The Alice Network - January 12, 2019

[Savanes, Moderator]

We will be starting a buddy read of The Alice Network by Kate Quinn on January 12th. Everyone is welcome to join.



Please mark your posts with where you are in the book and use spoiler tags as needed.

In an enthralling new historical novel from national bestselling author Kate Quinn, two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.
1947. In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, American college girl Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, and on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family. She's also nursing a desperate hope that her beloved cousin Rose, who disappeared in Nazi-occupied France during the war, might still be alive. So when Charlie's parents banish her to Europe to have her "little problem" taken care of, Charlie breaks free and heads to London, determined to find out what happened to the cousin she loves like a sister.

1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans and unexpectedly gets her chance when she's recruited to work as a spy. Sent into enemy-occupied France, she's trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the "Queen of Spies", who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy's nose.

Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that ultimately tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded in her crumbling London house. Until a young American barges in uttering a name Eve hasn't heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth...no matter where it leads.

[Savanes, Moderator]

Schedule:
Saturday January 12 : Chapter 1 - Chapter 3 (included)
Sunday January 13: Chapter 4 - Chapter 8
Monday January 14: Chapter 9 - Chapter 11
Tuesday January 15: Chapter 12 - Chapter 16
Wednesday January 16: Chapter 17 - Chapter 20
Thursday January 17: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24
Friday January 18: Chapter 25 - Chapter 28
Saturday January 19: Chapter 29 - Chapter 34
Sunday January 20: Chapter 35 - Chapter 39
Monday January 21: Chapter 40 - the end

[Trisha]

I'm crossing my fingers hoping I get the book in time!!

[Bub]

May I please join the buddy read?

[Susan]

This was a great book <3

[Kristin]

This was one of my favorites for 2018!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Bub wrote: "May I please join the buddy read?"

Absolutely, Bub! We're starting January 12th and will discuss in this thread as we go.

[Savanes, Moderator]

I think I'll make a schedule so we can read along, what do you think?

[Kristie, Moderator]

Sure, if you want. I’m not sure how it’s broken up. I have the audio.

[Savanes, Moderator]

The book is about 500 pages so I think we can read it in 10 days (50 pages / day). Does that sound feasible to everyone?

[Ayanime]

Interesting...

[Trina]

Hello All! I'm new to the group and looking forward to joining this buddy read. This book has been on my TBR longer than I expected:-)

[Savanes, Moderator]

Good to have you with us! :)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Welcome, Trina!

Sounds good, Savanes.

[Savanes, Moderator]

The schedule is up in the second message.

[Thereadingbell]

I might join this buddy read depends how quickly I get through some of the books for January. I will be picking up my January books tomorrow so we will see how far I get. If I finish them quickly I will most definitely join on this read. The book sounds really good.

[Thereadingbell]

ok so I was on Amazon looking at books for new releases and The Alice Network was available for 2.99 for me so I purchased it for my kindle. I will be joining the buddy read.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Glad you'll be joining us, Susanne.

[Trina]

I also benefited from the kindle sale today on Amazon and will be joining the buddy read of The Alice Network. I've been wanting to get to this one for months and I am excited to join you guys.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Excellent, Trina! This should be a great discussion.

[Savanes, Moderator]

Great!

[Melissa]

Perfect, I have been looking forward to reading this book..

[Kelsey]

I would love to join this buddy read!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Welcome, Melissa & Kelsey!

[Savanes, Moderator]

Starting tomorrow!! Is everyone ready?

[Thereadingbell]

I am ready finishing two books hopefully today.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I plan to finish my current audio today, so I'll be ready to start this one.

[Thereadingbell]

Finished my books I am ready.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just started this one, but I'm still in chapter 1. I already like Charlie.

[Bub]

I’m restarting this today. I’m on page 16. So far so good

[Thereadingbell]

I will be starting soon myself but plan to do the buddy read schedule and read another book at the same time

[Savanes, Moderator]

Interesting beginning... I'm just past chapter 1, I wonder what happened to Eve to be (view spoiler)[drunk all day. (hide spoiler)]

[Savanes, Moderator]

Chapter 3: small detail but (view spoiler)[ aren't the symptoms of pregnancy easing at the 3rd month and not starting? I didn't suffer from nausea/morning sickness while i was pregnant but it seemed weird that Charlie started throwing up while she's 3 mths along... (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie, Moderator]

Savanes wrote: "Interesting beginning... I'm just past chapter 1, I wonder what happened to Eve to be [spoilers removed]"

I was wondering about her (view spoiler)[hands (hide spoiler)] too.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I only made it through chapter 2 today, so I'll have to read your chapter 3 spoiler tomorrow.

[Thereadingbell]

This is my first book that I have read that switches back and forth about each character it is kind of different for me. I also was wonder about (view spoiler)[ eve's hands. I have never had kids so I do not know about that but the people I know who have had kids each one started at different times. I think it depends and stress may be adding to it but equating it to pregnancy. (hide spoiler)]

[Thereadingbell]

Which Character is your favorite so far?

[Thereadingbell]

(view spoiler)[ For me it is Eve the women is drunk and has messed up hands but she can still cock her pistol and point it at Charlie's head. That is one fascinating lady.to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Bub]

I’m a slow reader so I’ll catch up with y’all later. Please keep the spoilers hid as you’re doing. Thanks!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Also, please mark where you are with your spoilers so everyone knows when they can read them. Thank you!

[Savanes, Moderator]

I really like the book so far and I have to say I like both characters for different reasons.
I liked this sentence Charlie said about Eve (chapter 11): (view spoiler)["Did she have to be cryptiv when she wasn't being profane? IT WAS LIKE TRAVELING WITH A WHISKEY-DRINKING SPHINX. ;) (hide spoiler)]

About the first few chapters, (view spoiler)[It was insane that Charlie couldn't get any of her money without her father's consent. But I was glad she showed the banker how smart she is, smarter than him at least. (hide spoiler)]

[Tina]

Is it late to join? This book looks great!

[Kristie, Moderator]

No, jump in, Tina!

[Thereadingbell]

Savanes wrote: "I really like the book so far and I have to say I like both characters for different reasons.
I liked this sentence Charlie said about Eve (chapter 11): [spoilers removed]

About the first few chap..." I have to agree with you about both characters are very interesting and I also like them for different reasons.

[Tina]

Holy Bookworm! Thanks for letting me join in. I picked up my book this afternoon and absolutely am in love with Kate Quinn's writing. I hope it remains this terrific.

[Thereadingbell]

Tina wrote: "Holy Bookworm! Thanks for letting me join in. I picked up my book this afternoon and absolutely am in love with Kate Quinn's writing. I hope it remains this terrific." Everyone is always welcomed to join in buddy reads it makes discussions really good.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Savanes wrote: "Chapter 3: small detail but [spoilers removed]"

I don't think that's always the case. (view spoiler)[ I think it can be different for everyone and even between pregnancies. With my first daughter I was sick every day for the first 6 months at least, then had a small break and started getting sick again the last couple of months. With my second daughter I wasn't sick at all. I guess you never know. Also, I agree that the stress may be adding to her illness. (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie, Moderator]

I didn't get much reading done over the weekend, but got back to it today. I think I'm the opposite of most people, as I usually read less on the weekends. I'm somewhere in chapter 7. (view spoiler)[

I love Eve coming to the rescue at the pawn shop. That was great. The guy didn't know what to do. I was so frustrated for her that the banker wouldn't give her her own money. Her name is on the account, not her father's. I was so annoyed with him telling her what her money was supposed to be for and requiring her father to give permission. Ugh. Even the pawn shop guy wanted her father's permission. I mean, I guess I understand that more, as the pearls could have been stolen, but still how aggravating to always have to have a man's permission to do anything. (hide spoiler)]

[Thereadingbell]

Kristie wrote: "I didn't get much reading done over the weekend, but got back to it today. I think I'm the opposite of most people, as I usually read less on the weekends. I'm somewhere in chapter 7.

I love Eve..." I am doing the reading schedule as posted before we started already at chapter 17. I thought it odd too that permission needed to be granted.

[Savanes, Moderator]

I'm like you Kristie, I tend to read less in the weekends. More parties at night and more family to tend to. ;)