Challenge Corner discussion

“I wasn’t looking for Marilyn Monroe when I bumped into her, even though I knew she was in town filming River of No Return…”

So begins In a Town Called Paradox, which asks the question: If each of us has a life story, then who determines how it unfolds and how it should end?

After her mother’s untimely death, the young Corin Dunbar is banished to live with her aunt Jessie, an obsessively religious spinster who runs a failing cattle ranch near a speck of a town called Paradox in southeast Utah. It’s the mid-1950s, and Corin hates her new life until the Big Five Hollywood studios arrive, lured by the fiery red-rock scenery that provides a perfect backdrop to the blockbuster Westerns they plan to film. Overnight, Paradox is transformed from a rural backwater to a playground for glamorous stars like Marilyn Monroe and Rock Hudson.

Seduced by the glitz of the movies, Corin finds work with the studios, but after a brush with the casting couch, she channels her growing ambitions into saving the ranch—the jewel of the Dunbar family for three generations. When she falls for a charismatic stranger, her future seems bright, but a tragic accident she believes is her fault wrecks her dreams and forces her to make an agonizing decision that will change the course of her life.

Told mainly by Corin—now a middle-aged woman haunted by this watershed moment—In a Town Called Paradox is a compelling read that redefines the meaning of love.

I'm going to dive into this after I finish The Lady Upstairs

yay! I'm going to start tomorrow :)

Trisha wrote: "yay! I'm going to start tomorrow :)"

Somehow I was all caught up in my early buddy reads and then I got behind towards the end. Ugh.

Hello Buddy Readers
After you've read ' In A Town Called Paradox', the authors, Miriam Murcutt and Richard Starks, are open to answer any questions you might have about the book. Just get in touch on Goodreads. Have an enjoyable read!

Miriam

Great, Thank you Miriam Murcutt & Richard Starks!

I'll definitely let you know if I have any questions!!

Finally started! Phew, I got behind too! I was so on top of my buddy reads and then....just a few days and I'm behind! LOL

Through Part 1

I loved(view spoiler)[ the friend who taught her with the corn and condom. What a good friend (and she was funny!) (hide spoiler)]

I'm not(view spoiler)[ sure if buying this bull is a good idea. If he only has so many uses, hopefully he has enough to keep this farm afloat. I'm surprised that is the turn her life took but it sounds like Corin is determined. Curious to see where this goes (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 2

I'm (view spoiler)[ so sad about Ark. they were just starting and creating a great life.
and the rat. Ugh, that's heartbreaking!!

I still love Dottie! OMG the pink duster for her gift is hilarious! (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 3

(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure where the story is going
I don't think helping the Native American will do much for Ark
and she doesn't seem to be spending much time with Ark

Cal sure has gotten nasty
and I liked the chapter from Jessie's POV (hide spoiler)]

through Part 4

(view spoiler)[ I feel like this story just took a huge turn. I guess we're just following the flow of Corin's life but the injustice with police officers or our court system didn't seem like it was an over-arching theme but suddenly here we are.....

we went from Corin juggling whether she should grant Ark's request to her crusading injustices at a newspaper. lol it's a big switch or at least it feels that way to me (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

it felt like(view spoiler)[ this got too complicated at the end
I liked the love story
I liked the emotional struggle of what Corin should do about Ark
she didn't want to abandon him but so many were telling her to move on
I even like the struggle of him being religious but then suddenly being all about assisted suicide
it made for an interesting moral struggle

but Dottie's rape, the navajo escaping and then finding out he'd been railroaded - it completely took the story in a different direction and I wasn't a fan

and I love the friendship between Dottie and Corin. For that to have ended with Dottie betraying her was awful and broke my heart and left me feeling disappointed. (hide spoiler)]

can't wait to see what you guys think!

Part 1: (view spoiler)[I don't even like corn on the cob.. and now I will never look at it the same way ever again. Other than that, it's pretty interesting and I'm very intrigued about the bull. Sounds crazy but I'm here for it all. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2: (view spoiler)[Wow, that ending. I didn't need to read her thought about rats eating Ark.. like just no. I was drinking coffee while reading this! Now I can't look at my coffee. Ugh.

Also, I'm so sad about Ark. I just feel so freaking bad and sad right now. Hopefully we get some happiness. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3: (view spoiler)[Uh is anyone else confused about this one? (hide spoiler)]

Part 4: (view spoiler)[Honestly Corin has a the weight of the world on her shoulders. Especially with trying to come to terms with Ark's request. Not sure what the game plan is but I don't really like that people are basically giving her their opinion and stating that she shouldn't let him die. I don't know why.. but it's rubbing me the wrong way. Or maybe I'm tired. Who knows. (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Hmm okay. This book had some interesting parts to it. I think maybe because of Ark. He was just an interesting character to begin with. All the struggles kept me engaged but I feel like some parts were just too different for me? I don't know if that makes sense or not. It just got complicated. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Finally started! Phew, I got behind too! I was so on top of my buddy reads and then....just a few days and I'm behind! LOL

Through Part 1

I loved[spoilers removed]

I'm not[spoilers removed]"

Omg, the corn thing? I laughed but I can't look at corn the same way ever again lol

Trisha wrote: "Through Part 2"

Ark made me sad :(

Trisha wrote: "Through Part 3..."

Oh good, so it wasn't just me who was confused during this one.. lol

Trisha wrote: "through Part 4..."

Yeah, she definitely had the weight of the world on her shoulders with that decision.

Trisha wrote: "and I'm done..."

A lot happened in this book and my brain is still trying to make it all make sense to me.

I thought it was really interesting to read the comments both of you made as you progressed through 'In A Town Called Paradox'. Authors don't often get the chance to have that sort of input. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read and review the book.

Miriam wrote: "I thought it was really interesting to read the comments both of you made as you progressed through 'In A Town Called Paradox'. Authors don't often get the chance to have that sort of input. Anyway..."

It was a very interesting book Miriam. I liked that it wasn't something I would normally pick up because it took me out of my comfort zone. There's just something about Historical Fiction books that makes me feel that way and I'm always intrigued to see where it's going to take me.