March Selection Follow-Up

There was a lot of great discussion about this book, which seems to have really captured everyone's attention.  I will write about the things we discussed that don't give spoilers, so if you haven't read the book, you should be safe.  (There may be some very minor spoilers.)

1. Why is this YA?
More than one member asked this question because, presumably, Julie and Maggie are past their teen years when most of the action takes place.  Perhaps it is the spirit of the book or the fact that it begins when they are teens.  It could also just be a marketing decision.

2. Did you see von Linden as being totally evil or was he a conflicted character?
Many people thought that his attempts to engage Julie in conversation were an attempt to humanize himself and perhaps make her feel more comfortable.  His actions at the end of the book certainly make it seem as though he felt conflicted.  Kathryn compared this situation to the episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation when Picard is taken prisoner by the Cardassians.  It just so happens that I have a clip to show you, so if you've read the book, you can see the parallels.

 

3. Maddie does not see herself as a heroic, although her actions are similar to another pilot who she does see as a hero.  Is Maddie a hero, too?

I think we all said yes, of course, but Mary made a good point when she said that "a real hero is humble".  Maddie doesn't see what she does as heroic because, to her, she was just too afraid to jump.  Staying in the plane was the only other choice.  Does that make her any less of a hero?  I think many people would say no. 

4. Maddie had to make a very difficult decision.  Did she do the right thing?

I think the answer to this was a unanimous YES.

When we began our meeting, I asked everyone if they found the beginning of the book to be "draggy".  Despite the fact that the slow build-up of the book is a criticism I see often for CNV, no one in the group had an issue with it.  I asked them if they had issues with the rather dense discussions about airplanes and military protocol. To paraphrase Mary, we are used to reading technical documents that we might not understand.  It's part of our job.   I don't disagree with that statement!

Some other discussion points:

The subtlety of the mentions of torture in this book.

The origins of the phrase "Kiss me, Hardy".

The class difference between Julie and Maddie.

February 2013

Our selection for February is....

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.  Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.  Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

Don't forget to check the extra credit section for some additional reading!

December Book Selection Follow-Up

Story:
I think we all agreed that this book was spooky, if not downright scary in some parts!  The house that was "alive", the mysterious singing and whistling and, of course, Naughty John, were a few of the things that really gave people chills.  

Characters:
Many people in the group were annoyed by Evie.  They felt that she made some really selfish and irresponsible choices, including what she did at the very end.  One member even asked if perhaps her parents sent her away because they just wanted a break from her.  We all agreed that she did show some growth by the end of the book.  The other characters (Memphis, Theta, et al) were everyone's favorites and in many cases, they were more interesting than Evie. 

Pacing/Flow:
This was much longer than the books we normally read and a few members mentioned that there was some repetition that could have been taken out to move the story along.  The switching of story lines (from Evie, to Memphis, to Theta) was enjoyed and gave a well rounded view of what was happening.

Overall:
With the exception of one member, The Diviners got a thumbs up, overall.  The general consensus was that the myriad of unanswered questions was a set-up for book two, which some found frustrating.  There was some discussion about the pros and cons of cliffhangers vs. a more resolved ending. 

December 2012

Because of the craziness that comes with the holiday season, we won't be meeting again until January.  The pick for December/January is The Diviners by Libba Bray!

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Don't forget to check out the extra credit reading and have a wonderful holiday!