My take on the Whole Book

This was the second time I had enjoyed this story. The first time I listened on a somewhat scratched up audio book, but I got most of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed rereading it and found it difficult to put down so that I finally just read through, being sure to blog on each section and save it to post later. I love the characters, I love the premise of the cheese making factory and even though it may have been a bit whimsical and dreamy, I enjoyed the story.

I agree that Kit and Abbey falling for each other seems improbable in real life, but I think it works in this book as part of the magic surrounding Corrie, Fee and all of Coolarny. I think Kit is a very interesting character from a psychological standpoint and I just can't help but love poor, innocent, betrayed Abbey. The other characters are of course what make the book, but I think the main characters have their own place in the story.

As for the end of the story, I cried during the last chapter of course. It was touching and beautiful. I love that Corrie's legacy was to save all those little babies and help all those lonely, scared, mothers. I think the whole concept is beautiful and it made the end of the book for me. I also appreciate that it was Lucy's baby that Abbey got to adopt at the end. I am glad for the scene between Abbey and Lucy that Lynch included near the end, where Lucy finds Abbey crying after Kit leaves. I think it helps solidify the connection. Overall I loved reading this story and hope everyone else enjoyed it as well.

The end.

I've been waiting till we got to the end, because I can only think about the book now as a whole, not by chapters.

I did enjoy this book. The cheese-making stuff was probably my favorite bit about it. All very interesting. Corrie and Fee and Avis were great too. In fact, I think the story should have been more about them than about Abbey and Kit.

I had some issues though. The love at first sight thing with Abbey and Kit. Nice to read, but not on the whole very satisfying. Jacey not being dead seemed weak. I mean, how could everyone say she was dead? or was it just Kit and that's why everyone couldn't sympathize much more with him? Anyway, it made me think Kit was a bit mental, which I didn't like.

And the fact that Corrie and Fee had money from elsewhere so that the cheesemaking was a labour of love? Sorry, but that's lame. Deus ex Machina if I've ever saw one. Sort of seemed like bad writing.

I repeat, that I did like this story. Worth reading once, but not something I'd keep and reread later on. Which is good since i have too many books at the moment and need to get rid of some anyway. :)

When do we start Kate's book?

Revelations (Chapters 17-19)

Well this would be the part of the book where we learn everything we don't already know. I don't feel as if the information about Abbey's grandmother was as shocking as it could have been. It is sad, though and offers some insight into Rose's despicable character. With women like those it's a wonder Abbey turned out as well as she did. As for Jacey I can honestly say I did not see that coming in any way, shape or form. It certainly is bizarre. I looked back to see if there was some clue, but I think the point is that Kit actually made himself believe she was dead. Poor man, I guess he didn't know what he was getting into with her. She certainly turned up at an inconvenient time and she sure seems to have some kind of power over Kit. It's no wonder he had to kill her in his mind to be free of her before. The one question that no one is probably asking right now though, is where did Fee go on the tractor?

Note: Today was the first time I actually thought some cheese might taste good and had some along with a glass of grape juice while I was reading...may have something to do with the time of day. I'm normally hungry around lunch and sick around dinner and the evening when I usually read. Today I read just after lunch.

They aren't Clicking

Does anyone else feel like Abbey and Kit are just not working together...not in any way, shape or form! Poor Abbey, she seems to be having her share of most humiliating, most embarrassing moments in a short time...first the thing with her mom and Jasper, then the embarrassing comments about Kit's wife, then the weird almost sex thing! I mean seriously, this poor girl is not doing well. Maybe she and Kit will end up together, but if they do it will take a lot of work. I must say though that I absolutely love that Corrie and Fee don't actually use the pasteurizer unless the inspector is present, but that one only realizes it if one studies the pipes. I love that Kit picked up on it too...too funny!

All Right, Already.

I'm reading it. I've read it. I'm through chapter 17, and even though we're not supposed to post on that until tomorrow--I'm taking a chance (Katie, read no further if you haven't got there yet). Though I'm enjoying the book, I have no overall thesis to essay here, so forgive the randomness of the following reactions:

I feel (like I think everyone else) that the beginning was a bit slow--I mean it takes the first 2/3rds of the book for everyone to get to the farm. But then, I almost feel like things are moving too fast. I mean, Abbey and Kit have known each other two days and they're about to have sex? It's almost like Fee and co.'s expectations for their relationship is enough of a foundation for it to actually happen; I'm not sure I buy that. Plus, I wonder at Lynch having too many balls in the air--I'm intrigued to see if all of them get tied together in a convincing and clever manner, or if some of the side stories and issues are just stand alone. (Although, I really liked that Kit's mom used to be a milkmaid there; that was unexpected, unlike, the fact that Rose married Jasper, but maybe I see that as predictable because I did and if I'd guessed the other or not guessed the marriage, I'd feel differently.) I guess one of my big questions is how do we feel about Fee's premonitions and ability to read thoughts? I think Eden's going to post on this subject, so I won't say much, yet...

Chaps 11-13 Too Funny!

I just have to say that I laughed my head off reading the description of the prospective cheese makers poking at the rotten cheeses and stuffing pieces in their drunk companion's mouth. It was hilarious. Fee is just too funny for words in this section. He knows everything and he seems to take great delight in the shock, chaos, madness and surprise that everyone else is experiencing. While Chapter 11 was shockingly sad (what is it about us picking books with a character with a really screwed up mother?!) Chapter 12 had me laughing out loud and Chapter 13 had me entranced with all of the action. By action I mean everything that is happening at once. All the layers of activity, emotions, premonitions etc make a brilliant scene in my opinion. It makes me long to be a part of it all! I don't know if this could be called the hear of the story or not, but it certainly is the heart of the characters! I am loving this book more and more the further I get into it. Not only is the story original, interesting and unpredictable enough to entertain, but the characters are rich, deep and fascinating. As much as I love the story, I think I love the people in it even more, despite their quirks, problems and issues. I'm giving Lynch 2 thumbs up so far on this one.

Blessed Are the Cheesemakers, part II

So, I don't know about the rest of you, but I do not think I will take until June 20th to finish the book. I am already on Ch. 17, and I only have two more days until I am out for the summer (Hallelujah!) So, I will be having much more free time on my hand. I know that Eden is done, and I think Chris is done as well? I don't know where you are, Emily, and I don't know that Sarah has actually read anything yet (always the slacker), but do we want to change the end date to sooner? Plus, the book is due back in to the library on June 2nd, so I will probably finish it before then. Anyways, let me know what you guys think.

So, since we are only technically supposed to post on the next 5 chapters, I will try not to spoil anything again. I agree with Chris in that the first 5 chapters were interesting but kind of random. I liked the next 5 much better, it is really sucking me into the story. I had to skip ahead a chapter even when Abbey was finding out that her husband was cheating on her because I couldn't wait through a whole chapter to find out what she did. I went back, of course, to poor Kit after Abbey had left her husband.

I am feeling really bad for Kit. I was kind of mad at the other people in his life because I felt they were being really unfeeling. What person would be able to get on with their life only 3 months after a spouse had died? I mean, I know he was falling apart and they were trying to help him with his drinking problem, but still. Everyone was pretty much telling him to get over it and get on. Death is a significant grief, and it takes a long time to work through that kind of pain. I don't think we know yet how Jacey died, do we? Who else is thinking it was suicide?

One of my favorite quotes from chapter 10, involving Kit and Maureen, "He was exhausted enough by Maureen McCarthy and she wasn't even particularly fierce. Just nosy. The strain of her not asking any more about his personal circumstances over breakfast had plum tuckered the two of them out."

I like this book

I really do like this book. In fact, I probably love it. I love how Fee and Corrie keep all the prospective cheese makers waiting and make watching and observing them the day's entertainment. I love that Kit's hostess has the purple fuzzy toilet cover that she mentioned on her toilet. I love that all the cows are named Maria. I love the quote near the end of chapter 10 that says, "The strain of her not asking any more about his personal circumstances over breakfast had plum tuckered the two of them out." (pg140-141) I love all of these characters, oh except Martin. What a jerk!!! Poor, poor Abbey, blaming herself for everything wrong with their relationship when all along the two-faced, cheating, lying, hypocritical emotionally abusive husband of hers was treating her, her dignity and their relationship as a big joke. I'm glad she was able to escape in the plane, though what happens next, well, the poor girl, how hard to have to start over after all of that. I trust that if any of us were ever treated like that by a significant other that the rest of us would pummel them to a pulp!

I'm excited for where this story is going. There are so many interesting elements to it that no matter what character we're following, I find their story interesting. I may have to finish this book sooner as well.

Secondhand Lions (Wait I mean Blessed are the Cheesemakers)

So, I hope I'm not the only one who picked up on the ummm....."similarity" (read blatant rip-off) between these two stories; two crotchety old men, supposedly quite wealthy, take on random person (people) from broken homes and turn them into normal functioning people (at least I assume that's going to happen). Thankfully I liked Secondhand Lions, so the formulas all good with me. I mean, I'm sure most of you know that my desire in life is to become a grumpy old man, so I always enjoy a good story glorifying that ideal. Anyway, I wonder which came first, since the formula is just soooooo close.

Anyway, I have to say through 5 chapters, I was a bit bored by the little random snippets that were all over the place, but since I was not feeling great this morning, I read the next 5 already and the story really starts to build on itself. Its going to take some discipline to not read the rest of the book today. We'll see...

I so want cheese

That's probably the main thing I took from this book. A huge desire to have some really, really good cheese. There is a cheesemongers in Bath and I plan to visit it soon.

I have read the whole book, because I prefer my books in one sitting. But I will try not to spoil anything for you guys.

Talk about creating sympathy for the characters. I did truly feel sorry for Kit even though he seems to have created his own trouble. Lucy, I wasn't expecting as she isn't on the back cover blurb, but i'm glad to have all those dairy maids and their eccentricities. Actually no one really seems all that normal in this story. Maybe Lucy...sort of.

Abbey is alright. A little dreamy, but we'll see.

My favorite characters are definitely Fee and Corrie. Good ole Irish men with a knack of premonitions and love of cheese. I so want to apprentice under them.

My quote for this section:

"Know that you don't end up here unless you've got a bun in the oven and no bastard to help you cook it," said Jack.

Hilarious.

That's all I got. Tag, who's next?

Blessed Are the Cheesemakers...the intro

Since I have listened to this book before on audio book (mostly as parts of it were seriously messed up so I didn't catch everything) I will try to weigh in with things pertinent to the current chapters and not hint at things to come. I realize that after these first chapters you all may be going, "umm, where are we going and how is this all related?" but I promise it does all come together. One thing I realized as I read these chapters is that I appreciate the ways that Lynch keeps us intrigued by her small twists that keep us on our toes and keep the book from becoming too formulaic and predictable...for example in the first chapter we don't realize that "Abbey" is actually a photo and not a person standing in the end until the end. Another example is the realization that Fee and the other girls believe Lucy must be pregnant even though she doesn't think she is...is she really? The characters are all quite interesting to me as well. Corri and Fee are such an adorable old pair, Abbey just interests me and makes me want to know where her life is going and Lucy and the other girls just make me go, "What?!" I am excited to reread and see everything unfold and to hear what everyone else thinks about this story.

Schedule for Blessed are the Cheesemakers

Ok, well three of you have weighed in (Chris was too lazy to post but answered me in person) so I'm going to go ahead and post the schedule...sorry Katie for not getting your thoughts! It sounds like people would rather take things slowly than try to rush and I agree since I don't think this is a book to rush through. I know there is a bit of traveling going on and all, but since I happen to have Sarah's Google calendar I can make a schedule that should work, even for her. The Chapters can be posted on as follows:

May 16: Chapters 1-5
May 23: Chapters 6-10
May 30: Chapters 11-13
June 6: Chapters 15-17
June 13: Chapters 18-20
June 20: chapters 21, 22 & Epilogue

The heaviest reading is at the beginning since we've had a couple weeks off and because Sarah is still in the country. Hope you all enjoy it. Let me know if anyone has had trouble getting the book and thus will have a difficult time getting the first five chapters read.

How Long for next book?

I have the next book in front of me, but I need to know how many pages you all are willing to read in a week. This book is a bit longer than the first three. Do we want to try and cram it all in in just 4 weeks or are people more inclined to spread it out to four or five? Our copy has 22 chapters (including epilogue) and 324 pages.

Next book

I'm so sorry everyone, I have been completely distracted of late. In case any of you didn't hear I cut my thumb open Sunday a week ago (badly) and had to have stitches, a splint, the whole shebang and have had a heck of a time just surviving lately...can barely change and feed my kids etc. I can barely type so I've spent almost no time on the computer and even thought I got the stitches out today they still have me in a splint and it's still quite sore with some residual numbness...I was told it may take a total of 6 weeks to heal completely. Anyhow, the book I'd like us all to do next is called Blessed are the cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch. I think everyone will like it...how can we not when the author is names Sarah-Kate?! That's a good sign! I also promise I will do a final post on Caspian as soon as my thumb is up to it or I have more time to slowly type a post.