When She Woke - Hillary Jordan. Start 1 July 2013

[Karen ⊰✿]

About this book:
I am red now. It was her first thought of the day, every day, surfacing after a few seconds of fogged, blessed ignorance and sweeping through her like a wave, breaking in her breast with a soundless roar. Hard on its heels came the second wave, crashing into the wreckage left by the first: he is gone.

Hannah Payne’s life has been devoted to church and family. But after she’s convicted of murder, she awakens to a nightmarish new life. She finds herself lying on a table in a bare room, covered only by a paper gown, with cameras broadcasting her every move to millions at home, for whom observing new Chromes—criminals whose skin color has been genetically altered to match the class of their crime—is a sinister form of entertainment. Hannah is a Red for the crime of murder. The victim, says the State of Texas, was her unborn child, and Hannah is determined to protect the identity of the father, a public figure with whom she shared a fierce and forbidden love.

A powerful reimagining of The Scarlet Letter, When She Woke is a timely fable about a stigmatized woman struggling to navigate an America of the not-too-distant future, where the line between church and state has been eradicated, and convicted felons are no longer imprisoned but chromed and released back into the population to survive as best they can. In seeking a path to safety in an alien and hostile world, Hannah unknowingly embarks on a journey of self-discovery that forces her to question the values she once held true and the righteousness of a country that politicizes faith and love

[Lynn, Moderator]

It really is a brilliant read, I will be joining in the discussion (on both month's buddy reads!). It is my favourite read of 2013 so far.

[Karen ⊰✿]

Wow 5 stars Lynn! Now I'm really looking forward to this :)
Vanessa is also joining us Krsitin, but we haven't settled on a date to start yet. Is there a date in June you'd prefer (or prefer not to do?)

[Savanes]

Hi Karen,

Maybe we could join the other members in early July? What do you think?

[Karen ⊰✿]

No worries. I have changed this to start 1 July :)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks ladies! I'm looking forward to reading this with everyone. I like the idea of having more people to discuss it together. :)

[Anima]

Of course I'm for this read too :) my list is getting longer and longer, but I wouldn't miss a good discussion :), especially that it is on my TBR list :)

[Karen ⊰✿]

I started this today and read all of part one

Part one

Initial thoughts...

-Aidan is a complete predator and cult leader. He totally went after her (and his wife seemed to know what was going to happen, so I assume this has happened before!). I hope Hannah realises this and stops protecting him
-Awful to be stuck in that cell, alone, and broadcast for 30 days. That would make anyone mad
- I wonder if everyone in Texas is as religious as Hannah's parents, or if they are just a sample of the population? (Gabrielle refers to "your religion")
- She has to get top-ups of colour every few months. There must be a way to escape and not be red anymore
- I wish there was a way to turn child molestor's blue! (is that awful?) I just hate the thought of them living next door and the cops being aware and watching them, but the neighbours not knowing.

[Anima]

I've started reading this book, and it has already gripped my interest. I agree with your thoughts and observation, Karen. I hope for some rebelious movement to show up. And I would also like the child molesters to be turned blue, I have to kids and I'm constantly worried for their safety, so it would be important to know the dangers around better.

I have a feeling that Hannah is another heroine that is of strong character and independent way of thinking, but due to those traits, she has difficulties to adjust to the social expectations.

[Karen ⊰✿]

Yes, I think when you have kids it is hard not to worry about that kind of thing! I like Hannah so far. The book has really got my attention to, even though it is quite uncomfortable to read sometimes!

[Karen ⊰✿]

Part two

-Billy Sikes as the name for the gatehouse guard and oompa loompas. I'm guessing this is a near-future dystopia

-so glad her father collected her! I thought this was a beautiful scene and he explained her mother's absence well

-Aidan has organised for her to go to the Straight Path Centre but I think it is out of fear. If he cuts her loose completely he may be scared she will expose him

-Straight Path Centre is a crazy place! and Mrs Henley is so cruel and manipulative. And the "enlightener" urgh! The whole concept of creating, naming and carrying the dolls around just made me sick. No wonder Anne Marie went crazy

- I really hope we learn more about Bridget as she is leaving that centre soon. I think there is more to her than meets the eye

- I wonder if Hannah will be able to find Kayla? Cole is "more protective" now that Becca is pregnant. I don't think she will find a warm welcome there

- Was Hannah telling the truth that Aidan didn't know about the pregnancy and abortion? That may make me feel a *little* differently about him (but not much! He is still a coward and a letch)

[Savanes]

I just started so I'm trying not to read your observations... :D
So far I like it!

[Karen ⊰✿]

You'll just have to finish all of part one ;)

[Karen ⊰✿]

Part 3 and 4

I really liked these sections. Anymore time in the Striaght Path Centre and I don't think I could have continued. That place was nasty!!

What I liked about these sections was the descriptions of the world she is in and how it came that way. I also liked the fast pace and twists and turns.

The thing that I am finding frustrating about the book is how *everyone* in society seems to be a bad person. Even Stanton who is meant to be a "good guy" has this Hansel & Gretel thing going on

[Karen ⊰✿]

Part 5 and the end

(view spoiler)[ Part 5 is where the book totally jumped the shark for me. The whole love scene with Simone was completely from left field and I felt like it was a cheap attempt at sensationalism by the author although I'm sure she would justify it as Hannah "finding her independence"

Moving on to Simone then giving her the car and allowing her to drive herself??? Completely out of line with Simone's character to that point who was quite harsh and cold hearted. Huge risk to her and her 'organisation' to allow Hannah to go.
And a massive plot hole that she could use her emails and not be traced. What??!!

And I was VERY annoyed that she then went to meet Aidan. And he goes on TV denouncing melachroming and admitting his affair! What the? Of course people will put 2&2 together! Urgh. The whole book from that love scene with Simone on annoyed the pants off me.
Meanwhile Hannah is free and her sister is getting the crap beaten out of her, and her father is worried for her life, and Kayla is who-knows-where fragging out she doesn't care, she just wants to have sex with Aidan again. Blah.
Ok, that was cathartic! lol! (hide spoiler)]

[Lynn, Moderator]

Karen wrote: (view spoiler)["I also liked the fast pace and twists and turns."

That's one of the main reasons I loved this book, I never knew what was going to happen and where the author was taken us in the story.

"The whole love scene with Simone was completely from left field and I felt like it was a cheap attempt at sensationalism by the author although I'm sure she would justify it as Hannah "finding her independence"

Yeah, that was definitely a WTF moment for me and agree that it just didn't sit right. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿]

It was a 4 star book for me until part 5. Now I'm deciding between 2 and 3. Very disappointing!

[Savanes]

I totally agree (view spoiler)[Hannah and Simone?? WTF!!!!!! So out of place. However, I think it was not out of line for Simone to let her go by herself. Her coldness was just a front!

I had the same thought when she logged on to her email account. I thought some people (the Fist?) would have traced her to Aidan's or something like that.

Some of the French was also improperly used. I lived in Quebec for 3 years so I know there are some slight differences between my French and theirs but still. For instance you can say "Ma chère" or "Ma chérie" or "Chère Hannah" but not "chère" as a stand alone.

Karen, I thought Hannah was a fool to meet Aidan but I could understand that she needed to. Maybe his speech will give closure to her family.To me, Hannah having sex with Aidan was not about lust and sex but more about survival, forgiveness and closure. I even think that she cared deeply about Kayla. She was the first person she asked about after regaining consciousness.

I was frustrated by not knowing what would happen to all the protagonists: Hannah's family and Kayla. I imagine Hannah will try to save her sister once she's settled (that's how I want to imagine it).

What I was not frustrated about was that this book is not a series. Lately it seems like authors can only write trilogies. So annoying!!!
(hide spoiler)].
This is still a 3.5 to 4 stars for me. :)

[Karen ⊰✿]

@Vanessa
(view spoiler)[ I don't agree that Simone would let her go by herself. She wasn't as cold as we first thought, but this is the same woman who would not hesitate to kill anyone for her cause. The risk of Hannah being caught means she put Hannah's desires above those of her cause. I just can't see that happening. There were a number of these kinds of inconsistencies:
e.g. - Simone said she was not safe out of the van as they needed the protection of the van, not just the ring to block the signal, so she had to sleep in the van on her trip, but then Hannah stays the night at Aidan's house and no-one tracks her
- The cops are apparently looking for Hannah, but they don't trace her accessing her email account
- The entire book Hannah is opposed to homosexuality, but then suddenly has sex with a woman. There are plenty of ways to understand sexuality without having a lesbian encounter. I still can't decide if that is the writer's ignorance or an attempt at "shock"
So add the language error you spotted into this, and it doesn't surprise me!!

Then you have the author making us invest in characters like her family and Kayla (and even Paul/Vincent) and then we don't get to know anything about them at the end apart from a throw-away line about Kayla.

I agree it is nice to read a stand-alone book, but she has left this wide open to easily do a series. And I probably would have enjoyed it a bit more if I knew there was another book coming to explain some things. However, the inconsistencies and language errors should have been picked up by the editor so that is disapointing. (hide spoiler)]

I think I will end up with 3 stars.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm so far behind with my reading! I have a bunch of books going right now, but picked this one up because I'm "supposed" to be reading it and I've been looking forward to it. I only read about the first ten pages and now I want to put my other books aside to finish it! I'm looking forward to it even more than before, but I really need to finish some of the books I have going, so I'll be adding to the conversation late.

[Savanes]

Kristie wrote: "I'm so far behind with my reading! I have a bunch of books going right now, but picked this one up because I'm "supposed" to be reading it and I've been looking forward to it. I only read about the..."

I know the feeling Kristie!!!

[Karen ⊰✿]

lol it happens Kristie! Atleast it is a pretty fast read :)

[Sheri]

just got this today as an ebook from the library! behind schedule, but looking forward to actually reading at the same time as others for once!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sheri - I just started last night too. :)

[Sheri]

the end was really disappointing for me. I wish 5hey had played up the whole society, culture, and the stigma of the punishment, and even the whole sex trade/slavery of escapees. I think this book had serious potential, but the last 20% or so really just bombed.