Moriarty, Liane - What Alice Forgot - Start Date January 11, 2015

[Jex]

Due to sickness I fell even further behind. I'll still make my comments here as I'm reading, but catching up isn't really possible at this point :-P

[Sashana]

Jex wrote: "Due to sickness I fell even further behind. I'll still make my comments here as I'm reading, but catching up isn't really possible at this point :-P"

No worries, Jex, it happens to the best of us. Take your time, enjoy the book, and get better soon.

[Sashana]

I'll do today's questions.

[Lisarenee]

Thanks. I read, but my mind is not all that focused on anything. Still sick. :(

[Sashana]

Lisarenee wrote: "Thanks. I read, but my mind is not all that focused on anything. Still sick. :("

No problem, Lisa. I finished yesterday so I'm just going to skim and come up with some questions. Feel better soon!

[Sashana]

Questions for Chapters 29 - 32

44. Were you surprised by Elisabeth's pregnancy? Do you think it will work out this time?

45. Do you think Nick is taking advantage of Alice's amnesia? Was he wrong to suggest a redo when she does not remember? Do you think they will survive now that Alice has her memories back?

46. She's bacccccckkkkk. We got to glimpse a few of Alice's memories as it all came back to her. Based on these flashbacks what do you think of forty-something Alice? Do you you like the young or old Alice more? Compare and Contrast the two.

47. Everything seems to be working out for the characters in this section. This has left me a bit paranoid because I feel like Liane Moriarty might do something devastating. Predict how the book will end and what you want to happen (things to address: will Alice choose Nick or Dominick, will Elisabeth have a baby and will her marriage survive? ect...)

[Tabitha]

Questions for Chapters 18-22

23) So, we finally learn a little about the divorce. I can't believe Gina and Alice were such good friends that it would help ruin a marriage. Have you ever known someone like that?
-I am so sad about it. I guess I am old fashioned in my belief that marriage can (and should) last forever.

24) Alice must have been one mean, mean person for Nick to resent her so much. It's really sad!
-I know. It is super sad.

25) Their kids are just crazy! They defintitely make me laugh though. Especially Tom and Olivia!
-I was laughing like crazy when dinner first started.

26) Elisabeth and Ben seemed to have a huge misunderstanding. Seems like infertility is not their own problem. Communication too! What did you think about the miscommunication about adoption? Opportunity lost?
-I was sad about that. So much lost time because they cared so much about the other person that they didn’t want to hurt each other and in the end it hurt both of them.

27) Is Elisabeth just being bitter in her letter to Jeremy (her therapist) or do you really think she has decided that she wouldn't be a good mother?
-I am not sure, but I can see her point of view. At this point in my life, I don’t want to have kids at all because I think I would be too strict just because of my personality.

28) Going back to Gina and Alice... Alice's boyfriend, Dominick says that Alice and Nick were having "sexual issues", but got too embarrassed to continue. With Alice's comment later on wondering about having a lesbian affair and Dominick's embarrassment...could it be true?
-I don’t think so just because I want Alice’s marriage to Nick to work out so badly.

29) It really makes me sad the more I learn about Alice's "old" and "new" life. Could you imagine learning about how mean and rough you had been?
-I couldn’t even imagine it.

[Laura]

Questions for Chapters 29 - 32

44. Were you surprised by Elisabeth's pregnancy? Do you think it will work out this time?
I can't say I was surprised that she was pregnant so much as I was surprised by her reaction to it. I thought that she would be a bit more happy, even though she is scared she is going to lose it.

45. Do you think Nick is taking advantage of Alice's amnesia? Was he wrong to suggest a redo when she does not remember? Do you think they will survive now that Alice has her memories back?
I don't think he is wrong. I think he just misses how things were. I have a feeling he never really wanted the separation to begin with.

46. She's bacccccckkkkk. We got to glimpse a few of Alice's memories as it all came back to her. Based on these flashbacks what do you think of forty-something Alice? Do you you like the young or old Alice more? Compare and Contrast the two.
I like the young Alice more. The old Alice isn't very forgiving. It sounds like to me she made just as many mistakes as Nick and yet she is making it seem like it was all his fault. The young Alice is a bit more carefree and could forgive more easily. Do I think she is perfect, no but she is much better than old Alice.

47. Everything seems to be working out for the characters in this section. This has left me a bit paranoid because I feel like Liane Moriarty might do something devastating. Predict how the book will end and what you want to happen (things to address: will Alice choose Nick or Dominick, will Elisabeth have a baby and will her marriage survive? ect...)
I can't answer this question objectively because I read ahead.

Was anyone else annoyed with the way old Alice blamed Nick for the ice cream suggestion when Madison was supposed to be in trouble? I seem to remember it was her suggestion.

[Lisarenee]

I'll attempt to write the last questions in a bit

[Lisarenee]

Chapters 33 - Epilogue
48. So who did you hope Alice would end up with?

49. Do you like that the older Alice decided to keep some of the younger Alice with her when her memory came back?

50. Are you glad everything ended happily?

51. Did the Epilogue take you by surprise?

52. What did you think of that last dream?

53. Overall thoughts of the book? What did you rate it?

[Laura]

Chapters 33 - Epilogue
48. So who did you hope Alice would end up with?
I wanted her to end up with Nick, so I was very happy with the outcome.

49. Do you like that the older Alice decided to keep some of the younger Alice with her when her memory came back?
I didn't really care for the older Alice very much so I was glad when the old Alice kept some of the younger Alice. I wish she had kept a little bit more of her.

50. Are you glad everything ended happily?
Yes I am very pleased with the ending.

51. Did the Epilogue take you by surprise?
It was surprising, especially because it seemed like Alice was going to pick Dominick. I love how she surprised us with a few different things, such as Elisabeth having the baby, and Frannie getting with Xavier.

52. What did you think of that last dream?
It was understandable. Its hard to get rid of the memories of someone that you have been intimate with.

53. Overall thoughts of the book? What did you rate it?
I loved this book. The way the author wrote the narration and then popped in a few surprises at the end (even if the ending was somewhat predictable) just made the book for me. I can't wait to see the movie when it comes out even though it will probably be a few years. I gave the book 5 stars.

[Tabitha]

Questions for chapters 23-25

30) Do you think it wise of Alice to declare she and Nick are getting back together before her memory comes back? Do you think it will come back?
-I don’t think it was a good idea, but she was shocked that her marriage had fallen apart and she wanted so badly for it to be alright. I think some of it will.

31) When Luke first appeared what did you think? Do you think $150 for a personal trainer is too much?
-I was worried at first. I think it is crazy to pay that much for a personal trainer.

32) What do you think of the way Alice's emotions/reactions seem to remain intact even though the memories which would provoke them seem to be lost?

33) Do you think Elisabeth went too far in taking the child with her? Did she have a mental break down?
-Yes and no. Yes because it is a bit crazy. No because she thought she could do a better job as a mother than the woman who let her child run out in the street. I don’t think it was a break down.

34) Have fertility statue will travel. I chuckled about the statue. Do you think it will work?
-I don’t think it will, but I hope it would.

35) Wow! What was your initial reaction to the laundry machine incident? What did you think of Nick's reaction when Alice confronted him about it? What did you think when you found out it wasn't Nick who kissed the woman, but Gina's husband or do you think maybe Nick did as well?
-I was so mad at Nick when I first read about the laundry incident. I was mad at Nick again for laughing at Alice and not telling her what she was actually talking about. I was glad it wasn’t Nick, but I was sad fir Gina. I don’t think Nick was a part of it because I believe him when he said he hadn’t been with another woman.

36) What did you make of Madison's dream?
-It was scary and odd.

[Sashana]

Answers for 33 - Epilogue

48. So who did you hope Alice would end up with?
Nick. Dominick was sweet enough but I wanted Nick and Alixe to end up together because something was clearly still there. I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

49. Do you like that the older Alice decided to keep some of the younger Alice with her when her memory came back?
Thank God she did. I thought old Alice would stomp out young Alice (why does it sound like she has multiple personalities? lol)

50. Are you glad everything ended happily?
I think the characters deserved a happy ending, so yes. There was so much confusion, hurt, and ager throughout the book; some happiness was well needed.

51. Did the Epilogue take you by surprise?
It sure did. I thought Alice would stay with Dominick. I'm surprised Elisabeth chose to adopt and that Olivia is now a hell raiser.

52. What did you think of that last dream?
I returned my book and for the life of me I can't remember this so apparently not much.

53. Overall thoughts of the book? What did you rate it?
It was hard for me to rate so I gave it between 3.5 - 4 stars

[Jex]

Questions for Chapters 14 - 17

16. Looks like we were right about Alice suppressing her memories: "It had seemed like she was about to fall head first into all her memories but then she'd deliberately resisted it..."

I think she resisted after the fact, but not to forget them in the first place.

17. "Alice knew that Frannie had lost a boyfriend during the Second World War..."
Do you think it's possible that Phil, the recipient of Frannie's letters, could be dead? Or do you think Elisabeth's theory that Phil is married makes more sense?

No clue. It would make sense for Phil to be the lost boy friend.

18. I feel devastated for Elisabeth. I know dealing with infertility was rough but I didn't realize how much so. Why do you think she keeps putting herself through failed IVF's instead of adopting?

I think she just can't let go of the hope that one time it will work. No one has told her "hey it's never going to happen" so she hasn't given up. If she had a problem that made the dr's tell her to give up it might be easier on her.

19. Everyone obviously knew who Gina was but no one was forthcoming. Do you think Alice's family should withhold painful/awkward memories or should they rip it off like a band aid and tell her everything at once? Explain your position.

I think they were having trouble explaining who Gina was seeing as how she passed away. How do you explain a person knowing that it could bring back immense pain of losing someone? I mean forgetting Gina isn't like forgetting her divorce. If she doesn't remember her then she just never knew her...or something like that.

20. Anyone surprised at how normal Dominick seems to be? I kind of expected him to be more suave.

It doesn't really surprise me. I don't think Alice would really go for the suave type. It did surprise me that he was the principal at school. Isn't that a taboo? Dating your kids principal?

21. He [Ben] said, "I've been thinking."
I told him so had I, but he could go first. He said he'd been thinking abohatehat Alice had said last week and he'd decided she was one hundred percent right."
Do you think Ben was referring to the IVF treatments or was he referring to something else altogether?

I think he was referring to the IVF treatments. It doesn't seem to fit if he was talking about anything else.

22. Whoa! Gina is dead? I didn't see that one coming!

Neither did I. But it does fit in to my theory that Gina had a lot to do with changing Alice and playing a big role in her life. I never thought she'd turn out to be the mistress.

[Tabitha]

Questions for 26-28

37) I'm so glad at least one of Nick's sisters is somewhat normal. Seems Ella always liked Alice, but was torn between going against family or going with them.
-I didn’t seem like Ella liked Alice.

38) Olivia's performance. How cute! I would love to see that in real life.
-I sounded so funny. I would like to have seen it also.

39) Although, as parents how could you not take the time to see her routine beforehand and/or help her with it? I was a little upset about it.
-I was upset with that also, but I could imagine Olivia telling her parents that she wanted to do it all by herself.

40) Oh what a set up! I'm thinking this little salsa set up might be just what Nick and Alice need. What do you think?
-I hope it helps, but it seems like it hasn’t yet.

41) Nick says they were too wrapped up in Gina and Mike's problems and got to close. Do you think friends can be too close?
-Yes. It seems like Alice was when she thought it was Nick who cheated and not Mike.

42) There just wasn't enough time in 2008. It had become a limited resource. Back in 1998, the days were so much more spacious. When she woke up in the morning, the day rolled outin front of her like a long hallway for her to meander down, free to linger over the best parts. Days were so stungy now. Mean slivers of time. They flew by like speeding cars..." I so agree. How about you? Do you think we are so wrapped up in "going" and "doing" that we forget what matters?
-I agree that a lot of people are that way.

43) Very end of chapter 28. "Madison gave a tiny gasp of surprise and burst into tears." I did too. :) You think this the right approach for the situation?
-Yes. I was hoping that them hanging out together will get their hearts connected again.

[Tabitha]

Questions for Chapters 29 - 32

44) Were you surprised by Elisabeth's pregnancy? Do you think it will work out this time?
-Yes. Especially because of the way Elisabeth acted after coming home from her appointment. I don’t know, but I hope it will.

45) Do you think Nick is taking advantage of Alice's amnesia? Was he wrong to suggest a redo when she does not remember? Do you think they will survive now that Alice has her memories back?
-Yes, but Alice is also thinking that remembering the past 10 years won’t change anything. No. I want their relationship to work out.

46) She's bacccccckkkkk. We got to glimpse a few of Alice's memories as it all came back to her. Based on these flashbacks what do you think of forty-something Alice? Do you like the young or old Alice more? Compare and Contrast the two.
-I don’t like who she became. I like young Alice way better.

47) Everything seems to be working out for the characters in this section. This has left me a bit paranoid because I feel like Liane Moriarty might do something devastating. Predict how the book will end and what you want to happen (things to address: will Alice choose Nick or Dominick, will Elisabeth have a baby and will her marriage survive? ect...)
-I think Alice will pick Dominick and Elisabeth will lose her baby and her marriage will fall apart. I don’t want any of those things to happen, but I think they will. I want Alice to get back with Nick. I want Elisabeth to have her baby and I want her marriage to Ben to work out.

[Tabitha]

Chapters 33 – Epilogue

48. So who did you hope Alice would end up with?
-I hoped that Alice would end up with Nick. For a little bit I was worried , but by the end I was smiling about everything except how little Olivia turned out.

49. Do you like that the older Alice decided to keep some of the younger Alice with her when her memory came back?
-Absolutely. I think it helps her with her life to remind her that every moment is special.

50. Are you glad everything ended happily?
-Absolutely. Everything ended exactly how I wanted it to. Yay.

51. Did the Epilogue take you by surprise?
-A lot.

52. What did you think of that last dream?

53. Overall thoughts of the book? What did you rate it?
-I love it. It is wonderful. I rate it ★★★★(4 stars).

[Jex]

Chapters 18 - 22
23. So, we finally learn a little about the divorce. I can't believe Gina and Alice were such good friends that it would help ruin a marriage. Have you ever known someone like that?

It could make sense if the person is a bad influence or helped change Alice or even convinced Alice that she was putting up with too much. It sounds like Nick is pretty busy with work and maybe Gina helped Alice realize that it wasn't worth her time being miserable over it.

24. Alice must have been one mean, mean person for Nick to resent her so much. It's really sad!

It sounds like they're both bitter people. Alice just doesn't remember being bitter. My guess is that Gina helped her become the way she is and Nick doesn't like it.

25. Their kids are just crazy! They defintitely make me laugh though. Especially Tom and Olivia!

Kids will be kids.

26. Elisabeth and Ben seemed to have a huge misunderstanding. Seems like infertility is not their own problem. Communication too! What did you think about the miscommunication about adoption? Opportunity lost?

It's sad that they never sat down and talked about it. Both thought they were saving the other from heartbreak. Maybe deep down neither of them wanted to adopt and they just blamed each other instead of themselves.

27. Is Elisabeth just being bitter in her letter to Jeremy (her therapist) or do you really think she has decided that she wouldn't be a good mother?

I think it's a combination of things. After not getting a child for so long you begin to wonder whether you're really cut out to be a parent. Not to mention they're now a lot older and the process will be a long one.

28. Going back to Gina and Alice... Alice's boyfriend, Dominick says that Alice and Nick were having "sexual issues", but got too embarrassed to continue. With Alice's comment later on wondering about having a lesbian affair and Dominick's embarrassment...could it be true?

I think Dominick's embarrassment is simply talking about his girlfriends sex life with her ex husband. That would be awkward for anyone.

29. It really makes me sad the more I learn about Alice's "old" and "new" life. Could you imagine learning about how mean and rough you had been?

It's one of those, if you could go back and change things, would you? type moments. Except Alice doesn't have the ability to know what had changed. She just sees the aftermath of it all.

[Jex]

Chapters 23 - 25
30. Do you think it wise of Alice to declare she and Nick are getting back together before her memory comes back? Do you think it will come back?

I think it's very foolish. She doesn't know why they broke up and will most likely regret her announcement when she does remember. Not to mention Nick seems awfully mad as is. What if he hears this rumor?

31. When Luke first appeared what did you think? Do you think $150 for a personal trainer is too much?

I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't think it was an affair or anything like that. Personal trainer makes sense seeing as how she got injured working out and all.

32. What do you think of the way Alice's emotions/reactions seem to remain intact even though the memories which would provoke them seem to be lost?

I think emotions are more primal and take less effort then memories and that's why she's getting all these emotions even though she doesn't quite know why. It's more like a habit that's not easily forgotten.

33. Do you think Elisabeth went too far in taking the child with her? Did she have a mental break down?

Definitely a mental breakdown. It's sad to think that people like the cell phone mom have kids when someone that so badly wants them like Elisabeth can't have one. Sometimes it's just a cruel cruel world.

34. Have fertility statue will travel. I chuckled about the statue. Do you think it will work?

I don't think so, but then again I've never believed in good luck charms or other superstitions. It seems to say "it's all in your head" and less that it's a physical problem which it seems to be with Elisabeth.

35. Wow! What was your initial reaction to the laundry machine incident? What did you think of Nick's reaction when Alice confronted him about it?
What did you think when you found out it wasn't Nick who kissed the woman, but Gina's husband or do you think maybe Nick did as well?

I'm confused as to why Nick didn't explain the incident. He doesn't seem to want to be very helpful when it comes to Alice, and I'm sure he has his reasons, but he would know more about anything Alice was trying to remember so logically should be the one helping her get those memories back. It's interesting that she would remember a memory of Gina's before her own. It must have been a very trying time for Gina and Alice felt very sympathetic.

36. What did you make of Madison's dream?

I want to know more about it. Does this mean that the children were fond of Gina? Or at least Madison? What was on her exactly? Why is Madison having nightmares about Gina? So many questions!

[Jex]

Chapters 26 - 28
37. I'm so glad at least one of Nick's sisters is somewhat normal. Seems Ella always liked Alice, but was torn between going against family or going with them.

Maybe she stayed friends with Alice for the kids? It seems like all the kids are pretty close and cutting ties might make things worse for everyone.

38. Olivia's performance. How cute! I would love to see that in real life.

Definitely wish I could have seen it. It's probably adorable.

39. Although, as parents how could you not take the time to see her routine beforehand and/or help her with it? I was a little upset about it.

Alice may have seen it but didn't remember it. She did have a lot on her mind in the last week or so that she's been home from the hospital. Nick however, had no excuse. Unless Olivia really wanted it to be a surprise?

40. Oh what a set up! I'm thinking this little salsa set up might be just what Nick and Alice need. What do you think?

Based on the last sentence in this segment, it was exactly what they needed. I'm starting to think there may be a chance for them. I'm scared to see what happens when Alice gets her memory back.

41. Nick says they were too wrapped up in Gina and Mike's problems and got to close. Do you think friends can be too close?

Yes. If you're too close to someone then your problems become their problems and vice versa. It makes perfect sense to me how that can get in the way of your marriage, especially if what Nick said is true about Alice going out to bars with Gina and acting jealous of the single life.

42. There just wasn't enough time in 2008. It had become a limited resource. Back in 1998, the days were so much more spacious. When she woke up in the morning, the day rolled outin front of her like a long hallway for her to meander down, free to linger over the best parts. Days were so stungy now. Mean slivers of time. They flew by like speeding cars..." I so agree. How about you? Do you think we are so wrapped up in "going" and "doing" that we forget what matters?

Most definitely. Now a days if you take a "lazy day" you feel guilty for not getting anything done. Our society is too bent up on "must get it done" and less on "must enjoy life".

43. Very end of chapter 28. "Madison gave a tiny gasp of surprise and burst into tears." I did too. :) You think this the right approach for the situation?

I think so. It's obviously a deeper problem then Madison simply being a bully. If they had just punished her instead of talking with her then it would only get worse. I like how Alice handled it.

[Jex]

Chapters 29 - 32
44. Were you surprised by Elisabeth's pregnancy? Do you think it will work out this time?

I cheated and read ahead before answering these. I did have a feeling it would work though. Why make her pregnant if it wasn't going to?

45. Do you think Nick is taking advantage of Alice's amnesia? Was he wrong to suggest a redo when she does not remember? Do you think they will survive now that Alice has her memories back?

I think that Nick was genuinely willing to try again, he just knew it wouldn't last past her memory coming back.

46. She's bacccccckkkkk. We got to glimpse a few of Alice's memories as it all came back to her. Based on these flashbacks what do you think of forty-something Alice? Do you you like the young or old Alice more? Compare and Contrast the two.

It just sounds like she's lived a lot more. She's not bad or good, just older.

47. Everything seems to be working out for the characters in this section. This has left me a bit paranoid because I feel like Liane Moriarty might do something devastating. Predict how the book will end and what you want to happen (things to address: will Alice choose Nick or Dominick, will Elisabeth have a baby and will her marriage survive? ect...)

Again, I cheated...

Chapters 33 - Epilogue
48. So who did you hope Alice would end up with?

Nick. Dominick seems like a great guy, but it's always nice when the parents end up together.

49. Do you like that the older Alice decided to keep some of the younger Alice with her when her memory came back?

I think it was good that she did. Young Alice had given her a new perspective on her life and it was important to take that in.

50. Are you glad everything ended happily?

Yes. Usually I don't like endings where everything works out, but this book made it work.

51. Did the Epilogue take you by surprise?

Yes! I expected her to be lying next to Dominick not Nick. Very surprising indeed.

52. What did you think of that last dream?

Seemed more like a memory.

53. Overall thoughts of the book? What did you rate it?

I gave it a 4 which is rare for me to do with a romancy book. I really liked the storyline and the evolution of Alice becoming Alice again. I'd definitely recommend it to others.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

BUDDY READ REVISIT! BUDDY READ REVISIT! BUDDY READ REVISIT!

This topic is open for discussion of What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.



Be prepared for spoilers!

Remember the woman you used to be ...

Alice is twenty-nine. She is whimsical, optimistic and adores sleep, chocolate, her ramshackle new house and her wonderful husband Nick. What's more, she's looking forward to the birth of the 'Sultana' - her first baby.

But now Alice has slipped and hit her head in her step-aerobics class and everyone's telling her she's misplaced the last ten years of her life.

In fact, it would seem that Alice is actually thirty-nine and now she loves schedules, expensive lingerie, caffeine and manicures. She has three children and the honeymoon is well and truly over for her and Nick. In fact, he looks at her like she's his worst enemy. What's more, her beloved sister Elisabeth isn't speaking to her either. And who is this 'Gina'everyone is so carefully trying not to mention?

Alice isn't sure that she likes life ten years on. Every photo is another memory she doesn't have and nothing makes sense. Just how much can happen in a decade? Has she really lost her lovely husband for ever?

[VNerdbooks]

Can we start the BR now...ish or do we have to start on the BR date mentioned?

[~Melissa~]

V Audio Nerd wrote: "Can we start the BR now...ish or do we have to start on the BR date mentioned?"

I think this was planned for January for TT - I don't remember the date as I'm a tag-a-long,lol

[♦Ashley♦]

Signing up:)

[K~Terror]

I'm in! I was thinking it was to be around January 11th?

[♦Ashley♦]

That would work:)

[Kristie]

Yup! It is scheduled for January 11th! I can't wait to read this. :) If anyone reads it before the planned date, please use spoiler tags so that those of us that start in January don't accidentally read anything that spoils part of the book. That is the goal of the revisit post, so people know there are spoilers before that. Thanks!

[~Melissa~]

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "I'm in! I was thinking it was to be around January 11th?"

Thanks - I just couldn't remember what date in January,lol. Now to add it to the list I have going on my TT thread :)

[K~Terror]

I was confused by the March date but then realized that was from the original BR -LOL!

[Kristie]

Ah!!! I was wondering I'd that was what you saw! It was March 2012. Lol

[Kristie]

Ah!!! I was wondering I'd that was what you saw! It was March 2012. Lol

[Sarah]

I will have to start early if I make it, my copy is due back on Jan. 11th.

[Renee]

I'm planning to join this too. It will be a reread for me. I loved it first time.

[K~Terror]

Sarah wrote: "I will have to start early if I make it, my copy is due back on Jan. 11th."

When are you planning to start this one?

[Sarah]

I actually got it again - so I am planning to start next week.

[Joi]

I would love to join in on this buddy read if that's okay.

[Kristie]

That would be great, Joi!

[Renee]

Chapter 1
Alice fainted and was disoriented when she woke up. I remember the first time I fainted. I was 22 and had just had my ears pierced on a whim. The only place I found that was open was a tattoo/body piercing place in the suburbs. I wasn't scared and didn't have any issues with pain. I took my time getting up from the chair and didn't rush around, but while I was standing at the counter paying and getting care instructions, my hands started to feel warm and tingly, then I dropped. When I came to, I was on the floor next to a glass cabinet. A woman whose face was filled with piercings (which was unusual 15 years ago) was in my face, shaking my shoulder, saying "Sweetie, sweetie". All I could think was "Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my bedroom!?" I had felt like I was dreaming and that I had been asleep for hours. It took a minute or so for me to work out what was going on, and another 20 minutes or so until I felt able to drive a couple of minutes home. I only had a half day of work, but I had to call in sick for the afternoon because of the faint hangover. I got so much sh*t from the girls when they found out I had to take a sick day because I got my ears pierced!

[Rhonda]

I would like to participate in this BR for the TT challenge. I have never done a BR before. Are we supposed to answer the existing questions for the purposes of the informal BR?

[Cynthia]

You can, especially if you're having trouble gathering your thoughts about that section. The difference here is that we use spoiler tags, because people are reading at different rates.

I usually do something like this: Through Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ and then I comment on the first 10 chapters in here. (hide spoiler)]

I've done some buddy reads that answer the old DQs, and we put them in spoiler tags also.

[Kristie]

Renee - What a great story!! Lol

Yes, Rhonda. You can answer the old questions, if you choose to. I would recommend being really careful about reading spoilers, if you go back to posts prior to when the mods restarted the thread though. Usually for relaxed buddy reads we just discuss our different thoughts on the book as we go and use a lot of spoiler tags (as in Cynthia's example above). People often talk about their thoughts on the characters, plot, writing style, whatever comes to mind. Feel free to do whatever you are more comfortable with.

[Joi]

I just started this book.!

[Renee]

Finished Chapter 4
I'm listening to this via audio. The narrator is one of my favourites, Caroline Lee.

The story is unfolding in alternate perspectives - 3rd person focussed on Alice and 1st person Journal entries from Alice's sister Elizabeth. I'm not really liking Elizabeth at the moment. She is coming across very shallow. (view spoiler)[ I think Alice has become quite shallow over the years and I don't think she would like the person she had become. (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

I just started also. I'm about 7% in and I don't really have an attachment to the characters yet, but (view spoiler)[ I can't imagine how disorienting and scary it must be to wake up like Alice did. I feel bad that she is going to realize that her life over the past ten years didn't turn out as she had planned. You can already see it coming. (hide spoiler)]

[Joi]

I'm like 5 % in. I'm not really liking it so far but (view spoiler)[it's interesting to see how everyone else knows that she doesn't remember things, but she doesn't know. I wonder what will happen when she realizes it. Also, George Clooney (the paramedic) hasn't told her anything. I wonder why he isn't being truthful with her. (hide spoiler)]

[VNerdbooks]

I've just started this, up to chapter 3, I'm on audio too, I think it is the same narrator as the her other books?
So Alice has (view spoiler)[bumped her head at step class, thinks that she is pregnant and is 29 years old, but her friend Jane (wasn't she in Big Little Lies too?) has told us that she has just been invited to her 40th birthday party!! weird! (hide spoiler)]

[K~Terror]

I got about half way through Chapter 6 last night
(view spoiler)[ I'm feeling really horrible for Alice - I can't imagine what it must feel like to have "missed out on" 10 years of your life. So many changes would have taken place ~ and especially to not even know your children. My heart is breaking for Alice. Her sister, Elizabeth doesn't seem to be as close as Alice remembers. Wondering what her relationship is with Nick and what is up with his secretary... (hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

I picked it up from the library this afternoon and ahven't been able to put it down ! I've read through Chapter 15 (view spoiler)[

I don't know how I would feel if I had lost 10 years of my life. I can think of a lot of things I would like to forget permanently, but most of them aren't in the past 10 years. It would be nice to rewind, but Alice doesn't hasn't had a rewind...everyone else is still in the present.

I don't think Nick had an affair with Gina. I think Alice had the affair with Gina's husband and something awful happened to Gina, like suicide. It's the only explanation. The biggest shocker is the divorce, not the affair. She already knows about the divorce, so why not tell her he had an affair?
(hide spoiler)]

[Rhonda]

I am just finished with chapter 7.
(view spoiler)[
So far I have no attachment to any of the characters. To this point, both Alice and Elisabeth are self-absorbed. It seems understandable for Alice at this point because of the traumatic nature of getting bonked on the head and struggling to figure out what's going on, but Elisabeth has no such excuse.

I already knew Alice and Nick were no longer a couple, simply from the way Nick's secretary acted on the phone, so no great surprise there. I also guessed that Ben must be Elisabeth's husband when he was first mentioned and Alice didn't know who he was, but it was an easy guess as the kid on the phone called him Uncle Ben.

It's also clear that the sisters were close once, but not now and, it appears, not for a long time.

I'm suspecting Elisabeth had a miscarriage at some point....

I am enjoying the book. I'm looking forward to finding out how Alice came to be where she is.......Not how she landed in the hospital, but how she came to be separated from Nick and alienated from Elisabeth. (hide spoiler)]