Reading the Chunksters discussion

I have two more chapters to read for this week, then I will post in the next couple of days. I’m reading it in print so since I have the next two weeks off I will be able to read more and plan on finishing before the New Year.

Lorna, the guy you called “Ming”, his name is actually Wing. Probably hard to tell the difference on the audio. :)

Finished this section.

I loved the Deluge chapter, I kept looking back and forth at the schematic of the tunnel and vent shafts trying to figure out where the group was at each point. It was sad that Rodolpho didn’t make it out, and I kept wondering about the decision to have him go first through the tunnel. Seems like it would have been better to have had him sandwiched in between more experienced and/or less afraid men.

I’m a bit lost as to who is pulling strings in getting Randy busted and isolated so that Root can talk to him and where this is all headed. I need a character diagram. :)

Lorna - I liked the scene where Bobby wrote his will on the condom wrapper too, especially since it had written on it “I SHALL RETURN!” on it. And I’m happy that Bobby got to actually meet his boy. I guess that when Doug said he never knew his father it didn’t mean that he never actually got to meet him, even if he was probably too young to remember.

Loved the Wisdom chapter. I like these sort of in depth tangents that Stephenson writes, it reminded me of the Cap’n Crunch chapter near the beginning. I laughed at the visual of Randy coming out of the anesthesia and slowly focusing on the scene with the oral surgeon and aids looking like they’d just been through battle, all bloody and worn down.

The holidays won't slow me down. I had more time to read either side of Christmas.

Yes it was great that Bobby got to meet Doug! I don't think it is a surprise that Doug doesn't remember, given how young he was.

What is the author's opinion on religion ... well, I guess he is sceptical about organised religion. I'm not sure that Root is a great example of a minister LOL

I’m a bit lost as to who is pulling strings in getting Randy busted and isolated so that Root can talk to him and where this is all headed. I need a character diagram. :)

Me too. Is it Root himself who is pulling these strings?

Oh yeah, maybe it is Root himself. Good call, Rosemary.

Oh shoot, I actually haven’t finished this section yet. I didn’t print out the revised schedule! I will finish it tonight.

Yes, FALL was sad, but Bobby was in character to the end. Loved that his last words were a haiku.

The METIS chapter felt long to me. I started skimming when Randy was explaining the card shuffling and codes, then the Athena and Greek gods rambling was very long-winded. I guess Cap’n Crunch and wisdom teeth ramblings are right up my alley, but Greek gods not so much. In the end, I gathered that we have Root helping Randy in some way to break the code on the cards.

I also found the Athena section rather long. Stephenson seems to go off on long explanations from time to time. I think it also sheds some light on his view of religion. Basically, he seems to think that humans invent gods to satisfy some need in our species that is common to all cultures.