kagzmac:

About the boy with the sore eyes and the little boy:  I wondered too about the boy with the sore eyes dying in his place, but I couldn't see why this would be, he had done nothing wrong, he wasn't portrayed as a 'bad' person, just lonely and misunderstood.  He tried to save the little boy so why would he have had to die in his place?  

I didn't see it as being because he'd done anything wrong.  I saw it as because he felt so bad because he thought he hadn't saved the boy.  At the same time, one of the men in the street, is saying the boy's name over and over again like a prayer, which also could be seen as having saved him.  But both of these things might just have been coincidences and this is what the book to me was about, how all of these lives are connected, but people might not realise how much they are connected to others as they go about their own lives.

Couldn't get into this book.  It took me about 3 weeks to read.

A strange collection of words.  I was going to give up on several occasions but I wanted to find out what all the hints were leading to.

I was very disappointed and felt I was left wanting.  There seem to be an extremely long build up to something that was over very quickly.  I, too, didn't understand why one boy survived and the other died.

pennyt:

count:

I have to say though - surely a book should be a story? "A painting with words" is a lovely phrase (and describes the book perfectly) but I don't think it works in its favour!

This is interesting because usually I hate books that have no plot, but I didn't feel that at all with this.  To me there were lots of little plots, in that the glimpses you got into the lives of each of the characters gave you glimpses of their lives - perhaps a bit like lots of short stories, which I also love. 

I guessed it would be very much a marmite book.  When I read it, I was desperate to share it with people as i really wanted to talk about it, but I knew that most of the people I usually recommend books to would absolutely hate this one!

I know! Even as I typed that, I thought, how's that for role reversal! - remember The Ulysses Debate? Since then I have thought a lot about what you and Wendy said Penny, and read a lot of books I wouldn't have otherwise picked up and so changed my opinion on this - although poetry/innovation/even style (!) do draw me to a novel, without a story there's really no reason to keep turning the pages. I am glad you enjoyed this though - and the great thing about this site is that I've just swapped it for a book I really wanted!

count:

pennyt:

count:

I have to say though - surely a book should be a story? "A painting with words" is a lovely phrase (and describes the book perfectly) but I don't think it works in its favour!

This is interesting because usually I hate books that have no plot, but I didn't feel that at all with this.  To me there were lots of little plots, in that the glimpses you got into the lives of each of the characters gave you glimpses of their lives - perhaps a bit like lots of short stories, which I also love. 

I guessed it would be very much a marmite book.  When I read it, I was desperate to share it with people as i really wanted to talk about it, but I knew that most of the people I usually recommend books to would absolutely hate this one!

I know! Even as I typed that, I thought, how's that for role reversal! - remember The Ulysses Debate? Since then I have thought a lot about what you and Wendy said Penny, and read a lot of books I wouldn't have otherwise picked up and so changed my opinion on this - although poetry/innovation/even style (!) do draw me to a novel, without a story there's really no reason to keep turning the pages. I am glad you enjoyed this though - and the great thing about this site is that I've just swapped it for a book I really wanted!

For anyone who is reading for entertainment this is the truth.  Quote from The Thirteenth Tale:  "I will tell you my story, beginning at the beginning, continuing with the middle, and with the end at the end.  Everything it its proper place."

I love this current debate though, even though I didn't read the book (I guessed beforehand I'd be on the non-liking side of the marmite sandwich).  I'm pleased it has sparked such a good discussion and also heartwarmed to read Monkeychick say she's never discussed a book before but she has now - thanks to Risi!

I agree with Wendy - this has been a great discussion.  A shame you didn't like the book, Alice, particularly when it was your choice, but thanks so much for picking it anyway!  I've found all the comments fascinating and I'm pleasantly surprised at how many people did enjoy it. 

 I'm suprised that the majority of people have said that they enjoyed this book too, I thought that it would have been the other way round.  I find when I'm recommending this book I tend to say 'it's great' 'you might not like it' 'it's really beautiful' 'not a lot happens' 'well, if you don't like it, it's only short'!!!!!!

pennyt:

I agree with Wendy - this has been a great discussion.  A shame you didn't like the book, Alice, particularly when it was your choice, but thanks so much for picking it anyway!  I've found all the comments fascinating and I'm pleasantly surprised at how many people did enjoy it. 

Ditto - we should do this more often. Are you going to read next month's or is your TBR calling?

Ummm... can't remember what next month's book is, off the top of my head.  I'll go and check... but you're right that the call of the TBR is getting rather insistent now that it's well over my 450 target .  I'll definitely read it if I already have it, though.

Next month is Sophie's World. I've put my copy on the Mob Lib if you fancy it - still, 450!!