You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

One of the group reads for December is The Future by Naomi Alderman Please discuss the book in this thread.

Saar will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during December 2023.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

A note on discussion: Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc.

In addition to this, the group reads are meant to be a "read along" so it is preferable that you discuss the book as you read rather than wait until you've finished the book.

And finally, discussion is not about just listing your thoughts. Please interact with the other group members, comment on their thoughts, and if they comment on yours, respond to them. This is what makes a good book discussion!

You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.

Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

I'm planning on starting this book after the Toppler.

I'm going to look on Kindle if there's a copy, because the library doesn't have any.

I will start this early next week. I have the audio so forgive any name misspellings. Hope it’s a good one!

I loved this one! I got an ARC of it and kept having to read parts of it to my husband. I hope you guys enjoy it!

I have it on audio and will start after the toppler.

I'll also be starting in the next couple of days.

Super, Katrisa, maybe you can join the discussion and give us some interesting comments?

I'm going to start this evening and see how many pages I can read, because I'm a bit tired after my daytrip.

I'm around page 26 and the writing makes me think of the writing style of John Scalzi.
(view spoiler)[The part where Ellen, Lenk and Zimri seems to be some powerfull tech ticoons. They get a notification about the end of days. The end of the world probably, but there's not much explained about it yet. The notifications that they and their loved ones are on the list to get to the bunker, makes me think of other disaster movies like '2012'. (hide spoiler)]

I'll be starting this now tomorrow, and will be interesting if the audio version works for me. I had to finish listening to Lady Tan's Circle of Women. Usually I read an e-book for this type of discussion so I can highlight passages to refer to in the discussion. Also page numbers are difficult to work out. Hopefully there will be chapters!

I am starting this now…just a few minutes into the audiobook and I get the John Scalzi comparison.

I’m expecting an “eat the rich” and powerful story.

I am reading the audiobook. I've read up to chapter 5.
I am enjoying the book and the style of writing.

Lenk Sketlish is at (view spoiler)[ an ecological conference the day the world ends. He is feeling very angry and annoyed because the lady who is coaching him in the art of being calm has a nose whistle when she is breathing! The contrasting characters are diametrically opposed, and I like this style of writing when opposites meet and contrast in a book. It helps to imagine the characters better. She is all about 'the moment' and he is all about 'the future'. He has a huge ego about how great his company is doing. (hide spoiler)]

Zimri Nommik is introduced to us a (view spoiler)[ billionaire who is getting a divorce from his wife. He had a Jewish upbringing and studied at Harvard, and he is the CEO of his company. He accidently misses the notification about the end of the world because he is sleeping with his wife. Now, it looks like she is being rescued too. He seems to have the viewpoint that things and people have a single purpose. He believes that everything is disposable and replaceable. He has a sense of superiority to all other people. (hide spoiler)]

I am planning on starting the book later this evening.

I have made a good start on this book now. Five major characters have been introduced, (view spoiler)[the three tech giants, Lenny, Zimri and Ellen. Also Lai Zhen, a survivor of the fall of Hong Kong and Martha Einkorn, daughter of Enoch, leader of a cult. (hide spoiler)]
As I was not sure what to expect so far listening to this book has been pleasant. It is holding my interest and reasonably easy to follow. (view spoiler)[Though when Lai Zhen and Martha interact, back stories are then involved. (hide spoiler)].
I am enjoying the style of writing, premise and there is plenty to think about.

I've just finished chapter 10. I'm having trouble concentrating ATM and had to listen to some chapters to some bits several times to get the characters straight but i'm getting into the swing of it now.

I'm doing the audio too so I'm very glad you've spelt all the names for me! It's a full cast reading wit the author doing some parts and I suspect that I know which voice is hers! Really enjoying the humor and the authors trademark religious overtones.

end of cpt 8 (view spoiler)[ I enjoyed meeting the 3 tech tycoons. They are very well observed. They know they have screwed the planet for as much as it take so they are all escaping to their underground complex to ride out whatever is to come.

Here's a name that noone has been kind enough to spell yet, sounds like Li Jong, a refugee from Hong Kong, as social media channel channel devoted to survival tactics. She is beginning a relationship with Martha, Lenks PA, when said PA becomes uncontactable. I'm inclined to like Jong and not to trust Martha.

Then there's the assassin who comes after Jong in a Hong Kong mall. Jong narrowly escapes with the help of a device that was gifted to her anonymously. The devise calls itself Auger. It specifically says " I am not a prophet". Is this a reference to Enoch? Jong has overheard mention of "the prophet" in a conversation between Martha and Cilla (Lenks wife). Who wants Jong dead and who wants to save her?

Badger is the youngest offspring of Ellen and seems to be authentic. I like them! They show Jong the bunker. Jong has a morel dillima. Could she take a golden ticket and leave the world to its fate or will she side with Badger and do the right ting. What would a true survivalist do?

I don't think she has any family ties to complicate matters. It just comes down to whether she could live with herself - or whether she could stand to live, for an unknown length of time, wit the assholes who caused the problem! But I'm making assumptions here, she hasn't yet been offered the choice.

(hide spoiler)]

Sorry for the rambling comments, I'm trying to get it all straight in my head.

Margo wrote:
I think you have it straight.
Here is background on some characters that I looked up as I am reading the audio version and needed some help with names as well..
(view spoiler)[Lai Zhen is a thirty-something woman who makes a living creating survivalist videos.
Martha Einkorn, as a teen, ran away from her father Enoch’s apocalypse cult and worked her way up to become Lenk’s trusted and powerful personal assistant.
Selah Nommik is the “trophy wife” of Zimri Nommik and also a brilliant coder and environmentalist. (hide spoiler)]
I have read up to Chap 7
I agree with Saar about the writing style being like that of John Scalzi.
There is a lot going on in this book, and not quite sure where it is all leading
(view spoiler)[The 3 women meet in an apartment, Lai Zhen and Martha spend time together. Lai Zhen follows Martha and sees her disappear through a concealed doorway.
After this the book goes back to Lai Zhen using coolant from a pipe to defend herself from the attacker who is pursuing her. (hide spoiler)]
Though there are switches between timelines which adds to the complexity, I am enjoying listening and am just going with the flow.

Margo I had to start it all over again because I was not keeping track of what the heck was going on but I am in the flow again.

I think there is a lot of setting up and I’m ready for the story to take over.

Odette, going with the flow seems to be a good idea.

I've made it to page 50, but I'm sick since Monday. I'll try to post some comments this evening and read the messages. Sorry!

Marnie wrote: "Margo I had to start it all over again because I was not keeping track of what the heck was going on but I am in the flow again.

I think there is a lot of setting up and I’m ready for the story t..."

@Marnie: this I can say now: I also wanted to start all over again, because the story switches to different POV's for now, but I've made it through.

So for now there are:
(view spoiler)[Lenny, Zimry and Ellen: 3 big tech heads, with different tech businesses who seems to be each other concurrents, but I think they need to work together in some way or another time to come. Then there is Martha Eikhorn. I directly connected her to 'OneCorn, on that website for survivalists (the name escapes me now, due to fever brain!) Maybe she'll play a more important role as she works for big techs who wants to control the world, but it seems she's the opposit of it. I found the bit of God and Abraham interesting, because that is what humans do: just sweep everything and don't make an exeption for the smaller 'good' group. It seems 'easier' to wipe everything/everyone out and start all over again, than to go along with a smaller group and help them. I hope I'm making sense.
Then there's Lai Zhen: she's an internet famous survivalist, but when push comes to shove, well, loook at her pants 😉It's hard to kick the survivalist modus into action. What is interesting is that the media is saying that it's just some light or something that is exploded, but it's really an assasin that is after her. The media seems quick to cover things up. And on the sidenote: what weird mall is that to shop in?? (hide spoiler)]

Odette wrote: "Margo wrote:
I think you have it straight.
Here is background on some characters that I looked up as I am reading the audio version and needed some help with names as well..
Lai Zhen is a thirty-s..."

Thanks Odette, I'd never come up with those spellings! I'm always wary of looking up spellings incase of inadvertent spoilers.

Marnie wrote: "Margo I had to start it all over again because I was not keeping track of what the heck was going on but I am in the flow again.

I think there is a lot of setting up and I’m ready for the story t..."

Marnie, the backwards and forwards timeline was giving me doing my head in! thank goodness it has settled down for now, though I think it was a good choice be the author to do it that way rather than a huge info dump.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "So for now there are:
Lenny, Zimry and Ellen: 3 big tech heads, with different tech businesses who seems to be each other concurrents, but I think they need to work together in some way or another ..."

Saar, hope you feel better soon.

(view spoiler)[
It is all too common to react this way, what we call throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I also the biblical refresher and the links to pre-history that went right over my head in sunday school.
(hide spoiler)]

Part 3 chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ Grim start to part 3 with suicide attempt (or possibly cry for help) on that forum. It is so sad when a workforce is laid off without redundancy pay, sadly this is not uncommon. If we're right about Martha being “one corn” I guess she knows some hacks to find the posters location.
(hide spoiler)]

Grainne wrote: "I am reading the audiobook. I've read up to chapter 5.
I am enjoying the book and the style of writing.

Lenk Sketlish is at [spoilers removed]

Zimri Nommik is introduced to us a [spoilers removed]"

I agree on your descriptions of Lenny and Zimri, Grainne.
(view spoiler)[They feel both superior and in a lot of books you've got 'rich important people' acting the way they do on the mental coach. I don't know why Zimri wants to divorce Selah, but it makes me curious. (hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "I've just finished chapter 10. " I think you mean (view spoiler)[Lai Zhen instead of Li Jong? I'm reading the physical copy, so I could be wrong. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not that far in the book as most you all are, but I'm at chapter 6: 'Demonstrate your game':
(view spoiler)[Martha is the daughter of a cult leader: Enoch and she's an Enochite. The cult seems to be something that wants the world to end and start all over again. That was the idea of Enoch, but it looks a lot like Martha aka OneCorn is saying on the Name The Day - forum. She has this important background about survival, being self sustainable..., but now she works for Lenk. The 3 techs icoon seem to control everything and everyone in the world and you must think that this goes against her nature? Lenk's compagny can control the weather and that makes me think about the biblical story of God and Abraham too: wipe everything on the world out with a natural disaster.
When Lai Zhen, Martha and Selah meet in the hotel room, there was this question to Lai Zhen about how she would survive when the world comes to an end. Could it be that Selah and Martha or Lenk, Zimry and Ellen planned the apocalypse to start somewhere anew? (hide spoiler)]

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Margo wrote: "I've just finished chapter 10. " I think you mean [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, my poor attempt at phonetic spelling LOL

Saar The Book owl wrote:

Saar, hope you are feeling better.

(view spoiler)[It is an interesting thought that the apocalypse was planned. Ellen Bywater's expensive bunker in New Zealand sounds perfect. They would be isolated, but is it sustainable in the long term.
I also wondered why Zimri wants to divorce Selah. Perhaps he is just not satisfied with what he has, always wanting more. Also, could be that Selah is more generous than he is, giving away money. (hide spoiler)]

I have been reading this at a slower pace, and have just finished chapter where Badger is introduced.

(view spoiler)[Badger Bywater is the nonbinary and youngest child of Ellen Bywater with a social media presence focused on direct critique of their mother’s company.
I can relate to the discussion of money being made from resources that in the past were free. The historical enclosing of common land in Ireland is mentioned and compared to the money made out of present day access to media. (hide spoiler)]

I have not started the book yet. Life got busy this week. I'm finishing up my book for badge 3 of the annual challenge and then I will pick up this book.
It has been very hard not to click the spoilers as I've been reading through the discussion.

I am about half way through this book now, and still enjoying listening to it. I feel that this book has potential to become a great book.
There is a lot of information to absorb and quite a complex plot. In this instance I would prefer to read an e-book version where it is possible to highlight and note passages.
Just been introduced to Marius, (view spoiler)[a Romanian university lecturer who is trying to convince his students that computers can’t understand, learn, or feel. (hide spoiler)]
The relationship between Zhen and Martha is complicated. (view spoiler)[Is Martha using Zhen to advance her own agenda? After their brief affair, Martha gifted Zhen a software program. This is what enables her to escape threat on her life. Also at the same time it is enabling her to be tracked. (hide spoiler)]

I am loving this book, I have to tear myself away from it to do anything else! I will read spoilers when I get back to my laptop later, for now I'm just updating my own thoughts. Now that I understand the layout, I'll update at the end of each part.

To end of pt 3 (view spoiler)[
Suicide attempt was in the past, the way this is written you wouldn't know. Martha did rescue the man who turned out to be Albert (or Alfred, my memory is terrible), the original founder of Ellen's company, the guy that up til now we only met at the rooftop party. I wondered at the similar story but decided that it was a common enough occurance to be coincidence.
We get more of Martha's backstory. The tough love that Enoch showed her, her leaving the community and the subsequent fire that killed Enoch. Was his body found? I have a feeling we may not have heard the last of him (if his body was found then I missed it, that's the problem with audio - it's too hard to double check plot points).

Martha went on to meet Lenk at another party and so impress him with survival skills that he hired her. A protest (very gross) caused her to meet Selah and the two women instantly cliqued. They form a group with Badger and the original owner of Ellens company ( suicide surviver whose name escapes me). Through Martha, they bring the 3 tech heads the technology that is Auger. Without telling the others, Martha gifts the app to Lai Zhen. So that's another piece of the puzzle! (hide spoiler)]

To the end of part 4

(view spoiler)[
I was definitely subjected to censorship as a child! The bible stories was given to read were way less dark than the ones being posted on this forum - sex, incest, drunkenness! Not suitable sunday school subjects LOL

Much more worrying is the Happy Meal programs with Selah infects the social media sites with. A program that can change user comments is very worrying but it backfires in unforeseeable ways leading to loss of life. Our little gang of tech rebels are feeling very guilty.

Marius, a software lecturer, is Zhens best friend even though they've never met in person. Says a lot for our society! He has some nasty personal habits but he willingly takes her in. This leads to his workspace being burned downstairs when a helpful student turns Zhens phone on. Auger imbedded finds it and destroys the building. Marius says he will travel with her to Canada to break into the secret bunker.

In the meantime this world has become evermore depressing and evermore real. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. Workers are allowed 43 seconds for their bathroom breaks, people depend on their digital buddies for mental health, schools are given free hardware in order to get students hooked on their software.

Zhen and Marius breach the bunker but it is already too late. Zhen gets the extraction signal. She wants Marius to come with her but he prefers to face the end of days with his girlfriend.

Side note: I didn't realise Zhens father is still alive. Evidently not a close family.

(hide spoiler)]

Odette wrote: "
."

Re Selah generosity: (view spoiler)[ My take on the big donation was that Zimri wouldn't have minded as money was soon going to lose all value.
(hide spoiler)]

I've discovered that I can take notes on my Kindle, so that became very usefull for this book!
You're flying through the book, Margo, I love it :)

Chapter 9: Pretty fruity.
(view spoiler)[It is interesting that 'AUGR' is -'nr in fact used for the first time in a book. In another book The Shadow of What Was Lost, there were also augrs: strange prophets, but important. It seems that Lei Zhen got the watch from Martha (the mysterious gift) as in keeping her safe. But why is Zhen important to Martha? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 10: Enclosures.
(view spoiler)[Badger got properly introduced with the movie she made. Why she chose Zhen to view this? The movie talks about gettting back what is yours: it is YOUR information, YOUR data, YOUR adress book...NOw the citizens don't think for themselves anymore with the 3 big techs. I mean: there's software for everything, to monitor your every step. Humans seems to be living robots, ,with no mind of thought of its own. I think Badger wants to change that as a whistleblower. Maybe that's also what the Enochites wants to achieve: back to basic. Citizens are guided by signs every where, with no thought of there own. Maybe Badger's idea is that humans stand up for themselves again, against the big tech? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11: Snowflake accident.
(view spoiler)[Zhen is guided by the Augr on her watch and needs to leave Singapore. She knows now she's the target of the Enochites, because of something she said and now they want revenge. Again, is it Martha that keeps an eye out on her? (hide spoiler)]

Part 3: The last good man in sodom.
(view spoiler)[EinCorn is teaching Genesis again on the forum. What is Martha's purpose for doing this? Does she wants to warn everyone that there's something coming? That the end of days is near? 'That's the trouble, isn't it? Everyone has their lane. Stick to it. Never offer help to people in need of guidance or warm bread to hungry travelers.' (quote from Fox in the Hen House) That's an interesting link to the real world here. It refers to people being selfish and thinking that if I keep it clean before my own house and my neighbours will do that too, the whole lane will be clean. That's not the message. The message is to be in solidarity, to help each other. Then there is Gathered Heart that's saying to Eincorn 'We just want to keep faithful to the teachings of Enoch without this filth.' It's not about 'this filth', it's about Martha trying to make a point what will happen if the world goes awry, isn't it? The Augurs came to warn in the city of Sodom: 'The city you live in has been judged and condemned. Something bas is coming and you do not want to be here when it arrives. Gather your family and get the f**k out.' So, this again can be related to the watch of Zhen and the existance of the golden ticket. Zhen gets a warning to leave and some people has an exit in the form of a ticket. I also see this as the world that is on the one side of the scale and is being weight against a feather on the other scale: the world has been weight too heavy with everything that went wrong (refering to Sodom? ) and most come to an end.
In the Biblical reference Lot came back and the migrants (the Augrs) grabbed Lot, Edo, Moa and Amma and they got teleported. Could the 3 bigh tech somehow being linked to this traveling party? Does Martha and the reset sees themeselves as Lot and his family, saved by the Augrs?

On page 123: Eincorn talks about the farmers and the hunters. There seemed to be hatred between both groups: 'The hunters think the farmers are weak and wily. The farmers think the hunters are brutish.' Maybe the farmers just forgot how they could survive being hunters? The hunters thought maybe that the farmers were to depended from other things. They weren't self suistainable enougg, from hunters perspective?
'When the farmers won, they created a new future and we're living in it.'>/i> The Enochites are hunters and the opposite from the farmers. (hide spoiler)]

I can't read some spoilers yet, because I've haven't read those parts yet, but I'll react on them later.

Margo wrote: "Odette wrote: "
."

Re Selah generosity: "

Interesting thought!

Saar The Book owl wrote:
Listening to this book is good, and enjoying the experience. There is a lot happening and switching between timelines and points of view. However, feel an e-book version or hard copy would be better for the purpose of this discussion.
It is must be a popular book, as have reserved the e-book version from the library, and is not available until 8 March! I am looking forward to re-reading it next year.

Saar The Book owl wrote: :

Chap 10: (view spoiler)[ I agree people are not thinking for themselves and being manipulated by the tech giants, who just want to make more money through controlling people. (hide spoiler)]
Chap 11: (view spoiler)[ After reading a bit further on, I am still not sure about Zhen's role. She does not seem to belong to either group. Martha appears to be the sly one, but maybe willing to use any means to achieve her purpose. I wondering how the eincorns differ from the enochites. (hide spoiler)]
Part 3: (view spoiler)[Eincorn's blog is a bit hard for me to take in and retain, listening to the audio version.
Saar, I do like very much your analysis of it, and comparing the biblical story to the present in the book. Their blog about the foxes and rabbits (hunters and farmers) is interesting. Are we seeing two extreme views, tech giants (power) and eincorns (fanatics). (hide spoiler)]

There is just so much in this book to think about

I have read up to chapter 9 Part 4

Zhen reads as a very (view spoiler)[ strong character who is very resourceful. She has plenty of life experience in the area of survival and the fact that she shares it with the world through videos, internet, blogs etc. shows that she has a generous spirit who likes to be of service to others. (hide spoiler)]
The relationship between Martha and Zhen (view spoiler)[ took me by surprise. I somehow didn't see that coming. When Zhen is wondering why someone is trying to kill, her list of people is quite amusing. I am sure that humor was intended by the author, but I thought it was revealing and she knows the location of the secret hidden bunker of the billionaires. That's something that could get you into trouble. (hide spoiler)]

Odette wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote:
Listening to this book is good, and enjoying the experience. There is a lot happening and switching between timelines and points of view. However, feel an e-book version o..."

@SaarTheBookOwl 8th of March?! That's a long wait for a copy of a book! Yes, augurs were around in all ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, Mayans, and later too. Especially civilizations that had many different Gods for different purposes. The word augur comes from the name given to prophets in Ancient Roman times and it was their job to determine the will of the Gods. You don't find that in the jobs section these days. I wonder if it makes us wiser as people or less so.

@Odette
Selah and Zimri did (view spoiler)[ not marry for love and think that might be why they are getting divorced. As the rejected kid, he wanted the beautiful woman to like him, and she did, but I think all beautiful women to like him, not just her. That's my reading of it. (hide spoiler)]
Badger Bywater (view spoiler)[ was told that he could only bring two people with him. I thought that was a huge thing to ask of them as they would be leaving everyone else behind and they were also aware that the end of the world was coming. That surprised me because Martha hasn't vetted these two people and they'll be in the bunker together. Also, Badger doesn't seem like the type who could limit it to two people. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished chapter 7, part 5. 3 hours 10 min left.

(view spoiler)[ Three tech heads and one survival expert marooned on an island. It can't be an accident that Zhen is there and Martha isn't. I'm wondering who sent Zhen. Possibilities are Lenk, Ellen, Martha or one of Ellens children. Zimmri has just died a horrible death, leaving Lenk and Ellen to potentially dominant world. Which ever one survives wins (it's just like squid games!). Someone arranged for Martha to be there to make sure there was a surviver. Could it really be Martha playing the long game? I really want Martha to have honest so that Zhen can have a happy ending.

(hide spoiler)]

I finally was able to start the book last night and though I haven't gotten very far, it is holding my interest. I must say it must be nice to be (view spoiler)[so rich and powerful that when the "end of days" comes you can head off to your own bunker. I know the US president and cabinet members have a bunker, but I didn't think about the very wealthy. I'm in the wrong tax bracket lol (hide spoiler)]

Odette wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote:
Listening to this book is good, and enjoying the experience. There is a lot happening and switching between timelines and points of view. However, feel an e-book version o..."

I think I'll be relistening to this one in the future too Odette. I feel I'm probablly missing some parts while I try to digest others!

Grainne wrote: "Odette wrote: " .."

Re Badger (view spoiler)[ It also surprised me that they were allowed to bring 2 people, as you say, 2 unvetted people. What if someone brought a fanatic or an axe-murderer?

(hide spoiler)]

Jayme wrote: "I finally was able to start the book last night and though I haven't gotten very far, it is holding my interest. I must say it must be nice to be [spoilers removed]"

LOL, Jayme, so am I! Glad you're able to start reading ;-)

Margo wrote: "Grainne wrote: "Odette wrote: " .."

Re Badger

"

Right?! (view spoiler)[ It's a tight group of very wealthy individuals. They all seem smart, and they have worked out the algorithms. I thought it might be a plot twisted but then the timeline shifted lol so I don't know. It's a bit switchy swatchy in places. (hide spoiler)]

I'm at the end of Part 5

(view spoiler)[ So, it seems everyone on the island has faked their death apart from Lenk. In each case this must have required help from the suit. This means the suits are capable of deception. Also, the suits are taking on mannerisms from the user. Is this mimicry or are they learning?

What can Zhen and Ellen do now? Will they have to stay where they "died", in which case how do they survive? Zimmri "died" off stage, so where is he gone? Now sure what size the island is but not only do they need to avoid each other, but they need to leave of activity behind them - that's a tough job!
(hide spoiler)]

I've read up to Chapter 7 Part 5

Martha has an interesting past and her journey to the island hasn't been linear. (view spoiler)[ She is an Enochite, I hope I am using that word correctly. She has survival skills and we see this when she meets the bear with the broken jaw. She was particularly clever to observe first and find the bear's weakness i.e. his broken jaw. She then has a target on the bear to rescue herself. These skills (to skin and prepare the animals to eat) later impressed Lenk at a party and he hires her. She agrees to work for him and becomes his right-hand woman. (hide spoiler)]

Lenk and Zhen
(view spoiler)[ Zhen landed on the island in survivalist fashion. She was given some type of tranquilizer and when she neared the Earth, she was saved by the augur and had a soft landing. Zimri is sick and Ellen is aging so Lenk wants to form a connection with Zhen which seems unlikely to me. He is very strategic and love doesn't come into it for him. It's all about proximity! (hide spoiler)]

@SaartheBookOwl (view spoiler)[ that's right. The hunters remind me of the tribal groups of old who were mainly nomadic people for example, reindeer Suomi people in upper parts of Scandinavia or native American tribes in the States. They lived off the land and didn't waste anything. All parts of the animal were used from skin, hide, meat, and bones. I think that OneCorn sees herself as belonging to this group when she was a Enochite. The farmers are the ones who took possession of land and only cultivated that meter/acre of land and domesticated animals. Farmer definitely aren't as self-sufficient, they are the group that has to go to the market and sell what they grow and use the currency to buy everything else that they themselves cannot produce on the farm as they are specialized in a few things. (hide spoiler)]

@Odette I fully agree with both you and Saar (view spoiler)[ there is manipulation of data by tech giants in the real world. People pay for it and it's the sheer quantity of data that they have that is unbelievable! It has its market value because of how much data they have on all of us and our families. (hide spoiler)]