2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This is to discuss the third section, As It Is.

So I'm putting this note in Part 3, since it happens at the end of Part 2 and I don't want to spoil those who might be at the beginning of Part 2. But wow, Bea's flip out came out of nowhere but I felt it would happen. Is it terrible of me that I don't really like her and feel like she tricked Peter into having a baby and now is chuffed that he's not speaking on it. How does Peter feel about fatherhood. We haven't even seen his perspective on it yet. How is this going to end? Not well for a lot of characters is the overwhelming feeling in my gut.

Earlier today, I was recommending this book on Facebook and I literally wrote: "There's also one other small detail I appreciate. I typically read the last sentence of a book before starting. Each chapter is titled with it's last sentence. That little nuance got me, I'm easily delighted."

Now, seeing that the title of the first chapter of Part 3 is "There Is No God She Wrote," I am sitting here shocked.

126 pages to wrap up so much...how will Faber do it?

Erica wrote: "Earlier today, I was recommending this book on Facebook and I literally wrote: "There's also one other small detail I appreciate. I typically read the last sentence of a book before starting. Each ..."

I was also shocked when I saw that as the title of the chapter! Even with Bea's breakdown, I wasn't expecting her to get to that point.

Erica wrote: "So I'm putting this note in Part 3, since it happens at the end of Part 2 and I don't want to spoil those who might be at the beginning of Part 2. But wow, Bea's flip out came out of nowhere but I ..."

Just a quick note, Erica: the threads are meant to have spoilers in them, so it's okay if the discussion for Part II contains spoilers. :)

I could. not. handle. what happened with Joshua. I have a cat of my own, and I just couldn't read it. I skimmed and jumped around and still got the gist without having to read every word. My heart broke.

Kara wrote: "I could. not. handle. what happened with Joshua. I have a cat of my own, and I just couldn't read it. I skimmed and jumped around and still got the gist without having to read every word. My heart ..."

I felt the same way. I was depressed for a day after reading that part.

Yeah. I was glad to have been explicitly warned about a scene like that, so I could see it coming and skip ahead a bit.

If I were Peter I would be concerned that the Oasans did not help when he was injured but instead abandoned him. The letter about Joshua was too disturbing...can't read that kind of stuff.....had to skim. I HATE the whole idea of Peter and Grainger together romantically! The book is getting very dark now. I can't imagine how it will all tie together. There aren't many pages left so I am concerned there will be a lot of unanswered questions and loose ends!

Peggy, I felt like Book III was the darkest part of the book. I really didn't even want to keep reading after the seen with Joshua. But I felt like the tone lightened up quite a bit in Book IV.

Part III was really shocking to me. It's a huge change from the tone of the rest of the book. I agree with you all with the Joshua scene - absolutely horrific.

I do want to know a little bit more about what's happening on Earth, not necessarily in Bea's personal life but in the world at large.

I guess part 3 just ZOOMED past me because I thought I was still on part two and all of a sudden the narrator says "Part 4"...

I was getting really bored with this book but it's become a little more interesting. I like the drama aspect of it more so than the sci-fi. The Oasans are sort of boring in my opinion.

I agree with Peggy about hating the idea of Peter and Grainger together. I think they are both just craving human connection and there are not many people to choose from! It seems as though Peter feels that Grainger has had more of the same life experiences as he, and he seems drawn to that. I think he should stick with Bea, I won't say opposites attract necessarily but in my personal life I have found that I'm much better off with someone who is more unlike me and I feel like Bea is a better fit for Peter.

Kara wrote: "I could. not. handle. what happened with Joshua. I have a cat of my own, and I just couldn't read it. I skimmed and jumped around and still got the gist without having to read every word. My heart ..."

I feel exactly the same way! I can't even really remember what happened in the rest of the section. But I knew once Bea said Peter would be heartbroken that it would have to be Joshua. The miscarriage wouldn't break Peter's heart because he's not really attached to the situation. It's so sad!

I've just finished part 3 and I am having trouble getting through it. I knew ahead of time about the Joshua incident, so I skipped it. Although I do not really like Bea's character, I can sympathize with her plight (broken windows, lack of groceries, trash in the streets, going through it all alone). I keep looking on my e-book to see how many pages are remaining, hoping that I am close to the end. Maybe it's my own flaw or fault, but I really need more action or conflict or stimulation. I am getting tired of hearing about Peter's lack of appetite, his level of fatigue, his thoughts on how great the Oasans are.

Enough complaining though - I do enjoy hearing more about the setup of the USIC base, the other people there, and any little snip-it we get about the lives of the Oasans (such as how they celebrate life/death).

Part 3 is definitely my favorite so far. Not that I especially liked what happened, but everything is starting to come to a close. My dog was snuggling next to me when I read about Joshua, all I wanted to do was hug her! And Grainger and peter together, NO!
I'm more upset with Peter than I am with Bea with the letters. Yes she tricked him and got pregnant, but I understand her reasoning for it, and other than the information she types, we don't really see what is happening on Earth. All I know is it sounds like the apocalypse and I think Bea has a right to be emotional.
I can't wait to see how this book is wrapped up!

I don't have an issue with Bea's character at all. I think the author is portraying her and their relationship realistically. I was glad that things were finally starting to pick up in this part of the book, even though most of what happened was bad.

Kara wrote: "I could. not. handle. what happened with Joshua. I have a cat of my own, and I just couldn't read it. I skimmed and jumped around and still got the gist without having to read every word. My heart ..."

Same here. I broke down completely and it took me like an hour to feel like reading again. We have cats and some strays outside, one of which I wanted to name after Joshua. Not after that. I was devastated. What happened to Joshua is probably the biggest, if not the only, reason why I may never consider reading this book again.