21st Century Literature discussion

This thread is for comments on the first three chapters, in which we meet most of the main characters. No spoilers past Chapter 3, please.

I enjoyed this part of the book and the way it introduces the overall structure of events rippling out from a single cause. It does seem inevitable that this imposes constraints on conventional narrative, but as always Lively's prose is entertaining and full of perceptive observations.

I like the throw-away reference to chaos theory in there. Life is like that often times.

My first Lively, and so far I like her writing style--there's sort of an empathetic sarcasm to the way she describes her characters and events. Really enjoying this!

"Empathetic sarcasm" is a great way to describe it. Her characters seem to me like people I know. Take Henry, Lord Peters. When Rose first met him, he was "newly retired, brisk and self-important." Over time he has "mutated into a querulous, though still self-important, seventy-six-year-old with a gammy knee, a high consumption of claret and certain unpredictable behavior patterns." (from p. 3.) This character could easily turn into a caricature, but he doesn't. The author's view of him sometimes pokes fun at him, but never ridicules him, even when he seems to deserve it.

Kathleen wrote: "My first Lively, and so far I like her writing style--there's sort of an empathetic sarcasm to the way she describes her characters and events. Really enjoying this!"

Empathetic sarcasm, I like that description. Lively is close enough to her characters to feel their quirks and yet poke at them

Also, she pokes at them gently. There is humor, but no meanness.

Casceil wrote: "Also, she pokes at them gently. There is humor, but no meanness."

Exactly. It's as if they're old friends.