Cristi-Lael’s Comments (group member since Jul 17, 2016)

Cristi-Lael’s comments from the Ready, Set, READ! Bookclub group.

Oh, this book is blowing my mind (And I think it's giving me anxiety dreams, but that's another story)
It's very well written and so intriguing. Alex is amazing.

This book is reading so fast, which I love. I might even finish it tonight.

Totally agree, Robin!

I've got to say, I'm really enjoying this book. It's a great contemporary romance. In fact, this it what I want when I'm looking for a contemporary romance.
Hopefully, the last half will be as enjoyable as the first.

I'm a little bit further than page 89, but I've got to say that I'm enjoying this book a whole heap more than I did the last two books. :o) Nicola Yoon is very talented in writing stories that you want to keep reading.
And I'm loving how she's doing the dual perspective with the little bonus chapters in there about other characters. It's very enjoyable.

Robin wrote: "I am liking this one so far! I am completely lost to what is going to happen. Which I like!"

I am only about 65 pages in, but it seems to be ok so far. A little juvenile, perhaps, but I do like the world and am intrigued about what's happening. ;o)

I dunno. I'm on page 241, which is chapter 23, I think, and I'm still not loving this book.

k, made it to page 150 last night. Hopefully I'll start enjoying it more now. :o)

Robin wrote: "My interest picks up about page 152!"

Good to know! I'm about 20 pages away from there. :o)

Yeah, I agree, Debbie. It's definitely an overdone trope. Again, I realize that that's how life was back then. Children were meant to be seen and not heard, and wives had to submit without argument to their husbands. Women were second class citizens. It's just how things were. And, like you said, I'm just glad I live now where I can discuss things with my husband as an equal, and our children can have intelligent opinions all their own as well.
I'm in chapter 11 and still not enjoying the book. But there is still hope.

I wish GoodReads had a like or love or heart or agree or something button...

Oh, ladies, I am right there with you! I have read to chapter 7 so far and am still not all that interested in it. I mean, if I wanted a study on how poorly society acted back in the day, this would be the book for it. But I'm not. (And I have to remind myself not to get mad at how poorly society acted back then, and just remember that was how life was. And then be grateful that life isn't like that now, lol)

My book is upstairs, so I'm not sure exactly which chapter I'm on now, but I'm sure I've made it at least this far.
I love the introduction of Hatter and can't wait to see what part her plays in this story. I'm really impressed with how she's kept true to the Alice universe yet still managed to make it her own.

Well, I've gotten to about halfway through the book, but I have had a house full of family, so haven't been spending much time on my computer. However, we're now all waiting for my uncle to finish getting ready so we can go out for my daughter's birthday, so I figured I could pop in here to give my thoughts real quick.
I am really enjoying this book quite a lot. I am a huge Alice fan, as many of you know, so I was expecting to love this book. However, several Alice adaptations have totally screwed up the Alice universe and I'm pleased that this one is not doing that. I really like Cath's character and Jest. It's hard to believe that sweet and considerate Cath will become the evil Queen of Hearts, but we all know that is what she will end up as. It kind of makes me sad for her because I know something terrible will be happening soon enough to her to change her.

Paula wrote: "High five Mr Johnston! It was about damn time a teacher actually addressed the issue.

I'm so proud of Kate but I'm shocked that her "friends" didn't stick by her."

Yes! Loved the lesson Mr. Johnston taught that day. Brilliant!

Yeah, I'm really disappointed in Rachel and Christy. And Ben. And it's sad because none of them are really bad people, they're just confused as to what the right thing is.

Paula wrote: "Robin wrote: "Okay, this is a weird thought, but I was having some mini flash backs to when my son was a senior in high school. He and my nephew, both 18 went to a party out at some farm. The boys ..."

Agree 100%

Robin wrote: "Okay, this is a weird thought, but I was having some mini flash backs to when my son was a senior in high school. He and my nephew, both 18 went to a party out at some farm. The boys came home sobe..."

I'd agree with that. It should definitely be read by teens so that they can see the consequences their choices can have. I don't know about you, but I did some really stupid things as a teen. I'm really grateful that nothing terrible happened to me.

Debbie wrote: "I think this book is wonderful written, I still hate all the characters except Kate, but the way this story is put together... and it doesn't sugar coat what is going on. I am going to read the las..."

These chapters made me sick to my stomach. The detail of the video is just sickening. And the fact that so many kids just sat there while this was happening *and* then attacked Stacey when she came forward about it. So upsetting. And even more upsetting when you know that this kind of thing happens in real life.
The fact that the guidance counselor got fired pissed me off too. I can kind of see the coach wanting to hide evidence for his team because he has a hands on relationship with these boys, but the principal needs to be removed from those kind of relationships. He must be nonpartisan, unbiased. It's very obvious that he isn't that and he should no longer run a school.
Ben has come up a bit in these chapters. I still don't like the way he's dealing with his mom, but I can understand his fear in learning more about the facts of the party and wanting to stay out of it. I wish he was more brave like Kate, of course, but I can understand his fear. (However, I can't help but think that if Kate had watched the rest of the video, she might have seen Ben there at the end. I don't think he touched Stacey at all, but I think he might have been one of the ones who let it happen)

Debbie wrote: "I'm not liking Ben that much anymore, he is hiding for something. At least my feeling is telling me he is. But the way social media is used in this story, kind of scares me/makes me feel uncomforta..."

Again, Debbie, I fully agree with you! Ben, who seemed so chivalrous and compassionate at the beginning of the book, now seems to have a deep, dark secret from that night that he's hiding. I mean, it seems like he feels bad about it, which is good, but he's not doing anything, like anything, to help the situation.
And Dooney? Well Dooney is just a piece of slime. I hate people like that. I mean, he's in some potentially serious trouble and he's just around making more trouble. And the way he's treating Phoebe is just wrong. And the fact that Phoebe thinks she just has to take that kind of treatment is even more wrong.
I'm not a fan of the reporter either, honestly. I mean, I think she might have a good heart under there, but bullying kids into letting out a good sound bite is not the way to conduct business or help.

I was a little disappointed that Kate didn't stand up more when the girls were discussing things while shopping for Spring Fling dresses, but she did impress me with the lesson she tried to teach her brother Will about what's appropriate to put online and how to treat girls. I don't know if the lesson made it home to Will's brain yet, but at least she tried.

Robin wrote: "Cristi-Lael wrote: "Robin wrote: "Right Cristi? I need to quit my job so I can read all the time...then I couldn't afford the books. What does a woman do?"
Hahah! I don't have a job and I still don..."

I can imagine, Robin! Nursing school is some serious work right there! I'm lucky in that my school, being online, is only one class at a time and each class is 8 week long. So, I only have to focus on one subject at a time and have just one main assignment due each week. It makes it easier, I think, than someone going to a traditional school. And this is good because we have the kids and Ron works a lot of hours. That being said, I am really looking forward to being done with school in a year and not having to do homework anymore or read textbooks. :o)