[February] The Clockmaker's Daughter, by Kate Morton - Part Three

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

For the dual timeline pick for the February book of the month, the group has selected The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton.

For more information about the Book of the Month, see the introduction post.

* Discussion will be divided according to each "Part" of the book (Parts One through Four).

Questions with spoilers:
(view spoiler)[1. Why do you think Lucy waited so long to look in the hideaway for Lily?
2. Do you think Birdie will ever be freed from the house?
3. Were you surprised by and/or satisfied with the way Birdie died? (hide spoiler)]

Each discussion post will contain prompting questions. But please freely engage in discussion as much as you wish.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

The title of this part is The Summer of Birchwood Manor and I am here👏🏼for👏🏼it👏🏼.

[Kathy]

Many questions were answered in this part. But (view spoiler)[I had a bit of a hard time accepting Lucy’s decision not to tell Edward the truth about Lily Millington’s disappearance in the summer of 1862. It would have helped Edward a lot to find out that Lily always loved him. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Ugh, I'm so behind you guys now! I'm totally fine with posting questions but if others have questions that come to mind, feel free to post!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Agreed that so many questions were answered, but I was not satisfied with any of them. Birdie's name? It's awful. The way she died? Even more awful.

Not awful in an "oh how horrible" sort of way but horrible in a "is that all?" sort of way.

Anyone else agree? I thought the whole thing was... not as thrilling or intriguing as I wanted it to be. Maybe I've been reading too many mystery/thrillers lol

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

I might be totally off-base but I sense some serious jealousy growing from (view spoiler)[Lucy (hide spoiler)] in Chapter Twenty-Four. Although I will admit that my mind wandered at times. Possible that she has a hand in the eventual death though?

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Questions posted :)

[Milena]

Just stopping in to post my answers to these questions before I go back and finish Part Four (only 7% left). I am determined to finish tonight.
I am severely disturbed by how Part Three ended.
(view spoiler)[[1. Why do you think Lucy waited so long to look in the hideaway for Lily? I have no idea. Thirteen year olds make no sense. Never trust a younger sibling. Remember Atonement?
2. Do you think Birdie will ever be freed from the house?
Maybe when the truth about what happened to her is finally discovered? Or at least the truth about the Radcliff Blue?
3. Were you surprised by and/or satisfied with the way Birdie died? It was hideous and touched on all my shuddery fears and phobias. But it was surprising, that's for sure. I guessed that Lucy threw the diamond in the river, but that's about all I've gotten right so far.(hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Geri]

1. Why do you think Lucy waited so long to look in the hideaway for Lily?

I’d like to believe she truly thought Lilly would not still be there. I don’t think she could have handled any other truth. She suffered trauma and injury so that had to factor in too.

2. Do you think Birdie will ever be freed from the house?

Probably not. She is tied there by her love of Edward and the tragedy of her death.

3. Were you surprised by and/or satisfied with the way Birdie died?

I was saddened by how she died. I was surprised that Lucy had it in a pocket and then just threw it in the river!!