Reading the Chunksters discussion

Chap 10-
The four become a family. A happy chapter but i'm cautionary. The author likes to pull the rug out from under you at any moment.

Family planning is a Chekhov's gun to this story, so far.

Lorna wrote: "unless we want to be reading until October we need to stay on schedule. Plus September is when I start my ASOFAI book 4 and 5..."

I was curious about the book series ASOFAI so checked it out. Do you mean ASOIAF, with it being Ice and Fire rather than Fire and Ice? Your abbreviation does sound more natural.

Not haven't read any of the books, I wouldn't have recognized either acronym. But if you had asked me to guess the series title in a trivia game I would have said Songs of Fire and Ice, and been wrong for 2 reasons.

I don't think the Beggermaster is ruthless. I do think he's believes's being a practical businessman.

we'll need more of a backstory in regards to shankar. He has a lot of beggars under his wing. it seems odd that he would focus on just one so intently.

Mekki wrote: "Chap 10- The four become a family. A happy chapter but i'm cautionary. The author likes to pull the rug out from under you at any moment."

Good reason to be cautionary. Not only is Chapter 11 not a 'happy chapter' due to the landlord, but the 'family' splinters as 'brothers' fight because one brother wants to spy on 'mom' getting naked.
While Om and Maneck both engage in crude Porky's-type behavior while at the tailors, it is really Om's idea and it is only Om who disgustingly brings the behavior home. At times it is hard to have sympathy for Om and I find myself longing for further comeuppance for him.
I agree the Beggarmaster seems more like a businessman adapting to the time and place than a ruthless man. However, there is still more story so we may see him again and we may see which way he acts.

I must be in the minority, but I do not like the BeggarMaster. I think he is exploiting the disabled for his own profit. I had a feeling that he would not like the new clothes that Ishvar and Om made for Shankar. A beggar will not get money if he has nice, clean clothes. I'm reminded of Oliver Twist. And, he also took advantage of Ishvar and Om.

I'm glad you brought up Avinash. I hope he returns; I hate the thought that he may have been terminated because of his ideals and unionism.