Challenge Corner discussion

In this exhilarating novel, two friends—often in love, but never lovers—come together as creative partners in the world of video game design, where success brings them fame, joy, tragedy, duplicity, and, ultimately, a kind of immortality.

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn't heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won't protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

didn't forget about this one, but behind on a few BR's - will start later this week

I started this one a couple of days ago, but I haven't been around my computer. This is one of those books that I've wanted to read for a while but constantly put off. I had to force myself to go for it!

Here are my random thoughts so far...

Part 1

(view spoiler)[I thought it was interesting so far.

I love how their friendship came to be and how she helped him through a very hard time. I do wish she had told him about the community service hours she was getting while spending time with him.

Her being in a relationship with her professor was interesting. I completely understand the need not to make a big deal of him saying he and his wife were going to try to make things work. She was consciously not wanting to make a big deal in case they worked together again in the future.

It was clear that it affected her life more than she let on though. Sam had found her in a depressed state. I love that he said he kept coming to see her and give her small gifts because she had once saved him and he wanted to do the same for her.

Their friendship is super cute. I’m curious to see where it goes from here.

I don’t love the time jumps between past and present. I understand why they’re laid out the way they are but time jumps are never my favourite. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2

(view spoiler)["To be half of two things is to be whole of nothing." Or something along those lines. I liked this line.

I enjoyed how Marx was so supportive and how he showed up and was part of the team.

I know absolutely nothing about the creation and coding of games. It sounds like what Dov provided was a big deal, but I also don’t like him. The dynamic between Dov and Sadie has hit another level of odd to me. I don’t really get the whole S&M aspect of their relationship. I suppose Dov likes to be in control and he’s showing that. I'm just not sure it's necessary in this book; it feels out of place. I kind of feel bad for Sadie because it feels like the relationship won’t go anywhere, and I really hope it doesn’t get in the way of their amazing game doing well.

I’m not loving the time jumps. We’re getting so many different periods and it’s not my favourite.

I’m truly not completely sure what was happening when we flashed back to Sam’s mother and him. Why did the lady have to have the same name and jump off the building? I was fairly confused during that portion. Please explain what I missed. I definitely missed something haha. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3

(view spoiler)[I think the assumption Sadie made about Sam felt a little wild at the end. Assuming he lied to her the whole time and only wanted to use her. He seems to genuinely care about her.

I’m glad Sam is getting help for his leg. The surgery seems necessary.

I’m very happy Sadie finally left Dov. He seems like the worst. He’s constantly making her feel like shit. I’m happy they’ve made the move.

Still not loving the time jumps but I understand why they’re needed.

Sam is talking about his car accident with his mom, which was horrible, saying something about the importance of sequences. I think it’s interesting and true. This is why he likes video games. How all choices lead to certain and different outcomes. (hide spoiler)]

It's interesting enough that I've kept reading and I'm intrigued but I'm not really sure where we're going.

Part 4

(view spoiler)[So I think the surgery was necessary but Sam is certainly having a much harder time than anticipated. He's struggling and Sadie doesn't seem overly concerned. I don't love the opinion she's creating in her head of Sam. I do appreciate that we get both POV's so we know where they're both coming from.

I really dislike Dov and he just keeps coming back into the picture. I'm over him. He's horrible.

Marx seems to always be so supportive and I really like how he's kind of kept the group running and together.

It's been an interesting read. They're all growing and changing and wanting different things.

I was curious about Sam and how he never really had the desire to date, find a connection with anyone, or love. He seems to be happiest in his own world but obviously really likes having Sadie around. I've assumed he's had feelings for her but I guestion what those feelings are.

I'm curious if Lola will help Sam come out of his shell. (hide spoiler)]

Parts 5, 6 and 7

(view spoiler)[Ok. This really took a turn that I did not expect.

I didn't expect the game Maple Town to turn political but I do appreciate what they were trying to do. It is, however, extremely sad how it was received. People were so upset.

I've always really liked Marx and to see this be his ending is so sad. I was not expecting one of them to die. And now Sadie is pregnant as well!

While I wasn't surprised by Marx and Sadie getting together at all, I felt incredibly bad for Sam. He did have feelings for her and he confessed them to Marx at the mall. We found out the real reason for why Sam cut his hair.

It's these situations that make me dislike Sadie. She always assumes the worst of Sam.

Marx really held this group together and I'm curious to see how the business will do with him now gone. (hide spoiler)]

I am still reading, but am having a hard time getting into it. I am reading a section at a time and also reading one of the BOTMs as well.

Fair enough! It was a peculiar book for me, and it took me a minute to get into. I was surprised, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. Good luck!

Finished

(view spoiler)[I can’t believe insurance won’t cover the damages from a mass shooting, that’s incredibly sad.

I was really curious how both of them would handle the fact that the shooter was actually targeting Sam, not Marx. That must have been incredibly difficult to process.

I definitely didn’t expect the turn with Marx dying, it really caught me off guard.

I loved that Sam made a video game for Sadie to help her process Marx’s death. That act says so much about who Sam is. I’m still not sure how I feel about Sadie’s character, though. When Sam was going through his depression, especially after his surgery, it didn’t feel like she was there for him the way he had been for her. She acknowledges that he was left with all the business responsibilities after Marx died, but I don’t think she ever said that to him directly. Maybe that was an internal thought? I know she essentially saved him when they were kids, after his accident, but somehow I still want more for Sam. Maybe I’m missing something.

I wasn’t a fan of the time jumps. And while I did enjoy the game Sam made for Sadie, I found it confusing at first, I wasn’t entirely sure what game was being played or who was who.

This book surprised me. I didn’t expect to get so pulled in, especially since I’m not usually that interested in video games or the process of making them. But it ended up being fascinating.

Of course, the story isn’t really about video games. They’re a big part of the plot, but it’s really about the complexity of life, relationships, and friendship. I still think about that moment when Sam talks about the importance of sequence in a game and how it can change the entire outcome. He’s comparing it to the series of choices that led to his accident with his mom. That moment stuck with me for some reason.

I think I’m happy with how it ended. It feels like both Sam and Sadie are in a good place. I’m glad Dov is out of the picture, and I love the idea that they might start making games together again someday.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was different from what I usually read, and I appreciated that. (hide spoiler)]

Brittni wrote: "Fair enough! It was a peculiar book for me, and it took me a minute to get into. I was surprised, I ended up enjoying it more than I thought I would. Good luck!"

I am not going to read your thoughts on the book until I finish it. I like how you posted on each section. That is how I am reading the book, and I was thinking about making my comments the same way. Sometimes, I have to read books a section at a time.

Sounds great! Some of the sections were shorter, or I was away from my computer, so parts are grouped together. Definitely makes sense to read it in parts based on how the book is broken up.

okay I swear I'm starting this one but in the new month!

I was finally able to finish this one!! And yes the writing style took a bit to get used to. But I really enjoyed it, such an amazing read and found myself becoming emotional at times.

Finishing thought(view spoiler)[ I agree with you Brittni wasn’t the biggest fan of the time jumps throughout the book. & Marx being killed I awash NOT expecting that… I read there was foreshadowing throughout the book, but I wouln’don’t have caught on. I’m happy it ended with Sam and Sadie being friends, versus forcing a relationship that hasn’t formed over the years they’ve known each other (hide spoiler)]