David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion
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Not a Drop to Drink
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I'm in! Starting today, cheating notwithstanding.If you'd like to join the Cheater's Club, please contact David Estes at wecheatandyoucan'tstopus@cheatersunite.com.
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If you'd like to join the Cheater's Club, please contact David Estes at wecheatandyoucan'tstopus@cheatersunite.com."
Bwahahahahahaaaa!! Oh my!! I really needed that laugh!!! I'm going to go try to cheat now! Maybe I'll read the sample pages of Crewel! Muahahahaaa! :-P
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I'm really enjoying this book too, a completely positive surprise. I'm at 18%, although I risked the 3% and read your spoiler, Jenny! (view spoiler)
You know, I'm not nearly so funny in real life. Print is so much easier. It's my pleasure to be the comic relief - especially since I feel so trapped in this endless snow in the middle of nowhere. This is proving to be a difficult winter. But woot - I'm headed to San Clemente in a couple of weeks to spend time with a cousin! Can't wait to see the ocean and some sunshine.I've started but am behind you still yet (view spoiler) I love the spare, no frills writing. It's so suitable for the book. And why is the world the way it is? I'll be interested to learn about that, why all the water's been rationed.
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Yeah, that's a really good point, the writing really suits the character and plot so far. Props to the author for that! I'm hoping to get more clarity about how the world got to where it is now also, but it'll have to come from someone else since her mom's dead now and she didn't seem to tell her daughter very much about what happened.
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As for myself, I think I'm probably about the same. I don't edit a lot when I type (except for typos of course!) And like in real life, whatever is on my brain just flies out of my mouth--or fingers! A lot of time its rambling nonsense, but it seems to make people laugh anyways! And I have kind of a dirty mind, so there is always that! ;)
And I agree, I really like the style of writing in this, and that is what is helping sucking me in. Very gripping stuff so far!
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But woot - I'm headed to San Clemente in a couple of weeks to spend time with a cousin! Can't wait to see the ocean and some sunshine."
Woot woot!!! Jen and I are meeting up!!! I'm so flipping excited!!!
Chapter 9 - but I fell asleep listening last night, so I'm going to go back to Chapter 8 and listen again. For me, the funny ones are my kids. Case in point:
I corrected Mia's grammar the other day (#3, age 21, college senior) and she told me she was "smartical." Her twitter feed is hilarious.
Makaela (#5, age 18, college freshman) was wandering around my parent's house one day over Christmas, having lost her phone. She was extremely frustrated. She needed to find my husband (and it's a big house). So we heard her say "I can't find my coat, I've lost my book, I've lost my phone. And now I've lost Dad." Jenna (#4, age 19, college junior and creative writing major) was in the kitchen at the time, standing behind the counter on the other side of the breakfast bar. She leaned on her hands on the counter in a wide stance, looked at Makaela, and said "So. What'll ya have?"
See what I mean? Who are these kids? Even better is all the trash talk that happens over dominoes, when my dry-humored mom gets in on it. We should sell tickets. I'd be rich.
Honestly, I've always been the one who says what everyone else is thinking - usually to my shame and embarrassment. Oh well! We are who we are, aren't we Jenny, flaming cheeks and all! : )
AND NOW BACK TO THE BOOK - still wondering about the world building. I do like Stebbs. And Eli, what I've heard of him, I really like. (view spoiler) This story really does make you question our need for companionship/society and just what is worth living for. Lynn's resistance to her mom's wishes about going south was so interesting. We hate change, we are afraid of what is new, and yet there is something about going beyond the mundane and lonely. Mom had that perspective: why are we satisfied with defending ourselves and only the chores that keep us alive? I'm only what, 40% in and already the book is making those points. Talk about good!
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I was thinking the same points, Jen--what's the point of living if all you are doing is basic survival? I'm sure her Mom had something to live for, her daughter, but really what is the point?
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About 50%. I just love Stebbs. Great guy.I'm worried about Eli and Neva. Somebody needs to go check on them. Actually - (view spoiler)
Can't wait to see where it goes from here!
And .. . (view spoiler)
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I just mentioned in another group thread for this book how I really like two things about this book:
1) How realistic it all feels. Sort of reminds of Mike Mullin's Ashfall in this way.
2) That the author hasn't used a single plot device so far (at least in my opinion). She doesn't create drama and problems just for the sake of it; rather, every issue seems realistic and introduced at the right time, which really builds up the suspense. I'm most impressed!
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David wrote: "48%! Yeah, love Stebbs too!!! Her mother was a real paranoid reclusive, although she definitely had good reasons to be that way. But it's good to see Lynn is overcoming the instinct to be that way,..."So true! I agree on every point!
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I'm worried about Eli and Neva. Somebody needs to go check on them. Actually - [spoilers removed]
Can't wait to see where it goes from here!
And .. ...."
I read your second spoiler, I'm not quite up to that yet, but now I really want to read on to get to it, sounds hilarious!
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Lynn reminds me of Ruby from Cold Mountain. I love her character. And glad to finally find out what happened to the world. Scary scary scary.
Right now, (view spoiler)
Oh, and Jen, I liked the part after Stebbs (view spoiler)
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Karen wrote: "Finished. Am I really first? (view spoiler)
This was your kind of book, Karen. So good.
I just finished - I agree with you. I need to digest this one before I review it, but here are the words that come to me -
Spare, stark, bleak, strong, sad. Hard.
What a great story.
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I'm sure I'll have more thoughts later after I digest this a bit, but I agree, completely Jen. Those are great descriptive words for the book! Really liked this one, very gripping!
message 32:
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David, Mr. Blue Eyes; He's the Best--Ain't no lie!! ;)
(last edited Jan 20, 2014 01:51AM)
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Jen, to your question: (view spoiler)
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@Jen- all good questions, ones that each person will likely have a different answer to :) But yes, the author really does have complete control to dictate what happens and there are always other options available, as my beta readers many times point out. In The Earth Dwellers, I made a choice that I believe is the right one, but a couple of my beta readers fought me very hard on it. In the end, I ended up sticking with my decision as I felt quite strongly about it, but I did add some parts to lessen the blow and to make the hard decision I made more meaningful. For me that's the key, making every death meaningful :)
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Read this only if you've read David's The Earth Dwellers. (view spoiler)
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LOL Thanks about, The Earth Dwellers, it was so painful to write or even to think about, but there are occasionally times when writing a book that I feel as if the answer is laid before me without having to think about it. Of course, I always have a choice, but to me the right one is sometimes the hard one :(
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First off, many apologies - I don't know what I was thinking in that previous comment. I kept referring to Lucy when I meant Lynn. I went back and fixed it - David, I think you make an excellent point with your reference to Lynn's mom. In the end, I wonder if McGinnis wanted to contrast the way Lynn could have been just like her mother. (view spoiler)
But - (view spoiler)
Perhaps we forget that Eli and Lynn were only teenagers - 16? Does that make a difference?
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That's OK, Jen, I think we all understood who you were referring to from the context :) I think the age of the characters makes a massive difference. Although clearly kids mature at different ages and within the world they're born into, being 16 makes a massive difference in the level of experience and discipline you have. At the same time, Lynn was pretty unbelievable in how she managed everything that was thrown at her--she did far better than I would've done at 16, or even at 32!
This buddy read is open to everyone who would like to join in!! There are no set chapters per day, we just read at our own paces and start each post with how far along you are, i.e., Chapter #, %, using spoilers where needed. Have fun!