Hooked on Books discussion

Members Starting the BR: Quill Questers
Challenge: Book Quest Adventures
Book: We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer


Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

Okay, I've been waiting for this thread just to tell a story. My sister and I were complete latchkey kids and when we were probably 7 & 9, some 20-30 year old guys came and told us they used to live at our house and asked if they could look around AND WE LET THEM. I still am so happy it seems like they were actually being truthful because we were so stupid lol

Gosh, the things we did as kids that we'd never want our kids to do! I was with my in-laws last week, and my brother-in-law is in a family of 7 kids (and I had a ton of cousins) and we both remembered taking family trips and not only using the way back of the station wagon but also laying down on the floor of the back seat!!! to get 5+ kids in the backseat of the car.

Sorry--I have been waiting to tell that story, too.

But I am very glad you were safe and that they weren't casing the joint (or, even worse, you).

My dad was a police officer so we didn't mess with cars (but he did let us just free roam the neighborhood lol) but Corey talks about how him and his siblings did the same in the way back of their minivan. My mom is also confounded by our carseat because she says there was barely anything too the ones when we were kids.

My niece also asked if she could babysit Tommy when she's 11 and while I probably started babysitting at 10, I cannot fathom letting a child babysit for me.

Same--I did all-day babysitting (like came over at 10am and stayed until 2am) at 12 when the people I was sitting for went to the Iowa Hawkeyes game. Like WTAF?!!? They were like 4 hours away? and they trusted me with their toddlers?

Starting this one

This is way creepier than I thought but this is interesting.

I’m starting this midweek, to count for strong female hero, but am looking forward to the chat.

Finished! I didn't comment much because I was so focus to read what happens next. I loved the thrilled I felt as I read. (view spoiler)[The writing was compelling, it moved the story along smoothly. The main problem was many things weren't explained and I was left more puzzled than before. I was shocked when I reached the end, I couldn't believe my eyes that Marcus Kliewer would leave me hanging. (hide spoiler)]

I’m 2 pages in and already creeped out.

I have to stop reading or I’ll finish this too soon! It’s really good, and I’m completely sucked in.

For the sake of conversation, I’m wondering if (after finishing the book) who we’ll consider the strong female protagonist? Eve is such a ball of anxiety and a people pleaser—is she strong? Does she find strength in herself? Does she get it from others?

Also, I’m embarrassed to admit that even though the book says queer and lgbt and my daughter is a lesbian, I thought Charlie was a man. Duh.

This book is completely freaking me out and I’m too terrified to tell if it’s even any good or making sense. I don’t think it’s going to have a happy ending.

christene_littlelibrary wrote: "Finished! I didn't comment much because I was so focus to read what happens next. I loved the thrilled I felt as I read. [spoilers removed]"

Christene, I totally agree with your spoiler! Fortunately, I was so caught up in being creeped out (last night, my heart was racing) that I just blew through most of the book. But then I left the last 30 pages until this morning and (view spoiler)[everything that I had been ignoring caught up with me. The abandoned house in the woods? The creepy guy with the scar on his chin that we later find out might possibly be Thomas at another time/place? The blue-veined woman who is alternately evil, helpless, and almost kind? Charlie in the basement being consumed by ants but then someone looking for her girlfriend in that last redacted post that seems to be Charlie looking for Eve? And the print in those posts was so tiny--I have low vision and thank goodness I could make it larger on my iPad. Officer Kieran is some kind of Old House secret investigator, always doing interrogations? And when did this happen? And why all the fires? Why did Heather see to have gone along with it? And I really couldn't get a sense of how the rooms and hallways worked. Ooh, and why was Thomas sort of a victim and sort of evil at different points? And why the religion and heavy metal? Honestly, there was just SO MUCH that made no sense at all. (hide spoiler)]

I had a really good reading experience, but oy!

Also, Eve, DON'T GO BACK IN THE HOUSE!

Im starting today , but its quite long so may add a short one in the middle .

Kirsten wrote: "I have to stop reading or I’ll finish this too soon! It’s really good, and I’m completely sucked in.

For the sake of conversation, I’m wondering if (after finishing the book) who we’ll consider t..."

It’s funny because I’m in the first chapter and was coming to say I relate to Eve. I’m also a people pleaser (even sometimes when to my detriment) and definitely a ball of anxiety. Still think I’m a strong woman though so I guess it depends where Eve ends up!

Oooh Doc_b12 (view spoiler)[ it’s about a concert but are we supposed to be thinking it could be heavy metal poisoning making everyone lose it?? If anyone’s doing audio I like the sound effects for the docs (hide spoiler)]

Please tell me the dog doesnt get hurt 🙏🙏🙏

Janeylou wrote: "Please tell me the dog doesnt get hurt 🙏🙏🙏"

I agree that wouldn’t fly with me!!

Ch. 11 (view spoiler)[ So eves losing it way more than she thinks right? Like her and Charlie broke up awhile ago and that’s why Charlie is so irritated when she calls (hide spoiler)]

The book is compared to the film Parasites...has anyone seen it . I have and it was really good ...much better than this book tbh

I don't do scary, so....no I haven't seen this. :)

I have not seen it but I actually enjoy the book so maybe I would really like it.

Kirsten wrote: "christene_littlelibrary wrote: "Finished! I didn't comment much because I was so focus to read what happens next. I loved the thrilled I felt as I read. [spoilers removed]"

Christene, I totally ag..."

At end...(view spoiler)[LOL I rated it 4 Stars because I read it non stop and now I'm reading this and I'm like "HEy, wait a minute, so much was just dropped in and forgotten." Author is incredibly good at building suspense, then doesn't know where to go with it (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "I have to stop reading or I’ll finish this too soon! It’s really good, and I’m completely sucked in.

For the sake of conversation, I’m wondering if (after finishing the book) who ..."

I definitely think you can be anxious and a people pleaser and be strong. And I have no doubt you’re a strong woman. (view spoiler)[ But I’m not sure Eve sees herself as strong, and I’m not sure Kliewer does either… let me know what you think. I think she is, in many ways, but the book lets her down. (hide spoiler)]

Janeylou wrote: "Please tell me the dog doesnt get hurt 🙏🙏🙏"

The dog does not get hurt. I definitely would have warned you.

Janeylou wrote: "The book is compared to the film Parasites...has anyone seen it . I have and it was really good ...much better than this book tbh"

Yeah…

Amanda wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "christene_littlelibrary wrote: "Finished! I didn't comment much because I was so focus to read what happens next. I loved the thrilled I felt as I read. [spoilers removed]"

Christe..."

I gave it 3 because parts were a 4 and parts were a 2

I'm starting this now too. Given the MPG Horror and I don't usually do scary, I need to read this and then go to my fluff/romance to help me sleep. :)

Be careful, and I support your reading during daylight.

Doc-AOI_Property...This sure sounds like a nice place...at least until the end where its livable (probably after an inspection) that you can renovate or just tear it down. What!?

Im about 35% and im sure if i was watching a film of this ( which i wouldnt..cos scary) then id be jumping all the time , but books dont seem to affect me the same way . So im thinking its a bit boring so far as nothing happening . Will read a bit more tonight then probs change books for a bit

I'm going to start this evening.

I'm a baby when it comes to this kind of stuff. The ant scared me. At least the way the dog was responding to it.

Slightly concerned about (view spoiler)[the carving under the handrail to ward off evil spirits. Wondering if they remove it and then the bad things happen? It also seems like something bad happened to the sister. (hide spoiler)]

Thomas was offered a professor ship in Duluth, MN. LOL.

Through Chapter 5 and done for the evening. Creepy basements and unfinished thoughts aside, I'm not sure I'm actually scared/creeped out or just expecting that I should be given the MPG Horror, Suspense, Thriller....

25% in. These are weird people. Charlie is my favorite character so far. Not too spooky yet.

MN Lisa wrote: "I'm a baby when it comes to this kind of stuff. The ant scared me. At least the way the dog was responding to it.

Slightly concerned about [spoilers removed]"

I'm a huge baby. I was creeped out by the second page.

So this is the book thats being made into a movie , so the author has done very well for himself considering its his first novel .

I doubt ill be watching it .
65% in , still not impressed but from what ive read from some reviews theres a fair bit of action coming up.
Although the book isnt creeping me out if i was Eve id be creeped out ( if that makes sense)

72% Finally, it's getting scary. (view spoiler)[Charlie is not really Charlie? (hide spoiler)]

Finished ..and all i can say is thats a fair few hours of my life im not getting back !!!!
didnt find it particulary scary ,loads of questions unanswered, no proper ending where we know what exactly was going on .
Not my cup of tea im afraid
2 stars

Finished also. I just never could really get into this book. I feel like the author tried too hard and ended up with a mishmash of disjointed threads of the story. I like horror but this fell short for me.

So, I’m clearly the only one scared… I agree it was a big ol’ mess, but I was hooked whilst reading.

I'm waiting to get hooked on it. I'm not very far along...just where Thomas was sleepwalking.

I think i'm the only one left so I don't have to worry about spoilers?

Correct.

I didn’t realize it was a mess until the end so I agree on being hooked

Once they're in, they never leave....that's a bit ominous I think....

Alison seems a bit weird I'm farther along, but not really enjoying it. i'll probably bust through the last and post one last time. Seems like it gets better about 75%....

I was slightly worried, because I read somewhere Charlie disappears, that when she went to the house to get her stuff that she didn't come back out again.....

Ok. that one interrogation with Andrew is creepy, given what happened with Thomas in the basement too.

OK. She's at the hotel and gets a call from her phone and it's Charlie. That's creepy. I'm going to wait until its light out to read anymore.