[February] The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas - Part 1 (before starting)

[Sophie]

I can't believe the first month of the year is (almost) over, but that means our first Book of the Month for 2018, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

You can use it for week 8 of the challenge ('own voices'), but it could also fit a lot of other prompts (3 - Goodreads Choice Awards, 5 - inspired by real events, 10 - debut book, 21 - first-person perspective, ev. 22 - high expectations or hopes for, 35 - featuring a murder, 36 - published in the last 3 years by an author you’ve never read, ev. 47 - main character or author from a different ethnic origin than you, 49 - GR best of the month list).

For more information about the Book of the Month, see the Introduction post.

Part 1: before starting
Part 2: around 50%, the end of chapter 12
Part 3: the end

Questions before starting
1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
3. What do you think the title means?

[Silvia]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype? I don't know. I have read many good ratings, so my expectations are very high wich I hate, because for previous experiences even if something is good, because I am expecting so much, I am never satisfied :P

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month? Oh, yes! It was on my TBR already and I was just looking for the right place to fit it on the challenge.

3. What do you think the title means? The hate u give ... I think it's about the hate that creates more hate. I know the book is about discrimination, so maybe my interpretation of the title is already mixed with the things I know.

[Chris]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I've avoided the hype and only read two reviews of the book: one positive and one negative. So I'm going into it without any expectations.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
I was already intending to read it for #8 but I don't think I would have considered it all if it wasn't for this group. When the Choice Awards results went up I added a lot of books from it to my to-read shelf, but this wasn't one of those titles. I recognised the name though.

3. What do you think the title means?
I haven't really thought about it.

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I think it will. I haven't heard any bad things about it and the interest seems genuine.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
Oh yes. I'm a social worker working with youth so I'm very passionate about social justice issues, particularly racial ones.

3. What do you think the title means?
I think Silvia worded it really well. People are very hateful anymore and since the changing political climate, I think many are willing to voice these opinions more openly. While it is disheartening, I think things are the same, it is just more freely expressed. Some are just plain hateful towards others.

[Perri]

My First BOM!
Questions before starting
1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I'm a little worried about that-so many people are raving about it. I've stopped reading reviews. But it's loved by people I usually match with, so I think I'll be OK
2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
For sure! I actually bought this book because the wait was too long at the library, plus if I want to pass it along to reading friends.
3. What do you think the title means? I think it's the hate people pass along intentionally and sometimes unintentionally. Like the love you give, your attitude and motivation matter

reply | flag *

[Lizzy]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I'm always a little worried when it is this highly hyped, but a number of people I follow have also liked it a lot, so I'll give it a go -- if I can ever get it off the wait list at the library.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
I'm not sure if I would have picked it up, mainly because I don't read much YA. However The Book Thief is one I liked a lot and it is considered YA.

3. What do you think the title means?
When I really was a YA, there was the expression "what goes around, comes around". That's what I expect it to mean.

[Lynda]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?

I haven't paid any attention to the hype. Although I have seen it on many people's lists, I haven't read any reviews.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?

I already had it selected for prompt #8, so yes.

3. What do you think the title means?

My mother always said "pretty is as pretty does" meaning your character and resulting actions is what counts. I think this is going to be another perspective of that.

[Hilde]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I hope so, have only heard wonderful things about this book. But I haven't actually read any reviews, so I haven't really paid any attention to the hype. I am a bit more worried about the YA part, as I don't always like them. But I think this will live up to he hype! I have my kleenex ready ;)

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
Yes, I had it picked out for the "GR Choice award" prompt, one of the few books on my plan that's not from my own shelf (trying to read and then get some books out of the apartment this year).

3. What do you think the title means?
I quite liked Lynda's post above; "pretty is as pretty does".

[Kathy]

Yay! My hold from the library came in just in time to read for BOM!

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I think the book will live up to it's hype. It actually seems like a difficult topic so I'm glad to be reading with a group.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
I think I would keep putting it off if it weren't a Book of the Month. I feel like it will stir up many emotions.

3. What do you think the title means?
Like many said above, basically what you give is what you get.

[°~Amy~°]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype? I certainly hope it will but that is not generally my experience with overhyped books.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month? I probably would have but much later down the road.

3. What do you think the title means? I disagree with the idea that it's what you give is what you get. I simply think it's just talking about the anger directed by one group of people on another group. I think to say that they give what you get is saying that there should be some sort of expected retaliation against the offending parties and I don't think that's the goal of this book. I think the goal is just to draw attention to what the specific group is having to tolerate.

[Tracy]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I do feel like it will live up to the hype, based on reviews I've read from people I trust here.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
It was already on my list :-)
Actually it's been waiting on my kindle for awhile, I'm not sure why I haven't read it already.

3. What do you think the title means?
I'm assuming its referring to prejudice. I like the way Lizzy and Lynda phrased it. It will be interesting to see how the book presents it.

[Rachel]

I read the book last year, but I think I remember it well enough to still participate. I'll answer with my thoughts as if I was at that point of the book.

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I was very nervous to read this one because I thought it couldn't possibly live up to so much hype. I'd seen nothing but positive reviews though, and usually when a book is overhyped, there's more of a mixed bag after a while.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
Well, I read it already, but if I hadn't, seeing it as Book of the Month would have given me some motivation to prioritize it. I probably would have got to it eventually anyway.

3. What do you think the title means?
I think it's about people's anger and prejudice toward each other.

[Bec]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?'
Yes I think it will....

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
Yes I would have read it. It being book of the month has just bought it forward a bit.

3. What do you think the title means?
I actually had no idea, as I had no idea what the book was about....but I've cheated and read a few chapters so I know now..

[Joan]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype? I'm hoping it does. Usually I expect too much from hyped up books.
2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month? Considering two of my other groups are also doing it this month, I'd say yes I would have read it! I think I would have read it anyway even without 3 groups of mine reading it this month. It just would probably not be as soon.
3. What do you think the title means? I'm hoping it teaches people how they treat people affects the other person. A life lesson of empathy that seems to be needed to be taught over and over again.

[Beth]

1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?
I hope so, but feel like I am keeping my expectations reasonable.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?
Definitely. This was one of about a dozen book that I was determined to read this year. Luckily, there are a lot of prompts that this one fits.

3. What do you think the title means?
I actually started reading before I answered this, so I know. I was disappointed that it didn't even occur to me.

[Edie]

If you read this, you may want to check out the interview Robin Young of NPR did with Angie Thomas. Here's a link to the podcast of their discussion. http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/0...

I found this really interesting... with some great questions from the audience.

[Sophie]

Thanks for the link! It's really long, but I ended up watching it all! Very interesting, Angie Thomas is a wonderful human being.

[Molly]

Questions before starting
1. This book is highly hyped-up, both inside and outside this group, do you think it's going to live up to the hype?

I hope it's a beautiful book and lives up to the hype, but I will admit that I don't always like the books that most people rave about so we shall see.

2. Would you have read it if it wasn't a Book of the Month?

I wasn't going to read this book on my own just because I know I will get very emotional while reading. But I'm glad participating in this group is opening me up to reading it.

3. What do you think the title means?

I think the title speaks to prejudice and how exuding hate destroys not just one person but all of us.