The Not-So Austen Bookclub discussion

The Selection (The Selection, #1)
This topic is about The Selection
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Group Book Of The Month > The Selection - January BOTM Discussion

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message 1: by Booknut, Head Moderator (new) - rated it 4 stars

Booknut 101 (booknut101) | 4592 comments Mod
Discuss the book here!

The question to think about is:

Who should America choose - Aspen or Maxon, and why?

Feel free to extend the discussion beyond the questions :D


message 2: by Brandusa (last edited Jan 13, 2013 08:19AM) (new) - rated it 2 stars

Brandusa (brandubell) Well, I think the answer to that question is far from easy. Aspen is her first love and they have been together for some time, but he is also a Six and marrying him would make her life difficult. On the other hand, Maxon seems to be a really nice person. He and America clicked from the start and I think their relationship could become a beautiful love story. But by choosing him, America would become the future queen and being a queen is hard.
I don't know what the author has in mind for our heroine but I am team Maxon. :)


message 3: by Cam (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cam Garza (camgarza) | 137 comments Why America should stay with Maxon:
• he's sweet
• he worries over her needs
• he's a great friend
• he always respects her decisions
• he listen to her
• he's handsome
• he ask her advice, which means he trusts her

Why America shouldn't go with Aspen:
• he was a jerk
• he didn't respect her decision, like when she didn't want to enter The Selection but he literally forced her to enter
• he broke up with her and pushed her toward Mason, but when he enters the castle he wants her back, almost agains her will
• they don't feel right, like, there's no chemistry
• i think the only reason she went back with him for a moment was because she was scared of change

So therefore my decision is obviously Maxon.


Melissa | 869 comments She should end up with Maxon. For one Aspen broke her heart and said very hurtful things to her, then when she tried to get over him and give someone else a chance he comes charging back into her life and doesn't understand that she may have moved on already. Maxon is sweet and kind, he understands her feelings and respects her decisions he trusts her with the heavy stuff and doesn't withhold his true feelings from her (like Aspen did). He is also very forgiving, which seems to be a very important trait to have around America.


message 5: by Booknut, Head Moderator (new) - rated it 4 stars

Booknut 101 (booknut101) | 4592 comments Mod
Gosh, you guys have an artillery of arguments!! Nice job!

Hmm...gosh, it is hard to pick one...

I would really have to say...*drum roll*...Maxon.

Why?

Simple.

Because you can't just expect someone to keep loving you, move past everything, sacrifice and be with you, when you break their heart.

And this doesn't even have to be for Aspen's scenario either. One of the most annoying things a YA guy character can do is BREAK HER DAMN HEART and then be all, "I did it for you...You deserve better...You'll find someone else...I did it 'cause I love you..." and then get upset when she does move on.

Note: If you really love someone, you'll do whatever it takes to be with them.

It reminds me of the Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking. This series wasn't over-the-top brilliant, but it had one star quality. The girl does not end up with the guy she was originally in love with (the hot, brooding, intense one that she spends two books wanting to be with). They couldn't be together for societal reasons, and he didn't fight it, saying that he loved her so he needed her to be happy and move on.

And then she does. And when he complains about it, saying that he loves her, she says, "But you didn't fight for me. I fought for us, but you didn't." (or something along those lines).

And that is what I base this decision off. Love. Comes. First. Aspen really should have handled things differently. Yeah, I feel for him, but if he really loved her - truly loved her - he would have been like America and had wanted to make it work.


message 6: by Cam (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cam Garza (camgarza) | 137 comments Agreed, it was stupid of him to expect a warm welcome from America.
The jerk.


message 7: by Booknut, Head Moderator (new) - rated it 4 stars

Booknut 101 (booknut101) | 4592 comments Mod
Camila wrote: "Agreed, it was stupid of him to expect a warm welcome from America.
The jerk."


Totally. Like he just expected her to be all, "Hey!! Oh, it's you, the man who broke my heart, here come have a seat, can I get you something to drink?"


message 8: by [deleted user] (new)

Neither? So far neither of them are really impressive to me. Maybe that will change when I read The Elite.

But right now I feel like America is way too strong-willed and independent for either of them. They both want to take care of her and protect her and provide for her at the risk of her losing her sense of self. It seems like Maxon and Aspen both are intimidated by strong women (Aspen more than Maxon, I admit.) I think America needs someone more confident and self-assured than the two choices she has right now.


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