Book Lair discussion

Nolan and I are planning to read this beginning today (ish), but sometimes life gets in the way...

There is also a prequel I read last night, The New World, which doesn't seem to be essential, but is free to download in numerous places.

Anyone is welcome to join us!

I think I would have done the same, now that I have read the prequel. As a side note, about halfway through, I realized I had already read it. I looked on my son's Nook, and sure enough, he had it and it opened to the last page. He said he hadn't read it. I don't know why I would have read it on his unless mine was dead or something, but anyway...

The prequel, The New World.

I haven't read The Knife of Never Letting Go or any of the others in the series.

I absolutely remember the story, but I really, really have no recollection of reading it on his Nook. Especially since I didn't have it on mine. I guess that's what age does for ya...

I am at work, but plan on starting Knife as soon as I finish dinner dishes tonight. I have "read along" with anyone in such a long time. I am really looking forward to it.

I have this in actual book form which I have a hard time reading except in sunlight so I didn’t get very far last night. I may just go ahead and buy the ebook. I only got about 20 pages in.

I agree with the juvenile style of writing, but am hoping that’s because of the POV and not because the author is dumbing it down for a young adult audience. Strange enough the prequel wasn’t written in this style at all.

I’m hoping to get much further tonight.

I am exactly where you stopped last night! I'm hoping to get more read later tonight.

I wonder how Prentiss came up with idea that "book learnin'" was wrong and went against discipline. Seems strange to me, since the more knowledge they have the better. Hmmm...

Having said that, if this was not a YA book I cannot even imagine the men's response to the absence of women! I'm not trying to be gross, but there are farmers and I have yet to read a reference to the animals being "used" in that way. It's not something that could be kept secret, obviously. The fact that men "remember" women wearing less clothing, having larger breast, being more free with physical affection points towards sexual frustration. I wonder if it will be addressed in ways other than these skewed memories. If not, I will be disappointed, because that would be unrealistic, YA or not.

I'm on page 93, chapter 10. There is so much foreshadowing that I am not paying as much attention to what is actually happening as I read.

(view spoiler)[What the heck was going to happen to Todd on his birthday> (hide spoiler)]

I am notoriously bad at internal pronunciation. How are you "hearing" Cillian as you read?

I'm on page 212.

I hope your feeling better! And don't be silly about falling behind. I had to stand in my kitchen last night to read because it has the biggest, brightest, whitest (obnoxious according to my husband!) light in our house. Damn eyes!

I'm sure your ideas about Prentiss are right. Obviously there is a religious (probably false, used only for control) overtone to Prentisstown. I'm at about 240 and that hasn't been made clear yet.

I will say, this "voice" that kind of bugged me to begin with has grown on me. I am very sucked in. Obviously!

The issue of women, or lack of, hasn't been properly addressed either, but I may be able to forgive that because of where the narrative takes us. If it's completely ignored by the end of the book I am going to be very disappointed. There are ways to write about these things that can still keep a story PG, so Ness better do it!

(steps off soap box)

Read a bit more. (272) Still know nothing. All foreshadowing. I want some answers!!!

Good news. We are told how to pronounce Cillian! It's Kill-ee-un, or however you should actually show that. :D

And finally... a small glimpse of the real reaction men would have to a total lack of females.

Chapter 32

(view spoiler)[ First, was that herd of very large animals elephants? All the words Todd heard in his head could sound like other names for them, like pachyderm.

Manchee just died! I am reading on my couch and one of my dogs is curled up in my lap, the other shoved as tight between my thigh and the cushion as he can get and I just want to squeeze them to be certain they are safe. Poor, poor little dog. (hide spoiler)]

I went ahead and posted my review, but I hid it until you finish.

How far are you? I really want to "discuss" it. :D

If you read my review you know I agree with everything you said!

I have to do a little carpooling, but I'll get back on here when I can and address all your questions.

There were things I really liked about the book, but there were also things that ticked me off.

Nolan wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

That "idea" was a very, very adult idea for such an obviously YA book. It just irks me to no end the fact that he shied away from certain things, and yet didn't hesitate to introduce such a volatile concept.

(view spoiler)[ I kind of suspected the Spackle weren't really "bad guys" right from the beginning. It was just so obvious that the leaders skewed everything to suit their wants and needs.

That scene with the Spackle was pitiful and made more so (to me) because Todd killed it in cold blood, and yet supposedly "kept his innocence" by not killing a human being that so obviously deserved it? Silly! (hide spoiler)]

I agree about Aaron as a sacrifice being unexpected. What I just can't get over is Todd's inability to kill him, and yet Viola can. I just felt that whole arc or point was senseless.