December 2023 - The Alice Network Informal Buddy Read

[Lea]

You ever have one of those books that everyone has read besides you? That's The Alice Network for me. Even my mom has read this book and wants to discuss it with me. If you haven't read this book and want to read it, please consider joining us. If you have read the book, feel free to join in any of the discussions. I've got the hard copy of this book, so I'm probably going to be reading it fairly slowly...

In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.

1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, code name Alice, the "queen of spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.

[Alissa]

I just started it but I'm liking it so far! I love when characters decide their own fate instead of following what's expected of them. get on that train, girl!!

[Denise]

I will probably start it Sunday, just finishing the book I am currently reading.

[Lea]

Denise wrote: "I will probably start it Sunday, just finishing the book I am currently reading."

I'm not far along either, Denise, and am hoping to hit it hard this coming weekend also.

[Denise]

Finally started this morning.

[Lea]

I'm 11% in so far, so I think I still need to catch up to all of you. Where are you guys at?

[Denise]

I am only at page 75, work has been insane. Sometimes I wonder why I work in retail and why I am still a manager....lol

[Lea]

Denise wrote: "I am only at page 75, work has been insane. Sometimes I wonder why I work in retail and why I am still a manager....lol"

Oh, Denise, I feel this so much. I used to work retail and the holidays were crazy. I'm about the same page as you, have to see where my bookmark landed this morning. I'm not getting more than a chapter read every day, but I am enjoying when I have time for it.

[Patricia]

I listened to this on audio a couple of years ago & enjoyed it. Hope you guys do too!

I wanted to ask (Lea) a couple of questions & figured this was a good a place as any. Are you still planning on reading Daughter of Moloka'i in February? And you realize it is the second in a series? Have you read the first one?
Thanks!

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I listened to this on audio a couple of years ago & enjoyed it. Hope you guys do too!

I wanted to ask (Lea) a couple of questions & figured this was a good a place as any. Are you still planning on reading Daughter of Moloka'i in February? And you realize it is the second in a series? Have you read the first one?
Thanks!"

I am enjoying the book right now, but I'm only 15% of the way into it. I have the paper copy. :-)

Yes! We are still reading Daughter of Moloka'i in February, and yes! Alissa and I both already read Moloka'i, for me in 2011. I think Alissa read it more recently. But anyway, it is a series of two books, so we were eager to get a series completed before we forget what happened in the first book. In fact, it's been a super long time for me and I'm wondering if I should re-read book #1. I don't like to re-read books very often though! :-)

[Patricia]

Lea wrote: "Patricia wrote: "I listened to this on audio a couple of years ago & enjoyed it. Hope you guys do too!

I wanted to ask (Lea) a couple of questions & figured this was a good a place as any. Are yo..."
Ok. Well, I haven't read Moloka'i yet, so I probably won't the next one in February. I would like to read them both at some point. I'll lurk and see what you guys think when you get to it.

[Ioana]

Patricia wrote: "Well, I haven't read Moloka'i yet."

I've read them both, read them in order. I liked the 1st one much better, but I think that's always the case with the 2nd books, right?

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "Ok. Well, I haven't read Moloka'i yet, so I probably won't the next one in February. I would like to read them both at some point. I'll lurk and see what you guys think when you get to it."

Sounds good. The first book is definitely worth reading. I will definitely let you know about the sequel. I think they sometimes suffer. :-)

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "Patricia wrote: "Well, I haven't read Moloka'i yet."

I've read them both, read them in order. I liked the 1st one much better, but I think that's always the case with the 2nd books, right?"

This is so true. It is rare when a series gets better after the first book. But, fingers crossed, I'm always hoping. Maybe I'll be in a better mood...that helps too! :-)

[Denise]

ok I didn't finish it in December but about 3/4 of the way thru. Very much enjoying the story. Hoping to finish today. I just noticed that the topic says December 2024, so are we hoping to finish by the end of this year now??? lol

[Lea]

Denise wrote: "ok I didn't finish it in December but about 3/4 of the way thru. Very much enjoying the story. Hoping to finish today. I just noticed that the topic says December 2024, so are we hoping to finish by the end of this year now??? lol"

LOL, that's a typo, but who knows? Maybe we do need the extra time for this book. It took me a long time to get this book read, I'm glad I owned the copy of it. Alissa had to return the book to the library, so she is waiting for it again.

I finished this morning and was disappointed by the ending, but I think it is "Lea thing" not something that would bother other people as much. I hope you finish soon, I am eager to discuss the ending! :-)

[Patricia]

I wish I could remember the ending but that was too many books ago! I will continue to lurk to see what you all think. I read The Diamond Eye last year which I enjoyed. Also based on a real person which just makes the story more fascinating. I have The Rose Code which maybe I'll get to this year.

[Ioana]

I don't remember the ending either, I've read it in 2019. Maybe after you all are done with it, you'll post about the ending?

[Lea]

Patricia wrote: "I wish I could remember the ending but that was too many books ago! I will continue to lurk to see what you all think. I read The Diamond Eye last year which I enjoyed. Also based on a real person which just makes the story more fascinating. I have The Rose Code which maybe I'll get to this year."

I loved learning more about female spies and reading about their skills. I think I would like to read more from the author, and I'm hoping that her other books don't have the exact same theme. (view spoiler)[I really have an issue with books that somewhat glorify revenge, because I do not think living your life fixated on gaining revenge is a healthy mental state and I do not think people generally feel satisfaction when they achieve revenge. But it surely does make for a good story! <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I don't remember the ending either, I've read it in 2019. Maybe after you all are done with it, you'll post about the ending?"

I'll hide it under a spoiler. (view spoiler)[ I have an issue with books that glorify revenge, I don't think people generally feel satisfaction when they are able to achieve it, and I think being fixated on revenge is not healthy. It does make a good story, though!<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Ioana]

I think I agree, The Count of Monte Cristo is a great book!

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I think I agree, The Count of Monte Cristo is a great book!"

I agree, that's one of my favorite books! (view spoiler)[I think Dantes ultimately letting go of his desire for vengeance gave him closure in The Count of Monte Cristo whereas I thought in The Alice Network, the author giving Eve and Charlie the satisfaction of killing Rene was a cheap way out. I know I'm supposed to feel girl power and all vindicated that they were able to even the score, but I do not. I'm not sure they evened the score. I felt like killing the evil old man was not equitable to living a life destroyed by hate and anger from what this guy had done. It made him even more powerful than he needed to be in their lives and them destroying him so late in life wasn't fulfilling to me. Far better to let go of the hate and anger earlier and live free from that imprisoning pain. I didn't feel girl power, I just felt like Eve had wasted her life and she and the author both never came to the realization that she would have been happier and reduced the power of these horrific experiences if she found a way to move forward from them. (hide spoiler)] Have you read any other books by Quinn? Is this a common theme? Because I liked the writing and the story very much. I just wanted more at the end.

[Ioana]

Lea wrote: "Have you read any other books by Quinn? Is this a common theme? Because I liked the writing and the story very much. I just wanted more at the end."

I've read Mistress of Rome and loved it. But that was in 2010, would I still like it that much now? I don't know...but it was a 5 stars then.

[Lea]

Ioana wrote: "I've read Mistress of Rome and loved it. But that was in 2010, would I still like it that much now? I don't know...but it was a 5 stars then."

Thanks, Ioana! That's a good endorsement for the book, but I know what you mean. I can read a book and love it and then wonder what I was thinking some years later. We'll see. It's a series and I have to see if I have the energy for that level of commitment. :-)

[Ioana]

It's a series, but as you can tell, I've only read #2, and I was happy. And the world did not stop spinning.

LOL, but I've been looking for #1 ever since, and only recently got it, so you know I'll read it. And the world will keep on spinning 😉

[Denise]

OK I finished this morning. Can discuss when Alissa finishes.