May/June 2011 Group Read: In the Woods

[[deleted user]]

In the Woods

Anne-marie will be the discussion leader.

[Creature]

Hello:
I think I'll pick up a copy this week.
Have a Great Day!!!
The "Creature"

[Paul]

I've just found a copy for a quid on amazon uk :D

[Patricia]

You guys will love this book. I read it a few years ago, I love Tana French, I've read all her books.

[Colin]

I read this last year and the story and characters were very good but extremely disappointed with the ending. I will say no more so not to spoil for anyone

[Jan C]

I just finished it a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed most of it. But I have to agree somewhat with Colin. I'll hold off on any further discussion for now.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

I read this with my in person book group a while back and I did enjoy it. I am looking forward seeing what you all think of it.

[Kim]

I also read this one a few weeks ago. There were lots of things I really liked about it and I will enjoy following the discussion.

[Linda]

I read this one a few months ago with another one of my goodreads group. It is a little slow in the beginning. I look forward to joining the discussion.

[Elizabeth]

Loved "In The Woods". Anxious for discussion time.

[aprilla]

Linda wrote: "I read this one a few months ago with another one of my goodreads group. It is a little slow in the beginning. I look forward to joining the discussion."

That's interesting Linda, I've started this one twice (not for this group read) but never got far into it. Maybe it deserves another try...

[Yvonne]

Just finished In the Woods last week and I'm really looking forward to discussing it with the group!

[KarenF]

aprilla wrote: That's interesting Linda, I've started this one twice (not for this group read) but never got far into it. Maybe it deserves another try... "

I read this a while ago and I may be biased because I really liked it. I agree that the beginning is slow but I think it serves a purpose. Without spoiling it I think that French builds up a sense of the mundane, of everyday life, so that as the events of the book unfold they are that much more shocking.

[Lobstergirl]

I've forgotten most of the plot points. Doubtless a discussion will jog my memory, somewhat.

[Gatorman]

Terrific book. I've read both follow ups as well. She writes well and develops very interesting and nuanced characters.

[Tina]

I also read this for a "real life" book club. I think I'm the only one that was not bothered by the ending. For me, the evolution of the main character was tougher to witness. I loathed him so much by the end, I was relieved that the subsequent novels by French are based on other characters.

[Linda]

aprilla wrote: "Linda wrote: "I read this one a few months ago with another one of my goodreads group. It is a little slow in the beginning. I look forward to joining the discussion."

That's interesting Linda, ..."

I think you should give it another try Aprilla, I had a hard time getting into it, but I refused to put it down, and I ended up enjoying it, and plan to read more by this author.

[Linda]

Tina wrote: "I also read this for a "real life" book club. I think I'm the only one that was not bothered by the ending. For me, the evolution of the main character was tougher to witness. I loathed him so much..."

I did not enjoy the end either, I expected more....

[Jan C]

I think I just wanted to know what happened all those years ago.

I've got the next book but haven't started it yet. I'm daunted by the size. That's one thing about reading on the kindle - you don't think about the size of a book. My SIL got one so that she could read that mammoth Mark Twain thing without having to lug it around.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Looks like Anna-marie is currently unavailable to lead the discussion but I hope she will be able to join in later on. In the meantime, I’ll pinch hit.

Since many are just starting the book let’s save the discussion of the ending for a bit so we don’t accidentally spoil it for others.

I read an interview with Tana French and one of the questions the interviewer asked was how difficult was it for her as a female to write in the voice of a male. She said “she didn’t have as much trouble writing from the male perspective as she did writing from the perspective of someone as deeply messed up as Rob. Trying to see the events of the book from that increasingly skewed perspective was an immense challenge.”

How do you think she did with the character of Rob? Believeable?

[Kim]

Overall, I think Rob was fairly believable. I thought of him as one of those people who is deeply damaged, aware of the damage (although perhaps not of its extent) and and who tries to keep functioning without dealing with the fundamental cause of the problem. As a consequence he is both unlikeable and vulnerable. I thought Tana French portrayed both of these qualities well. I can understand that writing from the perspective of a character like Rob would pose much more difficulty than crossing the gender divide and finding a male voice.

[Ethan]

Rob was one of those characters who I both loved and hated. I thought French did a great job with her character development. By the way, you can post (view spoiler)[ I won't give away anything yet! (hide spoiler)] by using < spoiler > whatever you want to be hidden spoiler > without the spaces. This could be very useful for discussing mystery novels.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

Hi Es135, Yes, isn't that spoiler feature terrific. It has been a boon to our discussions.

[Anne (Booklady)]

This was recommended by my sister. If she likes it, the book must be good. I have it my NOOK.

[Patricia]

I've read everything Tana French has written. I wish she would come out with a new one. Her latest Faithful Place was awesome.

ETA: Was just looking around on the internet and found that she has a new book coming out in August. Yippee! Broken Harbour

[Carol]

I agree that Rob was both damaged and vulnerable. I was touched by the way that he kept trying to carry on even though he knew he was having some severe issues. On the other hand, I was appalled that he did just keep on going. I wanted him to find resolution in his life.
Generally, I like the way French wrote her wide range of male characters. I like Carrie and the partnership she has with Rob.

[Gatorman]

I for one miss Rob and wish French would bring him back again. He was a very troubled character and it would be great to follow up on him to see where he is at. Despite everything he did and what happened to their relationship, I felt sorry for him based on his troubled past.

[Carol]

Gatorman wrote: "I for one miss Rob and wish French would bring him back again. He was a very troubled character and it would be great to follow up on him to see where he is at. Despite everything he did and what..."

This is the only French book I've read so far, but I would like to see Rob again as well. There would be a lot of directions to go with plot and character. I'm being general because I don't want to reveal anything to those who haven't finished the book.

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

As much as I find Rob a terrific character and he is, of course, central to the entire plot of the book do you think, in real life, he would have been allowed to continue handling this case when his own personal history became so entwined with the current crime?

[Carol]

Donna wrote: "As much as I find Rob a terrific character and he is, of course, central to the entire plot of the book do you think, in real life, he would have been allowed to continue handling this case when hi..."

Absolutely not! That's why he doesn't tell his boss. I wonder how this never became public knowledge, though.

[Jan C]

Carol wrote: "Donna wrote: "As much as I find Rob a terrific character and he is, of course, central to the entire plot of the book do you think, in real life, he would have been allowed to continue handling thi..."

You'd have to wonder what kind of background investigation was done on him.

I liked Rob. I had hopes for him but he turned out to be human after all (with all the frailties, etc.). (view spoiler)[ but I would have liked to know what happened to those kids. (hide spoiler)]

[Kim]

Carol wrote: "Donna wrote: "As much as I find Rob a terrific character and he is, of course, central to the entire plot of the book do you think, in real life, he would have been allowed to continue handling thi..."

While I enjoyed this novel and the others Tana French has written, I don't think her plots are the world's most plausible. The fact that Rob was there with no one but Cassie knowing about his past is just one of the many instances of this. Still, the most implausible set-ups often create the most compelling page-turners!

[Lobstergirl]

If you thought this one was implausible, wait til you read The Likeness...

[Kim]

Lobstergirl wrote: "If you thought this one was implausible, wait til you read The Likeness..."

Ah yes, if there was an Olympic gold medal for implausibility The Likeness would be right up there on the dais. Actually, I think it goes beyond the implausible into the totally preposterous. (I still enjoyed it, though!)

[Ethan]

Kim wrote: "Lobstergirl wrote: "If you thought this one was implausible, wait til you read The Likeness..."

Ah yes, if there was an Olympic gold medal for implausibility The Likeness would be..."

I just started The Likeness, and I agree the situation is implausible. What makes these books so great is the way French writes the characters. Even though I am weary about the plot, I want to see what happens to the characters.

[Leonora]

Just picked this up on audiobook from the library. I will have to refresh my memory as I read this book a couple of years ago.

[Diane]

If I'm lucky, I'll finally get a copy of this book from the library tomorrow. I've had a request in for almost three weeks now. :(

[[deleted user]]

Diane wrote: "If I'm lucky, I'll finally get a copy of this book from the library tomorrow. I've had a request in for almost three weeks now. :("

Don't worry Diane. The thread never closes so you can come back to the discussion when you have the book. (Sorry for the long library wait!)

[Robert]

I am new to the group decided to join as this book the book of month read it a year or so ago and is brilliant! if others enjoy will look forward to their recommendations

[Paul]

I'm currently about half way through, very much enjoying the characterisation and the interplay between the two detectives. I confess I'm still not sure where the investigation is going, but from the comments here I am expecting something from the left field...

[Gatorman]

Even though the plots may have an element of implausibility to them, they/re written so well you don't care and just enjoy the story. It doesn't get in the way.

[Yvonne]

Here's my review:
http://centralcaligrrrl.blogspot.com/...

I tried not to include too many spoilers, but you may want to wait until you're done reading the book first.

[[deleted user]]

Robert wrote: "I am new to the group decided to join as this book the book of month read it a year or so ago and is brilliant! if others enjoy will look forward to their recommendations"

Hi Robert and welcome. Glad you liked this book.

Don't forget the "Report for Duty" folder: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_...

You can introduce yourself, say what your favorite reads have been and someone will certainly have a recommendation for you.

[Cathy]

Chiming in late, but In The Woods has been in my TBR pile since I read the sequel. I scanned the comments and saw several people mentioned a slow start. I like French's more literary style which is admittedly slower than a thriller. Looking forward to reading this and to the rest of the discussion

[Robert]

i agree i enjoy a novel when slow burn and you want to turn to the end before half way through

[Donna, Co-Moderator]

I know we've kept the discussion away from the ending but I think enough people have finished to bring on the comments about the ending.

Just mark spoilers or use the hide function.

So, did you like the ending or not?

[Kim]

I know lots of people hated the ending, but I didn't mind it. We become used to the various elements of a novel all coming together neatly in the last chapter. This is particularly so in crime fiction. However, life isn't like that. It's messy and ambiguous and there aren't always answers to every problem. I don't take issue with that aspect of life being reflected in a novel.

[Lobstergirl]

It would have been nice to have all the loose ends tied up, but it didn't distress me that they weren't.

[Jan C]

I, too, thought it would have been nice to have the answers. But it didn't bother me all that much. I was just curious and she didn't fulfill my curiosity. Maybe she will in a future book.

[Diane]

I enjoyed the book and I'm okay with the ending. (view spoiler)[ It seemed to me that there was an indication that a Pooka killed them. Although it was not clearly defined, it was inferred. (hide spoiler)]