21 Comments
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Martha Fisher's avatar

I absolutely loved the book. Couldn't put it down. When I did, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I don't know how they will get all that introspection across in a TV show. All that feeling, all that angst, regret, lack of self awareness, too much awareness, argh! I don't think i will watch the series. Obviously i googled it, but Toby was certainly NOT Jesse Eisenberg in my head. For one thing he was bald, although i'm absolutely positive i made this detail up to fit my own narrative.

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Helena's avatar

Smashed out the Audible version in 3 days, I loved it. Not sure if will bother with the telly version, although I love the old Claire Danes cry face page from 150 years ago and this storyline has masses of scope on that front.

I imagined Toby to look like Paul Giamatti the whole way through, probably because of the Billions character called Toby from New York. Such imagination!

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Claire's avatar

I’ve just started reading Fleishman is in Trouble (not managed to completely avoid spoilers) and there is a passage about being a working mum/stay at home mum that I re-read 3 times as it resonated with me so much

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Heather A's avatar

Switched it off after 10 minutes. Couldn't bear another whining man child blaming his wife for everything

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Total Rewrite's avatar

I watched the Tv show having not read the book and although I enjoyed it (more Adam Brody please MORE!) I felt like it was fleshed out too long... Kind of lost steam. I did cry in the scene where the kids sing Fighter in the back of the car. Just to say as a humble TV writer - that sometimes the books are fecking awful and we are trying to make a silk purse out of sow's ear... Also really wonderful novels rarely make good films/TV because they are so internalised and that is difficult to dramatize without tedious narration... As for the Oscars - it makes me want to send people to therapy if this is their moment of validation - validate yourselves people!!!! I find it painfully embarrassing to watch and ever since LA Confidential lost to Titanic , I realised - they never get the best picture right....

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Nicole's avatar

I am currently reading the book and am really enjoying it. I love reading about New York Upper East Side families and all their angst! Someone told me on the Spike that it's on Disney+ and I've seen the first eppy, but want to finish the book first. Thanks for telling us about her new

upcoming book.

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ElizaH's avatar

Upper East Side angsty families is one of my favourite genres too!! I liked the book but actually preferred the TV series - although I've not finished watching it yet.

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Jules magee's avatar

I loved the book and devoured It in two days. I am half way through theTV series and loving it but also it feels like ages since I read the book so it sort of all comes back to me slowly. Clare Danes is BRILLLIANT and anything set in NY is a joy to watch in my mind. I am working from home today (thanks tube strike) and frankly it's pretty hard to not whack a load of fake meetings in my calendar and finish the series off...

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Too Many Thoughts's avatar

By the way .. in other news .. I did the pasta sauce whole onion thing .. ye Gods it was a hit with a variety of monosyllabic teens .. I take that as a solid victory thank you ..

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Claire Holden's avatar

I went into it having not read the book ... well I did start the book years ago, but three weeks after my own separation, so too raw to read on. The TV series had me wowing at Danes and episode 7, but otherwise just left me with a sense that the book would have been better.

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Too Many Thoughts's avatar

Arghhh that closes another option to break me from my binge watching succession till the new one comes ( and I know the date which in itself is a sad sign of my obsession). I’m this close to joining a sub Reddit ..

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Marlz's avatar

I've not read the book unfortunately. The penultimate episode was worth the whole series for me. I had suspected the twist, but Claire Danes was so brilliant. I loved her delivery of the line at the yoga retreat, "I want another massage, and then, do more screaming".

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Chloë's avatar

I haven’t read the book (am going to now), but have watched the TV show. Coming into it with zero expectations, and not even knowing what it was about. I have to say I thought it was brilliant. The sort of ‘reveal’ episode with Clare Danes was an hour of incredible acting, the depiction of early motherhood coupled with birth trauma was so affecting. Jesse Eisenberg is, admittedly, very annoying, and I got sick of seeing him with his top off boinking all these attractive women. His manner of talking is irritating in everything he’s in. He’s like an angry little Woody Allen on speed. But I thought Lizzy Caplan was great, relatable, and I loved her story too. TV shows are never as good as the book (if it’s a great book), but coming at it from a point of no knowledge, I really rated it. I agree though, it’s a shame that everything gets made into a film/tv show now. They’re inevitably a let down!

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readalongwithme's avatar

Like you, loved the book.. thought tv series was awful. All the narration was unnecessary ... should’ve got a different screenwriter to adapt ...you could tell she just couldn’t let go of the NOVEL. Danes was brilliant - wanted more of her rather than Jesse who only has one facial expression

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LisaVHeard's avatar

I KNOW I’m doing this the wrong way round but I watched and LOVED the TV show and have the book ready to go... Sorry if this offends, Esther!

Also, not that I, or anyone really, gives a shit about The Oscars anymore but I hated The Whale and couldn’t finish EEAAO. Perhaps there’s something wrong with me? Ha! I DID love your i article about luck and success, however 😘

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Katy's avatar

I have also not read the book, and found the series absolutely brilliant! I did it that way round because I always, always hate adaptations of books and I really liked the subject matter of the TV series, so didn't want to spoil it. I don't think I'll bother reading the book now...

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LisaVHeard's avatar

I feel like we did it the right way around, adaptations are NEVER as good as the original book. I know what you mean, but it sounds like the book might be worth revisiting the story and is quite a bit different?

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readalongwithme's avatar

Also couldn’t finish EEAAO. Just baffling and I caveat this with the fact I LOVE weird normally. I just felt bored.

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Esther's avatar

it was baffling. I so wanted to love it though

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Too Many Thoughts's avatar

Me neither .. found it chaotic and not in a good way

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LisaVHeard's avatar

YES! Exactly the same, plus I usually find redeemable qualities enough to at least finish a bad film. Thank you, Sof 😅

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