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almh · 06-12-2009, 02:28 PM

Definitely - those moments would have been interesting. Perhaps we should start there? Wink

**JHyde** · 06-12-2009, 08:30 PM

You know what would be totally brilliant? Peter Firth recording an audio version of the book.

I know a few people on the forum who would really enjoy listening to PF as they fall asleep....

**bertowud** · 07-12-2009, 01:34 PM

My copy is on the way in the mail.

**Silktie** · 08-12-2009, 05:50 AM

Mine has arrived! I'm going to endeavour to read it slowly, to make the goodness last until Christmas at least. Only read the first part last night where he explains why he's writing the diary. His reasons for doing so is in character, I thought. And the description of his wedding was funny, can't believe that Jane actually took his confession quite well!

**JHyde** · (This post was last modified: 14-12-2009 02:17 PM by JHyde.)

I agree Silktie. I'd always thought they'd have to do some serious convincing on that part. And when they get to 2001 they finally get him to switch off the paper and hide his data more effectively.

**JHyde** · 13-12-2009, 08:02 PM

You know what I did love? The revelation that Harry believes redemption is always possible. When he talks about why he continues after the death of his friends and why he doesn't believe in capital punishment. Probably because these beliefs and how they were expressed are very similar to my own, but still.

**bertowud** · 14-12-2009, 02:11 PM

Mine's still on the way. Rassum..slow boat from UK..frassum!

**JHyde** · 14-12-2009, 02:17 PM

Why on earth are you reading this thread when you haven't read the book yet?! Silly bertowud....

**Silktie** · 14-12-2009, 03:21 PM

OK, I'm up to 1994. Some impressions so far:
-I think they have captured Harry's 'voice' well so far; I can totally see him writing or saying these things.
- Margaret Thatcher made Harry her bitch! I find that hilarious.
- He really was an awful husband and father - I'm surprised the marriage lasted as long as it did. I also think the way he suspected Jane of having an affair was a result of his own guilty feelings over his affair with Juliet. If Jane had done the same thing, he perhaps hoped that that would absolve him of some of his own guilt.

The most interesting thing for me to date, though, is how Harry is portrayed as someone who is not afraid to speak truth to power (to borrow a West Wing phrase) right from the start of his career. I think that goes a long way in explaining why he is so well respected by everyone.

**JHyde** · 14-12-2009, 03:26 PM

Yeah, it's sad that Harry felt he was being a made a fool of by Jane allegedly having an affair with her boss when he did the very same thing. And it started before Omega in Beirut, so that's not entirely an excuse.

I've always had a fellow feeling for Jane.

We can't actually know just how bad a father Harry was, although he was certainly an absent one. But I agree he wasn't too crash hot a husband.