Jordan’s Comments (group member since Jan 18, 2015)

Jordan’s comments from the Return of the Rogue Readers group.

How about dislikes? Was there anything you just didn't enjoy? I can't think of anything offhand, nothing stuck out to me as bad or poorly done. That's the thing about humorous works, they can get away with a lot more.

I think I will read the next book. Not right away, but eventually. From what I gather the first two books could have been one book.

I believe I speak for both of us when I say that we enjoyed the idea of The Circumfence the most. I don't like the deep ocean and I don't like heights and this has both!

I think the luggage is my favorite character. It's unique and it reminds me a little bit of the TARDIS. How about you?

Do you plan on reading any of the other books?

I finally read it. Nicely done. I came in to read it, scrolled down and started to process the words. "This sounds just like that story that Tye wrote!" I said. Then I scrolled up a bit and saw that I was, in fact, reading Tye's story again.

Indeed, Jordan! When I heard that part I knew I made a wise choice in this book. I had to rewind the audiobook to make sure I heard it correctly.

Yes, Other Jordan, that was great. The book began and ended with a lol from me. During the prologue the book mentions the theories about A'tuin. The religious one, in particular, tickled me. "The Big Bang."

That's probably a good idea, Jordan. What were some of the things you found funny? I enjoyed the fact that the book ended on a literal cliffhanger. I lol'ed!

This book made me laugh more than any book in recent memory. I think I am going to have to read the next one, at least.

I was going to offer our new members the conch and let them choose which book will be #4, but I decided on Terry Pratchett's "The Colour of Magic" instead. I read today that the author has passed away and I have not read any of his work. I figured this would be an appropriate time to do so.

This book is the first in his "Discworld" series. There are 40 books total (40!) and from what I have read we can expect a funny, lighthearted read. The book is 224 pages, so we'll start our discussion on March 21, a little over a week.

I am by no means an authority on Harry Potter, I just enjoy wild conspiracy theories and going out on the proverbial limb. There is no truth beyond what is in the books. Anything else is speculation, but that it why I posted that. Asking "what if?" amuses me. In the thread for "The Ocean at the End of the Lane" I asked about the funeral the narrator was at for similar reasons. I don't expect find an absolute truth of the matter, I just enjoy the discussion of the material that it encourages.

With that being said, Harry spent a decade with the Dursleys vs the school year (mostly) with Ron and Hermione. In the events of the books he was around them more, but that doesn't negate his entire childhood.

Based on a quick googling I determined that Slytherin's locket was either the 3rd or 4th horcrux and Harry was the 6th. If the segmentation of a soul happens in sequential way then the locket had either 1/4 or 1/8 of Voldemort's soul. Harry would have had 1/32. I mention this because we saw how the locket changed Ron and if the corruptive capability of Voldemort's soul works like, say, radiation, then Ron got a much larger dose that was administered more directly than just being in the same house as a horcrux.

Of course, we have no idea what horcruxes are like and nobody ever studied one in a lab, so this is pure speculation. Factually though, what can you guys think of that might poke more holes in this idea?

I'll have to reread that part and get back to you as I did actually forget what she had to say. Do you think maybe Harry being a horcrux acted like a sort of catalyst to to their general unpleasantness or would you say that the post I linked to has misunderstood the nature of horcruxes?

I felt the same way about the characters. I don't really like either of them, but I liked reading about them.

Also, the shadow men reminded me of the hunger birds from "The Ocean at the End of the Lane"

Sorry guys, I left the door unlocked and a couple of bickering school-children got in and made a mess of the discussion. I deleted the vandalism, so now we can have our nice, friendly discussion of John Dies at the End!

I will start. In the first chapter or two I had a few moments where I feared I was reading one of those stories where the author will weave a stinky web of increasingly absurd and unpalatable nonsense in a juvenile attempt to be shocking and funny. A foul stew of toilet humor and cheap jokes brewed up by a man who simultaneously screams "Look at me! Look at me! I am funny and brave!" while also expecting to be taken seriously as an artist.

That was not the case in this book. There were a few cringe moments for me, some things felt like low-hanging fruit or the sort of jokes where someone told the author to pump up the Family Guy-ness, but overall I enjoyed it. I found it was just crazy enough to keep me guessing while also keeping me interested. Once the story picked up there were fewer and fewer of those cringe moments and by the end of the book I was almost completely into it, which is rare when it comes to things that humans find funny.

I enjoyed the mix of horror, humor, and the vague pop-culture references. I felt the story needed another round of editing, though. There were some inconsistencies that brought me out of the zone from time to time, but overall it was a positive experience.

*slow clap*

That cover is cool. I have heard you mention that book a few times. Give me the three sentence summary, if you would.

Nicely done, Tye. That dude who wrote those books about those other dudes would be proud.

John Riley, the second most famous resident of Toronto Ohio, had a chain of stores called "Kwik King." Let's each write a story, 500 words or less, that centers on his spelling of "kwik." What do I mean? You tell me. 500 words or less. Make it do.

I have a deal with the internet where I get my books for free. Most of the time, anyhow. On occasion I come across a book I can't find 'in the library' and I can either buy it or not read it. Usually I skip it. I don't have the time to sit down and read a book usually, so I do audiobooks. For some absurd reason they are twice the price of a paperback on Amazon, and sometimes five times the price of an ebook.

I am down

Tye and I were talking about this the other night and we came up with the idea that we should take turns choosing the book. Maybe even go in a cycle. I think it's a great plan and since Tye suggested Ocean and you suggested John before I suggested Jurassic Park we ought to go with yours and do mine next. After my book it will be Tye's turn again (unless we get any new participants). What do you guys think?

I am intrigued. I would also like to propose Jurassic Park. Not necessarily for this book, but before the new movie comes out.