ohforgoodnesssake. I read the whole flippin thing and then forgot to come and talk last night. Bother. Will read the thread now and see what everyone else thought. My own feelings a bit mixed on this one.

Missed this one...combination of rubbish laptop, and new job that has me getting in later than before and then tearing round the house until late in the evening organising stuff.

Very interesting points made by everyone. I thought it was very powerful, but almost too soaked in sadness at times. At the risk of sounding flippant, a bit Simon Bates 'Our Tune' for those of you old enough to remember...and then my mother dies....and then my dog was run over....and then I discovered something terrible about my Dad...and then I got awfully ill. I am being facetious though, because overall I thought it was very well written.

I have voted for the next one and am keen to find out of my choice wins. I WILL make it next time!

flossie, you've reminded me that i must read The Colour Purple - have never got round to it somehow.

No limit on posting but I guess we usually wrap up between 10 and half past. I am off to heave my vast bulk onto one of those v shaped cushions. See you next time, X

All the best Tilly. I'm waiting with interest to see what's picked as the next book of the month - think i may reserve the current front runners from the library just in case! thanks for an interesting discussion everyone - see you next month?

Well, she puts her own spin on it and does more with the dimension of race - the lesbian relationship in the Colour Purple is two black women after all. But the "love interest" is a nightclub singer. Very different to Rose in character, but I was really strongly reminded of scenes in the Colour Purple by the NY bits in this book.

(Is there a time limit on this book club thing and should I stop posting now??)

Thanks Arti, and everyone - am hoping baby might come sooner rather than later and I don't have to lumber about like a diplodocus. On the other hand, I feel HUGELY unprepared and haven't even packed hte hospital bag. Denial? Me?

coco, your cousin must have one hell of a shopping trip going on the week before...but I guess rather nice to get it all out the way? In our family we have 6 birthdays in December, including 2 on Xmas eve. Everyone a bit sick of presents by Xmas day.

Flossie, just to add that I think (at least I'm fairly certain I read it somewhere) the author is a lesbian herself, so I wonder if there's a element of wanting to get that experience into her book.

Best of luck Tilly xx

Flossie, that is disappointing if she's been influenced to such an extent by another book - makes me feel a bit let down somehow!

Tilly, my cousin had twins on her first boy's 2nd birthday - so now has 3 Ds's born on the same day!

Ooh, Tilly - good luck! Hope all goes well. I will be SERIOUSLY impressed if you are here for the next book club - it took me about 6 weeks to even check my email after DS2 arrived