Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

This thread is open to discuss Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks



Synopsis
As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier's eruption swirled and finally settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre has passed unnoticed, unexamined . . . until now.

But the journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town's bloody wreckage, capture a tale too harrowing--and too earth-shattering in its implications--to be forgotten.

In these pages, Max Brooks brings Kate's extraordinary account to light for the first time, faithfully reproducing her words alongside his own extensive investigations into the massacre and the legendary beasts behind it.

Kate's is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity's defiance in the face of a terrible predator's gaze, and inevitably, of savagery and death.

Yet it is also far more than that.

Because if what Kate Holland saw in those days is real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us--and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.

Part survival narrative, part bloody horror tale, part scientific journey into the boundaries between truth and fiction, this is a Bigfoot story as only Max Brooks could chronicle it--and like none you've ever read before.

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My book only has a little bit of dust on it. Other books are looking at me wondering where their buddy read thread is...

I’m there with you. I know we have a few in common.

Have you started? I started later than I expected as I got my audio copy of The Shadows and it is really good so far. I'm really liking it though. I love the style, how about you? I really like a good epistolary work. I know that many aren't done and aren't for everyone but so far I think it works well for this.

I am starting today. Yesterday got away from me.
Did you read World War Z? It was written as an after action report. I liked that style.

Looking forward to the start after I get a couple of things done around the house...

I did read World War Z. If you liked that style, I think you will like this. It is more from one perspective which will be interesting. This is the book equivalent of a found footage horror movie.

We are, of course, agreeing from the beginning, that Bigfoot is real, right? Also Nessie, and the Abominable Snowman?

Just checking.

Enjoy this ladies! I read this during Wheel and really liked it. It's a bit out of my norm, which made it even better.

I agree. I even liked it as an audio, which is rare for me. Have fun

Jenny, of course. And if you don't one of the characters swears you will be the end.

Judith and Lexi, thanks! I've been looking forward to this one. Planned on reading it during Wheel but it never seemed to fit.

My weekend has not gone as planned. Total shit show. But, I am about thirty pages in now, I have a lovely glass of Glenmorangie in front of me, and white cheddar popcorn. Don't judge me!

So far, I can say I want to live in that planned community. Clearly nothing bad has happened yet...

Sorry, I'm totally judging and thinking that sounds like a great way to recover.

I agree about the community at that point. Read on, I have a few ideas to improve. But a beautiful hike in the wilderness right outside my doorstop? Yes.

I finished Chapter 7 and will read a bit more tonight. I love Moster (you'll see). I'm still curious.

Moster is fabulous!
And, yes, there need to be (have been) improvements on that community. I got to the volcano erupting, and the search for potatoes before I clocked out for the night. Now I am at work, and will read more at lunch. I have a feeling that I won't want to get any more work done once I get back into the book.

I am about 100pages in. I keep forgetting this is a book about Bigfoot. The dynamic that is going on in the village is compelling enough. I am even rooting for Dan!

Totally finishing this tonight.

Guess I better speed up! I'm only a little bit further than you. I will agree, Dan really is turning around. Did you get to the mountain lion part? I am really curious to see how things turn out with Yvette and the others.

I'm really liking this one.

Just finished the mountain lion bit.

I want this to count towards Turf, otherwise I would make it last a bit longer.
But, I am also just really wanting to know what happens next!!

Almost time to go home, have dinner, pour a drink and read.

Jenny wrote: "Just finished the mountain lion bit.

I want this to count towards Turf, otherwise I would make it last a bit longer.
But, I am also just really wanting to know what happens next!!

Almost time to..."

Turf? Is that another challenge? There are so many! I'm needing to slow down now that the semester has started but I'm liking my reading habit. I did forget that I wanted a glass of wine tonight, great idea.

Yup. A pretty intense one, or it can be, the way I tend to get competitive.

It's still bloody hot here, so I am thinking something iced. Maybe a greyhound. Hmmm.

Did you finish? What did you think? I'm making good progress but still have a way to go. I'm at the 'boulder' throwing part. Reinhardt is an idiot. I get folks wanting to believe that things are ok but he is just an idiot.

I'm so curious but I have to be awake for my classes presentations tomorrow so I can't stay up to finish.

I did finish. I bloody loved it. Let me know when you are done. I don't want to spoil anything for you.

I finished! I loved it too. The ending.... just perfect. Some of it is maybe a bit of a reach. What a coincidence that Katie was the one journaling and that she made it so far but I can forgive that because otherwise it just doesn't work as well.

Which ending for Palomino and Katie do you believe, or want to believe?

I've read some really great books this year (thanks for the Blonde Roots recommendation). I hope I can keep it up.

I forgot I recommended Blonde Roots. Such an interesting good book.

I go back and forth on the ending I want for Katie and Palomino. In real life, probably dead. But, in the fantasy of this novel, I think they are out there seeking revenge. The fact that they made it through the battle, and there was evidence of them surviving after that on jerky etc, makes me think they had a purpose to fulfill.

Yeah, the coincidence factor of her being the writer and the survivor happens in pretty much every book. I have often thought it would make for an interesting book of short stories to have engaging characters with deep background stories living their best lives,
until a volcano takes them out. Or, they get hit by a stray bullet fired in the wrong direction by a Bruce Willis movie character, or Captain Kirk asks them to accompany the away team, while wearing a red shirt. But, it would also be pretty depressing, so maybe not.

Which ending do you want to believe? And, how would you make that lovely community better? Other than having a satellite radio and some food stores.

At first I wanted the one where the make it out to safety. But honestly, the more I think about it the revenge part is way more interesting. I hate to think of them dead but it does seem likely. Probably trying to leave although I'm not sure why they would leave with all the food stored there. Who knows. I really think leaving the options open was way smarter and probably more realistic.

For the community. Honestly, hard to say what I would do differently. I am really surprised that no one had any tools and that there wasn't a garden even if paltry. I get that they were 'urbanites' living in nature but I was surprised at how unprepared any of them were to actually be in nature. I am also surprised that there wasn't some sort of backup. Cables are great but even the best has issues from time to time and no one seemed to think that could be an issue.

I'm also still thinking about Dan. I love how he changed. Is it realistic? Maybe. I'd like to hope so. What did you make of his 'Hannah' comment. The following section gave an idea or maybe I missed something but it surprised me. Given how they had been living I was also surprised to see how easily the two fit back. But maybe hard time will do that.

I am spacing the Hannah comment. What was it again?

I think Dan having found a purpose in life, and respect from his peers was exactly what he needed to become a whole person. It seemed that he spent a lot of his life thinking the world owed him, and he figured out under duress how much better it is to contribute. Or something.
The bit that got me was how Tony and what's her name reacted. They just lost it. I found them creepy from the beginning- egotistical, power hungry, etc. Clearly, not good for each other or the rest of the community.

You know, I hope that if I ever found myself in a situation like that (with or without Bigfoot) I would be one that tried to help others. I also hope I don't have to find out.

There was one thing that I missed if it was explained. When Tony got back from seeing the damage to the road, he grabbed a big duffle bag from his car, and then when he saw Katie, he put it back. Was that ever revisited? I kind of thought he had looted cars or something and didn't want to share.

Never mind about the Hannah comment, I misread it. At the end of chapter 19 Katie is leaving Reinhardt's and he says 'Good night, Hannah'. For some reason I thought it was Dan calling her by the wrong name. It makes so much more sense now.

Oh, the duffle bag. Hmmm. No, I don't think it was explained. I assumed he was considering running away. Honestly, I wasn't sure they were going to find the Durants at home. I was thinking that they would escape either through some method they didn't share or by stupidly leaving and getting lost in the woods. I don't remember it being revisited. I can imagine that they had things they didn't want to share though. I get them losing it but wow that was extreme.

Wanted to share. I used to go to the Decatur Book Festival every year when we lived in Atlanta. I miss it so much and haven't found anything like it elsewhere. This year it is virtual. Thought you might be interested in seeing what authors are presenting.

https://decaturbookfestival.com/

I will look tomorrow when I hopefully get my interwebs back.

What is our next book?

What do you want to read next?

I have these waiting:
and

I'm also up for something else.

All of those look good. I'm guessing you really want to read Boy, Snow, Bird, since you listed it twice? I am good with that one.

Just food for thought, I just picked up Geez! My stupid internet will not link more than two covers at the moment!!!!!AARRGGHH
So also, Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell, The Beauty of Your Face by Safar Mustafah, and The Death Of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi.
Along with, of course the many many that I haven't gotten to yet.

Which is the next really good one?

Interesting list. And funny on the listed twice, didn't mean to. I will read them all.

Let me know what you decide.

Narrowing it down to three.
Boy, Snow, Bird
The Lost Book
We Ride Upon Sticks

Shall we see if Laura can join?

I like the 3. Definitely check with Laura.

I will ask her tomorrow, when my internet isn't pissing me off so much. I am going to go read a book now, and try to relax.