October 2014 Group Read: The Troop by Nick Cutter

[Marc-Antoine]

Deuces are wild!

[Kimberly]

Marc-Antoine wrote: "Deuces are wild!"

I've finished! :)

[Rachel]

I'm almost 3/4 of the way through this one. It has a lot of potential, but there's some stuff in it that's keeping my from really enjoying it.
I'm going to finish it, but I really prefer paranormal or psychological horror. This has been just gore and nastiness for the sake of gore and nastiness, it seems, and though I don't consider myself to be squeamish, this book has definitely made my stomach turn more than once.

Despite the content, I've been really enjoying the style though. I like the little bits of foreshadowing in the form of the newspaper articles and such. It's interesting to read that and then find the connections in the coming chapters.

One thing I have to say though, (view spoiler)[I'm glad Shelley got what was coming to him. Sounds harsh to say about a kid, even if they are fictional, but I was worried there that he was gonna be the sole survivor or something! But maybe I've spoken too soon as I haven't actually finished the book yet? (hide spoiler)]

[Michael]

Wichard wrote: "Well, I'm not liking Shelley very much so far!"

I didn't like Shelley as well, but more than that I found him to be (view spoiler)[kind of a boring, obvious cliche of a psychopathic teenager.(view spoiler)[. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Bear]

The spoilers removed bits are a Lil annoying and kinda hinder real discussion. Wouldn't it just be easier to have 2 forums one with and one without spoils

[Kimberly]

Michael wrote: "Wichard wrote: "Well, I'm not liking Shelley very much so far!"

I didn't like Shelley as well, but more than that I found him to be [spoilers removed]"

I agree with Michael's assessment on this one.

[Amanda]

Cait wrote: "The spoilers removed bits are a Lil annoying and kinda hinder real discussion. Wouldn't it just be easier to have 2 forums one with and one without spoils"<

I understand why the spoilers are supposed to be removed, but I agree that they are kind of annoying. I've always thought it might be nice to at least have a date each month past which we don't have to use spoilers.

[Kimberly]

Amanda wrote: "Cait wrote: "The spoilers removed bits are a Lil annoying and kinda hinder real discussion. Wouldn't it just be easier to have 2 forums one with and one without spoils"<

I understand why the spoil..."

That's a great idea. In some "buddy reads" we set a date where anything read up to "25%", for example, doesn't have to be hidden in spoiler tags. Then 50%, etc...

[Rachel]

I don't really mind the spoiler tags myself, to be honest. I appreciate others using them because it keeps me from being spoiled, especially since I may not have the time to keep up with others while they're reading. And I don't mind using them to keep myself from accidentally spoiling stuff for others. :)

[Greg]

I also appreciate the spoiler tags but as a good reads app user I really wish they functioned on my iphone. It just shows the hidden spoiler tag but you are not able to click on it and view it in the app. I have to log in on a PC to do so which can be frustrating.

[W]

Finished! Wow, i loved it, really something else, but some scenes were quite upsetting, but i guess that's the fun of horror :-)

[G.B.]

Dear Groupread,

Today I ate spicy sushi to the delightful and soothing sound of Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Newton, you brave, brave boy. They underrate you.

[Leah]

I listened to the audio version of this book and I had to say that while I found the plot interesting, the description made me want to tear my hair out (and eat it). How many ways can one describe (view spoiler)[ worms (hide spoiler)]? Or anything for that matter. Though I would try to just be amused when the 20 similes actually contradicted one another. Is it a like a shard of light or a grub? Whatever. This really detracted from the plot, which I found quite good.

Also with Greg and C.J. re the ending, though really curious what others think. (view spoiler)[ Was Max infected? My personal theory is that he was not, just suicidal, then became infected upon hitting the island. It too no time for the hunger to kick in with the others, and we have some hearty little worms, so why not? (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Leah wrote: "I listened to the audio version of this book and I had to say that while I found the plot interesting, the description made me want to tear my hair out (and eat it). How many ways can one describe..."

I would have to agree with you along those lines, too, Leah. (view spoiler)[ I felt that Max was more depressed than anything, after his life being reduced to what it was. Although part of me wondered if maybe the "scientists" purposely infected him with a "different/dormant" type of worm as a test subject. Then the parasites "led" him to where they sensed others of their kind.... (hide spoiler)].

[Kirsten]

Finally, my copy came in at the library. Now, I'll see what all the fuss is about!

[Angela]

My copy of the troop finally came in the mail. Have started it today. High expectations.

[Daniel]

I've noticed some stuff along those lines as well, Leah. What gets me more is the absolute catalogue of experiences each boy has stored that allow for the perfect analogy between past and present. I feel sometimes as if I'm going two pages back for every one forward. I'll get back to the present from one " ... It reminded Max of the time ... " only to read a few paragraphs and reach "Shelley recalled the day when ..." And cue another three page segue.

I'm really enjoying the book. It's fast and pretty slick, but I feel like there's not enough "now" in it.

[John]

I'm almost halfway done. Stephen King was right, you just can't put it down. One of the scarier books I've read in a long, long time. Gives me the heebie jeebies

[Ken B]

Yes, but when King says "you just can't put it down", it means some freak has glued it to your hands.

[Rachel]

I just finished The Troop this morning. I had high hopes when I first started it. The first few chapters really pulled me in, but the farther I got, the more disappointed I was. The ending especially made me feel dissatisfied. I thought it was really cliché.
All in all, I felt this book started out pretty strong, but crossed quickly into generic territory.

One other thing that bothered me was (view spoiler)[the way that the first infected guy conveniently ate the spark plugs. Out of everything on the boat, he ate the one thing that kept it from running yet would be easy to recover? And how on earth did Max put two and two together to find where they were? Also, after finding them, they conveniently forget them on the rock, knowing full well that Shelley was out there. Despite the fact that Newton had shown himself to be very capable during this whole ordeal? I thought everything fell together way too smoothly, and I feel like resorting to such clichés is poor writing, honestly. (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

I hope you're all enjoying this one as much as I did!

I have a Goodreads friend that has a galley copy of this book that he would like to pass on. If you are interested in it, post here, and I will check back later. :)

[Kimberly]

Charlene wrote: "I hope you're all enjoying this one as much as I did!

I have a Goodreads friend that has a galley copy of this book that he would like to pass on. If you are interested in it, post here, and I wi..."
Personally, I really enjoyed this one, and glad it was picked. :)

[Bear]

My girlfriend needs to hurry up and return the book!!! I need to finish it 3

[Sebastion]

I'm pretty excited to read this book. This will be the first group read I have participated in. I hope I can contribute something interesting to the discussion :)

[Missy]

Just finished part one. So far I'm really enjoying it. I like the bits of info in the form of news articles and evidence. Can't wait to finish this book as I am eagerly awaiting another tapeworm book due to be published soon!!

[Leah]

I am with you Rei. (view spoiler)[ Why would the guy eat the spark plugs? Seriously. And even if he did, you are 100% right about leaving the recovered spark plugs on a rock. (hide spoiler)]

[Richie]

Starting it tonight!!

[Daniel]

I enjoyed it pretty well overall. The characters were pretty whatever, and the dramatic tension was kind of not there (nothing really happens plot/character development wise), but the writing was smooth and it was worth a read. It just needed a stronger backbone.

His new one coming out in January looks pretty solid. I'll be keeping an eye out for it.

[Missy]

Jon wrote: "Catherine wrote: "I just realized what the books reminds me of! Lord of the Flies! :)"

Actually, in the blurb, I read a review quote that described this book as "Lord of the Flies meets Night of t..."

I'm enjoying this book much more than I ever liked Lord of the Flies! Lol

[Angela]

im up to chapter 19. so far so good. just been flat out with work so have been too tiered to read at night which sucks.

[Tad]

I read this a while ago and kinda hated it. If I hadn't received an advance copy for review, I would have abandoned it. The first 100 pages or so weren't bad, and the brief interludes away from the island were actually the most interesting part, but by the middle of the book I was just rooting for the characters to die. For me, gross does not equal scary. I didn't feel the characters developed at all. I just didn't feel it was very well written.

As someone else pointed out, The Ruins is a much better creeping sort of horror and even a more recent book like Parasite does a much better job with a similar premise.

I was actually disappointed in Stephen King for agreeing to put a blurb on this book.

[Judith]

I've been slow with this book. I hoped a lot more of it, haven't find the awesomeness everybody was taking about and definitely not halloween-ish so far. I don't know, we weren't meant to be lol.

[Judith]

I will finish it anyway though

[Natasa]

Started the book yesterday, came to 22%...so far unusual, sometimes yuk, I think the fun will start very soon...can't wait to go through your thread here....

[Chad]

So, I just finished and I have to say that once I got past the understanding that I'm just not going to be able to suspend my disbelief that far and could just be entertained, I really enjoyed the various ways he found to make my skin crawl. On a number of occasions I found myself squirming in my seat with an appreciative grin on my face. I'd think this would make a nice little horror flick.

[David]

Really enjoyed this one. Gruesome and engaging.

[LyndiLea]

Did anyone else notice the similarities between this and Dreamcatcher by Stephen king?

[Eat.Sleep.Lift.Read.]

Nearly finished this crap.

Not scary. Not gory. Really, just not good at all.

[James]

agreed didnt really enjoy this book either

[Natasa]

The book was good, but it wasn't wooooow! So I gave it 4*, actually wanted to give 3*, but the writing was really really good, I enjoyed his descriptions a lot.
The plot and the setting were ok, they are used out but it doesn't matter to me. It's more important to me what the author does with it. There were some original scenes and a lot of disgusting scenes. Usually I don't get easily disturbed, I guess I hate the worms and all the creepy crawlies. I wish the story didn't drag that long, I think it would have been more interesting in case if it was shorter...though with his need to go into details that much, i don't how that could have been accomplished other way that what hedid.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I'm happy to have finished it.

[Nate]

Lyndi wrote: "Did anyone else notice the similarities between this and Dreamcatcher by Stephen king?"

I was thinking along those lines in the beginning too! Group of friends isolated in the woods and strange, parasitic events ensue.

[Daniel]

read this book. I enjoyed it as a horror work, but I could not help but notice some of the PEI....errors? I am familiar with the island, so they struck me. All in all, a good creature feature book.

[G.B.]

Sorry to say that I won't be able to finish this book. Stuff has been going a little nuts in my life this past month and I'm just no longer in the right mindset to enjoy or even focus on the story. Alas, the spaghetti eating challenge will go unanswered by me, which bums me out because I had Plans. But congrats to everyone who finished it!

[Trudi]

FYI:

For any of you who read and loved (or at least enjoyed a lot) this book, I just noticed that it's missing from this year's Goodreads Choice nominations for Horror.

Since this was by far my favorite Horror read for 2014 I've been nudging all my horror pals to write in their vote for this book (which you can do at the bottom of the page past all the other nominated books).

Cheers everyone.

[Will]

I just started this book and it's fairly interesting thus far. I'll know more as I get into it :-)

[Jesse]

I lagged behind and just got around to beginning this yesterday, but I'm now 70% in and having a blast. This is fun, fast-paced, gross-out horror. My only nitpicky criticisms (and by nitpciky I mean super nitpicky) are the letters to the child psychiatrist (I don't buy their tone/style), some of the characterization, which comes across as over-the-top (particularly with Kent, Shelly, and Newt), and (view spoiler)[ the rapid fashion Eef falls victim to Shelly's mind game (hide spoiler)].


Also, I found one troop member's job posting from last summer. http://imgur.com/vVAjymh