The Distant Hours-Discussion *May Contain Spoilers*

[FlirtatiousBrat]

Feel free to start discussing the book. I will be back to add my thoughts soon

[*Celeste*]

is anyone reading this? i'm on page 120. i think it's just starting to pick up.

[maryinaz]

I am! I'm not that far into it, but I already like it.

[*Celeste*]

OK I'll start with a discussion question. The book opens with the first chapter of the book "The True History of the Mud Man." Do you think the Mud Man is a person, an animal, or a monster? Is the Mud Man ficitional or real, fairy tale or biography? Do you think the story of the Mud Man is going to be explained later in the book? Who do you think the young girl in the window is supposed to be? Percy? Saffy? Juniper?

Don't answer if you've finished and know the real answer!

[*Celeste*]

Cynical me - I think the Mud Man is Raymond Blythe and the girl in the window is either Saffy or Percy. I'm guessing that Raymond Blythe abused the daughter somehow - either sexually, physically or mentally. The book is his way of trying to explain why it happened.

[ovaltine]

I somehow think that young Meredith (the mom) was the girl on the window. What do you think?

[Emmy]

I finished the book so I can't answer too specifically but I will say that I think as a reader you will be very satisfied by the end of the book - you won't be left wondering.

I loved this book - I decided to read it on a whim after seeing it was a book choice here and I was completely hooked after the intro. Loved it! I might have to look at more from this author.

[FlirtatiousBrat]

I'm at a standstill..I'm on about page 50ish and can't get into it..I'm going to keep on reading though since Celeste said it started to pick up around pg 120 but it's already outside my usual genre of books and I'm the type of person if i'm not hooked early on I won't finish it.

[FlirtatiousBrat]

ok im REALLY trying but I can't get into it I'm on page 84..only read like 30 pages in a week....i'm gonna give it a go still just having a hard time with it.

[*Celeste*]

meghan - i have to agree. i'm further in but it's really not going anywhere. she uses 100 words when she could use 5.

[*Celeste*]

and i thought it was picking up but it wasn't. i think i'm on 300 and something.

[maryinaz]

I'm on page 205. I admit, it's a little slow going, but I'm still hoping it picks up some.

[ovaltine]

Originally Posted by *Celeste*

meghan - i have to agree. i'm further in but it's really not going anywhere. she uses 100 words when she could use 5.

LOL I knew exactly what you mean. That's the beauty of Kate Morton's book though; the details. It's as if you're there too, with the characters...

Either that or it's been a long day for me.

[eranslow]

started this book today. don't know how I feel about it yet - I'm not very far at all. Hopefully it will catch my attention!

[FireWolf]

Maybe this is one of the advantages of listening to it instead of actually reading. I quite enjoyed the book and the ending was a bit of a surprise which is nice for me because I usually have the ending figured out about halfway through a book or movie. Not this one though.

[Emmy]

I am so surprised that some of you are finding it a slow read. I loved this book. As far as her descriptions...to me that is a sign of a good writer, quickie paragraphs that don't include details make me think of children's books (Percy Jackson comes to mind) and chic lit (Jennifer Weiner et al). You definitely have to be patient to get the answers, but I just thought it was a really well written book and it pulled me into the story very well.

[*Celeste*]

i enjoy description as well, but i don't think the book was well edited.

[FireWolf]

Originally Posted by Emmy

I am so surprised that some of you are finding it a slow read. I loved this book. As far as her descriptions...to me that is a sign of a good writer, quickie paragraphs that don't include details make me think of children's books (Percy Jackson comes to mind) and chic lit (Jennifer Weiner et al). You definitely have to be patient to get the answers, but I just thought it was a really well written book and it pulled me into the story very well.

I agree completely. Granted, I listened to it on my iPod, but it had me so captivated that I didn't even put the iPod down when DH came home from work, not even to eat dinner. LOL I enjoyed it so much that I am actually going to be listening to it again over the next few days while I spring clean.

I was, however, slightly disappointed that Edie was left guessing at the end and her guess was incorrect.

[KateD]

I'm another who found the book a bit slow going at first. Don't give up on it. I finished it yesterday and I can't stop thinking about it. I was also a bit disappointed that Edie didn't know the full story at the end, but I think that made the book even more realistic. How often do we really know the truth about things and how often is our understanding just a "best guess"? Makes you think. Made me think, anyway. I'm just glad that we knew what really happened at the end of the book. I was afraid that we'd be left guessing, too.

[FireWolf]

Kate - You have a very good point about it making it seem more realistic. You know it made me think, too. But it also made me think about how different it all could have been if they had all communicated to each other throughout the entire book. How many things in our lives turn out it in a way we didn't wish for only because we didn't speak up let our thoughts, feelings and truths be known? Oh I'm so glad we weren't left guessing at the end, too.

[*Celeste*]

the last 100 pages of the book were great. i enjoyed the ending and while i kind of knew earlier on what had happened to thomas - i obviously guessed wrong as to the particulars. i wish that meredith had the chance to see juniper one more time. i think that would have been interesting. trying not to say too much.

[KateD]

Originally Posted by FireWolf

But it also made me think about how different it all could have been if they had all communicated to each other throughout the entire book. How many things in our lives turn out it in a way we didn't wish for only because we didn't speak up let our thoughts, feelings and truths be known?

Exactly! If they had communicated honestly with each other, things could have turned out a lot differently. Also, if a couple of them hadn't tried to be so controlling it could have turned out very differently.

[Andrea G]

I enjoyed this book. I agree, it took a ::long:: time to get going, and Kate Morton really makes you work to read her books. I did feel like this book could have been edited down to 200 less pages. It's almost like she had a page quota she was trying to fulfill or something... I still liked it, although of all her books (and yes, I'm a Kate Morton junkie and have read everything she's written!) The Forgotten Garden is, by far, my most fav! Hang in there, those of you who haven't gotten too far, I really think it's worth reading. It's def the most fulfilling in the end. It's one of those books that is all worth it in the end. I did really enjoy the characters she had in this book, and there were some surprises for me. I had guessed a few of them, but several of them were total surprises, which I love!

I prolly won't reread this book, but The Forgotten Garden I will reread a LOT! I do really like this author! Are any of you guys on www.goodreads.com - I ::luv:: that site! (it's sorta like facebook for readers!)

[emmasmommy]

*sigh* i wanted to like this book, but i just can't get into it

[livelys]

This is the first time I've participated in a book club, so I didn't realise we talked about the book as we went - I was beginning to worry I was the only one finding this book l-o-n-g.

I'm also listening to the story rather than reading (the paperback isn't out over here & library copies for the hardback were non-existant), and although I'm enjoying it & loving how descriptive the author is, I am finding it more than a little long-winded. I'm agreeing with Celeste's comment about more editing required.

I'm about 2/3rds through, and think I have more than good idea where poor Thomas ended up, and have a poor opinion of the oldest sister. Yes, I think Raymond was involved in an incident that lead to the MudMan story too, but I haven't made my mind up whether he was the boy in the story or whether he was the villan - I circle back to the newspaper report that Ediths dad found about a missing child.

I'm relieved to read that the reader at least gets to know the answers in the end - I really don't like to be left hanging!!

I think next month I going to choose a more uplifting, happy story to read...