Mystery Book Club
Five O'Clock Shadow
by Susan Slater
Buy book: $16.73
As the great balloon bearing the image of a clock swoops across the River Grande, Pauly Caton watches her husband of four days fall from the sky. Who is the naked child who scrambles from the gondola when it strikes a sandbar and flees? Did she just imagine it? Why would he have been up with Randy and the pilot on the honeymoon ride she was too chicken to join? Who, in fact, was meant to die?

Interesting, a few inconsistancies (is the child naked or not), but I will certainly continue reading.

I just joined the club yesterday so I missing the beginning of the book. I wonder if anyone can email it to me?
Garet

I got this text off the beginning of the 2nd days read. I hope it works for you...

~Shanti


Missing a daily book club email? Now you can get it
instantly--and it's easy. We're testing a new link, and
would like your feedback. Anytime you need a missing
email, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

So far I am very interested in continuing this book. The main thing I find inconsistent is that (from the blurb) the heroine was too chicken to go up in the balloon. She seems pretty strong so far and I think she would have toughed it out for the new husband.

I think you can be very strong in one area and phobic in another area (ie) heights - and while some seem to be turned off by artificial insemination "from a dead guy" what if that "dead guy" is your husband and as was stated you all have talked of having children a lot before his death?

I do see some unrealistic (to me) actions - her whispering to the detective/policeman? about her legs "you are on duty and these are not for you to see" or words to that effect.

But I do like a mystery and and after all we are not very far into the book - plan to check her out at the library.

I have to comment about the leg thing too.I like the book, and I think that it will be pretty good. But I have to admit that what she said about her legs was a little disappointing. I guess I just wish her character had not said that. I suppose I am just that way with books; I don't want the people in the book to step out of the character that I picture them to be. (If that makes sense)

This book started out with a bang (no pun intended). I liked the first few pages and was starting to get into the story when I got a little grossed out by the thought of artificial semination from the dead guy.

It went from interesting to just creepy in the time it took for a balloon to deflate. (that pun I meant!)

I will stick with this for the week and hopefully the story will get back on track into the interesting premise promised on the book jacket.

This book has my attention. I can't wait for tomorrow to read what happens next. I think it's one to add to my ever growin list.

I'm somewhat intrigued. I admit, I too was grossed out by artificial insemination from a dead guy but I'm over that now that we've found our first hint of deception. I'll keep reading and determine by Friday if it's being added my list.

but so far I am not a fan of this week's selection. For some reason, I'm not finding the main character believable at all. Her reactions (especially her almost instantaneous decision to be inseminated)just seem overly dramatic and improbable to me. Will keep reading but don't think I'll be running out to reserve a copy.

I'm definitely hooked on this one. It's started off strong, and, as long as it continues its trend, will make it onto my bookshelves...eventually.

This caught my attention, but is a little too
graphic. I like characters that respond realistically and if there is a woman who sees her husband die and immediately rushes to the emergency room to "harvest" his sperm so she could have his child, I don't want to read about it. It's not beliveable.

Sperm can be "harvested" after a death, but the vasectomy wouldn't affect it in that way. A vas doesn't stop sperm production. It's like putting up a road block (or blowing up a bridge), not wiping out the supply! (It bugs me so much when authors fail to do research.)

Thanks for the medical info - had not even thought of that - will of course have to research myself - but guess it's like when a woman has a tubal ligation her ovaries still produce eggs - -
oh how much we learn from these book clubs - sometimes make for more interesting facts than the books themselves -

I think that this book's plotline is REALLY contrived. It reads like a "B" movie.

These excerpts have me entranced, but I do hope that we get a bit more background as things progress. It's really hard to get everything we need from the first 5 pieces of a book. There seem to be a few inconsistencies, possibily intentional, in the storyline regarding the mystery child in the balloon, but otherwise it's holding my interest.

I've added it to my never-ending list of books to check out, though, as I think this will turn into something a lot greater than it's letting on in the first few excerpts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What wild desires, what restless torments seize
The hapless man, who feels the book-disease..."
- Dr. John Ferriar (from the poem Bibliomania, 1863)

I'm hooked on completing this book. However, it is not available from the Decatur Public Library for me to add to my reserve list as of August 5, 2004.

Whoever said that there library doesn't have this title should know that most libraries now have an inter-library loan dydyrm, where your local people locate a copy of the title you want and have it sent to them. They'll let you know when it arrives. This shouldn't cost you anything. It's a good service when you really, really want something, but it's not an everyday thing. Don't be afraid to ask!

I think the author put that part in (artificial insemination ) because it was a way of telling that he had a vasectomy to show how the husband was hiding things from her. I don't think she really wanted to take his sperm, but it was the only way the author thought of how to show the husband was unable to have children. Anyways, I will not be reading this one after the week

Quite a good ploy to make us all run to get this book - but don''t think it's good enough - the book sounds like a mystery but the writing and characterization is not up to par for me - if my library has it may still get it - but will definitely not be buying it --

I nearly laughed out loud here at the end when the cop stands up and is all like..."And I suppose you don't know how the gun got into the backseat of
your car?"...how contrite! I can just see this monkey cop showering her in spittle as he bellows his "AND I SUPPOSE"!! (seriously, I'm rolling my eyes) Add to that the millions she's suddenly inherited and all the drama, drama - read it all before darlin'.

Sounds interesting and I have ordered from the library.