bookloversnest’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2015)

bookloversnest’s comments from the Tea and Tales with Cate and Allison group.

Catie wrote: "I had a hard time imagining zombies procreating, that was a little unrealistic to me?? The mental image on that one was one I tried to avoid..."

Haha, right! I just accepted Caldwell's explanation and tried to move on. :)

Chandra wrote: "Do these zombies age? If it's all children then do they grow older or have the capacity to reproduce? I feel like they were all pre-puberty. Does that even matter with the new species?? Ahhhhh"

I was confused about that, too, until Caldwell revealed that the sentient kid hungries came about because the adult hungries were procreating. So I think the implication is that the kids can grow up and reproduce as well.

Tange wrote: "I liked the ending...it reminded me of I am Legend...it was the end of the human race but a new 'species' has emerged."

HI Tange! Glad you're here! And I totally agree - it had a very "I Am Legend" feel.

Catie wrote: "For one of my last thoughts,

Do you view the ending as tragic or hopeful? And what do you think will happen next?"

I viewed it as both hopeful and tragic. It's sad that everyone, including Parks, has to die. But it also feels hopeful, like a kind of rebirth, like the earth can start over again fresh.

I'm not sure I see a sequel happening, though. Maybe because it wouldn't really have zombies in it. ;) It would have to be a big departure from this.

Catie wrote: "That's how I feel to. Her mother's instinct was not present at all.

I feel like a lot of the issues they ran into, which caused casualties and injuries would have been completely avoided if she w..."

I think the fact that she eventually found her answers and was able to pass them on to Melanie tempered her death for me. Like she didn't die her miserable terrible self.

Chandra wrote: "Honestly, I was so happy when Caldwell died. Though when she stated that she was trying to find the "cure", I could see from the scientific stand point of what she was doing. And scientists HAVE to..."

Totally agree! I really hated her insistence that everything she did was justified because she was just trying to find a cure. I kept thinking that all her cutting hungries up was just going to lead nowhere, and it did. It felt almost satisfying that her hunt for a cure lead to a very dead end.

Chandra wrote: "Absolutely. And it was nice to see the different sides of all the main characters and not just the main two. Humanized all of them"

I agree! I really didn't like Parks all that much until we saw more of him, especially how his relationship with Melanie changed.

Catie wrote: "We haven't talked about one particular character which is quite pertinent to the story. What did you think of Caroline Caldwell?"

Ugh, I hated her! I know she was just trying to do her job or whatever, but she felt like the most obvious "bad guy" in the book.

Catie wrote: "The scene on the roof was an intense scene, and I actually liked Justineau more for it. I felt it showed a side of her which wasn't fake or put on for show."

Yes! And it gave so much more depth to her character and why she felt such an intense need to save Melanie.

Catie wrote: "I think their relationship was a little bit of everything. The kindness of Miss Jusinteau immediately attracted Melanie to her. To go along with the crush comment. Melanie also was attracted to her..."

Chandra wrote: "Catie, 100% agreed!


Allison, their relationship was key to Melanie's survival of course and something I think they both needed to continue on in the life they were leading. It also showed how di..."

Great points, Chandra! I agree that they both needed each other. Miss J in particular since she didn't want to be involved in the death of another child. (On a side note, wow did that revelation show a lot about her character!)

Cate, I think you're spot on about the love and sex. I also got a bit of the romantic vibe because of how embarrassed Melanie became around Miss J once she figured out who/what she really is. It felt like when you have a crush and you don't want the person to know anything bad about you.

Since we're touching on Melanie and Miss J's relationship, I'll go ahead and post the first question from the book's reading group guide:

1. How does the book portray the relationship between Melanie and Miss Justineau? Do you find it unsettling or reassuring? Does it change in the course of the novel?

Catie wrote: "Allison, that's very true. I do think we as a society have become hardened or desensitized to a lot. Especially violence. And YA has become more and more geared towards the adult reader, since it h..."

I totally confused this book with Brown Girl Rising (maybe why I picture Melanie as black), but when I couldn't find it at the bookstore, I looked it up on GR and was like, "OK, this is about zombies!" I kind of wish I hadn't known, though. I think it would have changed the first couple of chapters for me.

Chandra, you bring up an interesting point about the relationship between Melanie and Miss Justineau. I actually thought it was more on the romantic side, in part because they talked about it being a crush quite a few times. It also just felt like Melanie had such intense feelings toward Miss J. But I can see it going either way. What do you think is the significance of their relationship being potentially romantic?

I agree that this surprised me as a YA book. But YA seems to have really broadened over the last year or so. Like with our last book, Six of Crows. That deals with a lot of grownup subjects, but it's also classified as YA. Maybe that says more about our culture and what we're comfortable exposing children to.

Yes! I also saw that Melanie is being played by a black actress, which I actually think is awesome. I always pictured her as black, even after the early on description of her being really pale. And the little girl they got looks like the perfect Melanie!

Oops, Kelley! As someone whose name is constantly misspelled, I always feel so bad when I do it to others!

Hey Kelly! Thanks for joining us! I hope you'll be able to finish once your daughter returns your book. It's very good up to the end!

I just found out about the film, too! On the one hand, I think it'll be great, especially all the action-packed scenes. On the other hand, zombies! I'm such a wimp. ;)

I'll give it another couple of minutes for people to join and then post our first question.

HI Chandra! So glad you could join us tonight! I can't wait to talk about TGWATG, especially the ending!