Falling into Place by Amy Zhang - Restarting September 2nd 2019

[Sarah Elizabeth]

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Falling into Place by Amy Zhang will be our 4th GBR for May 2016.

Please read at your own pace, and hide any spoilers ☺ You are welcome to join at any time during the month ☺

Happy Reading Everybody!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Pre-Reading Questions -

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?

[Irene]

I think I'm joining in on this one, it sounds really good! :)

[Berit☀️✨]

I have this book, and I haven't read it yet, so I will join :-)

[hello feyre]

how can i join in?

[Paige]

yes how do you join in?

[Jackie]

I will be joining this.

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Paige wrote: "yes how do you join in?"

Wang wrote: "how can i join in?"

Just comment on this thread with your thoughts about the book as you're reading it ☺

You can hide spoilers by typing <.spoiler.> without the dots ☺

[Rachael]

Ah what happened to everyone?? I will be starting this today.. I need something light and airy to get me out of my reading slump.. Hopefully this is it :)

[Rachael]

I'm loving the pace of this book!

Through chapter 30 (view spoiler)[ Liz seems to have quite a bit of bad in her life but there's a good person buried deep down.. I hope she makes it through this and can re-evaluate her life. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

I finished.. Didn't have much to say because the chapters and story went so quickly! I will say that I was kept on edge until the end of the book and the ending felt really sudden and rushed.. I wish there was a bit more to it!

[Rachael]

Anybody got any thoughts on this one before we start?
I thought this book would be about a road trip... I was wrong

Has anyone read anything similar to this before?
Perhaps "13 Reasons Why"

Anybody read anything else by this author previously?
Nope!

[Sarah Elizabeth]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆

Date Changed. Restarting October 14th 2016. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Melanie]

7%

(view spoiler)[This book jumped right into being intense. No gradual introduction to the characters, instead a car crash and possible death. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

21%

(view spoiler)[Don't know what to think of Liam yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

24%

(view spoiler)[It's interesting how it keep switching from before the crash, to then after the crash. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

42%

(view spoiler)[I wonder why Jake hasn't come to see Liz... (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

55%

(view spoiler)["No one cared that she was breaking apart." :( (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Meaghan, have you had a chance to start yet? I'm curious what you think of the book. :)

[Abi]

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reading from the 19th of May 2017

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Sharon]

13%: (view spoiler)[ I am not really liking the different POVs that being introduced in this book. I am wondering who is who. I am finding it a bit confusing. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

31%: (view spoiler)[ The chapters are short and quick, which I do like. However, the plot and book are not as appealing to me as the description was. I hope the story gets better. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

51%: (view spoiler)[ The story is a bit better. I think the slow pace is okay, but not that much. I think this book is okay right now. I am still wondering why she crashed her car. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

73%: (view spoiler)[ What's the point of Newton's ridicule? I don't understand it. I find this read a bit confusing and boring. I would give it a 3/5 so far. Hopefully it will get better. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

83%: (view spoiler)[ It seems to me like Liz was not a very likable. I do not like her mother either. (hide spoiler)]

[Sharon]

Ending Thoughts: (view spoiler)[ Glad to know she survived. Who did you think the narrator was? I was left confused. First I thought it was her dad but then it seemed to be herself as another being, witnessing her life through the years. maybe her mom. The book was confusing and boring. I did like the writing around 50% through the book. I give this book a 2.9/5. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Date changed. Restarting September 2nd 2019. Happy Reading ☺

★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

[ikram]

I'm starting!

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ well there's no introduction to each characters... i keep re-reading so that i can get who is which (hide spoiler)]

[ikram]

Chapter 10 (view spoiler)[ I kinda feel bad for both Liz and her mom.. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Read ch1-5. Immediately sets things up, but I feel I’d like to know a little more about why. It all feels rather detached done in this way. I am curious about the boy who’s with her.

[ikram]

Karen wrote: (view spoiler)["Read ch1-5. Immediately sets things up, but I feel I’d like to know a little more about why. It all feels rather detached done in this way. I am curious about the boy who’s with her." (hide spoiler)]

Hello, better next time put a spoiler tag ( < spoiler (without space) > (content) ) so future readers won't be spoiled!

[Karen]

Up to ch17. There’s an odd feel to this. The narrative voice is quite detached when talking about Liz, and yet there’s plenty of evidence to suggest someone could have picked up on her feelings.

[ikram]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I want to know more about Liz, not her friends. I thought this is all about Liz? (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch28. I know the background is meant to flesh out Liz’s character, but it’s feeling like overkill. She was a flawed character who was capable of good and bad things. Not really adding anything.

[ikram]

Chapter 27 (view spoiler)[ I like this chapter, the narration is so unique. I really feel bad for Liz...she is really hiding more things no one knows about (hide spoiler)]

[ikram]

Chapter 39

(view spoiler)[ well I'm kinda confused with Liz's character. is she supposed to be a mean girl who—deep down—has mental illness or just a girl with big heart? (hide spoiler)]

[ikram]

Chapter 40 (view spoiler)[ WELL there is no trigger warning for this chapter.... (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch51. (view spoiler)[ I know Liz has done some awful things but seeing some of her inner dialogue does make her a more sympathetic character. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

ikram wrote: "Karen wrote: [spoilers removed]

Hello, better next time put a spoiler tag ( (content) ) so future readers won't be spoiled!"

Thanks for the heads-up, but I don't think this tells anyone anything they won't get from the blurb.

[Karen]

ikram wrote: "Chapter 20 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I get the impression this is part of showing a general malaise in the group, but it also reflects how much of an impact Liz's actions have on her friends. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Finished. Review on home page. Not quite what I was expecting.

[ikram]

Karen wrote: "Up to ch51. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ but it doesn't change the fact that she's a horrible person too.. (hide spoiler)]

[ikram]

Chapter 48

(view spoiler)[ I felt bad for Julia and Kenny, but not really after these chapters. I still tolerate Liz because her inner monologue makes her a sympathetic character, but still, it doesn't change the fact that she's a horrible person too. Liam doesn't deserve this (hide spoiler)]

[ikram]

Finished

A lot of unimportant details, not really sure 2 / 3 stars I should rate this.

[Lee]

Up to chapter 16.

I'm glad y'all were as confused starting this as I am. We've been tossed into this story with no background and all these characters and it's hard to keep up with who is who. It's also so detached? It's hard for me to get super into it right now.

[Lee]

ikram wrote: "Chapter 20 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah is this to give us more background overall for Liz and why she did what she did? Idk. I'm confused with this right now. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Chapter 31 (view spoiler)[ Liz really hid a lot from everyone. As I'm getting into it more I am appreciating this glimpses into her friends and what they were like because it shows that while maybe she seemed okay to them how much she was really struggling. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Chapter 65 (view spoiler)[ These characters are horrible. I know they are young, not that that excuses it, but I really hope they learn from all these mistakes they are making. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Finished

Wow... that ending. I don't know what to make of that. I know it wasn't sudden, but it did feel like it. It's going to take a moment for me to gather my thoughts up around this book.