Mumbai Bookworms discussion

Hi members,

This thread is the wake of realisation that group reads would need to be stalled for a bit on here (until the moderator becomes more active). I thought that we could start with buddy reads in the meantime. These are typically a method of reading wherein a few people decide on reading a commonly selected book together (no time stipulation, etc. do it at your leisure) and discuss our progress (and other thoughts) on the thread. Because we do it at our own pace, the one disadvantage is obviously varying reading speeds so a word of caution - look out for spoilers ;) The discussions are meant to be light and fun - so please don't get personal. It is meant to initiate flow of ideas and procuring varied insights into the novel picked up.

Our first read is Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult and so far the members in the read are:

1. Abhishek
2. Me - Sharadha

If anyone else wants to join in, then please respond on this thread and I'll add your name in :)

Blurb:
For over a decade, Jenna Metcalf obsesses on her vanished mom Alice. Jenna searches online, rereads journals of the scientist who studied grief among elephants. Two unlikely allies are Serenity Jones, psychic for missing people who doubts her gift, and Virgil Stanhope, jaded PI who originally investigated cases of Alice and her colleague. Hard questions and answers.

Abhishek has also revealed the frequent attribution to elephants throughout the novel.

Hope to see some success with the first buddy read :) Happy reading all! x

Woooo!!! Exciting!!! Hope few more join us.

Abhishek! Are we still doing this? I know that we are well into May - but I am going to start so :D

I will go and buy a copy next week but found an eBook to start with for the time being.

So I finished chapter 1 and have found it all right so far - I had never heard of the 'Elephants have a great memory' cliche before! :O Something new to have learned through this novel. This chapter has built the suspense up well, in my opinion. The next chapter is from Alice's perspective so am eager to read :)

And I finished Chapter 4 - it's been a great bumpy ride so far :) I have no idea what to expect further which is always good for a book and the art of storytelling. Somewhere in mind I am hoping that Alice is alive after all and is AWOL temporarily :)

I don't know chapter wise, but now I am on page 122. Thanks for getting the book. Still now it is a lovely story. You get to learn a lot about elephant in the middle of stories. Like the young elephants gather together like we humans. Also how protective elephants are of their calf.

I really hope Alice is alive, but that seems to be highly unlikely. But I really wish Alice is alive for Jenna's sake.

And I don't know page wise because I am reading off of an eBook -_-

Anyway, I quite agree the sensitivity of elephants. I sort of had heard stories that they are a lot like us humans - moving around closely with their kind, protecting each other, longest gestation periods, matriarch society, etc. And quite frankly, what Jodi writes about elephants via Alice is intriguing to me. It's like every page has an elephant in it ^_^

I also like the flow of suspense going on now - Jodi's popped up a few suspects - Thomas, Gideon, and Alice herself. Can you please read a few chapters more and tell me if Alice is alive :P :P

Also, does Serenity reappear later? Or is she gone for good within the first few pages? Does only Virgil help Jenna or do they form a trio and set out to hunt Alice down?

Yes Serenity do reappear later, to find some of Alice valuables. And Yes Virgil does help Jenna in finding Alice.

But I haven't yet know if Alice is alive or dead. There is a small revelation from Jenna's grandmother also. Jenna break down before her grandmother trying to extract information.

I dont want to tell much or the main content or else it will spoil the fun of book reading :-)

Okay wait, I think I read one breakdown scene with Jenna and her grandmother - but her grandmom didn't reveal much other than saying that she'd set out to the police thrice to lodge a missing person's complaint but couldn't go in and actually do it.

Where are you in the novel now? You can maybe tell me the context and we can sync our positions before we discuss further (that way, neither of us will give away spoilers hehe).

P.S. What is it with Virgil and his bizarre pick up line on Jenna (raisins and date one) :P I don't like that pairing lol

Oops sorry for the late reply, I kinda dont get notification from this tread. Gotta enable it. I am on page 122 will be doing another 60 - 100 pages on this weekend.

Page number won't help me figure out where in the book you are :( What part are you on? Describe the scene or whose POV etc.

I am on Alice's flashback - she is mourning with Maura when her calf dies and hardly concentrates on Jenna. Thomas is rude to her for the first time.

What part are you on?

AB, where are you???? I am almost going to complete the book (last 3-4 chapters left) :D If not for a damn Monday, I'd have finished it today :) Anyway, I hope you too are about to finish it so that we can pick up another book!

Done with this book, AB! Thanks for suggesting it, I enjoyed it :) I'm not giving away any spoilers until you're done. Let me know when you do so and we'll discuss it in some more depth :)

Abhishek Why don't you join us for A Thousand Splendid Suns?