More Than This by Patrick Ness → Start Date: August 1, 2017

[Katriann]

Join Vicki, Esther and me in reading More Than This. :)

[Vicki]

Thanks for making the thread!

[Katriann]

Are you planning to start this today Vicki? I'm going out of town for a few days but I'm probably going to try to start this tonight.

[Vicki]

I'm sorry. I was with family ALL day yesterday and didn't see this. I'll start it sometime today or this evening.

[Katriann]

That's alright. I started this yesterday and will probably continue reading it tomorrow. :-)

[Vicki]

I've read 10 chapters but I need my computer to post.

[Vicki]

10 Chapters

The first part of the book (view spoiler)[gave such a good (if that's the right word) description of a drowning. I felt like I was there or almost like I was experiencing it myself. (hide spoiler)] So it piqued my interest from the start.

Seth (view spoiler)[I feel so bad for him because he seems all alone, thirsty and hungry, but so unsure of where he is (as am I!) and what he's doing there. I can't imagine being in this place and not really knowing anything. But does it seem to you like he's been here before, like this is almost a rebirth or like he's visiting his old home in his death, or is he not really dead? (hide spoiler)]

I must admit that I am (view spoiler)[confused right now. LOL I keep asking myself what is going on because I really don't know yet! LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

20 chapters

I agree that the (view spoiler)[ description of drowning in the beginning was very well done. It was quite difficult to read actually. It made me feel uncomfortable because I hate the idea of drowning. (hide spoiler)]

Yes, this really is quite confusing. (view spoiler)[ It's starting to make more sense now when Seth figured out he may be in hell although I'm not convinced that's what's really going on. There could be something else behind all this. Like, I don't know...a medical experiment or something. Anyway, wherever Seth is, it's pretty creepy there. That coffin he found was kind of scary. (hide spoiler)]

I want to know (view spoiler)[ the whole story about what happened to Owen. I guess the man in the jumpsuit took him or something but I want to know the details. Seth didn't tell the whole story to Gudmund, so there is still clearly something we don't know. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Katriann wrote: "20 chapters

I agree that the [spoilers removed]

Yes, this really is quite confusing. [spoilers removed]

I want to know [spoilers removed]"

I am glad that you agree with me because I wasn't sure if it was just me or if it is confusing! LOL

[Vicki]

20 Chapters

I agree with you!

Owen (view spoiler)[was clearly quite young when something happened to him. Kidnapped? Molested? Both? But didn't it say earlier that he died and it was Seth's fault, or am I remembering that wrong? LOL (hide spoiler)]

Seth (view spoiler)[I don't think he's truly in hell, but maybe that's because I have my own idea of hell. He is in a KIND of hell, but just what that is I don't know! I do feel bad for him though because whatever did happen to Owen, he is definitely blamed for it. And he blames himself. That's too big a burden to live with...my gosh, he was only EIGHT! (hide spoiler)]

The end of chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ The "monster" scared me even though I have no clue what it is! If he is really in hell it could be the devil. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 21

I had to post because of the (view spoiler)[monster. It's a BOAR? What the heck!! LOL This book is making me question a lot. (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

I don't think it said (view spoiler)[ that Owen died. I think it said something about the family wondering whether they will get him back and not knowing whether he would be found alive. (hide spoiler)]

Yes, oh my god, (view spoiler)[ a boar?! Definitely not what I expected. What on earth is going on? (hide spoiler)]

35 chapters

I don't like (view spoiler)[ the way Seth's mother treats Seth. I understand it's hard for the parents when Owen's neurological state is deteriorating, but I feel like their mom is taking it out on Seth. (hide spoiler)]

What the heck (view spoiler)[ is the thing/creature driving around in the black van? I want to know what this hell really is. Why are Seth and the others there and what do their head injuries have to do with the whole thing? (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

60 chapters

I feel like the book (view spoiler)[ makes more sense now when they figured out they're actually in the real world and everyone else is online. I'm still not sure what that creature driving the van is though. (hide spoiler)]

So, Owen (view spoiler)[ did die after all. I understand that Seth's parents wanted to forget everything but I'm not sure creating some kind of a virtual version of their son was the best idea. Then again, it's hard to say what I would choose if I was in their shoes. (hide spoiler)]

I wonder (view spoiler)[ if it's possible for all those coffins to work on their own. I feel like there should be somebody out there who makes sure everything works as it should. Maybe there are still some people running the whole process in some safe technologically advanced research center or something. (hide spoiler)]

[Katriann]

Finished

I actually ended up liking this more than I thought I would. (view spoiler)[ I was pretty confused for quite a while in the beginning but once Seth met Regine and Tomasz things started to make more sense. There are still things I don't understand though. Like why did the driver heal Seth after practically killing him? I did like it that this was so different from most YA books I've read. (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad that Seth (view spoiler)[ decided he didn't want to die after all. I think meeting Regine and Tomasz and hearing their stories helped him gain some perspective and realize that his life wasn't so terrible after all. I think it was important that Seth made new friends who really cared about him and who he also cared about. I guess he needed to see that not everyone will betray or abandon him (hide spoiler)]

I think this book discusses many (view spoiler)[ important themes such as suicide, child abuse and dangers of illegal immigration. I also think it sends a strong message that encourages readers to choose life. Seth, Regine and Tomasz all go through terrible things but when they realize they aren't dead, they all choose to live rather than die for real. I like it how they realize that no matter how bad things seem, there is always hope and always more to each story than you'd first think. (hide spoiler)]