Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

As we begin reading the February Book-A-Book selection, feel free to share your first impressions here.

Since I got the audio early from the library I started listening to it already. First off, I do like the narrator. She has enough distinction in her voice to tell the characters apart. Although sometimes the accent is so hard I'm not sure I get everything. lol!

Also, I guess I really didn't know what this story was about because it's not what I thought it was. I'll leave it at that. :)

I started listening this morning, and agree with Josen. The narrator is good, but her accent is heavy.

I peeked at a few reviews, so kind of knew it wasn't straight fiction, but I am still a little surprised. In a good way!

I am finishing up another audiobook before I start, so it may be a few days. But, I already have the impression from your comments here and other things I have read that it is a weird one!

Matthew wrote: "I am finishing up another audiobook before I start, so it may be a few days. But, I already have the impression from your comments here and other things I have read that it is a weird one!"

Ummm...yes?

Kandice wrote: "I started listening this morning, and agree with Josen. The narrator is good, but her accent is heavy.

I peeked at a few reviews, so kind of knew it wasn't straight fiction, but I am still a litt..."

I think I originally had my speed at 1.4 so I had to slow it down a notch because I couldn't understand some stuff. After I slowed it down, I still didn't understand some stuff. Lol!! But she's in character so I do like it.

Matthew wrote: "I am finishing up another audiobook before I start, so it may be a few days. But, I already have the impression from your comments here and other things I have read that it is a weird one!"

Yeah I had read absolutely nothing extra about the book, besides the synopsis, so when I realized the direction it was going I thought, this is gonna' be interesting.

I'm about 30% in. The fact that there is a movie starring Scarlett Johannsen, also threw me off. I mean, I know movies change things, but... I wasn't able to reconcile what I was reading to a movie with her. I've gotten past that and have a really, really detailed picture in my mind of what she looks like. Needless to say, it is NOT Scarlett.

Kandice wrote: "I'm about 30% in. The fact that there is a movie starring Scarlett Johannsen, also threw me off. I mean, I know movies change things, but... I wasn't able to reconcile what I was reading to a movie..."

What? There is a movie!?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1441395/

And that's the "cover" on my audio file. I am going to try to watch it after I finish listening.

I'm going to hide this, but it's not a spoiler after page 5 or so!

(view spoiler)[Movie Trivia
The men lured into the van by Scarlett Johansson's character were not actors. Jonathan Glazer had hidden cameras installed in the van and only informed the men afterwards that they were in a movie. (hide spoiler)]

Kandice wrote: "I'm about 30% in. The fact that there is a movie starring Scarlett Johannsen, also threw me off. I mean, I know movies change things, but... I wasn't able to reconcile what I was reading to a movie..."

Whoa! What? I looked it up! I only looked at one trailer but it didn't give you any idea what the movie was about. I'll have to check it out!

Kandice wrote: "I'm going to hide this, but it's not a spoiler after page 5 or so!



No way that's crazy!

I'm a little over halfway through so have had a detailed description of the "livestock" at different stages. Yuck!

This book is a bit of a genre bender. It could be horror, or is it sci-fi? Both, I guess, but the further I get the more I think it's also a book about self discovery.

Hmm......self discovery, that's interesting. I think I might have to agree with you there. By the way, this has been a little stomach turning at times lol!

I do have a question, I'm at 70% but this has been brought up before.....

(view spoiler)[ They keep differentiating between humans and bodsils (since I'm listening to it I'm not sure how they're spelling it lol!). I kinda' thought bodsils were humans? (hide spoiler)]

Josen wrote: "Hmm......self discovery, that's interesting. I think I might have to agree with you there. By the way, this has been a little stomach turning at times lol!

I do have a question, I'm at 70% but th..."

Answering your spoiler. (view spoiler)[This really bothered me for a while, but it finally clicked to me that Isserley is thinking in her own language which is being translated to English for us to "hear." If you look at it that way, we see ourselves, human, as the cream of the crop, top of the food chain, most evolved. In translation, we are hearing her word for humans as "bodsil" and her word for her own race as "human." I've noticed it with a few other words and phrases here and there.

I think it's a really good technique on the part of the writer, a little like Burgess did with the slang/Nasdat, in A Clockwork Orange. It allows us to miss the horror for a bit. Like when the farmer guy gives her a juicy, greasy slice of bodsil and she gobbles it up, even licking the paper. We don't have to really acknowledge that she is eating some poor hitchhiking sucker! At least not for a few more pages when we can't deny it any more. (hide spoiler)]

Kandice wrote: "Josen wrote: "Hmm......self discovery, that's interesting. I think I might have to agree with you there. By the way, this has been a little stomach turning at times lol!

I do have a question, I'm..."

Ooooh! Wow that's great Kandice! I never would've realized that. Thanks!

This also makes me wonder if I maybe would've gotten that if I had been reading it rather than listening to it, since I absorb things better visually. Just a thought for myself. Interesting.

I need to finish my other book! All these first impression discussions have me chomping at the bit to click the spoilers and get involved in this chat!

This was a very good, very interesting choice. I can't wait for you to weigh in.

I’m about 50% through it. It’s definitely captivating and I haven’t figured it all out yet

I got to a little over 80% this morning. Like Josen, I am listening. I like the narrator, especially since it's set in Scotland and I wouldn't have been able to duplicate that accent in my head. BUT... I know I am missing a few things.

Anyone this far (view spoiler)[ the rich guy just left, I'm not even going to attempt to spell his name, and I feel I may have missed something between them. Clearly Isserley is attracted to him, but did anything physical actually happen, or is that part of her depression? That she was a gorgeous "human," but was made ugly to be a hunter, and so no longer appeals to her kind? (hide spoiler)]

This book has clear agendas, but not overly preachy ones. Vegetarianism, elitism, classism, sexism, etc.

I am really, really enjoying it. Alternatively grossed out by it.

You know it didn’t really occur to me. It’s really subtle about it but I’d say you’re absolutely right

Tom wrote: "I’m about 50% through it. It’s definitely captivating and I haven’t figured it all out yet"

That's exactly how I felt half-way through.

Kandice wrote: "I got to a little over 80% this morning. Like Josen, I am listening. I like the narrator, especially since it's set in Scotland and I wouldn't have been able to duplicate that accent in my head. BU..."

Responding to your spoiler (view spoiler)[ I was a bit surprised by Isserley's attraction to (I'm hearing Amless Ves 🤷‍♀️). Because at first she was trying to not be around him and then they're sharing moments together. I don't think anything happened between them though.

I feel like she's frustrated with her "job" but yet feels threatened when Ves mentions that many would chomp at the bit to take over. (hide spoiler)]

Tom wrote: "You know it didn’t really occur to me. It’s really subtle about it but I’d say you’re absolutely right"

I agree. I hadn't caught those things but it's interesting you brought up vegetarianism Kandice. For those at about 80% (view spoiler)[ When Isserley and Ves were together and at one point there's sheep and he asks her why they don't use those for food. She's clearly mortified and says something like, "......but they walk on all fours!" (hide spoiler)]

Josen wrote: "Tom wrote: "You know it didn’t really occur to me. It’s really subtle about it but I’d say you’re absolutely right"

I agree. I hadn't caught those things but it's interesting you brought up vegeta..."

I think it would be akin to us (view spoiler)[eating people. I think her species views anything on four legs as above anything on two. I wonder how they feel about apes. (hide spoiler)]

Finally started - about an hour or so in. Not far enough to click spoilers, but starting to understand what some of the discussion is about.

Kandice wrote: "Josen wrote: "Tom wrote: "You know it didn’t really occur to me. It’s really subtle about it but I’d say you’re absolutely right"

I agree. I hadn't caught those things but it's interesting you bro..."

Responding to spoiler (view spoiler)[ Let me see if I'm understanding what you're writing correctly......are you saying that they view four legs as above and better than two? Okay, when listening to it I thought she was saying that four legs are beneath them and how could they possibly use them as food? (hide spoiler)]

This is one reason why I prefer reading physical books than listening or ebooks, it's easier for me to go back and find something and reread it.

Josen wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Josen wrote: "Tom wrote: "You know it didn’t really occur to me. It’s really subtle about it but I’d say you’re absolutely right"

I agree. I hadn't caught those things but it's int..."

That's exactly what I am saying because (view spoiler)[in her natural state she has four legs. I think I mentioned this somewhere else, but I think it would be like us being willing to eat apes or monkeys. It would be harder to accept because they are bipeds like us. Although, now that I think of it, all fowl are bipeds. Kind of... and we love us some chicken! (hide spoiler)]

Kandice wrote: "Josen wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Josen wrote: "Tom wrote: "You know it didn’t really occur to me. It’s really subtle about it but I’d say you’re absolutely right"

I agree. I hadn't caught those thing..."

Ooooooh! I see what you're saying.......and yes we do! Lol!

Okay catching up - and how do I do this as I want to respond to multiple discussions . . .

Hmmmmm

Okay, first the human discussion

(view spoiler)[I read these spoilers about halfway through and I appreciated the take on it and from that point it was much easier to follow that Isserley and her kind are the humans. Much easier than me coming up with that by myself! Thank you! :) (hide spoiler)]

Second, the Ves discussion

(view spoiler)[The Ves storyline was probably my least favorite in the book because it was the one time things felt forced. Like they had to have this time together to help move along some of Isserley's feelings in the plot. Of course, moving along the plot is part of any good story, but not as great if it feels like the author is saying "HERE, LOOK AT THIS SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM GETTING AT!!!"

I am not sure if I ever understood why Ves let the captives out at first. Maybe it was explained during his conversation with Isserley, but I missed it. It made me think that maybe he was a rebel who wanted to stop the capture and slaughter. But, it also came across that he was just the spoiled rich kid who likes to cause trouble and provoke people with controversial statements and behavior.

Even though it is my least favorite part, it is probably the part I would most likely go back to again so that I could tray to get more out of it or understand it better (hide spoiler)]

Third, the sheep discussion

(view spoiler)[YES! This one interaction stood out to me more than any in the book. The shock of "how could I possibly eat anything that is at least a little similar to us". Thought provoking, but it led to a couple other thoughts . . .

1. Lions, tigers, and bears all walk on all fours and have no issue eating other four-legged animals

2. Isserley does try other food in the book. It usually makes her sick but I cannot tell if it is from our additives or because her body cannot process the meat. However, my guess is that she does not know where the meat comes from and doesn't give any thought to it when she tries it. If she did, after the reaction she had with the sheep, I don't think she would have even tried it. (hide spoiler)]

Matthew wrote: "Third, the sheep discussion

YES! This one interaction stood out to me more than any in the book. The shock of "how could I possibly eat anything that is at least a little similar to us". Thought p..."

Your first point (view spoiler)[ But those animals are NOT sentient, or what we would consider human. Possibly the fact that they DO eat other four legged animals would be enough to make them... a lesser species. According to the aliens, but that still doesn't mean they would eat them.

I would like to know what everyone eats on her home planet. The homosapien meat is a very expensive delicacy. They mention that a few times. (hide spoiler)]

Kandice wrote: "Your first point . . ."

Interesting . . . makes sense. I wonder how that would have played out if Isserley saw a lion attack a gazelle. Would it disgust her? Surprise her? Both?

Matthew wrote: "Kandice wrote: "Your first point . . ."

Interesting . . . makes sense. I wonder how that would have played out if Isserley saw a lion attack a gazelle. Would it disgust her? Surprise her? Both?"

I think it would depend on how familiar she became with our wildlife. I think her disgust at the idea of (view spoiler)[eating a sheep (hide spoiler)] was simply aesthetics. She didn't interact with our world other than her trolling, so I think if she became more familiar with sheep, or animals on earth in general, her reaction would be different.

(view spoiler)[I would guess that if we visited an alien world with a wild animal that looked like a crawling baby, but was hunted for food, we wouldn't be able to eat it. (hide spoiler)]

Matthew wrote: "Second, the Ves discussion

The Ves storyline was probably my least favorite in the book because it was the one time things felt forced. Like they had to have this time together to help move along ..."

Hmm.....I kinda wondered (view spoiler)[ if Ves was against it also by letting those captives out. I wasn't sure about the whole reasoning for that either. As for his storyline with Isserley it took me by surprise. Kinda' insta-lovey in a way because she didn't want to have anything to do with him and then they have this moment and she's all into him? So yes Matthew I agree with you in that it was moreso to move the plot along for Isserley's feelings. (hide spoiler)]

Josen wrote: "Matthew wrote: "Second, the Ves discussion

The Ves storyline was probably my least favorite in the book because it was the one time things felt forced. Like they had to have this time together to ..."

I found it pretty silly (view spoiler)[ that he let them out. It was quite a production to move them, and could no one really stop him? That felt very unrealistic to me. That's saying something when I am accepting a book about dog looking aliens, masquerading as humans to use them for a delicacy!!! (hide spoiler)]

Just catching up on the chats again - Kandice just made me LOL!