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#OLCWTARead
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Librarybelle
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cherinium Honestly, these last two sections were the most interesting to me in the entire book. I enjoyed Castalia's story, although it did seem VERY out of place in the book. I was genuinely shocked to learn how the Captain died. Overall, this book was overly long (I love long books, by the way). Lucy's stories were interesting, but they all took on that never-ending quality. The format was confusing and often hard to follow. I'm definitely glad it's over. 6y
cherinium Thank you, @Librarybelle , for hosting this #buddyread. You posed discussion questions that made me think, and your encouragement is probably the only reason I finished this book! 👏👏👏 6y
Librarybelle @cherinium The format for me was very difficult to follow - I quipped to a coworker that this made the 19th century writers loom brief in their prose! Castalia‘s story was interesting but misplaced with the narrative. But, if I look past the very long narrative, it‘s a portrait of a struggling South trying to find its identity after the War and after Reconstruction. I‘m glad I read it, but really don‘t need to read it again! 6y
Librarybelle @cherinium Thank you for finishing the book! It‘s thanks to your encouragement that I did not bail on it. That‘s what makes buddyreads so much fun, and our discussions have been terrific. 🙂 6y
8 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
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cherinium I'm not sure if he really had a specific reason to destroy the coat, other than being senile. I suppose it is possible that he somehow found a way in his mind to blame Castalia (his own former slave) for the war. I do believe Lucy was justified in chastising him for what he had done. His reaction turned to violence, and I think from then, Lucy was 100% justified to do whatever she needed to protect herself. 6y
Librarybelle @cherinium Senility is probably the reason - I can also see a mean streak in him. His abuse of Lucy increased the older he got, and Lucy had to go into self defense mode to save herself from him. I know we discussed before his PTSD and the effects it had on him. It just got worse over time. 6y
6 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
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cherinium That's a good question. Perhaps it was a way to humanize her more to the reader. By doing so, it sets the reader up to be even more angry on her behalf when we get to the part when Captain desecrates her mink coat. What are your thoughts on it? 6y
Librarybelle @cherinium It surprised me. I thought it may be a way to tie Lucy and Captain Marsden together, to show that they were a unit of sorts. Each had a story to tell, with its ups and downs. I like your connection to the mink coat...her story really did make me think kinder towards her, and I was absolutely furious about the mink coat! 6y
5 likes2 comments
review
Librarybelle
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Panpan

To those who told me how much you love this book, I am so sorry, but this book was not for me. I must be in the minority! Lucy Marsden tells all...literally. It was a struggle for me to get through the long passages. I was also a little thrown off course when Gurganus told the stories of others, sometimes in the first person.

Thanks to @cherinium for cheering me on for the #OLCWTARead ! Questions will appear soon!

Kaye It‘s totally fine with me. No hard feelings. I don‘t expect everyone to like the books I do, because I don‘t like every book either. I‘m sorry you didn‘t like it more, but it‘s ok that you didn‘t. 🤝👍🏼👎🏼 6y
Librarybelle @Kaye I am glad I read it, though. There is much to look at with treatment of soldiers returning from the war, both physically and mentally. Good to get a perspective on that. 6y
Kaye Yes I liked looking at it from the Southern viewpoint since most books I‘ve read tell the northern version. Good to have the other side‘s views. 6y
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Mdargusch 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼good for you for finishing it! I‘m so sorry I couldn‘t stick it out with you. 6y
Librarybelle @Mdargusch Thank you, and no worries! Glad you tried to read it again! 6y
emilyhaldi I commend you for making it to the end!!! 🙌🏻 6y
75 likes7 comments
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Librarybelle
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We‘re approaching the end of #OLCWTARead ! I have about 130 pages to go, so will post final questions either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending upon when I finish. 🙂

Mdargusch 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I‘m so glad you‘ve almost made it through this book! Well done! 6y
Librarybelle Thanks, @Mdargusch ! It has been a challenge! 6y
41 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
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Trying to finish this book today! I think #Zeke is telling me something...#catsoflitsy #OLCWTARead

wanderinglynn ❤️🐱 Clearly it‘s cat time. 6y
LeahBergen 😂😂 6y
Librarybelle @wanderinglynn It‘s also food time! Haha! 6y
Texreader 😻😻😻 6y
102 likes4 comments
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Librarybelle
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Pushing through a little bit more of this book this afternoon. #SebastianKitty is curled up for a nap. #catsoflitsy

Crazeedi I think I may have read part of this or maybe I just wanted to read, interested to hear what you think of it 6y
Slajaunie Sabastian isn't a handsome fella! 6y
Librarybelle @Crazeedi Honestly, I‘m finding it so hard to read. A lot of people love it, but it‘s a struggle for me. I‘m leading the #OLCWTARead , so plan to finish it. 6y
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Librarybelle @Slajaunie He‘s my youngest of my three cats and has these moments of perfect calm. He loves to cuddle during those times! 6y
CatLass007 😻😻😻😻😻 6y
Slajaunie He‘s a sweet baby! 6y
Crazeedi Your kitty is precious 6y
78 likes7 comments
review
cherinium
Panpan

Finally! I don't think I have ever been so happy to finish a book! The book contained moments that I enjoyed, but overall, I couldn't wait to be done. I really think I would have bailed if it weren't for a #buddyread. #OLCWTARead @librarybelle, thanks for keeping me going, so I can say I finished it!

Librarybelle 👏👏👏 I still have a good bit to go... 6y
cherinium @Librarybelle You can do it! This last section did go faster for me than the previous ones. I'm sure it was partly due to me having the end in sight, but the story did get slightly more interesting for me in the last few chapters. 6y
Librarybelle Thanks! 6y
22 likes3 comments
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Librarybelle
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cherinium This section was all over the place. Some of the stories here were somewhat interesting, but just seemed to go on and on! It was interesting to learn about Lucy's parents, and Lucy's early life. I just don't know that we needed SO much backstory about Bianca's nurse and Shirley. Suspicions I had that Captain had been physically abusive were confirmed. I found myself really drawn into the story when learning about Archie. 6y
10 likes1 comment
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Librarybelle
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cherinium I think it's pretty normal to want to go back and visit places that were so important to forming our character. And it's also a normal impulse to want to show these places to our loved ones. I have done this...when dating my husband, he got a complete tour of my hometown and my college campus. It's nostalgia and wanting to share experiences that makes us do these things. 👇 6y
cherinium The scene with the visit to Ned's tree was an interesting one to me. I came away with the impression that Captain just got completely caught up in the moment and his excitement at actually rediscovering the place and desperately wanted to share it with his family. I don't believe that he would have purposely harmed any of his children, but he also did not seem to be thinking clearly, so I can see why Lucy did not trust him. 6y
Librarybelle @cherinium I thought the whole scene was interesting...Marsden is not the only one who brought his family to view battle scenes. I think he got up too, and sometimes forgot he had his wife and kids with him. I‘m not sure about the tree scene - I could see Lucy‘s worry, but I would hope he would not resort to a recreation of the scene. 6y
7 likes3 comments