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The Reading Rebels! discussion
The Accident Season - October
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Chapters 16-19
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Everyone gave a general opinion, I'm not pretty sure if I can write about specifics, but I did NOT see that coming! It was really good, although I think it never explained if the accident season will keep happening, so many things happened to them when Elsie was gone just for month, what's going to happen without her there? And I'm beyond excited about Sam and Cara <3 I love them together
This book--I can't even! What an insanely amazing take on such a relevant topic (not saying what, cause, you know, spoilers). The story and characters had me hooked from the beginning, and I couldn't stop turning those pages. Without The Reading Rebels this book would have passes me by, because I'm a wimp and anything even remotely spooky sends me cowering under the bed and sleeping with the lights one. I would have missed out--I would have so missed out--on one of the most incredible books I've read this year! Amazing debut novel!
Almarys wrote: "Everyone gave a general opinion, I'm not pretty sure if I can write about specifics, but I did NOT see that coming! It was really good, although I think it never explained if the accident season wi..."I agree, I did not see any of it coming which is a very good thing. Usually you can guess where the author is going with the plot and the twists. In the case of TAS - nope, not at all. I don't know how you feel, but to me it seemed like the disappearance of Elsie also marked a turning point for Cara and her family. It felt like a resolution, like an end actually. I felt like they just had to remember to make it stop.
Sandra wrote: "Almarys wrote: "Everyone gave a general opinion, I'm not pretty sure if I can write about specifics, but I did NOT see that coming! It was really good, although I think it never explained if the ac..."Definitely agree with you Sandra! I think unraveling the mystery of Elsie and who she was helped the family come to terms with all their secrets and face their demons. The whole thing was cathartic especially when they tore down all the padding from the house.
So is the accident season actually a period where the family became really accident prone or was it just one month without Elsie's protection? Because a lot of the accidents turned out to not be accidents. And now that Elsie's gone, I think they can just go on living normally, and having accidents like other people, without the added paranoia.
Meredith Mara wrote: "This book--I can't even! What an insanely amazing take on such a relevant topic (not saying what, cause, you know, spoilers). The story and characters had me hooked from the beginning, and I couldn..."I couldn't believe it when you told me this was a debut novel! It was so incredibly written. The story just flowed so well; I'm used to reading fantasy novels that are really fast-paced and constantly dramatic and this felt refreshingly gentle in comparison - yet even more gripping. I really felt a part of these characters' world and their emotions. There are so many gorgeous descriptions and insightful moments and lovely little motifs that keep popping up in really clever and natural ways. I just kept thinking... 'Beautiful'. I felt so inspired after reading this novel; I just want to try and write my own 'real life fantasy' (I don't know what else to call it! Anyone else know??)
Lara wrote: "Meredith Mara wrote: "This book--I can't even! What an insanely amazing take on such a relevant topic (not saying what, cause, you know, spoilers). The story and characters had me hooked from the b..."Yes Lara, the beauty of how it was written gripped me as well. It has definitely aspects of magical realism (although not exclusively), so maybe call it that :)
Sandra wrote: "Lara wrote: "Meredith Mara wrote: "This book--I can't even! What an insanely amazing take on such a relevant topic (not saying what, cause, you know, spoilers). The story and characters had me hook..."I want to reread it and make a note of every perfect turn of phrase or gorgeous metaphor! I especially LOVED all the scenes with the changeling siblings. I find it so interesting how the author could balance the appearance of magic with the possibility of it all being in Cara's head, as her poor suppressed memories fought to the surface. I really wasn't sure - right to the end. I actually think it may have been more powerful if it stayed ambiguous... What does everyone else think?
Lara wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Lara wrote: "Meredith Mara wrote: "This book--I can't even! What an insanely amazing take on such a relevant topic (not saying what, cause, you know, spoilers). The story and charact..."In the beginning I liked thinking that it was possible the changelings were real and living in a parallel world alongside with Cara and the others. I think it would have been really cool if it stayed more ambiguous, as a fantasy lover, I'm all for the possibility of magic bleeding into real life haha.
WOW! This book that started of with us asking 'what is the accident season?", "how did it start?", "why does it exist?". Went into something entirely else, it was about secrets and past demons and love and hate and monsters and fantasy. I feel like I'm just going to ramble right now, but it was really... I just made you think a lot and in such a complicated, yet simple way. I don't know how to express myself. It was definitely a really special book.
So glad I read this book. Amazing writing and crazy plot twists. I love that the spooky and the real world were intertwined so beautifully. I'm also glad that the character I predicted would die is not dead at the end.
Agree with all of you guys! I just finished the book and it was amazing! I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, so I was pleasantly surprised! I think my favorite thing was the writing style, haunting and beautiful! I also really enjoyed the magical realism aspect, sometimes I didn't knew if what was happening was real or not! Overall, a great read! So glad we picked this book! :)
Sandra wrote: "WOW! This book that started of with us asking 'what is the accident season?", "how did it start?", "why does it exist?". Went into something entirely else, it was about secrets and past demons and ..."I know exactly what you mean; the direction of the book was just so unexpected. There was just layer upon layer of story that was gradually peeled away to reveal the 'truth' (just like the wrappings in the house were peeled away at the end). There is just something so freeing and satisfying about that. And also more relatable perhaps than if it had just been a pure fantasy book. I think we can all relate in some way to the idea of past secrets and buried memories affecting and impacting our present and poisoning our experiences (though hopefully not to this extent).
That's another element of this story that I loved: the secrets booth. What a genius and beautiful idea! Do you think schools should provide this kind of thing for kids? Do you think it would be helpful? Would you type something in Elsie's typewriter??
Lara wrote: "Sandra wrote: "WOW! This book that started of with us asking 'what is the accident season?", "how did it start?", "why does it exist?". Went into something entirely else, it was about secrets and p..."Yes I would for sure put loads of notes in the secret booth! I wrote that in the other thingy as well, just felt like answering hehe. The idea is fantastic and probably my favorite part of the book. I wish it was real. And yes, I think it would be helpful as well!
Lara wrote: "Sandra wrote: "WOW! This book that started of with us asking 'what is the accident season?", "how did it start?", "why does it exist?". Went into something entirely else, it was about secrets and p..."I definitely think they should! It would be especially helpful to those who don't have anyone to talk to. And I would totally write up some secrets on Elsie's typewriter! I think it's a great way to get things off your chest.
Cherry wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Almarys wrote: "Everyone gave a general opinion, I'm not pretty sure if I can write about specifics, but I did NOT see that coming! It was really good, although I think it never expl..."That's true some of the accidents weren't really accidents. But if you think about it, the 'accidents' kept happening even after Sam's dad was gone. They had accidents even before their mother married Sam's Dad. The only one with a real reason for the 'accidents' that kept hapenning to her was Alice. In my point of view, I still think that TAS did exist. Maybe it was a way to make them realize Elsie's absence.
Just realized I never commented on this last part of the book. Oops! For me the scariest parts of this book ended up being the very real terrors of the world (esp abuse). I have to wonder how much was actual paranormal happenings and how much was Cara and her family's way of processing and dealing with all the pain they experienced. I mean, of course Elsie had some paranormal stuff going on and her absence during October could explain the increase in accidents but Alice being abused and Sam's father explain a lot of the rest. Also, at least for me, the more I try to avoid something or I'm paying more attention to an event, the more likely it seems to happen. In the end I thought there was a really great balance between having answered some of the questions I started with and a little left over mystery.
Right! Omg it's so good, I definitely wasn't expecting any of it. I loved how the story combined magic, ghosts and reality. I'm glad that there was an explanation for the accident season after all.