Book Club for Introverts discussion

Here's the place to talk about chapters 7-9. Please don't spoil it for others; if you want to talk about something in a later chapter, I'll be posting topics for the other chapters as well.

I have trouble putting books down when I start reading but I’m not reading any more until everyone catches up. I’m getting anxious for Frances. She’s fantasizing about Peter and it can’t end well. I love the descriptions of the house and grounds. I’m wondering about the toilet flushing and the pillow in the bathtub with the long gray hair. Perhaps she’s traveling in time within the story. My favorite quote in these chapters: “But everything we have, everything we are, is created by the past.”

That’s a really good thought! The transitions between the past and present are pretty seamless.

“... and as I took the pillow back to my bedroom, the shadow at my back followed close behind”.

Yeah, nope. 😬

I’m worried for Frances too. These people are not normal.

I want to also wait for everyone to catch up, but I REALLY want to know what’s up with Cara.

I can’t tell at all what’s “wrong” with her. 🤔

I do want Frances to look through the spy hole more now, so we can better understanding what Peter and Cara are up to.

Me too! I’m a little disappointed she doesn’t spy more. :)

I’m having a hard time deciding if Cara is what’s wrong with Cara or if it’s Peter making her that way. Something is off with both of them.

I think Cara is what’s wrong with Cara. I think she is really good at manipulating people to get what she wants. Peter isn’t quite right either, but I get the feeling he is more of a pawn of Cara’s than anything else.

I feel like there’s more wrong with Cara than Peter. But I can’t put my finger on what it is with Peter.

Peter is the same/simliar age as Frances right?

Also, something I don’t get is why they are getting paid to spend the whole summer writing a report about the house/bridge? (Would it take that long?)

Jen wrote: "I feel like there’s more wrong with Cara than Peter. But I can’t put my finger on what it is with Peter.

Peter is the same/simliar age as Frances right?

Also, something I don’t get is why they a..."

The author keeps reminding us that all of the action is taking place in a very short period of time. It all happens in about a month. I agree, though...not sure why it would be expected to take so long. Love that they blew off the assignments right away. Frances tried at first but just like with the cigarettes, she gave in to Peter and Cara's peer pressure.

I’m gonna throw it out there. I think Cara’s problem is actually Peter. Interesting theory about the pillow and grey hair. If, in fact, that’s part of the interplay between present and past, the author has done a masterful job.

I think Cara is her own problem. Peter obviously has his own things going on, too, though. The pillow in the tub was super strange.

I’m eager for Frances to spy on them again!

Frances had way more self control than I would have had! I think all three of them have deep flaws and none of them are good for each other.

Cara is definitely fragile. She strikes me as a bit borderline in her personality. I’m not sure what to make of Peter, yet. But, I’m concerned about Frances being involved with them. I think she’s too easily influenced by Cara.