You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Join us in January for a buddy read of Dread Nation by Justina Ireland.
This book would qualify for any of the following Twisted Trivia Challenge tasks:
10-Geo-Nay (flag on cover)
13-Art/Lit-Yay (zombies)
18-Ent-Nay (face profile on cover)
21-Geo-Nay (published in 2018)
24-Sci-Nay (tool on cover)


Buddy Readers: Katrisa, Anne, Cherie, Dominique, Kristie, Jayme, Vicki, Grainne

I just bought the ebook on sale last week. L'm in!

I think I own this on audio. If I can manage the time, I’ll try to join too.

Are you all starting this book first thing Jan 1?

I think I'm going to join in this too. The audio is currently available on overdrive and I will cross my fingers that it will still be there in a couple of weeks.

Besides the two tasks that you mentioned I am considering it for 21-Geo-Nay published in 2018 and 10-Geo-Nay there is a flag on the cover. In case people have those tasks. I think it's so neat we all have slightly different tasks this year.

Vicki wrote: "Besides the two tasks that you mentioned I am considering it for 21-Geo-Nay published in 2018 and 10-Geo-Nay there is a flag on the cover. In case people have those tasks. I think it's so neat we all have slightly different tasks this year."

I like that we have some different tasks too. :) I also have 10-Geo-Nay. I may use this one in that spot instead since I think I will have a harder time finding another book with a flag on the cover than I will a face in profile. Good call.

Vicki wrote: "I think I'm going to join in this too. The audio is currently available on overdrive and I will cross my fingers that it will still be there in a couple of weeks.

Besides the two tasks that you me..."

I didn't even notice it has a flag. I'm switching them now. Thanks!!!

Yay, thanks for joining us- we have 8 of us now!! Zombies should make for fun discussion!

🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️
JANUARY ZOMBIE PARTY
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Buddy Readers: Katrisa, Anne, Cherie, Dominique, Kristie, Jayme, Vicki, Grainne

I'm thinking to start it early (Jan 4), but chime in if you'd prefer mid (Jan 11), or late (Jan 18).. , of course, it's always flexible for anyone to read on own schedule and drop-in to comment whenever works for you over the month.

Here's the various tasks this book works for (thanks Vicki and Kristie for adds)
10-Geo-Nay (flag on cover)
13-ArtLit-Yay (zombies)
18-Ent-Nay (face profile on cover)
21-Geo-Nay (published in 2018)
24-Sci-Nay (tool on cover)

Anne ✨ wrote: "Yay, thanks for joining us- we have 7 of us now!! Zombies should make for fun discussion!

🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️
JANUARY ZOMBIE PARTY
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Buddy Readers: Kat..."

January 4th work for me!!

L'm ok with the 4th too.

I got an email that said my print copy is ready for me to pick it up. It will be burning a spot on my desk until next year now... :o)

I invited AmyK, to the party, but I do not know if she will join.

I'm good with the first week of Jan! I am so glad we have so many buddies to read with!

I can join in this too. It will be my first read of the 2020 challenge. Thank you for setting it up Anne.

Grainne wrote: "I can join in this too. It will be my first read of the 2020 challenge. Thank you for setting it up Anne."

That's awesome, Grainne, glad you can join us! I'm so happy too that we have so many buddies to kickstart the challenge reading this book together :) FUN! Just a couple of weeks away now...

It gives the challenge a focus when I read with a group. It’s a great idea and a great help.

i might join. I have another buddy read set for early Jan so we shall see...

I just got Dread Nation from the library! Excited to start reading it on the 4th!

The overdrive version has been available every time I have checked --- until today of course!!! My Scribd month resets on the 4th though, so if my library hold doesn't come in I'll just use Scribd.

I’m planning to join you, but I need to finish my current book first. I’ve been a bit behind lately and apparently that is going to continue for a while. I’ll join soon.

I will start reading sometime tomorrow. i need to finish the book I am currently reading before its library due date Monday - so many books, too little time.

I have started it. I don't think I will have much time to read this weekend though.

I started it. I just read the prologue and a few pages of chapter 1. I will finish the chapter then comment. So far, i like the tone.

I’m starting now.

I'm 6 chapters in. I think the author is ambitious/clever to be weaving together such different aspects, with history (civil war), a zombie twist, and then deep undertones/commentary of racial inequality that feels current at the same time.

It's a lot to wrap my mind around, though!!! I'm not exactly sure where the story is heading yet...

I’m looking forward to this one. I made a lot of progress on my current book today. I expect to finish tomorrow and start this one either tomorrow or the next day.

I read through to chapter 11. (Finished 1-10).
I have to keep reminding myself when this book is set and what has happened/not happened. The whole race thing annoys me. I’m only reading to see what happens. I really don’t like zombies or shambles, as they are called here. (view spoiler)[I want to know where the white families are going or what happened to them, at least and what the Survivalist agenda is. It is a strange little story and I not sure I care all that much for Jane as a character yet. What happened to her mother and those at Rose Hill seems a compelling question. Will we find out? (hide spoiler)]

I'm through 30 chapters now, and sadly I'm a bit meh about this one... I do applaud the author for the creativity with the approach, but the story has so many different threads it feels disjointed. (view spoiler)[I'm with Cherie on not caring for the MC Jane - her strong attitude and language felt more contemporary and thus out of sync with the time period the story was based in. I do think she'd appeal to YA audience though, so the author's probably got it right for her target. I think my overall expectations were off, as I'd been going in hoping for more zombie and less racial, but it's the reverse. (hide spoiler)]

I think I'll be in the minority though, with the high GR ratings and the awards the book has won. So, I really hope you all enjoy/are enjoying more than me!

I finished my other book and I'lll be starting this one today! :)

Anne ✨ wrote: "I'm through 30 chapters now, and sadly I'm a bit meh about this one... I do applaud the author for the creativity with the approach, but the story has so many different threads it feels disjointed...."

Oh, bummer, Anne! I hope it all pulls together soon.

I am starting today!

I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. (view spoiler)[I like a zombie story where they seem to have a grip on the situation rather than the complete typical apocalypse. As a Canadian I'm pleased that zombies can't move in the winter. Phew (hide spoiler)]

I made it to 19% (up to chapter 7).

I'm really enjoying the story. It drew me in right away and I like our MC, Jane. (view spoiler)[That lecture at the university was interesting. Jane is smart and savvy. I wonder who the man was that helped her? I'm sure we'll be seeing him again. (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. [spoilers removed]"

re your spoiler (view spoiler)[ Yes! I'd be moving further north for sure!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ I wonder what happened to that family? It seems that Kate may turn out to be a good friend to Jane. I hope so and I hope she doesn't get herself killed when they sneak out. (hide spoiler)]

Cherie wrote: "I read through to chapter 11. (Finished 1-10).
I have to keep reminding myself when this book is set and what has happened/not happened. The whole race thing annoys me. I’m only reading to see what..."

Finished chapter 10.

(view spoiler)[This Miss Anderson just gets worse and worse. Sounds like these families are being targeted for being egalitarians. But what could they possibly be doing to them? Surely having people that are *alive* is better than no one regardless of their political beliefs. Seemed pretty weird for such a large group of undead to be so near as well. I'm baffled. (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. [spoilers removed]"

reply (view spoiler)[ Hahaha I know. After reading the story I'm regretting my decision to move to Virginia from Minnesota. (hide spoiler)]

I am on chapter 27. I am enjoying the story.I am listening to the audio and the narrator is one of my favorites. I like Jane. She is a no-nonsense type - which is useful in a world that has to deal with zombies. But she also has a good heart (view spoiler)[I thought it was kind of her to try and makes Kate's life easier by having her "pass" when they get to the creepy town. What a nightmare that town is! What is wrong with them trying to keep zombies around?! (hide spoiler)]

I read until chapter 26 last night (getting a lot of reading done with Henry currently traveling for work). I am enjoying this book a lot more than I thought I would. I am usually not a fan of alternate history books (history teacher in me), but this one is done really well and it's fun - for a zombie America.

Vicki wrote: "I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. [spoilers removed]"
I had the same thought (view spoiler)[ reading while looking at the snow falling. (hide spoiler)]

I read up to chapter 18.
Part one
I keep thinking TWD goes back in time, I like what the author has done with the setting. And I like Jane. (view spoiler)[I like that there is some training for people. And that some people think about what is the cause of the zombie. Baltimore is not doing too well, tough, and I would like a glimpse on how other cities or countries are managing. (hide spoiler)]
Part two
This is getting interesting....
(view spoiler)[I just landed in Summerland and I have so many questions. On top of the list, What is summerland? some utopia and some weird experiment? (hide spoiler)]

Well, I'm finished, and these are my final thoughts (view spoiler)[ Overall I ended up rating this book 3 stars. It started off really well - interesting world building and I liked the main character, but then it veered in a really weird way when it got to the Summerland section. I felt like I was reading two different plots. I wasn't sure if the author knew where she wanted this story to go and just started to throw stuff into the story line.
I usually don't read zombie/YA books, so maybe I'm missing something which is why I ended up giving it 3 stars. l don't think I'll be reading the second book, unless I end up getting another zombie task LOL. (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. [spoilers removed]"

ROFL about winter!

I am finished. Overall I give it 3.5 stars - why won't GR let us give half stars? (view spoiler)[I thought the book got more interesting in Summerland - but I do see people's point about there being almost too many threads. Like I'm not sure where she was trying to go with the whole zombie powered city. Red Jack showing back up was sort of abrupt too.
What I did like was the way the story made me think about race. The nation abolished slavery, but just like in real life the nation's racism wasn't abolished. So it was interesting to see how racism played out in the zombie infected world. The discussion Katherine and Jane have about Katherine "passing" was thought-provoking especially with Jane having been whipped to within an inch of her life. I was surprised to learn about Jane's mother! The zombie fight at the end where Jane stands up to the sheriff had me riveted. (hide spoiler)]
The end had me curious enough to want to read the next one when it comes out!

Wow! That was fast, Katrisa!

I'm at 54% (up to chapter 22) (view spoiler)[ I was so disappointed that he "good" teacher was also involved with sending the girls to Summerland! I was also disappointed in the Native American man. I thought he was going to help them. Maybe he still will later in the book?

Summerland is a truly scary place! The mindset of those people is just horrifying. I'm thinking it was a good idea to get Katie in with the white people as she may have some more freedom to move around, but it's still worrisome that she could be found out. I'm curious to see how they get out of this situation. The guy that gave Jane her vaccination seems like he could be an ally, but if I was her I certainly wouldn't trust anyone just yet.

Oh and how cruel to stop the letters between Jane and her mother! I was wondering what was going on there. I thought they might have been intercepted and was hoping that was the case and that her mother hadn't been killed or something. But throwing the letters in there on the train... that was just unnecessary meanness. (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. [spoilers removed]"

oh yes, haha Vicki, a silver lining for those Canadian winters! My husband is from Swan River, Manitoba! When we call home to say hi, his mom is like, "oh it's not too bad today" when it's -15C 🥶 .. and then there's the mosquitos in the summer, they're vicious enough to scare a zombie away, so you should be all safe all year!

Anne ✨ wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I've only read the first 4 chapters. I'm liking it but I don't care for the MC much yet. The world is quite fleshed out. [spoilers removed]"

oh yes, haha Vicki, a silver lining for t..."

-15C is mild!!!! :)

Kristie wrote: "Wow! That was fast, Katrisa!

I'm at 54% (up to chapter 22) ."

(view spoiler)[i am with you o this one. I expect one teacher involved, not the whole school.
That town is definitely not the best place to be. Narrow minded leader with a bunch of scared or like minded people is always a bad recipe. I wonder how they will get out of this,
And where is Jackson. Is he dead, or did he manage to escape his faith? I also wonder how Kate is settling in. (hide spoiler)]

I'm at 74% (up to chapter 29) (view spoiler)[ That scene where Jane was whipped was really hard to read. I don't think I would have done well if I had lived in a time or place where people being physically abused like that was acceptable. It makes me nauseous just reading a fictionalized account.

I wonder if Jackson is really dead. It seems that he disappeared, but we never heard that he was really killed. I still hope not. I hope even more that they don't find him turned while on patrol or escaping. It would be so sad to have to kill someone you were close to, even worse than having to kill that girl that she knew from school.

Jane has a plan to get them out of there... sort of. Unfortunately, the sheriff isn't the only threat in town. Besides, once he's out of the way, what is the rest of the plan?? (hide spoiler)]

Esther wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Wow! That was fast, Katrisa!

I'm at 54% (up to chapter 22) ."

[spoilers removed] "

(view spoiler)[ Yes, and what does she do about it?? If she's able to get out of her current situation that is. Does she just leave the school to be a filter program? I mean, even if she where to somehow destroy Summerland, that doesn't mean those people wouldn't do something else evil or send the students somewhere else. Hmmm... I wonder if we'll end up back at that school at some point. (hide spoiler)]

What a great opening line! "The day I came squealling and squalling into the world, was the first time someone tried to kill me. (Is this a spoiler, if it is I can hide it) It sets expectations pretty high as I am wondering, are there many people who try to kill her in her lifetime?

I am reading chapter 1 and going on to chapter 2 just now. I like the words of wisdom from Mom/elders in the book.

My initial impressions are that there are too many comparisons of characters. I feel the author may have overused that trick! It works in moderation but not where it creates uncertain characters. I personally prefer, clear, strong characters. This book seems to be X is better than Y and Y did better on this test than Z so Z is better than A. It creates a jumpy feel to it and is layered with gossip or opinion of the other.