A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi - Restarting June 3rd 2020

[— Massiel]

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Date changed. Restarting June 3rd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Connie]

I'm going to start this today!!

[Connie]

Chapter One:

(view spoiler)[ This book wasted no time in getting to the point my god. I'm really interested to see where this book goes. I hope it doesn't take a cliche approach that tries to cure xenophobia. I already hate that teacher. I imagine he's going to be a problem. (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Connie wrote: "I'm going to start this today!!"

Awesome! I’ll be joining tomorrow :)

[Connie]

Chapter Two: (view spoiler)[ I liked the bit where she told Navid's friend "this isn't about you" I really like that the author makes it very clear that you can't negate your religion for no reason and diminish it's importance. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

I'm listening to this now

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter One:

[spoilers removed]"

Right! (view spoiler)[ I can't imagine how difficult it is to be Middle Eastern now, let alone right after 9/11. Couldn't that teacher tell she was speaking with no accent and knew she was in the right place? He should have been reprimanded. It sucks what she's been through (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Two: [spoilers removed]"

Yes, same.

[Josephine]

I didn’t realise this was written by the same author as the shatter me series. If I enjoy this I might have to read the series. Exciting!

[Aly]

ch 10 (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad that Shirin has been bullied and hurt just because of her ethnicity and religion. She's pretty jaded and was mean to Ocean, but I get why she's defensive.
It's cool that she is learning break dancing and she and Ocean are getting along (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Josie wrote: "I didn’t realise this was written by the same author as the shatter me series. If I enjoy this I might have to read the series. Exciting!"
Shatter Me is amazing! One of my top series for sure. I highly recommend it

[Aly]

ch 20 (view spoiler)[ She didn't even know Ocean played basketball or was a junior. Shirin is kind of self centered and I feel like she and Ocean shouldn't be together if she doesn't care to learn things about him. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Aly wrote: "Connie wrote: "Chapter One:

[spoilers removed]"

Right! [spoilers removed]"

EXACTLY, EXACTLY

[Connie]

Chapter Three and Four:

(view spoiler)[ I do have to laugh at Shirin mocking Ocean's ignorance about Islamic religions but I like the insight into her and Navid's relationship. Thought Chpt 4 made me kind of like Ocean, he seems nice. I have hope for this boy. (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Aly wrote: "ch 10 I feel so bad that Shirin has been bullied and hurt just because of her ethnicity and religion. She's pretty jaded and was mean to Ocean, but I get why she's defensive.
It's cool that she i..."

(view spoiler)[ i'm happy her and Ocean seem to be making some progress in talking like normal people without all the defensiveness (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter Twelve:

(view spoiler)[ I like Jacobi's advice to be happy because people can't stand it when you're happy. (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Aly wrote: "Connie wrote: "Chapter One:

[spoilers removed]"

Right! [spoilers removed]"

It’s crazy! (view spoiler)[ Like just because she has a headscarf on they think she can’t speak English! Surely she’s not the only one in the whole school who wears a headscarf? Although it was almost 20 years ago now so maybe that’s why the teacher is so assumptive (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter Fifteen:

(view spoiler)[ WE WERE MAKING SO MUCH PROGRESS WITH TALKING TO OCEANNNNNNN. DON'T DIAL IT BACK.

Though, can you imagine ever calling a teacher a d*ck to their face? He deserves it tho after that stuff with Travis (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Ch3: (view spoiler)[ its sad that her parents don’t understand her troubles. I know they also had hardships but it doesn’t mean her hardships are any less worthy. I like that she’s getting into breakdancing, very 2000s, hopefully it wil;l help her express herself and open up. We have just met Ocean, who I’m assuming is the love interest 😂 (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Josie wrote: "Ch3: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ The whole breakdancing thing seemed so random to me but then I had to remember that it was 2002 haha (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Chapter Eighteen:

(view spoiler)[ Is it just me who's getting a little annoyed with her playing poor Ocean? JUST TALK TO THE POOR BOY. HE'S PINING. (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Connie wrote: "Josie wrote: "Ch3: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah ikr same

[Connie]

Chapter Twenty:

(view spoiler)[ Maybe it's because I'm not American but i don't get the sensationalisation of characters in YA books being in sports teams? like I get it makes them popular but like ?? idgi (hide spoiler)]

[Connie]

Finishing thoughts;

(view spoiler)[ I didn't mind the bitter sweet ending tbh, the author said in the forenote that it was loosely based on her own life experiences and that's kind of sad. I'm glad the outlook gave Shirin a better optimism for her next school though. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Three and Four:

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah (view spoiler)[ I'm not surprised that he didn't know anything, but I'm glad she doesn't let people get away with ignorance like that (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Twelve:

[spoilers removed]"

So true! What better way to get back at haters

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Fifteen:
(view spoiler)[WE WERE MAKING SO MUCH PROGRESS WITH TALKING TO OCEANNNNNNN. DON'T DIAL IT BACK.

Though, can you imagine ever calling a teacher a d*ck to their face? He deserves it tho after ... (hide spoiler)]"

haha I loved that part (view spoiler)[ where she called out her teacher! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Josie wrote: "Ch3: [spoilers removed]"

Wow yes (view spoiler)[ just because someone has different struggles doesn't mean they aren't valid (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Eighteen:

[spoilers removed]"

Yes! (view spoiler)[ hasn't he proven he cares for her yet? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Twenty:

[spoilers removed]"

Haha in real life, my high school wasn't all about the sports teams, but maybe because none of them were good?

[Aly]

ch 29 (view spoiler)[ Wow fuck Ocean's mom for spending his college money and his coach for saying he'll get Ocean kicked off the team and expelled. What is wrong with people? I am so angry right now (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ Well I'm glad Ocean found out about his coach and mom and defended Shirin. And that they were together for a bit. It really sucked that she left at the end though. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Connie wrote: "Finishing thoughts;

[spoilers removed]"

You're right (view spoiler)[ it did help her have a better outlook and maybe some kids at the school learned a bit too (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Ch6: (view spoiler)[ omg 2000s Americans are sooo racist! They are all immigrants really, so they have no right to tell Shirin to “go back to where she came from”. Although I have to say that she is being rather racist, considering no one has ever paid attention to her before, you’d think she would be happy he was being friendly, but she seems to shut down every comment he says (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Josie wrote: "Ch6: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah (view spoiler)[ she's definitely jaded and only sees the bad. Ocean is trying to be a nice guy but she keeps shutting him down (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Aly wrote: "Josie wrote: "Ch6: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah [spoilers removed]"

Thanks for keeping up with this thread :) I should be finished with this book tomorrow. Ch12m (view spoiler)[ I like ocean, he seems like a decent guy really, and the b-boys (ew so 2000s) are nice too, but seriously which sister asks her bro if she’s pretty like what? (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Fifteen:

WE WERE MAKING SO MUCH PROGRESS WITH TALKING TO OCEANNNNNNN. DON'T DIAL IT BACK.

Though, can you imagine ever calling a teacher a d*ck to their face? He deserves it tho after ..."

Omg I know! I would just wish to be swallowed by the ground in embarrassment, and no teacher would ever let you get away with that!

[Aly]

Josie wrote: "Aly wrote: "Josie wrote: "Ch6: [spoilers removed]"

Yeah [spoilers removed]"

Thanks for keeping up with this thread :) I should be finished with this book tomorrow. Ch12m [spoilers removed]"

Haha (view spoiler)[ Yeah, it would be awkward for her brother to answer that. Ocean is a cutie. (hide spoiler)] Of course, I love seeing what other people have to say

[Josephine]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Eighteen:

[spoilers removed]"

Yes i totally agree. Also like (view spoiler)[ since when to guys just phone you and say, we need to talk because i really like you but you are totally ignoring me so like “Is it just me?” (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Connie wrote: "Chapter Twenty:

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah same. It must be a huge thing in America! But also i thought that American football was the big thing, or does it change depending on where in America the school is. I know you can get huuuge scholarships for colleges there for being good at sport which I kinda weird aha

[Josephine]

Ch 27: (view spoiler)[ I feel as if Mafi is drawing the book out a bit. I don’t think it needs another 11 chapters. We know that ocean and shirin are “together” now, and unless there’s a huge twist coming, I’m ready for this to end. (Oops) (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Josie wrote: "Connie wrote: "Chapter Twenty:

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah same. It must be a huge thing in America! But also i thought that American football was the big thing, or does it change depending on wher..."

Haha it's true, in most states the highest paid person is a (American) football coach! How crazy is that?

[Aly]

Josie wrote: "Ch 27: [spoilers removed]"

Haha I get what you mean. (view spoiler)[ It's kind of like the story itself didn't have much to it so she's filling in things. Not as interesting as the Shatter Me books (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

Aly wrote: "Josie wrote: "Ch 27: [spoilers removed]"

Haha I get what you mean. [spoilers removed]"

Yeah i agree. I feel as if I’m at the filler stage, as if the author is just buying time.

[Josephine]

Aly wrote: "Josie wrote: "Connie wrote: "Chapter Twenty:

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah same. It must be a huge thing in America! But also i thought that American football was the big thing, or does it change dep..."

That’s crazy!! Here, it would probably be some tech specialist or a high up lawyer

[Josephine]

Also, i can’t believe your goal is to read 500 books this year, that’s like 10 per week!!!

[Aly]

It's a lot, but I'm able to listen to audiobooks at work so it helps me get through at least 5 a week

[Josephine]

Aly wrote: "ch 29 [spoilers removed]"

Ugh I know right?!

[Josephine]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I actually didn’t like that they ended up together. I feel it counteracted the message that the book was giving off. I guess that because it’s a romance, it had to end like that, but it felt too much like everything was perfect. But I don’t think Shirin is a perfect character, and that’s what makes her relatable (hide spoiler)]

[Josephine]

I also felt Shirin should have got the message that no one cares. In high school, it is all about going with the crowd (view spoiler)[ she got so angry when she became popular after the talent show, but clearly she hadn’t really grasped high school life, because of course that’s what was going to happen. No one really cared about her hijab, she was just someone to poke fun at. And then when they won, she was cool because she’d shown them something of interest about herself. I felt that message could have been pushed a bit further by the author. (hide spoiler)]