Play Book Tag discussion

I knew this book should have been Never & Never & Never for me ... alas, people were raving and saying how different it was from Fikry. This author is just not for me.

I don't play video games, but I like them so that wasn't the issue. The issue was that it was boring with adequate characters and about 150 pages longer than it needed to be. There was just a ridiculous amount of filler.

I realize I am in the minority, but the author just seems like she was in love with her own ideas and didn't want to let them go no matter how uninteresting to the reader.

blech.

I am glad I am not the only one that didn't love this (and I love video games, so that's not the reason for me, either.) I agree it is too long. The whole "Pioneer" segment could have been cut and not lost anything. I think it started off well, but completely loses its way toward the end.

I started it, but I wasn’t in the mood for it at the time. I was so excited when it first came out I couldn’t wait to buy it, but that was last year. I think I still want to read it. Some day.

Nicole D. wrote: "I knew this book should have been Never & Never & Never for me ... alas, people were raving and saying how different it was from Fikry. This author is just not for me.

I don't play video games, b..."
I agree - good review. peace, janz

I am on my library waitlist for this one 🤣
We shall see where I fall on this one.

Your review solidifies my reasoning for not adding this one. Hate to say it, but most times people are raving about a book, and it has the LF tag, I know I am going to hate it. Thanks for going there Nicole, and the review.

It's always interesting to see the different reactions that books provoke in us. I loved the book and found it fascinating.

Nicole D. wrote: "I knew this book should have been Never & Never & Never for me ... alas, people were raving and saying how different it was from Fikry. This author is just not for me.

I don't play video games, b..."

I was very interested in your review because I hated Fikry, finding the characters flat and the story emotionally manipulative and (view spoiler)[ having 2 different characters die in car accidents on a small island is just lazy writing - how bad could those roads be? Plus I detest the trope of a child brought into the story who has no trauma of her own and serves to make the adults happy (hide spoiler)]. "Everyone" was raving about this new book but I think I'll pass. I'm not a fan of video games, but I did love Ready Player One, so that alone wouldn't have put me off.

@Robin, I was lukewarm about the author's Fikry book and had to be talked into reading Tomorrow X 3. I found the books to be vastly different. (I'm certainly not trying to talk you into reading it, but wanted to let you know that I share some of your reactions about Fikry.)

Holly R W wrote: "@Robin, I was lukewarm about the author's Fikry book and had to be talked into reading Tomorrow X 3. I found the books to be vastly different. (I'm certainly not trying to talk you into reading it,..."

Thanks, that's helpful.

totally agree on the Pioneer section

I was not a big fan of Fikry so will take this one off the tbr.

Thanks for your review, Nicole

Haha, love your opening line Nicole-this is another that I have been on the fence about, mainly because of the popularity-thanks for the honest review, which confirms it should not be on my shelf-

Nicole D. wrote: "I knew this book should have been Never & Never & Never for me ... alas, people were raving and saying how different it was from Fikry. This author is just not for me.

I don't play video games, b..."

Is there any chance I would like this, Nicole? I feel like the answer is no, but I own it. I feel like this is going to be like Lessons in Chemistry or Remarkably Bright Creatures . . .a book that's wildly popular that I find super boring. Glad to see someone say it out loud though because I was starting to think I was being ridiculous.

no .... no chance. I was also wondering about lessons in chemistry - I guess I have my answer.
One thing that should be in this book and isn't .... emotion.

Nicole D. wrote: "no .... no chance. I was also wondering about lessons in chemistry - I guess I have my answer.
One thing that should be in this book and isn't .... emotion."

UGH. Thanks. That sounds like so not my thing. And yeah, I say no on Lessons in Chemistry. Other than the "pro women" stance of it, I really didn't think it was worthwhile. Note I'm pretty alone in my viewpoint.

I have not read Lessons In Chemistry, either. The description does not sound like my taste.

My Feminerdy Book Club just picked this for our September read as they all (except me) had it on hold at NYPL to read so decided should be done together. Now I'm wondering if it will be one of those that some like, some hate or all hate/love. Likely will be a good discussion.

I have not read this author so really have no opinion. I find the cover puts me off -- the graphic gives me negative vibes. I'll let you all know what I think. I currently have a 6 week hold wait on the ebook from NYPL - number 3,038th in line -- but there are 999 copies available so only 3 people per copy. I started on Sunday as number 3,134th in line -- just thought I'd share what it's like here in NYC where your local library is available to anyone living in the entire state.

BTW - some of the best discussions on a book I've ever had were books that everyone had a critique about - some more than others. Most recently that was a modern gothic discussion group and White Is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi. None of us liked it or would recommend it but yet we had so much to discuss!

Theresa wrote: "BTW - some of the best discussions on a book I've ever had were books that everyone had a critique about - some more than others. Most recently that was a modern gothic discussion group and [book:W..."

Dude, wtf with that book (White Is For Witching) 🤣
Unfortunately I read it on my lonesome so no understanding, discussion, revelations were had. Just died in my mind as strange, slow, and forgettable.

Theresa wrote: "My Feminerdy Book Club just picked this for our September read as they all (except me) had it on hold at NYPL to read so decided should be done together. Now I'm wondering if it will be one of thos..."

I will be very curious to hear your opinion. I do agree that a book that works well for book club is not necessarily one I like, but unfortunately for my face to face book club I generally don't like the book OR the discussions. I really need to drop out of it.

Meli wrote: "Theresa wrote: "BTW - some of the best discussions on a book I've ever had were books that everyone had a critique about - some more than others. Most recently that was a modern gothic discussion g..."

OMG - we so picked it apart, Meli! We also had read a couple of interviews she gave about it and talked about a couple things that she said were in it and part of the main plot - and NONE of us picked them up!

Yet there were some wonderful passages but it so did not come together or work, ultimately.

Anita wrote: "Theresa wrote: "My Feminerdy Book Club just picked this for our September read as they all (except me) had it on hold at NYPL to read so decided should be done together. Now I'm wondering if it wil..."

You do need to drop it. It's clearly not a good match for you.

The only IRL book club I belong to is this Feminerdy one, which does SFF from a feminist and gender perspective, one that I initially only attended when a book like GOT was being discussed that I had read or wanted to read, since at that time I read very little fantasy and no SciFi. Now I'm fully committed to it and find I like a lot more SFF than I ever thought.

But most IRL book clubs are not for me. I have found I like organized discussion groups like those at the Center for Fiction that run over a fixed number of weeks and have a syllabus.

And of course here.

Anita wrote: "...but unfortunately for my face to face book club I generally don't like the book OR the discussions. I really need to drop out of it."

Arg, that sucks :(
My friend recently dropped out of one of the book clubs we were in together (but we're in multiple together) and she's much happier! She was just like I am not enjoying this anymore and stopped showing up.
It's hard because you are having discussions sometimes that are difficult (depending on what you are reading) so if it isn't a safe space for that, or personalities are too much, it can kill the fun.

Theresa wrote: "Yet there were some wonderful passages but it so did not come together or work, ultimately."

I agree, she can write but the book just didn't work for me. I also don't tend to like "folk horror" which I guess maybe we could categorize this as. I will try something else of hers another time.

Meli wrote: "Anita wrote: "...but unfortunately for my face to face book club I generally don't like the book OR the discussions. I really need to drop out of it."

Arg, that sucks :(
My friend recently droppe..."

Not to hijack Nicole's review, but my struggle is that I like the women in the club, and it's the only context I see many of them. So while I don't wish to be hurtful to them . . .it's just the WORST from a book club standpoint. I have said a few times, why don't we just drop the book reading requirement and have brunch once a month - - where we can discuss books in general along with our lives. But no one bites, and I can't understand why because a lot of people don't finish the books, and they certainly have little of interest to say about them . . .

I enjoyed Tomorrow x3, but I did not give it a five star rave. I did find a captured my attention, and there were a lot of interesting pieces to it that I appreciated. But it was not the total love affair, that I see other people giving it. Same with lessons in chemistry. I liked it just fine. Except I was very bothered by the few chapters that were narrated by the dog. Other than that, I liked it, but I did not consider it a big whoop. Remarkably bright creatures, I really liked. But I also felt like he just had to have a suspension of disbelief and enjoy the story. But because it was audio, it made a world of difference. I also just feel like something gets totally panned by one or two people and then others follow suit when clearly the book is a mix. I remember one book, that was such a yo-yo that I was sure I would end up in the know camp. Every time I took it off my TBR for good, they were a slew of reviews, and it went straight back on. Ended up liking the book and give it four stars. The name escapes me, but it’s close to “Everybody Little Fires.” Some books are like that. And for every rave, there’s somebody who pans it.

We can move the book club discussion and in fact I am starting a topic in Footnotes for it - and I will put me suggestion for Meli there.

Now this can return to discussing Tomorrow x 3.

Amy wrote: "I enjoyed Tomorrow x3, but I did not give it a five star rave. I did find a captured my attention, and there were a lot of interesting pieces to it that I appreciated. But it was not the total love..."

I was disappointed in Lessons in Chemistry. I'm sorry I bought it new at full price, which I rarely do (it was with a gift card from my husband for Christmas anyway). The part I liked best was the dog!

@amy probably "Little Fires Everywhere"
I don't care if the thread gets hijacked, that's how conversations go :)