Barnes & Noble Nook discussion

"won" the poll for April 2012. This is the discussion thread for the book, and once you start reading it, feel free to make any and all comments about the book here. This book has 82,000 ratings in Goodreads, and has an average of a 4.09 out of 5 rating, which is quite impressive! Let's read the book and add to the ratings, and enjoy ourselves in April!

I'm skipping this month's book - I live in New York City, and personally can't handle this story. I couldn't even watch the movie trailers. I do happen to own it though if anyone needs it to read.

This book was just lent to me and I'm about 40 pages in. The writing style is quite different and takes a little getting used to, but I am finding it very interesting so far.

I totally understand where you are coming from Marcie, I'm a little nervous it may be upsetting as well.

Marcie, I DO think it's important that you listen to what you feel you are ready for! DON'T read this book unless you feel it's calling to you to read it. Hopefully others who live in NYC, or had close connections to the events of 9/11 will share their reactions and whether they were ready to read this or are glad they did.

I'm about 90 pages into the book so far. I must admit that first I watched the movie. It's unusual for me to do this, to intentional watch a movie before reading the book, but I wanted more of the overview before getting the more intense first-person experience that you can get from reading a book. And I'm glad I did. I very much appreciated the movie and found it quite moving and intense. I'm not finding my experience of the book to be anywhere near as intense, and in fact, often feel annoyed and the alternating voices of the characters. I get particularly irritated with the "voices" of the two grandparents.

How are others of you reacting to this book so far?

I just finished it and I loved it! At first I wasn't sure how I felt. In the beginning the first-person voice of Oskar was one big ramble (but I can relate) so I was like "Hey this book sounds like my thought process" (which maybe I should evaluate since I am 35 and the main character is 9.... But then I was like "what is he talking about, what is going on in this story?" (I went into the book with-out reading what it was about..this is my new thing..makes for some surprises!!) Eventually I was laughing out loud, crying out loud, and being stared at by my family...I read the book in about 3 days...I personally like the view (and voices) of the grandparents. I like what we get to see through their eyes (it brings another depth to the whole story). I don't want to say too much until more people have finished...but I. Love. This. Book!!!!

Peace,
Star

I liked it, but I didnt' love it like Star did. I found Oskar and his grandfather's point of view interesting, I was kind of mystified by the Grandmother's perspective. I was quite miffed at the mom for being so absent from his life, but was pleased to learn that that wasn't really the case.

over all, I'm glad I read it, found it intriguing in places and it definitely had a unusual "voice".

I really struggled with this book. It was so hard to figure out who was talking and the parts that switched from Oskar's view were confusing at times and I had a hard time following the storyline.

I started reading something else before seeing this thread or I would have joined in. I will put in next in line.

How different the book was from the movie! Now, I'm second-guessing my memory of the movie, but in the movie, there was no "Ron" character, and the "neighbor" and "grandfather" were merged into one character in the movie. I thought the plot of the movie was "simpler", but in a good way; it just seemed like these two characters (the neighbor and Ron) were unnecessary. Still, I found the character of Oskar in the book to be so much more endearing than Oskar-in-the-movie, if for no other reason than "hearing" more of the detail of how he comes to terms with the mystery of the key and what he had hoped for.
It's been about a week since I've read this book, and I find myself going back to it, thinking about the details of Oskar and his world. Anyone else do both, both read the book and watch the movie?

I want to see the movie, but wanted to wait until I read it . . . now I'll wait til it comes out on video :) Interesting to hear your comparisons, thanks for sharing!

I struggled with this book, but I could relate with Oskar in his thought process...but even his was too fast for me. The ending was a disappointment to me with the whole "key" thing. I thought for sure he'd find a story a little more impressive behind it. Not one of my favorite books. I actually read it in the beginning of the year.

Spoiler!!!


Yeah, I started this one. And put it down within a few minutes. The first chapter talked about farting quite a lot. I could figure out who was talking and what exactly was being discussed outside of farting.

I tossed it aside. My time is too valuable to spend reading drivel.

I thought this was a great book. The way it was written was very different, but once I got used to it I couldn't put it down.
I thought Oskar was such an eccentric child and I loved some of his phrases ("heavy boots", "Jose!"). He was so incredibly smart, too. I just loved him.
I was hoping for a better story to go w/ the key that he had found, but overall it was a good read.

Ashley, I think you captured how I felt about Oskar too. I think he really "made" the novel, more than the plot-line. He had such an endearing perspective.

Angela2932 wrote: "Ashley, I think you captured how I felt about Oskar too. I think he really "made" the novel, more than the plot-line. He had such an endearing perspective."

I wholeheartedly agree!

I really cannot wait to read it, someday!!:)

Marcie wrote: "I'm skipping this month's book - I live in New York City, and personally can't handle this story. I couldn't even watch the movie trailers. I do happen to own it though if anyone needs it to read."

Do you have this book in pdf format?