Mount TBR 2013 Reading Challenge discussion

Some of us will be reading the sequel to Child 44 in December. Anyone who is interested is welcome to join us.

Yay! I am looking forward to reading this! Thanks for starting up this post. :D

You're welcome. It will be our first buddy read together. Yay!

So any thoughts about the beginning 50 pages or so? Leo seems to be such a sucker when it comes to women - the wife of the priest?

I thought it was interesting to read about how suicide was perceived and that it ruined careers for family members.

Going forward there are a few interesting possibilities for the novel to take.

Leo's guilt is tearing him up. He wants redemption so bad, but I don't think his conscious will let him.

Sorry, ladies. I had a busy weekend, but intend to start this book tonight.

I hear you Sera, December is crazy busy! I feel more prepared than previous years, but so much to do in such little time! Are you guys feeling the rush too?

We can take as long as we need for the buddy-read :)

It has been crazy! Things should be calming down now. My daughter finished the fall session of dance class and the craft show at her school is over. We also won't be having anymore company until Christmas Eve. Phew! Last week was crazy busy.

I am really looking forward to getting into this book tonight.

I completely understand, Sera. Don't worry, I'm not in any hurry.

No, it's all good. I started reading it last night. I am on page 65. I am really enjoying it so far. I don't find Smith's writing to be choppy at all. I admit to having a preference for the flowery, but I like Smith's writing style.

What would you do if you had a child like Zoya living in your house?

I want to know what the package is that was sent to Leo! I will be finding out tonight.

Keep reading away, ladies. I should be able to catch up quickly.

Yes, I don't find Smith's style choppy at all either. Of course, Smith is so good at making a situation tense that I tend to just read faster to find out what happens. lol

I thought the twist with what happens with Zoya pretty interesting. In fact, Zoya's a scary kid. Smith makes it almost impossible for Leo to go home and then shakes things up a bit.

I'm really excited about the movie they are making for Child 44. I keep watching for a trailer, but I don't think they are done filming yet.

Oh, let me know when the trailer comes out.

Zoya is incredibly frightening but I am wondering how brave she is under the circumstances which she currently finds herself.

What do you think about Raisa? I think that she's a great female character because Smith writes her with complexity.

Although I've read much about Russian history, I find myself deficient in the Khrushchev years, which is making the book even more interesting for me.

Yes, I'm completely unfamiliar with the Khrushchev years as well. I may have to look that up.

I can't wait to see the movie too; hopefully it will live up to the book. I hate when casting doesn't match up with my mental picture.

Zoya is so damaged and that is what makes her dangerous. Trauma at a young age can impact personality in such a negative way.

Me three for being unfamiliar with Khrushchev. I am a bit confused about the speech and why it is causing people to act so radically. I feel like everyone knew about the nastiness that lived within their society. Smith even alludes to it in saying that the wife never questioned what her husband did all day, and in this way she is protected. I also don't understand the motivation for murder/suicide - a lot of twisted personalities here.

As a twist, the idea of an unknown victim being behind it is intriguing.

I found this which was helpful:
bit.ly/1e6DvDu

Oh yes, that link is very helpful! Thanks for finding that!

I get the feeling, even if Leo succeeds, they may still kill Zoya.

Hey Ladies, I found a pic from the new Child 44 movie. :DDD

Nice, Willow!

I'm on page 180 now and should be able to squeeze a little reading in over lunch today.

The scenes on the boat were incredible! This book continues to keep me on the edge of my seat.

Yes I was on the edge of my seat too. In fact, I had to set this book down last night, because the prison scenes with Lazar were so intense. I'm so scared for Leo.

Me too! The ride over to the prison is intense. I also was quite impressed by Lazar's wife who is the leader of the gang. Initially I had the impression that she resented her husband and had played second fiddle to him. I was a bit surprised by her loyalty and quest for him to be released.

As a quick aside: is it just me who worries about all the germs? First Leo is in a tunnel with cuts on his hands touching raw sewage and then Raisa is bitten by Zoya. All I could think was that I hope they are on antibiotics!

Thanks for the screenshot Willow!

I thought the same thing! Leo's hands were all torn up from touching the frozen metal and then he's in the sewer. It just made me cringe. Of course, he never did get sick, but it sure crossed my mind.

LOL - germs?! That's a hoot. After all of what Leo and others have been through, I think that it's funny that you are worried about Leo getting an infection. You two rock!

OMG - I read a lot tonight, and it is so good. How Smith can keep up the excitement is beyond me.

I am on page 305. Let me know when you get there because I can't wait to discuss it with you.

I can't wait! I will catch up with you tonight, Sera! :D

Yay! Looking forward to it.

Damn, I'm so bummed about Timur. I keep hoping that by some rare chance he's still alive. D:

I caught up with you, Sera. Yikes I'm exhausted. This book is so gritty it wears me out. lol
I have to stop every once in awhile and take a break. Yet I don't want to stop either.

I know! I tend to read in smaller does, but yes, I have a hard time putting this one done.

I am very upset about Timur. I kept hoping that he would come in and save the day. Some really interesting twists happen next. I read a little this morning, but hope to finish the book tonight.

I finished the book! Looking forward to hearing about everything that happened.

I finished tonight too. Yay! Despite some flaws and implausibilities, I did enjoy this book a lot, and I had a hard time setting it down. I didn't love it as much as "Child 44" though.

Willow wrote: "I finished tonight too. Yay! Despite some flaws and implausibilities, I did enjoy this book a lot, and I had a hard time setting it down. I didn't love it as much as "Child 44" though."

I felt exactly the same way. It was a little over the top for me at times. I gave it 4.5 stars. I do think that Smith is one of the best writers in this genre, though.

I'm curious to see what Michelle thinks.

Would you be up for reading the third book in April or May?

I would love to read Agent 6 with you. :D

Yay! Hopefully, once she is finished, Michelle will want to read the 3rd book with us as well.

Willow wrote: "Damn, I'm so bummed about Timur. I keep hoping that by some rare chance he's still alive. D:" Me too! And the watch - heartbreaking!

Those scenes in the camp are intense. My only complaint is that Leo is so resilient - WTH? His kneecaps are mush and yet he walks? Interesting revolt at the camp overall - the leader sounded totally insane.

Sera wrote: "I know! I tend to read in smaller does, but yes, I have a hard time putting this one done.

I am very upset about Timur. I kept hoping that he would come in and save the day. Some really interes..." I KNEW that Zoya was still alive!

I had no idea that Zoya was still alive! but it totally agree Michelle that the prison scene was one example of where Smith goes over the top. There is no way that Leo goes through a few days of torture and then busts out of camp Rambo style.

I had really wished that Timur had lived. I really liked that Leo had a partner whom he could trust.

I was so bummed about Timur. I thought the book was really exciting when it was switching back and forth between their point of views. He was a cool character, and his death was so unexpected.

I knew Zoya lived because I made the mistake of reading the summary for Agent 6. I should remember never to do that.

You're right about Leo. I had to set the book down for the night though when they started torturing him. I just didn't want to read about him being hurt. So I suppose I was rather relieved he was so resilient. lol
There are parts at the end though that I thought were really implausible.

That is where I am at right now - at the end, Raisa has just escaped the tank attack and her and Leo are reunited. (hey wasn't that a song from the 80's?) Only 50 more pages to go.

I was also bummed about the priest Leo rescued from the gulag. I was blindsided by that one.

I'm also wondering about Zoya's younger sister, poor thing!

I loved the part where Fraera wiped her face with the blade after Zoya kissed her...so cold. Good for her for not being a victim, but she is ruthless.

Not a fan of the tank fighting bits. Almost there and then we should definitely do the follow up as a buddy read!

I was shocked about what happened to Lazar too. Fraera is so ruthless. She's a great villain.

Hey ladies, I did write my review. :D

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

Thanks for the buddy read. I'm looking forward to reading book 3. :D