Grim Readers Book Club discussion
July 2019 - The Luminous Dead
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Checkpoint #1 - Chapters 1-11
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Sara Kay (free.saratonin)
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Jun 25, 2019 04:28PM
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Made it through chapter 11.I’m really enjoying this story. The small tidbits of info that we are being fed, helping the story develop or unfold bit by bit... and then the lingering doubt in the back of my mind saying but are these bits truth or more lies?
In the spoiler free discussion we had talked about the fear factor, claustrophobia, water, the dark.... the small details that enhanced the fear was describing the feeling of what it’s like being trapped in a suit. Not being able to rub sore muscles, chew food, pull on your hair. I thought the things the author described not being able to to do because of the suit were things I hadn’t thought of and were great at increasing the fear. As if being alone, being controlled, being lied to, being in tight spaces, the dark,supplies going missing, were not enough.
I can see me finishing this one rather quickly!
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I'm really glad you brought up the suit, because that was going to be my big point with this first section as well.
For me the most unsettling thing about all of this at the moment is not even the cave or the darkness or the claustrophobia. It's the suit. It's not being able to brush your hair off your face or scratch an itch or rub your tired muscles. I am very disturbed the idea of having your intestines re-routed. Every time she talks about putting a canister of food into the opening to "feed" herself and how the paste goes through her guts and she can feel it? That bothers me so much! I can't imagine having to "eat" that way. Not being able to chew your food, having your body surgically altered to be able to go on these months-long caving explorations without having to be concerned about those biological processes? Creepier than anything else if you ask me!
I am SO intrigued by this and very unsettled by it at the same time. It's definitely a successful book so far. I am thinking I will be finishing this one fast myself.
Yes! The suit is the big thing for me too! I don’t know how many times I wondered what if her nose itches! Or what if she wants to rub her eyes? That surgery! A canister of sludge for feeding. G.R.O.S.S. Gross!!!!!
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This book is SO GOOD already!! I just finished reading chapter 11 and am sad I have to put the book down and do adult things haha!! The suit gives me mad anxiety, along with having someone controlling absolutely everything. Crazy! Can't wait to see what's going to happen next .... I think we've got a wild ride ahead of us!
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The suit really is one of the biggest "fear factors" for me so far and I never would have considered that either. I give the author huge credit for taking that into consideration as she was writing the story and using it to her advantage. It's so fascinating how such a simple thing as not being able to touch your own skin can be so upsetting.
I am really loving the overlying sense of dread in the story so far.
Something else I'm really interested to know more about is these tunnelers. What are they exactly? And why is a caver safe ONLY if they go down alone? What is it about teams or groups that draw their attention? Added to that, if there IS someone else in the cave with Gyre at this time, does that mean she is no longer safe from the tunnelers? Initially that had not crossed my mind. When she was thinking about the lost cache and how that meant someone else must be in the cave, it never occurred to me. Then I started thinking back to why this had to be a solo mission in the first place and I realized that brings up an entirely different threat.
So I am interested to see how the situation with these mysterious tunnelers progresses!
Yes!!!! The Tunnelers have me extremely intrigued! I've been picturing a huge machine with teeth that rips through the rock... really want to know what/who it/they are!!
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I just read through the first section tonight and I'm definitely hooked. The suit is just so interesting... an advantage in the environment for sure, but I sure couldn't live in one. I think the worst though is having to rely on a stranger who can manipulate your body or shoot you full of drugs or lock you down and leave you to die.I do like the mystery of it all and the author's way of dolung out new info slowly to build suspense.
Very curious about the tunnelers. Anyone seen the movie(s) Tremors? Those monster worms are what I kept picturing. :)
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1 How does the fact that this book only has two (main/current) characters affect the atmosphere? Do you like the very limited list of characters or no?
2 Do you trust Em? Why or why not? We already know that she has told several lies, but she seems to have ‘come clean’ at this point. Do you believe her now or do you think she is still not entirely truthful?
3 So far we have been given limited information on the “tunnelers”, and most of it is up to our imagination. What do you think they actually are?
4 At this point, what do you think is the most frightening part of this story? Is it the claustrophobia? The solitude? Gyre’s lack of experience for this very dangerous job? Many readers are saying it is the suit. Agree? Disagree?
5 Why do you think Gyre’s mom actually left, and where do you think she went? Will Gyre truly get out of the cave and find her? Do you think this is a part of the story we will really learn something about, or just exposition to give her a reason to end up in the situation she is currently in?
6 BONUS: Do you think there is someone (something?) else in the cave with Gyre? If so, who or what do you think it is?
I think the scariest part is how far in Gyre is. She's so deep in the cave system, with at least several days between her current position and the ability to get to the surface. Given the looming panic I know I would feel, it's terrifying to think you couldn't just haul butt out of there. There's so much isolation, and zero chance of rescue. The tension is excellent, the momentum great, and the characterizations are perfect. I love this book!
1. I think only having two characters adds to the fear factor. There are so many things that can go wrong and there's no real backup plan.2. I think Em is out for her own agenda. I do think she's come somewhat clean, but given the choice down the line to get her answers vs. protect Gyre... I don't know that I trust her. She has let an awful lot of people die for her cause!
4. I think it is the fact that there's no help coming if something goes wrong! Getting trapped down there would be a slow, painful way to die.
5. I'm not sure what to make of Gyre's mom. Definitely it adds to the desperation Gyre is facing and her desire to get off world. Given the mystery of why she left with such an ambiguous note, I would hope we'll get more answers!
6. My initial thought was all those bodies in there that weren't ever found/recovered... could they have 'turned' in some way instead of just dying?
Confused! Curious! Intrigued! Uncomfortable!Just a few feelings before I continue trying to catch up haha
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I'm liking the dynamic of only have two main characters at this point. It adds to the sort of claustrophobic, helpless vibe of the story since Em is really Gyre's only tie to the surface.
Very curious about the tunnelers. I'm picturing something like the Big Daddies from Bioshock but I'm also assuming they'll be something a lot more natural than what I'm envisioning.
