You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

One of the group reads for October is The Room in the Attic by Louise Douglas. Please discuss the book in this thread.

Margo will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during October 2022.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

A note on discussion: Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc.

In addition to this, the group reads are meant to be a "read along" so it is preferable that you discuss the book as you read rather than wait until you've finished the book.

And finally, discussion is not about just listing your thoughts. Please interact with the other group members, comment on their thoughts, and if they comment on yours, respond to them. This is what makes a good book discussion!

You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.

Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

This one looks good, but I don't know if I can find a copy. I look forward to seeing what everyone thinks of it.

Kristie wrote: "This one looks good, but I don't know if I can find a copy."

Do you have Kindle Unlimited? That's where I got mine.

Jane Reads wrote: "Kristie wrote: "This one looks good, but I don't know if I can find a copy."

Do you have Kindle Unlimited? That's where I got mine."

I do, but I have to return something to get it, so I need to finish something else first. Plus, it is fairly long and I have a few other books this month so I was hoping to get an audio copy. I'm not sure yet if I want to buy it. I think I'll see what the first few people think then decide what I want to do. I have a couple of optional books too.

I have it on my kindle and ready to start. It was only $2.19(AUD) to purchase.

I have the audio version and the narration sounds really good. I have about 2 hours left in my current book so I hope to start this one tomorrow.

I will be joining this one this month, but I seem to be on the same page as everyone else, I need to finish something before I start... It will probably be three days.

I downloaded mine free through Amazon Prime reading.

I’m going to start this today. I don’t read a lot of scary books but the reviews make this one seem doable. This will be my coffee book so daylight will help with any scary parts.

You know in scary movies when they tell the people to run or get out of a house? I’d already be three blocks away.

lol, Marnie! Good luck!

I started yesterday morning but I have WiFi problems at the moment so I couldn't post. We need a new modem and it may take a couple of days to sort so apologies in advance if I disappear.

So far I'm really liking it. I'm somewhere in chapter 16 and my only negative so far is that the chapters are too short which I find makes all the change POV too abrupt.

Characters (view spoiler)[ I can easily empathise with lewis. he's grieving for his mother and his dog and then gets turfed out of his home by the father from hell. To compound his misery, when he arrives at his new school there is a sign up saying it is a lunatic asylum!

The other POV chapters all start with the name Emma. The child is Harriot, we don't know the name of the nurse so is Emma the unconscious woman? Is that woman Harriets mother? As the chapter is written in the third person Emma could be someone we haven't met? Lastly, is the smell of smoke in Lewis time a foreshadowing of a fire in the attic room? I really don't like that they are locked in there every night.
(hide spoiler)]

I am planning on reading this, but won't be able to get to it until mid October. Crossing fingers it could be a bit earlier.

Marnie wrote: "I’m going to start this today. I don’t read a lot of scary books but the reviews make this one seem doable. This will be my coffee book so daylight will help with any scary parts.

You know in sca..."

Haha, I'm with you on that Marnie! Why are the people in those movies always so dumb? I'm always screaming at the TV "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT???!!!" as they open that creaky door/go down into the dark basement/climb the staircase that's shrouded in cobwebs (delete as appropriate).

Planning to join this month. I already have the audio book from my library and will start today. Just finished listening to The Paris Apartment. Marnie, I would be right there next to you running away! In real life, I'm a huge chicken, but I love scary books and movies.

Started this one now and have got up to Chap 10. With its short chapters and fairly simple style of writing it is easy to read. I enjoyed the introduction to the two main timelines, and getting to the know the characters. Some are likeable, others are not. (view spoiler)[The nurse is very likeable, and think perhaps her name is Emma. She lost her son Herbert and is caring for Harriet in the attic room. (hide spoiler)] I agree that it does jump quickly between timelines. Just getting into one story and switches to the other.
The house has a bad feel about it, but nothing too scary yet. The (view spoiler)[chair rocking loudly by itself in the attic level above Lewis and the smell of smoke (hide spoiler)] are the scariest so far.

Odette wrote: "Started this one now and have got up to Chap 10. With its short chapters and fairly simple style of writing it is easy to read. I enjoyed the introduction to the two main timelines, and getting to ..."

You're right Odette, (view spoiler)[ the nurse is called Emma. That's one mystery solved 😉
(hide spoiler)]

I'm listening on Hoopla and have already listen to 25 chapters. I'm enjoying it so far. It's not very scary yet.

1903 - (view spoiler)[ Emma is such a wonderful character! She's smart, saves the woman's life and is so kind to Harriet. I'm worried about the nightmares. I'm thinking there is an entity in that attic and Harriet is sensitive enough to interact with it. Something isn't feeling right about the doctor. Feeling anxious about this timeline! (hide spoiler)]
1993 - (view spoiler)[ I think I would have liked the mother. The dad is likely struggling with the loss of his wife, so maybe he gets some sympathy. The step-mom is horrible and I want to scream at her to stop making things worse for Lewis. Poor kid! I love that his mother taught them to have control over their own bodies. I would have said the same thing if someone tried to cut my hair. I'm wondering if it really is Lewis' mom he hears, since he seems to be sensitive to the supernatural. (hide spoiler)]

I think we have different tolerances for scary lol
Finished chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ when that lady appeared and Lewis was fumbling with his keys I was reading so quickly until he pulled away from the house. (hide spoiler)]

I like the short chapters. Easier to read in small doses.

I have read 25 chapters now. It is easy to read, but the plot to me seems to be slow developing, and not all that scary. (view spoiler)[Some of the characters are very unpleasant, especially Lewis's father, the headmaster and the teachers. Lewis is not getting the support he needs, except from the voice he hears. In the 1903 timeline Nurse Emma and Maria the maid are likeable characters. Though do not know too much about what is going on beneath the attic level. (hide spoiler)]

I've just finished chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ I was fuming when the headmaster caned Lewis. I hate corporal punishment for children and i thank god that we now live in more enlightened times and all violence against children is illegal. At least it brought out a warmer side to Oscars nature.

Poor old nurse Emma is buried in consecrated ground. I wonder if her death was seen as suicide. I'm glad to see that Lewis gets on so well with his sister - at least he has one person in his family he can count on.
(hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "I've just finished chapter 31 I was fuming when the headmaster caned Lewis. I hate corporal punishment for children and i thank god that we now live in more enlightened times and all violence agai..."

I will be reading further on today. (view spoiler)[pleased to hear about the support of Lewis's sister. The father has no feelings or empathy for his son, or if he has any very misguided. It made me feel very sad when he told the matron that when Lewis faints, it is only for attention. It was terrible how the boys were punished and treated, (hide spoiler)]

Odette wrote: "Margo wrote: "I've ..."

Yes, what a horrible thing to say!!!

I am through chapter 14. It is very atmospheric. The author does a good job helping me visualize the school.

(view spoiler)[ So far it’s very gloomy and abusive. I just finished the scene where they cut his hair. Bullies gonna bully... sigh. (hide spoiler)]

Now through Chapter 25
(view spoiler)[ The mystery of how Harriet and her mom ended up in the boat intrigues me. I wonder if we will find out that backstory or if it will remain a mystery? (hide spoiler)]

It’s time for the author to pick up the pace.

I just got started, finished Chapter 2. So no spoilers here :). I am enjoying the descriptive writing and atmosphere of this book. Feels like it might be a good one.

Marnie wrote: "I am through chapter 14. It is very atmospheric. The author does a good job helping me visualize the school.

It’s time for the author..."

I have read further on now and the pace is picking up. The mystery is becoming more engaging, but am afraid the outcome is not going to be good. (view spoiler)[It was a bit disappointing that Emma's fate was revealed at such an early stage. (hide spoiler)] There are a number of strange happenings, and agree the book has a very atmospheric feel, but still not really scary. (view spoiler)[The person who initials TN are engraved on floor of Ward B is introduced, another sad stoy, It is seems horrific how the students and in the past the inmates of the asylum are treated (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 38

(view spoiler)[ “One of the reasons women were sent to asylums was because they read too many books.” Just warning y’all in case you ever time travel. (hide spoiler)]

I finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have finished the book, and enjoyed the second half more as the pace seemed to pick up. The mystery is intruiging and quite a surprise ending.

sorry for my absence, I have no WiFi and my provider is not being helpful. Tonight they said they no record of my problem despite having sent an engineer out 8 days ago and promising to send me out a new modem *GRRRR* So I gave in and bought a data package for my phone but, as you all know, the app is rubbish and very limited.

I finished the book a few days back and give it 3 stars. It was OK but didn't live up to my expectations. I liked the characters but the plot was predictable and uninspired. It all ties up very neatly at the end.
looking forward to reading all your posts but it will take me a while as I have reading problems and I don't have a text reader for my phone ‍ *eye roll*

I suggested this book for purchase to my library, and they will buy it. They put me first in the waiting list. I don't think I will get it on time buy I wanted to share anyways. I will come back to this thread when I finally get it.

Laura (Lclwags) wrote: "I'm listening on Hoopla and have already listen to 25 chapters. I'm enjoying it so far. It's not very scary yet.

1903 - [spoilers removed]
1993 - [spoilers removed]"

Oh I didn't really (view spoiler)[ think about perhaps Lewis is actually hearing his mother as he appears to be sensitive to the supernatural. I just assumed it was like how I converse with my best friend who died last year in my head all the time. (hide spoiler)]

I am at 63% in the audio book - the chapter says 61/100. I just spent the last several hours making jewelry and listening to this book. I am enjoying it a lot. Sometimes I get annoyed at dual timeline books if I don't like one of the timelines as much as the other, but I am enjoying both timelines in this book.
I just got to the part where (view spoiler)[ Harriet looks in through the window at her mother and tells everyone it isn't her mother. I wonder if that really isn't her mother or if she just looks different after being in a coma for however long. Practical Emma is getting freaked out about the weird presence. (hide spoiler)]

Odette wrote: "Marnie wrote: "I am through chapter 14. It is very atmospheric. The author does a good job helping me visualize the school.

It’s time for the author..."

I have read further on now and the pace is..."

Odette, I agree with you. (view spoiler)[ I was really disappointed to see the outcome of Emmas story revealed so soon. It made we wonder what the point of reading it was but all I will say to anyone at this stage is - read on.

It was horrific to see how poeple with mental health issues were treated in those times and how easy it was to get someone - particularly a woman - commited. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "Chapter 38

[spoilers removed]

I finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it."

Haha - maybe we are lucky not to have that technology :-D

Glad you enjoyed the story Marnie. (view spoiler)[ As I often find with scary stories, the horror was mostly what humans do to each other. (hide spoiler)]

Sandra wrote: "I suggested this book for purchase to my library, and they will buy it. They put me first in the waiting list. I don't think I will get it on time buy I wanted to share anyways. I will come back to..."

That's great Sandra, wish my library was that proactive!

Katrisa wrote: "I am at 63% in the audio book - the chapter says 61/100. I just spent the last several hours making jewelry and listening to this book. I am enjoying it a lot. Sometimes I get annoyed at dual timel..."

Re Harriet (view spoiler)[ Yes, and added to that the fact that she is so traumatised how much weight can be given to her words?
(hide spoiler)]

Well, I have WiFi at the moment, no idea how long it will last. Still waiting for the new modem *sigh*

My thoughts on the story (view spoiler)[ I felt it could have been more skillfully told. As someone mentioned above, it was revealed very early in the story that Emma was hanged in the original history. I thought that that saga was rushed and may have been more enjoyable for me if the kids had had to work a bit harder for the info.
There were a few things like that - we were given Lewiss wifes name in the preface soon as my Goods daugther was revealed to have that name my first thought was that he would marry her.

I did like the alternate ending with Emma stepping into the light. I'm so glad that she got her wish to be buried with her son. My only complaint about the ending was that it was a little too pat. If this was a childrens book, fine, but as an adult I am quite sceptical and know that like doesn't work like that. I would have welcomed a little more darkness or a few loose ends - but that's just me.

(hide spoiler)]

I finished the book. I liked it. I agree with you Margo (view spoiler)[ that some of the ending was a little too tied up nicely. I am was glad that Emma got the chance to be buried with her son, but Lewis's wife stuff was a bit over the top. (hide spoiler)] Overall I enjoyed it though and give it 4 stars.

I am about 75% done with the book and will finish it today. I was traveling and read most of it on the plane yesterday. I will go back and comment on posts. I am enjoying it. I think bits of it seem to repeat, but I'm getting to the exciting part and can't wait to finish it.

Marnie wrote: "Chapter 38

[spoilers removed]

I finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it."

Hahaha. I am enjoying the bits of history that are weaved throughout the two storylines.

@ Margo - It also really bothered me that (view spoiler)[ they were locked in the room for what seems an indefinite amount of time. Emma is the nurse that is with the little girl I believe. (hide spoiler)]

@ Katrisa - I also think that (view spoiler)[ Lewis is hearing his mom and that Harriet is being visited by her mom. I just haven't figured out who the violent entity is yet. I think that the other woman who was found dead is actually Harriet's mom (which is why her spirit is visiting her) and the woman who was in the coma may be responsible for her death (hide spoiler)]

I finished the book and I did enjoy it overall. I liked how (view spoiler)[ through Isak and Lewis's actions they were able to change the past which changed the future. I do agree with Margo that the ending was a bit to tidy and rushed. I would have liked to have had something left questionable and spooky. (hide spoiler)]

Jayme wrote: "@ Margo - It also really bothered me that [spoilers removed]

@ Katrisa - I also think that [spoilers removed]"

Re attic (view spoiler)[ Yeah, that locked door had my safety sensors twanging. Then when Lewis kept smelling smoke in the room and hearing the bell ring it was obvious there was going to be a fire. This is actually the only question I'm left with; as there wasn'ta fire in the original history why did Lewis smell it? Interesting! (hide spoiler)]

Good point, Margo. I didn't even catch it about the (view spoiler)[ smoke. I'm sure it has something to do with parallel and/or circular realities - which is beyond my schooling. lol (hide spoiler)]

I got the book from the library, which is surprising because usually it takes way longer for them to buy the requests.
Everyone is busy with the toppler this week, but I will have fun reading your comments!

I just read 5 chapters and so far so good

Wow, wish my library was as good as yours Sandra! Do you like the short chapters? I thought they were a bit too short 🤔

Yes, I find them too short. I just finished chapter 20, and so far I don't think we got to know much more than what is told in the blurb, and that is too little for 90 pages.

I'll read some spoilers now.