From the Bookshelf of 2015 Reading Challenge [Closed]…

The Girl with All the Gifts (The Girl With All the Gifts, #1)

M.R. Carey

Finish date: January 28, 2015

Discussion: . Week 10: Mystery or Thriller

Why we're reading this: For week 4. Just saw it at my library and why not? ^^
[close] For week 4. Just saw it at my library and why not? ^^

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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 84 topics — 393 comments total

. Week 10: Mystery or Thriller

* Week 10: Introduction
By Jessica · 12 posts · 241 views

last updated Jan 12, 2015 08:35AM

* Week 10: Progress Post
By Zaz , Mood Minion · 24 posts · 77 views

last updated Oct 27, 2015 06:10AM

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What Members Thought

Nov 04, 2014 Melissa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-book-challenge, challenge-shelf

I enjoyed this new apoplectic new world. The idea of what houses and cities would look like after years of no one living in them. I also enjoy the concept of a fungus destroying the planet and how it affected people. Seeing how it affected people and created a second generation in order for the fungus to survive. In addition, I also enjoyed seeing the different stages of the fungus and how it affected people. In addition to this new world, I also enjoyed seeing how Melanie and one of the younger I enjoyed this new apoplectic new world. The idea of what houses and cities would look like after years of no one living in them. I also enjoy the concept of a fungus destroying the planet and how it affected people. Seeing how it affected people and created a second generation in order for the fungus to survive. In addition, I also enjoyed seeing the different stages of the fungus and how it affected people. In addition to this new world, I also enjoyed seeing how Melanie and one of the younger characters (who would have no memory of the old world) respond to some of the artifacts that were lying around as they journeyed to a safer location. In addition, I did enjoy all but one of the character. I loved how Carey created his charters with depth and layers. They are not so easily placed in a box and are willing to grow and expand throughout their journey. These characters were not the same people at the end of the book as they were at the beginning. Finally, I did enjoy the different perspectives of the situation. Throughout the book, you got to be one of the five characters as you journey through London. I enjoyed getting to see these perspectives as well as their growth.

However, there were a few problems that I had with the book. The first major problem was with the doctor, Caldwell, that was trying to find a cure to the fungus. She is labeled as this intelligent scientist who has the potential to save the world. There was a little bit of a background story that went with this character and how she was not chosen for the first wave of scientist to save the world. However, Caldwell made several decisions in the book that almost killed her and her cohorts that made me question her IQ. She was to focus on the cure to care about safety. Another problem that I had with this book was the slow beginning. Carey does take his time to develop the characters in the beginning of the book. However, I felt as though we were in a lull waiting for something to happen for at least the first fourth of the book. The other problem that I had with the book was the ending. Sorry about not going into details, I just don't want to spoil the book for you. I felt as though the book ended a little lonely for some of our main characters. Last but not least, the last issue I had with this book was the lack of world development in the beginning of the book. Even though you are in different perspectives throughout the book, the only time you get to learn what happened and the changes in the world is with Melanie. Finally, the last problem that I had with the book was the lack of answering the question of how the second generation of these mutants survive, let alone exist. Given the pretext of the original disease, it would make it hard for this child to exist, let alone survive. I do wish that Carey would have explained that in the book.

In the end, I would recommend this book to anyone who is into Science fiction. I believe that you would enjoy the characters, world, as well as the story. However, if you are new to the science fiction world, I would hold up until you are better acquainted with the genre. Carey does not hold back on the science or the world, and I feel as though you should at least get acquainted with science fiction first before reading this book. ...more

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