2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Euphoria by Lily King.

Pages: 256 pages

Length: 1 month (April)

Participants: SarahKat, Valerie, Beth, Lorraine

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?

Will start this tomorrow or Monday. First time for me with this author.

I started yesterday with audiobook. I'm quite enjoying it so far (about 35% in).

I downloaded it but haven't had much time to read it yet this weekend. I'll get into this week

Finished last night. Incredibly intriguing read, and I did get sidetracked learning a bit about Margaret Mead. I enjoyed that the author built this fiction novel around a thread of Mead's life. I found the story compelling.

I particularly like this quote: "You have to pay much more attention when you can't understand the words. Once comprehension comes, so much else falls away...words aren't always the most reliable thing."

The writing was beautiful, and I would definitely like to read more by this author.

I started this and am liking it so far.

I suggested the read mostly for the Shelf Awareness challenge to read Oceania authors or settings, plus the title goes nicely with our Emotional Rollercoaster theme of the year.

I've always found cultural anthropology super interesting since I took the class in college. I didn't realize this was a fictionalized account of one of Mead's experiences. I'll have to refresh my memory on her!

Chapter 5, but this happens fairly early, (view spoiler)[wow Nell's husband is an ass. I kind of want her to leave him for the other guy, whose name I can't think of at the moment. Something like Brandon but not. (hide spoiler)]

I’ve finished Euphoria and found it both fascinating and enjoyable. (view spoiler)[ I especially liked having access to Nell notebooks and inner thoughts—it really brought the story to life. I knew nothing about Margaret Mead, who inspired this novel, or about anthropology in general, and this book served as an excellent introduction to both. The characters are well developed, and it doesn’t take long before you’re fully invested in their stories. (hide spoiler)] A great recommendation!

Started today and read the first 8 chapters. Took a break partway to remind myself who Margaret Mead was along with her, for the time, quite controversial cultural theories. Anthropology involving living people (view spoiler)[ is both fascinating and problematic, and the novel seems to be acknowledging that. No observer is ever objective, and the act of observing is never neutral. (hide spoiler)]
I am intrigued to see where the relationship between the 3 main characters is going, and SarahKat I agree with your spoiler absolutely!

Ohhh... I am going to try to read this one this month. It's been on my list way too long!

At chapter 18. Have to say I much prefer the parts written in the voice of Nell - so very vibrant and alive with enthusiasm. B’s parts I am finding a bit of a self pitying dirge (I suppose I should make allowances given the experiences he has had) although there are signs that he may be rediscovering some zest for life. Let’s hope so!

I agree Valerie. I think Nell gives us a much richer perspective than Bankson.

I've finished. I liked it, wavering between 3 and 4 stars. I don't have a lot of time to ruminate right now but these were some random thoughts I had.
(view spoiler)[Fen was an ass from the beginning and Bankson was so tender. I wanted Nell to end up with him but alas that was not to be. There were some things in here that didn't really make sense within the moment. Like Fen kissing Bankson? Why? Was he angry because he was gay but his toxic masculinity wouldn't allow him to act on those feelings. It would explain why he had trouble getting erect for Nell. Or maybe he's one of those guys who can only perform out of hatred.

I don't understand why Nell just didn't go with him especially after their night together and Fen completely ruining any chance they had to stay where they were. (hide spoiler)]

The last part certainly picked up the pace!
Fen (view spoiler)[ epitomises the arrogance and sense of superiority of someone who wants fame and fortune regardless of how it’s achieved. (hide spoiler)]
Nell (view spoiler)[ I struggled to understand why she went with Fen until I realised it was to get rid of the flute before returning to Bankson. I think she felt it was her responsibility. I’m not sure the author really needed to kill her off though! (hide spoiler)]
Bankson (view spoiler)[ did seem to shake himself off and opt for life rather than being knocked down for good by Nell’s death which pleased me (hide spoiler)]
Overall an enjoyable and thought provoking read.