DISUK Book Club -Too Close to Home, Linwood Barclay

[madmumof2]

A theme throughout the novel is the idea of masks and personas, and pretending to be someone you are not. To which characters does this apply and why?

I think in a way it applied to all the main characters apart from Peter, who was himself throughout the book.

Alex tried to be in control in all aspects of her life. When in fact she was as vulnerable and scared as anyone. I think she pretended a lot to herself that she was a better judge than a mother so it wouldn't hurt so much when it was proven to be true, in her eyes, although I believe she was a good mum.

Josie wanted to be liked so she liked the same things her friends did, did everything her friends did to the point of laughing at Peter, the only person who really know who she was. She pretended to the outside world she was happy and popular and had no worries, when inside she was hurting, in pain and insecure.

Lewis hid everything important from Lacy and distanced himself from everyone and everything. He made people think he didn't care and wasn't effected by what happened when it did.

Lacy liked being in her own shell. She wondered if it could have all been her fault, something she did, but I got the impression she didn't really believe this. I think she liked to pretend she was the perfect mum, and as a midwife whose life is children, that's not a hard perception to fake.

BTw, I've only just found this thread, and have just finished this book (for the second time lol) this morning. How spooky! lol

 

[Dimplenose]

It's time to start discussing Too Close to Home, Linwood Barclay

From reading the back blurb I really thought I was going to enjoy this book. The prologue had me gripped but when I started reading chapter 1 the change in style started to irritate.

I felt that the whole style of writing can be summed up in:-

I said
He said
I said
He said

Followed by an afterthought of an explaination as to why the characters knew information that they really shouldn't know.

This probably seems really sexist but I think it was rather a man's book.

 

[Dimplenose]

Anyone else have a go at reading this?

 

[Ware Bears]

I would have never chosen this book to read but I really enjoyed it.

After reading your post, Libby, I had a quick look and you're right about the 'saids' but I'll be honest and say I didn't notice it at the time!

I felt suspicious of Drew from the start and after the gun was found sort of guessed where he might slot into the story but I never imagined the twist with Ellen and Brett. I must say she irritated me throughout the book. I thought Jim was a decent hard-working guy and Derek just a typical teenager but Ellen's loyalties seemed to lie with Conrad rather than her husband and I couldn't understand why. How she could have stayed quiet about what happened that night and let Brett's mother suffer for so many years is beyond me.

I am glad I read this and would now read other books by Linwood Barclay.

 

[irongirlof12]

I have just finished it.

not my usual type of book and did find that I quite enjoyed the twists of the plot and all the connections .

however, I felt no empathy for any of the characters and didn't feel that he really described anything well. The author relied far too much on the dialogue to portray emotions and he certainly failed with the females. IMO.

I also didn't quite get why the punch on the nose was so prominent to the story line, and it was in nearly every chapter - move on! maybe thats a guy thing

I think this would make a good film or mini-series as the charcters might come alive on the screen, and I had this nagging feeling that I was reading a script rather than a book, so maybe the author is hankering after a film deal with this one.

 

[wilma-bride]

I am glad I read this and would now read other books by Linwood Barclay.

No time for goodbye is an excellent book

Libby, it's been a little while since I read this book but I kind of agree with you about the style of writing. I have to say that it's not something that particularly annoyed/irritated me though

I thought the story was really very clever. I agree that Ellen's loyalties seem completely misplaced - and, to be honest, I couldn't really understand why, unless she felt something for him that she wasn't admitting to I felt that inference was there, although only hinted at.

 

[irongirlof12]

something else that didn't quite add up - the book the missing part was written by Conrad, and it was on their book shelf at home, so how come Derek knew nothing about it. Okay he was only 7 when it came out, but wouldn't you think it would crop up in conversation? i.e. oh my boss wrote this- type of thing.

I would quite like to read the missing part as it got off to a great start

 

[dolphingirl47]

Better late than never. I had read this book in September and had every intention to join in as soon as the discussion started, but even though I had taken the computer to Florida, I never quite got around to it. I also have been silly busy since I returned.

I had read No Time for Goodbye and really enjoyed it. The only reason I read that book was that I was looking for something to read and there was a special offer on so that if I bought another book, I got No Time for Goodbye for GBP2.50. So my expectations were low, but I just could not put it down. So I was very glad that he had published a second book.

I also loved Too Close To Home. I loved all the twists and turns. It is fascinating how all the characters that at first glance have nothing to do with each other suddenly turn out to be interlinked often without realizing it. I also loved how seemingly irrelevant stories that seem to have nothing to do with what is happening suddenly turned out to be central to the storyline (the punch on the nose and the reason for that) and other things that seemed so central to the plot (the authorship of the book and the "suicide") turned out to be not important at all. I found this book very easy to read and I can't wait for another Linwood Barclay book.

Corinna

 

[Dimplenose]

Thanks for reviewing - it doesn't matter how late you are all reviews are welcome (looking at the size of November's book I think I may well be late for that one!!)

 

[dolphingirl47]

Thanks for reviewing - it doesn't matter how late you are all reviews are welcome (looking at the size of November's book I think I may well be late for that one!!)

Do you mean the book that we will discuss as of 1st November? If so, oh dear. I still have not managed to get this. I am about to head into town and hope that Waterstones stocks this. Still, I will join in as and when I have read this.

Corinna

 

[Dimplenose]

No, no, the Ken Follett one for December discussion. It's huge.

ETA I could only get the Sept/Oct book from the library, but they did have 2 copies on the shelf.

 

[dolphingirl47]

Well, I have read that book so often that I could join in with the discussion without even picking up the book. It is my all time favourite book. I can't wait to read it again.

Corinna