Haven't They Grown: January Book Club

Message for Gransnet : Once books are sent out, can you launch the OFFICIAL thread straight away ?As sometimes I read a book quickly and want to comment before I forget what I was going to say !
Then I see a thread about it, leave my comments, not realising that it isn't the correct thread !
Anyone else care to comment ?

Thanks for my copy of the book which I have just finished.
I really enjoyed the suspense and tension in the story and kept wondering what the actual crime was for it to be of the crime 'Genre' of books. However as it got further and further into the story it created a really uncomfortable atmosphere.Something was very wrong, or was it that Beth was going slightly mad ? No spoilers here but I like the way the story unfolded, and coercive control can make the strangest things happen by and to people who appear to be perfectly normal.
If we could ask questions to Sophie I'd ask what inspired the story? Was it something in the news? I too think it would make a good screenplay or TV drama serial, it had plenty of tension and I think Sophie will please crime readers with her latest book.

I found this an intriguing read but thought the Beth in the beginning was a very different one from the Beth at the end. She was somewhat irritating with the intensity of her thought process as regards the unaged children and the strange behaviour of Flora, her reactions are highly emotional, yet once having made the decision to go to America she becomes a stronger almost different character. I loved the character of Zannah, but totally puzzled as to the incident at school with the racism accusation at the teacher. I can't work out why that was included. I thought at first that Lewis had kidnapped Zannah!
I got a little lost with the characters now and then, marriage partner confusion, people pretending to be someone else. To me it just needs a little tightening, a little more clarification.
I did enjoy it though - it was an unusual start. Not the fantasy I thought it would be!
Question to Sophie - how easy or hard was it to create and include the situations that caused Beth to believe something was wrong? Did you have scenes/conversations you didn't use in the final version?

Just finished reading book in the beginning I thought Beth was mistaken ,then I thought was it all an experiment ,I must admit I found it hard going at times but never felt I couldn't be bothered to read it it had me needing to know like Beth needed to know the answers to everything .
My question to Sophie is where did the idea come from and does she feel it would make a good film ?

I did enjoy this book. It was a page turner and I thought I'd scream if it didn't have a good ending but it did. Beth annoyed me during the first half of this book as I thought she was just being nosey. I wanted her to get on with her own life but she wouldn't give up. I really didn't know what way the story was going. Maybe it was supernatural ? Why would children not have aged? Sophie Hannah knows how to keep the reader on edge right to the last chapter and what more can you ask for. It would make a great film.
My question is, Sophie, I have no idea what must go on in your head. How do you start a book ? What gives you the ideas?

My review is on the other thread but would like to ask Sophie whether she has been approached by a TV or film company to make a TV drama or film out of this or any other of her books.

Here we are, in the wrong place: . . 7 words that made me wonder why I’ve not come across Sophie Hannah’s books.

I read the book in two or three sittings and found myself thinking about the story between reads! Far fetched? Maybe. Nonetheless, a thought provoking piece of literary escapism.

I’ll look out for other works by the author and would pose her the question: Which characters would you like to have explored in more detail?

I really enjoyed this book, it was very well written and easy to read, in fact I found it hard to put down. I can certainly see it being made into a film. I like to read for escapism not because it mirrors real life as long as the plot and characters are believable. Nobody really knows what goes on behind closed doors and I am sure plenty families have their secrets. I was pleased to see it had a good ending and I was not left disappointed.
My question for Sophie is would she like to see this book made into a film and if so would she like to have plenty say in the production?

This is a brilliant and skilfully written book.The plot although complex was not difficult to follow and I was left guessing until the end.I personally did not really enjoy the book and did not get into it until near the end but that is because I am not one for that genre and could not empathise with any of the characters. It would probably be good as a film.
I have two questions for Sophie.
Do you write a rough version of the plot or do you let it develop as you write? Or maybe you work backwards from the outcome?
Why did you include the incident of Murat and his panini? It seemed a bit OTT and not how a school would react.
I am sure this novel is going to be very popular with Sophie's readers as it is a real tour de force .Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

I enjoyed this book and kept in mind that poetic license was at play.

Domestic abuse is a hidden crime and can be " managed" by the victims as well as the perpetrators which makes it difficult for others to understand.

In this story Beth alway felt guilty about her part in ending the friendship with Flora and when an opportunity is presented to her she begins to investigate her ex friends lifestyle.

Beth's determination to support her friend wins out in the end but at a cost to herself and to Flora and will have repercussions throughout their lifetime.

My question to Sophie is

Did you choose that ending because it mirrors real life?? Leaving victims no choice but to be violent themselves to escape their violent husbands/ partners.

I posted some comments on the other, unofficial thread so I thought I would transfer them over to this one.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I thought I would. It felt a bit too far-fetched and long-winded for my liking and I struggled to motivate myself to finish it. I found it hard to believe in the characters and their motives but I did quite enjoy the ending.

In terms of questions for the author, I'd like to know how long it took her to write the book and which character she got most attached to while writing the book.

I quite liked this book and read it all in virtually one sitting. I did think the characters lacked research knowledge. In these days of access to records (births, marriages, deaths, local newspapers, FB etc). Did Flora and Beth not have other friends from Uni?