BOTM June 2018: They Both Die at the End

[Ayla]

"They Both Die at the End" is the BOTM of June, for the theme "LGBTQ+ Pride Month"! Although "Ramona Blue" got an equal amount of votes, I let the highest GoodReads rating decide.
You can find the guidelines here.

Please sign up in this thread, if you want to join the readalong.


They Both Die at the End

So the idea of a 'Book of the month' is sort of a read-along. The BOTM thread (this one) will be for the people who want to do the read-along and share their thoughts after each goal (June 6/7 - I just read till chapter 3 and my thoughts are .... etc.). Spoilers must be marked of course!

Reading schedule
Since the book doesn't have any clear chapter numbers/names, I added the page numbers. Feel free to finish the chapter in case the chapter of your copy doesn't finish on the same page.
June 1/6 - Time to get your copies!
June 7/8 - read until (incl.) page 40
June 9/10 - read until (incl.) page 79 (Part One finished)
June 11/12 - read until (incl.) page 118
June 13 - Time to catch up!
June 14/15 - read until (incl.) page 160
June 16/17 - read until (incl.) page 190
June 18/19 - read until (incl.) page 223 (Part Two finished)
June 20 - Time to catch up!
June 21/22 - read until (incl.) page 260
June 23/24 - read until (incl.) page 298 (Part Three finished)
June 25/26 - read until (incl.) page 334
June 27 - Time to catch up!
June 28/29 - read until (incl.) page 368 (Book finished)
June 30th --> Time for more discussion :) This is also the best moment for people who have already read the book before to join in!



Have fun :D

[Ayla]

To everyone: mark your spoilers once you share your progress and/or want to discuss!

Participants:
Vera
Regsly
Cordelianne
Susan
Sundara
Me

Discussion only:
Ilsen

[Vera-Michele]

I’m participating

[Ayla]

Vera wrote: "I’m participating"

Thanks for joining, Vera! :D

[The Half-blood Reader]

I'll be joining!! :3

[Ayla]

Regsly wrote: "I'll be joining!! :3"

Yayy! Glad to hear you're joining, Regsly! :D

[Ilsen]

I’m participating in the discussion! Thank you for doing the thread Ayla!!

[Ayla]

Ilsen wrote: "I’m participating in the discussion! Thank you for doing the thread Ayla!!"

Yass!
No problem, and thank you for the poll and suggestions thread :)

[The Half-blood Reader]

Yees, glad to be joining <3
I've been wanting to read this for a long time!

[Cordelianne]

I will be joining as well :)

[Susan]

I would love to join in please

[Ayla]

Susan wrote: "I would love to join in please"

Cordelianne wrote: "I will be joining as well :)"

Thanks for joining, Cordelianne and Susan! :D

[The Half-blood Reader]

Happy to see a lot of people interested! <3

[Sundara]

I am in!!!!

[Ayla]

Sundara wrote: "I am in!!!!"

Thanks for joining, Sundara! :D

[Ayla]

Did everyone manage to get their copies in time?

[The Half-blood Reader]

I have mine! Starting today :)

[The Half-blood Reader]

I'm going to go ahead and post. Part 1 has 13 chapters, but they're small, I read them so fast. You guys don't need to, though :)

I'm done with part 1
(view spoiler)[ Interesting concept. Though the terrible question remains: better to know or not?

Mateo has been leading a sad "life". Where did this fear of dying come from? His mother and grandmother? And spending your time watching the equivalent of twitter for people who know they're dying is also very depressing and obsessive on his part. On this portrayed society.

Mateo, at least read something else!

Is Tagoe gonna twitch for the rest of the book?

People who make fun of those who have good friendships with their parents are probably just jealous inside...

They allow people to visit their family this late?? Maybe they allow Deckers...

Poor girl can’t even get a break from assholes hitting on her when she’s grieving herself. Seriously

Last Friend serial killer?? Don't just drop that in!!

These people are awful and self-serving!! But I guess there would be people trying to take advantage of others even in this situation... Disgusting.

Well, Peck, talk s*, get hit. And you may loose the girl too. Don't get me wrong, Rufus shouldn't have done it, and he did loose control. Nevertheless, words also hurt and people should stop assuming they can say whatever they want about others. Take responsibility for your words.
And just like Rufus was wrong, Peck was morally wrong twice: before getting beat up, and now when he didn't forgive and show some humanity.

I guess the action starts now that Mateo and Rufus come together. Still haven't a lot to say, the plot could go anywhere, aside from the end we have already been assured.
It's an interesting dynamic of opposites: someone afraid of dying and someone with survivor's guilt. (hide spoiler)]

[Ayla]

June 14/15 - read until (incl.) page 160
(view spoiler)[So it's a pretty good read so far, but I'm not blown away by it yet and I've yet to see if it's worth the huge hype surrounding it :s
Don't get me wrong, I do like this book but I can't shake off the feeling we're just building up towards the climax which is preventing me from being fully interested in the other things that go down. But maybe I'm just talking nonsense.

As for the characters, Rufus seems interesting and I'm actually more drawn to him than to Mateo. I'm still hoping Mateo loosens up a bit and starts living the way he wants to, but it seems like he's getting there.
Can we talk about Andrea for a second? What's going on with her? Seems like a very unhealthy way to deal with such a job by viewing them as 'no longer people'. I can imagine it'd be hard to deal with such a job, but add the former statement to her tendency to rush through calls and seemingly wanting to break her record and she seems pretty heartless if you ask me. Nevertheless I'd be interested to get to know more about her and why she acts the way she does.

The whole Death-Cast concept is definitely interesting and I'm hoping we get some more information about it. I'm *mad* curious about how they receive their information, to put it into Rufus' words xD (hide spoiler)]

[Ayla]

@Regsly
(view spoiler)[
It is definitely an interesting society they live in, but also a very scary one if you ask me. I think it's better we don't know when we die, since we'd probably just be living towards our end-day.
I think there's a good chance Mateo's fear of dying has to do with his mother. Such a thing must have been traumatic to experience at such a young age.

Haha Mateo's tbr frightened me a bit tbh

It seems like Mateo did have a really good relationship with his father which made me happy, but it's so sad that his father is in coma...

Yess that angered me as well. Those assholes were only thinking about themselves.

l, Peck, talk s*, get hit. And you may loose the girl too. Don't get me wrong, Rufus shouldn't have done it, and he did loose control. Nevertheless, words also hurt and people should stop assuming they can say whatever they want about others. Take responsibility for your words.
I totally agree with you on this one, Regsly. And words can hit you just as hard indeed.

The opposites make for an interesting situation indeed. I hope they can help each other deal with their own issues and find peace together. (hide spoiler)]

[The Half-blood Reader]

@Ayla

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I'm not disliking it, but my fear of it being hyped/overrated is growing...

I can't say who I'm more pulled towards tbh. Mateo is like a kind soul, and I like that. I thought Rufus was gonna be the energic party, who'd pull Mateo to do new things and help him free himself. But until now, it's not really going that way...

Andrea was pure down cold-blooded. This must be the equivalent to working as tech support and sales through the phone.
Don't upset the "costumers", deliver all info, "solve problem", be as swift as possible, the more the merrier.

They have those stereotypical gypsies worked in locked rooms xD

Yeah, I agree. In a way, your last day can be totally wasted. But some people would be fine doing what they always did, unburdened by the knowledge. Obviously, you seem to need to be subscribed to the service, therefore you could remain blissfully ignorant. Although curiosity may lead you to subscribe and then regret.
Not only the psychological pressure and dread of knowing is bad. There's also the sociological repercussions. People obsessed by death, people making business of death, people taking advantage of poor unfortunate souls.

It's the worst time and so sad. Will his dad wake up? And if he does, it will be to a future without his son and remaining love?

Words can make or break you. One person says a careless hurtful thing, and it can resonate inside you for the longest time, even forever.

Me: *shakes the duo* DO STUFF! GO CRAZY DUDES!

So okay, either they're going to die because of the previous altercation with Peck, or the author is misleading us. (hide spoiler)]

[The Half-blood Reader]

Full Part 2

(view spoiler)[Who is Delilah?? She just came out of nowhere, hit my car! xD

I don't really care for you, Peck. If you're a douche bent on revenge, just get out of my face.

We think we’re so damn indestructible and infinite because we can think and take care of ourselves, unlike pay phones or books, but I bet the dinosaurs thought they’d rule forever too. Great quote

So... that answers Tagoe's neck twitch...

So Mateo helped Kendrick who's a mate of Peck's. Well, shite.

Rufus is Dumbledore xD

They both curse about “Decker kids these days” Dudes. You wouldn't be able to knock anything out early in a world where there are no Deckers, so could you consign yourself to your insignificance for a bit? Thanks.

The poetry you could write about Rufus helping me out of my grave isn’t lost on me. Yes. And are we getting to the better part now? 'Cuz like we said, interest concept, but... (hide spoiler)]

[The Half-blood Reader]

Full Part 3

(view spoiler)[Mateo is the softness Rufus needed. I'm weak.

Did Delilah just go past Rufus and Mateo??

Vin you selfish little shite!!

This really is showing us the various ways people handle their own death: denial, fear, anger, acceptance, relief, regret...

Is Delilah alive? She was trying to get up but what happened afterwards??

I'm still thinking Peck is going to find them through instagram and each time Rufus takes a picture that is telling of where they are, I flinch.

Mateo's dad and his explanation of where love is <3 <3 <3 not stupid at all

I like the fact the author explores how this service that predicts death has affected their society from Andrea to Deirdre, to people like Vin... there's always been angry suicides, but this service could increase the numbers. There's also this society so obsessed with death, services that explore this to over-charge their customers.
And the idea that Death is trailing the Deckers, and as they go to certain places and stick together, they increase the chances of dying there. That's unhealthy.

Instead of thinking that it was the way they had to go, they actually feel responsible for attracting or not deterring death...

Deirdre's story is kinda creepy when you think about it. Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but that's my twin sister, reincarnated as a baby
Get Deirdre some help, she is suffering from depression ;__;

One thing with this book is that the way it is written, somehow I easily forget details - which is really unlike me as a reader. I'd forgotten about their attachment to Althea Park.

Being a tree or giving your body to science are pretty solid choices, Rufus xD

Gabriella must be a beautiful person *moist eyes*
Zoe and her sounded really cute together and now I'm sadder

The fact Lidia assumed the new friend was a girl is sexist and I don't like it.

“You’ll see me and I’ll see you. I promise.” If they see each other from the distance before something happens or after something happens and it's ending, I may cry

But I still call bull on the whole Deckers together attracting death. Que será, será

Peck is a little binch who needs to get a gang to beat another boy *rolls my eyes*

He already called the cops and ruined his goodbye... If they end killing him, they're the little binches who may end up in court

Peck will gain respect by unloading this gun into the one who disrespected him. Wrong. You gain respect by not following into the easy path of anger and violence that got Rufus. You gain respect by being superior to all that.
In a world obsessed with death, you'd assume they'd worry more about reincarnation and the consequences of your actions towards others...

We’ll stretch this day out as long as possible, like we’re the summer solstice. Okay, this is a beautiful sentence

The gay vibes are strong <3

Bangers, dying with a bang, trying to earn some money for their family. Another consequence...

Ugh Rufus, Aimee? Forget about it! She may spill the beans

So now Peck knows 'cuz Rufus uploaded a photo of Clint's Graveyard. Will Aimee be useful? (hide spoiler)]

[The Half-blood Reader]

Finished book

(view spoiler)[ No one goes on, but what we leave behind keeps us alive for someone else. Nothing is more beautiful than a story that never ends sniff

Those drinking laws are so amusing to me. Because we can legally drink at 18 here.
Portuguese Deckers (and not only them) getting drunk in this universe as I type

Matteo kisses Rufus.
Me: Finally!
Rufus: Finally!
Me: Dude.

and they’re living as if this means their lives can’t be over while they’re alive. this sentence sounds clunky and, frankly, weird

Another consequence, as we can see from the Shitty Gang: no fear, recklessness, not above putting others in danger because they didn't get the alert.
Tbh, I only see benefits to not knowing when you die. So you wasted your last day, like you've done with plenty of other days in your life-span. It is what it is

“You not talking shit now, huh?” Peck asks. Says the guy holding a gun who got in trouble for opening his mouth in the first place to please his own ego. Oh yeah she left him for me LOL NO

“You begging for him, right? You don’t give a shit about me.” Cry me a river

Oh yeah, I was waiting for this >:D Debts. I wouldn't punch the boy who gave me his shoes (I wouldn't punch in most case scenarios anyway, but you know)

but she’ll forever be horrified by the eleven Last Friend serial killings last summer. Yeah, I'm still wondering about this
And why kill people who are already going to die?
Death-Cast simply became part of the intricate yarn of Fate, like everything else

What would be curious: the girl who does the graffiti is the serial killer tantantam

and toward all the sons of bitches who are shouting at me from the doorway but weren’t brave enough to run in and save some kids. Word.


Mateo forgot about the broken stove, and it's a mistake I could so easily make, because we humans are creatures of habits, that I'm chilled

The soft boy is gone. His father is still in a coma. Their home may be destroyed. Devastating.

So Delilah, you ready to die?

Rufus could die of complications. Or the bad idea of going to a park at night alone and weak. But there's a man speeding to see his fiancé, so he's probably gonna be run over...
So Victor kills Rufus and what? Delilah's accidents lead to some brain injury... like swelling or something that ultimately kills her.

The book is good. I'm not sure about the multiple pov entries. Especially all those that start with Death-Cast did not call X last night because x isn’t dying today. It got annoying fast. Makes me feel like this needs some polishing? But this idea that we are all connected, that the knowledge of our own death can affect us so deeply. It's good.
Take our boys. One freed the other, to be saved, cleansed by the later. They die, but they needed this. They took something positive out of this, not just "making a moment" before they die, but addressing regrets and parts of themselves they didn't like.

They didn't like who they became, and they did something about it, and fell in love meanwhile. They have a better character than other Deckers who were seen/mentioned.

I liked their friends, Lidia or the Plutos, I liked them. Aimee was harder to like, but she was loyal too. She was just trying to balance two things that didn't match.
She'd have to give one up for the other, and, in the end, she kept her friend, even if he dies, and freed herself of that burden that was Peck.

Tagoe and Malcolm are really positive reps for black boys: they're loyal, good, the opposite of violent stereotyped black men. One of them is even a brain who got into college. (hide spoiler)]

[The Half-blood Reader]

I need to evaluate my feelings

[Cordelianne]

I completely forgot about this. I am so sorry, have been so crazy busy with uni that I finished my first book in a month yesterday.. I will try to read it next week. Since I will have summer break than :)

[Ilsen]

Omg same Regsly. I was broken when I finished this. Crying as I look over the Switzerland landscape XD

[The Half-blood Reader]

Cordelianne wrote: "I completely forgot about this. I am so sorry, have been so crazy busy with uni that I finished my first book in a month yesterday.. I will try to read it next week. Since I will have summer break ..."

It's fine, Cordelianne! Glad to see you! If you do read it, I'll be glad to talk about it with you :3
I finished it yesterday because I have volunteer work this weekend and won't have any time for myself

@Ilsen I wasn't crying, though my eyes were moist due to allergies *pout* I was at that point where I was weakened by the allergies, so kinda numb, but also could cry more easily. (view spoiler)[ What about his dad?? Omg that also breaks me. A father waking up and finding out he lost his son ;____; (hide spoiler)]

[The Half-blood Reader]

Also, looking over the Switzerland landscape as you cry sounds great, give me some of that. I only get to see sky, field, buildings and faraway trees as I wonder what this book gave and took from me

[Cordelianne]

Regsly wrote: "Cordelianne wrote: "I completely forgot about this. I am so sorry, have been so crazy busy with uni that I finished my first book in a month yesterday.. I will try to read it next week. Since I wil..."

Perfect, I will probably start this week and I will give some updates here, I am curious to read the book :)

[The Half-blood Reader]

Cordelianne wrote: "Perfect, I will probably start this week and I will give some updates here, I am curious to read the book :) "

Yes! I'm curious about your feedback :3