2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Wool, the first book in Wool series by Hugh Howey.

Pages: 594 pages

Length: 1 month (August)

Participants: SarahKat, Dominique

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Hey Dominique, my ebook hold just came through so I may start this early in the next few days

Started and made it through Part 2. I'll try to start another book so I don't blow through this too fast but I'll have to finish within 2 weeks because the library will take it back.

Through Part 2: (view spoiler)[I was very surprised with Part 1. Of course I figured Holstrom's wife was on to something and there was some secret outside the silo and it was actually livable and maybe there was a whole colony out there somewhere. Which might still be the case I guess.
But the fact that Holstrom went out and his visor showed him green grass and blue skies and then when he cut himself out of his suit it was actually brown and gray was shocking! And here I was thinking he was the main character. I do think it's strange that people still do the cleaning. I don't really understand why just because they trick the cleaners into thinking they can live out there they'd still clean the cameras. It seems like they would want people to know.

Part 2 also ended on a death with Jahns getting poisoned. It alludes to the fact that it was Marnes' water that was poisoned so he was the target but I think Bernard caught them sharing earlier and Jahns was actually the target. It's a pity. I liked Jahns.

I like Juliette too. I think things are about to get very bad. (hide spoiler)]

I just realized that Goodreads has this version as Wool #1, but the page numbers (594) is actually the omnibus, which is what I'm reading. So I guess I've finished Books 1 and 2.

Through Part (Book) 3: (view spoiler)[I wonder why Juliette was able to go farther? Just because she didn't stop to clean? Is the suit what's designed to kill them or is it just meant to fail so the atmosphere kills them? I think it's probably the former, meaning Juliette is hopefully still alive somewhere.

And there's more than 1 silo?! That makes sense I guess. (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 4: (view spoiler)[So Juliette was able to go farther because Walker in Electrical replaced the heat tape in IT with the good stuff from Mechanical. So the suit is designed to fail so the atmosphere kills the people.

But she was able to make it to another silo where there's a poor man who's been there for 34 years alone.

I'm still enjoying this and want to know what happens but I think the first 2 books were stronger than 3 and 4. (hide spoiler)]

I started last night.

If I enjoy it I'll start book 2 right after.

Finished. Here's a short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

SarahKat wrote: "Started and made it through Part 2. I'll try to start another book so I don't blow through this too fast but I'll have to finish within 2 weeks because the library will take it back.

Through Part ..."

(view spoiler)[ Totally agree, I thought he was the MC and then boom he's gone. Was so weird the part about seeing grass green and then not. What is going on, l'm intrigued.

Was not expecting the poison and then the suicide. Poor Juliette, going to be difficult for her since there are people with a lot of secrets (hide spoiler)]

SarahKat wrote: "Through Part (Book) 3: I wonder why Juliette was able to go farther? Just because she didn't stop to clean? Is the suit what's designed to kill them or is it just meant to fail so the atmosphere ki..."

(view spoiler)[ Can you imagine, a teenager left alone all these years and he survived.
It was easy to figure out she was going to find another Silo but I thought she was going to meet more people.
Love the last sentence of part 4: Juliette to Bernard L'm coming home. L`m coming to clean! (hide spoiler)]

SarahKat wrote: "Finished. Here's a short review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

(view spoiler)[ lots of things happening, The story was pretty good and wanted to know why they kept all those secrets. Was surprised when all the kids appeared especially the younger ones.
I did like Juliette and Solo.

Will eventually read book 2 (hide spoiler)]

I liked that sentence in Part 4 too Dominique. It reminded me of Katniss from Hunger Games talking to Snow. But maybe that's just because we've been rewatching those movies recently hehe.

What did you think of the beginning vs. the end? I thought it kind of lost momentum for some reason. I don't know if I'll pick up the 2nd one.

SarahKat wrote: "I liked that sentence in Part 4 too Dominique. It reminded me of Katniss from Hunger Games talking to Snow. But maybe that's just because we've been rewatching those movies recently hehe.

What di..."

I agree, thought the beginning of the story was well written and then little bit after the midpoint, it it was interesting but not exciting. I do have the rest of the series and will read book 2 in the fall

I read this in July for the IRL book club I facilitate. We all loved it! I now own Shift and plan to read it soon.

SarahKat wrote: "Started and made it through Part 2. I'll try to start another book so I don't blow through this too fast but I'll have to finish within 2 weeks because the library will take it back.

Through Part ..."

Agreed. Great suspense-building, (view spoiler)[My jaw literally dropped when Jahns died. And poor Marnes! To be left alone and grieving for the person he loved! (hide spoiler)]

I loved the whole thing and am anxious to delve into Shift!

I loved the fact that (view spoiler)[Juliette came back to save her 'boyfriend' and ended up trying to save someone else. The true villain! At least she survived! Whew! And how great that they elected her "mayor"! (hide spoiler)]