100 Books Challenge discussion

For discussion of

I’ve started this one finally. So depressing.

I was really struggling with this one and thought of giving up. I didn’t because I need it for a challenge in another group. I’m really glad I stuck with it. Still sad and depressing, but I’m truly curious to see how things continue to develop.

The characters are well-developed & more than one are quite hopeless at figuring out how to deal with life’s challenges. Joel & Toby break my heart. Joel, especially as Toby can escape into his mind sometimes. Joel lives in a nearly constant state of massive anxiety.

I actually read With No One as Witness because it seemed that it really lead into this book. I listened to it on audio, then found out it was an abridgement. lol. I also looked for this book on audio, but it also is an abridgement. So, I decided to ask my book mobile to order it for me. Since they come every month and there is no guarantees, I am not sure if I will be able to get it. May end up reading the abridgement after all. (Although I don't really like them)

Well, I finished it yesterday. I'm so glad I stuck with it. It is relentless in the depressing life they are all trapped in. No one makes good decisions ... NO ONE! It's just heartbreaking. The last half (over 350 pages) is nearly impossible to put down. I had to keep reading. It's a fantastic psychological, sociological study & worth the time it took to read it. I gave it 3.5 stars because it did pick up dramatically in the 2nd half.

I finished this book yesterday and rated it 2.5 stars for it was OK. You are definitely right Martha. "It is relentless in the depressing life..." I know that if I had started this series with this book I would never read another one. But, I started with the book before this one. I figured It would work out better in the reading. I loved that book and rated it 4.0 stars. So, I think I will go to book 1 and see how that book is before I decide about this series.

I understand that this book is so different than all the others in the series so I think I’ll try to start with number one also. I’ve heard the series is very good. This is not a good example of it.