Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw -

Post Reply

Thread Rating:

0 Votes - 0 Average
1
2
3
4
5

Susanne Reading The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson

12 Jun 2012, 05:50 PM | Post: #1

Fountain of Wisdom

Posts: 5,052
Joined: Aug 2010

Thanked 5 times

What I Read

Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

The discussion of Seesaw by Rosen Trevithick is now open.

I'm slightly early, it's meant to open tomorrow morning, but due to work issues (ie having to go to work early), I'm opening the discussion now.

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~Chinese Proverb

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Willie Wit Reading The John Lennon Letters

12 Jun 2012, 07:31 PM | Post: #2

Willie Wit

Posts: 260
Joined: Oct 2010

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

I loved this book, i started reading it on a bright summers day the other week and got so engrossed I ended up with sunburn.
( I am considering suing the author )
'Theres something wrong with the man next door' particularly tickled me, i felt like i had tripped and fallen into a Beryl Cook painting come alive.

My internet seems to have a slow puncture at the moment...

http://ebooksiteslist.blogspot.co.uk

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

joo Reading Hope's Betrayal by Grace Elliot

12 Jun 2012, 07:52 PM | Post: #3

Official KUF Reviewer and Interrogator

Posts: 4,688
Joined: Feb 2011

Thanked 19 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

I'm working through it and that thought is exactly how it was in my mind's eye, too.

Please put a bowl of water out for hedgehogs and other night-time visitors, you might just save their life.
While you are at it, feed the birds too. Thumbs Up

And come and talk about it at Garden Wildlife Forum

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Rosen Trevithick Reading

12 Jun 2012, 08:05 PM | Post: #4

Totally Splendid Hotshot Author

Posts: 2,794
Joined: Oct 2011

Thanked 50 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

I just looked up Beryl Cook - oh my God, she was brilliant. The naked trio playing instruments has burnt a permanent scar on my retinas.

www.rosentrevithick.co.uk

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

L K Jay

12 Jun 2012, 09:07 PM | Post: #5

Member

Posts: 156
Joined: Feb 2012

Thanked 1 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

I read Seesaw a while back and was seriously impressed - I couldn't put the book down.

It manages to fuse gripping psychological drama stories with comedy really well - it is an eclectic mix and goes to show that authors don't have to stick to just one genre.

My personal fav was 'Lipstick and Knickers' - loved that the man had to speak to all of his ex's.

lkjaywriter.blogspot.co.uk

facebook.com/TheGhostHuntersClub

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

simplyad Reading

13 Jun 2012, 08:08 AM | Post: #6

Junior Member

Posts: 7
Joined: May 2012

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

I loved Seesaw. My favourite book in that was London, the Doggy and Me...I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading that lol.

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Chattysmum Reading Tangled Web by Ken McClure

13 Jun 2012, 09:27 AM | Post: #7

Junior Member

Posts: 17
Joined: May 2012

Thanked 0 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

I thought The Other Daughter very well written and was delighted to find the story continued in The Other Mother. I empathised with all the players although, strangely, the character of Claire/Millie did not touch me so deeply. She seemed the most grounded of all of them.

I loved On The Rocks: very well written and i was pulled in very quickly. The author gave real insight into the life of someone with bipolar.

I did not quite get the humour in the stories on the "upside" of Seesaw but then everyone's sense of humour is different.

My personal choice would be a full length book, not short stories, but i enjoyed this book and thought the author achieved huge depth and certainly moved me.

Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Rosen Trevithick Reading

13 Jun 2012, 09:59 AM | Post: #8

Totally Splendid Hotshot Author

Posts: 2,794
Joined: Oct 2011

Thanked 50 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

This post was last modified: 13 Jun 2012 09:59 AM by Rosen Trevithick.

I find it fascinating how people's tastes vary so much within the book. Writing a varied short story collection has really helped me appreciate the extent to which personal opinion plays a role in enjoyment of a story. I mean, certainly, I always knew that different people would like different things, but writers often lose sight of that in a hopeless quest to please everybody.

www.rosentrevithick.co.uk

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

joo Reading Hope's Betrayal by Grace Elliot

13 Jun 2012, 09:07 PM | Post: #9

Official KUF Reviewer and Interrogator

Posts: 4,688
Joined: Feb 2011

Thanked 19 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

The Other Daughter
I am not a parent myself, yet I could feel the heartbreak in this story. I thought the descriptions of how the mother, father and “other daughter” felt were so realistic.
I’d read this previously so thought I wouldn’t cry again, knowing the outcome. But as it built up to the second visit by the police, I could feel myself welling up again.
At least I know now to read the rest of this book in private.

Vampire next door
I liked this short story. I imagined the woman to be a larger than life cartoon character. In fact I was picturing it as a cartoon with the lady as being “fleshy” and the bloke being dark and skinny.

London, Doggy and Me.
What can I say apart from “marvellous”! I think this story is one of Rosen’s best. Yes, I’d tell the owners the dog was dead, but then it would have been a rather short story. I’d thought the bit on the tube was funny the first time, but this time I liked the going back to the audition and getting stuck in the doors was the funny bit for me. This kind of made me think of a Goldie Hawn farce. You cringe at each choice she makes but can understand them.

On The Rocks & The Selfish Act
These are both stories about the difficulties of living with bipolar disorder.
I hadn't really thought much of this disease, having lived a boring "normal" life. The only example I'd come across was Sally Field in ER. It was an insight into a scary world.

Lipstick and Knickers.
One of the ups of the book.
I did like the Ross character, sure he didn't do it, but worried that he must have and annoyed that nobody will believe he's capable of not being practical.

The Other Mother
This, to me, was the best bit of this collection. As I started reading it, I hadn’t twigged it was a continuation of The Other Daughter. When I realised it, it enhanced the read of both stories. You really feel the tug of war of feelings. Claire / Millie only knew one mother. Which one was the “right” mother? With these particular facts, I’d be hard pushed to choose if I was on a jury. I’m glad this story finished on a happy enough ending.

Knitting Man at the Door
I’m not really a fan of flash fiction. By the tie you’ve started it, you’ve finished.

So, this book as a whole. Utterly fantastic. I didn’t cry so much this time as the first time but I expect I’ll have watery eyes the next time I read it. I think it’s the perfect title to this book as it really is up and downs. Thumbs Up

Please put a bowl of water out for hedgehogs and other night-time visitors, you might just save their life.
While you are at it, feed the birds too. Thumbs Up

And come and talk about it at Garden Wildlife Forum

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Steve Robinson Reading

15 Jun 2012, 10:31 AM | Post: #10

Not Jefferson Tayte

Posts: 913
Joined: Sep 2011

Thanked 6 times

What I Read

RE: Bookclub: The discussion of Seesaw

This post was last modified: 15 Jun 2012 10:32 AM by Steve Robinson.

Rosen, I went looking for your thread to congratulate you on reaching 100,000 downloads, but it appears you don't have one so I hope no one minds me saying it here.

Well done Rosen! Clapping hands

Steve

The Jefferson Tayte Genealogical Crime Mysteries... What secrets are in your family history?
Now blogging at http://www.ancestryauthor.blogspot.com

Website Find

Thank (0)

Reply

Subscribe to this thread Post Reply

Currently Reading:The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson Last Book I Read:The Summer Son by Craig Lancaster Favourite Genres:contemporary fiction, literary fiction, crime/thriller,Favourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading:The John Lennon Letters Last Book I Read: Favourite Genres:flash fictionFavourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading:Hope's Betrayal by Grace Elliot Last Book I Read:Moon Dance by J.R. Rain Favourite Genres:Good books :DFavourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading: Last Book I Read: Favourite Genres:Comedy; Crime, thrillers and mysteryFavourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Favourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading: Last Book I Read:Love in the Wrong Dimension - Anette Darbyshire Favourite Genres:romance, chick litFavourite eBooks:
See my recommendations

Currently Reading:Tangled Web by Ken McClure Last Book I Read:To the grave by steve robinson Favourite Genres:Crime, thrillers and Mystery but dip into most genres

Currently Reading: Last Book I Read: Favourite Genres:Crime, mystery & thriller