September/October Group Read: Losing Julia by Jonathan Hull

[Jackie]

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

Becky, I totally understood that part, but then after Patrick told her everything on Daniel and she met him a second time in Paris she bought up Daniel and that bothered me because like you said they had a short time together- here the man is leaving his wife and son to spend time with her and here she is bring up her dead lover. Soooo romantic. lol.

Tasha, your statement is what made me question in the beginning Julia's love for Patrick. I kept asking myself was she really in love with Patrick or was it because he knew Daniel too and needed someone to connect with over it.


Edited to add: I did give the book 4 1/2 stars so I did enjoy it despite my questions regarding the love part of the story. I think this book was great in that I think it gave a realistic portrayal of love and relationships and bought up questions (at least for me) of whether or not there is one true love or a couple of loves out there. I think there is one section where Patrick makes the observation that people settle into their marriages even though they know they don't really love their spouse, which was Martin's case. I also thought it was great that it talked about staying in a relationship for the sake of the kids...something that you don't see often addressed in books.

[AJ]

Jackie, I think you've nailed Julia's feelings exactly. I think she loved Patrick because of his connection to Daniel, why else would she keep talking about him all of the time!

And Patrick was already in love with Julia because of his idealisation and fantasising about her for all of those years.

Would they ever have been able to make it last with Daniel always between them?

[Becky, Moddess]

**********Spoilers********

I think Tasha's right about Julia. I don't think that she really loved Patrick, I think that she was attracted to him certainly, but she didn't have the idealized imaginary perfection of him to love like he had for her for so long. I think that she wanted some sort of connection, and to understand, and things just happened as they did.

I don't think that she was cruel to behave this way, I think it brought her closure, but it didn't really help Patrick.

[Dorie]

*********** Spoilers *************

I always believed that part of the older Patrick's memories of Julia was symbolic of his love of life, and his longing for his youth and vitality. It's the same reason he deluded himself about the possibility of a relationship with the nurse. Julia was also symbolic for both he and Daniel the other time when they believed their life may be coming to an end. One thing I loved about the character of Patrick was the way he simply loved life, and was reluctant to see it coming to an end.

[Tasha]

This is probably the most interested I've been yet about a book discussion :) I think that says a lot for the book. I remember the 'controversy' when this book was originally nominated as the winner ;) I gave this one 4 stars too but would have given it 4.5 if I could.

Jackie, I love your synopsis of the book in your last post. I think it is right on.

Dorie, I loved your idea too of Julia/love being symbolic of life and youth! That seems to work well with Patrick's character.

[Becky, Moddess]

Tasha wrote: "This is probably the most interested I've been yet about a book discussion :) I think that says a lot for the book. I remember the 'controversy' when this book was originally nominated as the winner..."

Me too. I have to admit being a little disappointed that it seemed that so many didn't want to give it a chance at all. :(
Books I love will be mandatory group reads from now on! (Just kidding... LOL)

Really though, I'm glad that we've had such a good conversation about the book. I loved so much about it, and I'm glad that you guys enjoyed it too. :)

[Tasha]

I really enjoyed the older Patrick too :)

[Jackie]

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

The old Patrick was so endearing, honest and funny. I loved how he hit on the nurses and made it a point of saying that his dirty thoughts didn't go away as he got older...it's just that the plumbing got rusty. Reminds me of Betty White- http://www.people.com/people/article/...

[Gaynel]

I've been following this discussion with interest. Yes, I found old Patrick interesting and wise also. Although I think the ending kind of fell apart. But what I took away from the love affair is that it (IMHO) really wasn't about his love for Julia although I do believe Julia tried to used him as a substitute for Daniel and failed. I think it was about Patrick's attachment to the war and the trenches. His real problem was that he never left them but tried to replace them with Julia - she was somewhat familiar.
In the end, isn't that where he finally returned to die?

[Karen]

This is the first book I have read since joining this group and I have to say I loved it. I could not put the book down once I started it. I loved the way it was written, showing Patrick's thought patterns even when they made no sense as he aged.

It is not something I ever would have chosen myself so thank you for having this as your monthly group read.

[Rusty]

I just have to comment once more. This was a wonderful story for me. I do believe that for some people a lost love can remain in one's heart forever. So it was with Patrick. The ending seemed appropriate because Patrick had trouble letting go of the past, not only Julia, but those soldier friends he lost both during the war and through the ages. I did feel sorry for his wife because she had to live with him but I think many people can compartmentalize their emotions and live what may have been in their heads while reality is quite a different thing.