Book Bloggers Anonymous discussion

First discussion post guys! Hope everyone has their copies.

**This topic is only for discussion of chapters one through five. No spoilers for events further in the book please, and if you've not completed all five chapters, there may be spoilers here!**

Okie dokie! It's 9 am here and I am starting now- I will be back to comment!

I feel bad for Justine. I don't know much about hypochondria but I know I would hate to live with that constent fear of death even I know really its nothing.


Stephanie G

I was like geess what a nut job when she just kept going on.. but i have to say you grew on me i like her better as i got further in the book. i am almost done ill be done tonight..

I finished Mind Games this morning, on the name day of Otto! (can you beleive it? LOL!)

I LOVED Mind Games, I agree with everyone who praised it, it was brilliant!

I'll look through what happened in the first 5 chapters and be back later.

Okay! So of course I could not stop at Chapter 5 but I will limit my thought to that.

First off- I am not sure on the name Cubby. I catch myself saying chubby just because it is close to it but I am fascinated with his real name: Cuthbert.


Here is what I found on behindthename.com (Yes, i am fascinated with names):

CUTHBERT

Gender: Masculine

Usage: English (Rare)

Pronounced: KUTH-burt [key:]

Derived from the Old English elements cuæ "famous" and beorht "bright". Saint Cuthbert was a 6th-century hermit who became the bishop of Lindisfarne, an island off the coast of England. He was known as performer of healing miracles. Because of the saint, this name remained in use in England even after the Norman conquest. It became rare after the Protestant Reformation, but it was (briefly) revived in the 19th century.


Other then the name I am finding Mind Games intriguing because to see these character's neuroses used as a potential weapon is nothing I've read- until now.

As for a romantic interests goes Cubby doesn't cut it for me so I am thinking he may not be the focus. Packard on the other hand is wickedly interesting. If I were a character in a book my curiosity and attraction to the wickedly interesting would get me into enormous trouble.

So far- I am enjoying this one!

Athenna wrote: "I was like geess what a nut job when she just kept going on.. but i have to say you grew on me i like her better as i got further in the book. i am almost done ill be done tonight.."


I must admit, in chapter 5 if i were Cubby I would have dumped Justine and changed the locks immediately. Furthermore- no trip to Balise. LOL!

Thank you! Someone else!! The name Cubby irritated me so much! I could see it used for a puppy or a cat, but not for an attractive virile man! (Though I like Cuthbert, and thanks for the info, I'm obsessed with anmes and their origines and meanings)->and because of that how fitting is it that the heroine is called Justine? I love that!

That's all for now, I'm not sure what else takes place until chapter 5 so I don't want to spoil anything. Rean on, read on! :-D

Paranormal wrote: "I feel bad for Justine. I don't know much about hypochondria but I know I would hate to live with that constent fear of death even I know really its nothing.


Stephanie G"



I agree. I would hate to live with any of their extreme neuroses. Extreme fear of anything would be difficult to live- or so I think.

Just a general thought: usually I can't stand novels written in the present tense somehow they irritate me, I don't feel that the writing flows naturally that way, but NOT HERE! It was around page 80 that I realized that wait a minute it is narrated in the present tense! Here it flew effortlessly and didn't disrupt the flow of the story. Quite unique so far in this aspect too :-)

Stella wrote: "Thank you! Someone else!! The name Cubby irritated me so much! I could see it used for a puppy or a cat, but not for an attractive virile man! (Though I like Cuthbert, and thanks for the info, I'm ..."



LOL!!!

Does anyone know someone with the name Cuthbert.

Every time I hear a name I think of me as a mom calling my child that and sometimes I see it and sometimes I dont.

Cuthbert is an old name so I am intrigued with the idea that someone today may be walking with it as their first name.

Felicia wrote: "OK! I am a sucker for a guy in a Flannel shirt so Packard better not end up being a bad guy.

I feel for Justine, she really has a lot to deal with. I am blessed not to have any major fears but I..."



Yes.. I love Flannel. I am in Chapter 10 and so I am seeing that Packard has secrets. What they are and how will it effect his hot-flannel-wearing tooshie, I dont know but hoping the best here.

I have a thought though so I can wait to we can post in the next set of chapter forum.

Hehehe!=)

You're right. Cuthbert does sounds like something straight out of a classic romance story!

I only ever heard Cuthbert in the Anne series by L.M. Montgomery, you know where the sister and brother adopting Anne are called Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. Never heard of this name elsewhere. I don't ahve a problem with it, it's just the nickname Cubby that grated on my nerves and I couldn't take him seriously as a grown up handsome man.

Alright, I can finally join in now that I've got my book and have devoured it!

When I first read the synopsis I was a little bit wary. I didn't think I'd be able to relate with Justine. The first couple of chapters stood uncomfortably with me as I tried to understand what was going on, but it soon vanished.

I won't begin to understand hypochondriacs, but the thought of being that afraid of diseases and knowing that you're being irrational must be horrible.

I kinda like the name Cubby, though I kept thinking of the Chicago Cubs. Which still baffles me as I know nothing about baseball. But then I kept calling him Cuddy and that started me on House *rolls eyes* lol

I just got it! Woot! I know I'm behind, but will be starting this week.

Don't worry Julianne, once you start reading it, you'll devour it in 1-2 days :-D

I'm joining in the discussion, too! Just got Mind Games on my Nook, so I'll try and catch up.

Hey Lillie, welcome! :-)

Felicia wrote: "I don't know anyone named Cuthbert as a first name. I kind of like it actually but I am a huge history buff---it sounds old and romantic to me.

I figured he probably had secrets since anytime you..."


I thought kind of the same thing about the name Cuthbert! It does sound old-fashioned, but in a good way. Like, a guy with that name would be upstanding, and forthright, but patient.

Even the nickname Cubby brings to mind a classic movie a la Casablanca or Rear Window, for me.

Paranormal wrote: "I feel bad for Justine. I don't know much about hypochondria but I know I would hate to live with that constent fear of death even I know really its nothing.


Stephanie G"

I agree! What a life to live. At first I didn't knwo what to think of Justine. But I liked her more and more throughout the book! I now love her. LOL

Lillie Hill wrote: "Felicia wrote: "I don't know anyone named Cuthbert as a first name. I kind of like it actually but I am a huge history buff---it sounds old and romantic to me.

I figured he probably had secrets s..."

Cuthbert/Cubby! I agree so Casablanca!!!

I really enjoyed the first few chapters. It's an amazing book! Great characters and amazing writing. :P I'm glad we picked this!

On the names, Cubbie drives me crazy because I've read another series with a character of that name--who was a woman, and she keeps popping into my head. But he seems like a nice guy, so I'm still rooting for him. I get Justine's hypochondria, I really do, and feel for her.

Does anyone else get the feeling that Packard is not only hiding something but screwing with them? He's the one playing the "mind games"? I don't trust the guy. Maybe that will change too. Or maybe I'm not supposed to trust him.

First person pov: I'm extremely tired of it in the genre as a whole. And deep pov, I don't want to be in the head of a panicky girl. *laughs* I can do the panicky thing all on my own, thanks.

All in all... Well, I want to see how it plays out because, I'm just not sure yet how I feel about the novel.

All in all... Well, I want to see how it plays out because, I'm just not sure yet how I feel about the novel.

@Julianne - in all honesty, that was kinda my first impression when I started reading, but as I went on I found myself more and more engrossed in the story!

Packard is definitely a little suspish in the first couple of chapters, I thought the same thing!

I will say, I'm reading it rather fast, so that's good. I don't usually read the first half in a day. :)

Yes, Mind Games is quite addictive, you'll devour it in a couple of days! :-)

lol, I sat down to read for half an hour outside and ended up sitting there for a good couple of hours until I finished it!