THE ARCHIVED - Read-A-Long! discussion

What do you guys think so far?

I Really enjoyed this book! It one of the best books I read this year.

I'm not that far in, but so far I love the writing and I think the plot is very original and interesting. We'll see how it goes when I read more.

I'm on chapter 8 and am loving it! I love her writing style and the little stuff about her past with Da and Ben. Its really addictive and original!

The writing style was what struck me first. It's so poetic and beautiful and lyrical. This is my first Victoria Schwab novel, and I can't remember the last time I was so enamored with the writing style, from page one onward. I spend about 40% of my time highlighting (on my Kindle) and the other 60% actually reading.

The worldbuilding is excellent, too. Or at least it has been so far. I feel it's the kind of book that I can't just read for five minutes in-between doing other things. I really wait until I have enough time to sit down and read it, because the Archive and the Histories and the world of Librarians and Keepers is so elaborate that I have to pay attention to everything. Does anybody else have that?

I wonder if Da died just due to an illness, or whether his being a Keeper played into it somehow. (This isn't a spoiler, mind you, I genuinely have no idea, but I'm always suspicious of these things.) I'm only 22% in, though, so I have a long way to go.

I understand why you love this book, Jesse. I really, really do. And I'm nowhere near done yet. But I'm loving it so far.

What I've read so far (I think I'm on chapter 12) I've read in school, and the pain of having to put this book down once the bell rings is ridiculous. Schwab does a wonderful job of hooking you into the book, which keeps you intrigued. I usually don't like flashbacks either, but the ones in this book help in world building, so I can actually stand them! I'm overall loving this book so far and I'm at such a good part and I just want to go home and read!

It is very lyrical and poetic in the writing style, taking care with depicting characters, especially her and Da in the opening pages. I am liking it so far!!

I'm really liking this so far! I love the world building and the characters! I like how the story picked up, and now I'm really curious as to what happened in the house!! So excited!!

So far I find this book very interesting! I love the idea of it all. I have high hopes for this one and have read mixed reviews so hopefully I won't be disappointed.:) I downloaded it last night on my iphone, thinking it would be something to read when I'm in school or traveling when I don't have an actual book with me, but when I started to read only a few pages it had me HOOKED!

I am on chapter 6 and I can honestly say that this is great! I love the whole idea of the Archive and the writing style is just amazing, but what I love the most are those two plot lines (main plot line and Mac's memories of Da). I think they complement each other beautifully and I cannot wait to read more!

im only a couple chapters in, but i absolutely loveeeee it so far! the story is so captivating and interesting and her writing style is AMAZING. i cant wait to see how this book develops (:

I loved how this book started. I honestly didn't have such high hopes for this book at the beginning. I started it a while ago but put it down but now that I picked it up again I really love how the story is going. What's really intriguing is the concepts of the Histories. Are they souls? Why are they kept on a bookshelf? Will these questions be answered? Haha but in all seriousness I am so delighted by this book so far. Finding out about Wesley was a shocker though--definitely didn't see that coming.

I remember when I first read this book, I was in a reading slump and didn't make it past chapter 5. Now, I can't stop reading it. When I am at work or school and have free time, this is what I pick up. This world is very fascinating and engrossing and it is hard to step away from.

I am so glad you started this read-a-long because I know for a fact that I would not have pick up this book for a really long time. Even though I am only on chapter 20, I know I am going to want to pick up the sequel after I am done.

I'm so glad you guys started this read-a-long, I've wanted to read this for a while but didn't have any motivation really to until I was going to a discussion where she would be and I bought them both. Since then they have been sitting on my shelf begging to be read and now I have a reason to! I'm on chapter 11 and am in love with this book. I had to make myself stop reading otherwise I'd finish it in one day!

I will say when I started reading I was a little confused mainly because I thought Da was her father and she would speak about how he died but her father was speaking to her and I was just really confused. But when I got to the point where we find out he's her grandfather I could literally feel the confusion seeping away. I also may or may not be slightly in love with Wesley already!

Is anyone else picturing Mike from Breaking Bad when they think of Da? Because I am.

I'm on chapter 8 and well well well, this book is actually pretty good... The entire premise of the book is very original and although I was a little bit lost at the beginning (mostly due to the "Da situation"), things are kind of making more sense now once the world is explained with each chapter

I highlighted a lot of terms in my e-book and now that I have the terminology down and discovering more about the characters (Mac, Da, Wes) I've got a pretty good foundation laid out and I'm ready to really dive in to this!

Seriously the first part of the book is hard to get into. I've found I could easily put it down, but slowly it started to get interesting. I've found that some people had the same experience as me and said that the last third of the book makes it all worth it.

I just finished reading chapter 10, and I'm really getting into it! Like others have said, I found it slightly confusing in the beginning, but everything began to make sense and now I can't wait to find out what's going to happen. Victoria sets up the world so well and her writing is beautiful. I'm really glad I decided to participate in this read-a-long and excited to continue this story!

Cheyenne wrote: "I just finished reading chapter 10, and I'm really getting into it! Like others have said, I found it slightly confusing in the beginning, but everything began to make sense and now I can't wait to..."

I agree with you and so many others it was kind of confusing in the beginning but i think its turning into a book that i will not want to put down.

I love the writing. It is beautiful and poetic. The world building is great. it slowly build up instead of one giant info-dump. the idea is great and the message about protecting the past is fantastic.

I posted all of my thoughts on the Archive Chapter 1-10 on my blog http://unicornmeatbooks.wordpress.com...

This is going to be quick because I really want to get back to the book. Thanks to the booktube world because I probably never would have read this book if not for hearing so many people rave about it (such as Jesse the Reader =)) And thank you to this read-a-long because even after I bought it I had put it in the I'll-read-it eventually pile. And I love it, so I'm glad I am reading it now. I'm going to get back to it now.

P.S. I knew Wes was a keeper as soon as Mac saw him. Roland interests me... a lot.

I adore the writing and also the world. Wow. So cool. It's my first Victoria Schwab book, but I've got a feeling it won't be the last! I think the world in this is just so cool (and the worldbuilding is really good). Just... wow. A shame I didn't get around to reading a lot today.

the beginning was a little slow but I quickly found myself wanting to read the next chapter after each chapter end. I'm really liking the book so far.

Enjoying this book very much. I wasn't sure about it at first since I rarely read books with supernatural elements. However, I am pleasantly surprised. The writing is beautiful and I like the story so far. Can't wait to continue reading!

I'm really having trouble connecting to the book so far. I've been tempted to put it down and am sad because I know so many others like it.

Yeah I was confused at the beginning for the first few chapters. The archive and narrows descriptions can still be a little confusing. However, after about chapter five, I am really getting into this book. I agree that ms. Angeli seems suspicious and what is with this knife wielding history? Ready to read on!

Alright, here goes:-

I had difficulties at the very beginning of the chapter, and it did not cross my mind it was a flashback. Moreover, I didn't know the plot of the story before I start reading it. It's like trying to start up a very old Chevy. Eventually, it's really my bad. After reading the sypnosis of the book, I kinda get back my momentum with how Victoria created the world in Coronado and The Archived.

In all seriousness, I LOVE IT, it's really amazing. In a way, I was really drawn into the world and kept on going once you get hold of those new terms from The Archived world. New characters came up, some are fishy, some are dodgy (you'll know why once you read it).

Chapter 11, here I come!

Jess the reader was so right in saying that this book is fantastic. I am only to chapter 11 but I am really loving this book so far. The world building that Victoria Schwab does is fantastic. She describes the world in such a way that it feels real enough that it could possibly exist in our world today. Also I like how she incorporated the back story between Mackenzie and Da. Where the backstories were placed in the book where spot on. The backstories in a way connected to the present. For example, Mackenzie is trying to read her brothers suff so she can catch a glimps of him and then it goes back to the day where Da is trying to teach her how to read things. Speaking of Da I am glad I am not the only one that thought Da was just Mackenzie's way of saying dad. Victoria Schwad could of told us who he was in relationship to Mackenzie much sooner possibly in the opening flashback.

Now I can't believe I was able to put this book down after chapter 10 to tell you all my thoughts on the book so far. Chapter 10 leaves you with a minor cliff hanger and you immediately want to know what the heck is going to happen. Going to go read now because the suspense is killing me.

I just finished reading the tenth chapter and I absolutely love this book so far. The story grabbed me from the first page and is very unique and different from all the YA books I read before. Although it was kinda difficult for me to get into her writing style at first, I really love reading how she describes characters and locations. And the way she writes about Kenzies emotions and how she feels is just so beautiful. The characters are so well described and developed and I want to read more about the relationship of Kenzie, Da and Ben. That's why I think it's so cool that we have all those flashbacks from the past.

Can't wait to continue and I'm so glad that I picked this one up and participated in the readalong! :)

I am definitely loving this so far. i is exactly my cup of tea. I love mystery type books. The world are slightly confusing to me. The narrows, the outers... I am very intrigued to see where is goes.

The whole plot is so creative and original. I'm loving it!

So far I am impressed by the writing style and plot originality of this book! I'm hoping we get to learn a lot more about Roland, and the mystery of the murder in Mac's room is very intriguing. I agree with the others who are wondering about Ms. Angelli - definitely seems like there's something up there. I'm excited to keep reading!

I just read the first 40 pages and I LOVE IT so far!!!!

I am loving this book so far. This book definitely has one of the best plots and I love Victoria schwab's writing style. Everything is so unique and weird, but that is what makes it so great.

At first I thought about putting it down but now I just can't I'm on chapter 13 and I want to read it in one sitting but I just don't have enough time in my day... But I have a feeling there is more to Roland then meets the eye, I don't know it's just a hunch... and also I'm loving where this story is heading. It keeps getting more intense with every page!

I totally agree about Roland too. I think something is up.

I love it so far! The writing style is amazing and the plot is really original.
I can relate to Mac who I was afraid I wouldn't because of this supernatural plot things. The thing with the M girl, who she wanted to be, is so human. I loved that.

Like everyone else, I'm loving her writing style. I've never read a Victoria Schwab book before, so I'm pleasantly surprised. However, if I'm really being honest, the book didn't really grab my attention until recently. I just finished chapter 14 and the first six or seven chapters were a little bit slow and confusing, but now that I understand everything I am SUPER into this. SO GOOD.

I'm in chapter nine right now, (I think) and this far I really like the book. The writing style is really pleasant and I love the whole world building. It is so interesting. Never read anything like it, very original :)

I like Mac and the flashbacks even though normally I don't like flashbacks a lot. I can relate to her, makes me enjoy reading the story more.

Just want to keep reading to know what will happen next!

I'm a very picky reader, and it seems that I dislike half the books I read. But goodness I like this! It took awhile to get into but now I really getting into the mystery of it all. I have so many questions and I can't wait to continue. I like the main character, (Mackenzie doesn't seem like a fitting name for her, idk why) and the plot is so original and unpredictable, which is rare in YA. It took my forever to realize Da was her grandfather, for some reason I thought he was her brother >_<
I have so many questions!

Why did that guy kill the girl?

Where did the knife come from?

Just Ahhhhh everything! I need to get back to reading!

OMG!! I have been waiting for a book like this for ages!! Rachel Hawkins describes the book perfectly, "... The Archived is that rare book that grabs you by the mind and the heart, ..." I completely agree.

At the start of the book i thought Da was her older seventeen-year-old brother but then it turns out he's her grandfather... awks. I almost cried when we meet Wes, I don't know why I felt that way but, it was just beautiful, with the muffins.

Really, Really glad I picked up this book! I hope it gets better with the whole murder and knife thing goin' on!

-Nikki

I read till chapter 12 in feb but had to return book to library. Since then I just picked up where I left off yesterday on my kindle. Liked what I read so far.

love the characters mac and wes .the writing style is amazing too ♥♥

Lexie wrote: "The writing style was what struck me first. It's so poetic and beautiful and lyrical. This is my first Victoria Schwab novel, and I can't remember the last time I was so enamored with the writing s..."

I feel the same way about the writing style! It's hard not to highlight everything.

Finished with chapters 1-10. I like where it's going. I have a lot of questions that hopefully will be answered little by little (they are mostly about the origins of the Archive).

And I'm soso curious about the mystery!

I like the characters we have seen so far: I love the chapters with Da, those are a great way to develop the story. I'm fond of Mac's parents too. And I like Wesley, I can't wait to see his relationship with Mac develop further, their little moment in the garden was ELECTRIC. And the old lady seems very suspicious to me. My theory is that she used to live there before when the ~strange~ things were happening and now she moved back (no idea why, bare with me here).

Meredith wrote: "alright! I dunno about you guys but I don't trust ms. angelli. I just got this sudden wariness towards her. anyone else?"

I agree! She "feels" shady.

Anyone have any favorite quotes so far ?

I really like the book this far. I'm a slow and distracted reader so I usually have a problem reading over 40 pages in one sitting, but I've finished over 100 already in only a few hours and will continue before going to bed.
Just as Sophie I'm really curious about where the knife came from, and what was that shadow she saw?

I've been intrigued about this book since I first heard about it. Now over a hundred pages in, I'm still intrigued. Victoria Schwab's writing is beautiful and lyrical that stands echoing in my ears even after I've put the book down. The world building is so fantastically done and the whole concept is completely unique. I am loving this story and cutting this comment a bit short so I can get back to reading. Hope you all are enjoying this book as much as I am :)