Clara > Recent Status Updates

I just finished chapter 12. It goes quick, there’s a lot of information and I try to soak it all in. The author has done a great job of painting the imagery and Arthur, describing some of what has happened and will happen, enough to pique interest and to make one think but not too much either.

SPOILERS - 1) holy shit everything with griffin and Alice and Jack… I think Jack liked the idea of Alice long before he met her, maybe he liked her more than just that but there’s something… more 2) I still feel like part of the game would be them winning by standing up to what their dad wanted 3) I think Elizabeth and Mike/Mark had an affair and Sam is their child, why Frank doesn’t like him as much

Just finished chapter 11 and I had to pause to take a minute. The family dynamics are mind blowing as much as they are heart wrenching and I love how Sarah has woven them together and displayed it in a believable yet awful way.

“What was favorite when compared to essential”

My goodness. Spoilers ahead!

I don’t like half the people in the family and from what Jack said about Frank being proud of Alice I’m wondering if these “trials” are supposed to be awful and hard because he wants them to fail, for example Greta having to break her own heart, if she doesn’t then she stands up to him and they fail. Sam just needs character building. I don’t like him at all!

The family dynamics are well written and described while also keeping so much a secret from the reader for now

The only thing I don’t like so far is that occasionally the author seems to almost try too hard to make references to the current times and things that are in

I did like that the idea of trains being steady, and constant, which is Alice’s preferred method of transportation was continued in describing her choice of partner-and this seems to contrast with what we know about her father and his recklessness

I liked the idea of travel and Alice using a train to introduce Alice’s history and how she grew up. Describing Alice and her family used a lot of contrasts, which really cements the idea that Alice is not like them, but it doesn’t give you a full history and it makes me want to know more about Alice and exactly what happened.

A great first chapter! I am interested to see if the author does more with the ideas that she introduced: travel, past versus present, time, estranged, family, and what is really important.

I liked the description and tone that was used to describe cell phones, particularly societies relationship with them and Alice is negative perception. I’m curious to see if that will emerge again later.

I don’t know if this will be the best book but I’m enjoying how quick the chapters are!

SPOILER

I know it’s a love story but it feels… like the author had to force Joan into it? Joan reads almost a sexual.

Also, Vanessa and drugs and she managed to get in? For some reason I feel like that would’ve come up in a background and instantly de qualified!

Two sections in and I’m already on the edge of my seat, knowing that something is going to happen. Taylor did an amazing job of looping me in in the first chapter and convey that there’s going to be something happening, but also that it’s a love story I can’t wait to see where this all goes!