The Challenge Factory discussion

Nathalie & Leo - The Bone Clocks

Checking in :) That's quite a hefty book, I hope I'll be able to finish it in April :)

Hi Leo! Did you start it already? I did, didn't get too far though (around page 90).

No, not yet :) But as always, I have way to many books planned for April, so I'm a bit worried ;)

Lol. I see :)

Hey let me know when you start this one. I will put it on hold until then :)

I suppose I'll start it around the 11th :)

I started the book today, it got pushed back on my schedule, because I had to go to the hospital -.-
I don't really care a lot for teenage protagonists, so I'm not really into the beginning of the novel, but maybe the book will convince me otherwise soon :)

I am not too thrilled so far either. Don't like the language/writing style...

Reading this book is really slow going for me. Should we continue the Buddy Read into May?

yeah thats a good idea! :)

I finally finished the first part, Hot Spell - 1984
Things begin to move and I'm a bit more interested in what is going to happen. Have you finished that part too?

Yes, that's how far I got. I hope that with her being older, the language will change a bit...

I think it's interesting, that there is so much about the political situation. It made the whole setting more layered for me.

Are you reading it in German or English?

English, and you?

Also in English. I read Cloud Atlas in German and I am glad about that because I don't know if I could've dealt with this one guy's weird language...

I read Cloud Atlas in English, and I got used to the language pretty quickly :)
I realised that one of the reasons why I'm not progressing with the book might be that it's just to heavy to take with me while I'm commuting. I read most books during my commute to work and university.

Oh I am jealous! If I try to read anything during a ride I get sick :/

I'm really slow, but this month, it is mostly because I prioritize other books. I'm in Hugo Lamb's part now, and I am waiting that someone finally punches the smug smile from his face

I have to admit that I haven't picked it up anymore... :| But you make me curious with the comment about the smug smile :)

Hi Leo. Did you read any further? I'm now also in Hugo's part... But I am really struggling to continue, I find it so boring :/ Does it get any better, how do you like it?

I'm going to start my last attempt on it next week. It is due at the library on June 3. If I have not finished until then, I give up :)

So, I'm at about the half of the book now. Still a lot of rambling is going on, but there are also some very interesting parts which are about political and social issues
More magic!

So you recommend giving it another try? Did you extend it at the library? Bone clocks really hasn't convinced me so far but somehow I am not quite ready to give up I think. On the other hand I don't wanna read even more of it if I just end up putting it back in the shelf unfinished... Ugh, the struggle is real, haha :)

I can't extend it anymore, so I will make a mad dash for it and try to finish until saturday ;)

Oh! Well best of luck to you! Haha. And keep me posted :)

so, there is a part written from the perspective of an author which is pretty ironic and metafictional
I guess he wants to make a point here... I think I'm only reading on because I want to know if there will be more action and something really happening AT ALL here

Oh no... you must've read like over 400 pages, right? I think so far into it it's hard to give up. but on the other hand, if you're not enjoying it... I guess I will put it back in the shelf?

I think one thing that bothers me about the book (and probably that was also what I disliked about Cloud Atlas) is that as soon as you get into the story of one person, it ends and continues with someone else. it's like starting all over again and you are at the beginning where you still have to find out if you like the people etc...

I think it didn't bother me that much in Cloud Atlas (or in Ghostwritten which has some similiar elements), because there was action happening. I feel The Bone Clocks is a lot of form before story. I mean, I get it, the magical in the everyday, our small struggles, the impact of a single life, all that jazz... but why on roughly 600 pages?
I feel as if he was always rewriting the same book

I save my final judgment for the last page, but this book really should have a killer ending, if it wants to pacify me

lol. I am impressed by your perseverance though!!!
how far are you?

at page 421, we just had a new perspective change and are currently in the year 2025. Finally we are getting the perspective of someone who knows what is going on, so I have high hopes for this part :)

I'm finished! Well, the ending was not a killer, therefore 3 stars. It's well crafted and I see what the author wanted to do, but did he really need 600 pages? Come on

You made it! But 3 stars is decent, so you did like it somehow. I put my copy back on the shelf... :/