Alley’s Comments (group member since Jan 11, 2012)

Alley’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Questions for Chapters 7 - 9

7. I hate to say it but I'm starting to suspect Nandita. She has the perfect setup to be a part of the Voice with her out of town visits. Plus the talk she had with Kira triggered some red flags. Am I being overly paranoid here? 
I don't think she is. It usually does end up being the least suspicious person though.

8. Can't say I'm surprised about Gianna being imprisoned. Were you? Do you think she is a really a member of the Voice. (Every time I say the Voice I think of the singing competition) Also is anyone else starting to feel like this is a 'witch trial'? "Are you the voice? Is she the voice? Is he the voice?" I am being paranoid, but hopefully I'm not alone in this.
I had that feeling about her. I don't really think she is though. I won't be surprised if it turns into actual witch trials - "my neighbor said something bad about the gov't that I don't agree with - let me go tell someone that I think he's Voice.". Pretty soon that's all it will take - just suspicion.

9. I'm surprised that Madison is happy about her pregnancy even though there is a huge possibility of the baby dying. Do you think she should try to emotionally distance herself? How do you think you would feel (or handle the situation) if you were pregnant and knew it wouldn't end well? 
I would do everything I could to not have to get pregnant - always go on supply runs or something. She's kidding herself if she thinks she'll be fine. I don't think the baby will live - if anything, Kira will have the one baby that survives.

10. Good call, Stefani! Although it seems implausible that Kira is the first one to have this thought (figuring out why the adults are immune to RM while newborns are not). Are the other researchers incredibly stupid/short sighted?  Or are they just being tight lipped about their findings? 
As much as I don't want it to be, this screams of gov't secrets. Maybe they are doing other things with the babies - that's a horrible thought.

11. We've all been wondering about the Voice's motive. Isolde makes a great point: they are trying to destabilize the government through discord. What do you think of this theory? Do you have any different theories about their motives/goals? 
Makes sense. I want to know more about them - not just what we've been told. They could very well be completely right about everything.

12. Did the soldiers overstep their bounds while questioning Nandita? Did Kira? 
Yes and yes. They were both very accusatory and unnecessarily harsh. There are easier ways to get your answers.

13. I'm wondering if the researchers have tried to develop a vaccine for the babies. Think about it, vaccines usually have small dosages of the virus itself. So why not add weakened RM to the baby's immune system to see how it works?
They've probably tried it - it's been over a decade. They had to have tried almost everything.

Discussion Questions for Chapter 1

1. Given the state of this world do you think it is right or wrong for the Hope Act to be implemented? Should the girls rebel against this law? Having baby after baby only to have them die is pretty horrible. 
Wrong. Forcing women to stay pregnant only to see the babies die is just evil. It can't sit well with the women - I wonder how many have gone crazy after having so many of their babies die.

2. Do you think it would be safer to live in East Meadow or an outer community? Both Gianna and Brown made good points. 
I'm not sure - in the city-like areas, you have the soldiers. In the farming areas, you have isolation. I might go for the soldiers.

3. Gianna seems awfully bitter. Should we be worried about her? 
I'm probably wrong, but she feels like a spy or something for the Voice. Maybe a recruiter.

4. I can already tell that his book will have a lot of medical and scientific jargon. Do you enjoy books that are heavy on the science and research? 
I don't mind the jargon. I like science in books, but only if it's sound - not something the author pulled out of his butt.

5. What was your impression of today's reading? Did anything stand out? Any new forming theories that you'd like to share with us? Any favorite characters? 
I'm liking it so far. Too soon for theories and fave characters.

6. In the acknowledgement section Dan Wells writes, "This book is dedicated to the rule breakers, the troublemakers, and the revolutionaries. Sometimes the hand that feeds you needs a good bite." 
Do you think this is foreshadowing on what's to come? Based on what you've read do you think the government's motives should be questioned? 
Probably. Govt's motives should always be questioned.

Questions/Comments for Chapters 47 - end

37) Gah! I remember a song that went something like, "This is the song that never ends. It goes on and on my fiends..." That is what this series seem like right now. I keep thinking we'll get answers and it keeps going on and on...
The third book had better be chock full of answers.

38) What did you think of the Betrayal? Do you think Thomas should have been more understanding? Should he forgive Teresa?
I was let down a little actually. I thought it would be more than making out with Aris and throwing Thomas in a box or whatever. I think he might, but not right off.

39) What do you make of the dream or was it a dream where Brenda could speak in his head? Are things going to go very bad for Tom? Will he be treated like a lab rat?
That was so confusing. I think maybe it was just a dream this time - replacing Teresa with Brenda since he is so cross with Teresa at the moment. No idea what will happen to Thomas now. Don't think he will be a lab rat though.

40) Why do you think they separated Thomas from the others?
Not sure. I don't think it was the Flare like they claimed.

41) What the heck is the Swipe?
I'm fairly certain it's the memory thing - taking or replacing memories.

42) What did you make of the last attack and who got killed?
It was interesting. Who thinks up these creatures? Big slug things with robot parts and now humanoids with light bulbs. So weird. I don't think any named Glader was killed - we only knew a handful of names anyway.

43) Overall thoughts, questions, etc on the book?
I'm really enjoying this series. Weather permitting, I'll head to the library for the third tomorrow. I have to know how this ends.

FYI there is a third book and a Prequel is coming out in August.

Questions for chapters 38 - 46

29) So the gang got back together and then Thomas got shot. What is the Berg? Is it truly what the hospital was named or did Jorge think Thomas was being transported somewhere else?
It seemed like a large flying transport - I bet they had all the stuff they needed onboard for Thomas's injury.

30) If the girls are supposed to kill Thomas, why did WICKED bother saving him? Could it be so the girls could finish him off?
They saved him because he was supposed to be killed by the girls - it's one of the Variables. These people are whacked in the head, seriously. I seriously hope there is a rational explanation for all the stuff they're putting these people through - something better than some mad scientists' theories.

31) Could all this trial and testing be to try to find the most pliable people to do WICKED's bidding? We keep hearing about candidates and trials and that sounds like terminology used for people being interviewed for a military position.
Maybe. Maybe they're calling them that so they won't get attached to any of them - like you're not supposed to name lab animals.

32) So the gun wasn't supposed to be used in the Scorch Trials, therefore leading us to believe the variables are all under tight control and everything is monitored. How do you suppose their spying on the group this time? Could people be the spies in this trial?
Satellites probably. Spies among the Cranks probably exist too - to progress the trials/variables if the Candidates go off track.

33) What do you make of Teresa? What could Thomas have supposedly done to her?
No idea - she's definitely stronger than WICKED thought she was though. Has to be to break through and "talk" to Thomas. I bet he supposedly did something violent - rape or beating - for her to justify her reaction to him now.

34) Do you think the girls will truly kill Thomas?
I bet they would if Teresa wasn't there to stop them - if Teresa wasn't part of the group, I wonder if they would have a reason to kill him - like did WICKED specifically tell them to kill the one named Thomas, or do they want to because of what he did to Teresa?

35) Are you surprised that the girls seem to be doing better then the boys in everything? Do you think their trials were exactly the same or do you think they were different? After all they were the ones asked to kill someone whereas the boys only had to get to a final destination.
They did have a little headstart - 3 days, I think. You'd think that since this is an experiment, they would have the same Variables. Maybe they decided to go a more emotional direction with the females and a physical direction with the males. This phase anyway - the girls had the same Maze experience as the boys.

36) Is there anything that is puzzling you at this point that I might not have mentioned?
Not that I can think of. So much is going on and nothing has really been explained! I wonder if the next book is available at the library.

Laura wrote: "I must say, I don't know a single person who likes that girl as an actress and it baffles the mind that they pick her for all these really awesome parts."

They pick her so all the Twilight fans will go see the movie.

I missed Snow White due to a migraine, but seriously - in what world is Kristin Stewart "fairer" than Charlize Theron?

Chris Hemsworth (the huntsman) is quickly becoming one of those "I'll-watch-anything-he's-in" actors.

Questions for Chapter 30-37

24) So Thomas go separated from the rest of the Gladers. That all seemed very strange to me. Did Brenda know about the distraction and decide to steal Thomas for herself?
Brenda is super odd. I think she's getting pretty close to the next stage of Flare. I bet she did take Thomas for herself. She knew about the signs and that he is the true leader - it's pretty common for people to latch onto leaders and others with power. Keeps them safer.

25) The cranks in the cave sounded like Zombies. Yikes! I thought the metallic balls were gong to come back.
Ugh, they were super creepy.

26) The town seems to me like a demented version of the Wild West. What is your impression of it?
I find it interesting that the people stay close to others at the same stage of Flare. You'd think that would make it easier to navigate, but Cranks are sneakier than you'd think.

27) What do you make of all the signs saying Tom is the true leader?
I'm beginning to think that everything is staged - even Brenda and Jorge. I think we all knew he was the true leader anyway.

28) The memory Tom had of overhearing things about the Betrayal...What do you make of it? What was all that about patterns? I'm still so confused. Does anyone have any ideas? What if the Betrayal doesn't happen? What if Tom was supposed to hook up with Brenda and he doesn't?
I'm thinking that these trials are a way to test the progression of Flare in individuals that have had their brains messed with. Considering what Brenda said about Bliss - that it decreases brain activity to inhibit the spreading of the virus - think about this - all the Gladers have Flare and they are constantly being thrown into situations that force them to use their brains. Each Variable could be set to interact with different parts of the brain or something. If that were the case though, you'd think that all the adrenaline from being terrified/fleeing for their lives would interfere. Unless they are specifically testing the effect of adrenaline on the progression of the virus.

I don't know. I over think things sometimes.

As for the Betrayal, I think it does have something to do with just Thomas and Teresa. Maybe he betrays her with Brenda or she with someone else. I have a feeling it will be an emotional betrayal, not a physical one. But again, I'm probably wrong.

Sashana wrote: "Anyone seen Prometheus?"

I did! Enjoyed it very much. I left the movie with more questions than answers though. I really hope they will continue with this to answer some of them.

If you like the Alien movies, or even just a sci-fi fan, go see it.

Questions for Chapters 20 - 29

16) So it sounds like Teresa remembers Thomas. She tells him to go and he says his memories came back. Do you believe there was a trap lying in wait for them?
I think so. She wanted him to run for a reason.

17) Since we now know Thomas can communicate with someone other than Teresa, do you think that is why Teresa attempted to cut off the mental conversations with him? Could somebody else intercept them?
Oh I didn't think about that. I wonder.

18) They are down to 11 Gladers, possibly less by the end of Chapter 29. I wonder who exactly is left. Is the new kid still alive? Could he be a spy?
I think he is still alive, don't think he is a spy though. I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time!

19) Anyone else start thinking of the Stop, Drop, & Roll when the lightening started setting people on fire? I truly hope this is all some sort of simulated program the kids are in.
That lightning was crazy. I don't think it was simulated, but I do believe it was not natural lightning.

20) What do you make of Brenda and Jorge?
Not sure yet. Brenda seems a bit odd. She's definitely not shy. Jorge is trying too hard to be a bad ass.

21) Do you think Thomas should have been the leader? Do you think the tattoos were just to manipulate people into roles Wicked wanted them to be in? I think someone might have suggested this before.
Thomas is a natural leader. Good theory about the tattoos. I didn't think of that.

22) Do you believe there is a cure or are they just messing with the kids?
I don't know yet. Maybe they are almost finished making a cure, but they need something that the kids will do in this phase to finish it.

23) From what I've heard of solar flares they could definitely create a disaster on earth. I kind of like the fact this book has a plausible 'end of world' scenario and it sites it. In some stories I'm left wondering what happened.
YES. Like with Legend, they never really stated what happened. I get so annoyed at that.

Questions for Chapters 11 - 19

8) Well, we now know why this book is named the Scorch Trials. The last book had a maze and this one has a scorched area of land for their second trials. This still reminds me of multiple Hunger Games.
It definitely has a Hunger Games feel. I'm enjoying it though.

9) Why would the creators starve the kids for 3 days and them feed them? Do you think they don't have a real grasp on the passage of time around them? That seemed like an awful long time to do without.
To wear them down. Make them more pliable.

10) Big liquid silver balls that attach to peoples heads and kill them? Do you think it's death by eating or suffication?
Eating maybe. Dissolving by burning or acid or something - with the added bonus of suffocation.

11) What did you make of the Cranks?
They seemed odd. Do the people in various stages of Flare live together or are they segregated?

12) So the name Flare for the disease, does it have something to do with the sun flares?
Maybe. It could be some previously undiscovered disease that only popped up after the flares killed the vegetation.

13) Tom seems to have a natural ability to figure out how to stop things. He did it with the grievers and again with the liquid silver balls. What do you make of this?
It's interesting. Maybe he remembers these things with without really knowing it. Or maybe he is just super brave.

14) So it sounds like Aris and Rachel had a 'thing' before she was killed. Are you surprised?
Not really. I am surprised they had time to form more of a relationship than Teresa and Thomas.

15) So the girls may have passed through the Scorch area before the boys. Are you anxious to meet the new group?
Yep. I wonder if they have tattoos - like "kills Thomas".

Questions for Chapters 1 - 10

1) Wow. Talk about head games...this is crazy. What do you make of the whole new environment?
I have no idea what to think. They play around so much with special effects like the Greiver Hole, there's no telling what they can do.

2) Was Teresa's mind erased? Will she be in a position to betray Thomas?
I believe so. I bet she will not follow through with the betrayal - she'll remember something right before.

3) They're making Thomas a target? That must mean the two groups will come together. How in the world will they make one group kill someone from the other?
Mind control? Like a milder version of what they did to Gally.

4) So I looked up the name Teresa Agnes and it is the name of Mother Teresa. What does that mean? I was thinking it would be a name attributed to some spy or someone.
No clue. Maybe we will know more if we find out the other Group's names and what they were based on.

5) So they are helping to save people???? How? I'm still unsure of how this works. Is anyone else/
So confusing. This seems like an extreme way to try to save people.

6) Thoughts on the first section we've read? Is anything puzzling you?
In Thomas's memory-dream, they said "The Flare is rooted inside him." Does that mean he can cure it or is immune to it?

7) I wonder how many levels there are to the trials? Will they ever be allowed to go free?
Maybe 3 levels - one for each book. As for freedom, maybe? I'm sure only a handful of Gladers will survive the trials. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if only Thomas and Teresa survived.

Yep, this works for me :)

I'm in!

Questions for Chapters 55 - end

50) Gah! It's not over. Was there another group or are they group B?
I'm not sure. Still a little confused! Maybe Group B are the females?

51) What do you think happened to those left behind? Will they be included in the next set of testing?
It wouldn't surprise me if they either died from Grievers or if the Creators killed them.

52) So can what they were told by their supposed rescuers be trusted?
About what happened to the outside world, I think so. Everything else, who knows?

51) What the heck happened to Gally?
The mind control taken to the next level.

52) Why did Chuck have to die? It sounded like it was a test.
To demonstrate the hold they had on Gally - the hold they could potentially have on any of them. Just bad luck that it was Chuck that got in the way.

53) Why do they need leaders?
They won't live forever - need the next generation to be prepared.

54) Will you read the sequel? Anyone interested in a buddy read? I'm not reading Saving Francesca because I read it a while ago, so....
I already picked it up from the library! I can save it for a buddy read.

55) Overall opinion on the book? What did you like and what didn't you?
I liked it. Loved that romance wasn't really much of an issue. It's getting old reading YA books that revolve around a romance. Maybe I'm just burnt out on romances.

56) Do you think WICKED is good?
Maybe. I'll have to read more. From what's been said, it seems like they are trying to fight the sickness and save the human race. But to take children and throw them in a place like the Glade? Seems a bit extreme.

I used to love watching trailers. The downfall started with the Paranormal Activity 3 trailer - (view spoiler)[ The entire trailer was full of scenes that were not in the movie! Very annoying. I was looking forward to seeing Katie jump off the balcony thing and watching the mother freak out. (hide spoiler)]

The Cabin in the Woods trailer gave away a fairly huge plot point. And most recently, I made the mistake of watching the Prometheus international trailer - it showed way too much.

Trailers are giving away too much lately. I've started avoiding them as much as I can.

I also get annoyed when the trailers have scenes that aren't in the actual movie!

Questions for Chapters 43 - 54

39) Were you surprised when Tom decided to get pricked by the Grievers to get his memory back?
Not at all.

40) So the walls aren't moving, we've got several codes, and a potential way out. Do you think they should trust Thomas?
Why not? They don't have any other ideas.

41) Why can Tom talk without getting choked? Could his telepathy be blocking whatever it is they do or is it just time for things to be revealed?
They probably didn't plan on Tom getting stung, so they didn't add that choking feature to his memory wipe.

42) What do you make of the whole experiment? Kids being kidnapped and raised to be part of an experiment? Why do they have to kill them or are they?
I don't know what to think about the experiment. I don't think they are all dead though.

43) Could it all be an elaborate video game? A simulator?
Maybe a simulator, but I doubt it.

44) I think we all probably figured they had to go through the Griever hole. What do you think they'll find?
A control room?

45) How do you think they forced Tom and Teresa to help create the maze?
Threatened to kill their family or each other.

46) Who do you think Teresa was named after?
I can't think of any scientists/geniuses named Theresa. Maybe it's her real name.

47) Is Alby going to cause trouble? He's been acting weird.
Maybe.

48) Is anyone besides me surprised people would want to stay put?
Not really. They are terrified of the Greivers.

49)We're still not sure what Wicked truly is. Any ideas?
World In Catastrophe: Killzone Experiment Department
Could there be some upcoming catastrophe that only a limited number can survive and they're looking to see who could survive confined for a long period of time so they know who to send? If that is the case, however, I guess there should have been more females unless they didn't want to have any families starting??? I'm at a loss.
Maybe they kept the females separate to see if each gender could survive alone - and then have controlled breeding where they control which people have children and how many they have. Limited space means limited population.

I have a feeling that I'll be visiting the library tomorrow to pick up the next book.

Questions for Chapters 35-42

32.) So we made it through the first night in the Homestead. Were you expecting the first night to be better or worse?
Worse.

33.) I thought it was awkward the way Alby suddenly decided to go to the Map Room after being in such a stupor. (This got me thinking about this next question...
Same. I figured he had something bad planned.

34.) Who burned the Map Room? Gally? Alby? Was there a scuffle between the two of them? Do you think it could be someone else altogether?
I bet it was Gally. Or maybe Ben, if he's not dead.

35.) " Wicked is good." Complete oxymoron if I've ever seen one!
Maybe it really is good.

36.) Why did Thomas keep running from Theresa when she said she needed to tell him something? I know someone in your head is scary and all but you could have been way ahead of the game by now.
He was freaking out a bit, but yeah, I agree.

37.) They hid the maps! Clever!
Indeed.

38.) We have a letter, "F". What are your theories about the hidden message? What do you think it will say?
No idea. Flare?

Questions for Chapters 28 - 34

23) As a last resort, Newt suggests that the get Tom stung so his memories come back. Good idea?
Maybe. If Thomas is willing to deal with all that pain.

24) Teresa can talk to Thomas via their minds. Could they be twins?
Possibly. Either that or they had a relationship before the Glade. I've learned to expect a little romance in these books - it would be nice if they were twins instead.

25) Teresa said, "it was you and me, Tom. We did this them. To us.... The plot thickens. What did they do? If Tom truly is 16 he would have been 14 when everything started.
It's hard to wrap my head around a teenager being able to set all this stuff up. Set something into motion, maybe, but not creating the Glade. Unless it is a computer thing, but I don't think it is.

26) So we noticed wicked written on the Beetle blades. Now we know that it stands for:
World
In
Catastrophe
Kill
Experiment
Department
What do you make of that? What could they possibly be testing?
No idea. Maybe testing how effecient the Grievers are at killing. Or even the Serum.

27) What could have happened to Gally? He just sort of disappeared? He was last seen entering the maze. Do you he was killed or is in hiding?
I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Gally. He's hiding somewhere. Or maybe he's off in the maze to get stung so he can remember more about Thomas.

28) Chuck and Tom have a heart to heart about parents. Could parents have been killed off? Perhaps only children survived some awful catastrophe? Tom keeps saying why would adults do this to kids. What if they didn't? Just throwing out possibilities. Do you have any wild or crazy thoughts?
I have plenty of crazy thoughts. Most don't make sense.

29) Alby states, "Greenie, you ain't evil. You might be a shuck-faced slinthead, but you ain't evil." Could whatever Tom did be that bad if Alby says doesn't tink he's evil?
No clue. I really want to find out though.

30) What do you make of the Griever they thought was dead? Did it recharge?
One of my crazy thoughts was that someone was controlling the Grievers, like a remote control drone thing. Like someone needed a potty break or something. Or going along with the whole testing theory, it was playing possum.

31) Before Tom goes to sleep, Teresa state,"I just triggered the Ending." WHAT?????? What do you make of the sun not shining the next morning? Any ideas as to what is happening?
All Hell is about to break loose.

Utterly Huggable Quills wrote: "Thanks for your take on Dark Shadows. The blurb interested me but now I'm thinking of waiting until it comes out on Netflix.

Is that Snow White movie coming out next week? Chris Hemsworth. Didn't..."

I wish I had waited for Dark Shadows on Netflix. The Burton/Depp love affair is getting old.

Yes, the Snow White comes out next Friday - the 1st. In the US anyway.

Chris Hemsworth is Thor. He's also in Cabin in the Woods which is my second favorite movie of the year - after The Avengers.

Questions for Chapters 17-27

16.) So, the Glades sure don't like to tell Greenies anything or the others for that matter. Would you be the same as Thomas always poking and pushing around for answers or like the rest, going about their everyday business letting the Runners and Keepers deal with every thing and let information trickle down?
I would keep asking questions. There's too much going on.

17.) Thomas seems to be a pretty smart cookie. I think he wil make an excellent Runner. I am willing to bet he has a lot of prior training in survival tactics and creative thinking and he just doesn't remember...yet.
Probably. Once the Running starts, we'll find out more about him and his abilities.

18.) Minho made the suggestion about Thomas becoming the Runners' Keeper and then told Thomas afterwards. "Aim high, hit low." Do you think that was what Minho was really getting at or his he trying to cover up his terror and insecurities about still being the Runners' Keeper. He sounded pretty eager to give up the position.
Minho is sneaky. He's probably tired of being a Runner. I would be after the night in the Maze. .

19.) Ben and Gally both say they know Thomas and it isn't good. What do you think Thomas did in their past life?
Alby didn't seem scared or wary of Thomas like Ben or even Gally are. Maybe Thomas (or someone who looks an awful lot like him) was the one who put them in there.

20.) Alby speaks of "The Flare", being careful with the girl, Thomas being somebody important, guarding the maps, and then he tries to choke himself (I'm totally convinced it wasnot all his own doing though. You?). What does it all mean! I'm ready for answers!! I'm as confused as if I was in the maze myself...
I don't think he choked himself. Something weird is going on and I really hope I won't have to wait to find out about it in the other 2 books in this series. It is only a trilogy, right?

21.) What do you think of Thomas' punishment and promotion? Did you side with any of the Keepers are did you have a different idea of what should be done?
I was surprised his punishment was as lenient as it was. He did break the first rule. I'm not surprised he was upped to a Runner. We all knew that would happen.

22.) If you were Thomas what would be your next course of action?
Bug the crap out of Newt and Minho until they answer some questions.