Jamie’s Comments (group member since Jun 04, 2012)

Jamie’s comments from the Not Quite A Topless Robot Book Club group.

Sorry! I'm here! I loved this book. As someone who is bi-polar and a recovering addict, there was a lot I could relate to. I loved her idea of the emotional fiction changing day to day like the weather. It's so true. My circumstances could be exactly the same from one day to the next but I'd be on top of the world one day and a sobbing mess in my closet the next.

As for electro-shock therapy, sadly memory loss is the biggest side effect. I know two recovering addicts of Carrie's age who also went through it. Mental health sciences still have a long way to go.

In short, loved the book. Would love to see more nerdy bios/autobiographies.

So much to say about "The Hobbit". I actually reread this book in early June and then the LotR trilogy. What struck me as I read the story in June was how much younger the tone was throughout the book. It was the first time reading it where I really thought to myself that the book was intended to be a YA novel. This probably explains why my nine-year-old self inhaled "The Hobbit", opened "Fellowship of the Ring" with such anticipation, and then put it down after 15 pages with intense boredom.

I reread the book at the beginning of December (aloud to Charlotte) and had a much more intense experience with the book. I felt the story flow in a way I never had before. I was able to let go of the animated movie in my head and focus on the language of each page.

Bri, what you said about "Riddles in the Dark" was spot on. (As an aside, this, to me, was the most necessary and anticipated scene of the movie, and holy crow did Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis not disappoint!)

I will have more later, but that's what I had to express right away.

So, I reread the book before commenting. I'm actually glad I read it a second time. My first read-through I was very put-off by the over-explaining. For example, you audience will either get what the big blue rectangular boxes used for transporting are without you saying they are like the Tardis, and then further saying they are from Doctor Who or they won't no matter if you go into the entire 50 year history of it. That comment still stands, but I understand some of it may be publisher direction.

I found that if I had the mindset of this being a YA novel, it flowed a lot better for me. I tried putting myself in the mindset of a teen who grew up with no positive role models, which made his obsession a little easier to take. Bri, looking at the reading list, most of those authors focus on male protagonists who pull themselves out of crap circumstances and become extraordinary, so I could see why, if this is the only viewpoint we have of Halliday, those are the books chosen for Z's reading list. But you still have a very valid point.

I did find Z's ability to remember things at the most opportune moment eyerolling, at best.

Okay, I do have positive things to say about the book, I swear! I did enjoy it, overall. The egg hunt was engaging. The supporting characters were really interesting. I loved Daito and Shoto. Art3mis was well-rounded and I loved that she was business first, personal relationships second. So often, girls are portrayed as becoming a complete idiot once they meet a boy.

Aech was my favorite. It took me a little bit to realize how to pronounce the handle and then I felt really, really stupid. But that was reader problem, not author problem. The reveal at the end made me so very happy. And agreed that it was a lovely surprise to see Wade understand that jack-all had changed in their friendship just because of gender, sexuality, and race.

I am looking forward to seeing what his next book will bring. Overall, it was a good read and I'm hoping a lot of the bumps were just from being a first-time novelist.

Well, I was shocked looking at the trailer for "Wreck-it Ralph" and how many characters they got permission to use, so it's possible.

I'm actually rereading this right now because it's been so long and I want to remind myself of all the intricacies. Be back soon!

I really, really, really want to read "Ready Player One" so that's my vote.