Before I Wake

Horseshoes · Feb 9, 2008

I'm in the middle. It's almost 2 in the AM. I'm running a ten miler in the morning and *have* to get some zzzzzzzzzs.

Teach me to start a new novel in the middle of the evening.
I don't know how this story missed my radar last year, but yowzer.
Yowzer.

And I know spoilers are allowed here but I would sure like to know I'm talking to folks who know th ebook before I blurt..

'kay?

That infidelity thing? Whole 'nother dimension.
And Henry's inability to suicide?
I like Jamie. A lot. I was surprised when she was suspended--and I liked it.
And Mary going to the house, telling Simon he needed to be there?!

I'll finish tomorrow when I'm icing my knees. More later, but please, who else has read this?

willietheshakes · Feb 14, 2008

I'm blushing...

CaroGirl · Feb 14, 2008

Horseshoes said:
I'm in the middle. It's almost 2 in the AM. I'm running a ten miler in the morning and *have* to get some zzzzzzzzzs.

Teach me to start a new novel in the middle.
I don't know how this story missed my radar last year, but yowzer.
Yowzer.

And I know spoilers are allowed here but I would sure like to know I'm talking to folks who know th ebook before I blurt..

'kay?

That infidelity thing? Whole 'nother dimension.
And Henry's inability to suicide?
I like Jamie. A lot. I was surprised when she was suspended--and I liked it.
And Mary going to the house, telling Simon he needed to be there?!

I'll finish tomorrow when I'm icing my knees. More later, but please, who else has read this?

I've read it! Loved it!! I'll PM you the ending (j/k).

Horseshoes · Feb 14, 2008

Gotcha, Caro. FInished. Email the end all ya want, sister!
So [spoilers as the conversation continues, folks]

did you guess the ending? As you got closer, you had several ideas, right? And did you guess right? Did you think Henry's story would end the way it did? (I didn't--but I'd no idea, were I writing it, what I'd do about him!) I did think Simon and Karen would stay together-- had you thought the story might stab you by them divorcing?

willietheshakes · Feb 14, 2008

Horseshoes said:
As you got closer, you had several ideas, right?

I certainly did!

CaroGirl · Feb 15, 2008

Horseshoes said:
Gotcha, Caro. FInished. Email the end all ya want, sister!
So [spoilers as the conversation continues, folks]

did you guess the ending? As you got closer, you had several ideas, right? And did you guess right? Did you think Henry's story would end the way it did? (I didn't--but I'd no idea, were I writing it, what I'd do about him!) I did think Simon and Karen would stay together-- had you thought the story might stab you by them divorcing?

I read it a year ago. I think I need refresher course to answer your questions but I lent my copy to a friend and can't reference it right now.

I do remember that I found the story so intriguing I was compelled to read on. Simon and Karen's marriage is certainly troubled, so no I wouldn't have been surprised if they hadn't stayed together. The illness of a child, the blame, the isolation, is a terrible strain on any marriage, and theirs was troubled before the accident. If they had split, I wouldn't have thought of it as a cop-out at all.

I loved the character of Henry. I really felt for him.

KTC · Feb 15, 2008

I read it and loved it. I'm waiting for the author's next book.

**makes the audible sound of feet tapping impatiently**

My wife and I have vastly different reading habits. I fall in love with books. Eventually, if I'm really persistent, she will come to the dark side and read one of my picks. She has only liked a scad few of my choices. Two that come immediately to mind are A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES and HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS. The only one she loves so much she ran around telling her friends about was BEFORE I WAKE.

And, yes, Mr. Iloveitwhentheycry, she cried aplenty!

It's a great book.

CaroGirl · Feb 15, 2008

KTC said:
I read it and loved it. I'm waiting for the author's next book.

**makes the audible sound of feet tapping impatiently**

Um, me too!!

And I cried. Boy, did I cry. My daughter was only a little older than the character of Sherry at the time I read it.

Horseshoes · Feb 16, 2008

KTC, would you actually compare BIW to Confederacy- or to Heartbreaking-? Aspects of it? I read reviews comparing it to The Lovley Bones, which is not a comparison I'd have made. Would you? There is the short piece in deceased Sherry's POV and there is the study of how her accident affects the people who love her, but it is so different, I did not read it and go, ah, 'minds me o' TLB.

Hey Willie, your response up there compels me to ask, how early in the writing process did you know the ending?

willietheshakes · Feb 17, 2008

Horseshoes said:
Hey Willie, your response up there compels me to ask, how early in the writing process did you know the ending?

Actually, that was one of three things that I knew (and one of two things I ended up using). Before I started the book, I knew the ending, and I could envision one other scene from late in the book -- aside from that, I was making it up as I went along.

Before I Wake

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

CaroGirl

Living the dream

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Horseshoes

lisapreston.com

willietheshakes

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.