September/October Group Read: Losing Julia by Jonathan Hull

[Amy]

Gabriella, thanks for the link. That site looks great. I didn't like the idea that shipping & handling would be roughly half the cost of the book itself. Free shipping is ideal. Thanks again!

[Luckngrace]

I'd like to recommendThe Widow of the South. As a Southern woman, this one twisted my heart. It might be considered History rather than HF, but you all can judge for yourselves. I'm new to the club, so hello to all.

[Becky, Moddess]

Luckngrace, the group read has already been determined, it's Losing Julia by Jonathan Hull...

Be sure to nominate for the next group read though... Nominations should open in about 2 weeks.

[Gaynel]

Hello! My name is Gaynel; this is my 1st post. I just got Losing Julia and I'll be reading it with everybody else. It looks interesting, I haven't read too many books about WWI before.

Nice seeing everybody here!

[Maude]

Welcome, Gaynel!

[Gaynel]

Thank you!

[Becky, Moddess]

So has anyone started reading this yet?

[Gaynel]

I have, about 100 pages in. A bit depressing but alright so far.

[Nikki]

I haven't begun yet, I hope to be able to start it by the technical start date though. I surely better read it since I nominated it eh? =)

[Elena]

I am half way through,. I thought there would be more romance on it. It is definitely a book about war, and getting old...

[Naomi]

Hi, Everyone...

Losing Julia will be my first book with this group and I am happy to be a part of it. So far, I am really liking the book.

Amy, I buy my books from Amazon. Alot of times, you can get them used, in fine condition.

Naomi E. Blackburn

[Elena]

Elena wrote: "I am half way through,. I thought there would be more romance on it. It is definitely a book about war, and getting old..."

Well, just have to say that the romance picks up in part 3. I am enjoying this book a lot more than I expected.

[Gaynel]

I'm enjoying the book also. Although I can't say I think much of the main character (maybe toward the end). I also have a problem with the dialogue during the war - Did they talk that way then? They sound very modern.

[Becky, Moddess]

I loved Frank, Gaynel... But definitely 80 year old Frank. His humor and outlook and insights really made him endearing to me... I liked 80 year old Frank much more than young & younger Frank. LOL

[Gaynel]

I agree,he does have a lot of insight & humor but with all that he bugs me. He clearly wants love even at that stage & he's sitting in this home with old women who are also wanting love - so who does he crush on? The nurses.

I wonder if there will be a resolution to that issue in the end....

[Becky, Moddess]

I couldn't fault him for that... A leopard can't change its spots. Old ladies have a certain grace, but it's not the same as a beautiful young nurse who also takes care of you, and whom you can imagine cares for and about you, too. Plus, just because there are two people who share similar desires doesn't mean that they should desire EACH OTHER. ;)

[Gaynel]

'....A leopard can't change its spots...' I think that's why he made me sad.

[Becky, Moddess]

Yes, he did make me sad... I could understand him though, and why he was the way he was, even if I didn't really agree with it.

[Alicia]

I'm going to start this book now. :] I'll keep everyone updated on my opinions! :p

I'm a bit surprised that Elena said there wasn't much romance, though she did change her statement to say it picks up later on. The opening line of the preview is, "Jonathan Hull's debut novel is an epic story of love found and lost.." so I'm hoping for a good, dramatic, heart-wrenching, depressing love story.

[Rusty]

Just got my copy of Losing Julia in the mail today!

[Becky, Moddess]

Well said Heather. I agree completely.

[Naomi]

I am taking a different approach with this book. I worked in nursing homes, as a social worker, and then corporate offices for 12 years, so I see alot of residents I worked with as Patricks and the lonliness described in this book, sometimes being one of the only people who they talked with about their past because they no longer had family or family in the area, so this story brings alot of this back for me.

[Becky, Moddess]

That aspect was really heartbreaking for me, Naomi. I commend you for doing that kind of work... I know I couldn't do it - it would be too much for me. (That and being in animal control and seeing the cruelty and neglect of animals.)

[Naomi]

Thanks, Becky, but it was rewarding and enjoyable work as well. Sometimes I wonder why I got out of it!

[Nikki]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book--especially older Patrick's insights. Not only did he have poignant insights into life, war and growing older but love as well. I dare say the book gave me a new perspective on a few things. You would never have guessed that this was Hull's first novel or that this was not somehow based in fact.

[AJ]

Oh my God, I love, love, love this book! I love Patrick - young and old - and like some of you, I have gained some new perspectives on things after reading his wisdom as an old man.
The love story was not at all what I expected (I probably read too many books with happy endings), and as I finished the book I felt like my heart had been ripped out with the unfairness of it all.
But a brilliantly written, poignant book. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Becky, Moddess]

AJ, I'm glad that you loved it! I felt almost the exact same way... I was blown away that this was a FIRST BOOK. Just the way that it was written and the perspective we're given was amazing. This is definitely among one of the best books I've read this year... and for a long time!

[AJ]

Yeah, incredible! At times I had to remind myself that it wasn't an autobiography, that this guy created the entire story, and told it so beautifully.

[Becky, Moddess]

My favorite quote was:
"Like most bookworms I read so as not to be alone, which often annoys those who are trying to make conversation with me."

[Tasha]

Wow, I can't wait to get into this one...

[Naomi]

All that I have to say right now is that I cannot believe this book is written by a man...It is so poetic. Heather, you are right. This book is loaded with quotes. This book is like a good wine.

[Tasha]

@Naomi, Comparing a book to wine makes the book sound even more irresistible!

[Naomi]

Dang, who says a man can't have a way with words! I am thinking a fine red. Maybe a Pinot Noir..dark, rich and deep!

[Becky, Moddess]

You guys are making my day! :D I was really disappointed when it seemed that people didn't want to read this one... :(

It's really not at all what you'd expect from the title or the cover, so I'm thrilled that you guys gave it a chance! Thank you!

[Tasha]

Pinot Noir sounds good to me! I'm gong to finish my other book tonight with a red zin and then tomorrow start this one with a pinot noir :) this is fun...

[Naomi]

All that I can say is that with this guy's writing capapbilities, he must have/had no problems getting dates! I know my head would turn twice with some of the quotes!!!! I have been sitting on my deck with a glass of wine reading in the last of our beautiful afternoons and it is def. a nice combination!

[Tasha]

Starting this one today, looking forward to this read.

[Tasha]

Just wanted to say that I am really enjoying this one. I like how the story moves between 3 different times in Patrick's life. His life is quite a sad one and I really feel for him; I like him so far. I'm about 3/4 of the way in to the story.

[Dorie]

I so wanted to reread this for the discussion. I'm falling behind. I'm enjoying reading others comments though!

******** WARNING -- MILD SPOILER *********

One of the scenes that remains vivid to me is when Patrick decided to get a motorcycle, something he'd always wanted to try. He found out he couldn't physically handle it so ended up getting a motorscooter instead. When you're young you tend to think in terms of length of your life. You don't realize until you're older that a lot of life's opportunities can slip by you every day.

[Naomi]

I wanted to get others opinions who finished the book. Did you get the feeling that the ending of the book was forced or hurried? I loved the beginning of the book and thought it was poetic. It seemed that this was lost in the end though.

[Tasha]

I finished the book last night and loved it!!!

*******Spoiler alert*******

*******************************************************
The end was so sad.
I cried at the end, tears of sadness and joy. I was sad to have lost Patrick (although it was obvious it was coming) but happy he would now finally be with Julia. The scene where Julia's granddaughter fixes her painting and adds Julia just broke me. I really enjoyed reading from a man's perspective, I really liked Patrick :)

The writing and story were well-done. My palms were sweating during the scenes of war. I'm going to see if Hull has written any more books. Glad I took the time to read this one. I rated it a 4 stars.

[Rusty]

Truly enjoyed this book. Patrick Delaney grows up in 1918 when he marches off to WWI. The story tells about his experiences, his friends, his loves and his family. His best friend is Daniel, who is in love with Julia. Patrick has not found the love of his life so he listens avidly to Daniel's memories about Julia. Gradually, he too, falls in love with this unusual woman who, like the war and friends he lost in it, remain with him his entire life. The war scenes are graphic and sad. Patrick's heart, like Daniel's, belongs to Julia. How does this wonderful story end? Read it for yourself and discover the answer.

[Jackie]

*****SPOILERS*********


I finally finished this book on Saturday. I have to agree with Heather's comments...the love part of the story didn't have me until the very end. I didn't quite understand Patrick's longing for Julia or that Julia was really in love with him until the ending. I really hated that he was cheating on his wife with Julia. For some reason those parts just really bothered me despite Patrick saying how much love he had for Julia.

I love the older Patrick a little more than the younger Patrick. Just such profound thoughts on getting old. It reminded me of my mom and the things she had told me about getting old....basically how much it sucked. lol.

I also loved the writing. I agree there are so many good quotes. Becky posted my favorite one. I also loved this one: "A friend of mine used to say that happiness is like a erection: great while it lasts- especially if you can share it- but unsustainable for any length of time. And boy can it fade fast." LOL!

[Elena]

Jackie, I was also bothered by Patrick's cheating, and not because I judge him. It was also hard to understand, I think, because all the falling in love happened in a short period of time (not counting the loving her through Daniel during the war). I think he was a fool, in that respect. As he said in page 341:

"...and I realize that she made my whole life seem worthwhile, even the worst parts. And yet she ruined it too, so that I was never content again with Charlotte (might not I have been happy enough with her if I'd never met Julia?), and so that the rest of my life was haunted by the knowledge of what I had once had and then lost."

[Jackie]

************SPOILERS*************

Great quote Elena. That was one passage that jumped out at me because at that point I had the same thoughts as Patrick. I wondered if he could have been happy with Charlotte if him and Julia had not met. It seems though that eventually the relationship would have dissolved because it was missing something from the beginning. You could see that in how Charlotte kept giving Patrick all this space while in Paris. I don't think any wife would have accepted his excuses.

I felt like Patrick had this fantasy of Julia that he developed through Daniel and I was afraid that she wouldn't measure up. It seems like for those few days that they were together she did, but I wonder if the relationship could have been sustained if they had a chance to be together for a long period of time. After finishing the book I'm still not sure if this is an everlasting love or a fantasy of love that withstood the test of time due to both of them holding onto a few days of bliss.

[AJ]

Good point Jackie. I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic, so hadn't really thought of it that way. Patrick had adored Julia as a perfect being for all of those years, who knows what would have happened if they were together living a normal life.
They were bought together through Daniel, almost knowing each other already because of the stories Daniel had told. Once the initial frenzy subsided, who knows whether they could sustain their idalised versions of each other.

[Tasha]

I may have to agree with the fantasy of love. Patrick fell in love with her through Daniel, never having actually met and interacted with her. She fell in love with him bc of the connection he had with her through her true love Daniel. That being said though, that may have sustained them more so than what and charlotte had so it may have been better anyway. Despite all that, I still view it as a sad, longing love story...a consequence of war.

[Jackie]

************SPOILERS*************

Yeah I'm a hopeless romantic too...it's the reason why I love reading romance novels. lol. But it's also the reason why I had such a problem with the believability of the love in this story. Was anyone at all annoyed when Julia kept bringing up Daniel in the conversations with Patrick? In the beginning I wasn't so annoyed because they were getting to know each other, but after they had sex and proclaimed their love for each other it annoyed me when Julia would bring him up.

[Becky, Moddess]

********Possible Spoilers*******


Jackie, I think that Julia kept bringing up Daniel because she never really got to know what he went through, and she was trying to understand why he died, and how, you know? And the only person who could really tell her is Patrick, who of course wouldn't really want to talk about Daniel. Daniel was gone, but they weren't, and they had such a short time together.

[Tasha]

Jackie, to me, the fact that she keeps bringing up Daniel when with Patrick is what led me to believe that her attraction to Patrick is based on her feelings and needing to connect with Daniel.