The Reading Rebels! discussion

This is a crazy turn of events! I was holding my breath through a couple of these chapters even though I knew she'd live through the experience. (According to the back cover.) Wow, that tension. I understood why the author decided to go to Jason's perspective after the big helicopter crash and Aza dying in the "drowner" world but it was a little annoying because I wanted to get to Aza's perspective. Honestly, I'd be pretty upset too. I'm also wondering about her being taken from her mother, the captain, when she's one and somehow being born again to a "drowner" woman. I'm also wondering about these birds that live inside the bird people's lungs and Dai's relationship with Aza. And what is she going to save them from? I'm excited to see.

I agree about Jason's perspective. I thought it was interesting to see how he is handling his grief, but I'm glad it wasn't too long away from Aza's point of view. I cried during the her mom's phone call though. :-(

I am just fascinated with how dying and death is approached in this book. It feels so raw - no sugar coating or cliches. It's painful and ragged and bitter and twisted. It's so real and I think that's what I'm connecting with. Also, Aza has such a distinctive voice; she's unlike any other character I can think of. She's interesting and sympathetic but not always that likeable (and I feel she'd be fine with that!) I liked the chapters from Jason's perspective because he shows us another view of Aza. Seeing her through his (adoring) eyes made her a little more relatable and appealing. And I have all the same questions as R.A. (Rachel?)

Lara,
Yep, my name is Rachael. :)
I like Aza for the same reasons. She feels so raw and real but that also makes her unlikable at times. I feel like that makes her more human.
I feel so bad for Jason but we'll see where this storyline goes.

Leslie,
The tears were welling up during her mom's phone call too.

I love everyone's comments! I had to pause during her mom's phone call because I was in a public place and didn't want to start crying :'( I also enjoyed seeing things from Jason's perspective, I didn't think the story would be told from any other pov besides Aza's so that was nice!

Definitely invested in the story now and can't wait to keep reading :D

A lot of weird things happened in this chapter. What I still can't get over is the fact that a bird actually went into her lung. I told 3 people I know that, and they were like: WHAT? And I just laughed.

I don't instantly like this book as I did with The Accident Season, which strikes me as odd, since this kind of plot and setting is really something for me. But I just have this weird... feeling reading it. I don't dislike it either, I just don't instantly love it. This makes it really interesting for me to see how it will develop further, and for my feelings to go one way or another.

I'm sort of struggling with the writing (maybe it's just me). Sometimes I really like it, but sometimes it just confuses me.

I still need to decide on the characters.

And yes, everything you write R.A. (Rachel) sounds exactly what I'm thinking! And excited to see just like every one of you, yay!

Sandra,
I totally freaked out too! A bird in her lung is so crazy. I thought this was a really unique (and crazy!) part of the Magonia world building.

Sandra wrote: "A lot of weird things happened in this chapter. What I still can't get over is the fact that a bird actually went into her lung. I told 3 people I know that, and they were like: WHAT? And I just la..."

LOL, I totally did the same thing and told everyone around me what happened. I couldn't get over the bird in her lung, it was just so, wow haha.

Haha, love that you guys agree with me! So far that is probably the best moment of the book!