SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion

Leah and I will be reading Feed by Mira Grant, starting September 17th.

It would be great to have anyone else join us, whether in the discussions or for the buddy read.

Woo hoo!! I can't wait. Nothing like a good zombie read to look forward to.

Me too! I've heard really good things about this :D

I'll join the BR as well :)

I read and cannot rave enough about all three books—except, fair warning, do not let the first chapter throw you. The series is not a whiney YA fest full of angst and gung ho youngster poking thngs with sticks. The first chapter worried me in the downloaded sample to where it took a lot of pressure from a reading buddy to make me give it a chance. Zombies aside, also not something I would put in the horror genre...well, you'll see.

Now I envy those of you able to read with whole series published. It was an agonizing wait between books.

Yay glad to have you on board!

Oh yay! I bought this book back in July and tried to fit it in to my August reading list but got overwelmed with too many other things so I moved it to september. What luck that you guys are doing a buddy read I am so going to join you for this one! :)

Got all three of these in my to read pile so I'll join in :)

Yay B!! Welcome Kat! We're glad to have you guys :D

I've had this TBR for awhile, might have to join!

So, just to confirm: We're all set to start this on 17th right?

I'm ready to go :)

Should be alright in a few days :)

I'll be starting when I get home tues (18th).

Are you enjoying your holiday B? :)

Really good jeann!! Lots of sun and super cheap massages :D lots of sightseeing to start with and things are winding down so lots of reading by the pool....

Wow, that sounds amazing B! Sounds like you'll be relaxed and refreshed when you get back.

If anyone's wondering, fits into the Bingo shelf this week so we can enjoy it over the week!

Not doing Bingo this round :( just too busy. But I will still be reading this next week!

I also nominated the next janiene frost novels for bingo and since I'm still on holidays I'll give both a go....I just may be a little behind you all :)

Just started Feed and I absolutely love it! I just reached 14% and even though there isn't much zombie action, the world's reliance on the blogosphere to keep them updated is really interesting.

(view spoiler)[So far, it doesn't really feel like a zombie apolcaypse though. I mean they are worrying about photo opportunities, meeting the Senator and all sorts of silly things when they should be concentrating on survival. Are zombies not that prevalent or something? (hide spoiler)]

I'm just going to start Feed. I'll keep updating as I go along.

I'm about 120 pages in. We're just starting to go into the action part, I hope. Initially, there was some info dump - done gracefully but infodump nonetheless. I'm so far liking the narration done by George. Zombies are explained in a different way and that seems like it might be authentic.

(view spoiler)[ Jeann, the zombie apocalypse seems to have happened 20 years ago and they are now just trying to live with it. I don't think zombies are going to playing that big a part in this book.

There seems to be a squick impression with George and Shaun. I'm sincerely hoping that I'm reading it wrong. If not, I really hope Grant doesn't go that route. Pretty please!
(hide spoiler)]

I'm sorry Jeann but I'm going to have to bow out I'm reading by Ilsa J. Bick for bingo and I didn't realize it was going to be about Zombies as well, and there is just so much Zombie horror this girl can take. I'm sure is pretty tame compared to this book, boy there have been a few passages in Ashes I had me cringing I don't think I have ever read anything quite this graphic but so far it's been awesome.

That's alright Kat, no problemo! I'm definitely finding it really tame in Feed, seeing as there's not much horror at the moment.

Vi wrote: "I'm about 120 pages in. We're just starting to go into the action part, I hope. Initially, there was some info dump - done gracefully but infodump nonetheless. I'm so far liking the narration done ..."

I'm around 24% (Chapter 8) at the moment and I'm just finding it so weird that it basically seems like normal life as we know it except the blogosphere plays a really big part in the news and there are zombies. You're right about their explanation sounding real, I like how it's set in 2031 in the future. (Although interestingly, no flying cars and that sort of stuff. Everyone expected those by the year 2000, but look where we are now lol).

(view spoiler)[You'd think after the apolcalypse they'd learn to adapt and do things differently, but it's just very slight here. Even though there is a lot of info dumping, I still find it very interesting and unique. The info dumping isn't terribly irrelevant though, and the author does work it into the story well.

I agree with you with the weirdness between George and Shaun, they seem a little *too* close as siblings. Even though the author tried to explain that family are closer and all of that, I still don't buy it. Although, technically they are adopted so maybe I can accept it...I was kind of grossed out for a while there, reminds me of the 2nd book of the Mortal Instruments series which is the main reason why I haven't revisited the series since. (hide spoiler)]

I'm not bowing out, I've just been really busy! Hopefully in the next day or two I will get in a bit further and update you all with my thoughts :) I've only read about a chapter or two so far, but I am enjoying it.

No problem, you guys can join whenever you can! I'm 46% of the way through and I think if you really enjoy that journalism and news scene you'd really love this. I do and find it really interesting. Otherwise, you're going to be unsatisfied if you came in thinking it was mostly about zombies and reporting on them as there's not much about that.

Very minor spoilers, can read from 25% onwards

(view spoiler)[It's been niggling at me, and I think the major thing that's bugging me about how the whole zombie apocalypse occurred is that we didn't hear how the world dealt with that. We've gotten details on how the virus broke out and how it was formed, but not how they contained the zombies and managed to return to normality after it occurred (except probably a bit more enclosed with extra security). (hide spoiler)]

Just started! Working it into BSB as my free space book. Might take a bit to get through depending on what other shelves are announced but I will persevere!

Awesome!

Around 47% or so (view spoiler)[Ugh, did she just call her brother cute? What is going on here? (hide spoiler)]

Jeann wrote: "No problem, you guys can join whenever you can! I'm 46% of the way through and I think if you really enjoy that journalism and news scene you'd really love this. I do and find it really interesting..."

Per your spoiler, how virus formed and broke out, by popular demand, author later put together in Countdown novella. Can purchase usual places, shows up free sometimes (sometimes free on her website as well) and was included free in kindle edition of Blackout—not sure about all editions of books. Not the same plotline or characters since a prequel set before Georgie and Shaun were born. I found it a scarier read, possibly because I knew bad things would happen.

Wow, thanks for letting me know Debbie. I'll definitely look out for that, I need to hear how all of this started.

Just reached Chapter 18. And wow.

(view spoiler)[The emotional impact of that was astounding. So Buffy was a traitor all along? I guess it's only just that she went out, but she added a certain spark to the team that I'm sorry to see go.

Wow, I've become really emotionally invested in these characters. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21 and 74% of the way through and things really got interesting.

(view spoiler)[I'm loving the inklings of a conspiracy happening and how Buffy got involved. I'm glad the others aren't judging her too harshly because even though she betrayed them, they understand that she must have felt like she had no choice.

The conspiracy veins really opens up the scope of the story. This is really going to be interesting.

I think I'm starting to understand Shaun and George's sibling relationship. They've both been adopted, and their parents don't really offer any affection and use them for publicity. They pretty much have each other, and I see them providing a bit of that support in a sense. That's why they're a little more 'affectionate' than the usual sibling circumstance. Also, that, and they can offer the comfort and protection in the risky journalism that they perform. They can whole heartedly trust each other to look out for each other. You can tell Shaun is really protective too of Georgia.

I love the juxtaposition between the two of their personalities. This comes out on their blog as well. George is hard, unemotional, and focused on the truth, while Shaun has a little more feeling, slightly happy go lucky and doesn't appear to take things as seriously. Buffy offered the buffer between them all happy and chirpy. The only person that George lets her guard down is around Shaun. (hide spoiler)]

Woah, I just finished it. Brilliant, amazing, shot up straight to my favourites.

Here's my review: http://happyindulgence.wordpress.com/...

I hope you guys enjoy it as much as me. Let me hear your thoughts on it!

I'm only at chapter 3! I need to catch up!!

No problems B I'll still be checking back :)

Sorry Jeann! I forgot about this thread.

(view spoiler)[ You know, at the end of the book, I felt a bit bad of reading too much into their relationship. I guess there were signs but as you said, they both had only each other in this world. So it makes sense that they both rely so much on each other. I totally didn't expect those twists at the end. Certainly not George dying. (hide spoiler)]

Jeann,Belinda - are you planning to read the next book?

I will be. I have the set so it will be a matter if fitting them in around bingo.

Definitely, I love this so much. It got really complex and had heaps of twists in the head.

(view spoiler)[I know what you mean Vi, but yeah they really had each other. I was surprised when they got Buffy but then when George died I thought well...this can't be right, who will be in the sequel?

Sadly you see that it's hardened Shaun a lot. He's not really happy go lucky and carefree anymore. (hide spoiler)]

I think the last 15% really cinched it for me. Those unexpected complexity and twists made me totally hooked.

(view spoiler)[ I know! I had the same reaction. I really liked George. She was such a kick-ass. And the narration was initially done by George and I was soooo confident that George will not die because who will then narrate? After her live-feed, I had to stop for a few minutes to absorb yet I couldn't put it down for more than a minute. In a way, the author did a very big misdirection. But the first-person narration helped bring George more alive and her death more shocking for a reader.

I feel for Shaun. The second one's blurb seems to reflect that as well. (hide spoiler)]

I can't wait to pick up the next book. Can we buddy read the next? It's so much discussing the books!

Have you guys read the October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire? If you liked her writing in Feed, then you'll definitely love the Daye series. It's one of my favorite UF series.

Up to chapter 4 (page 50). Still in the 'dump' stage but it's good - not heavy and all at once. The blogs make it easy to read. So far - I'm really liking it!

Vi wrote: "Have you guys read the October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire? If you liked her writing in Feed, then you'll definitely love the Daye series. It's one of my favorite UF series."

I'm midway through the October Daye series, and I really like it so far!

Page 119 (book/part 2). Hopefully the action starts now. Be interested to see how the next part pans out....

Vi wrote: "Have you guys read the October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire? If you liked her writing in Feed, then you'll definitely love the Daye series. It's one of my favorite UF series."

Oooh sounds like another one to add to the to read list!

Leah, it just gets better from book 3. I don't want to wait another year for the next book. It's just tooo long.

Belinda, the action does start sometime soon in book two. Somewhere in chapter 8 or around. But it's a slow built-up that the last few chapters just fly.

You should definitely read it, Jeann!

Are you guys interested in reading the 2nd some time next month?

I will. But gotta finish this one first...only about 30% through this one.....

Just hit page 250 (about 41%) and the start of part III - oh, my!!! What's going to happen?!

Jeann, yes. I am very interested. What date are you looking at?

What's up with this....(page 281)

(view spoiler)[ Shaun: "you kiss our mother with that mouth", Georgia's reply: "our mother and you both". Um,......what?! (hide spoiler)]

And shortly after....

(view spoiler)[ she states she loves her brother and, yep, that she thinks he's cute....?! WTF?!?! I agree totally! These guys are WEIRD! (hide spoiler)]