Read by Theme discussion

Loved this book - so well written and constructed. The only tiny, tiny, tiny let down is at the end where perhaps the legal aspects weren't as well researched and accurate as they could have been. Otherwise I loved it. I really felt I'd entered another world as I read this - a modern day "Bright Young Things", Evelyn Waugh type situation. Oscar, the hero, classic outsider narrator - overtones of Nick from "The Great Gatsby". Interesting story structure in that the reader is very much an outsider looking in - for instance we are not privy to the private interactions of Iris and her brother Eden or Eden and Herbert Crest. While the legal aspects may have been not quite right, the Narcissistic Disorder is well researched and cleverly written. Eden Bellwether is the aforementioned narcissist - musical genius, child prodigy, fiercely smart, privileged. His sister Iris is also a medical student who meets Oscar by chance. Oscar is quite the opposite, from Watford, gave up school early, interested primarily in independence and working at a nursing home in Cambridge - where the story is set. Eden & Iris have a small circle of friends who've known them since school days and the "flock", as Eden describes them, all get caught up in Eden's belief that he has healing powers, powers he exercises through his musical gifts. As a parallel story, we have Oscar's friendship with one of the crusty old residents at the Home and through him, Oscar meets Herb Crest, psychologist with a brain tumour. This book just works so well. The relationships and characters are so well realised and honestly written.Beautiful use of Cambridge with all the colleges and of course the wisteria covered nursing home.Great book, nicely creep, had me hooked in from the opening page. No falling asleep while reading this one!!!

I've had this on the wishlist since I first heard about it. You're review makes me want it even more! :)

I loved it. Well worth reading. I'm going to now read, well eventually read The Secret History by Donna Tartt b/c I think Bellwether is strongly influenced by it.