August Group Read #1: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch will be our Group Read in August. This is the place where the discussion happens. Buy, borrow, read, discuss and please remember to use spoiler tags, page numbers, chapters or % read. Have fun on round 2 of this book, everyone!

[Lena]

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I enjoyed this book. Maybe it's because I read over Christmas but I think of it as a retelling of Its A Wonderful Life.

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

WHOA....! I have been blogging away all through the night, doing a Live Read of my audio book edition of 'The Marriage Pact' and I mentioned- more than once- how certain sections of 'Pact' reminded me of the great Blake Crouch novel, 'Dark Matter', blah blah blah, and then I see that THIS is the Group Read? Whoa! What are the odds? --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Kimberly]

I loved this book! Too soon for a re-read for me, so I'll be joining in with Hell House this month. Enjoy!!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

It's August 2nd, who is reading Dark Matter? I'm starting the audio on my way home today otherwise I'll never get it read.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I was afraid to start this, truth be told, because I read many reviews that said it was very mind-bending, confusing, scientific. I was afraid it would break my brain. So far I'm ok but I haven't a clue what is going on with Jason!

12% Mark

I enjoyed the setup. The author drops us into a rather mundane day in the life of an ordinary family and later drops the floor out from under us.

[Bryndís]

I've read thee chapters. I like it a lot!
(view spoiler)[ the second chapter - where he's just "back" (whatever the hell that might mean) was a little dull. But I'm really loving his way of writing and everything in the first and third chapter seemed interesting to me.
I also love the fact that his house was similar in the new world: the picture of the vacation spot especially. But I disliked that the house in which he was a successful scientist was cleaner, neater and fancier. That seemed a bit too easy to me. (hide spoiler)]
Eager to read on!

[Bryndís]

chapter Eight & before
I'm reading this one in Dutch, so maybe I'll translate some terms here in a different way than in the book, but I hope you all understand =)

Still loving it! I really like crazy science! It reminds me a little bit of Fringe (TV series) without stealing their storylines, which is a good thing!
Being an (amateur) scientist, I actually understand the theories they talk about which is great! (view spoiler)[ I was very proud of myself when I figured out they should be able to rearrange the doors in the cube in a convenient way (since it is a manifestation of their brain trying to process multiple universes at once), before it was mentioned haha! ;)

I liked the identity of the kidnapper too. I didn't guess it before it was mentioned, but I kicked myself for not figuring it out (which is always great because I like not seeing things coming, but apparently it was believable in the story because I thought I should have figured it out).

I was really shocked when they killed Daniele, poor woman. She was so great!

thought: I think "scientist-Jason" brought "wife-Jason" too his universe himself (he injected himself too), because he was the only one who could have found the right door. And it's probably why he also drugged "wife-Jason" with Katamine, so his consciousness (If you can speak about such a thing in this case) wouldn't interfere.
Anyone agree? I'm curious if I'm right ;-) Will tell you when I finish the book =D

I loved the frozen family (well, loved isn't really the right word. But I mean story wise). I was so sad, as well as creepy. I like that sorta thing in my stories! (hide spoiler)]

It's a good one, this one! <3

[Bryndís]

Halfway through chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ the description of how our Jason (previously described him al "wife-Jason", but now realize that's not a good description) met Daniella was really moving. I teared up a bit and I don't do that a lot!

The storyline of the multiple Jasons trying to find their way home is great! It's also scientifically correct and another thing I felt like I should have seen coming!

The book really gets me thinking about how we live our life, what decides how we live it and how easily it could be different. It scares me a little, but is also fascinating. (hide spoiler)]

I read a little bit longer as I was supposed too (I have work to do, oops!), but it just sucked me in!
i'll probably finish it tonight.

[Bryndís]

Finished it! I liked it a lot! 4,5 stars (i don't know why, but I just didn't love it). (view spoiler)[Little action at the end, wasn't really necessary. Sweet ending though. (hide spoiler)]
Full review here, if you want to know more ;-)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nami]

Just finished it. I don't usually read sci-fi, but I must admit I really enjoyed it. I imagined it as a movie when I was reading it and it actually read like a script sometimes.
(view spoiler)[ I liked the almost open ending, I honestly think this was the best possible conclusion to this story without having an unnecessary cliche ending where everyone lives happily ever after. I must admit that I was worried for a second that there will be some "dramatic" scene, where Daniela would have to differentiate her Jason from the evil one and I almost rolled my eyes on this scene when they confronted. Thankfuly that didn't happen. (hide spoiler)] It's a really quick read, pretty fast paced, but I would appreciate it more if the action would slow down a little from time to time. Overall I enjoyed it :)

[David]

Just finished reading. Wow, what a good read.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Finished this up the other day. It was such a great read but it was not what I'd classify as horror. I was never terrified, mostly just in a perpetual state of worry for Jason. Despite that, I never once contemplated putting it aside. The characterization and Jason's plight really hooked me from the very beginning. Thanks all who voted for pushing me to finally read it!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

PS Anybody know if there's a sequel in the works? In all honestly, I'd like him to leave the story exactly where it is. That ending was perfect.

[Lena]

Might be cool to follow the other scientist, see where she ended up.

[Kimberly]

Lena wrote: "Might be cool to follow the other scientist, see where she ended up."

I thought of that, too!

[Bryndís]

Lena wrote: "Might be cool to follow the other scientist, see where she ended up."

YES!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

That's one sequel I'd actually read!

[Cheesu]

Just waiting for it to come in to my library!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Cheesu wrote: "Just waiting for it to come in to my library!"


Waiting is the worst!

[Cheesu]

Tell me about it! I had planned on reading this months ago, too. Next time I won't hesitate.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I started the novel today and I think I have guessed what happened. However, it is definitely a high velocity read!

[Michelle]

Such a good premise and a good realisation of that premise. Until. The last 40 or so pages. Eh. All of a sudden it seems that (view spoiler)[ he's been generating multiples of himself all along! *face palm* (hide spoiler)]. A little like a PKD twist but without the panache and believability.

I kinda feel like the box didn't have to (view spoiler)[ have infinite doors? If the user experience totally determined what world you would end up in, then why does there need to be more than one door? (hide spoiler)]

But now I'm nit picking cause I decided I didn't like the ending.

[Kimberly]

The ending left a lot of food for thought as far as the (view spoiler)[ infinite possibilities and what would happen to all of the other "copies". I'd really like to know what happened to his female companion, as well... (hide spoiler)]

[Nami]

Lena wrote: "Might be cool to follow the other scientist, see where she ended up."
I can imagine she would (view spoiler)[ probably find another Jason and maybe start something with him because she was falling in love with him (hide spoiler)] ;)

[Kimberly]

Natalia wrote: "Lena wrote: "Might be cool to follow the other scientist, see where she ended up."
I can imagine she would [spoilers removed] ;)"

Good point!!!

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Here is my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Pixelina]

I loved this book! I managed to finish it before we ever started reading it on here and I am one of those that can read fast but prefer to slow it down and enjoy the book as long as i can.

The ending was for me the true horror though, with all them men desperate to get home and just multiplying

[Cheesu]

Well I knocked this out in two sessions. I really enjoyed the story, even if there were parts that seemed a little rushed, and a little forced. The ending, especially, just rushes by.

My key take away from the whole thing, and what makes me happy, is that there are worlds that exist now where Amanda made the right decisions and abandoned Jason early on.

[NeilSB]

This is one of the best books I've read this year. It reminds me of books like The Fold and Stranded. All three play with concepts in physics, although Stranded does so in a more roundabout (and least plausible) way. I think what makes Dark Matter better than the other two is its continuous exploration of the consequences of the setup, even in its final pages. Stranded is interesting for about 75% of its length but, just when the paradox is discovered, it turns into a slasher for the remainder rather than attempt an intelligent conclusion following from its premises. Similarly, The Fold gives up on its intriguing premise and paranoid setup,(and does so prematurely) and settles affairs with violence. Neither of these books has the protagonist use his wits to resolve the conflict. Granted, Dark Matter gets violent during its conclusion, but not nearly as much as the others (or, if it does, it occurs "off-screen).

[Suki]

I liked it, but I didn't love it. I loved the premise, and it started out great, but I'm not quite sure why the ending fell a little flat for me. The book did make me wonder how I would treat myself if I met her unexpectedly-- I hope I wouldn't be as ruthless as some of the copies were!

[Cheesu]

I am fairly certain I saw an episode of the Outer Limits that is based on this book.