Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

This is the discussion thread for the buddy read of Unwind by Neal Shusterman. Please feel free to add posts before, during, or after reading the book. If you are posting spoilers, please use spoiler tags with a page number or some other indication of how far into the book the spoiler is.

Happy reading!!

About the book:

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

I'll lurk :)

I'm definitely in, I have my copy of the book, just waiting to be read. The synopsis sounds just like my cup of tea :)

Yay Anima! Lol Karen!

I've wanted to read this for awhile...I'm in!

I'm in! :)

Welcome ladies! So glad the group is growing. :)

I'm in. Give me a pm when you start on this :) .

It will start on november 1st. :) I'm sure people will comment. You should receive a "new comment" notification at that point! :)

Haha, ok XD.
I've actually read the first chapter from this, I was really curious and it looks very promising. Plus, I love the way this author writes. Bruiser was such a nice surprise :).

Im in :) I can't wait to buy the book later :)

I just finished reading this book not too long ago. My daughter read it for a library book discussion group and when I read the back of the book for the plot, I was intrigued and decided to read it also. Alot of stuff in this book to make you think. I really enjoyed it. Even though I already read the book, I may peak in on this thread because I wouldnt mind discussing some of it with you all and see what your thoughts are about certain concepts.

You're more than welcome Keely.

I recently came across this book at Chapters and would like to join in on the buddy read

Welcome Dang!

I'm a little behind on my reading, so might be starting this one a little late. I'm looking forward to it though. :) I've been told that we'll want to set up buddy reads for the rest in the series after reading it. I hope so!

April wrote: "April wrote: "ok I am in !! I will order my book today for my nook.!
so excited, never done this before ...:)"

ok just ordered it...so we start Nov. 1st? :)"

That will give me time to finish my book She's come undone

I read it a long time ago and just wanted to read it again now that im older.

please give me a pm when this starts thanks

April, since you posted a comment on this thread, I think you will receive a notification next time someone posts something.

I have heard some of the plot is similar to , which was chalk full of ethical issues, cried for discussion, and was oh so very disturbing

Vanessa wrote: "April, since you posted a comment on this thread, I think you will receive a notification next time someone posts something."

thanks that's good to hear I have never participated in any thing like this before. :)

Hello everyone. This looks interesting! I just sent a sample to my kindle and will confirm I'm in after I read a little ok?

I ordered this book a little while ago but only got the book the other day. i couldn't resist opening up the book and reading the first page - Then just one more page, until the next thing I knew I had read the entire thing!
This book is addictive, leave plenty of time for your first read and expect to read most of the book in one go. The book is split into several (off the top of my head, I think 5?) parts, which does give a nice natural break for reading.

I'll participate in the buddy read and discuss this book more in a week or so, so everyone has had a chance to read the book. But let me say this for now - You are in for a treat!

Hi everyone!! Just a reminder that the buddy read for Unwind begins today! I'm a little behind (as usual), so I'll be starting a few days late. I look forward to discussing with everyone!

I hope to start today, but I have The Waste Land to finish, so I may need to divide my reading time between the two books.

I'm reading Allegiant currently but this is my next book.

I'm in 50% and this book is gripping and full of action, on moral/ethics level it is very disturbing and thus I've gotten into it to such an extend that I want to finish it today.

Started two days ago, but I'm taking it easy, I've only read part 1.

i've read 2nd part too.The story seems to have a great grip and seems good uptill now

I started it last night..

I finished, but I want to wait with more comments until more of us will be closer to the end.

I started this last night...and had a hard time putting it down. Can't wait to start chatting about this book- what an interesting premise!

I got to page 8...lol. I have 3 other books that I'm reading and school work. I always think I'll have more time than I do. I am hoping to get to it soon though. The first eight pages were good!

I started too. I read a third of it in one sitting. I love it! :)

@Anima: You're such a fast reader. It's really impressive!

@Thanks, Vanessa. I spend most of my free time reading, and sometimes most part of the nights LOL. And if the book grips me it gets faster (I used to be rather slow with reading, but it seems that I've got better, also somehow my kindle is working miracles and I read much faster using it than while reading a paper copy).

Anima wrote: "@Thanks, Vanessa. I spend most of my free time reading, and sometimes most part of the nights LOL. And if the book grips me it gets faster (I used to be rather slow with reading, but it seems that..."

Me too! And I increased the number of books read per year by 4 at least!!

I just finished Part 1.
What a creepy concept for a story...but I'm hooked.
(view spoiler)[
I'm trying to decide if I was going to be unwound would I want it kept secret like Connor, be told matter of factly like Risa, or have a party like Lev?
I thought Lev's was the creepiest!! Marcus had such a human reaction- made me like him. I kept waiting for someone to stand up and say " this is nuts" and was glad for Marcus voicing it. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

So much for taking it easy... I've already finished! It was pretty good, though the ending seemed a little rushed.
I have to say that chapter 61 (view spoiler)[ Roland's unwinding (hide spoiler)] was one of the most disturbing things I've ever read.

Cin, I totally agree with you both on the ending and chapter 61!

Cin wrote: I have to say that chapter 61

I agree about chapter 61, I cried which I don't normally do with book.

started this book on nov.3rd finished the book today Nov. 4th, could not put this book down, one of the best books I have ever read. just remember SHARK ...when u read this book u will know what I mean...5 starts all the way. now looking for another this good. Any recommendations?

On the parts with the unwanted babies. Did anyone else want to scream birth control!

Kimberly wrote: "On the parts with the unwanted babies. Did anyone else want to scream birth control!"

I got the impression that this was outlawed after the war as a form of controlling who lives or does not, and therefore outlawed. Although now I think about it this was never mentioned. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Rebecca wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "On the parts with the unwanted babies. Did anyone else want to scream birth control!"

I got the impression that this was outlawed after the war as a form of controlling who lives..."

I didn't because the teacher said they decided it was time to have a baby. Plus if their was no birth control then family would have more than a one or two kids most would have been large families.

That does make sense. I got the impression families who couldn't afford more children storked them. And those that could afford more children ended up with lots of kid's like Lev's family. (Wasn't there also a mention of families with multiple tithes? Which, presumably means more that 20 kids.)

Yes Kimberly- I was wondering about birth control too. I'm surprised it wasn't mandated by the government as a means of control.

I am 35% done and just introduced to CiFi.
(view spoiler)[ He is the first character I've met who has " benefited" from unwinding. I have heard of transplant patients who have had some guilt about the person who donated their body parts. I'm wondering what it does to you psychologically knowing the unwound parts you received were not voluntarily donated. Does your self preservation not let you consider that? <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

@Anima you were right. This is an one sitting book :) finished it last night. And chapter 61 is disturbing. I never liked roland in the entire book but actually felt sorry for him at that time.

I have the next book in the series arriving today and am under no illusions that I will probably finish it before unwholly is released on 7/11 - I can not wait to get home from work and start reading the next one.

@Rida - I definitely ended up feeling sorry for Roland but I think I felt sorry for him before Chapter 61. As soon as I read the back story about his step-dad hitting his mum and him trying to protect her, only for her to turn around and sign an unwinding order on him... That was a pretty horrible. I felt that was worse actually, than how Connor's parents came to try and unwind him. And that was pretty bad.

I generally think that this idea of getting rid of your adolescent child because the person causes some trouble is horrible. There are some many ways to solve the conflict, negotiate, build a working relationship with young people... but you know, it needs some time, a lot of energy, patience and good will, here parents seem to expect all the proper behaviour for nothing, and if you are a troublemaker, we will unwind you. It reminds me of 19th century and the way children were treated then.

Rebecca, we can do a buddy read on Unwholly if you like, I'm going to start reading it tomorrow.

Do one, I'm pretty sure I'll want to read it so will join in too (a little later than you two).