February 2016 Group Read: 14 by Peter Clines

[Ms. Nikki]

This is the place to discuss this month's group read.

Percentages or page numbers are helpful when referencing a certain passage.

Please be polite and use spoiler tags when necessary.

Enjoy the read!

[Kimberly]

I ordered it; will start in a week or so....

[Shaun]

I got it, waiting until the 1st to start.

[Maple]

I've ordered my book. I am so excited about this!

[[deleted user]]

I've had this one on my Kindle for quite a while so I'm in.

[Adam]

I read this last year. I loved it!

[Nospin]

I read and listened to this book.
It's great!

[Latasha]

i have the audiobook. I may re-listen to it.

[Zach]

Started today.

[Amanda]

Just got this, will probably start when finished book currently reading.

[Vicki Willis]

I recently listened to this on audible. It was great. I got lots of extra time on the elliptical because I couldn't put it down.

[Jia]

Haven't joined any group read for a while, let's start again with this one, will also try to get the audio version.

[Bill]

Lot's of nude sunbathing too.

[Shaun]

I'm liking this one so far.

For some reason, the party where everyone just talked "at" each other just tickled me.

Lots of mystery so far, tinged with a bit of humor and all the characters are fairly different and separate.

I can't wait to see what's behind those locked doors or what's up with the roaches. I'm eagerly anticipating that it's not going to be pretty.

[[deleted user]]

Started this one on audio tonight while cooking dinner. Reading the physical copy (Thank You, Library) in the evening. I also have the Kindle for my daily travels.

I like the little bits of artwork that's throughout the text. The narrator is pretty good. He does voices well, even female voices, but he reads so slowly. I'm speeding up the narration to 1.5x so I'll be able to get through it this month.

[Kimberly]

Just got mine!!

[[deleted user]]

Shaun wrote: "Lots of mystery so far, tinged with a bit of humor and all the characters are fairly different and separate."

Last year I read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I mention this because the humor in 14 feels so similar. The humor is quite snarky and that makes it entertaining.

Shaun wrote: "I can't wait to see what's behind those locked doors or what's up with the roaches. I'm eagerly anticipating that it's not going to be pretty."

(Up to Chapter 13) (view spoiler)[There's no electrical lines going into the building. This has probably been more mysterious to me than the fact that one apartment has no doorknob and it's never rented and another apartment can't maintain a tenant for longer than the six-month lease. Yeah. This has me intrigued. (hide spoiler)]

[Troy]

I hope to start this tonight. Looking forward to it.

[Michael]

I really wanted to like this one when I read it and did for the first half of the book. Then not so much and the ending completely came off the rails for me.

[Amanda]

Really enjoying this so far, at 22% in. Loving the mystery of what's going on. I genuinely don't know where this one is going!

[Kimberly]

Just started today, but good so far. :)

[[deleted user]]

Up to Chapter 22: (view spoiler)[I'm nervous at this point. While I'm drawn to the story, and the suspense that this group of characters wants to investigate the building, I can't help but think this will not turn out well. They're going to get into trouble. I just have a hunch. (hide spoiler)]

The audiobook is so well done. I could gush, annoyingly, but I won't. It's amazing. That is all.

[Melissa]

Got this party started this morning! Two hours into the audiobook and I'm totally into it...too bad I've got to wait until tonight's commute to return to it!

[Shaun]

Up to Chapter 24. I love the Scooby-Doo reference. It's been a long time since I read a book with so many little details that were actually well-worked into the story. Lots of people either go too heavy with pop culture references, or don't use any.

I'm really looking forward to finding out more about what's going on, and wondering what Oskar has to do with it.

[Kimberly]

I'm really enjoying all the "little" details so far--it's making me think about the house, when I'm NOT reading it.... So far, so good.

[[deleted user]]

Kimberly wrote: "I'm really enjoying all the "little" details so far--it's making me think about the house, when I'm NOT reading it.... So far, so good."

With all the detail on the building as you say, Kimberly, has me questioning my sanity to choose to read this and House of Leaves in the same month. Too many weird buildings to try and wrap my head around.

[Maxine Marsh]

I'm in for this one! Hopefully I'll be able to start it soon and catch up a bit.

[Katy]

Liz wrote: "Shaun wrote: "Lots of mystery so far, tinged with a bit of humor and all the characters are fairly different and separate."

Last year I read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. I men..."

Lots of set-up going on so far. Each unit has individual lay-outs and oddities, but can't beat that rent (and with utilities included!) Love the huge chandelier and keep thinking it's going to be responsible for something terrible...

And the bright green mutant cockroaches that don't appear to eat...what will THEY be feeding on? Hmmmm...

[[deleted user]]

Up to Chapter 44: (view spoiler)[Here is where I begin to get confused by some of the, what feels like, unnecessary dialogue. We have a bunch of characters that are descending into an unknown "cave" and they decide to chit chat about their lives. Maybe it will all make sense and present itself crucial later on, but I can't help but want them all to just shut up and get on with the hike. I want more description of why it's getting hotter and not colder, the smells, the sounds, etc. Note, this is just my personal feelings on the forward movement of the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

I just got it on my kindle last night and now I can't stop reading it.... Very intriguing story! Makes me wish I could be there in person to help them crack the mystery of this old building... lol

[Amanda]

Just finished 14 and absolutely loved it! Made me want to read more Peter Cline, going to pick up The Fold. 14 was a brilliantly surprising, well written 5 star read for me.

[Kimberly]

24%---it seems to be a very fast read. (view spoiler)[ Now that some of the tenants are getting together and sharing the oddities that they've noticed about the apartment building, things are picking up. The cockroaches are something that I hope we eventually get an explanation on.... (hide spoiler)]

[Katy]

Monika wrote: "I just got it on my kindle last night and now I can't stop reading it.... Very intriguing story! Makes me wish I could be there in person to help them crack the mystery of this old building... lol"

Yeah, this is one story line that I kind of wish I could be a part of...at least so far. I'm about 60% in. Of course, that may change.

[[deleted user]]

Finished the audiobook this morning and have posted my review. I rated it 4 stars. The rip-roaring, action packed ending sealed the deal for me.

I'd definitely call this a softer horror but enjoyed it nevertheless.

[Kimberly]

I'm enjoying the "mystery" element so far. (view spoiler)[ The slow build as they discover individual things that are "wrong" about the building, really increases the tension. (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

I started the audiobook while wandering around Pasadena and the Cal Tech campus one evening last week. I think that setting added to my enjoyment of this book. I thought about driving over the hill to East Hollywood to wander around the real Kenmore Avenue for "atmosphere," but I didn't want to deal with the traffic. Lots of fun!

[[deleted user]]

Melissa wrote: "I started the audiobook while wandering around Pasadena and the Cal Tech campus one evening last week. I think that setting added to my enjoyment of this book. I thought about driving over the hill to East Hollywood to wander around the real Kenmore Avenue for "atmosphere," but I didn't want to deal with the traffic. Lots of fun! "

That seems so intriguing to me, going to the places where your book takes place. I would suspect it does add to the atmosphere of the story.

[Shaun]

Just over 40% in now, and while I'm still greatly enjoying it, the slowness is getting to me a bit. Liking all the characters, the mystery, and the pop-culture references are just right for me, but there really isn't any sense of dread yet.

(view spoiler)[ So far, the padlocked doors and the blood on the wall are the only things that hint that something really bad is going on. But the doors haven't rattled, and I have to agree with Tim that the fact the blood is likely 100 years old negates any tension it might have created. (hide spoiler)]

[Monika]

I finished it yesterday and rated it 4 stars. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end... the mystery of the closed doors... the suspense throughout... and wow, what an ending!

[Taylor]

Liz wrote: " The audiobook is so well done. I could gush, annoyingly, but I won't. It's amazing. That is all."

Liz, I totally agree! After I read 14, I started looking for books he narrated so I could listen to him read me a book again. I was ecstatic when I found out Ray Porter was the narrator on Peter Cline's latest book, The Fold.

Amanda wrote: "Just finished 14 and absolutely loved it! Made me want to read more Peter Cline, going to pick up The Fold. 14 was a brilliantly surprising, well written 5 star read for me."

Amanda, if you need a buddy for The Fold, I'm in. :)

[Diane]

Just starting it, I like the idea of this book.

[Maple]

I finally got my copy! Getting mail to Alaska is such a struggle some weeks. Regardless, I just read the opening teaser and I'm so excited!!!!! First impressions have me thinking of a mash up between House and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Ooohhhh!

[Katy]

Monika wrote: "I finished it yesterday and rated it 4 stars. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end... the mystery of the closed doors... the suspense throughout... and wow, what an ending!"

I'm getting close to the end at 80%. It's starting to pull together. Love the reason for Lovecraft being included...and the person I was suspicious of turned out to be the right person to be suspicious of...

[Wayne's]

I loved the Lovecraft angle I didn't expect that.

[Kimberly]

Almost finished! (view spoiler)[ I loved how they included Lovecraft and the "inspiration" for his stories! I felt that really took this "mystery" into the next level! (hide spoiler)]

[Maple]

Just surpassed the 1/2 way point. Gah! I can feel the tension building. I'm on the verge of forgoing sleep just to continue on.

[Kimberly]

Manda wrote: "Just surpassed the 1/2 way point. Gah! I can feel the tension building. I'm on the verge of forgoing sleep just to continue on."

That's about where I continued and finished the book practically!!

[Katy]

Kimberly wrote: "Almost finished! [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, the Lovecraft (view spoiler)[ really helped that transition. And our main character got a job out of the whole mess. <\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Maple]

I just finished this, but have to admit that I was a bit underwhelmed. I love Lovecraftian things, but I wasn't prepared for that in this book. Okay, maybe a little prepares after reading group comments, but not to the extent that it was. I don't read reviews before jumping into a book, so based solely of the synopsis I was expecting something dark and terrifying lurking in the apartment building.

Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, my expectations were just different from what I was reading.

[Zach]

Just finished this morning and rated 4 stars. I really liked the mystery at the beginning and it kept me wanting to read more. The Lovecraft connection was fun but the last act didn't really work for me. Still a good read though.