Dark Matter - reading with Maya, Carol & Sofia 19 Sept 2016

[Sofia]

[Maya]

Hi girls, i'll try to read a bit during the day (not very busy at work but too many people around me). Chat later :)

[Carol]

Good morning, girls! Nice reading with you again. :)

I read the chapters 1 to 3 on my train ride yesterday, because I had a lot of time (9 hours).

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ The first chapter was not very surprising to me, seeing as the blurb already gives away this part of the story. I even guessed who the main character's kidnapper was. :) (hide spoiler)]

Thoughts from reading chapter 1 to three: (view spoiler)[
I do not know, if I really love the writing style/story. The writing is okay, and one does not get bored.

But the main characters feel like characters in a movie (they look perfect and everyone has some special talent). They fulfill certain stereotypes that are in a lot of American films.

It reminds me of Dan Brown novels, like watching a popcorn movie. You do not get bored, it is fun to see how the story progresses. But there are no real surprises, nothing that really touches you, because you do not identify with them on a deeper level.

Not to say that I do not like reading this novel. It IS entertaining up to this point. There is just nothing that I do not know from other parallel-universe-scenarios. (hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

Hi girls, only read a couple of pages this morning. Will read more now.

[Carol]

no stress :)

[Sofia]

Chap 1 - a bit hazy about the blurb which is ok by me (view spoiler)[I'm thinking it's him behind the mask - ? (hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

Chap 3 (view spoiler)[agree about the movie feel Carol. The writing flows easily but it feels kind of basic. I don't know how to explain . It sort of needs personality.

Reminds me of a combination of Hollywoid films. Maybe Bruce Willis will appear soon :D

I liked that he stands by his choice, his family. (hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

Good morning Girls :D

Maya - where are you girl? - hope you are ok (you had better be) :D

I read some more this morning I'm somewhere in chap 7 (view spoiler)[ I was lulled by the meeting with Daniela (both of them) and enjoyed it and then wham Hollywood reared it's head back up again :( no more Daniela.

We've just reentered the box at the moment. I think that the Scientist Jason had a story with Amanda - what do you think?
(hide spoiler)]



we need popcorn for this girls

[Carol]

Good morning, girls. :) Sophia, it really is addictive and easy to read, right? I did not read anything yesterday, but I will read some chapters today and catch up with you.

Here's some imaginary popcorn, girls. :D

[Sofia]

Thank you Carol - addictive yes and the popcorn as well :D

[Maya]

hiii, sorry i'm so late. Just read chapter 1 and i'm hooked.
(view spoiler)[i too thought the kidnapper was James from another reality but i didn't guess that before the end of the chapter. (hide spoiler)]
very curious what happens next.

[Maya]

end of chapter 3 - agree with you girls: it's enjoyable but the storytelling is a bit simplistic. I liked how the family intimacy in the first chapter was written but now it's just an action movie. Also a bit weird that Jason wouldn't consider a parallel reality considering his job ...

It seems Jason in this universe has significant success in the science field but no Daniela or a kid. I guess it will now be 'our' Jason's conflict: family (go back) or science (stay).

[Carol]

The family intimacy was very well written, Maya, I agree with you. I kind of wanted to eat the meal Daniela cooked. I always get hungry when I read about delicious food in literature. :)

I am also at the end of chapter 7 now.
(view spoiler)[ I was also so incredibly shocked when the artist-version of Dani died. I did not predict that. I was so happy that Jason finally found an ally in this strange, new world. And then she was just... gone!

I agree with you, Sophia. There seems to be some sort of history between Amanda and scientist-Jason.

I think it is sort of romantic that - regardless of the parallel universe they are from- Daniela and Jason are in love with each other. On the other hand, it kind of bugs me that this-world-Daniela has not noticed that something is strange/off about scientist-Jason yet.

(hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

[Sofia]

Chap 7 (view spoiler)[ but we do not know what Dani (of our Jason) is thinking except that he is acting all frisky because of the near miss car accident. (hide spoiler)]

Chap 8 (view spoiler)[ the box is scary all those doors but Crouch is already winnowing them with positive thinking :P This book is really like a Bruce Willis film (hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

had to stop because of work.

[Carol]

I have some free days right now, so I have a lot of time. :)

I read up to chapter 11.
(view spoiler)[ I really love the world-hopping, so fantastic and creative! It was a bit strange that Jason noticed so late in the game that it was his alter-ego, who kidnapped him. Other than that, I am still hooked. (hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

Carol wrote: "I have some free days right now, so I have a lot of time. :)

I read up to chapter 11.
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[the idea of all those worlds is scary and exhilarating at the same time.

I'm glad that Dani has noticed the differences. I'm afraid of the conflict of a possible choice she might have to make between them. Comparisions are odious. It's scary how much we take for granted and how in a rut we get. (hide spoiler)]

To get out of said rut, we went swimming early this morning as it's a public holiday today. Now I'm freshly showered and nicely mellow. Good morning beautiful ones.

[Carol]

good morning to you, too! :) I read up to the end of chapter 12, but I haven't sorted out my thoughts yet.

Even though I was kind of sceptical at first, I really have come to like this book! It is so suspenseful and I kind of like the questions it raises.

This is the good thing about Buddy Reads for me: I read books I never would have read on my own. :)

[Maya]

that's good news, Carol. It's a bit boring for me right now (chap 5-6).

[Sofia]

What I note Maya is that as soon as there is a lull, Crouch hits with more action. This is not necessarily good for me. I tend to get bored with constant action which does not let me think. Which brings me to what you said Carol about the story creating new thoughts for us. This story kind of confirm how much perspective, positivity, living the moment matter to me.

[Maya]

end of chapter 7 - well, at least i'm glad my guess in the beginning was wrong (that 'our' Jason might consider staying there) and it might get more interesting now that he's back in his 'old' reality but i must admit the writing is not engaging at all and so far i haven't found anything original/new.

[Sofia]

It did remind me of several movies Maya and I did wish that it was Brit Marling writing this.

[Maya]

made the think of Fringe: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1119644/?...
which i enjoyed.

[Sofia]

we saw Fringe - I liked the first series or two but then it got too bizarre. I loved the guy we call 'the silverback' the same one who was made Commissioner in The Wire.

[Carol]

Yes, you are right: The writing is not that engaging. It really reminds me of Dan-Brown-books or the like. But as I did not have any expectations at all, I am kind of surprised in a positive way. If I do not take it too seriously, it is kind of fun to read, like a popcorn-movie.

It is funny, Sophia, but I tend to get extremely bored by action-scenes too. Somehow it does not bother me too much here. I kind of just go along with the flow now.

Maya, I have to check Fringe out sometime. But you are right, I do not think that Dark Matter is very original/groundbreaking.

I am finished with chapter 13 now and everything has become extremely weird. (view spoiler)[ While I liked the world-hopping, the 1000 Jason-clones are creeping me out. The story is starting to feel like a bad cartoon. Still, I cannot guess how everything is going to turn out anymore. And that is a plus for me.

I kind of like how no Jason in this world, except for Jason2 perhaps, is really a bad person. And I am starting to wonder if the narrator is the best version to cheer for.

Also, I honestly do not know if all those Jasons really love Daniela and Charlie. Because those two would do so much better if everyone just left them alone - even if they had to live with Jason2 from now on.

I wonder if Daniela and Charlie will go insane now, because I would, in their place. There are theoretically so many Jasons that are their "real" husband/father, right now. This would drive me crazy!

I am extremely interested in what you two think about all of this. :) (hide spoiler)]

[Sofia]

Chap 13 (view spoiler)[I feel bad for the many Jasons, who can really say who should be the one with D & C. They all want and need their family back. They are not the enemy. And I wonder if their are so many Jasons, their should be so many Ds and Cs. The science behind this is rather vague for me. I have to go with the flow rather than really understanding. (hide spoiler)]

The casual violence is creeping me out.

[Maya]

end of chapter 8 - at this point I hope I don't have to go through the stories of all 44 ampoules because I won't have the patience.

still not enjoying.

[Maya]

Carol wrote: "Yes, you are right: The writing is not that engaging. It really reminds me of Dan-Brown-books or the like. But as I did not have any expectations at all, I am kind of surprised in a positive way. I..."

only tried one of Dan Brown's books (the first one that made the biggest noise) but couldn't finish it.

Fringe - it's not great but I got attached to the two main characters and watched the whole thing. I'd say a pretty decent sci-fi.

[Maya]

I finished, guys. (view spoiler)[With a but of skimming here and there.
I think that was the worst book I've read this year. The idea wasn't bad but for me the writing was just awful and the characters were cardboard cutouts. (hide spoiler)]

[Carol]

I also finished. :) (view spoiler)[ While I like the general plot so far, even if I was not satisfied with its execution, the ending was way too weird and brutal.

We get all those Jason-clones, but as I was not a fan of the original Jason all along, because he was a walking stereotype, I stopped caring at some point,

And this obsession with Daniela, who has no real character except for her being some sort of ideal woman, felt very unhealthy and so incredibly creepy.

It is not the worst book I read this year. I read too many stupid books when I am bored. And I simply love the parallel universe-idea. And in some parts, the book surprised me.

But, ultimately, this was no book I would recommend to anyone. It was just an average Hollywood-Action.popcorn-movie in book-form.

(hide spoiler)]

How did you get to know about this book/why did you choose it for a BR? Just interested, I never heard of the author/the title before. :)

[Maya]

my thoughts exactly, Carol.
plus (view spoiler)[I hated how Amanda was dropped out of the picture because the author couldn't figure out what to do with her in our Jason's universe. She was used like a tool. It was horrible. (hide spoiler)]

I think it was positive reviews on my feed that made me interested. Haven't heard/read the author before.

[Sofia]

Finished as well girls

I didn't like the Amanda part either - what happened to her?

BR - going into the unknown we are apt to come up with duds as well as discover great ones. Let's chalk it up to experience.

It was like watching an action movie with my boys and keeping my kindle on the side :D

[Sofia]

we will have to find something else to read Girls - something that satisfies our spirits :D

[Maya]

I've got 4 days off!!! Turned off phone, slept till noon, already feel significantly better. Question is can I do this for 4 days in a row :)

[Sofia]

of course you can :D

are you going to travel?

[Carol]

Sorry to reply so late: I had an appointment that took all day.

I also do not know what I should think of the Amanda-part. It was just so random.

I read some of the reviews on Goodreads and other media: And they are really mostly positive. Strange, but I guess tastes differ.

Anyway, it has been a great BR as always, even if the book was mediocre at best.

I hope you can relax a little bit, Maya, like the dog in your gif! (it is just too cute! :D)

[Sofia]

I think she is asleep again Carol :P

[Carol]

:D

[Carol]

Sofia, I am sorry btw that I often write your name with a ph. I just noticed it and I feel so stupid! I do not know why I do this, but I will be extra careful in the future.

.

Have a nice week, you two!

[Sofia]

no worries Carol, I realised that you were talking to me and that it's how your brain told you to write it :D

[Carol]

Thank you for understanding/not being mad. :) Have a wonderful weekend! :)