2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes.

Pages: 612 pages

Length: 1 month (January)

Participants: Surabhi, Lorraine

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 }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?

Hey!!
I am on Chapter 8 of the book. And there’s not a single chapter till now which hasn’t been interesting
The author has an interesting way of writing. The chapters starts in a way that creates excitement and ends in a way that sends chills down the spine!

Hello Surabhi, I’ve also started I Am Pilgrim! This is actually my second attempt at getting through it. The first time, I read about half the book before setting it aside—I’m not sure why. That was quite a while ago, as I bought the paperback in 2015. It’s about time I finish it, don’t you think?

Like you, I find the beginning very engaging, and it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. I also enjoy the short chapters—they make it feel like the story moves quickly!

On another note, I’m aiming to finish the book by January 18th. I’ll be going on vacation after that and won’t have as much time to read.

Lorraine, you stole the thought of my mind !!!! I love short chapters in a book, it feels like the story has some pace and keeps the momentum going.

And yes, this time, I’m sure you will finish it !

Also, happy holidays.. I’m sure you are taking another book on vacation.. which one is it?

Happy Holidays to you too Surabhi! I think I will bring Whirlwing from James Clavell. I am actually reading his Asian Saga and that is the last of the series. A 1200 something pages. I'll bring it on my iPad though. :-)

Oh that’s nice !
Haven’t heard of the series though.
How’s I am Pilgrim going for you?

I plan to start this one as my first read of 2025

Surabhi wrote: "Oh that’s nice !
Haven’t heard of the series though.
How’s I am Pilgrim going for you?"

You might not know all the books in the series but you probably heard about Shogun? Shogun is the first book of this series. It is very very good!
Pilgrim is very good. I will be finish even before the 20th. I like it a lot. And for you?

Vela wrote: "I plan to start this one as my first read of 2025"

You are welcome to join our discussion !

Thanks Lorraine. I never did buddy read before. hope you will tolerate me.

I’ve finished Pilgrim, and I have to say—it’s a solid 5-star book! (view spoiler)[Pilgrim is such a fascinating and interesting character. He’s both funny and intriguing, which kept me hooked from start to finish. Unlike my first attempt to read this book, this time I couldn’t put it down. Every twist and turn in his so-called “adventures” (if we can call them that!) was interesting to follow.
I genuinely hope the author brings Pilgrim back for another book. He’s the kind of character who feels like he has so much more to offer, and I’d happily dive into more of his missions. (hide spoiler)]
Good luck to you both on finishing the book.

Hi, I have been able to borrow this from my library so would like to join in this buddy read if that's okay?

HI I have yet to started the book. Will start once I have completed the The Surgeon

I've read the first 10 chapters so far. (view spoiler)[I hope the narrator doesn't turn out to be the killer as I think that's too obvious. (hide spoiler)]

Finished the book. For a chunky book, it's a quick, gripping and thrilling read. (view spoiler)[At first, I wasn't sure why the separate stories about Pilgrim's life were included but then as I read on, the links became clear. (hide spoiler)]