After the End - July book club

I finally got a copy in September and so this is late.

I agree with many of the reviews here. I found the book readable and the first part went easily but the second part annoyed me as I don't like jumping from one person to another in time and with different realities. It is not the kind of book I'd normally choose to read.

As others have said I wondered how I would cope in this situation and what choices I'd make. I agree with the comments about the way the two people found partners and the endings were less than convincing. Life is not usually that neat.

A question I have is who looks after the child when Pip works now that Max is in the US? Is it her new husband?

avery64

As with all Clare's books that I have read she has me hooked in the first few pages. I'm intrigued to know the writing process. Does she start at the beginning, get to the end and then tweak here and there or is the beginning rewritten in a big way to ensnare her readers. She is an expert at doing this!

Thanks for your question @avery64. I write chronologically (except in the case of After the End, when I wrote Pip’s and Max’s sections in turn, then pieced them together) and I follow a plan I’ve spent several weeks mapping out. Then my editor reads it and I pretty much rip up everything I’ve done and start again! Funnily enough, the opening pages of my novels are about the only sections that rarely change – I seem to be able to nail them the first time. I am the least efficient writer I know – I throw away THOUSANDS of words with every draft, but it’s all with the same aim: to give you the best reading experience possible!

labradorlinda33

It was a lovely surprise to receive a copy of your book Clare.
It took me a long time to read this book, I kept picking it up, reading a few pages and then I'd put it down. It stirred up a lot of emotions in me and I hope my family and myself never have to go through a similar experience.

My question...Do you have plans to write another book? If so, will the subject be personal again?

Thank you.

Writing is my job, and I have no plans to quit! I can’t tell you what my next book is about yet, but it doesn’t have its roots in a personal story this time.

winifred01

Thank you for the book. I found it difficult to read, My granddaughter died when she was young having spent years requiring 24 hour care, knowing she would never live a normal life. The descriptions of care were spot on,Did Clare keep a journal or how was she able to recall such detail?
Happy to say my daughter and her husband have another child who has become a special needs teacher.

@winifred01, I’m so very sorry for you and your family. No, I didn’t keep a journal, but I can remember every square foot of intensive care, and every second I spent there.

notreallyagran

Although I was apprehensive about reading this book, fearing that it might be too upsetting, I'm glad that I did finally pick it up. I found myself solidly behind Pip and Leila, wavering when they did, but ultimately feeling that they knew what was best for Dylan. Did you intend to sway your readers that way, Clare?

I hoped that readers would feel, as I did, connected to each character, and able to understand why they made the choice they did. I’ve had messages from so many readers about how they would have acted, had they been in such a terrible situation, and they vary in which character they support.

EastEndGranny

My question is “Clare, did you find one strand easier to write than the other?”

I think that Pip’s strand might have been a little easier, but really and genuinely I loved writing them both!

GrannyBear

I would like to ask Clare how important she thought it was to give one of the PICU doctors, Leila, a significant role not only in the ‘BEFORE’ section of the book, but also in the aftermath of the Court decision.

Thank you so much @GrannyBear. Leila is such an important character, and one I researched so thoroughly (thanks to a wonderful Iranian teacher) that I ended up writing 20,000 words about her and Habibeh that I later had to cut! On a functional level, Leila’s role is important, because she narrates parts of the story we wouldn’t otherwise be able to see (because Pip and Max both tell their story in the first person, and so can only narrate what they can see). She also enables the reader to see Max and
Pip through an objective eye, which permitted me to explore the way we often hide our true feelings. For example, sometimes Max appears quite belligerent, almost aggressive, and this contrasts with the way he is when he’s on his own. Finally (as you can see, I’m quite passionate about Leila!) she represents all the foreign nurses and doctors who save so many lives, and work so hard for our NHS.

glammanana

How do you go about deciding what topic to write about is it very difficult or do you look for personal knowledge topics.

Each book has been different, and I doubt I’ll ever write such a personal book as After the End again – in fact, my next one has no personal connection at all. I’m inspired by things I read, or see on the news; or by an overheard conversation in a café...

NonnaW

My only question to the author would be why she chose the ending she did, when the two strands up till then were indicating totally different outcome?

Ah, but you see, I don’t think they were! I think the connection between Pip and Max can be seen right the way through Pip’s story... they just took a while to find it again.

gardener

Thank you for allowing me to read your book Clare.
I agree with all the previous comments ...that this is such an emotional read that no-one could fail to be moved by it.
Unusual for a book to have two endings...
Which ending do you think is the most likely to have happened ?
Which ending do you prefer ?
I have read that writing the book has helped you to cope with the grief of losing your own child.
Has your husband read it ?
Did it help him in the same way ?
I hope you don't object to my asking these questions.
I was so pleased to hear that you now have two more children and have settled in Wales.
The Welsh language looks very difficult...
Has it been easy for all of you to learn the language ?
I have enjoyed all your other books and look forward to the next one. Thank you again.

I don’t have a ‘best decision’, but I do have a favourite ending, and it’s Pip’s. That’s not to say I think she made the right choice, just that I am a hopeless romantic and think that she and Max are meant to be together. Writing the book was incredibly cathartic, albeit painful in parts. I don’t mind you asking lots of questions, @gardener, but I hope you’ll understand that I prefer only to answer those relating to my own experience. As for Wales – I love it here, and am still working on my Welsh!

Biddysue

My question is did Clare talk to her son’s doctors as in the book because she has portrayed the doctor’s position so well.

I didn’t talk to my son’s doctors about writing this book, although of course I talked to them about my son’s care when we were in ICU. I worked with a PICU nurse, though, who was incredibly helpful in making sure After the End was accurate.

lolarabbit

My question for Clare is why she chose to structure it this way and not write the two alternative paths as separate/discreet parts or at least have longer segments for each timeline?

That’s an interesting one, @lolarabbit. It would certainly have been easier for readers to follow, if I’d presented (for example) Pip’s timeline as ‘part two’ and Max’s as ‘part three’. And it would have been much easier to write! Weaving them together, though, forces the reader to compare the two possible outcomes, and to consider how Max and Pip are handling things. It’s also representative of how closely knit Max and Pip are, even after they separate: their lives are inextricably bound together, because of Dylan and because of their shared experiences.

Alygran

I enjoyed the book but as others have said the second part took a bit of concentration. I liked the idea of the different outcomes and the final twist.
My question is did you ever intend to have a verdict but found it too hard to write?

The truth is that I didn’t know how the book was going to end. For a long time I expected to return to the court room at the end of the story, and for the judge to deliver a verdict. When I got to that point, I realised that the verdict didn’t matter – the story isn’t about who is right or wrong, but about how two people deal with the choices they’ve made.

Mopsx4

Claire did it take a lot of courage to write about your personal experience and has it helped being able to share your experience with others?

Purpledaffodil

Thought it was a brave decision of the author to revisit such a personal story. Would like to ask her if it helped exorcise the demons of such a loss?

Seaside2013

My question to Clare is did the writing prove cathartic, did having a similar experience mean it was easier to write about and come to terms with what you had experienced. The subject matter will create much discussion at book group

Thanks @mopsx4, @purpledaffodil and @seaside2013. It was a big decision to write this book, but I loved every second of it. Going on tour and talking about my own experiences was really hard, but definitely cathartic. I think there is a huge stigma around child bereveament and end-of-life care, and it’s important that we have conversations about thesetough topics.

GrandmaEvie

I found this a difficult book to read and often wondered if I could continue. So pleased I did even with tears running down my cheeks. So well written, I cared about all of the characters.
The second part was very different but I liked the way it made me think and try to decide which I thought would have been the right decision. I couldn't.
My questions for Clare are did you find it difficult to write the 2 different paths in the second part and did you write them separately and then merge them together or did you write them as they appear in the book?
Thank you for a very emotional read.

Thank you @GrandmaEvie. No, the second half was easier to write than the first, because the worst had already happened. The second half is about moving forward – it’s full of hope and possibility. As you suggest, I wrote the two timelines separately, then wove them together in a way thatwould give the most suspense and emotion for the reader.

Qwerty

My question is: why did you decide to opt for alternative endings and can you think of any advantages following only one decision might have had?

Following only one decision would have meant giving implicit criticism to the other option, and that was something I was adamant I didn’t want to do. Moreover, I specifically wanted to show that, whatever path you take in life, there are highs and lows. What matters isn’t the choice you make, but how you deal with it. Can I think of any advantages of just writing one decision? Not really – it would have been a different book entirely.

trisher

I'd like to ask Claire which she thinks most important in her writing, character or plot?

Can I have all of them, @trisher?! A good book has well-drawn characters, a compelling plot, and beautiful writing, and I aspire to all three in my novels. If you really pressed me, I’d say characters. You can have the most exciting plot in the world, but if you don’t care about the characters there’s no reason to turn the page.

Wendy

This must have been a very difficult book to write for Clare. I found it a difficult book to read, not only for the subject matter but because it wasn’t easy to keep track of the first chapters, filling in the background. The book is written in two parts ‘Before’ and ‘After’...

My question for Clare is: Why didn’t you write the story in chronological order?

It is written chronologically – the story never jumps back in time. The second half splits into two possible outcomes, but they both follow their own forward-moving timeline.

granh1

A question – Pip has the courage to move on with her life. Do you think that, in some way, she was lucky to be able to do that, instead of facing endurance and compromise?

I think everyone has the option of moving on, whether practically or emotionally. Max takes longer to do that, but I think that’s less about the choice he made, and more about the sort of person he is.

LullyDully

Thanks again for the book which I may not have read otherwise. It was a compelling read. I know the hospital well and had friends in a similar dilemma.
I was intrigued by the dual tread of the two possible scenarios which often intertwined and seemed more overlapping than parallel.
My question is did you ever worry about being so open, and how much of the story was similar to your own? I ask this respectfully.

That’s a really interesting question @LullyDully. After the End has its roots in a very personal story of mine, but it is nevertheless pure fiction. I’m not Pip and my husband isn’t Max, and we dealt with our son’s illness very differently. So with that in mind it didn’t feel at all exposing, although when I went on tour to promote the book I gave some very personal interviews, which I found tough at times.

Rachel123

After the End is a book which will stay with me for a long time !! I finished it with tears rolling down my face but with also a positive feeling inside
The book explores the realities of having to make a life changing decision As individuals we all have our own views but if these differ from others involved it makes that decision even more difficult. I am so glad to have read this emotion filled book, which has left an imprint on my heart. Everyone who reads this book will appreciate and understand life just a little more. It is evident this novel has been written from the heart and I feel that is why it is so special. Brilliant emotive writing and definitely one of my top reads recently .

My question to Clare is was this a difficult book to write? And did it bring back emotional memories or was it helpful to you personally?

I’m touched to hear that my book had such an emotional response, @Rachel1234. Yes, it was hard to write, but also incredibly cathartic. I had to revisit some painful memories I’ve kept locked away for a long time, and I think it was an important part of my grieving process.

HHBBNN54

I have just started reading your book, what a true to life book in my mind. Parents having to make a difficult decision regarding a small child. Do you ever suffer with writers block as so many people do that you hear about.

Never say never! In general I try to approach my writing just as I approached my work as a police officer. Some days I wanted to be at work, some days I didn’t... but I worked just as hard regardless. I show up, I write words, and sometimes those words are harder to find than others.

Crocky

My question to Claire is:- It was incredibly brave of you to write this book and to use some of your own experiences in doing so. I have only had to make such decisions about much loved family pets. Was your use of the Robert Frost poem and the two paths with a similar ending, intentional from the beginning or developed as the story evolved?

Hi @Crocky, thanks for your question. The Road Not Taken has been one of my favourite poems for many years, and when my son was ill it was something I kept coming back to. I have wanted to write this story for many years, and always with the two-path structure – it was something I felt very strongly about.

As with all Clare's books that I have read she has me hooked in the first few pages. I'm intrigued to know the writing process. Does she start at the beginning, get to the end and then tweak here and there or is the beginning rewritten in a big way to ensnare her readers. She is an expert at doing this!