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

One of the group reads for June is Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson Please discuss the book in this thread.

Janice will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during June 2025.
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'll be starting the book this afternoon. I'm looking forward to the journey.

I was able to get a copy, so I plan to join this month. I haven't decided if I'm going to try to read it before the toppler or wait until after.

For those who participate in Netgalley, they still have this book available for request.

I drove from Northern Georgia to Central Florida (600 miles) today and this book kept us company. I think there is a lot to talk about too so should be a fun discussion.

Rube (view spoiler)[ Though Mad is the narrator, Rube is the heart of this story. The first to be left and most desperate for family. (hide spoiler)]

Mad (view spoiler)[ I think she is a great character. I like how she and Rube’s personalities play off each other. (hide spoiler)]

When we are driving we typically do an over/under bet on how many police speed traps we will encounter, we changed it to how many times the author will say “PT Cruiser”- play along it’s fun.

I’m having a hard time rating this book between 4-5 stars. I think I will wait until after we talk about it a bit.

Or, how many times they said "Yes, and no." You could also include how many PC Cruisers you actually see,

We used to play "Horse Horse" when we were kids. If you saw a horse, we'd holler out "Horse". We'd also scan for graveyards because you could bury everyone's horses in the graveyard.

We were looking for a PT Cruiser but didn’t see any. Sigh.

I remember when they came out. My client had one.

I read to the end of Chapter 2.

(view spoiler)[I can't imagine how I'd feel if someone showed up out of the blue and claimed to be your half brother, and that you had other siblings. I found it rather sad that both felt so abandoned. It's demonstrative how childhood trauma can still affect someone into their 40's like it did for Rueb.

What would you say to your father after all these years? I'll be interested to see what his story is, and how relationships are formed between Madd & her siblings. (hide spoiler)]

Glad to see you loved it, Marnie.

Janice wrote: "I read to the end of Chapter 2.


(view spoiler)[ I’d want to hear what my dad had to say but at the same time nothing he could say would ever excuse what he did. I would want to know my siblings though. (hide spoiler)]

I've read to the end of Chapter 4 (the first part). I see there is a Chapter 4 continued.

(view spoiler)[It seems very awkward to approach an unknown sibling. I agree with Madd that it's best to phone first.

Cathy, Pep's mom seems to be a bit over protective. Yet she's also curious about their father and is asking questions.

The book blurb says it's funny. I find them to be more odd in their interactions. Maybe they're just getting warmed up. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "Janice wrote: "I read to the end of Chapter 2.


[spoilers removed]"

I agree with you completely on that.

I'm at the end of Chapter 6

(view spoiler)[ It's interesting that they are bonding fairly quickly. I like how Madd is watching Pep's game, and already identifying her as "my sister". They are starting that sibling teasing and ribbing a bit too,

Tom is an interesting character. In a way, I feel sad that he's more an adopted sibling. I wonder if they will find out and how that's going to affect Tom who thinks that Carl (Charles, Chuck) is his biological father.

I'm becoming more and more curious about the reality of this man when they find him. It was a little shocking to hear Rube say that at one point, he wanted to kill his father. That seems out of character for him, but I think he's been deeply scarred by his childhood. (hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "I'm at the end of

I liked the sibling bond too. It rang true to me.

Rube (view spoiler)[ He seems the most damaged from his dad leaving. I think his mom dying exasperated his feeling of being alone in the world. I think him wanting to kill his dad…wanting revenge…makes sense to me. I’m glad he’s off that fantasy but I understand wanting revenge.

I can’t wait until you meet dear ole dad. He would make a good psychological case study. (hide spoiler)]

I finished the book this afternoon and (view spoiler)[met dear old dad. I can't believe he tried to high tail it out of the bathroom window. He really was flawed as a person. I don't know if he fully realized the damage he did to his children's lives. It's interesting the life he tried to create for himself in each incarnation was what was created in his children - Rube became an author, Madd innovating new farm methods, Pep a basketball player, and Tom a film maker. He had positive effects as well, but that doesn't make up for the abandonment.

I think Rube was hurt the most and it was interesting how he decided to stay and get to know his dad more.

I love the relationship that Madd & Pep developed in such a short time. And I love how they accepted Tom as one of them in spite of not being blood siblings.

There's a lot to digest in this story. (hide spoiler)]

In a sea of unforgivable dad things what did you think of (view spoiler)[ him naming the baby Reuben? My jaw hit the floor!!! (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "In a sea of unforgivable dad things what did you think of [spoilers removed]"

That was (view spoiler)[ horrendous! Poor Rube. How to make you feel dispensable. The first one didn't work for me, so let's try it again and see if this one sticks. Obviously, it wasn't any better the second time around because he was going to bail on them both without another thought for any of them. (hide spoiler)]

I started today. I'm not sure that Everand numbers chapters the same as the book - it says I am on ch 8? I am at the part where Pep first makes an appearance.
(view spoiler)[I am really enjoying this story. I like the "odd couple" that Mad and Rube make. It is strange enough for them to meet a surprise sibling, but even stranger to find out how different their dad was for each of them. So far I have only just met Pep so I don't have a good sense of her. (hide spoiler)]

Katrisa wrote: "I started today. I'm not sure that Everand numbers chapters the same as the book - it says I am on ch 8? I am at the part where Pep first makes an appearance.
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[They are so different, and yet still feel that familial connection. (hide spoiler)]

I am planning to start this one after the toppler.

We all pause for the toppler. :)

I finished this today while I was packaging things for farmer's market.
(view spoiler)[I really loved this one! I am especially interested in sibling relationships that start as an adult as I have a sister that found me when I was 40 and is now one of my best friends. So I loved seeing the way that the siblings kind of immediately formed a relationship just based on the fact that they were siblings was lovely to see (and matched my experience). I really don't know about the dad. The fact that you are a good dad for a minute before you ghost your kids is not ok. I think his kids all did an admirable job of dealing with him once they found him. I like that they all plan to have a relationship with each other. I CANNOT believe that he named his last son Rueben though!!!! That was over the line even for him I think. I can't imagine how Rube felt - being the first kid and having his name recycled. (hide spoiler)]
And I'm with you Marnie - I can't decide between 4-5 stars. I think I will round up my 4.5 to 5 stars

Marnie wrote: "In a sea of unforgivable dad things what did you think of [spoilers removed]"

RIGHT?!?

Katrisa wrote: "I finished this today while I was packaging things for farmer's market.
[spoilers removed]
And I'm with you Marnie - I can't decide between 4-5 stars. I think I will round up my 4.5 to 5 stars"

You have a great insight to the book then. (view spoiler)[I kept trying to imagine what it would be like to discover siblings as an adult. (hide spoiler)]

I've finally started. Chapter 1 was a cute introduction to Mad & Rube. I finished the first paragraph of chapter two and I had to laugh when Mad (view spoiler)[ started by saying she didn't want to ruin her relationship with her brother the first day because of his excessive boot wiping. Then, went straight to don't kill him because it would be hard to explain to the police. lol It just struck me as so funny because I'm sure we all have things that drive us completely crazy even though it's just a little thing. (hide spoiler)]

end of chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ I agree with earlier spoilers. I'm interested to find out the dad's story, but if I was one of the children there would be no reason good enough for being abandoned. Weird how he's done it repeatedly around every 10 years it seems.

I find it interesting that he was calling his exes on their birthdays, but had no contact with his kids. You'd think that he'd leave without contact with any of them. If I was one of his exes I wouldn't want him to call me. I'd be disgusted with him. (hide spoiler)]

Kristie wrote: "end of chapter 2 "

100%!

All good observations, Kristie.

WOF Karin

I read all of this and loathed it--the writing and humour didn't work for me. I kept reading, hoping it would get better because I have a couple of GR friends who rated this highly.

Most of my thoughts are in my review, but suffice it to say that comedy is subjective and this humour didn't work at all for me. I liked the idea of this book, but not the execution. One laugh at ONE little line. Overall I didn't like the characters and found the book depressing for the most part. Mad reminded me of Margaret Atwood type characters who are detached; I am not a fan of most of Atwood's writing, but as a Canadian had to read books by her in various classes in university, only one of which was an English class.

Some of the other low ratings were from people who've liked other books by this author, but I have no desire to read anything else by him.

I have ONE spoiler not in spoiler brackets in my review, but it's right at the very end.

my review

I always think a tag of humour to be questionable. I also didn't find any humour in it either.

Karin, don't forget to report this read in the reporting thread as well so that you get the badge and the stamp.

Janice wrote: "Karin, don't forget to report this read in the reporting thread as well so that you get the badge and the stamp."

Right, I forgot to do that!

I'm through chapter 4. That was such a long chapter! (48 pages in a book that is only about 242 pages - seriously 1/5 of the book) Honestly, there was a little too much basketball talk for me. It kind of lagged in that area.

I wasn't thrilled with Pep (view spoiler)[ being so entitled. She just assumes they're going to buy her food. Then, doesn't want to share clothes (understandable) and figures they should buy her what she needs. Then says that she keeps telling Rube she'll pay him back even though she probably won't because, "her presence was the payment." Yet, when she thinks about it, she definitely wanted to go with them. Plus, her mom is wealthy so it wouldn't be too much to have her pay him back and she has no idea what his financial situation is. It just really annoyed me.

It's interesting how the kids are all so different, but have some similarities. It seems they all became who they are due to their father's influence and he was completely different with each of them. Yet, he also had a few things that he kept the same. The video recording of his kids and involvement with them, the nicknames, calling his exes on their birthdays...

On some level I can understand wanting to reinvent yourself and try out different aspects of your personality. I can see wanting to make big life and career changes, seeing new places, meeting new people, etc, but their dad took it to the extreme. I still can't imagine leaving your children behind and having no contact with them. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Yes, Pip is a bit of an entitled pill. (hide spoiler)]

I’ve read to the end of chapter 3.

Not much humour for me either so far. But, I think humour is hard to do in book form. I’ve read some samples of books written by comedians I like but they just fall flat. Very few writers make me laugh and even then it’s usually more of a chuckle. Maybe it’s the lack of timing, facial expressions and body language that makes the comedy less impactful.

Also, the subject matter is not one many people would choose for comedy. I might be biased because I am British but dark humour is not something that many Americans can seem to do or at least do well. Maybe it would be funnier if it was written by a Brit.

On a side note: I work in social housing and there was a guy years ago who was well known in the local area for leaving his families. He would meet a woman (always a lot younger than himself). He would go on and on about how he wanted lots of children. They would have 2, 3 or even 4 kids in quick succession and then he would leave her for another woman and the cycle started all over again.

I’m interested to know what excuse or explanation the Charles/Chuck will have.

I would agree that it's harder to portray humour without the visual clues. I think it's also cultural. There's a big difference between British and American humour, for example.

I've definitely read parts I think were supposed to be funny, but they just didn't quite get there. I wouldn't place this one in the humor category.

I'm up to chapter 6 and I can't believe that Rube (view spoiler)[ would admit to his newly found siblings that he was considering killing their father. And the sisters both decided to stay with him! I'd probably run as far away as possible. (hide spoiler)]

Kristie wrote: "I'm up to chapter 6 and I can't believe that Rube [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, that was a bit unbelievable.

Janice wrote: "I would agree that it's harder to portray humour without the visual clues. I think it's also cultural. There's a big difference between British and American humour, for example."

Being funny in print is a different skill than being funny visually, but either way humour is subjective; nothing tickles everyone's funny bones.

What many people don't realize is that in addition to hard work and skill, being really funny is also a gift, just like being mathy, musical, being able to act, being amazing with people, etc.

There are a few parts in here that I could see possibly being funny if this were made into a movie, depending on how it was done of course. But they don't come across as humorous in print.

I was wondering if there are parts that maybe came through as funny with the audio version. Sometimes a good narrator can add to the effect. Did anyone have the audio?

I had the audio. I didn't really think this was humorous. I liked it but I wouldn't call it funny.

I also listened to the audiobook, and I don't think I even chuckled once.

I'm on page 205 (80%) and (view spoiler)[ I'm just disgusted with this father. He has no good explanation and just doesn't seem to feel badly enough about it. It's like he feels as if just saying sorry was sufficient. Not even really an excuse for not checking on his children, just 'I was someone else then.' No, no you weren't. Ugh. (hide spoiler)]

So, the audio didn't affect it then. I think I'd just call this contemporary fiction. It doesn't need the humor tag. That really just sets people up with the wrong expectations.

One always needs to be wary of crowd sourcing genres. 49 people tagged it as humor or humour.

(view spoiler)[It was crazy that he kept in touch with his wives but not his children. He was a flawed individual, that's for sure. (hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "One always needs to be wary of crowd sourcing genres. 49 people tagged it as humor or humour.

[spoilers removed]"

I agree, but it's also in the last paragraph of the book description :)
Infused with deadpan wit, zany hijinks, and enormous heart, Run for the Hills is a sibling story like no other—a novel about a family forged under the most unlikely circumstances and united by hope in an unknown future.

I finished today. I thought it was ok. It felt pretty anticlimactic to me.

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