Book Club Review
The Appeal
Review
A fun read overall. The format was interesting early on, but the novelty wore off by the middle and it started to drag by the end. It also really didn’t suit the audiobook. When half the fun is piecing clues together from emails and messages, not being able to flick back and double-check a detail takes a lot of the puzzle out of it.
Discussion Questions
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The entire novel is told through emails and messages rather than conventional prose. How did you find that format — did it work for you, or did it get in the way of your enjoyment?
My answer It was a bit difficult listening to as an audiobook — things like the date and subject line were not easy to trace.
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The book has a very large cast of characters. How did you find keeping track of everyone — did the size of the ensemble add to or detract from the experience?
My answer Not too hard to follow overall. The start was a bit painful, but the distinct voices each character had in the audiobook helped a lot.
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The murder itself doesn't become central to the story until fairly deep in. How did you feel about the pacing — did the slow build work for you, or did it test your patience?
My answer I don't really see why it wasn't revealed earlier. Revealing it when it was didn't seem to give any story benefit.
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What was your take on the twists and reveals at the end? Did they feel earned, or did the way information had been withheld throughout affect how satisfying they landed?
My answer In the end much of it was pretty predictable, and I talked myself out of those lines of reasoning as they seemed too simple. Poppy's sickness being fake, Martin's money problems, the doctor going along with it — all of it was guessable by about halfway through.
Highlights
Sam — probably because you didn't get her perspective, so she was less annoying than all the others.
Izzy — super annoying right through the whole thing.