Discussion Post #3 - Side Effects May Vary

Your next post is here! Can you believe it's the first day of Fall? So Cal isn't feeling it yet, by any means, but still. I'm all for sweater, latte, and boot weather! Bring it on!

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Discussion Questions:

* There's been a few more peeks at Alice's bucket list in these chapters. Have these events changed your views of Alice? How about Harvey?

* What do you think about Eric and Deborah's inclusion in the story?

* We've now seen that Harvey is definitely capable of holding his own against Alice's sway. What do you think will happen in the next chapters?

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My Thoughts:

Now we come to the part of the book that made this inch up on the rating scale for me! Yup, this book was a roller coaster of a ride the first time, and it's the same this time around. Alice's stunt at the play was actually pretty humorous, and I wasn't upset with her for it. We all know Celeste is an ass, and honestly? It wasn't even that terrible. At least she didn't have to flash her naked behind to the whole world ;). Add in the fact that Alice gives a puppy to a little girl, and you start to shatter the ice around my heart. Plus, Harvey starts to show some balls, so he's off my list too.

Eric and Deborah play an essential part in this story, each of them giving our main characters a chance to be apart. I think Eric was good for Alice because she realized how much she wants something stable, but how afraid she is to hold onto it. I also think Deborah is great for Harvey. She not be his Alice, but she keeps him grounded. Plus it gives Alice a glimpse at that envy that she harbors inside her. When she admitted that she wants him, but she also wants him to be happy? Huge freaking grin on this girl. Progress girl. Progress.

As I said before, this is when Harvey starts to come into his own. He realizes that he needs something of his own, and that he can only be there for Alice so far as she'll let him. I've already read the ending, so I'll leave it to you to predict what'll come next. Make sure you don't spoil :). I don't doubt some of you have already finished this!

Discussion Post #2 - Side Effects May Vary

Here's hoping that your reading went smoothly this weekend! I know a few of you aren't exactly feeling this book, but I wanted to say that I appreciate the fact that you're participating in the discussion anyway. You are all amazing.

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Discussion Questions:

* Now that you've had some more insight into Alice's disease, and Harvey's reactions, has your opinion of either character changed? 

* As show by the "Then" chapters, Alice always expected the cancer to beat her. Would you say her outlook shaped her actions as a character?

* What are your opinions on Alice's "bucket list" so far?

* Imagine you have the power to change one event in this book. After what you've read, what event would you change? Why?

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My Thoughts:

Thanks for plugging along with me on this read guys! To those of you who are enjoying yourselves, I'm so happy. To those of you who aren't, thanks for joining the conversation anyway. It's nice to see that we can have a vibrant discussion no matter what! 

My opinions on both characters remain solidly the same as before, except for the fact that this is the part of the novel where I stop feeling bad for Harvey and start feeling frustrated. He's an enabler and, while I totally understand that it comes from a good place, it makes me feel like shaking him until he understands. I don't hate Alice. Honestly, I don't. Dealing with cancer is hell, and she has every right to be bitter and angry. What I hate is that she takes it out on those around her. I don't expect her to be a happy, optimistic, flowery kind of girl. I just want her to be a bit nicer, I guess.

I do see why the "Then" chapters are so essential though. As the cancer took over, Alice always expected to loose. She expected to die, and be done with it all. When you're living your who life with no consequences, because you figure you won't be around to deal with it all, finding out you're going to live must be brutal. I can't even imagine trying to go around and pick up the pieces like that. So I do see why her character is the way that she is. It doesn't mean I agree with it though. We've only had a small glimpse into Alice's bucket list, but I can promise you it continues to be just as evil and petty. Vengeance never is a pleasant thing though.

If I could change one event in the book so far? I'd stop Harvey from saying he loved Alice. Honestly. I feel like it would have stopped a lot of what causes him to be so hurt by everything. Poor guy. He's too chivalrous for his own good.

Discussion Post #1 - Side Effects May Vary

Good evening my bookish cohorts! Are you ready for your first discussion post for Side Effects May Vary? I was really happy to see that there are quite a few of you joining us for both reads this month! I can't wait to see what you have to say.

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Discussion Questions:

* You may have noticed that this book isn't broken up into chapters, persay. Rather, it switches between Alice and Harvey's POV and back and forth in time. What is your opinion on the way this story is told? Is it easy to follow? Would you prefer a single POV?

* Now that you've had some time to get to know Alice and Harvey a bit, what are your initial thoughts on them as characters? Is there one you identify with over the other?

* What do you think of Alice and Harvey's relationship?

* When Alice first finds out she's dying she decides it means she can live without consequence. Until, of course, she finds out she's actually in remission. What do you think of Alice's outlook on her disease? On her choice to live without consequence?

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My Thoughts:

So, this is actually my second time reading through this book. The first time around I read it as an advanced copy, and I remember thinking about the POV. I'm still on the fence about it. On the one hand, getting to see from both Alice and Harvey's point of view is pretty fantastic. It's nice to see how each of them handle a particular topic, or event. I actually really like being in Harvey's mind. The one thing that threw me off, and still kind of does on this second read through, is making sure that I know whether this is the past or present I'm reading about. It makes starting each chapter a little more difficult because I need to orient myself in time.

As for Alice and Harvey, I've already told you I like Harvey. I think he's a huge sweetheart, and I love that he has such a close relationship with his mom. I love how emotional and honest he is. He's one of my favorite male characters in YA. Alice on the other hand? I still don't like. I didn't like her the first time, I don't really like her now. What I do like, is that she's brutally honest. She knows that being sick sucks, and she's not afraid to admit it. She's honest about being afraid of death, about not knowing what the future holds once she finds out she's better. The problem, for me at least, is just her negativity grates on me. That, and I absolutely cannot stand the way she treats Harvey. It makes me livid.

Which brings me to their relationship. So far we've skimmed the surface of them together, but I'm sure you can tell that it isn't exactly a happy relationship. Harvey is a very giving character, and Alice takes. And takes. I feel bad that Harvey has it so bad for Alice. That she can't seem to be able to let him go, but can't keep him too close either. I know I'm biased, because people like that drive me crazy, but I truly don't know how Harvey tolerates being at arms reach all the time.

In regards to the last question, I've kind of already answered it above I guess. I actually don't mind Alice's outlook on her disease. It's not often that a character is brutally honest about cancer. She doesn't see the need to be eternally optimistic, or to play the vibrant healing patient for her parents. I can respect that. As I said, cancer is the worst. I only wish she hadn't decided that it meant it was okay for her to live without consequence. You'll see why, coming down the story line, but I think that is what bothered me the most.