Book Snails Book Group discussion

For those who haven't read Red Rising, please come and join me, Pien, Aya, and Ushashi for a buddy read. Looking forward to it, ladies!

Yai 🐌 I have planned to start Monday, I am trying to dig in to Saxo Grammaticus brick of a book about us danes🇩🇰

Hurray! 🎈🐌🎈🎄

Pien, I have the paper copy, but not with me at work. I can take a look at it tonight to see how it's broken down, and let you know then.😊

Monday sounds good. I will finish Such a Fun Age by then. Everyone starting on Monday?

I see now the book contains of four parts. What do you think of taking five days per part, starting monday? After that, we can have a chat about what we thought of that first part (without spoilers about what’s next)?

Vickie wrote: "Pien, I have the paper copy, but not with me at work. I can take a look at it tonight to see how it's broken down, and let you know then.😊"

Thanks Vickie! If you could take a look wether reading one part per five days looks doable (is that a word? I mean possible)?

The first part is around 50 pages, other three are 100 +/- 20 each. Five (or maybe six) days per part will work for me.

And 'doable' is a word Pien. It's in Webster dictionary. I checked it the first time I put it in writing and had the same doubt 😂.

I will try my best to stick with the plan.😏😉

Haha Ushashi, thanks, it sounds like a word but writing it down makes one wonder... 😂

It sounds like a good plan, Pien.
LOL Ushashi.., I would have looked it up too 😊

Hey, how far have you all read? I just finished the first part. It ends on a cliffhanger, which I found quite interesting.

Is anyone else finding parallels with The Hunger Games? Or is it just my THG obsessed mind?

Sorry ladies, I will be starting soon but I am involved with Homegoing a day or two more 🎄☃️

I haven’t finished the first part yet but I also got a The hunger games feel. I like it so far!

Yes, I finished the first part as well, and yep, feeling that vibe too.😊 Also (view spoiler)[my heart broke for Darrow with Eo's death. Even though I was only 50 pages in, I was really starting to like her and her spitfire attitude. (hide spoiler)] Don't open the spoiler until you've finished part one.

aahhh...major fomo 🙀

😂 Poor Aya, you’ll catch up soon enough

Yes Aya, don't worry. The first part is short. You will catch up soon.

Vickie, I agree (view spoiler)[ it seemed like if rebellion had a body, Darrow would be the arms of it while Eo the spirit. Her character was morally driven. But alas! (hide spoiler)]

I can see by the spoilers that I am not yet done with the first part, but I can tell you that I think I am going to love this series.

I agree that it might look a little like The Hungergames, but I loved the movies, so I will be just fine.

I am 15% in on my audio and I think that the book copy is about 380 pages?
I have calculated that I should be at page 57, but I haven´t heard the spoilers yet.
- obviously not a math geek ;-/ and my calculator might have a problem...

I hope you are having pleasant holydays in spite of the limited situation.

Hi Aya, yes it might be hard to know when part one is finished with an audio book! What’s the last thing that happened in the story? You must be close

Hi Pien, Darrow and Io has discovered animals and grass !

Pien, my audio just announced Part two, so no worries 😉 and thanks for your help 🙋‍♀️
I will not go any further until we have discussed part one to keep it fresh in memory.
I really really like this book so far.

Well, I guess we’ve all finished the first part. I’m not shure if I have to use the spoilers trick but to be shure:
: (view spoiler)[ As I said I liked this first part. The characters are very vivid to me, and the repression in their world very sensible.I immediately loved his wife and it’s shocking such an important and beautiful character does so early in the story. It will certainly feed the anger of the others.
The only thing that didn’t feel very logical to me, was how the guy (bad at names, sorry) reacted to being above the ground for tje first time. He enjoyed the beauty, not at all wondering why they hadn’t ever been there before, who came there usually and if it was something to be angry about (which it is). That part I didn’t understand... (hide spoiler)]

I read this some time ago, but unfortunately can't remember much about it, except that I thought it was very good. I'll just lurk here to refresh my memory. :)

Yeah Pien, Darrow's reaction to the forest was unusual. (view spoiler)[ Particularly right after being cheated out of their laurel. He should have been angry, or at least bothered about never knowing it. But then again, so far he doesn't seem like a character that thinks a lot. He accepts the govt fed notions and tries to do his best within it, sometimes recklessly. May be he never really learned to question the order of the day, much unlike his wife!! (hide spoiler)]

Hey Candace! Nice to have you around here :)

Ushashi wrote: "Yeah Pien, Darrow's reaction to the forest was unusual. [spoilers removed]

Hey Candace! Nice to have you around here :)"

Thanks - nice to be here! I should probably finish out the series. It was good.

Hi Candace! Nice you’re reading our thoughts about the book 😃
Ushashi, I think you’re right. But then it’s strange he is very well aware of the way they are being used.

I never thought about Darrows reaction because I saw him as someone who would never question the authorities, but I see your point, Pien. I was so involved in the story and chocked that (view spoiler)[the author kills off the two main characters so soon, I was sure that Darrow would be The Red Rising (hide spoiler)].

I also like the description and the setting of Mars and how gravity can be a "problem"..
and in spite of the similarities to Hunger Games I am capable of looking the other way because it is well written - so far.

I don't know, Aya, but I think (view spoiler)[Darrow might not be dead. He commented about how whatever was in the flask given by his uncle tasted strange and his uncle made him drink it all. Then when he was getting hung, he said how he was dizzy and his heart felt slow and funny. His uncle winks at him too, so I'm thinking things aren't as they seem. (hide spoiler)]😊

OMG´s Vickie, I´m glad to hear it -I think you are right.
So when do we read the next part - I can´t wait, had to start Anna karenina just because i wanted to listen to Red Rising to the end - lol

I have started the second part yesterday. It's getting better and better so far.
And what a page-turner!!

I am right behind you, Ushashi, who needs Anna!

Yes, just read along! This part is ‘to be finished’ this Wednesday, if us snails get there in time :-)

This second part is introducing so many words without explanation, it's getting difficult for me to keep track of which means what.
(view spoiler)[ The number of changes that Darrow is going through to become a Gold is enough to make someone a whole new species. Actually, it seems like they are bionic humanoids almost. I wonder how they reached that stage of modification in the first place! Are the natural Golds born that way or they have to be engineered too? (hide spoiler)]

I finished part II and I was wondering exactly what Ushashi writes.
(view spoiler)[ It sounds like they can have children like themselves, but are all these different colors willingly created? It sounds like every race being stronger than the one ‘below’ just got a little more attention being formed. And are there still the usual humans?
I loved the idea of making Darrow a Gold, what an exciting turn in the story! His way of being upgraded is cruel en still a bit Hunger gamesy I think. I was shocked at the last part, I expected there would be a smart way to come out alive both, that that was the meaning of the test. Darrow being a killer was an awful thing to read about. (hide spoiler)]

This is getting good. And I agree with both of you, (view spoiler)[ all these Colors, cities, worlds, people...😳 yikes! I'm gonna need a notebook soon, lol. And, yes, this is so much like Hunger Games. Mickey prepping Darrow, yeah that's just like Cinna in HG. Ugh, that ending. Tough to read for sure.😕 (hide spoiler)]

I finished part 2 and couldn't control myself, so read a couple of chapters of part 3 too. (view spoiler)[ I was expecting some twist that may be Julian was not dead, but well ...! What kind of a monstrous world is this! It's one thing to discriminate against others the golds consider inferior races (that's horrible enough), but it's a whole different thing to knowingly send your own children to that place. A society that cannot love and protect its own children are so doomed. It's better to be born at a house of Red than Gold in that world. At least the family love and concern run true there. (hide spoiler)]
The book is going brilliant though. I wonder how it's not been adapted to a movie or series yet.

I have not quite read part two but cannot help reading the spoilers. I agree in all your thoughts and wonder myself (view spoiler)[why Darrow insists in keeping his name, it is dangerous enough that he risks being found out? I get it he is a hero and want to keep his name/pride, but it could spoil so much for others! (hide spoiler)]

I agree Aya, about the name

I also agree with you. It was a big risk. (view spoiler)[ Though it doesn't seem that way most of the time, he is just a teenager after all. And he just gave up everything of his identity. I don't think he knows enough/ thinks enough about the risks his actions might have on others (hide spoiler)]

Pardon me but, holy hell, the ending to part 3!!!😳😱 And, sorry, but I probably won't be able to wait and follow the schedule because I have several group/buddy reads this month (some very bad planning on my part overextending myself ), so I'm going to need to finish this one sooner rather than later.

This story is just getting better. (view spoiler)[ I am liking the fact that at some times Darrow thinks like he is an actual Gold and then realizes that himself. Also some of the friendships look quite authentic. It's bound to give him moral dilemma at some point (may be later in the series). But I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that parents willingly send their children to this death/mutilation/abuse game. I am wondering where the death toll will end finally. (hide spoiler)]

Holy moly, couldn't put this one down till I finished! Wow, that's all I can say. And I do believe I enjoyed it so much more than all the books it's compared to. Can't wait to discuss it with you all. And now I have to get to all my other group/buddy reads, but I also want to read book 2. Ugh, such a dilemma!!

Wow, Vickie, you really loved this one! I do too, but I’m a bit behind and we’re traveling home from our (in-country) holiday today, hope tonight ive finished this part!
And you can go on with all the other books now :-)
Ushashi, you’ve finished the part I guess? Cant wait what’s going to happen! And how’s Aya doing?

Yes, I've finished part 3 and read 2 chapters of part 4, because again I couldn't take the suspense of the end of part 3 😅. I can wait for you to catch up now.
Have a safe journey, Pien!

In part 4, did you notice the namedrop of another character from the sci-fi universe? 👽

Part 4 also Aya? What are you? Snails in rockets🚀 ?!! Well read along, it’s far too exciting to have pitstops with this story!

I am listening to the last two hours tomorrow, Pien, I stopped trying to remember names but I think I will discuss better after finishing tomorrow, and I am going to read the next two books soon, I love this series 🙀❤️📚🎧

Finished while cleaning out my closet, it is too nailbiting to sit still. I gave it 5 stars just because I did not want to stop the audio at any time. I tried the part 1 - part 2..thing, but clearly it did not work for me. I had to know if the end was what I had in mind and it was, how could he (view spoiler)[master the universe in any other way (hide spoiler)].

Waiting for you snails to finish, so that we can discuss.

oh..and I have startet #2 in the series, and after that #3 as my January read.

I have finished too. Loved it. I really want to read the rest of the series but committed to a bunch of other books already. But I will get to those very soon. Looking forward to our discussions.

Aya, which namedrop were you saying from another universe? I must have missed 🤦.