I'd like to ask a question of those of you who have read this. I'm a bit confused, the narrative keeps skipping from one person to another and I'm finding it really hard to keep track of them. Now before you ask, no this is not a symptom of early onset Alzheimers, MOH had the same problem when she read it. Is the younger narrator (the one who pretends to go to St Oswalds) the same person as the older man (Straitley) who teaches there? Or is it someone else entirely? Will this all become clear as the story progresses? Any hints would be much appreciated, and don't worry about spoiling it for me, I'll finish it anyway!

I loved this Tony. I cant tell u anything about the narrator (apart from its not the same person) as it'll give the story away completely!

Fair enough! But you can see where a person would get confused, can't you?!

This is on my TBR and I had bumped it higher on the list after hearing good things about it. But after hearing your comment Tony it being a bit confusing, I don't think I will read it yet as my brain can't cope with anything complicated at the moment as I am feeling so stressed about things.

Personally i didnt find it discombobulating (ive wanted to say that for ages!!) but i can see how others might Tony.

aurora72:

Personally i didnt find it discombobulating (ive wanted to say that for ages!!) but i can see how others might Tony.

That's a posh word Linda. It's words like that which make my brain even fuzzier at the moment  

petrag:

aurora72:

Personally i didnt find it discombobulating (ive wanted to say that for ages!!) but i can see how others might Tony.

That's a posh word Linda. It's words like that which make my brain even fuzzier at the moment  

Lol..its one of my fave words Petra but i dont get to use it much!

Ooh, another lover of discombobulating!!  Well, I didn't find it discombobulating at all, must be brain exhaustion after the Eggheads experience, Tony. I really enjoyed the book although it's very different from Harris' usual fare.

Tony, I loved this one and it was entirely down to the constant switching of narrative perspective and the fact you had to work hard at following the narrative.  As long as you take careful note of the colour of the chess piece at the beginning of each extract you should be able to keep the two narrative strands separate in your head - but more than that I won't say as it would entirely spoil the point of the book, as Linda says!  Do stick with it, though, as it is very good and well worth it in the end. 

pennyt:

As long as you take careful note of the colour of the chess piece at the beginning of each extract you should be able to keep the two narrative strands separate in your head

Aaah! Big light bulb lights up above Tony's head! Thanks for the hint Penny, hopefully it will make more sense now. I am thoroughly enjoying it, I have to say and can't wait for the denouement.

I did not see the twist at the end of this book coming - it was brilliant!  You're on the right lines with your guess Tony, but not quite...

I thought this was an amazing book and the twist at the end was totally unexpected.  This was different to her other books but I think it was the best.

Celia

aurora72:

Personally i didnt find it discombobulating (ive wanted to say that for ages!!) but i can see how others might Tony.

I enjoyed it-and figured out the twist quite early-egghead, or wot!! Once you know it, it's really quite obvious-there were a few very oblique hints, which for some reason I homed in to at an early stage and thought, "I wonder if...."!

Very different to her usual style, and well worth reading.

dingsy:

aurora72:

Personally i didnt find it discombobulating (ive wanted to say that for ages!!) but i can see how others might Tony.

I enjoyed it-and figured out the twist quite early-egghead, or wot!! Once you know it, it's really quite obvious-there were a few very oblique hints, which for some reason I homed in to at an early stage and thought, "I wonder if...."!

Very different to her usual style, and well worth reading.

I was the same Elaine - picked up the hints in the first 3 or 4 chapters and then could only read the non-Straitley sections with that particular person in mind, so I was so glad I turned out to be right - otherwise I think I'd have had to re-read it to re-adjust the "voice" I'd been reading it in!   It didn't spoil it for me at all though - and I had the added satisfaction of having "got it"!

i new who it wa vey early on but i still loved the book