Readalongs with Karen discussion

Here we can discuss our thoughts/discussion questions on finishing 'Tigers in Red Weather'.

I finished last night... and promptly burst into tears.
I feel like everyone failed Ed...
Except perhaps Daisy.

At first when I started reading I wasn't sure about the book, if it was my cup of tea, but then I found myself compelled to just read on and on and on.

I don't actually like any of the characters... except Daisy (generally).

ETA: This is one of those novels that makes you keep thinking about it after you are done....

Danada wrote: "I finished last night... and promptly burst into tears.
I feel like everyone failed Ed...
Except perhaps Daisy.

At first when I started reading I wasn't sure about the book, if it was my cup of te..." Hi Danada, I finished the book yesterday and absolutely loved it too. The start of the book reminded me of 'The Great Gatsby' with the parties,cocktails and vintage cars.
I loved how the story was told from multiple viewpoints.I think Daisy was my favourite character too. The writing is very atmospheric and I could visualize these characters sat on their porch with a vodka martini watching the sun go down over the harbour.
I think Nick did genuinely care for Helena and wanted her away from Avery.Did you think Helena was right to hold a grudge againist Nick for so long?
A fantastic debut and i'm looking forward to reading more from Liza Klaussmann in the future.

Karen wrote: "The start of the book reminded me of 'The Great Gatsby' with the parties,cocktails and vintage cars.... The writing is very atmospheric and I could visualize these characters sat on their porch with a vodka martini watching the sun go down over the harbour."

I agree! I loved the bit about the gin in jelly jars the two girls used in the beginning and then again later during that summer they were again on the porch drinking that iced cold gin out of those jelly jars.

Karen wrote: "I loved how the story was told from multiple viewpoints."

Me too! I loved how she overlapped parts of the story from different perspectives, but also filled in bits from the other characters as well.

Karen wrote: "I think Nick did genuinely care for Helena and wanted her away from Avery."

I think so too. But Nick.... Nick is super complicated. She genuinely cares about Helena and wants to be close, bffs or like sisters or something, but at the same time does these things... I guess its like she has a hard time getting out of her own head/perspective and seeing things from another person's... she knows best instead of trying to understand things. In this case Avery truly was so horrible and terrible for Helena, but she needed to be able to understand that and accept it for herself. Nick took that opportunity away and, while it was the most expedient way of saving Helena, it did complicate the emotional aspect for Helena and produce resentment.

Karen wrote: "Did you think Helena was right to hold a grudge against Nick for so long?

This is hard to answer.... It wasn't "right" from my perspective. Ideally she would forgive and move on.... experience the pain and feelings, but then let them go (in the Buddhist way). The problem is that Nick does this all the time. She repeatedly hurts those around her, over and over and over. Maybe Helena was able to forgive the first time, when they were kids (maybe not?), but again and again and again? That is so much harder.... I think the issue with Avery was complicated (more than the Tiger dress which was all kinds of things wrapped up in there too). I'm not sure if it was the drugs, or him making her totally depend on him, the idea that in the beginning he convinced her that she was important and special and she clung to that? Some built up defiance against Nick constantly trying to convince her to leave Avery (all the while ignoring her own personal and marital issues and making it seem like her life was perfect - at least from Helena's perspective)..... I dunno....

Thanks Danada for your thoughts.
This book was chosen for 'Richard and Judy' 2013 Summer Book Club Read and their questions for this book are:
- Discuss the central relationship between the cousins Nick and Helena.
-What do you think is added to the structure of the novel by the story being told from multiple viewpoints?
-Are any of the narrators really reliable?
-The novel has a very strong sense of time and place.Discuss how Liza Klaussmann creates this.
-Discuss the ending of the novel-do you feel there is a resolution?
To read more reviews visit www.richardandjudy.co.uk

I am looking forward to hearing other people's thoughts :)
It is a complex novel... I keep thinking about it...

Overall this one really didn't work for me unfortunately. While there were elements that I did enjoy: The multi-narrator format I found quite interesting, particularly the switch to first-person in the last (although not used quite as well I thought as the story started to lull a bit by the third/fourth before coming back in Ed's part) and the level of descriptiveness made the scenes properly come to life. Perhaps because of this, some of the scenes which were more sexual in nature disturbed me a bit too much that I thought it really detracted from the plot (I don't normally have issues with reading about these sorts of themes).

I also found myself quite unable to like any of the characters, the main ones at least, although it was impossible not to feel for Ed in the end. While I don't quite think elements of his behaviour is acceptable in any universe, it is quite easy to see how a neglected child like him could quite easily get waylaid onto the wrong path.

While not necessarily one I'd say I enjoyed, I'm glad I read it as it was an interesting one. Thanks Karen for the suggestion, and I thought it reminded me of another book I read earlier this year (The Children of Dynmouth by William Trevor), so those who enjoyed this book may want to check that one one out.

5-stars book. Totally captivating. Here link to my review.

You have an interesting discussion, Karen and Danada. I am also fascinated by the friendship between Nick and Helena. We can see there that we all (humans) are only human (we have the same needs) but we are never the same person. Luck (when and where one is born), circumstances, accidental events, genes - all create some kind of wall between people. We become different from one another and therefore we have difficulties with understanding one another.

I am wondering whether Ed was necessary to the story. I mean his murderous tendencies. His personality was important but did he had to be a murderer?

Adelyne wrote: "Overall this one really didn't work for me unfortunately. While there were elements that I did enjoy: The multi-narrator format I found quite interesting, particularly the switch to first-person in..." Hi Adelyne, thanks for sharing your thoughts and joining in. It's good to hear opinions,good and bad.Hope you can join in reading next months book.

Mela wrote: "5-stars book. Totally captivating. Here link to my review.

You have an interesting discussion, Karen and Danada. I am also fascinated by the friendship between Nick and Helena. We can see there th..." Hi Mela, so happy you enjoyed this book.I loved Liza Klaussmann's descriptive writing and great characters,even though some were unlikeable ! I don't think Ed needed to be a murderer either. I thought Nick forgave Hughes very quickly for his affair too.I would love to read Villa America

I just finished and I loved this book! I listened to half of it on audio and the narrator did an excellent job, the characters voices were filled with east coast affectation.

I thought the 5 different perspectives added drama to the book. Im so glad Ed’s voice was heard. His devotion to Daisy was unfaltering.

Jen wrote: "Hi all

I just finished so my thoughts on this are raw. I did not like Nick at all. I felt she was self absorbed not caring about how her actions affected others especially when it came to men. Tha..."
Hi Jen, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and joining in. I'm so happy you enjoyed the book too.Very impressive for a debut, I thought. I agree, I couldn't understand why Nick didn't just tell Tyler to back off more. Maybe we could all read Villa America soon : )

Mariann wrote: "I just finished and I loved this book! I listened to half of it on audio and the narrator did an excellent job, the characters voices were filled with east coast affectation.

I thought the 5 diff..."
Hi Mariann, So happy you enjoyed the book too !
Must of been great listening to the story on audio book. I wonder what Daisy would of thought about Ed, if only she had found out the truth. So many secrets in one family !

I finally managed to get a copy of the right book - can highly recommend Tigers In Red Weather by Ruth Padel if you're looking for something very different! - and have to say that this book surprised me - in a good way! Really wasn't expecting the conflict and the secrets and lies but it really kept me captivated and I want it turned into a TV series! Loved the variety of characters as all had their faults- some many more than others and it was dark, dramatic and a perfect summer read!

Karen wrote: "I finally managed to get a copy of the right book - can highly recommend Tigers In Red Weather by Ruth Padel if you're looking for something very different! - and have to say that this book surpris..." Hi Karen, I had a feeling you'd love this one too, seeming we have very similar tastes in books. I know it's a cliche comment, but this book really is a page turner and a perfect summer read. It would be great as a tv series too !
Thanks for joining in : )

30 pages left. Can't wait to finish work today, so I can go home and read (finish it). Ed is so freakin weird. I can't wait to find out what he is going to do or say next.

For me, I adore Nick. Her smooth and cool exterior is very interesting to me. (So unlike me, as I am so warm, friendly and OPEN with my feelings and emotions.) My least favorite character, beside Ed, would be Tyler. Just don't care for him or trust him. He seems so fake to me. Ed is weird but he is who he is and doesn't hide it. I love how all the characters are flawed because that makes them more believable in my eyes.

Very well written and interesting. :)

Debbie wrote: "30 pages left. Can't wait to finish work today, so I can go home and read (finish it). Ed is so freakin weird. I can't wait to find out what he is going to do or say next.

For me, I adore Nick. He..."
Hi Debbie, so happy you are enjoying this one too. Nick seems such an interesting character and so central to all the goings on !
Ed is so creepy : o

I just don't know if I want to give this 4 or 5 stars. What did you give it, Karen?

Debbie wrote: "I just don't know if I want to give this 4 or 5 stars. What did you give it, Karen?"
I gave it 5 stars, because for a debut it's great.

It would be great as a tv series too !


I'd love for this to be a mini-series or movie! That would be awesome. But they never seem to measure up to the book anyway.

Oh, but with an historical television mini-series (the only way to give enough time to tell the story properly) they can bring in all kinds of things for us to look at - clothes! hair styles, cars, phones, kitchens.....!

Yes! That sounds awesome! I'm so glad we read that book. I just loved it. I'm still thinking about it.

Debbie wrote: "Yes! That sounds awesome! I'm so glad we read that book. I just loved it. I'm still thinking about it." So happy you enjoyed it Debbie.Was you happy with the ending?

Danada wrote: "Oh, but with an historical television mini-series (the only way to give enough time to tell the story properly) they can bring in all kinds of things for us to look at - clothes! hair styles, cars,..." In this case, lots of martini's and shrimps !! :D

Even though the ending is tragic, Ed is grateful to have Daisy there. So sad but it makes this tragic ending a little less tragic.

Karen wrote: "In this case, lots of martini's and shrimps !! :D "

Didn't she make some sort of jello-mold thing? Did it have shrimp in it? I wouldn't be surprised....

recipe for shrimp jello salad

I find these things fascinating - ever look in old cookbooks?

Danada wrote: "Karen wrote: "In this case, lots of martini's and shrimps !! :D "

Didn't she make some sort of jello-mold thing? Did it have shrimp in it? I wouldn't be surprised....

recipe for shrimp jello sala..." That's great ; D

Debbie wrote: "Even though the ending is tragic, Ed is grateful to have Daisy there. So sad but it makes this tragic ending a little less tragic." So happy you enjoyed the book Debbie