Girls with Sharp Sticks (Girls with Sharp Sticks #1) by Suzanne Young - Restarting November 15th 2020

[Brinley]

Booktastically wrote: "Eeeeeeeekkkkkkk!! This book was a masterpiece!

Brinley, chica (assuming here) you have no idea what's going to be the twist. My lips are sealed, not going to spoil anything. But dang, it left me l..."

Yay!! I’m totally up for being left gasping and in shock, no books have surprised me recently! I’m already getting to that point, and I’m only a few chapters in, this book is quite strange

[Brinley]

Up to chapter 9
(view spoiler)[ Umm, Mr. Petrov is a perv, and it is creeping me out. It just gives me the shivers, the way he touches and talks about these girls. What in the world are the parents thinking?? Unless it’s all an elaborate scheme. I have no idea how that would work, but that’s my theory. This is some creepy sci fi stuff, and I can’t wait to see where this goes! (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Up to chapter 14
(view spoiler)[ That poem escalated VERY quickly. It went from faithful little girls to heads being bashed, yikes. All of this foreshadowing is concerning me, I have no idea where this is going, but it’s going to be explosive. I’m not sure whether I should be reading this at night, but whatevs! This’ll be a fun adventure (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!?! It's just so weird. And Creepy. Like making me freak out kind of creepy.
I felt it might have been the present, or slightly in the future, because of the technology, and I suppose there must still be parents who might want their daughters to be marriageable for reasons...
I was really confused, so I went and read the synopsis again, and since it's a sci-fi dystopia, I think there might be a world where girls are only good for being wives. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!?! It's just so weird. And Creepy. Like making me freak out kind of creepy.
I felt it might have been the present, or slightly ..."

(view spoiler)[ I would think that, but then Jackson acts like your regular teenage guy, not like he’s been born into a system in which women are material. I think it’s slightly in the future, but I’m really not sure. I want it to be stated implicitly, because I am super confused (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[He is. And it's really creepy.
I think the book is meant to show you how a girl(talking underage consent) might not see something that is very clearly harassment and molestation. I think we see this book as creepy because this kind of stuff, the touching, the leering, the come-ons that are very obvious to us, are not being realised by the narrator. And that's why it creeps us out; thinking how someone can take advantage of someone naive, and how easy it is, just because the narrator hasn't had any social interaction that would prepare her for this.
I also have this theory that Mena's parents might be like Lennon's....in the sense she might also have been taken away from them, and since she keeps forgetting about them slowly, she doesn't panic or anything.
Me too, I'm excited for whatever might come next! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!?! It's just so weird. And Creepy. Like making me freak out kind of creepy.
I felt it might have been the presen..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, Jackson is a startling exception.....perhaps it's different social classes? Maybe they take the girls and just bring them up differently? Like in a different sort of world? The girls might have been bred like prize mares for rich guys who are either willing to may for them, or might be like barter? For favours or something? Didn't this used to be a technological factory or something? Maybe they're trying to take over the world, and they're gaining favours or material by using the girls as money?
Also, that bit where Jackson says something about the government banning or trying to ban something? I think that's important.
Yeah,, I'm confused too....also, any idea what the age of our MC is? I thought it must be 15-16, but at times it seems like she's 13? (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

He is. And it's really creepy.
I think the book is meant to show you how a girl(talking underage consent) might not see something that is very c..."

(view spoiler)[ You dove into that way deeper than I did, but your definitely right. Even if she was taken from the parents, I have to doubt their parenting abilities, and their morals. Considering that she was being groomed even before she came to the school. I even am beginning to think she was taken as a baby, and just raised by the school. I don’t see any parent surrendering their child to this mess of a school, and then just letting them keep the kid.

Also, I am really growing to despise Leandra, Petrov’s wife. Clearly, she knows things, yet she still lets these girls be harassed by her husband. How could she let that pass, unless she’s being drugged too? There’s some fishy stuff going on... (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 14
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I thought it was like empowerment and so on, but it quickly turned into massacre.
Honestly, I'm reading this book with wide eyes, because I'm more or less shocked or unsettled by everything I read.
I'm loving it too! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 14(view spoiler)[
I also think it's lead, in the yellow capsule, or mercury....I only guessed because of the colour and something I'd maybe read before, and I confirmed from google- both can cause memory loss. Maybe they made some controlled mixture which can induce memory loss without the other symptoms of lead or mercury poisoning (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!?! It's just so weird. And Creepy. Like making me freak out kind of creepy.
I felt it might have..."

(view spoiler)[ Maybe, especially because we’re constantly hearing about how expensive this school is. It just throws me off, because Jackson acts like some of the kids I go to school with. I’m pretty sure they barter them off, because the sponsors keep alluding to making larger donations while leering at the girls, it’s disgusting. Do you think they sell them? Like a brothel? It sounds weird, but it’s just an impression I’ve sort of gotten from some of the flashbacks and such.

Yah, I get the feeling that’s important too. I think they tried to ban the internet? I’m getting slightly frustrated that we’re being kept in the dark about so much, like we know nothing about the politics, or anything about the world. It’s getting to be a bit too much for me at this point. Especially considering these women are supposed to become housewives, yet they know nothing about society.

I think she’s like 16ish? She does act like she’s 13 at times, but I think they said something about her being third year of high school? She’s about to graduate, so somewhere between 16 and 18 I’d guess. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 14
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I thought it was like empowerment and so on, but it quickly turned into massacre.
Honestly, I'm reading this book with wide eyes, because..."

(view spoiler)[ Yah, I’m constantly in a state of “Wait, really???” While reading this. It’s so different than my normal high fantasy, but I’m loving it too!

Ooh, that’s interesting. You gotta wonder why they’re trying to induce so much memory loss, what are they hiding? And what is their end goal? Because brainwashing 20 girls isn’t going to work with their power trip. There’s bigger goals here, and I want to know what they are (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

He is. And it's really creepy.
I think the book is meant to show you how a girl(talking underage consent) might not see something..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah, I got a bit carried away :)

The baby theory is perhaps the most plausible....taken at birth, she'll have zero memories; and I'm pretty sure creating memories might be easier than manipulating them?

Yeah! Leandra is like the women in victorian(only comparison I know) books who are not helping the women, and making things even worse. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!?! It's just so weird. And Creepy. Like making me freak out kind of creepy.
I fel..."

(view spoiler)[I think it's more or less a brothel, but with like traits for good housewives. You can buy housewives who will listen to everything you say, will never question you or your wants will do everything that needs to be done and can be shown off to anyone you want to make jealous. It's like buying a housekeeper and model rolled into one, but with zero rights.

It is pretty frustrating, but I guess that's because Mena doesn't really know anything. I kinda wish this was third person.

Yeah that should be right.....guessing by the...well this sounds weird, but...by the size of the breasts and the style of the dresses (Oh God I feel so weird writing that), only girls out of puberty or nearing the end of it will be able to pull them off....so 16-18 is about it I think. I don't think there's an age of consent, however. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 14
[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, I thought it was like empowerment and so on, but it quickly turned into massacre.
Honestly, I'm reading this book with wid..."

(view spoiler)[It is fun! :)
Yeah, brainwashing 20 girls is a pretty big effort for something as small as finishing school(of a sort)(this is such an understatement) (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I KNOW RIGHT!?!?!?! It's just so weird. And Creepy. Like making me freak out kind ..."

(view spoiler)[ I agree with you about the third person, because I’m a bit tired of knowing nothing. There’s a point when too much is concealed, and this is reaching it. I just want to know a bit about the world.

That’s a good point about the age, especially about the dresses. And clearly they’re attractive to all men, so they’re probably about 18. I’d guess no consent age, because they’re being sold off like cattle to the highest bidder. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

63%
(view spoiler)[NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO




What
is going on

Is she a robot? Why were there clicks? But is she's a robot then she shouldn't need drugs or sedatives. And she does bleed. And needs feed.
But all that can be manufactured right?

The clicking sounds indicate some kind of cyborginess right? (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I was wondering about the setting as well because it reads very modern but is it more of a futuristic book? (view spoiler)[ also Menas inner dialogue is extremely creepy. I keep wanting to tell and be like, no that's not how you should think! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Jenn wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 4
[spoilers removed]"

I was wondering about the setting as well because it reads very modern but is it more of a futuristic book? [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know right??!?! The manipulation makes my skin crawl (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "63%
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"

(view spoiler)[ I don’t know what to think. I mean, he inserted wires into her eye, and there was clicking, so I think so?? But then why are they drugging robots?? But when he withdrew blood, it was green? I’m so confuuuuussseeeddd. And why are all the men getting turned on by robots??? (If they are) this is weird, and I am confusion (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Also
(view spoiler)[ Can we just talk about how big these girls’ eyes must be???? I mean, he seriously inserted a syringe, ice pick, and wires into there. Like, that’s a lot of equipment into a single eye! Yikes (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

This is so fun to buddy read, thanks for doing this guys! I can’t imagine how weird this would be by myself, this is so much better

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "63%
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I know right?!?!?! It's so confusing, and I hope we get some answers soon (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Also
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I hate you for making me think about that.

But more seriously,

yeah. yeah i think they'd need to be pretty big.

unless of course there are sockets that come out of the girls for the wires.

(oh god why am i thinking about this) (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "This is so fun to buddy read, thanks for doing this guys! I can’t imagine how weird this would be by myself, this is so much better"

Same! At least I know I'm not alone and confused, but together and confused, which is waaay better!

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Also
[spoilers removed]"
..."

(view spoiler)[ Sorry... I think we’re all questioning what we’re thinking at this point, this book is quite something. And I really didn’t need that picture of girls with sockets in their eyes in my head, gee thanks for that. I still want to know if they’re robots, like can that be explicitly stated?? This entire book is just me being confused (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

71%
(view spoiler)[Also, I have this feeling Jackson might not know about his mother. I mean, the details. Because if he does, I hate him.
The reason for not knowing:

"“I’m not sure,” Sydney says. “But this file they had on his family—it was thorough. It was . . . kind of threatening. And then it stopped after his mother died. Suicide, it said. After that, it was like they just forgot all about her.”"

They just forgot about her!??! His mother?!!? (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "71%

Wow, somehow I caught up with you!
(view spoiler)[ Yah, I’ll really hate Jackson if he knows. I don’t think he does though, he’d be so young to be involved anyway. Especially because she’s dead.

Everyone in this book seems to have memory problems, so at this point, I’m not even surprised anymore. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Also
[spoilers removed]"
..."

[spoilers removed]"

Sorry :)(view spoiler)[Yeah, this discovering things is awful in first person (hide spoiler)]

[Jenn]

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[ the creep factor is high. I'm trying to figure out what's going on but I just can't get past the curriculum at this school. And how beauty is your best asset. Also the head of this school is a perv. And what's up with Jackson? I feel like he knows more than he's letting on (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Page 317
(view spoiler)[ Yikes yikes yikes yikes yikes yikes

Girls were put on this planet for the benefit of men. And you are here to serve at out pleasure. There is no other way for you girls- know that. Outside these walls, without our grace, you are nothing. Absolutely nothing.

These sickos. These perverts. This is quite frankly, disturbing. How could someone ever think like this. I want this guy to get fed to a ton of little girls with sharp sticks. I want this guy to suffer for all eternity. The utter nerve he has, and then to talk dirty to them literally a sentence before. This might just be the most disturbing thing I’ve ever read, it’s definitely leaving a mark (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "71%



(view spoiler)[Yeah, you're right about that XD

Also, since Jenn wrote it out in her message but I can't reply to her without spoilers, so, Jenn, message 79? Yeah, I did start thinking something was weird about him, but then we didn't see him for so long that I just forgot about it. I felt that he was a bit too convenient, maybe? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Jenn wrote: "Chapter 8: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah the whole book has made my skin crawl with all the curriculum and the men. No comment on Jackson, I mean there is a comment in my previous message, but it has spoilers, so read it when you get there! :) (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "71%



Yeah, you're right about that XD

Also, since Jenn wrote it out in her message but I can't reply to her without spoilers, so, Jenn, message 79? Yeah, I did sta..."
(view spoiler)[That’s a good point about Jackson, he was a bit too convenient. He just happened to show up, happened to know about the academy, and happened to want to free the girls. I’m not sure what his motives are, but I don’t trust him entirely either. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

You're killing me Brinley with the page 317. Should I open it? How many pages were in your book?

[Brinley]

There were 391, so it’s probably around 81%. It’s not massive spoilers, but I just had to get it out. Sorry bout that...

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Okay I'll wait!
76%
(view spoiler)[WHAT THE HELL!!?!?!??!
Are they sure it's not only 2 years, but maybe more? If they are robots, that is.
I just....I have nothing else to say (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Sorry Trisha, I’m doing it again. Page 362
(view spoiler)[

Only instead of rows of plants growing strong, there are rows of organs and partially created bodies. There are beeping monitors and bright lights. He’s growing girls back here.

Gag, gag, gag. Lots of shivers. That sentence is creepier than this entire book. What did the author go through to get the urge to write this?? Why am I reading this?? The comparisons of girls to roses is freaking me out. Like, I suspected they were robots, but this is getting worse and worse. Growing. Like plants. Yikes, yikes yikes (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Up to chapter 30
(view spoiler)[ YOU GO LEANDRA. YOU GO!!!! Poison those assholes. Show them what a woman can do. Better yet, slowly strange them with those “harmless” and “obedient” hands they’ve groomed so nicely. I don’t forgive her for allowing these girls to be what is essentially tortured, but at least she’s helping now (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

80%
(view spoiler)[I have nothing to say. This is just horrifying. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Page 317
.."
Oh, definitely leaving a mark. This is going to get 5 stars from me even if I don't like the ending. The message is just....it needs to be out there.

[Brinley]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I am in complete and utter shock. I really don’t know what to say. I just, more people need to read this book. It’s message is so important, and so inspiring. It’s disturbing, but that’s part of what makes it so important. I can’t say that I loved this, but I’ll never forget it. It made that big of an impact on me, and definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

86%
(view spoiler)[

"Instead of listening to her, Guardian Bose pulls Sydney away from the wall and then slams her back against it again, her head making a dent in the plaster, her eyes momentarily unfocused."

Could someone explain to me why her head makes a dent? Or are these walls drywall? All walls I've ever seen are brick and mortar, so I'm just grasping at straws here. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Sorry Trisha, I’m doing it again. Page 362
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Finally the comparisons make sense, you know? But yeah, I could have done without some of the descriptions.
Me too, I mean cyborgs were a possibility, but like this? *shudders* (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Up to chapter 30
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Same!!!! When she came I was seriously panicking, I mean is she going to help them or f*ck them over? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"
100%
(view spoiler)[Really, they do. I thought I was going to read another school-trope book, and I didn't really read any reviews before starting this, so it was a complete surprise! And a good one. I think. We could probably have done without the slight romance, but since Jackson wasn't completely against the idea of them being cyborgs(is that even the correct term for what they are?) I've forgiven him.
Also, LENNON IS ALIVE!??!?!?!?!
And thank God Winston wasn't a villain. I think. I guess we'll find out. (hide spoiler)]

[Booktastically]

Guys! Oh goodness on a stick. Y'all read this monumentally fast! Are you ready for the sequel?

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Booktastically wrote: "Guys! Oh goodness on a stick. Y'all read this, monumentally fast! Are you ready for the sequel?"

Oh yes! But I'll finish two other books before starting that one.....or I might cheat, who knows ;)

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "86%
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Ummm, that is a very good question. Either Bose is inhumanly strong, or she just has a very hard head. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "Finished
[spoilers removed]"
100%
.."
(view spoiler)[ I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't this. I still don't completely trust Jackson, but I think that's just because he's done too much for these girls without asking for anything in return. After seeing her get abused by Bose the first time, I'm not sure if I would've gone creeping around school grounds with them. Even more than I distrust Jackson, I distrust Winston. If he's so against the school, why is he sponsoring it. Why is he buying the girls it produces. If he was truly against it, I get the feeling he'd go to the law and get it shut down. And now that he has Lennon, I don't know what will happen (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Booktastically wrote: "Guys! Oh goodness on a stick. Y'all read this, monumentally fast! Are you ready for the sequel?"

Oh yes! But I'll finish two other books before starting that one.....or I mi..."

I'll start when you start Trisha! It was so fun to be reading at exactly the same time, and being in he same spots