Comments on: The Girl Who Stopped Swimming Day 2 Group Discussion

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:34:01 +0000

I think that the issue about poverty in the book helps remind us that it is happening and poverty can be anywhere.

I think it is ok that Luarel sheltered her daughter as long as Laurel made Shelby realize that it’s real and not just play it off.

As far as the marriages go I would have to say each person has a different idea of what a marriage is and how it should work and for those people it sometimes works.

I agree with Amy that I liked the first part of this book better.I ending kind of let me going it that it.

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:48:38 +0000

I don’t know how to describe it, really. I think it didn’t draw me in as much as the first two. I didn’t connect with Laurel as much as I wanted to, maybe? And the beginning was definitely difficult to figure out what was going on. I don’t know. My friend Julie also was not as happy with this one…I’ll ask her thoughts on why.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:45:15 +0000

Michele,
I’ve read other people say the same thing about this book. I haven’t read her other two, but I’d be interested to know why you liked this one less.

By: Michele

Michele — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:51:13 +0000

The poverty ‘elephant in the room’ thing was difficult for me throughout the book. I was mad that Laurel was ashamed of her past and thus shunned it. It’s no shame to be poor and especially to work your way out of poverty - no matter how you did it. I think, even though her mother had other issues, that her mother going back and helping out was a better way to handle things.

As for the marriages - Thalia’s was weird for me but she seemed to be happy with it. Laurel and David’s was one where I think lots of us find ourselves at sometime in our marriage - taking it for granted, not spending enough time ‘working’ it like we did when we were dating and newly married.

That’s my two cents! Thanks for doing the discussion. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as Ms. Jackson’s other books. But discussing it is still fun.