lively handles the difficulties--aging, romantic disappointments, money worries--in life, and how we adapt.

[CatBee]

Yep, I agree with Kathleen and Nicole too. I also enjoy realism. I wonder if she is saying something about extra-marital affairs, by contrasting the 2 married couples - which of them is more grown-up about it? Or, that married couples should stay together, forgiving adultery or not letting it happen to begin with? :-)

[Casceil]

Interesting question, Catherine. I think she is contrasting people. Their marriages are part of who they are, and how their marriages turn out is a reflection of how much they value their marriage, their commitment, and their loyalty. But there is certainly room for differing opinions here.

[Peter]

I think this is saying something about Rose. Rose is a sensible person -- perhaps too sensible for her own good -- who wants a quiet, comfortable life. Even if tempted by Anton, she isn't going to throw away that quiet life. That's not who she, for whatever reason, decided to be. We are, after all, at least in part the sum of our decisions.

[Ebru]

It was my first Lively book and I enjoyed book.

[Casceil]

I'm glad you enjoyed the book, Ebru.