Did you prefer following Laurel’s story or the stories surrounding Dorothy, Jimmy and Vivien?
Created: 07/09/13
Replies: 20
Join Date: 10/15/10
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I definitely preferred the story of Dorothy, Jimmy, and Vivien. During the televised interview when Laurel suddenly became speechless I was "turned off" by the episode/ the character - as just one example of my reaction to Laurel as a character.
Join Date: 10/16/10
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It's funny how different we all are. I definitely preferred Laurel's story to the Dorothy/Jimmy/Vivien one. I think it's because I found Dorothy delusional and Jimmy both too perfect and blinded by love. Plus I always enjoy stories where someone's trying to unravel a mystery.
I had a little bit of difficulty as the plot switched between the two, because there were times when I had to remind myself that although I as the reader knew what had happened, Laurel hadn't learned that yet.
Join Date: 04/02/13
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I much preferred the stories of Dorothy, Jimmy and Vivien. Their stories sucked me in and I found it jarring when we jumped back to the present and Laurel's story. For me, Laurel's story functioned only as a bridge between the events of the others' stories. I did like Laurel and her sisters and Gerry, though. It just wasn't as compelling for me.
Join Date: 06/19/12
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the story of Dorothy, Jimmy and Vivien carried the action of the book, and without it I would have tuned out very quickly. On the other hand, Laurel's search for the truth of her mother's history and the violence she had witnessed was the glue that held the historical story together. Both pieces were clearly necessary.
Join Date: 07/16/13
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I was definitely drawn to Dorothy, Jimmy and Vivien's story. I felt Laurel's part was a way of revealing what happened to others. You couldn't have one without the other. It made the story much more suspenseful and I loved the cliffhanger type endings of each chapter linking the past to the present.
Join Date: 12/05/12
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I liked both stories. Actually, I would have liked to know more about Laurel, but it probably wouldn't have added to the author's plot. Still, I would have liked to know more about how the murder had influenced her life. That was really only hinted at in the book.
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I also preferred the story surrounding Dorothy, Jimmy, and Vivien but I am partial to stories about WWII. I also felt the story was much more developed around those three characters than Laurel. However, I did feel that Laurel's story made an interesting vehicle to move the plot along.
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Join Date: 03/15/13
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While I especially loved the parts of the story focused on Dorothy, Jimmy, and Vivian, I feel that Laurel's part was essential to the story. I particularly enjoy books where the overall story is told by many of the characters. It is through their stories or perspectives that I gain a better understanding of the characters. I love hearing their "voices" or stories.
Join Date: 03/15/12
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I confess that I found Laurel's sections far duller than the exploits of Dolly and crew. But those parts did reveal information about Laurel's mother as she knew her, and Laurel's research answered questions that couldn't be addressed as the events of the war years were still in play.
Join Date: 09/07/12
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I like what nancyd said about Laurel's story being the vehicle that moved the story along. That makes a great deal of sense. If the Laurel part had been eliminated we would have been left with a straight story-line narrative and I think the element of surprise would have been lost. Laurel's narrative allows the final plot twist to remain secret until the end of the book where it has much greater impact.
Join Date: 03/24/13
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