AAR

[Jane A]

[quote="xina"]

[LindaB]

Just watching this thread over time, with such varying takes by different readers, especially on Ted's so-called groveling or not, and whether we know him or not until the end of the book seems kind of ironic for something that is called Ted's book. Just an observation. I don't recall anyone suggesting the author meant for this to be an open-ended ending for the reader to decide either. Interesting.

[Pop Tart]

[Diana]

In defense of DALD, Gabe is already at rock bottom at the beginning of the book and comes to loathe himself even more because of his uncharitable feelings toward Edward. I think Gabe's rebirth and his eventually falling in love with the boy is one of the most poignant and powerful journeys I've ever read in a book in any genre. The scenes between Edward and Gabe were incredibly moving and some damn fine writing.
_________________
Diana

[LindaB]

I see two more SEP themes evolving in these threads: some event or someone being over-the-top, and what kind of meanness is involved.

It seems different people like her books if they can accept that some character or part of the story is just over the top, which means most fans do since some something's generally pushed pretty darn far in her books: like a math genius turning hooker, a woman sneaking into a pro's bed and his being forced to marry her, a prestigious professor in the circus, etc.

Or it can depend on whom the meanness is directed toward or where it's coming from: toward a little boy, an old high school mate, an out-of-towner; or from a despairing man who lost his family, from a jealous school mate years later, or even whole dang towns.

In other words, different things in different books push different readers' buttons, which is of course not at all unusual, readers having different tastes or takes. But in these books it's a matter of course and often a matter of degree.

For my own personal taste, I think I've been gradually deciding that if I want to be depressed by seeing people being that mean in the future, maybe I'll just read the newspaper's crime reports. Or how about political ads? They oughta work too.

[chiricahuagal]

[Jane A]

[xina]

[PamelaM]

Just finished CMI over the weekend and I really enjoyed it. SEP is a favorite author for me, but yes there is a lot of suspended disbelief that takes me through the enjoyment many of her books. But really, that is a part of what gets me through my enjoyment with most of Romancelandia.

I enjoyed this book as a snowy weekend curl-up for three reasons:

1. I really enjoyed Meg as a character. Watching her finally have to dig within herself to gain self confidence and finally use those dormant brain cells to push her limits as to what she wanted to do with her life was interesting to watch. Blended with the superbly humorous sometimes irreverent SEP dialogue, I was just sucked in to her as a character. I was a bit put off by the treatment by town in the beginning and her family, but I never really sensed she was sorry for herself or felt she was a victim. She was angry and frustrated but from my POV she chose to tough out the situation when she made the decision not to make the “embarrassing phone call” to a number of wealthy friends who probably would have bailed her out. I think her real turning point to tackle life head-on came during the golf game with her “Listen up Theodore” speech and the mashing of Ted’s golf ball into the ground with her foot. Pretty much signaled for me that she had it with the lot of them and the game was on. I think at that point she even started to enjoy herself.

2. Remembering so many of the other characters enhanced my enjoyment. I know this book is billed as a stand-alone, but I especially enjoyed the characters of Ted and Meg’s parents, who I loved in their own books. I have read Fancy Pants (Ted’s parents), Glitter Baby (Meg’s Parents) and Lady Be Good (Kenny and Lady Emma and also a bit of a primer on the town of Wynette). Ted’s mother, Francesca’s is a favorite character in her own quirky way, smart, funny and just a bit outrageous. I love the line from CMI describing Francesca, not a direct quote...”she walked away with a whiff of expensive perfume with a touch of hemlock”…soo Francesca and I’m glad SEP didn’t change her. I can understand readers who wondered to some extent who all these people were and maybe why they should even care, if they hadn’t read some of the other books, or even if they did, but it worked for me.

3. I was intrigued trying to figure out Ted. It’s fairly obvious that he was not perfect early on in the book and I wanted to know why. Not having Ted’s POV was a bit frustrating but here is where the “favorite author” thing clicked in for me and I decided to let SEP roll with it and see where it went. Glad I did, because it just made the last few chapters more interesting. Ted needed to understand himself before he could really love and give Meg what she needed and I enjoyed watching these two get to that point.

Nobody’s Baby But Mine and It Had To Be You are still my favorite SEP books, but CMI was in so many ways the classic SEP I love and well worth my read.

[LindaB]

[Jane A]

[Leigh]

[chiricahuagal]

[Claire]

[janet w]

the book in question. I use these threads all the time to decide whether or not to dive into a book and I appreciate everyone who takes my queries at face value. SEP's latest, for me, has been rather difficult but the comments, both pro and con, are making me want to re-read it. And the early early books too ... I want to remember more than I do about the character who's wafting perfume with a touch of venom

So keep on trucking!