The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan → Start Date: September 4th, 2014

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Please join Vicki, Amanda, Jacquelyn and I in this buddy read if you can!

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

Woohoo! This one looks really good. I like the cover! :D

Standalone, eh? :)

[Amanda]

Yay! I can't wait to read this. It looks good.

[Mandiann]

I will join this one!

[Vicki]

Thanks for making the thread, Trisha. I think this one will be really good! How can we miss with all us awesome buddies! :o)

Mandiann is always a PLUS! :o)

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

Mandiann wrote: "I will join this one!"

Yay! :D

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I know, a standalone in a sea of series. I guess we'll see if it stays that way! LOL This one looks so good!

Can't wait to read with you guys! :)

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

Yeah, tomorrow we'll check and it will be turned into a 6 book series! LOL

Me too! :D

[Mandiann]

Vicki wrote: "Thanks for making the thread, Trisha. I think this one will be really good! How can we miss with all us awesome buddies! :o)

Mandiann is always a PLUS! :o)"

Lol!! Aww thanks Vicki! I think we have a really sweet group for this read.

[Vicki]

I agree with you, Mandiann! :)

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

Yes, we do! :D

[Amanda]

I don't think my copy will be in on time. As of right now the record shows the book being on order. I will update tomorrow after work and let you guys know if the status has changed.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

oh no! How is everyone else on getting a copy??

I have mine but I think I have a little more time before I need to return it.

[Jacquelyn, thebrunettebooknerd]

I have mine as well.

[Mandiann]

I have mine too. I think it is due the 15th but I should be able to renew.

[Vicki]

I have my copy as well. :o)

[Amanda]

Sorry guys I'll have to drop out of this one. My copy has not come in at the library yet, it still shows as an order record.

I will come back to read and post spoilers once I get my copy.

Enjoy guys :)

[Vicki]

Hopefully it'll come soon. That happens to me all the time. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[Amanda]

Thanks Vicki :)

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

well...I'm behind due to being sick

I'll be starting this one tomorrow :) I'm playing catch up tonight

[Vicki]

No problem, Trisha. I have about 20 minutes left I'm my current book and am undecided what to start next. I'll probably get at least some of this one read tonight.

[Mandiann]

I haven't start yet either and probably won't get to tonight.

Dan is out of town and I am on solo puppy duty so have very little reading time, plus work is absolutely hectic.

[Vicki]

Give puppy a kiss for me. :)

[Mandiann]

I wish you could see how much he has grown, Vicki! He is huge!!

[Vicki]

Awe, I'd love to see him! I am totally a dog lover all the way!!

[Mandiann]

Me too!! It is so wonderful having his company, especially when Dan is not around. But I am looking forward to when he doesn't need my attention almost every moment I am home.

[Vicki]

They're very much like children in their consumption of time and need for attention. Lol

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 10

I had NO idea what this book was about whatsoever!! I was so excited to see the inside page that says, "THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS" because I love Hawaii! We went to Hawaii in June, and many of the places mentioned in the book I know of or have been to before. :o)

One of the unique things in this book is the father (view spoiler)[ and daughter relationship. I can't remember reading books where the father and daughter are such a complete team, going through such a tragedy alone, just the two of them. I really like that. (hide spoiler)]

With that being said, I must add that while that is true, I absolutely would want (view spoiler)[to be with my family under those circumstances, so I totally understand their desire to get home. That must be so unsettling! I hope the mom and brother are okay. (hide spoiler)]

Leilani (view spoiler)[ is a brave girl. It must be scary to know you have epilepsy and that a seizure can come on at any time, so for her to climb back into their hotel room was very brave. She acts very mature and like she is ready to take on more than her dad gives her credit for. (hide spoiler)]

Dad (view spoiler)[ is at times rather ruffled. Not saying that I blame him, but in a tragedy I think the parent needs to stay calm for the sake of their child. I know that is not always going to happen. But overall he's great. I can't imagine not being able to fully protect your child! We humans definitely have our limitations. When those PIGS were sizing up Lei, I was SO glad her dad didn't go with them. Ugh! (hide spoiler)]

Just reading about a (view spoiler)[ tsunami and all of the chaos and turmoil it puts people in is so disheartening. I've never lived through a natural disaster other than an earthquake, but the worst that happened to us was some broken items. But a tsunami, and the pilfering and looting and the closing down of hotels and transportation? OMG! this book is making me truly feel for the situation. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 19, which was a natural place to stop since Ch. 20 begins like a new part in the book.

Lei and her dad have sure gone through a lot together. I thought sure that (view spoiler)[ he'd want them to stay where they were "safe," in the sports field. But obviously they weren't truly safe there either. But their journey since they escaped there has been CRAZY! (hide spoiler)]

Leilani is seeing (view spoiler)[a different side to her father in this tragedy! He's stolen, he's been short, he's taken a bullet, he's shot. I guess we put on different hats in different situations. (hide spoiler)]

When Lei and her dad saw the (view spoiler)[boat that he stole, she thought of the other person first. I thought that really showed that she has good high ethics. That she didn't want to just leave them stranded really gained my respect. Of course, eventually they had to leave without the owner but they sure have had a rough time. It would appear that they are trapped on that 500 foot wall of rock. FREAKY! Can't wait to see how they get out of the one. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

starting now! I'll catch up and starting posting! I can't wait to read your spoilers Vicki :D

[Vicki]

I'm really enjoying this one!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

5 chapters
holy cow, I must admit, I didn't know what this one was about either

the only time I've been to the Hawaiian islands was on my honeymoon and we went to Kaua'i. I loved it! We stayed in a small cottage and hiked everywhere it was legal for us to be on that island.

that said (view spoiler)[ I don't think it's where I'd want to be when they start talking about Tsunamis. I just don't feel like they have a lot of options of avoiding water.... (hide spoiler)]

and now the big wave (view spoiler)[ in the sky. holy yikes
I can't believe how...calm her dad is. I think I'd be pretty well freaking out. I mean, it's kind of nice that they are in the clinic and mildly shielded..but wow, he's awfully calm for the crazy that feels like it going on... maybe for Lei to try to keep off a seizure??
I'd be freaking out being separate from my husband and son and not being able to contact them :( (hide spoiler)]

off to read more :D

[Vicki]

Oh, I know! I would be (view spoiler)[ a basket case not knowing where my family was! (hide spoiler)]

I'm done and I'm conflicted! I don't even want to rate it because I need to think about it. LOL

Chapter 25 really, really upset me because (view spoiler)[ I can't believe that her dad would almost force her to smoke pot. As soon as she did, that's when she started realizing what the Orchid really was. I thought, and even now still wonder, if that was just a hallucination. Once she realized all that she did under the influence, I quit taking the story seriously. Was that just a dream or was that entire chapter for real? (hide spoiler)]

I'll post more in the morning. I'm going to bed...3 days of headaches.

I'm posting 3 stars right now, but I might end up changing it. I can't wait to see what you think.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Okay I stopped at 19 chapters
But it's 3:30 in the morning lol
I'm off to bed - will read your spoilers tomorrow :)

[Vicki]

OMG you're as bad as me!!! Lol But last night I went to bed "early" at 12:45. Lol

[Vicki]

Just a couple other things I want to say about this book, so it will include the entire book.

One thing I really enjoyed, even though I didn't understand any of it was the Hawaiian language. It's so beautiful and fun to listen to.

I was "surprised" and sad to see that there was (view spoiler)[racism abounding, and at such a time when EVERYONE should have been coming together as one. I couldn't believe that people were after them because they were white. I HATE racism!! I say viva la difference! I LOVE the various cultures, belief systems, traditions, skin tones, languages, and so on. Peronally I'd hate it if everyone was white (or Mexican or black or Chinese), etc. and we all pretty much looked like clones. But to try shooting a young girl and her father during a tsunami disaster? That is LOW! (hide spoiler)]

I was so glad to see Lei find (view spoiler)[ ONE really good person. In mythology the "hero" always has a helper, and in this case Lei's helper was Uncle Akoni. I was scared to death when she left the hospital with him, but then I was SO relieved that tons of people recognized him and kept saying, "Hi, Uncle Akoni." That's when I knew he was a good guy. (hide spoiler)]

The sheriff in the story was (view spoiler)[ TICKING ME OFF!! If you can't trust "law enforcement," who can you trust? I thought her dad was seriously a goner when the sheriff was going to shoot him!! Thank GOD for Lei's grandpa and his past with the sheriff. I wonder what actually went down because Grandpa wasn't too quick to want to talk about him at all. But the sheriff and his men going after Lei and her dad really upset me. (hide spoiler)]

I think this story is one that could easily fit into a group of mythology because, if I understand it correctly, Lei (view spoiler)[ is somehow one with the Star Flowers/Emerald Orchid. She will somehow save her people from radiation genocide, by being one with the Star Flowers. Is that what you got? I think it's rather strange! LOL By the end of the book I knew the Orchid was real, but at first I wondered if she was hallucinating when she "heard" it for the first time. The Emerald Orchid had a baby? LOL WTH? This is strange. LOL Did you pick up on WHO Lei is? Why is she able to hear the Orchid? I know she is epileptic, but I don't think other epileptics can hear it. (hide spoiler)]

I was a little confused by the bantering back and forth between Lei and (view spoiler)[ the Orchid. I wasn't always sure if they were both talking or which one was saying what or if Lei was talking to herself. LOL (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Okay, so I'm still at 19 chapters but I think it will go quick from here

but I think this is the last chapter I'm going to like this book

I see (view spoiler)[ some kind of mythology or fantasy part kicking in (hide spoiler)] and I think this turning from the typical dystopian (which I find completely fascinating if not completely FRUSTRATING!) (view spoiler)[ is going to kill it for me
I like their fight to survive and the crazy that is being stuck on Hawaiian island as this is all going down AND looking "white" or non-native. I don't want this other element brought in at all because I think the story stands well on it's own merits :( (hide spoiler)]

well....here goes nothing :)

[Vicki]

LOL I brought in the Orchid factor in my very last spoiler. For some reason that and chapter 25 (view spoiler)[totally killed my belief or interest in the story. I just thought it too weird.For a while I was thinking it might be a 4 star for me, but then it was dropping to a 3, and then I thought this between a 2 and 3 for me. I hardly ever give 2s and it did have some redeeming qualities, but I swear I think you hit it right on. Too strange so it killed it for me too. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

I Just finished Chapter 24
and I want to toss the book
I can't believe what chapter 25 could hold that would make me like it

did her dad REALLY just force her to do that???

dumb. :(

I'll be done soon

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

chapter 25

i'm sorry what??? (view spoiler)[ a cosmic sea turtle??
ugh. 2 stars for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "I Just finished Chapter 24
and I want to toss the book
I can't believe what chapter 25 could hold that would make me like it

did her dad REALLY just force her to do that???

dumb. :(

I'll be done..."

RIGHT? LOL

[Vicki]

Trisha wrote: "chapter 25

i'm sorry what??? a cosmic sea turtle??
ugh. 2 stars for me. "

Are you still going to finish it?

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

yeah...but I'm just pretty much giggling the whole time
i can't believe THAT is how is explaining everything
I'm just completely floored right now

I think it just went to a 1 star. we'll see. lol

[Vicki]

LOL Well I changed mine to a 2 star but I just thought MAYBE you saw something in it that I was missing. LOL I can't do a 1 unless it had NO interest for me. It could have been really good, too. But WHY would that author put that crap in Ch. 25? What kind of a dad does that???

[Mandiann]

I may drop this one. I am just not feeling it.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

Mandiann wrote: "I may drop this one. I am just not feeling it."

OMG LOL NO don't do it!! don't read it!

It's awful, Mandiann, just awful. lol

[Mandiann]

At first I thought you were joking....I am kind of glad you aren't, I feel less bad about giving up on it. Honestly I only read the synopses and the first two pages. I will take your word for it and return it unread.

[Vicki]

Don't you want my input for confirmation? DON'T BOTHER!!! Lol

[Mandiann]

LOL well I thought Trisha was joking and then I saw her rating. I did double check your rating too before finalizing my decision.

[Amanda]

Oh no 2 stars. I'm still waiting on my copy is this one worth trying or should I just skip it?