Reading Envy Readers discussion

This week we are reading through pg. 116 in the first edition, which coincides with all of Part I in the book.

There are likely to be spoilers for this section in this discussion.

What do you think so far?
How does the artifact approach work for you? Does the story have cohesion?
What about the framing narrative, the relative sending in the box to the museum?
There have been several mentions that the official reports don't match the journals. What do you think is happening?
What do you think about the relationship between Allen and Sophie?

So far I'm a little bummed, a little wary, and hoping an awful lot that I'm wrong with what I suspect is happening. Some of the clues dropped in this first part are so blatant that I can't help but wonder if they are there to deceive, but I don't think there are other explanations. I'm keeping an open mind and will see where it goes.

The artifact approach so far, feels mishandled, this is to say the tension feels off or forced, and I'm having a difficult time "believing." As for cohesion, I think the presentation feels intuitive and pleasing enough. I'm having no trouble following along. The framed approach feels off, but maybe as I read on it will feel more authentic.

Well, I think reasons for the official reports not matching the journals is, at least where I'm narratively at, fairly clear. I can't imagine any official report would ever be so bold as to have mystic happenings of any sort put down for others to read. Either it would question the expedition's veracity, or it would potentially expose an unknown that might be somehow used to advantage the government.

The relationship between Allen and Sophie is making me want to look away. The passion feels slightly orchestrated, almost clockwork. I'm holding out hope that I get some throat-flushing authentic love wild as thrashing seas and naked night skies. But so far, they feel like they are playing their parts rather than living their lives.
But hey, this could all change in the next part.

So far, I'm liking it all very much! Allen and Sophie feel real and immediate when I'm reading their letters and diary entries, while the artifacts, official reports, and correspondence of their great nephew periodically remind me that they are gone, and I get a little existentially sad.

I think the trope of the bright Victorian woman thwarted by a repressive, patriarchal culture is so tired and worn at this point it's hard to bring it to life, but I think she's done it with Sophie. I really like her - she hasn't caused me a single eye roll. I also like Sophie and Allen's relationship - so far it's told mostly through Sophie's eyes, and I think it's a good window into the kind of woman she is - her balance of frankness and reserve feels just right to me - way more frank than her time would approve of, but still reserved by more modern standards.

I'm intrigued by the mysteries so far - the old Eyak (maybe) Indian man, the crow flying off with Sophie's hair comb, the young Indian woman on the expedition. And why Sophie and Allen's heir is a great grandnephew and not a great grandson.

And last but not least I loved the little scene of Tillman play wrestling with the dog and then falling asleep together. Being told through Allen's reserved voice made it even more amusing.

Casey wrote: "I'm holding out hope that I get some throat-flushing authentic love wild as thrashing seas and naked night skies..."

Ha! Seems unlikely, since it would have to come from Sophie or Allen's diaries. Although after all the arctic suffering Allen will endure, who knows what inhibitions it will crush? There may be a heaving breast yet!

Nadine wrote: "Ha! Seems unlikely, since it would have to come from Sophie or Allen's diaries. Although after all the arctic suffering Allen will endure, who knows what inhibitions it will crush? There may be a heaving breast yet!"

Ha. You're probably right.

I popped into the library on Tuesday to return a book , and managed to pick up a copy and plan to read according to the schedule so hit page 50 today and an alarming picture of a Victorian dr examining a pregnant woman ! I was sat in car waiting for daughter to come out of school after a late activity and tried to get a photo so it may end up on litsy.
Actually i don't mind the artefacts as two books that have used similar devices 'The stone diaries' and'This must be the place' were books i enjoyed.
I can't yet get my head around Sophie and Allen but suspect that Pruitt may be central to the relationship - i hope it isn't so obvious as i suspect at the moment.
Im ok with the format although may struggle to ration my reading as i am a strictly one book a time reader so read 20 pages tonight to finish another book in a dilemma.
My favourite characters however at the moment are Eyak and the female native who believing her husband to be a sea otter cuts his throat.
So far a good choice.

Andrew wrote: " so hit page 50 today and an alarming picture of a Victorian dr examining a pregnant woman !"

This could be from a Victorian etiquette manual, captioned "How not to propose." (I am cracking myself up - my dog is looking alarmed.)

Casey wrote: "Well, I think reasons for the official reports not matching the journals is, at least where I'm narratively at, fairly clear. I can't imagine any official report would ever be so bold as to have mystic happenings of any sort put down for others to read. Either it would question the expedition's veracity, or it would potentially expose an unknown that might be somehow used to advantage the government.."

I agree with Casey on that point.

I really like it so far, The framing is interesting and makes me want to read on, knowing that things aren't going to turn out as planned. The adventure on the ice brought back buried anxieties from when I used to drive across frozen lakes as a young fellow. The Allen and Sophie relationship seems like a normal pre-internet long-distance relationship to me.

I loved the part where Sophe was busted with the doctor's book.

At first, I wasn't sure I would like the framing narrative nor the artifact approach but it seems to be working for me so far and I'm really enjoying the story. I'm glad I'm not doing audio for this book as I am sure I'd be completely lost. I like to be able to flip back and forth between the pages to reorient myself on the timeline, and the visuals add even more to the richness and understanding. The descriptions of the environment are beautiful.

I love Sophie's spunky spirit and like you, Jeff, loved the scene where the doctor discovered his book on Sophie's nightstand. hehe So far, Alan and Sophie seem to have great admiration and love for each other. Their separation is difficult and I'm apprehensive for both of them.

I was hoping (aloud, of course) that they would listen to the trapper and not attempt to cross the river. It was an exciting scene when they lost Tillman's sled (that carried the majority of their food) and nearly Tillman himself. I was surprised that Alan hadn't insisted on taking precautions and spreading their provisions out among their sleds.

I'm enjoying the magical elements that are being introduced into the story. The old Eyak with his strange necklace and behavior, the crow, the young Indian woman, and the Indian wife of the trapper - so mysterious! I'm eager to read more!

I am also liking the story's progression and how the frame was set up: it's interesting how it serves a more dynamic function than just to explain the existence of the documents. Josh Sloan is a stand-in for the reader since he is writing to Walt as he is reading everything, rather than after he's finished. This allows Walt to provide background information along the way that we can't get from the documents alone, and it also sets up new plot points and highlights the inconsistencies we've discussed. About those, I think it's interesting that Boyd was omitted- maybe the Col. didn't expect him to survive very long and thought his CO would question taking a sick and dying man along. I agree with what others have said about omitting the more magical aspects, and it makes you think how any 'official' historical record necessarily leaves out the most important parts of a human story.

So far I'm taking Allen and Sophie's relationship at face value: it seems loving and based on shared ways of viewing the world. Allen's secrecy behind the telegram incident sounds like it will have more to do with his war experiences- something he is personally ashamed of or would like to forget. That kind of secrecy seems different from Dr. Randall's, where it's more about the restrictive gender roles at the time.

Just started Part 2- eager to see where this is headed!

Vinny wrote: " Josh Sloan is a stand-in for the reader since he is writing to Walt as he is reading everything, rather than after he's finished. This allows Walt to provide background information along the way that we can't get from the documents alone"

Thanks for that observation! I also love the way Ivey uses Walt/Josh so sparingly, so they don't turn into an info dump. I am just loving this book! I'm trying to restrain myself from getting too far ahead (I've finished up through p. 206) so luckily I'll have to take a break to read another book (The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley)for an IRL book group.

Vinny wrote: "...and it makes you think how any 'official' historical record necessarily leaves out the most important parts of a human story."

I also caught myself thinking about this broader application to history and reality and how flexible truth is... especially in today's world. Here, in this narrative, it's interesting to see how the native culture is presented to reader and to the characters within the narrative and how they then present this culture to other characters.

Confession: not being even close to a one book at a time person, I have managed to mix this book up with another I recently finished. I had a galley of The Hunger by Alma Katsu, that imagines the Donner party if it were infected by some fantastical beastie, maybe vampires. But one person loses his whole wagon in a river crossing and other weird similarities make me feel I may need to reread this section before moving on.

I'm really enjoying the book. I think Ivey's approach to storytelling—including the present-day epistolary bits that Vinny mentioned—is tactful and interesting. I'm glad I switched to a hard copy, though. The Kindle version wasn't doing the various artifacts justice.

I like the vaguely mysterious tone. It seems like the story could lean over into horror at any moment. Perhaps the love trope is so cut and dried thus far in order to leave room for a good shock of some sort? Of all the foreshadowing/unexplained bits, I'm most intrigued by Allen's past.

I’m a little behind - had to finish up a couple of library books..hope to catch up to everyone by the end of this week!

Sara wrote: "I like the vaguely mysterious tone. It seems like the story could lean over into horror at any moment. ..."

Me too. I expected to be reading a historical novel, but I love the hints of ominous mystery and magical realism. It's unexpectedness like this that separates the terrific novels from the good ones for me.

So I got behind and didn't actually get to read any of this until today, but made it through part 1 in one sitting. I am completely enchanted by this book.

At first I was slightly annoyed at the jumping around and different dates, but quickly got into the swing of it and am loving switching between Allen and Sophie. The cutaways to the modern day annoy me slightly as they take me out of the meat of the story. I agree with someone above that there is a sense that it could turn into a horror at any moment. When looking at Pruitt, was it just the atrocities he was a part of during war that have changed him? Is Allen as good as he comes across as? I can't wait to get more into this book.