First half of the book

[Melanie]

Thoughts

[Jo]

I’ll admit, it took me a few chapters to get into this, to get used to the short staccato sentences and the poetic language -I see that Ananda Devi is also a poet- but I realized I had to slow down my reading and not try and speed through, it’s not that’s kind of book.

It’s a heart breaking read and very visceral but there are some beautiful lines and it all feels like it’s building towards some big event. There’s almost a feel of Greek tragedy to it, if that makes sense, this inevitability. I’ll be interested to see what everyone else thinks.

[Lisa10]

I also had to get Used to the Poetic Writing style. I can only read a few chapters Every day because it's so sad and I really want to understand What the writer has written.

[Stacey]

Hi Everyone! I’m gonna sit this one out. Have a great read and Merry Christmas is you celebrate it!

[Jo]

Merry Christmas Stacey!

[Marie]

Well this is a bleak book to be reading over the Christmas period! I think I’m not entirely in the right mood for it.

The writing is certainly beautiful and poetic. Quite remarkable. I have highlighted lots of phrases. I agree, this does make for quite slow, thoughtful reading.

Saad is such a creep. His sections really make me uncomfortable. I have a terrible sense of foreboding for part two.

[Melanie]

I am sorry folks but I cannot read this at the moment. I am feeling very anxious and this book has far too many triggers for me.

[Jo]

No worries Mel, completely understand as this was a tough one.

[Beatrizmallow]

Don't worry about it!

[Linda]

Just finished this book and it was a devastatingly haunting story beautifully written. Traumatising but important read.

[Marie]

I’m sorry to hear that, Mel. Definitely sounds like a good idea to put this one aside for now, it’s pretty hard-going. I’m off to read a cosy mystery to recover.

[Marie]

Also Merry Christmas to you too Stacey & to you all!