Week thirty May 14, 2014
Lauren: I rate it 3 out of 5. I tried to pick the book up multiple times before we chose it as a book-club book. It has so much attention in the media. I found it hard to get into because of the way it was narrated. I thought it was creative, but I found it anticlimactic. All of this buildup but after the escape it fizzled out for me. I wanted to know more about how they were affected by it. It was entertaining, a quick read, but I wanted more insight into the deeper sides of it, how women might be feeling after experiencing this. I didn't expect them to escape on the first try; to me there were many ways that it wouldn't have worked.
Laura: I rate it 4 out of 5. I did really like it, I finished it quickly. I loved the story telling and how everything was the world to the boy. I really liked the idea of the limits of what we know and how we could compare that to our own society. I think the author did that perspective quite well. I liked that they escaped mid book and that we could see the aftermath. She didn't try to kill herself in the room, she tried after. I loved the idea of freezing time, for her life had stopped in the room but when she came out she realized it had continued on without her. It made me think about questions around freedom.
Karen: I rate it 3.5 out of 5. I found the perspective a little bit annoying at time and found myself skimming through descriptions about how boring their lives where. I was happy that they got out, I was really thinking that it was a shit plan. I was happy that this was a different story, that they did escape. I felt like the book was in three parts, including transitions. A quick read, nothing huge came up. I did find it interesting to read around the story, other details.
Amy: I rate it 4 out of 5. I liked focusing on Jack and not the fact that these humans were captive. It was interesting to talk about Dora and making faces in the mirror but I cannot imagine the story being as effective if it was told from the perspective of the mom. I think we can all identify with the idea that our whole world-views can be dismantled. We have all gone through period where our structure of the world as broken down and I imagine that could be part of what motivated her to write this book.
Robyn: I rate it 5 out of 5. I have worked with kids a ton at all different developmental stages. I loved figuring out the developmental side. I was hooked right away, I didn't struggle with it. I understood the world immediately. I liked the way the mom coped; what she shared with him, when she chose to share. Just really interesting the way she approached life, how she wanted to protect him right from the beginning. I thought the escape went really quickly but I loved that it went right into what happens after. The recovery part for both of them was really interesting to read. I approached it like a study and found it fascinating.
Danielle: I rate it 4 out of 5. I thought the first part was boring, but now I see how it was parallel to their lives. It didn't take me long to get used to the voice of Jack. I was frustrated with the mom at some points, I know she did so much for the kid but when she tried to kill herself I thought "why are you doing this?". I did like how it ended, assuming that they went on to live better lives. I felt like I didn't want to know much more than that. I also thought that the grandma was really funny.
Lacey: I rate it 4 out of 5. I didn't find it too hard to get into, the perspective made things scarier and more disturbing. Even just as we are talking now I am thinking about how trauma effects people and how they live. I thought it was interesting to think about how Jack wouldn't even know what had happened to his mom before he was born.
Nicole: I rate it 4 out of 5. Easy read, suspenseful. The escape was very exhilarating, terrible, so much anticipation. Jack reminded me of kids you could meet in difficult situations. The reality of him on the outside was difficult to read about.. like he was a cave person. It seemed very realistic and very possible and I really liked the ending. I think she knew she was there for the long run, what can I do to sustain myself? I think that was smarter. Need to be smart for my child.
Average group rating: 3.9
What would you ask for Sunday Treat?
Lauren: a new book, every Sunday
Laura: a journal to write down my experience in code
Karen: toothpaste or mouthwash, something I could kill myself with
Amy: A new toilet top
Robyn: Board game or a Mars bar
Danielle: Paint or craft supplies, or booze
Lacey: Craft supplies
Nicole: Cooking supplies and new food
Average group rating: 3.9
What would you ask for Sunday Treat?
Lauren: a new book, every Sunday
Laura: a journal to write down my experience in code
Karen: toothpaste or mouthwash, something I could kill myself with
Amy: A new toilet top
Robyn: Board game or a Mars bar
Danielle: Paint or craft supplies, or booze
Lacey: Craft supplies
Nicole: Cooking supplies and new food
