Loved it! I think it will be very popular with Book Clubs - I’ve already recommended to several people. I was also a skeptic at first but hit the twist didn’t see it coming - loved the surprise.
This book was the first book I received to discuss and thankfully I had finished reading it because on March 8 I was faced with the loss of a beloved family member. Therefore emotionally I did not participate at the beginning of the book club discussion.
I did enjoy reading the book, and I agree with the other members who felt the twist in the middle of the book was disappointing. I also disagree with the author’s interpretation of the afterlife.
I have lost both of my parents, but thankfully they were blessed with a long life. Unfortunately 26 years ago I witnessed my husband decline and lost him to cancer. I also felt the overwhelming pain when my beloved pets cross the rainbow bridge. In January my gentle Golden Retriever Bennett died in my arms from symptoms of an aneurysm.
I do think everyone deals with grief differently. Last night I read Keanu Reeves quote on grief: “Grief changes shape but it never ends and for those left behind the process is less about moving on and more about caring for the longing for those who have passed”.
Sharing that quote with the wonderful Book Browse members has helped me heal with the grief I am now experiencing. I also take comfort that Bennett was there to greet my daughter Elizabeth.
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I loved this book. I enjoyed how the group formed a bond to tell their stories and then when the surprise twist came, it got even more interesting. It was well written and kept my interest.
I did not love this book. None of the characters really drew me in and while the twist was interesting it just didn’t do it for me. I did like the last chapter though. I thought it wrapped up the ending nicely. But overall this wasn’t one of my favorites.
I completely agree with your points!
THE SEVEN O’CLOCK CLUB is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights grief, depression, healing, human connections, and forgiveness. It is easy to feel empathy for the characters written with expertise and depth, and such emotion.Having just lost a loved one, I felt as if I were a part of the club too. I finished the book several days ago and I’m still thinking about it. Highly recommended to fans of Literary Fiction and Magical Realism.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It wasn’t what I expected, from reading the blurb inside the cover, and I loved the plot twists. Characters were expertly drawn and became very relatable.
I enjoyed it and did not expect the twist. A strong 3 star read. I think the author went the easy route on a couple characters; a rock star, the cold, overachiever, etc. stereotypes/tropes etc. I also wasn’t crazy about the end but I am comfortable and even enjoy open ended stories. I don’t need hope at the end of a story.
I found “The Seven O’Clock Club” very thought provoking. I always thought grief was mainly about the death of someone. But after reading Amelia Ireland’s book I discovered grief is not just about dying. It’s about how you visualize living. I highly recommend this book. It helped me see sharing with others, no matter what we’re facing, can give us hope.
I found the story hard to swallow…that four total strangers would for such close connections to one another after three sessions, and one party. Of course, we later find out that Freya and Callum have a reason for theirs, but the others?
I’m no pearl clutcher, but I did find Callum’s constant use of ‘fuck’ a bit much.
For me, the story was somewhat lacking in depth.
It was engaging and a quick read. I enjoyed it. I sometimes judge a book by if I care about the characters. They were one dimensional, however I felt myself liking them and hoping for a positive outcome. The premise was a bit contrived. That’s the beauty of fiction-anything can happen.
Lynne _G I am sorry to read about the loss of your beloved family member and for sharing your experiences with grief. The quote from Keanu Reeves is a well-stated, powerful quote.
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Jill,
Thank you for your compassion and kind words. Yes, it has been a hard time. Reading has been very therapeutic for me.
Take Care
I enjoyed the book and also found it an engaging and quick read. I agree that the characters were a bit flat but I felt connecting to their narratives. I was surprised by the twisty ending - which made the book more enjoyable.
I received an email informing me that my reply did not reach you so once again thank you for your compassion and kind words.
Yes this has an extremely difficult time for me however reading and keeping busy has been therapeutic for me.
Take Care
Lynne
If this fails I will try to send you an email.