Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

As you begin reading - feel free to discuss your first impressions of the book Vurt here.

So far I have the impression that this title may be hard to find in some formats.

I got a message from group member Meghan saying in Canada she can only find the French version on Kindle. I let her know I know that from my experience, sometimes older kind of obscure titles can be hard to find on an e-reader. I got my copy at a random, hole in the wall book store in West Yellowstone, MT back in 2001. I am not sure I have actually see a copy at a bookstore or library since then!

Everyone else finding this okay? If so - where did you find it?

I'm having a hard time finding it. Definitely can't find an ebook. I looked for a downloadable PDF, but they all say "unsafe" so I am hesitant to click.

Looks like lots of really cheap used hardcovers on Amazon ($0.35 plus $4.00 shipping or so) - of course that is for the US, so I am not sure what those of you outside the US will be able to find.

I'm in CA. I'll look this afternoon. Thanks! I never really look on Amazon first. It's a mental block, I think.

Looks like used paperbacks are even cheaper!

Click for used Hardbacks

Click forUsed Paperbacks

Just bought one. Thanks!!!

Kandice wrote: "Just bought one. Thanks!!!"

Sweet! TEAMWORK! ;)

I skimmed through the beginning of the book. It looks like it's going to be very interesting.

In reading the reviews it seems that it takes a certain kind to like this book, and if you are that certain kind you will LOVE it.

But, I remember loving it, that it was weird and not like anything that I had read before, and that I couldn't put it down - but I really don't remember why or anything about it!

Hopefully you don't all quit the book club after this one!

Sadly, no ebook available. i will have to wait on this one until I run across a copy. Just moved to Madison, WI and have not searched out the library yet.

My library didn't have it. but I'm going to shoot for an inter library loan from a nearby library. That's worked well for me in the past. The book sounds really interesting.

I may just have to get a used Amazon used version once I have moved into my new place.

I'm in the same boat as Justin- will try for an interlibrary loan.

It definitely looks like the only e-version in Canada is in French. Makes me wonder if this book is specifically popular in Quebec?

Looks like all Noon's other books are available on Kindle in the US. Very odd!

I ordered mine last week so will begin as soon as it gets here. And I finish The Martian...

Interlibrary loan successful! Should have this soon! I noticed its considered "cyberpunk" so we will see how it goes. I tried to read Snow Crash a couple years ago and couldn't tell what was going on!

I read Neuromancer and I didn't care for it, but that was last year. Maybe I would have liked it 14 years ago when I read Vurt. Or, maybe Vurt isn't quite the same kind of Cyberpunk. We shall see.

Mine isn't here yet...

Matthew wrote: "So far I have the impression that this title may be hard to find in some formats.

I got a message from group member Meghan saying in Canada she can only find the French version on Kindle. I let h..."

To Meghan from Canada. I'm also from Canada. I bought a trade paperback on Indigo.ca for a reasonable price.

WHEW! Got started today - what a rush!

A few key points:

- This book starts out in a weird place. It was hard to follow for the first few pages, but by page 20 either I was getting used to it or the author calmed down with the weird words. (Kinds like A Clockwork Orange)
- There is lots of cussing - especially the f-word. If you don't like that, you may not like this book. I am noticing it, but not finding it too distracting. I think I am noticing it more because I am sitting their thinking "Oh, man, what must my book club be thinking of this!"
- By page 25 or 30 I was hooked. I may not remember reading this 14 years ago, but I can tell why I could not put it down. This is not exactly like other Cyberpunk stuff that I have read - I like this better.

Just finishing up 40 pages in my current read and I'm going to dive in tonight :)

Cool. Looking forward to it. I'm down with cussing unless it distracts me from the story. Usually it fits in with the character and the setting, but it can be way over the top at times. I'm looking at You, Caroline Kepnes. Pun intended.

Matthew wrote: "WHEW! Got started today - what a rush!

A few key points:

- This book starts out in a weird place. It was hard to follow for the first few pages, but by page 20 either I was getting used to it o..."

As I got into this I also got the immediate feeling of Clockwork Orange and I don't know why because I read it and saw the movie way back in high school (and that was too long ago to count, lol!) The way it's written is very fast and I feel like I'm watching a movie that's constantly cutting to different scenes. This is definitely a different kind of read for me.

Just finished chapter 1. What a strange book. Haha!

I ordered this on Amazon a while ago and kept wondering where it was. Last night my husband says "Oh yeah! There was fraud on our account. Someone did a test purchase for a penny so I disputed it." Turns out it was my purchase of this book for a penny with a few bucks shipping.

He thought it was a "fishing" purchase because of the amount. You know how they try a small purchase before really buying something big? Geesh!

Kandice wrote: "I ordered this on Amazon a while ago and kept wondering where it was. Last night my husband says "Oh yeah! There was fraud on our account. Someone did a test purchase for a penny so I disputed it."..."

That is quite a story . . . or maybe you just made that up to get out of reading it after reading all of our initial responses! ;)

Nope! I actually skipped over your posts so I wouldn't mess up my experience whenever I actually get the damn thing! I'm going to look today. O_o

Kandice wrote: "Nope! I actually skipped over your posts so I wouldn't mess up my experience whenever I actually get the damn thing! I'm going to look today. O_o"

Good luck! So . . . you do have the order back out to Amazon?

Hahaha! Hmmm......does that story sound believable? ;)

Kiss my butt guys! I just looked on Amazon again and I do not see any for really cheap. $13 or so is not cheap in my book. Gosh darn it!

Ha! Aw, we were just playin' ;) I see the used copies still for a penny - if you want to go down that path again!

I did an inter library request and still waiting for my copy to arrive... I looked around at some used book stores this weekend and didn't see any copies. Who is this Jeff Noon guy anyway?!?

I know you were! That's my usual response to my brothers only uncensored. ;)

I'll have to look again.
Be right back...

Forgot to hit "post", but in the time it took me I bought another penny copy with 3.99 shipping so I'm set...that's what I thought last time!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay well you guys are doing a good job trying to acquire is book. Can't wait to hear what you guys think after all this work. :)

My book is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Was it a quick read? I just finished a book and wonder if I should just read Ellery Queens until tomorrow so I don't start something I'll have to set aside.

Not super quick. Took me about 5 days reading it 45min to an hour a day.

I'm losing steam...
I really don't think cyberpunk is my thing :(

I want this book now!

My book was NOT delivered yesterday and there is no mail today so the soonest I can begin is tomorrow afternoon. Aaaaargh! It's like the universe just doesn't want me to read this.

Should it take a thousand years, we will all be here waiting to discuss it with you!

Matthew wrote: "Should it take a thousand years, we will all be here waiting to discuss it with you!"

Awwww, that's sweet. :D

And I think it'll definitely be a book you'll want to discuss. :)

I kept wondering what "Cyberpunk" was and I guess I know now. It's very, very strange and whoever said it bore a resemblance to A Clockwork Orange wasn't kidding!

I can't quite figure out what (view spoiler)[the thing from outer space (hide spoiler)] is, but hopefully it will become clear as we go along.

I think I am grasping the psychotropic drug thing pretty well, but we'll see.

I read the first 25 pages thinking Scribble was a (view spoiler)[ girl! (hide spoiler)] I don't know why but apparently I was wrong!

Did anyone else think that?

Kandice wrote: "I read the first 25 pages thinking Scribble was a [spoilers removed] I don't know why but apparently I was wrong!

Did anyone else think that?"

Oh, wow, when I saw that this was spoiler hidden, that is not what I thought you were going to say. I am not what what I thought (maybe I thought it would say Android? My other reading is creeping in!)

LOL that would certainly fit as well, I was just very, very surprised when it was nonchalantly stated. I had to go back and see why I thought differently.

Wait, wait, wait! Desdemona is Scribble's sister? I thought she was his lover!

This book is either very misleading on purpose or my reading skills are non existent today because I keep being surprised by information that should be obvious...

Ha! Nope, not just you - the lovers/siblings angle caught a few of us off guard. We discuss it a little bit in the Story chat.