The Diviners (The Diviners #1) by Libba Bray → Start Date: TBD

[Mandiann]

It's good. A bit slow moving and very descriptive but it helps you really get a feel of the characters and setting.

[Jess]

@Mandiann, I'm about 300 pages in. I agree that it's a little slow moving, but all the characters are really well developed. And the author seems to have done a lot of research. The book's just jam packed with 20's lingo, and events in the background ((view spoiler)[like tension with immigrants, and the communist revolution in Russia. (hide spoiler)])I'm impressed, although sometimes it feels like too much.

[Jess]

I just finished. I really liked it. But it was a little long for a book that is a part of a series. I could tell at the end that Bray had left some storylines dangling so they could be picked up in the sequel. And it looks like the sequel is set to be released later this year. Yay!
Here are my thoughts on the book.

Evie: (view spoiler)[ What an interesting character! I'm so used to female protagonists of YA novels being shy and intellectual and the stories being about them gaining confidence and growing up. But Evie is boisterous and mischievous, who has a good heart. This is a fresh change for me, and I liked it. (hide spoiler)]

Jericho: (view spoiler)[ I really liked him. I don't really like love triangles. I find that most authors use them when they want to hike up drama, and they don't feel very natural. But I found myself rooting for Jericho.
I was really surprised that he was a cyborg (I guess that's what you'd call him.) I fully expected him to be a Diviner, but he has no supernatural powers, just scientific ones. Or does he? Maybe he has some healing ability that lets him keep his implants and not reject them? I was really glad that Evie and him had a nice moment at the end of the book. But I think her feelings for Sam are going to complicate matters. (hide spoiler)]

James: (view spoiler)[ What was up with the cliffhanger about James? Is he haunting Evie? Is he good or evil? And how awful of Evie's Mother to wish Evie had died instead of James! (hide spoiler)]

Sam: (view spoiler)[ I was not a huge fan of Sam. He seems interesting on his own, and I'd like him if he wasn't one side of the main love triangle. (hide spoiler)]

Theta and Henry: (view spoiler)[ Such an interesting pair. It was great that they supported each other so much, and it was awesome that Bray included hints about Henry's love life. I'd have liked to see more of him that was separate from Theta though. Maybe in the next book? (hide spoiler)]

Memphis: (view spoiler)[ His story on it's own was really creepy, especially with his younger brother spouting creepy prophecies. I like that it connected with our main group by having him fall for Theta, but why did he have to be kept so separate for most of the book? I'd like to see him interact with Sam and Evie. (hide spoiler)]

I'm really looking forward to the next book. Bray's left a lot of juicy story threads hanging, and I hope she picks them up.

[Kathy]

Hopefully I will get to this one either tonight or tomorrow! :)

[Vicki]

I'm not sure I can get started on it yet. My focus needs to be on the challenges. I need to do one book for the Copycat and 2 for the #2 Triathlon, so those have to be done by Friday.

[Mandiann]

I am moving quite slowly with this one....

[Vicki]

Me too, Mandiann, as in haven't opened the book yet. LOL

[Mandiann]

LOL!!! I haven't picked it up in almost a week. Still sitting at 27%.

[Vicki]

That makes me feel better! I just have to finish my challenge books or I'll feel too guilty.

[Kathy]

Me too! lol!!
I have 2 to finish for the triatholon challenge, 1 for the copycat and 2 left for the read the day of your birth challenge.
So I'm good to wait for this one too! :D

[Vicki]

Haha!!!!

[Kathy]

lol!! :D

[Mandiann]

I am still paused but hope to get through another 6 hrs tomorrow and be 2/3 done.

[Vicki]

I am just so behind to try to start this monstrosity yet!

[Mandiann]

I know, it's so huge!! The audiobook is over 18 hours.

[Vicki]

Haha! I like audiobooks except that I hear bits and pieces! 30 minute drive to babysit, 5 min drive to school (work), 10 min drive to church, etc. I can't ever listen for an hour at a time.

I wonder how many hours it would take to read it. Lol

[Mandiann]

I find reading quicker than audio but I love listening to audio while cleaning. Tomorrow I am putting another coat of paint up and have lots of cleaning so I should be able to get quite a few hours in.

[Vicki]

Are you painting the inside of your house? What color? Sounds fun!

[Mandiann]

Right now I am painting a bedroom lime green. It will be my sewing room until we need it for something else. Next is the spare bedroom which will be grey. After that I want to tackle the dining room but not decided on a colour yet. We bought and moved in June 2012 but everything was freshly painted white-ish. Finally adding colours!!

[Vicki]

It sounds like a lovely variety of colors. You are a seamstress? That's so cool!

[Mandiann]

No, I am not very good with creating clothing. I prefer fixing it, small alterations, quilting...nothing too complex.

[Vicki]

Quilting is a wonderful craft. I used to sew and crochet and lint but not anymore.

[Mandiann]

Lint?

I can crochet but I prefer knitting to crocheting.

[Vicki]

Sorry, knit. Lol

[Mandiann]

What made you decide to stop?

[Vicki]

I went thru a divorce, went to college, raising five kids as a single parent, so got too busy.

[Mandiann]

Understandable. My mom was a single parent and I know she didn't really have any spare time for herself and there were only two of us.

I don't knit very much anymore but used to knit all the time in college. If I didn't keep my hands busy I would fall asleep, so knitting was the perfect solution.

[Vicki]

I always liked to crochet better for some reason. Maybe when I retire I will try again. Then again I might be too busy reading my 100's off books! LOL

[Mandiann]

I was really hoping to finish this before February ended but since I have over 7 hours left and it is currently 7:08PM, I guess that won't be happening.

[Vicki]

Sorry Mandiann. It's okay to just let it go!

[Mandiann]

LOL I know but....I just wanted it so bad!!!! How are you doing with your February challenges?

[Vicki]

If I didn't screw up and overlook anything, I'm doing well. I have to finish Scorpio Races tonight. I didn't follow through on the NA thread. I just am not good keeping up with 2 groups, especially while I'm working!

[Mandiann]

I forgot I had the ebook version as well as the audio and I can read much quicker than an audiobook (although this reader is really entertaining). I have been mostly reading but listening when I canèt read and I think I just might bake it. Only 8 chapter left and one hour to go!!!

[Mandiann]

Well I did it! I finished this beast with 20 minutes to spare.

I agree with Jessica's spoiler about Memphis. I think Libba Bray was building up for the next book.

[Vicki]

YAY!!!! Congrats!!! :)

[Kathy]

Yay! Congrats Mandiann! I'm hoping to start the beginning of next week sometime! :D

[Vicki]

I have break next week so hopefully I'll get a bunch read, but the babysitting requests have already started. LOL

[Kathy]

lol! Ok, I think if we follow the schedule and read every other day or even every couple of days then we should be able to knock it out in no time! :D

[Kathy]

I will post it again so we don't have to keep going to the first page all the time! :D

Day 1: A Late-Summer Evening - The Hearts of Men
Day 2: Things Not Said - Life and Death
Day 3: The House on the Hill - The Tombs
Day 4: Pack Up Your Troubles - Everything Will Be Fine
Day 5: A Goodly Heritage - Sitting on Top of the World

[Kathy]

Have you started this one Vicki?

[Vicki]

Haha! Kathy, I'd love to say yes, but I can't.

I'm off this week so I'll do as much as I can with as many books as I can. I have to start Just One Year because I have to return it on Tuesday.

[Kathy]

ok, sounds good.
I hope you like that one! I loved it! :D

[Vicki]

I just got home from seeing Lauren Oliver and looked at your proposed reading schedule. It looks perfect. I just have to figure out how to read these pages, finish Insurgent by Monday, Just One Year by Tuesday, and the Pick-a-Winner by next Saturday plus......lol

[Mandiann]

Ooops!! I forgot about Pick my a Winner. Not sure how I am going to finish in time...ugh.

[Vicki]

I hear ya Mandiann! I'm supposed to serve in our nursery at church today and (hate to say this) I don't want to because I CAN'T READ! Lol But I will serve and then pray and ask God to intervene and give me extra speed! Lol

[Kathy]

I know! I have Catching Jordan sitting next to me for my Pick me a Winner book! And I work Sat! And we have the movie night book too! lol!! :D

[Vicki]

Isn't the pick me a winner only they the 15th?

[Kathy]

yep it ends on the 15th. :\

[Vicki]

Yeah, I just need more hours in my days or for my eyelids to stay open longer. LOL

[Kathy]

I know right lol! :)