Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

Feel free to discuss the story elements in Before the Fall here!

The news network in the story definitely has to be a tongue-in-cheek jab at Fox News.

I just finished chapter 6 and truthfully... I didn't get it. I was confused about who was who and what was going on.
Am moving on now. Hopefully it wasn't important.

I am listening so I am not sure - what was the gist of chapter 6?

Ok, I reread and basically it was the rise of David Bateman and his meeting Bill Cunningham.
It was the names Bill, David and Ben. And the switching from first to last names to first names again.
I am good now. Lol
Totally agree with you about the tongue in cheek jab, Matthew.

Vicki wrote: "Ok, I reread and basically it was the rise of David Bateman and his meeting Bill Cunningham.
It was the names Bill, David and Ben. And the switching from first to last names to first names again.
I..."

In my audio it has been easy to keep the characters straight because he is giving them a certain tone. The voice of Bill is quite annoying . . . which is to be expected! :)

Lots of time jumping in this one. I recently mentioned in a review how time jumping can be distracting . . . it is a little bit in this book, but since I am into the expected storyline structure now, it is not too bad.

Matthew wrote: "Lots of time jumping in this one. I recently mentioned in a review how time jumping can be distracting . . . it is a little bit in this book, but since I am into the expected storyline structure no..."

Yes very true. Like Heather mentioned to me, it's similar to Station Eleven in that sense. In this book I had to take a minute to realize where I'm at, whether it was present or past. Also the characters and who was who.

I did find the time jumping a bit confusing too at first but now I'm good. Also found those three names easy to mix up with the switching of first and last names. The first third of the book was very captivating but then as it went into the backstory I felt less hooked. Now half way through I am liking this mystery being given to me one thread at a time, it was just a huge change in gears from the quick pace at the beginning. I'm interested to see how it wraps up.

89%
Excitement ratcheting up again.
Switching perspectives mid scene very effective.
(view spoiler)[ Nosebleed!! Thst is why he was out of the cockpit (hide spoiler)]
Reading for the end now!

More than halfway through:

While I was hooked by the beginning, my interest is declining a little. I'm not too interested in the financial/business aspect of the story, but I do like the corruption of some of the characters, none of whom I like except Scott and JJ. Maggie and Sarah are (view spoiler)[were (hide spoiler)] okay. I enjoy the conversation it brings up about the media - the media who are too eager about ratings and not enough about the veracity of the stories/news they're telling. The ALC seems to skew most of their stories, or mold them to suit their opinions, which, sadly, isn't absent from our real media. One notorious network does this... Fox News definitely does come to mind.

Vicki wrote: "89%
Excitement ratcheting up again.
Switching perspectives mid scene very effective.
[spoilers removed]
Reading for the end now!"

Yes - I liked that twist. (view spoiler)[Everyone thinks the worst, when it is really something so basic and innocent. (hide spoiler)]

Michelle wrote: "More than halfway through:

While I was hooked by the beginning, my interest is declining a little. I'm not too interested in the financial/business aspect of the story, but I do like the corruptio..."

Definitely a lot about business in the middle, but as you learn more about the non business characters I think your interest will return.

Matthew wrote: "Michelle wrote: "More than halfway through:

While I was hooked by the beginning, my interest is declining a little. I'm not too interested in the financial/business aspect of the story, but I do l..."

I'm not complaining too much! It paints a colorful picture of the different characters. A lot of morally questionable characters, which is interesting.

Just finished it. I really enjoyed the first and last third of the book. I liked the ending - (view spoiler)[unlike what's been theorized throughout a good chunk of the novel, the plane didn't crash because Kipling or Bateman were on it. I did fall folly into the story and thought that maybe they really were being targeted somehow and that taking down the plane was the easiest way to silence Kipling. But then I realized that that was what the author probably wanted me to think, so instead I came to the conclusion maybe it was just an unfortunate mishap/accident after all, and somehow it got blown up into this huge story. To be honest, I was still kind of hoping for the conspiracy ending because that's interesting, which made me realize that dramatic stories are addicting, and why networks such as the fictional ALC try to capitalize on that by adding new, unwarranted perspectives. (hide spoiler)]

Also, there's one mystery still left unsolved: Gil Baruch's body was never found. Realistically, he's probably dead and just hasn't been washed up or un-buried yet ... but the more hopeful & maybe optimistic side of me likes to think that he also swam to shore and is still alive. He's one of the more likable characters. I don't know, am I trying to make a conspiracy out of this?

Michelle wrote: "Also, there's one mystery still left unsolved: Gil Baruch's body was never found. Realistically, he's probably dead and just hasn't been washed up or un-buried yet ... but the more hopeful & maybe ..."

Good point - I wonder if that was left that way to keep us guessing. Even though it appears that all has been revealed . . .

Just finished the book - loved mostly all of it until the ending. It was so predictable and I so was anticipating so much more. The writing was beautiful but the ending ruined it for me.

Stephanie - the ending of the book in general, or the ultimate resolution?

For me, I kinda liked that (view spoiler)[ everyone was expecting a big conspiracy, but it was not as complex as they expected (hide spoiler)]

Matthew wrote: "Stephanie - the ending of the book in general, or the ultimate resolution?

For me, I kinda liked that [spoilers removed]"

The ending of the book in general. You know what though, as I went through my bookmarks to get the quotes it reminded me of how much I liked the rest of the book. Unfortunately the ending is always the last flavor in your mouth, and I find that especially true for myself.

Stephanie wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Stephanie - the ending of the book in general, or the ultimate resolution?

For me, I kinda liked that [spoilers removed]"

The ending of the book in general. You know what though, ..."

Oh absolutely.......I can go through practically the whole book thinking it was an absolute 4 or 5 star rating and then I get to the end and if it's disappointing then that totally changes my feeling sad to say. But then again, I've had a handful where I was feeling o---kay throughout the book but it has a great ending and I feel like it was redeemed so I give it a better rating. Lol!

I am seeing other reviews about the ending being a letdown. This is still kind of surprising to me - I didn't feel that.

Matthew wrote: "I am seeing other reviews about the ending being a letdown. This is still kind of surprising to me - I didn't feel that."

I think maybe people were expecting (view spoiler)[an actual conspiracy cover-up because that's how the story seemed to be skewed toward ... that would honestly be exciting (hide spoiler)]. I'm fine with the ending, though!

Michelle wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I am seeing other reviews about the ending being a letdown. This is still kind of surprising to me - I didn't feel that."

I think maybe people were expecting [spoilers removed]. I'..."


But, you see, (view spoiler)[I thought that was coming across as what was expected. And, when what is expected doesn't happen, I am likely to enjoy it more! (hide spoiler)]

Matthew wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I am seeing other reviews about the ending being a letdown. This is still kind of surprising to me - I didn't feel that."

I think maybe people were expecting [spoi..."

My sentiments exactly!

Matthew wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I am seeing other reviews about the ending being a letdown. This is still kind of surprising to me - I didn't feel that."

I think maybe people were expecting [spoi..."

Yeah I do like that too. I think with this book it was more of the fact that with the different things going on with the businessmen of course a more exciting reason for how it ends is expected. But when you find out the reason is a little more simple, I think it makes it more sad that that's the reason why all the other people died.

I think you guys have some valid points. Whether I enjoyed the ending or not, I really love the discussion it brings up regardless!

Stephanie - of course! :) All opinions protected here (even wrong ones! ;) )

Matthew wrote: "Stephanie - of course! :) All opinions protected here (even wrong ones! ;) )"

;)
I read someone's post somewhere that went something along the lines of how Goodreads is the only form of social media where everyone actually respects differing opinions.

This place actually makes it fun and intellectually stimulating to have different opinions and allows people to enjoy the conversation it creates. :)

I'm a little late to the conversation, but just finished the book last night. (view spoiler)[ I liked the irony of how simple the rationale was (not the complicated conspiracy theory I was possibly expecting). I felt total satisfaction for Scott calling out Bill on how much of a insensitive tool he was. I think the ending would have won me over more if there was a soft final chapter (like an epilogue about Scott teaching the boy to swim or skip rocks or something), not just this "oh, your sensationalized media world is so shallow and let's remember the humanness of our condition here". BAM! End. (hide spoiler)]Besides the ending, I did like the story and how it was presented in pieces with backgrounds on each characters.

Meghan wrote: "I think the ending would have won me over more if there was a soft final chapter (like an epilogue about Scott teaching the boy to swim or skip rocks or something)"

I do like epilogues, but sometimes I do like sudden endings leaving me to guess as to what happened next. I know I keep playing advocate for the way the ending of this book was, but here is another example of where I was okay with the suddenness of the ending.