It took me a long time to brave this book as I loved The Time Travellers Wife and thought that nothing could compare so why bother? Nevertheless it found its way under my bed and then into my next to read and low and behold before I knew what I was doing I had suggested it as Novembers book.
The book got off to a good start. I loved Martins storey witnessing him and his wifes struggle with his OCD (could have read a whole storey about this alone) and even Elspeth as a ghost didn’t put me off (The Time Travellers Wife had a husband who travelled randomly through time and that had me in tears so a little ghost wasn’t going to put me off)
There were also some really good moments - Elspeth going to hide/sulk in the drawer and then seeking warmth from the TV – traditionally seen as being so cold and causing lack of communication
I also loved reading about the cemetery and now want to go!
Unfortunately that’s where the plus points ended and not just for me but for all of the group.
We thought the twins were weak characters. I understood what Niffeneger was trying to impress on us by the twins needing to separate and how Valentina found it suffocating however this was only grasped at here and there and Valentina’s chosen solution was extreme, unforeseen and silly really. She wasn’t suicidal and although there might have been more going on in the back ground (Julia’s black eye) the reader wasn’t given enough to make the decision believable.
The whole love triangle was also unbelievable or was that just Robert and Valentina and what was the point of Jessica, what did she add to the storey?
The diaries that could have revealed I feel a much more explosive secret were again, like Valentina’s decision, unbelievable and confusing. We all totally lost track about which twin was who and weren’t clear even when we were all sat down talking about it ‘So Elspeth who was really Edie and was Valentinas real mother took over Valentinas dead body and then gave birth?’ Silly sentence right?
The ending felt like Niffeneger realised her word count was up and had to tie all lose ends up quickly which was done by giving everyone as far as possible a sugar coated happy ending. The twins dad knew all along of the twin switch so no big drama there, Julia couldn’t be with Martin so conveniently in walks Martins son who we are expected to think is ok because he is Martins son despite the fact he had not been around to support his father at all through the storey. Martin who hadn’t left his landing in more than a year upped, left and travelled all the way to Amsterdam in one fell swoop to live a supposedly happy and cured life with his wife. It was all just far fetched, unbelievable and convenient.
There were talking points - why did Robert leave at the end? One member of the group pointed out that Robert had been left by his father when he was young so this was history repeating itself or another example of symmetry that was evident throughout the book. Why did Elspeth prevent Edie and husband from entering the flat? Was it spite to illustrate even early on her nasty character? Was Elspeth always going to go back into Valentinas body or was it just because she realised she couldn’t keep Valentina to herself? You were left with the feeling that if there had just been more word court and a bit more thought a good book could have been unearthed.
It wasn’t though and we ended up gave it a 5. The verdict was pretty unanimous which is unusual for our group. There is nearly always at least one loan voice who dissents from the pack but we overwhelmingly all liked the beginning then thought it just became silly. Do read Niffenegger but make sure it’s the Time Travellers Wife rather than this one.
Question of the month – What’s your favourite Ghost Storey?
The book got off to a good start. I loved Martins storey witnessing him and his wifes struggle with his OCD (could have read a whole storey about this alone) and even Elspeth as a ghost didn’t put me off (The Time Travellers Wife had a husband who travelled randomly through time and that had me in tears so a little ghost wasn’t going to put me off)
There were also some really good moments - Elspeth going to hide/sulk in the drawer and then seeking warmth from the TV – traditionally seen as being so cold and causing lack of communication
I also loved reading about the cemetery and now want to go!
Unfortunately that’s where the plus points ended and not just for me but for all of the group.
We thought the twins were weak characters. I understood what Niffeneger was trying to impress on us by the twins needing to separate and how Valentina found it suffocating however this was only grasped at here and there and Valentina’s chosen solution was extreme, unforeseen and silly really. She wasn’t suicidal and although there might have been more going on in the back ground (Julia’s black eye) the reader wasn’t given enough to make the decision believable.
The whole love triangle was also unbelievable or was that just Robert and Valentina and what was the point of Jessica, what did she add to the storey?
The diaries that could have revealed I feel a much more explosive secret were again, like Valentina’s decision, unbelievable and confusing. We all totally lost track about which twin was who and weren’t clear even when we were all sat down talking about it ‘So Elspeth who was really Edie and was Valentinas real mother took over Valentinas dead body and then gave birth?’ Silly sentence right?
The ending felt like Niffeneger realised her word count was up and had to tie all lose ends up quickly which was done by giving everyone as far as possible a sugar coated happy ending. The twins dad knew all along of the twin switch so no big drama there, Julia couldn’t be with Martin so conveniently in walks Martins son who we are expected to think is ok because he is Martins son despite the fact he had not been around to support his father at all through the storey. Martin who hadn’t left his landing in more than a year upped, left and travelled all the way to Amsterdam in one fell swoop to live a supposedly happy and cured life with his wife. It was all just far fetched, unbelievable and convenient.
There were talking points - why did Robert leave at the end? One member of the group pointed out that Robert had been left by his father when he was young so this was history repeating itself or another example of symmetry that was evident throughout the book. Why did Elspeth prevent Edie and husband from entering the flat? Was it spite to illustrate even early on her nasty character? Was Elspeth always going to go back into Valentinas body or was it just because she realised she couldn’t keep Valentina to herself? You were left with the feeling that if there had just been more word court and a bit more thought a good book could have been unearthed.
It wasn’t though and we ended up gave it a 5. The verdict was pretty unanimous which is unusual for our group. There is nearly always at least one loan voice who dissents from the pack but we overwhelmingly all liked the beginning then thought it just became silly. Do read Niffenegger but make sure it’s the Time Travellers Wife rather than this one.
Question of the month – What’s your favourite Ghost Storey?
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