January: Illuminae Discussion Thread

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Here is our January Battle of the book discussion thread!

Jump in and discuss the book as you read along (or chat with others if you've already read it)

** Be sure to use spoilers tags so any new readers can enjoy the book!
(Spoiler Tag guidance and help is explained here)

The Voting thread is still in another spot so, if you read both, don't forget to vote!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I've already read this one - but if anyone plans to chat on this thread, I'll jump in and chat. I loved this book and I plan to read book 2 this month :)

[Vicki]

Trisha, I have this one and I'd love to chat it up with you.

When do you plan to read book 2? I didn't even realize it was out! the hard copy of this book is so beautiful!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Um....after I get caught up on these buddy reads.
probably around the 15th

[Ashlyn]

I have this checked out from my library for nine more days. Hopefully I can read it by then.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

It's so good! I know it looks big but it's a pretty fast read!
:)

[Lucy]

Started reading this book before I even knew about this discussion. Im on page 50 so far, not loving it but enjoying it.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

So glad you are liking it Lucy!
keep us posted on how it goes for you! :)

[Farren]

This one was a DNF for me the first time I read it and I managed to finish it the second time around by listening to the audiobook. I liked the formatting and it had full cast narration but I didn't care for the story itself. I think I'm in a very tiny percentage of people who only rated Illuminae two stars.

[Sahar]

Just finished the book, and I loved it so so so much. <3
(view spoiler)[I'm kind of sad that the next book doesn't focus on Kady and Ezra, but I hope it'll be just as good.

Although, tbh, I kind of felt that the ending was kind of....a cop out? After believing that everyone died, hearing that they didn't in the end feels kind of cheap, especially with all the emotional turmoil I've just been put through.

I totally called Ezra's mom having a appearance in the book! XD (Honestly, Ezra just mentioned her out of nowhere) (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Farren wrote: "This one was a DNF for me the first time I read it and I managed to finish it the second time around by listening to the audiobook. I liked the formatting and it had full cast narration but I didn'..."

awe, I'm sorry you didn't like it! part of what I loved was the odd formating - having a page of words that twisted in a circle so I had to spin the book, the journal entries vs the maps vs the journal entries

I can see how the audio may have felt odd.....

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Sahar wrote: "Just finished the book, and I loved it so so so much. <3
[spoilers removed]..."

I know(view spoiler)[ it was a bit of a work up with everyone being dead and then the reveal that they weren't
but for some reason, I didn't think they were dead. (hide spoiler)]

and I didn't even (view spoiler)[ notice that book 2 was from another POV
lol I just saw it my library and grabbed it! I hope it's just as good!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

I loved both book one and book two.
I think I may have ended up liking book two a little more, but I'm not sure. The pace is different and I liked how book two was more hands on and answered a ton more questions than the first did. I loved them both :)

[Jenny]

Just finished Illuminae this morning. I enjoyed it, gave it 3.5 stars. I think for me even though the formatting was interesting, I have trouble getting into a mixed media story. If it had been a true novel, it might have been a solid 4 for me as I did enjoy the storyline.

I was shocked that (view spoiler)[ Ezra's mother ended up being the bid baddie in charge of the corporation that attacked the planet. I understand she maybe didn't know that Ezra was on the planet and could have died, but still, the company she works for murdered all those people. (hide spoiler)]

I did find I had mixed feelings for AIDAN which is weird as it is not a "being." I felt a bit sorry for the machine in parts and then angry as well in other parts.

Overall a solid read and I am going to move on to Gemina, which everyone says is even better.

[Sarah]

I thought that the format was interesting but the story itself wasn't as new as I expected. As I was reading all I could thing of was the movie Wall-E.