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The Girl With A Clock For A Heart By Peter Swanson
message 51:
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[deleted user]
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Sep 20, 2014 07:56PM
I felt bad for her also.
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I'm kind of wondering if we could see any changes in Liana towards the end of the story considering what she did for George. It's hard for me to say since I could never trust her throughout the book.
By what she did for George, Ron, are you referring to her giving him an out?
Christine wrote: "By what she did for George, Ron, are you referring to her giving him an out?"
Right.
Right.
I'm not sure I detected a real change. Seemed to me she cared about him to some (how much?) degree and didn't really wish him dead. Or maybe she IS alive and figures she still needs him for selfish purposes (as opposed to true "deep like" or love). What do you think, Ron? Or anyone?
Have to say Irene must care for George in order to do that.
Ron wrote: "Have to say Irene must care for George in order to do that."Peter--when do we get the sequel??? (-:
Seems to me that we haven't discussed Liana and how she used other men. That's the way I see it and I kind of wonder if the same could be said for George. Is that what he has in common with Jenks and other men that Liana has been with such as the guy in college that was after her father for gambling debts. Sorry I can't remember his name.
I just finished reading it and I really liked it. Just bummed about the ending. The last paragraph of the very last page - grrr! I was like, what? That's it? No way! I was dying to know more about George's new quest! Revenge! Something! Just don't leave me hanging now. *Sigh*
Such is the life of someone who immerses themselves way too much in a book - LOL.
Such is the life of someone who immerses themselves way too much in a book - LOL.
Enid wrote: "I just finished reading it and I really liked it. Just bummed about the ending. The last paragraph of the very last page - grrr! I was like, what? That's it? No way! I was dying to know more about ..."Enid, my feelings EXACTLY. I was so disappointed!. I had to dock it a star for that. Up until the end, I was really enjoying the book. This explains the all-over-the-map reviews! Mr. Swanson, how could uou do this to us???
(-:
I am just starting this today because I had to finish a previous group read. I hope to have it finished by Oct 10th! I've avoided reading anything above just in case lol. Did you all enjoy it that have finished??
I enjoyed the book. Interesting thoughts about the ending. It was fine with me. I remember that when this was reviewed in the Washington Post, the person who reviewed the book said the same thing.
I think that when it comes to endings, the important thing is that is it believable. When I read Gone Girl for example, I didn't think the ending was believable. I think that's the difference here. Did we want more for the ending? Sure. I have to say that when I have read some of Ludlum's books, I had the same feeling.
Maybe that's the reason the book seems open for a part 2.
Aiesha wrote: "I am just starting this today because I had to finish a previous group read. I hope to have it finished by Oct 10th! I've avoided reading anything above just in case lol. Did you all enjoy it th..."
We're with you Aiesha.
We're with you Aiesha.
Ron wrote: "I enjoyed the book. Interesting thoughts about the ending. It was fine with me. I remember that when this was reviewed in the Washington Post, the person who reviewed the book said the same thing."The Post guy said the same thing Enid and I said or he was fine with it?
Christine wrote: "Ron wrote: "I enjoyed the book. Interesting thoughts about the ending. It was fine with me. I remember that when this was reviewed in the Washington Post, the person who reviewed the book said ..."
My mistake on this. The person who reviewed the book from the Washington Post said that he didn't like the ending. Sorry about that.
My mistake on this. The person who reviewed the book from the Washington Post said that he didn't like the ending. Sorry about that.
Since this book was picked up for a movie, I guess the question is with there be an alternate ending like Gone Girl.
MsG wrote: "I'm the type that will avoid the next book because I'm soooo pissed off at the ending of the current book."Ooh, MsG!!
Wow. I guess you didn't like George MSG.
MsG wrote: "Not that I didn't like him but he just kept on and on and on. He didn't stop after the first time or the second time.And look how he kept going still. He abandoned everything, including his cat ..."
Agree with outrage over the cat. I have seven of them. Nora deserved better.
Hello all,Yes, Nora the cat definitely deserved better. I agree!
About the ending, I'm well aware how much people hate it. What's funny is that when I wrote it, I never guessed that that would be the case. I thought about other things people might not like (George's willingness to be manipulated by Liana), but I felt like I really nailed the very end. I think this is because it's the type of ending that I tend to like. Spoilers ahead, obviously, but I love the idea that George has become this unmoored man, left staring out at the ocean hoping to find Liana again, and that the readers are right there with George, left wondering about this girl who comes in and out of his life, leaving carnage in her wake. I never even considered that it would need a sequel.
About the possible movie version. It's still under option by a UK production company and the writer/director is James Marsh. He just made the movie The Theory of Everything about Stephen Hawking that's coming out this holiday season. I've spoken with him, and he is actually in that minority that likes the ending as well, so if the movie gets made (and it's always a big IF), then expect to be frustrated by the film ending as well.
One last note. Like everyone else in the world, I read Gone Girl. I really loved it--I'm never bothered by unlikable characters--and I am one of the few people who actually like the ending of that book as well. The fact that Nick and Amy end up stuck together in this poisonous marriage felt like just desserts for them both. I can't wait to see what David Fincher does with the film.
FYI, my next book, The Kind Worth Killing, is coming out this February. It's another standalone book so no more George and Liana. Oh, and it has a much more conclusive ending. I've learned my lesson--
Over and out, Peter
Hi Peter, thank you so much for coming on and explaining your vision for The Girl with a Clock. I am surprising myself by possibly starting to see where you are coming from with the ending. I have to think Liana is dead, and deep down, since he witnessed her death, George realizes that too. OR DOES HE? His psyche may be so woven into the idea that she is alive and one day he will have her, this idea he has had for a very long time, that he can't let go. I am guessing he misinterpreted the postcard from Mexico he found in the cottage as a message from Liana when it was really nothing more than an old insignificant postcard. Now you got me thinking again, Peter. Which is the point, right? (-:I will definitely check out The Kind Worth Killing. Thank you, Peter.
I will check out the next book as well. Interesting observation Christine. I didn't pick up on that.
I happen to enjoy books with unlikeable characters. That's why this book reminded me of Bruno Fischer's books.
If people are interested, you may want to check out The Lady Kills by Bruno Fischer. It is available on Kindle and Nook for $3.03 in case you want to compare that book to this one.
If people are interested, you may want to check out The Lady Kills by Bruno Fischer. It is available on Kindle and Nook for $3.03 in case you want to compare that book to this one.
Peter wrote: "About the ending, I'm well aware how much people hate it. "These following comment may contain mild spoilers added to that I talk about what has not happened, read at your own risk!
What I do not like about the ending, it is open. If either Liana or George where killed, it would have worked better for me.
And Irene should have died - thinking about her dying, that should have been obvious (killed by Liana, of course).
As it is, I do not hate the ending, but find it strange to plan it that way and not think of a sequel, it just screams "sequel planned and coming" to me.
George having learned nothing and still falling for Liana, even searching for her seems a great way to self-destruct, so I am not even sure, I would read a sequel, I guess rather not. Oh well, depends on the story.
Ron wrote: "I happen to enjoy books with unlikeable characters. That's why this book reminded me of Bruno Fischer's books. If people are interested, you may want to check out The Lady Kills by Bruno Fischer..."
My goodness, Ron, The Lady Kills sounds deliciously deranged!
Ingo wrote: "Peter wrote: "About the ending, I'm well aware how much people hate it. "These following comment may contain mild spoilers added to that I talk about what has not happened, read at your own risk!
..."
Ingo, I cannot fathom how Liana could not be dead. Do you think there was a way she could have possibly escaped that situation alive?
Christine wrote: "Ron wrote: "I happen to enjoy books with unlikeable characters. That's why this book reminded me of Bruno Fischer's books.
If people are interested, you may want to check out The Lady Kills by B..."
His other book, So Wicked My Love, is another Femme Fatale book. It's not available on Kindle or Nook. I think you can buy it at Amazon though. Runs along the same lines.
If people are interested, you may want to check out The Lady Kills by B..."
His other book, So Wicked My Love, is another Femme Fatale book. It's not available on Kindle or Nook. I think you can buy it at Amazon though. Runs along the same lines.
Christine wrote: "Ingo wrote: "Peter wrote: "About the ending, I'm well aware how much people hate it. "
These following comment may contain mild spoilers added to that I talk about what has not happened, read at yo..."
Maybe there was a raft that George didn't see.
These following comment may contain mild spoilers added to that I talk about what has not happened, read at yo..."
Maybe there was a raft that George didn't see.
Christine wrote: "Ingo, I cannot fathom how Liana could not be dead. Do you think there was a way she could have possibly escaped that situation alive?"Wow, that was no question for me, I was so sure she is alive and well!
I thought George's theory was sound, that she could have lived. He explains it to the police and reading that part again (chapter 26, no page number, sorry) he says he could not see outside the boat, there could have been something to help her. And then "she did it ... a magic trick".
So, more open end than I suspected. Still, if George is looking for her and she is dead, that could last till his death, a foolish way to spend the rest of his live, but in some way better than searching for a woman who fooled him more than once. For what, the sex?
To give her a chance to betray him again?
Okay, here is my review of this book.
When we ask whether a character in a story book is 'alive' @ the end, we're really asking if the author could introduce the character into a sequel without egregiously violating the rules of realistic fiction - no rescue by (e.g.) midget submarine or dolphin for Liana, but we could find out she was a champion swimmer! Personally I hope Peter Swanson doesn't - for the sake of his own development now that he's done a bad girl I'd like to see him try to create a good girl who can kick ass. But if you're thinking ahead (& reading ahead) to next month, you might like to observe how Jane in Dear Daughter is like, & unlike, Liana.
Thanks Bill. Looking forward to that book.
Then we look forward to seeing you here on October 15th for the group read for Elizabeth Little.
I haven't even started The Girl with a clock for a heart yet :( I only have 10 days to read it! :/ I don't know if I can do it!!
I just started The Girl with a Clock for a Heart. It's sucked me right in. I'm afraid I do dislike books where the protagonist's stupidity ("Oh, come right in & ruin my life a second time") gets things going.
I would say that you can take more time to read the book if you want. I'll be here to join in on any discussions on this book still. I'm sure that others would like to be involved as well.
I think that the great thing about characters in a novel is that you can't predict their behavior. That's what makes this story move as well. George going back to Liana again makes this even better to me.
I finished with mixed feelings. I felt sorry for George but he really was a sap. He just could not give up on Liana. She was a wonderful femme fatale. There better be a sequel because that was an awful ending.
Ron wrote: "Hopefully, I won't regret asking this question. Which character is more infuriating, Amazing Amy of Gone Girl or Liana?"I read both and I have to say Amy. I disliked her immensely.
I felt the same way that you did about the book Carla with the exception of the ending. It was an open ending which was the type of ending that Gillian Flynn used in Gone Girl although I didn't like the ending to that book. You can check the discussions since I posted some thoughts on endings. The article that I posted regarding an Interview with Gillian Flynn made some interesting points about open endings. I'm going to post an article on the explanation of the ending of Shutter Island in the discussions question as well if you want to check that out.
I just finished. (A book I wouldn't have picked up without this group, so thanks!)All I have to say is, I know people do stupid things for love/lust, but it's so hard to watch them do it!
Corvida wrote: "I just finished. (A book I wouldn't have picked up without this group, so thanks!)All I have to say is, I know people do stupid things for love/lust, but it's so hard to watch them do it!"
You are absolutely correct Corvida.
I think in this case, that was the reason that there was a lot of suspense since characters like George & Liana drove the story.
I loved this book and the ending made me cheer because I didn't think Peter Swanson would be brave enough on a first novel to stick with it . This is modern day noir at its best with an array of flawed characters who's lives , with the exception possibly, of liana spiral out of control. There are no black and white heroes and villains here. You don't know even right at the end what George would do if he found what he was looking for. Brilliant book Mr Swanson !!
