Good Omens - Discussion Post #2

Good morning lovely people!

Thanks for bearing with me as I hunted down my darn book. It's been a few weeks of epic proportions, being the first few weeks back for most people from long vacations, and my brain has been pretty fried. Finding my book last night actually almost made me sob, hahaha. One thing going right in a week of madness.

Anyway, if you're reading along you should be up to the paragraph header "A Lorry Had Shed..." and be through to the madness that is coming for Aziraphale and Crowley! Let's chat!

Here are your questions for the week:

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Now that you've had a chance to meet Adam and "Them" in earnest, what do you think about this young bunch of  friends? What do you think of Adam's powers?

Do you think Adam would have ended up a different entity, if he hadn't been misplaced?

Since you've gotten more exposure to Agnes Nutter and her prophecies, what do you think about how they play into the larger story? How do you view the role of Anathema?

What do you think about the portrayal of the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse?

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As always, feel free to talk about anything else that you'd like! Did a quote make you laugh? Do you have an unpopular opinion? Is this book just driving you mad?

Let's have a discussion!

Good Omens - Discussion Post #1

Good morning lovely people!

If you're following along at a steady pace, this week you should have read from the section titled "In the Beginning", right up until the end of the section titled "Tuesday"!

Hopefully you're finding that you adore Crowley, and Aziraphale, despite their silly quirks. Or because of them! Hopefully you're also finding that sweet space that lies between Terry Pratchett's silliness, and Neil Gaiman's wonder. These two were a force to be reckoned with, I think!

Here are your questions for the week:

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What are your first impressions of Crowley and Aziraphale? Do you think they are distinctly good or distinctly evil?

Good Omens is billed as a comedic fantasy novel, but it touches on a lot of things that definitely settled in the real world. Specifically religion. How do you feel about the way that this story is told, so far?

Now that you've gotten a pretty good glimpse at our cast of characters, who is your favorite?

(I am so in love with DOG.)

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As always, feel free to talk about anything else that you'd like! Did a quote make you laugh? Do you have an unpopular opinion? Is this book just driving you mad?

Let's have a discussion!

Discussion Post #2 - Fun Home: A Family Tragiocomic by Alison Bechdel

Sorry this is a little late, all. I forgot how much of a punch in the gut this graphic novel is, and so I ended up having to take a break part way through to read something a little lighter. I realize that this is much different than the book we started with, and I wanted it that way. To show you all that graphic novels can touch on all topics, and can even be memoirs. Alison Bechdel's memoir is one of the best I've read, because her illustrations are essentially her heart bled onto the page. It's tough not to feel that. 

Here's hoping for a good discussion!

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Discussion Points:

* Alison Bechdel chose to tell her story as a graphic novel, rather than just a novel. What did you think about this choice?

* She also describes her style as one of "cool asthetic distance" at one point. Do you think this is true?

* Bechdel's relationship with her father was tenuous, but they used books as a way of communicating. Did this resonate with you? Why do you think it was easier for them than speaking frankly?

*  Bechdel claims that there was something entirely fictional about the life her family led. What does she mean by that?

* How do you think that Bechdel's own introspective look at her sexuality mirrored her fathers? Do you think it might have brought them closer together if he was honest with her?

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Feel free to add to this, and chat about anything that you're interested in!

Discussion Post #1 - American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

We started a little on the light side, with American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This is a set of stories, parables if you will, all about fitting in with people who might not understand you. I'm so intrigued to see what all of you thought, and what you want to talk about! In the meantime, here are some jumping off points.

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Discussion Points:

* In the first story, we're introduced to the Monkey King. Why do you think Yang starts out with this particular story? What did you think of the Monkey King and his attitude?

* In the second story, we're introduced to Jin. What did you think of his character? Do you think that he treated Wei-Chen fairly? What did you think of Yang's decision to have Jin become a blonde haired boy?

* In the third story, we meet Chin Kee. This story is riddled with stereotypes that are related to Asian cultures. Which did you catch easily? Were there any that particuarly bothered you?

* Do you think these three stories tied together? How did you feel about this story as a whole?

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Feel free to add to this, and chat about anything that you're interested in!

Discussion Post #3 - SHIVER by Maggie Steifvater

This week's discussion revolves around Chapters 32-44.

As a reminder, if you've read ahead, please don't post any spoilers! We want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to discover things as you did :). Let's discuss!

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* Okay, let's talk romance. Is Sam proving a swoon-worthy character for you? Do you think he's right for Grace? What do you think about him meeting the parents?

* What was your favorite scene in this set of chapters, and why?

* Olivia shares her secret with Grace, in these chapters, but things still seem tense. Do you think Olivia is hiding something else? Why do you think she didn't immediately go to Grace?

* Prediction time! Since we're on the 3rd set of chapters, it's time to let us know what you think is going to happen at the end. Do  you think Grace will get her happily ever after?

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I'm switching it up this year, and not being the first one to write responses! Instead, I'll respond to everything that you write. Now, keep in mind that I've read this book before, so don't worry if my responses are vague. It's just to keep spoilers to a minimum.

Now get to it, and write up your thoughts!

Discussion Post #2 - SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

This week's discussion revolves around Chapters 19-31.

As a reminder, if you've read ahead, please don't post any spoilers! We want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to discover things as you did :). Let's discuss!

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* Now that you have more insight into Sam and Grace as characters, what do you think of their relationship? Do you feel any differently about either one of them than you did at the beginning of the book?

* Shiver uses a very common YA trope, where the main character's parents are absent most of the time. Do you think this helps, or hinders, the story line? Would you change it at all?

* In these chapters, Sam shares with Grace a special spot that she couldn't possibly have known about, but did. Do you think this is foreshadowing? Did it take you by surprise?

* This part of the story ends with Sam finding Beck again. What do you think of Beck as a character, and his plan for the pack?

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I'm switching it up this year, and not being the first one to write responses! Instead, I'll respond to everything that you write. Now, keep in mind that I've read this book before, so don't worry if my responses are vague. It's just to keep spoilers to a minimum.

Now get to it, and write up your thoughts!

Discussion Post #1: SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

This week's discussion revolves around Chapters 1-18.

As a reminder, if you've read ahead, please don't post any spoilers! We want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to discover things as you did :). Let's discuss!

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* Since this is the first time we've met Sam and Grace, let's hear your opinions. What do you think of these two main characters? Do you enjoy switching back and forth between their POVs?

* The temperature plays a big role in Stiefvater's version of werewolf lore. Are you a fan of her take on this well known paranormal creature? How do you think it will affect the story?

* It's looming out there, so let's tackle it. What's your view of "insta-love", or the instant attraction between two people. Will it make or break a book for you? Do you think Sam and Grace fall in this category?

* What's one burning question that you were left with at the end of this set of chapters?

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I'm switching it up this year, and not being the first one to write responses! Instead, I'll respond to everything that you write. Now, keep in mind that I've read this book before, so don't worry if my responses are vague. It's just to keep spoilers to a minimum.

Now get to it, and write up your thoughts!

Discussion Post #3 - Eat, Play, Lust by Tawna Fenske

It's Saturday, and that means (hopefully) relaxation and reading! It's my hope you've had a little bit of down time today :). I also really hope that you're all ready to discuss this next novella!

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

* This was a quick, steamy read. What did you think about our main characters? Do you feel they were well fleshed out for a novella length story?

* What are your feelings on Cami's reasons for eating healthy foods? Do you think it was a good jumping off point for these characters?

* Steamy scenes: let's talk sex. Yay, or nay on the heat level? 

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MODERATOR THOUGHTS

So, full disclosure, I have a big crush on Entangled books. Their authors are wonderful people, the editors do a wonderful job, and the stories are pretty much always a ton of fun. I might be a little biased because of how many I've read :). That being said, novellas are a tricky terrain for me. They're so short that it's hard to really develop characters. So I wasn't surprised that Cami and Paul were only slightly fleshed out. I did like their backgrounds, especially Paul's chef background, though.

Now as for Cami's reason for not wanting Paul to know her "dark secret", I was a little annoyed. I'll be honest. The story itself is super sweet, and these two definitely have some chemistry. I just couldn't get over the fact that Cami's food issues were such a big deal for her. Still, it did make a nice entrance for Paul's expertise to bring these two together. So I'll forgive it. Maybe I'm just too much a foodie to understand anyone being nervous about food. Ha!

Sex scenes? I'd say these rate right around a 5 on the "HOT ALERT" scale. They were very tame, but also sensual at the same time. It's tough to make sparks fly between two characters without a lot of extra pages, but I think the author definitely achieved that. These two had some major passion, and I give points to that.

Overall rating? I'd say it's a 4 from this reader! Short, sweet, and now I want some tater tots.

Discussion Post - Mile 81 by Stephen King

Hope your weekend is going great so far! If you've read Mile 81 by Stephen King this weekend, it's probably filled with a little bit of creep factor. Are you ready to chat? I hope so!

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Let's have an open discussion about this one, since it's so short. Are you a fan of Stephen King? Are you a fan or horror in general? Share with us what you liked, and didn't like about this book!

Bonus points if you can name on other SK book that you just totally love!

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MODERATOR THOUGHTS:

So, I'm fairly biased when it comes to Stephen King. Sure, there are a few books he's written that I thought totally missed the mark. For the most part though, he shines as one of my all time favorite authors. He's a master at building tension, at creating that horrible unease in the pit of your stomach, and of bringing things to life that you didn't even know you were afraid of. I'm a fan of the horror genre, and SK fits snugly into that box for me.

That being said, a lot of his newer short stories have kind of failed to impress me. While Mile 81 wasn't a bad short story, it was definitely less than what I expected it to be. The bizarre makes a debut in King novels a lot. I'm used to weird, and mainly unexplained, things happening. For me though, this particular event was just too weird for words. That, and I wanted some type of closure. Any type of closure. So, I was a little disappointed.

What are your thoughts?

Discussion Post - Appalachian Serenade by Sarah Loudin Thomas

So, a cold knocked me directly on my butt after work Friday. I was all set to spend my short day off work, and all of Saturday, messing with the blog and getting caught up. Apparently, my immune system had other plans. Ha! Oh, working at a new place.

Bright note, this post is going up now and the next one is all about the member rewards program. So, that's good news. Let's talk Appalachian Serenade.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What time period do you believe that this novella takes place in? Did you have a picture of the events running in your head?

2. How did you feel about the differences between Delilah and most of the other women in town? Was she a character that you enjoyed following?

3. What was one thing that you absolutely loved about this novella? One thing that you could have happily done without?

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MODERATOR THOUGHTS

I feel that, in all fairness, I should let you know that I don't usually pre-read these novellas. I pick them based on recommendations from other readers I know, the reviews on Amazon, and sometimes just because they're free and look interesting :). So if you ever find anything that offends you, or puts you off, please don't feel like you can't say something! You won't hurt my feelings. We all have certain triggers. Now, on to my thoughts on this novella. 

1. In my head, I first saw this book taking place sometime in the 30's. However, at the mention of Delilah's car and at the mention of her working during war time, I kicked it up into the 50's. My brain wanted so badly to place her in traditional 1950's clothing in the city, because I've never before read a book that takes place in a rural place during this time. I wasn't really able to picture it accurately, but I did enjoy the descriptions of the small town, the bustling people, and of course Delilah's wonderful mode of transportation ;).

2. I loved the fact that Delilah was so independent and spirited. Her ability to stand tall, despite the possible things being gossiped about behind her back, made me smile. The fact that she was so methodical about laying options out in front of her, that she started out trusting her head more than her heart, made her a relatively likable character to me. I could see her struggle between wanting emotional happiness, and wanting children, and I understood it.

3. One thing I loved about this novella was the fact that the female characters weren't under the thumb of their male counterparts. There's more than a few mentions of decorum, but overall these women were rather feisty and wonderful. One thing I could have done without, and you'll see this a lot because of the way I read, were the very large (and often) mentions of "God's will". I chalked it up to the fact that this book takes place in an older time, and so people were very often religious. I couldn't help but tire of the repetitiveness of it after a while though.

Final Discussion Post - Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Last discussion post of the book! *wistful sigh* I can't believe a whole month has already come and gone. I'm going to cheat a little bit this week and pull some interesting questions from the book club pamphlet that was printed to go with this book! I didn't want to do it too early, because there were spoilers.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapters: Chapter 12 through End

1.  Eby’s falling-down resort attracts misfits of all kinds, some more likable than others. Which characters did you find the most endearing? And which, inversely, alienated you? Were there others who won you over by the novel’s end?

2. Certain characters, like Kate and Eby, experience their life’s magic as a sort of enchantment, unpredictable and yet not unpleasant. Did that carry over to you as you were reading it? Did the characters’ easy acceptance of day-to-day magical happenings make it easier for you to believe in them too?

3.  The women in Kate’s extended family are all too experienced with widowhood. Eby calls it the “Morris curse.” But all of the widows react very differently to their tragedies. What is it about some of the Morris women that makes them especially vulnerable to losing themselves in grief? What, do you think, would have happened to Kate and Devin had Kate never ‘woken up’ from her own sorrow?

4. Eby says that if “we measured life in the things that almost happened, we wouldn’t get anywhere.” Do you agree? You may wish to talk about your own fateful “almosts” as well.

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MODERATOR THOUGHTS

I have to say that the one character that slowly made her way into my heart was Selma. I really wanted to dislike her at the beginning. Despite the fact that I could see the want in her heart, the need to be loved, I disagreed with how she went about it. The end totally smashed that to pieces for me. She became a big piece of this story, and I adored her for it. If there was a character who I disliked, that would have to be Lazslo. Which makes sense since he's our "villain" of sorts. Profit weighs out over everything for him.

One of the things I absolutely adore about Sarah Addison Allen's books is that the magic she pours into them just becomes a part of the story. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that Selma would have love charms, or that Billy would have become an alligator. If there was any place those things could happen, I truly believe Lost Lake would be it. I do think that the fact that the characters just accept these things as fact, that their hearts and minds are open to the magic, does make it easier to take it all in. You just know it's part of the story, and you embrace it.

Moving on to widowhood, I did a lot of thinking about this question. I think the driving factor for the Morris women who came out of their sorrow was that they had something else to pour their life into. Eby lost George, and she was sad, but she had Lost Lake and its memories and inhabitants to pour herself into. When Kate lost her husband, I think allowing Cricket to take over almost moored her completely in her sorrow. The fact that she had nothing to focus on, because everything was being done for her, allowed her to wallow. When she "woke up" and realized that Devin needed her, that was the end. She poured all her love into Devin, and then into Eby, and I think that made her a better person.

Ah, I love this quote SO MUCH. It's such an elegant way of saying the more popular "When one door closes another one opens." Eby is a woman who didn't dwell on the past. Relished it, sure. Relived it, definitely. But she never allowed herself to fall into it and stop moving forward. I've been in positions before where I had the option to just sit, and mourn a lost opportunity. I think Eby is right though. It's picking yourself up from that, and moving forward anyway, that life is all about. An almost is just an almost. It's the things that actually happen that make it all worth it.

Discussion Post #2 - Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Happy Saturday ladies and gents! It's time for another magical discussion post of Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen. Heads up, I actually missed a piece of the book on my breakdown! If you finished at the end of chapter 8, keep going until you see the page that says "Part 2". Trust me, you'll want to! It's another flashback!

Moving on, discussion time!

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapters: Chapter 4 - beginning of Part 2

1. In this series of chapters we see more of Lost Lake, and the people who frequent it. How are you liking the setting? Do you feel like it's a character in its own right?

2. Cricket's true motives come to light. How has your opinion of her changed? Has it? Do you see Kate in a different light now?

3. How do you predict that Wes will fit into the picture?

4. We've been given another glimpse into Eby and George's younger days. How did you feel about the new information that came out about Eby and her family?

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MODERATOR THOUGHTS

Let me tell you, I'm in love with Lost Lake. I keep thinking how much I'd love to go there, especially once Eby described it as "a haven for misfits". It's the kind of place where magic happens. Where imagination is allowed to bloom, and people fall in love. I'm not going to lie, I'm hardcore swooning over it. If there's one thing that SAA does well, it's create places that come alive.

After reading these chapters, and finding out more about Cricket, I can't say I like her at all. I think she's important though. Without her motives, without her want to completely take over Kate's life, things wouldn't be moving forward. Cricket is opening Kate's eyes to how much she wants her own life back. Kate is realizing that she's ready to move forward and I think Eby sees it too. I'm hoping with all my heart that she takes over Lost Lake!

Ah, Wes. Such a tragic backstory, but such a sweet chance meeting with Kate. I'm not sure whether I would happier if they rekindle what they might of just had, or if they just help one another get over their mutual losses. I know we haven't seen a whole lot of Wes, but he seems like a perfect match for Kate. Both dreamers, both lost. Maybe they can find one another? I hope so.

As I said above, I totally missed the little piece at the end of chapter 7, which if you haven't read stop right here and go read before you read this!

I loved having another glimpse into Eby and George's younger days. They were so wild, and free-spirited. This particular flashback also broke my heart though. Now I understand why Eby was always so distant from her family. Why she and George gave up all their money in favor of happiness for the two of them. Marilee and Eby's mother are the type of characters that I love to hate. I see their necessity, but it doesn't make me like them. So selfish, so frustrating.

Discussion Post #1 - Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Are you ready for our first discussion post of the year? I sure am! I just know this is going to be an amazing year of reading, and hopefully of discussions as well. Remember, next month is novella month! Don't forget to fill up our community bookshelf with lots of novellas that you'd like to read!

For those of you who are new to discussion posts, here's the skinny:

* They stay open all month, and we chat on them all week. So don't worry if you don't come in until a few days after this goes up. People will still respond to you!

* This is an ongoing discussion post. You can add things whenever you want, even if new posts have gone up!

* Have fun, and be honest! Everyone is entitled to their opinions and we promise to play nice.

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Chapters: Prologue - Chapter 3

1. Let's start simple. Is this your first Sarah Addison Allen book? If so, how do you feel about her writing style? If not, how does this stack up to what you've already read in terms of atmosphere?

2. Eby and George are only hinted at in the prologue. How do you feel that their story is going to factor into the rest of the story?

3. What are your feelings on our main characters. Do you feel for Kate, or feel like she's weak? What do you think about her parenting style regarding Devin?

4. What do you predict Lost Lake will bring to Kate's life?

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MODERATOR THOUGHTS

Being completely fair, this is the first Sarah Addison Allen book I've read in a very long time. I was introduced to Garden Spells by the lovely Keri, and fell in love with the way that Allen writes. There's something magical about her stories. I'm sure we'll see that even more as the story progresses, but I can already see it in the haunting losses that are portrayed for each member of this family. Lessons are coming. I can feel it.

Eby and George were a wonderful prologue couple. They made me fall in love with the romance that Paris afforded them, and I would have loved nothing more than to continue to follow them. I'm especially intrigued by the way they discovered Lisette. I adore her, and I think that her and Eby are going to be a guiding force in the way that Kate is waking up now.

Which, as you can probably tell, means that I don't dislike Kate at all. I feel like she's handled her loss the way a lot of us out there would. Hiding inside yourself is kind of necessary when you can't handle what's outside. What I love is how strong and original Devin is. I adore how much Kate is proud of her free-spirited daughter, and how she nurtures her in that respect. Devin is wonderfully independent.

I predict that Lost Lake is going to bring out the Kate that existed before she lost her husband. I'm hoping to see more flashbacks, but I also think this is going to be about fixing Kate's broken heart and making her whole again. I'm already in love with this setting and I can't wait for more!

Final Discussion Post - Shatter Me

So, a week was skipped. I hope all of you enjoyed the rest of the book though!

Let's talk Shatter Me!

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Discussion Questions:

* Let's talk character development! How do you feel like Warner, Juliette and Adam have grown over the course of the book?

* We've met new characters. Give us your first impressions of Kenji, Winston and Castle.

* What are your thoughts on the ending? Ready for the next book?

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My Thoughts:

Ah, this book! I have to say that my favorite part about the character growth is that it's only skimming the surface in this book. Juliette is finally starting to realize that she's strong. Adam is showing his true colors as an all out hero, and our darling villain Warner has a soft side. Well, not quite soft. But definitely filled with obsession. Finding out that he was also able to touch Juliette totally blew my mind the first time I read this book! This time around, it still hit home hard.

I LOVE Kenji, and I promise you that he only gets better. There's a lot of half truths flying around between the characters, but Kenji at least (so far) has had decent intentions. I love his snarky attitude, his carefree and cocky persona. He's hilarious. Is he actually on Adam's side? Should we trust him? Well, that remains to be seen. The fact is that he's a nice addition. Winston and Castle are a little more on the outskirts when it comes to me trusting them completely. They seem to have only good intentions in mind. At least, for the moment, our characters are safe.

THE ENDING! What do you think guys? I feel like this is one of the few books where the ending is relatively happy, yet satisfying. It's not quite a cliffhanger. It is, in the sense that it leaves you wanting to find out what happens next. It's not, in the sense that we don't have to worry about the well being of our poor characters hanging in the balance. I'm curious, how many of you think you'll go out and try the next book?

Discussion Post #2 - Shatter Me

Hello lovely bookworms! If you're keeping up with the reading schedule, you've probably hit a pretty evil cliffhanger at this point. (*cackles madly*) I'd love to say that was an accident, but it wasn't. I love keeping you on your toes!

Let's talk Shatter Me!

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Discussion Questions:

* Now that you've witnessed what Juliette can actually do, what are your thoughts on her character?

* There's a discussion of Juliette's past life in these chapters. Specifically of the crime she committed to end up incarcerated. How do you feel that this experience has shaped her?

* In these chapters we get to learn much more about Warner. His personality is starting to come through. What do you think of his character? Do you believe he is at all redeemable?

* Adam and Juliette interact more in these chapters. Their relationship is starting to shift. Where do you feel like it will go?

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My Thoughts:

So Juliette's big secrets finally come out in these chapters! I remember, during the first read through, that I was stunned. Sure, it's alluded to that Juliette can't touch other human beings. The measure of what she can do though, is so much larger than that. I was both amazed and appalled at her powers. Poor girl, there's so much for her to deal with. I feel like it puts her current personality well into perspective. She must be reserved because otherwise she puts others at risk.

Finding out what happened to Juliette as a younger girl also puts her personality into perspective. I remember tearing up at the mention of her mistake. It just shows how kind a person she is, and yet how much her curse hampers her. It's heartbreaking. Still, I feel like there's this iron strength inside her now that is just waiting to break out. Juliette may look like a shrinking violet, but she's definitely not.

Which brings me to Warner, because with him I truly believe that what you see is what you get. There's not heart in that chest. Warner may have once been a kinder person, but situations have turned him to ice. The cold, calculating way that he assesses people. The way that he figures out the optimum way to cause them pain. It's brutal. His fascination with Juliette might have made him human to me, if it wasn't for the fact that he wants to use her for his own devices.

Then there's Adam. Sweet, sad, lost Adam. I kind of love the fact that he's in the background during this part of the book. Juliette and her struggle take center stage, but at least we found out that he's not all bad. I have a feeling he'll be extremely important later on. For now, we'll leave him to watch over her while she sleeps. Read on, my friends. Read on!