Comments on: Thoughts from the Midst of The Post-Birthday World

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:39:05 +0000

I just finished the book and thought it was quite clever. Ok, some things seemed a bit too coincidental - like both Ramseys being at the awards dinner in NYC and two different characters having identical speeches in each world. And I wanted to scream at Lawrence’s Irina to open her eyes and not be such a doormat, and at Irina’s Ramsey to stop acting like such a baby and grow up when he would endlessly berate her over nothing. Having said that, it wasn’t as predictable as I feared it would be and was worth the 500+ pages of reading.
By the way, it wasn’t just your preview copy of the book that had a whole section in italics. I got my copy from the library and it was the same way. I think it’s an error. The paragraph that precedes the all-italicized words ended in italics - it’s when Ramsey says to Irina in the version that she stays with Lawrence, “Timing is everything.” After that, it’s all italics.

By: girldetective

girldetective — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:07:17 +0000

I liked the observation at the end that Lawrence and Ramsey together would make the perfect man, and I think so many relationships are like that–no one person is a perfect mate or friend, so we have other friends who balance out what’s missing. Sadly, I’ve known many women who’ve been in crummy sexual relationships and stayed because they loved the man otherwise, or they didn’t believe there was anything better out there, and both these jive with Irina’s character. I also thought her tolerance of him in the one thread and her eventual affection for him in the other were consistent with her perception of him, and acceptance of him, as flawed and needy.

By: Lazy Cow

Lazy Cow — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:17:48 +0000

What really bothered my friends and me was that Irina put up with a LOT of so-so sex with Lawrence, and him not wanting to kiss her? Urgh. It was easier to be more sympathetic with her relationship with Ramsey, though I don’t think either man was a particularly good choice!

By: girldetective

girldetective — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:57:38 +0000

Melissa, I found this book chock full of Mmv-isms such as celebrating routine and rhythm, and doing what one loves, not what other people think you should do. I really loved the book, and wondered if you saw as much of your blog themes in it as I did.

LC, I haven’t read We Need to Talk, and wasn’t going to, but now plan to. The idea that she wrote it as sort of an apologia for not having a kid bugged me, but given her finesse with dark, nonPC emotional stuff, I think I’d like to read it.

Post-Birthday World Spoilers ahead: I’ll write a review entry of it, but in the end I loved it. I was exasperated at my advanced reading copy, because I wondered if the last part of the penultimate chapter was supposed to be in italics. I didn’t realize at first, then went back to confirm that the last chapter could be the end for either story arc, though it fits better with the “runs off with Ramsey” one. I liked her idea that no choice is right or wrong, just different. By the end, though, I think the “running off with Ramsey” choice topped the other one; it seemed to bring her great joy at times, rather than just quiet satisfaction. But maybe I preferred it because I AM a romantic (even if I try to hide that behind a curmudgeonly and misanthropic demeanor.)

By: Lazy Cow

Lazy Cow — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:23:54 +0000

I read this for my bookgroup earlier this year, and had similar feelings to you as I was reading it. Will be VERY interested to discover your thoughts on completing the book. Have you read “We need to talk about Kevin?”
As for Anna Karenina, I found Kitty and Levin’s stories much more interesting than Anna and Vronsky’s, but then I’m not a romantic.

By: MFS

MFS — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:04:07 +0000

Oooooh! Mentioned in the same paragraph as Lionel Shriver?!? I *heart* Girl Detective.

*big grin*

Melissa