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The Scent of Rain and Lightning - Spoiler Alert
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Ok Ladies, is anyone as lost as I am?Im in the middle of chapter 6 and I thought the story started in the present-day then, if I'm not mistaken chapters 2-6 are giving the details of what occurred in the past.I draw this conclusion because in chapter 1 Jody Linder is an adult and she's in the house of her dead parents.However,chapter 2 begins telling the history of the Linder family/ranch as well as a conflict that may or may not involve Billy.Anyone else confused or is it just me?
No longer lost in the storyline.Enjoying the story immensely,having a difficult time tearing myself away from it.It's done giving the back story and returned to the present day.Woo,almost began to question my sanity.I'm at about 50% finished with the story.I've got my sunflower seeds,crushed ice cubes and will be finished in no time.Catch you all at about 75% of completion :)
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So I just started this, and got to say I'm really enjoying it. This is a pretty easy and fast read. It moves really nicely. Hope everyone else is enjoying it as well ;)
AndreaYou're in for a few twists and turns as the plot continues to develop.There were several surprises with the characters as well.Continue to enjoy :)
I have read this book before and I am so excited to read it again! It is a fantastic book with a gripping storyline. Will keep everyone up to speed as I progress again. Great pick ladies :)
"The Scent of Rain and Lightning” is anything but ho-hum…. It is a “literary” novel in every sense of that word. Well-plotted, clearly written and simultaneously qualifies as a gripping read, a master character study and as literary is more than welcome —it is exceedingly rare. I will be reading more of Nancy Pickard :)
Pickard's storytelling is genuine and thorough.Although a reader can be side-tracked momentarily with the "timing" of the story,it was still entertaining.The answer to the question every reader wants to ask out loud is so well hidden that one begans to consider everyone mentioned.Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.Although I finished it 2 weeks ago,I'm still trying to neatly organize all the details of the story.Bravo Nancy Pickard!
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This book has been keeping me awake reading until about 1:30am every night. Or until my eyes won't stay open anymore.
I can't wait to find out what happens next.
I have my skepticism about the disappearance of Laurie. Then, what was going on with her and Chase??? OMG! I think I'm going to need to read all day until it's finished!
That's the way I was too ... She sure knows how to write a mystery and suspenseful novel... Thank you to who ever recommended the book! God job...
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I actually went to Facebook asking people for suggestions and this one was suggested by a couple people (Melanie being one of them) so I figured why not throw it in for a vote. I'm so glad I did!
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I have a copy with the author interview in the back. Did anyone read that? Interesting how her books develop.
Oh man this book was good. I'm so glad we read it!
I totally thought that it was Chase too, but didn't want to believe that someone could do that to his own brother. I knew there would be a twist, but I never suspected that it would be Meryl. I love how authors can manipulate the way we view their characters leaving us always surprised in the end.
This book was so incredible. I told my friend that I missed reading it the other day because I truly felt that I was attached to the book. Now that it's done I don't know what to do with myself!
This book was so incredible. I told my friend that I missed reading it the other day because I truly felt that I was attached to the book. Now that it's done I don't know what to do with myself!
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Haha! I know! I feel that way about certain books and characters too. I don't want to let them go. I just want to follow them through their lives and get updates. We should make facebook pages for these characters! LOL!!
At one point I thought it was Bobby because he was so in love with Laurie. I still can't believe it was Meryl...wow. And the fact that Belle never knew. Damn he was good.
I assumed that the killer was Laurie pretty much the whole time. I came up with the scenario that Laurie got Jody out of the house by sending her to her grandparents, then went home to pack her stuff and leave. Hugh-Jay would go home to confront her about an affair he was assuming she was having instead of heading to Colorado. They fought and she somehow ended up killing him and then she got swept away in the storm and she was never found. I NEVER expected it to be Meryl.I have found myself missing this book too. We found out the end of this story, but what's next?! I would love to read it from Collin's perspective.
Collin's perspective would be a great idea! I miss this book also. It's crazy but I wonder; What are they up to?
Can't wait to see what we are reading next.
I still think about this one. I suggested it to a close friend and she was completely blown away by it. She'd call me up and say,"I know Laurie killed Hugh-Jay" or "Chase is ruthless...messing around with his sister inlaw"!I kept telling her that she'd never guess in a million years who the actual killer was..lol!In the end, she was just as surprised as all of us and completely stunned that Meryl was indeed the culprit.Can't wait to find out next month's read.
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Am I the only one who felt really bad for Red?? He was such a simple man who tried to do right and ended up being caught up in this web of lies and deceit. In the end, he paid the ultimate price.
And what about Collin's mother? Did she get what she deserved in the end having supported Billy all that time?? What do you guys think?
Maranda wrote: "Oh! I think this book from Collin's perspective would be awesome!!! I assumed that Laurie just took off and hid herself. She never wanted to be a mother anyway. Am I the only one who felt really ..."
I felt sorry for Red also.He had such an open mind about everyone and seeing only the best in them.I never imagined he and Jody having an intimate relationship at all.
As for Collins mother, I think she was also a casualty and didn't deserve death.Many ppl that are abused in any form lose their sense of worth,ambition,esteem,hope and self preservation.In her case,one can attribute her actions to wanting to protect Collin, as so many mothers do for their children.But,did she deserve death? No, I don't think so even though she could be considered "dead" already in the spiritual,mental,emotional and physical sense of the word as a result of the abuse and control Billy maintained over her.She was merely existing with a tormented soul.
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Am I the only on..."
I agree about Collin's mother. I think it's a shame what happened to her. But if she was already walking around dead...was her life wasted by her death?
AND. Who killed her??? Was it actually Billy? Or did Meryl somehow get in there and kill her? And why? Why did she have to die? I guess I'm pretty confused about why she was killed in the first place. Oh wait. Maybe I'm not. Someone needed Billy back in jail, so killing his wife would do it....But who killed her???
Life, in my opinion is invaluable whether one lives it to the full or not.In Collin's mother's case,it isn't difficult to imagine that the years of abuse by Billy's hand had taken its toll on her.The description given of her while at the school picking Collin up made me think of her going through the motions of life.The way she was described standing at the checkout counter of the grocery store was very prominent for me as well.I believe Meryl killed her in an effort to turn the focus once again to Billy. Boy did this story have so many twists...lol! Loved it!
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I loved it so as well. I am STILL thinking about it!
I honestly think that Collin's mother, Collin and Jody were the real victims in this story. Everyone else pretty much brought it upon themselves. It makes me sad to think about Collin's mom. I know she had a name but I feel sad that I don't even remember what it was. :-(
1. The Scent of Rain and Lightning revolves around the theme of revenge. What does this novel tell us about the nature of revenge?
2. The theme of forgiveness also plays a large role in the novel. How does the story reveal the challenges of forgiveness? Are the characters clearly in one camp or the other (revenge or forgiveness)? If so, how would you divide them? And which characters, if any, bridge these emotions?
3. What role does the community play in Billy’s conviction? Can it be held culpable?
4. How does the author use weather and landscape as symbols in her writing?
5. Why does Pickard title her novel as she does? What is the meaning behind it?
6. Having read the novel, do you think it’s better or worse to live in a small town when dealing with a personal tragedy?
7. What is the significance of the Testament Rocks?
8. The Linders are portrayed as being the most influential family in the county. Do you think their power corrupted them in any way? Do you think they tried to be good people?
9. Even with the best intentions, good people can make terrible mistakes. Do you think the Linders had good intentions? At what points did those intentions go wrong?
10. What clues in the book led you to guess the true identity of the killer? Who do you think the real murderer is?
11. Do you think Pickard laid sufficient groundwork for the discovery of the killer’s identity to be believable? Can a person really hide their true character from so much family so successfully for so many years?
12. Now that the truth is known, do you think that Jody Linder and Collin Crosby can ever truly be together?