Susan Wiggs' DOCKSIDE Book Discussion About This Page:

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by BettyBeBop

WOW!! Lose your book and your internet for a week and there's lots of catching up to do!!!

I finally checked the book out from the library, since mine seems to have vanished into thin air. I am on chapter 6 now and working to make up the ground I lost while looking for my book and waiting for the cable company to fix my internet. I will spend some time reading and catching up here and be back soon!!!

HEY FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I missed you! I'm happy to see you!

I've lost my book for the BLINK! thread, so I'll have to sit in Barnes and Noble to finish the conclusion.

Thank you for letting me know you are in chapter 6. I was thinking that I was holding everyone back.

[Tracy M.]

Hey guys, I'd like to join in too but I'm kinda confused. Which book are you guys currently on, is it Dockside as the thread title states?

It looks like I can get all the books for my kindle and I'm going to have a lot of waiting room time over the next few weeks.

As far as dating goes I haven't had a first date for almost 20 years now but one of the first dates I went on with my husband was to see Star Trek 6 with his friends in the Muhlengberg College gaming club. Can't get much dorkier than that!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Tracy M.

Hey guys, I'd like to join in too but I'm kinda confused. Which book are you guys currently on, is it Dockside as the thread title states?

It looks like I can get all the books for my kindle and I'm going to have a lot of waiting room time over the next few weeks.

As far as dating goes I haven't had a first date for almost 20 years now but one of the first dates I went on with my husband was to see Star Trek 6 with his friends in the Muhlengberg College gaming club. Can't get much dorkier than that!

Tracy, Welcome! We'd love to have you join in! Some people are finished with the book (not me!) and others are in various places. Feel free to go through the questions (in bold) at your own pace and post.

Yes, we are reading Dockside AND I am posting from Dockside...looking out of the balcony of the room in Key Largo! It is BEAUTIFUL!

I'll be posting a virtual trip bloglog in my blog!

[Tracy M.]

Just finished up Dockside, I had one of my always fun insomnia nights so I started it late afternoon yesterday and finished up a few minutes ago.

I enjoyed the book despite the predictability of it, after just a few pages you knew how it was going to unfold and it didn't deviate from my expectations.

I downloaded Fireside to the kindle so that I can start working on that one while I'm at the gym. If anyone likes to read books at the gym I highly recommend an e-reader, it fits perfectly on the cardio machines. That's a topic for another thread but if anyone has questions about e-readers toss me a PM. I did a fair amount of research on the different brands of e-readers before buying mine.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Tracy M.

Just finished up Dockside, I had one of my always fun insomnia nights so I started it late afternoon yesterday and finished up a few minutes ago.

I enjoyed the book despite the predictability of it, after just a few pages you knew how it was going to unfold and it didn't deviate from my expectations.

I downloaded Fireside to the kindle so that I can start working on that one while I'm at the gym. If anyone likes to read books at the gym I highly recommend an e-reader, it fits perfectly on the cardio machines. That's a topic for another thread but if anyone has questions about e-readers toss me a PM. I did a fair amount of research on the different brands of e-readers before buying mine.

OK, you win the speed reader award!

I am almost finished and, I have to say, what I thought was predictability slowed me down, but I'm finding alot of GOOD stuff in here!

This author tends to touch on some sort of message theme in her books, and these little sub-plots give the book substance and interest. I really appreciate the detail Susan Wiggs put into expressing how divorce can really effect children in some hard to predict and not-so-happy ways. You can really feel for the awkardness that Daisy and Max must be feeling, not knowing how to act with this new parent situation.

OK, maybe this genre forces authors to follow a predictable formula, but this one seems to pack some meaning and message in each story in spite of that! This isn't just about Nina and Greg, there is a whole dynamic of people and you really DON'T quite know what will happen to them.

It was fun to see Olivia and Connor after reading the book about them. I also wonder if Pamela's parents (Mr. and Mrs. Lightsly) were not invited because of meddling that we read about earlier. I won't spoil it for those who have not yet read that book!

[GoofEme]

Sandy, did you ever find out what is up with the Disney references in her books?

[Tracy M.]

While I appreciated that Wiggs addressed how divorce can be traumatic on the children (I've witnessed this one up close with friends of mine) I did find it a bit unrealistic that all the ex couples (married and the unmarried parents) get along so well. My inlaws are divorced and there is 0 communication between them unless the lawyers are involved.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Tracy M.

While I appreciated that Wiggs addressed how divorce can be traumatic on the children (I've witnessed this one up close with friends of mine) I did find it a bit unrealistic that all the ex couples (married and the unmarried parents) get along so well. My inlaws are divorced and there is 0 communication between them unless the lawyers are involved.

I don't think they were having a real easy time of being civil. I think they were being nice for the kids, which is what you SHOULD try to do! Unfortunately, it takes two reasonable people.

I finished the book. I LOVE this author and I have to wonder if she does not sometimes feel trapped by the obligatory "happy ending" that this genre requires.

In all honesty, I don't think this is a happy ending at all. I think it is a smart woman making a very foolish choice. She's seen Greg assault someone, and even if it appeared that he was coming to her aid, he used his fists when it was not necessary at all. He showed alot of controlling behavior which, at first, looks like love and attention, then later becomes a prison. He also has said some very cruel things to her, and they are just starting out!

I'm kind-of hoping that this author breaks the mold, just once, and writes a sequel where Nina hopefully wises up and ditches Greg, because men like him only get worse in time.

The next in this series deals with Sophie. It looks pretty interesting.

I have Elizabeth Gilbert's latest Stern Men, and i'll be inviting others to join me with that, then I'll be moving on to the next in The Lakeshore Chronicles, which is Snowfall at Willow Lake. Anyone want to join me?
Amazon.com: Snowfall at Willow Lake (Lakeshore Chronicles, Book 4): Susan Wiggs: Books

[Diz]

I started Snowfall today....and the beginning (think I'm on Part 4 now) is very interesting!

You know Sandy, I've seen what you're saying, a lot of times at the shelter where I volunteer. I was the only one on duty one night when a woman and man came back drunk. Of course, rules - drinking and no entrance. But the man was beating her to death, literally. I open the door to let her in and get her out of danger and then I called 9-1-1. What does she do next? She goes to open the stupid door to let him in! It took all my strength to keep the door closed while she was pushing and he was pulling. The woman was in the hospital for almost two weeks and then we had a trial for which I was called to witness.

I don't agree at all with any violence, but you have to admit - some women just aren't thinking straight! And why? Oh...I love him.

I'm not sure I see Greg the same way you do...but Nina has always loved him. If what you think is true, she definitely will need to wise up before she walks out.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by Diz

I started Snowfall today....and the beginning (think I'm on Part 4 now) is very interesting!
.

Boyoh-boy, I cant Keep up with you all! My copy is back in NJ, so I have to wait 'til I get home. I guess it's time to start a planning thread for Snowfall!

These book discussions really add alot to the reading, I think!

[qesue]

It's funny, Greg is the first protagonist that I haven't really liked in the 4 Susan Wiggs books I've read. I'm not really even sure why - maybe it's because I, too, see him as controlling, or that he's quick to jump to conclusions, or that he seems immature to me.

The more interesting thing I've seen is the pattern of single mothers. Every one of her books that I've read has at least one single mother as a significant character. Now don't get me wrong, I think it makes for a great character and a great theme to explore. The author has portrayed each of these women and their children (with possible exception of Jenny's mother) as strong and intelligent. This same theme was also present in the one non-Lakeside Chronicles book I picked up. I'm curious as to why this seems to be so important to the author. Also wondering if using the same type of character too much gets stale - makes the impact of the character less relevant after you've read several of her books.

[Diz]

Originally Posted by qesue

This same theme was also present in the one non-Lakeside Chronicles book I picked up. I'm curious as to why this seems to be so important to the author. Also wondering if using the same type of character too much gets stale - makes the impact of the character less relevant after you've read several of her books.

I know what you mean!

I did pick up Table for 5 which ended up being 2 parents dying and an uncle having to take over. It had a very different tone to it in the beginning from her other books I've read. It also was a really cute story.

[Tracy M.]

Originally Posted by qesue

The more interesting thing I've seen is the pattern of single mothers. Every one of her books that I've read has at least one single mother as a significant character. Now don't get me wrong, I think it makes for a great character and a great theme to explore. The author has portrayed each of these women and their children (with possible exception of Jenny's mother) as strong and intelligent. This same theme was also present in the one non-Lakeside Chronicles book I picked up. I'm curious as to why this seems to be so important to the author. Also wondering if using the same type of character too much gets stale - makes the impact of the character less relevant after you've read several of her books.

Definitely seems like no one in Susan Wigg's world ever talks about birth control with their teenage children or the consequences if they don't use it although the way she portrays the young mothers makes it seem like there aren't a lot of consequences to being a young mother, most of them still manage to finish school, have a successful career and have the support of the father even if they don't marry him.

[Tracy M.]

These Wiggs book also make me feel like I'm watching an old episode of Dynasty at times, there's one big rich powerful family at the center of it and almost everyone is described as being absolutely gorgeous.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by qesue

It's funny, Greg is the first protagonist that I haven't really liked in the 4 Susan Wiggs books I've read. I'm not really even sure why - maybe it's because I, too, see him as controlling, or that he's quick to jump to conclusions, or that he seems immature to me.

The more interesting thing I've seen is the pattern of single mothers. Every one of her books that I've read has at least one single mother as a significant character. Now don't get me wrong, I think it makes for a great character and a great theme to explore. The author has portrayed each of these women and their children (with possible exception of Jenny's mother) as strong and intelligent. This same theme was also present in the one non-Lakeside Chronicles book I picked up. I'm curious as to why this seems to be so important to the author. Also wondering if using the same type of character too much gets stale - makes the impact of the character less relevant after you've read several of her books.

HEHEHEHE! I was away for a day and you all were talking amounst yourselves. I have no idea why, but that makes me smile inside!

The character of Greg just gave me a bad "gut feeling, so I did not like him either. If someone is going to act all possessive when you are NOT EVEN dating, just because he has decided that he can, that is scary. Also, this may just be my paranoid nature, but he has managed to create a scenario where he has Nina living under his scrutiny on his property. I don't know, sounds like the opening of a lifetime movie to me!

I agree that having similar characters can get stale. I think, in these books, the subplots are what keep me moving. It is strange, though, that i often find some deeply personal meaning from each of the books, something I can often personally relate to and feel validation.

And, of course, the discussions add so much dimension to the books!

I am very interested to find out more about Sophie and her terrorist hostage situation in the next book.