Shut Up & Read discussion

We're starting this in a couple of days if anyone wants to join!

Leigh, we finished Grave Mercy early, so do you want to start Monday instead of Tuesday?

I am eager to see what you guys think.
How many of you have read The scarlet Letter?

I read it years ago in high school. I heard it was like a re-tell...?

We can. How many chapters/day? I never read the Scarlet Letter.

A super loose retelling. I prefer to think of it as a "revisioning". Regardless you don't need to know Hawthorne to read it. And knowledge of the bare premise will allow you to appreciate most of the correlations.

It doesn't look like there are actual chapters. I have the actual book, and it looks like there are 5 sections, each roughly 70 pages. Is that too much, do you want to break it down more than that? Melissa wanted to join us, too, so we can see what she thinks. We could do just a certain amount of pages a day...

When I read this, I read it in a day. You might find yourselves eager to keep going.

I will read it with you guys! It has been on my kindle waiting for me for awhile!

Valerie the bookworm wrote: "I will read it with you guys! It has been on my kindle waiting for me for awhile!"

Yay!

I have the audio so I will agree to whatever y'all choose.

Doesn't matter to me either =)

This read is going to be fun. We have more people participating . Yay!!!

Ok, let's plan on doing a section a day (roughly 70 pages). If someone needs to go slower that's fine too.

Sounds good. 70 pages for tomorrow? Or will it be for the 14th? :)

To read and discuss tomorrow. Whenever you have time. I usually only read at night, so I won't post until later in the evening.

I'm really liking this so far. This world doesn't seem far fetched which is kind of scary. I'm guessing it takes place in the future bc of the technology? Also, I like how the author uses flashbacks so smoothly.

I don't really understand why Hannah was obsessed with him to the point that she'd wait all that time to be with him. I think I would have moved on. It's not like he was the first boy ever interested in her. So what made him special? Her physical attraction to him? What do you guys think so far?

I think it was the strength of his faith. She sinned in or with God even as she sinned against Him. And I'm not saying she "sinned" from my point of view, more from Hannah's - I think the attraction was the rightness and wrongness colliding. The faith that both saved and damned her.

I think they both were wrong. He more so, because he was married and her pastor ,being in a position of authority over her. How dare he say he couldn't give her more than what they had. He expected her to be OK with that? How about him allowing her to be punished for having the abortion? I think he is a jerk!!

What do y'all think about the virus they inject the prisoners with that changes their skin color to represent their sin/crime? Instead of the red letter A, Hannah's skin is red. Wow! I like the new interpretation of the original story.

I agree Melissa, as you read it seems like the world we live it...with a bit more technology.

There is a large Amish community in the town I live in, and her strict religious upbrining reminds me of Amish. But the way the law is for them (in the book) is even crazier. It's very interesting so far. I can't wait to get further into it.

Leigh wrote: "I think they both were wrong. He more so, because he was married and her pastor ,being in a position of authority over her. How dare he say he couldn't give her more than what they had. He expected..."

I'm assuming they can reverse this...because otherwise what would happen if someone was found innocent. That's how I thought things were going to go when I first started reading, that she was being accused of a murder she didn't commit.

Oh yeah, and I think being kept in solitude for 30 days on live television is pretty harsh punishment. Could you imagine? 30 days...

Sheri wrote: "Oh yeah, and I think being kept in solitude for 30 days on live television is pretty harsh punishment. Could you imagine? 30 days..."

I cannot imagine this. I would rather die. And I know people say that about all manner of things, but find hidden strength in the face of the idea of actually dying...
I don't think it would be such. I am pretty sure I would rather die.
Ugh. I had nightmares when I watched Syfy's Alice retelling and there was the room with all the eyes that constantly watch ... this would be a billion times worse. Panopticon times a million - they might be showing me and anyone I know might be watching. Egh! It really creeps me out.

Oh, one thing that was fun when I read it - trying to figure out all of the colors. I remember some were obvious and others I were very much not. Purple surprised me a lot, if I remember correctly.

Did anyone else think it was ironic they hooked up for the first time during a True Love Waits conference? That was pretty funny.

They do the TLW program at our church for teens, so my daughter has gone through it and my son will this year. It teaches them why they should wait to have sex until they're married.

Sheri wrote: "Oh yeah, and I think being kept in solitude for 30 days on live television is pretty harsh punishment. Could you imagine? 30 days..."

I agree it was harsh. I don't think I could stand that.

Sheri wrote: "Did anyone else think it was ironic they hooked up for the first time during a True Love Waits conference? That was pretty funny.

They do the TLW program at our church for teens, so my daughter..."

Do you think the author was impling that their "love" was true?

Leigh wrote: "Sheri wrote: "Did anyone else think it was ironic they hooked up for the first time during a True Love Waits conference? That was pretty funny.

They do the TLW program at our church for teens, ..."

Oooh! Interesting implications. I have thoughts. But I'm gonna hold then for a few days.

Leigh wrote: "Do you think the author was impling that their "love" was true?"

I don't know. I was thinking it shows how hypocritical Aiden is. At this point I really really hate him for letting her take the blame and not saying anything. I wondered at the beginning when he did his speech if he was really trying to get her to call him out or if he was just saying that because it was expected. Also, I wonder if his wife knows. She seemed to know something was going on with them.

Sheri wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Do you think the author was impling that their "love" was true?"

I don't know. I was thinking it shows how hypocritical Aiden is. At this point I really really hate him for letting..."

I agree Sherry. I think the wife knows something. As for Aiden, He makes me sick. He stands up for her by making the speech but he still didn't admit it was him.

How about her mom disowning her? My heart goes out to Hannah she has lost everything.

Sheri wrote: "Leigh wrote: "I think they both were wrong. He more so, because he was married and her pastor ,being in a position of authority over her. How dare he say he couldn't give her more than what they ha..."

I think they said after your sentence is over they reverse the color? I hate Aiden too. I would never agree to have an affair with a married man. But she should have told him she was pregnant. How was he supposed to fix the situation if he didn't know about it. Or she should have told on him bc then he'd be yellow and they could run away together and make orange babies lol.

Melissa wrote: "Or she should have told on him bc then he'd be yellow and they could run away together and make orange babies lol."

Lol!

You're right...I do remember it saying somewhere that she had to go for re-injections every four months or something like that.

I don't know what to say. There are so many people I don't like in this book! All the people who are in authority and suppose to be representing Christians are evil in this book! Hannah finally stands up and opposes the evil treatment they are receiving. Now what? She is on her own.

As far as the color goes, they have to go back and get another shot so the color doesn't fade.

I agree Leigh...

The home Hannah went into was crazy! The ladies with their dolls? I'm pretty sure I would go crazy too if they made me do that. I wonder what all the other people had to do in their enlightenment groups.

The world they live in is interesting, what little we get to see of it. No swimming pools because of a drought? When I think of dystopian I think of few people left, but from what this sounds like there are still a lot of people, they just can't have kids anymore so the population is starting to dwindle.

I'm still not sure if I like Hannah or not. I'm having a hard time connecting with her. I think I like her more now that she stood up for herself and left the home. I'm looking forward to reading today's to see if she stays strong or if she turns whiny...I hate whiny :)

I still hate Aiden...

We see a new side to Aiden. The reason why he won't leave his wife is revealed. Does he really love his wife? Is he staying as a penance for her sterility or does he think no one would want to marry her because of her condition? I think in his own way he did care for Hannah. I have conflicted feelings about the money he put in Hannah's account. On one hand, it was nice and she will definitely need it. On the other hand, is he paying her off for services rendered or to try and clear his conscious.

The Fist reminds me of the KKK. They target the Chroms using the same rhetoric. It is ironic that the brother-in-law Hannah didn't like is in this organization and is now targeting her. Cole is an abusive jerk and her sister is crazy for staying with him. In this soceity, she might not have much choice. It doesn't seems women have many rights/choices.

I had my suspicions about Aiden's wife and why they didn't have kids from the beginning.

I think he's using the money the same way he used his connections to plead her case to the court and get her into the home she was in. I think he's probably doing it, like you said, to clear his conscious. He has to realize that the whole thing is his fault. From the beginning he orchestrated their whole relationship...hiring her at the center, inviting her on the trip, getting her her own hotel room, etc. I just can't think that he loved her even a little. If he did, he would have never used her like he did and then turned his back on her instead of coming forth and telling the world what an asshole he is. Rant done. I really don't like him...I see what you mean about bringing out emotions Leigh :)

A book,that will bring out emotions (sad, happy, funny or anger), is what makes a good book.

I wonder what other states are like in this world. I wonder if they're all as religious. And I agree the money was probably to clear his guilt. I feel bad about how Hannah's being treated. I've only been discriminated against once and it sucked. I can't imagine that everywhere I go.

I think they said something about a few of the other states in the first section...when she was talking to 'Raphael.' I think it mentioned there were maybe two states that weren't so strict and where abortion was still legal...? I'd have to look it up to be sure.

Sheri wrote: "I think they said something about a few of the other states in the first section...when she was talking to 'Rapheal.' I think it mentioned there were maybe two states that weren't so strict and wh..."

Ya now that you say that I think I remember it saying that too

Wow! I had to finish it but I will hold off comments until tomorrow. Enjoy the read. :)

Leigh wrote: "Wow! I had to finish it but I will hold off comments until tomorrow. Enjoy the read. :)"

Gotta say I'm a little jealous :) I know I won't have time to finish until at least Friday...unless I can live off of caffeine and not sleep tonight!

Sheri wrote: "Leigh wrote: "Wow! I had to finish it but I will hold off comments until tomorrow. Enjoy the read. :)"

Gotta say I'm a little jealous :) I know I won't have time to finish until at least Friday....."

It helps that I have the audio. I have two other books to finish. Hopefully I can finish them by the end of the week.

Woah, I took a day off and you guys had all sorts of crazy conversations.
What do you think of Aiden now?
And the resistance group?
I loved the way they got their names. :) Simone de Beauvoir is my idol.
---
Sheri- I agree with you that it was orchestrated, but I don't think that necessarily means he didn't care. I still think it was the anguish over knowingly doing the wrong thing and the thrill of doing it anyway that drew them both in.
BUT, considering Hannah's youth and inexperience and Aiden's track record- he was still definitely abusing his power in the relationship. In so many ways! The amount of authority and hero worship that went into their "relations" tipped the power balance so much that Hannah didn't really have any control other than, ironically, choosing not to remove some of his (by revealing him).

I think after she is chromed this changes though. Not at first, but later.

Alyssia, glad you are back. What would you want read for the next buddy-read? My suggestions were . The first one Sherry and I own. The second one has great reviews.

Alyssia said either of these were fine with her. She's read the second one but said it was good enough for a re-read. So you can pick one and then next time Alyssia or I will pick :)

Sheri wrote: "Alyssia said either of these were fine with her. She's read the second one but said it was good enough for a re-read. So you can pick one and then next time Alyssia or I will pick :)"

I pick . I think it will be a fun read and I don't have to buy it.

I own it too :)

I know that's another reason why I chose that one. :)
I told you I did my research. lol

Leigh wrote: "I know that's another reason why I chose that one. :)
I told you I did my research. lol"

Lol!

I'm going to be mad if she doesn't out Aiden by the end of the book...or if someone doesn't (since someone knows his name now) Don't tell me yet if she does or doesn't! I'm going to try to finish it tonight :)