Between Shades of Gray - Feb 1st 2016

[Kristie, Moderator]

Haven't gotten to this one yet today. I will though!

[Lynn, Moderator]

End of 73:

(view spoiler)[So my hunch about her father and helping Joana and her family (confirmed it's his brother) looks to be correct (hide spoiler)]

[Savanes]

i hate that the app removes the spoilers. so inconvenient!

[Lynn, Moderator]

Savanes wrote: "i hate that the app removes the spoilers. so inconvenient!"

There is so many things wrong with the app, I never use it. I always switch to desktop.

[Savanes]

I tried but it keeps bringing me back to the app!!!

[Lynn, Moderator]

End of 75:

(view spoiler)[So do we think Papa is dead? They could be lying to her but ...... I do think this will be the end of her Mother though, I think she'll lose the fight to live (hide spoiler)]

[Lynn, Moderator]

Chapter 80 and the tissues are out :(

[Lynn, Moderator]

End of Chapter 84:

(view spoiler)[I actually gasped! Nikolai Kretzsky, you bloody beauty! (hide spoiler)]

[Lynn, Moderator]

Finished with tears streaming down my face ..... way too many emotions (good and bad) through those last few chapters for me to cope with!

Make sure you read the Authors Note

[Kristie, Moderator]

Just finished. SO glad I read this book. It was so good.

Lynn re: your last couple of spoilers (view spoiler)[ I thought just like you that Elena would give up hope if she believed her husband was dead and figured that's why he told her he was dead, regardless if it was true.

Yay, Nikoli! He was doing what he had to to survive, but hating every minute of it. He really did want to help when he could. (hide spoiler)]

The author's note was really interesting. The author read it herself in the audio version and broke down at the end. It was really sad.

I'll definitely read more of her books!

[Lynn, Moderator]

What did you think of bald man in the end? (view spoiler)[I have to say when he went to Elena and told her she could fight this and had to think of her kids, it got to me.
And he did let everyone meet at his place all the time, including hosting Lina's birthday party.
He obviously did have a heart under that grumpy exterior, it was just covered in a lot of guilt :/ (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie, Moderator]

Lynn wrote: "What did you think of bald man in the end? I have to say when he went to Elena and told her she could fight this and had to think of her kids, it got to me.
And he did let everyone meet at his pla..."

(view spoiler)[ I thought he was annoying, but he did do things throughout the book that showed he had some morals at least, such as refusing to eat Elena's piece of ham on the train. I think he had a lot of guilt and he also probably thought he was being a realist.

I loved Jonas and Andrius. <3 They were awesome. (hide spoiler)]

[Lynn, Moderator]

Woke up this morning still thinking about the book. You know, there's some much more story to tell, there could quite easily be a sequel.

[Kristie, Moderator]

There could be. I am always a bit concerned with sequels for books like this though. I think she should let it be.

[Angela M]

I'm also a bit leery about sequels too . Sometimes they are just not as good when the book is as good as this one . I am , though, interested in reading Gulag Archipelago, by Solzhenitsyn some time. It bothers me that I really knew practically nothing about these work camps .

[Matthew]

I am glad everyone is enjoying this. It is a hard but important story. I think this buddy read may have started in part because of some comments I made in another feed - so I am pleased that it is being well received.

It's kind of amazing how that all works these days. I saw this on the shelf in the library (I wasn't even looking for it, it just caught my eye) - I knew nothing about it except I occasionally saw it on Goodreads feeds and that people stressed that it is not a part that other "shades of" series. Now, months later, because I randomly picked this up, read it, and talked about it on Goodreads, lots of people around the world are getting a chance to discover it to!

[Vicki Willis]

Lynn wrote: "Chapter 18 and 19:
Not surprising but the baby died :(

I bloody loved Andrius and his reaction to the bald man, you tell him!

Totally got a soft spot for her little brother Jonas, such a sweet b..."

At chapter 19
Yes... I was totally wondering about (view spoiler)[the handerchief and how it is going to work, but loved how her father gave her the idea of finding her through her art. I am sure this is focus her during the horrible times to come. (Since she earlier said it was the last time she would look into a mirror for 10 years).
The brother is so very sweet. So sweet I am scared something horrible will happen to him. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki Willis]

Ok, had to walk the dogs before SuperBowl and now I am at Chap. 34...

(view spoiler)[ Yes, wondering where it is going with Lina and Andrius. Will there be enough time for something to develop? I am thinking maybe not, because something will happen to him and he will always be her "first love".
Ona is probably better off because her grief was too much, but the description about her body and the body of the baby! UGH! (see I have good vocab too. lol)
To translate or not to translate.... hmmmm... Nothing good can come of it, but what a mother would do for her children...
One last thing: Is anyone wondering about the blonde haired guard? He turned around when the women were undressing, right? And he has been referred to a couple times. Is he having a conflict about the lack of humanity his job requires?? (hide spoiler)]
I already recommended this book to my Mom. She would love it too.

[Lynn, Moderator]

Stephanie wrote: "Hi, not officially part of this BR, but started today and am on Chapter 51. The book is so sad, but great that it is hard to put down."

Glad you're enjoying it Stephanie, keep coming back to give us your thoughts :)

[Lynn, Moderator]

Vicki wrote: "UGH! (see I have good vocab too. lol)"

Glad we understand each other Vicki ;)

[Matthew]

Vicki wrote: "(view spoiler)[Yes, wondering where it is going with Lina and Andrius. Will there be enough time for something to develop? I am thinking maybe not, because something will happen to him and he will always be her "first love". (hide spoiler)]"

I liked how they approached this. It would have been easy for a "romance" to seem cheesy and inappropriate in a story like this. But, she wrote it perfectly. Those emotions are there, and can't be ignored, but in that scenario they are not going to be the same as they are in a 2010's teen suburban romance.

[Martha☀]

I finished reading it on the weekend and awarded 3 stars. I found the history of the Baltic countries fascinating and wondered why I knew so little of their WW2 atrocities but I disliked the YA retelling of the story, finding the teenaged character too self-absorbed to be a reliable narrator for the situation.
I have enjoyed reading your feedback along the way but wasn't as caught up in it as many others were.
Here is my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kristie, Moderator]

Martha - She wasn't my favorite character in the story. I remember thinking at certain times that she was annoying me, but compared to other YA characters she was pretty good. If I imagine myself going through something like that at her age, I probably would have been more annoying, so I figure I'll give her a break. lol I really loved some of the other characters though.

[Vicki Willis]

I keep forgetting to remember what chapter I am on. I am about 75% I think.
I am thinking... (view spoiler)[they have just been taken to the arctic circle. How anyone can survive there, much less without food and shelter, I have no idea.
I am SO curious about the blonde haired guard and how he went with them but had words with the commander about something. I don't know if he is good and is going to help them.
I was so sad when she had to leave Andrius. I don't think she will ever see him again. I agree that the word he told her that she didn't know was "I love you".
I also agree about her stealing the file and how that was pointless. I don't think she will be able to do anything with that information. (hide spoiler)]
I see your point Martha about the YA type character conflicting with the seriousness of the subject matter. I am able to get past that, but DO want to learn more about this history topic after I am done with the book.

[Vicki Willis]

Lynn wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Just finished chapter 68, what a place to end! "

Kristie - If you've seen my previous post, I've already looked up what An..."

OOOH, lol I considered doing that, but because I am on audible I didn't know how to spell it!!!!!!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Vicki wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Just finished chapter 68, what a place to end! "

Kristie - If you've seen my previous post, I've already looked up what An..."

OOOH, lol I considered doing that, but because I am on audible I didn't know how to spell it!!!!!! "

Hahaha..I had the same problem. Good thing Lynn could look it up.

[Lynn, Moderator]

Glad to be of use ;)

[Vicki Willis]

Ok I finished today. Thought it was such a great book.
I loved that (view spoiler)[Andrius gave her the stone when she left. Also, that the bald man redeemed his grumpiness at the end. And also that Nikoli showed his human side and helped at the end. (hide spoiler)]
The author's note was ver interesting.
The only thing that bothered me was (view spoiler)[the suddeness of the ending. That after the last scene she was there for like 10 more years. We dont know what happened or how her time there ended. We know she ended up with Andrius but none of the events that got her there. I guess I wanted.more. (hide spoiler)]
A great read overall!

[Lynn, Moderator]

Vicki - RE your second spoiler, (view spoiler)[that's exactly why I said there was so much more for a second a book (hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

The author was interviewed on NPR this morning on her new book Salt to the Sea: http://www.npr.org/2016/02/17/4669241...

[Vicki Willis]

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "The author was interviewed on NPR this morning on her new book Salt to the Sea: http://www.npr.org/2016/02/17/4669241......"

I will have to listen to that when I have a minute. But is this like a companion to Shades with this story including Joanna's story? The description didn't read like that, but someone told me that? (sorry if the interview answers that quesion... :) I probably should listen to it before posting!)

[Kristie, Moderator]

I hadn't heard that, Vicki. I need to watch the interview when I gave a moment too. I want to read Salt to the Sea.

[Vicki Willis]

This one may be a good buddy read if we can all get the book soon.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Vicki - There is a nurse Joana on the ship and Lina's Joanne wanted to be a doctor, so it sounds similar. However, Between Shades of Gray starts in 1941 and Salt to the Sea starts is set in 1945. I'm not sure it would be the same girl. Though both stories are based on true events from the author's family history, so it's possible.

I'd love to do a buddy read of Salt to the Sea, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Vicki - I just saw that someone asked Ruta Sepetys on the Salt to the Sea book page about Joana on the ship and she said that yes, it is Lina's cousin!

[Vicki Willis]

Wow! Ok, then it is a must read. lol I just don't know when... Let me know if/when you are planning on reading it!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I will! Looking forward to it. :) I'll post in the buddy read thread. I'm thinking it might not be until May though, if you're ok with that.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Vicki - I should be able to get the audio from my library in April, if you want to read Salt to the Sea then? Would you like me to post in the buddy read thread to see if anyone wants to join us?

Lynn - Will you be joining us?

[Vicki Willis]

Yes, April would be great. Make the thread. I am sure some others would like to join too.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Excellent!

[Kristie, Moderator]

The thread is here for the Salt to the Sea buddy read. I set the date for April 7. Let me know if you need me to change it.