The Lesser Dead - beginning 11/12/18

[Rachel]

Nancy wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Nancy wrote: "So for those of us who read the coda: [spoilers removed]"

I actually re-read the coda to clear this up for myself..."

I know! It changes everything you thought. It wa..."

I totally agree!!!

[Melanie]

Lisa and I are starting this week if anyone's interested.

[Latasha]

Melanie wrote: "Lisa and I are starting this week if anyone's interested."

I changed the start date on the topic for you.

[Melanie]

Latasha wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Lisa and I are starting this week if anyone's interested."

I changed the start date on the topic for you."

Thank you :)

[Latasha]

Melanie wrote: "Latasha wrote: "Melanie wrote: "Lisa and I are starting this week if anyone's interested."

I changed the start date on the topic for you."

Thank you :)"

your welcome

[Char]

Oh yay! I get to watch another band of readers react to this book! :)

[Ginger]

God dang it, I wish I had the time to read this. I'll have to wait for your reviews Melanie and Lisa! Enjoy!

[Lena]

I always enjoy watching these discussions. I wonder which of you will stop when the author says to...
...and which of you won’t.

[Latasha]

Lol yes!

[Lisa]

I'm just a little bit in, but it's interesting so far. I can't imagine myself not reading the end. A) I would just feel like I'm deluding myself, and B) I'm way too curious by nature :)

[Lisa]

Ginger wrote: "God dang it, I wish I had the time to read this. I'll have to wait for your reviews Melanie and Lisa! Enjoy!"

Thanks, Ginger! You might just have to squeeze it in ;)

[Char]

Lena wrote: "I always enjoy watching these discussions. I wonder which of you will stop when the author says to...
...and which of you won’t."

Exactly! Prior to following this thread, I didn't think anyone would stop reading, to be honest.

[Nancy]

The ending is the best part!

[Ginger]

Lisa wrote: "Thanks, Ginger! You might just have to squeeze it in ;)"

If I can get a few books finished in the next week, you bet!!

[Vickie]

Ginger wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Thanks, Ginger! You might just have to squeeze it in ;)"

If I can get a few books finished in the next week, you bet!!"

Hmm... wonder if I can fit it in too?! ;-)

[Kate]

I just finished this and really enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[That ending and the betrayal were brutal. I thought they had just got to Cvetko when he was part of the group. To realise he went in and made friends knowing the children would destroy them was pretty horrific (hide spoiler)]

[Lena]

The ending is a gut punch that often makes me think the author was right, just stop reading.

[Melanie]

Lena wrote: "The ending is a gut punch that often makes me think the author was right, just stop reading."

Just about to start, now I'm getting a bit nervous.....

[Nancy]

Lena wrote: "The ending is a gut punch that often makes me think the author was right, just stop reading."

I thought it was great and just added to the experience of reading. I completely didn’t see that coming. It changes everything. I thought the narrator teasing the reader to not continue reading was great.

[Melanie]

Chapter 1.
Right, well didn't that just set the tone for the rest of the book.

[Lisa]

Joey Peacock = Holden Caulfield + Patrick Bateman

[Nancy]

I also thought of Holden Cauldield while reading this. 🤣

[Melanie]

Lisa wrote: "Joey Peacock = Holden Caulfield + Patrick Bateman"

Me too! 100%

[Melanie]

Chapter 'Soap' - (view spoiler)[ Buy big screen T.V. NOPE (hide spoiler)]

[Nancy]

Melanie wrote: "Chapter 'Soap' - [spoilers removed]"

LOLOLOL...I think I used to watch that show when it aired. This book is funny.

[Melanie]

I'm up to page 176 - finally something's starting to happen. Buehlman's writing is superb but I was getting a bit frustrated with the train-of-thought narrative.

[Melanie]

I'm up to page 220 but this is from back at page 173 (view spoiler)[
Margaret kept them up past sunrise...they were trying to sleep but she kept them on....She looked like she was going to start working them over with her Sandal of Slappery, but Billy Bang was giving her the stink-eye; he wasn't into how mean she was to them. (hide spoiler)]
I love how he's captured the voice of a teenage vampire, it's rings so true for me.

[Char]

Keep that train of thought narrative in mind when you're done. :)

[Lena]

You’re mean Char 😈
Or you can listen to the author’s instructions...
Choices, choices.

[Nancy]

Lena wrote: "You’re mean Char 😈
Or you can listen to the author’s instructions...
Choices, choices."

You’re supposed to keep reading. The end makes the whole book.

[Graeme]

That's like saying...

"And above all else, never, ever, open the black door with the red skull-shaped doorknob at the end of the forbidden corridor."

"Why not?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you. Just don't do it. Now I'm leaving."

"Will you return?"

"No, you're on your own from now on."

"But I still have to obey you, even though you're not here?"

"Yeah ... something like that. Well, without further adieu ..."

(moments later) "... Hmmmm ... forbidden my ass ..."

[Nancy]

Graeme wrote: "That's like saying...

"And above all else, never, ever, open the black door with the red skull-shaped doorknob at the end of the forbidden corridor."

"Why not?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you. Jus..."

Exactly!

[Ginger]

Graeme wrote: "That's like saying...

"And above all else, never, ever, open the black door with the red skull-shaped doorknob at the end of the forbidden corridor."

"Why not?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you. Jus..."

Great description Graeme! hahaha
Yeah, when I read this book next year, I will be reading the part that's forbidden. A rules follower, I was not. ;) hahaha

[Melanie]

Graeme, Char, Nancy, you're all a bunch of meanies with your whispering and your secrets about the ending....do you realise how tempted I've been to just flip to the last part? But no, I'm going to do this the right way, I'm going to power-house through this by the end of the weekend, and then.....maybe I'll skip the Coda...maybe not....you might need to send wine....

[Ginger]

Melanie wrote: "Graeme, Char, Nancy, you're all a bunch of meanies with your whispering and your secrets about the ending....do you realise how tempted I've been to just flip to the last part? But no, I'm goin..."

Hahahaha!! Good luck Mel! 🤣😂

[Melanie]

Page 258 (view spoiler)[ DONT TRUST THE CHILDREN (hide spoiler)]
Really? REALLY? They're not the sharpest pack of bloodsuckers are they?

[Melanie]

Part 4, page 297, I knew this was going to go badly, and everyone keeps warning me about the final part, now I'm wondering how much worse it could possibly get?

[Lena]

Worse. So much worse... depending on when you stop.

[Melanie]

Right. I'm up to the CODA. I have wine, and chocolate, and a small furry friend to help me through......

[Lena]

How did you take it?

[Lisa]

I am really enjoying this book, but I am terrified to finish it...

[Melanie]

Done! I loved it, especially the end, but had a sneaking suspicion about it...(view spoiler)[ I actually thought it was going to be Clayton from SMC who was narrating but I never suspected Cvetko. The more I think about it, I wonder if 'Cvetko' did Clayton in because Clayton kept a codex of all vamps and maybe he figured out Cvetko wasn't who he said he was? Clayton was such a strong character from SMC it just didn't seem likely he would kill himself. I'm hoping he's not dead and will re-appear in a later book...

I never suspected poor Chloe was a vamp. It's awful but I feel better that she was one and not just some random abused kid.

I'm not sure why the reference to Queen Aelfgifu, in history she lived to be about 30 and bore six sons - though he refers to her as Camilla. (hide spoiler)]

Anyway, loved it, the ending made the whole book and it's not the same book without it.

[Lena]

It will be interesting to see what becomes of Clayton in the next book - I’m assuming there will be a book that bridges the two.

[Nancy]

Melanie wrote: "the ending made the whole book and it's not the same book without it..."

That’s what I’ve been trying to tell people.

[Lisa]

(view spoiler)[ OK, finally finished. The ending was not what I expected, and not in a good way. Rather than being devastating or even leaving me feel uneasy, it felt smug and unnecessary atop the rest of this story, which was heading toward five stars for me. Maybe it was too built up in my mind. Other than the ending, I loved it. It was brutal and funny and I loved the characters. I'm not even a big fan of vampire tales, but this was inventive and compelling. For me, on top of a story so beautifully done, the tricky ending just didn't work. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

I Loved this, if anyone wants to buddy read anything else by Buehlman, count me in!

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

[Graeme]

Lisa wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Hi Lisa. I had a similar response and pinged the book a star for the ending.

[Graeme]

Melanie wrote: "I Loved this, if anyone wants to buddy read anything else by Buehlman, count me in!

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

Suicide Motor Club is excellent.

[Melanie]

Graeme wrote: "Melanie wrote: "I Loved this, if anyone wants to buddy read anything else by Buehlman, count me in!

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

Suicide Motor Club is ..."

Yes! That's the only one of his I've read, and I found it a similar formula, slow burn for the first 50% then just train wrecks through the next half. You never seem to know what to expect and I love that in an author.

[Marie Helene]

Very very good :)