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

One of the group reads for October is The Compound by Aisling Rawle. Please discuss the book in this thread.

Katrisa will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during October 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 started today. I am at ch 5. I have the audio.
(view spoiler)[I am curious about what the outside world is like. They mention wars. I wonder if that is it, or if it's also like a cli fi book and there is also environmental catastrophe. So far the challenges haven't been too horrible (for reality TV anyway) but we get hints of the characters' darker sides. (hide spoiler)]

I read this one in July so I can read along with the spoilers.

Katrisa I’ll be curious what you think of the audio. (view spoiler)[ I pictured in my head an Arizona ranch next to a ghost town- so lots of muted colors. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "I read this one in July so I can read along with the spoilers.

Katrisa I’ll be curious what you think of the audio. [spoilers removed]"

I am liking the audio. The narrator does a good job portraying the kind of hollowness of the main character but without being flat. And my picture matches yours :)

I just started ch 7.
(view spoiler)[Not too much more has happened. The players are running out of food because they refused to kick someone out for pasta because they were having a nice time getting along when the challenge came through. Sam doesn't seem to like Lily much. I think that it's interesting that the next season's people just have to deal with whatever was left by the previous compound dwellers! Like the filthy 7 - nasty! (hide spoiler)]

I am in ch 14.
(view spoiler)[Things are getting more intense in the compound. So Ryan is a dog, Lily hooked up with Sam who wants Lily to leave with him, but she wants to hold out for big prizes. Tom seems to be a bit of a psycho. I am looking forward to seeing how this ends! (hide spoiler)]

This weekend I focused on my Toppler reads, but I plan on listening to this more on my way home from work tomorrow

I am in ch 19 now
(view spoiler)[well, it is pretty dark and intense but in a low-key way if that makes sense? Sam has left and the remaining contestants were basically nearly dying of thirst. Tom almost kills both Lily and Becca. The show people had to step in and grab Andrew as he was really sick. So he isn't off the show officially, but Tom and Lily are alone at the compound now. I am wondering how this will all wrap up. (hide spoiler)]

I have had a hold on this for a long time now, but it looks like it might actually come in in time to join the conversation

I finished the book
(view spoiler)[ Honestly, I felt like the end really petered out. It was like a good tension building and then it just fizzled and ended. So I ended up being kind of disappointed. I think it had a lot of potential - either just as a thriller or as a commentary on reality TV culture, but I think it missed the mark on both counts. (hide spoiler)]

Jenn wrote: "I have had a hold on this for a long time now, but it looks like it might actually come in in time to join the conversation"
fingers crossed! I had it on hold for a long time too, but I just ended up using a credit on it since I wanted to read it early on in the month.

Jenn wrote: "I have had a hold on this for a long time now, but it looks like it might actually come in in time to join the conversation"

Great to see you posting! I was just thinking of you the other day.

I have just finished Chapter 2. I have been rather ill with Covid and still fighting off some complications so my reading has been a bit haphazard. I do think the Chapters are a bit on the longish side. It is almost 3:00 a.m. here so I am making myself stop.

(view spoiler)[ The first two chapters introduce the premise and the characters. I found myself making a list as it was getting hard to remember them all. Lily seems like the main character and the plot is so far told in first person. I have such a love for privacy that the idea of constantly being around people and filmed all the time is not something I would do. I found the scene where the boys rank the girls and the girls rank the boys according to attractiveness a bit awkward. It was certainly superficial but part of the game. So far, I am enjoying the story although it has barely started. I see some possible conflicts ahead. I am wondering about the tenth boy and how he was “lost”. Hmmm… (hide spoiler)]

Feel better soon Sharon.

Thanks, Janice!

Well, I have finished the book. (view spoiler)[ I am not sure what to say. The book kept me engrossed and I did read it straight through. I am not sure I have ever read a book with such a vapid, self centered and worthless main character. Lily was a piece of work. Tom was super scary and violent and I was glad when he was gone, but goodness what a way to go. Andrew just lost it, I think. Sam had goodness in him but I hope he meets someone else because I can’t think that he would be happy with Lily. I am not sure she loves anyone but herself. All in all, it was a decent read. It must have been. I read it pretty much straight through. I just had to find out what happened next. I don’t think I would have ever been cut out for such a game show though. It is a commentary on reality shows and how vicious playing can be. I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 as it did keep me reading. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Sharon wrote: "Thanks, Janice!

Well, I have finished the book. [spoilers removed]"

I agree with you Sharon! (view spoiler)[Lily is so very shallow. I think she was a great character to show the shallowness of reality TV. I gave the book 3 stars. I also thought it was engaging, but I wasn't a fan of the end. I felt like it just dwindled. (hide spoiler)]

Katrisa wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Thanks, Janice!

Well, I have finished the book. [spoilers removed]"

I agree with you Sharon! [spoilers removed]"

I agree. (view spoiler)[ The ending was very unsatisfactory and left lots of questions. I just didn’t care enough to wonder about them!(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Don't forget to report your read in the reporting thread when you have finished the book.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Ugh, so I suck 🤦‍♀️ New Years Resolution - to actually come and talk about the book 🤦‍♀️ I finished this one awhile ago now, but it was an interesting mashup of Survivor meets Big Brother.

I will do better, I promise lol