Battle Royale by Koushun Takami - Restarting July 1st 2018

[Idalis]

Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller is based on an irresistible premise: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan - where it then proceeded to become a runaway bestseller - Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world. Made into a controversial hit movie of the same name, Battle Royale is already a contemporary Japanese pulp classic, now available for the first time in the English language.

Princess and I will begin reading this on October 2, 2014. Feel free to join us!

[Idalis]

If you are going to join in on this buddy read, have chapters 1 & 2 read by October 6th so we can discuss!
Have fun reading! :)

[Princess]

I'm starting this right now :)

[Princess]

There are so many names. The fact that I had written all their names and their notable characters, weapons, allies and cause of death just to be reminded about them.

[Idalis]

There are a lot of names, lol! I tried reading them aloud.....it didn't quite work out so now I am just reading in my head :D

[Princess]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[I adore Sakura's belief and the fact that her boyfriend Kazuhiko supported her for it. It's too bad they die thou :3 (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[IDK if I should call Yumiko and Yukiko stupid or brave. Maybe both :3 (hide spoiler)]

[Princess]

Chapter 28 (view spoiler)[What is Kinpatso talking about? There's a secret? what what what!! (hide spoiler)]

chap 37 (view spoiler)[This is the most brutal death ever lol (hide spoiler)]

[Idalis]

Oh my gosh, you are ahead....I need to catch up :D

[Princess]

Idalis wrote: "Oh my gosh, you are ahead....I need to catch up :D"

it's so fast paced like every chapter there's something 'woah' going on lol

[Idalis]

I know I love it. I just can't believe how quick the characters started killing

[Princess]

Idalis wrote: "I know I love it. I just can't believe how quick the characters started killing"

and I love how the evil teacher is so straight forward

[Princess]

Chapter 51 (view spoiler)[this is one of the novels that I really liked. It's not perfect. . . cause for a second there I really thought they could make it (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 67 (view spoiler)[At least the author made it easier for Shuya to be reunited with his friends. (hide spoiler)]

Ending: (view spoiler)[I LOVE IT!! IS THERE BOOK 2? (hide spoiler)]

[Idalis]

Oh my gosh! You already finished….I am making it my mission to finish the book this weekend :D

[Princess]

Idalis wrote: "Oh my gosh! You already finished….I am making it my mission to finish the book this weekend :D"

FINISH IT!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha in what part are you already?

[Idalis]

I feel a lil' ashamed saying this because of how much I am behind but I am on chapter 30

[Princess]

ow you're almost close to my favorite chapter (37) ahahaha

[Idalis]

I just got to Ch. 37 :)

[Princess]

tell me what you think hahaha

[Idalis]

Well....I started reading it and at first I didn't understand why it was your favorite, and then I did. I was such a funny chapter and the way it ended was not how I expected it to end. It was a great chapter to kind of take a break from all the chaos of the other chapters. It was amazing!

[Princess]

Idalis wrote: "Well....I started reading it and at first I didn't understand why it was your favorite, and then I did. I was such a funny chapter and the way it ended was not how I expected it to end. It was a gr..."

me too, I was like. . . omg sad girl :< and then. . . uhhhhhhhh okay this girl can protect herself lol

[Idalis]

lol :D I know, I was not expecting her to attack him the way she did. She's got guts....lol

[Princess]

my hero. . . or heroine hahahaha

[Abi]

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reading from the 11th of October 2017

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Abi]

*************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reading from the 1st of July 2018

*************************************************************************************************************************************************

[Maddie]

Starting this tonight :D

[Maddie]

Chapter 0, 3% Well it's already confusing XD I have no idea how to tell people apart without constantly flicking back to this initial chapter, and there's no way I'm going to do that. I just hope that eventually I'll find some way to distinguish characters. The Japanese names are so strange to me as well. This is going to be a tough read. Hoping there will be different POVs throughout that give me more memories for each character, and keep repeating their names XD

[Maddie]

Chapter 4, 6%. Wow this book is super gory! (view spoiler)[I cannot believe that he raped their guardian from the orphanage! All because they didn't accept the Program? I mean, obviously it's going to take a very long time to come to terms with it! Does that mean that all of their parents are dead too, because they must have defied the government!

And I wonder of all of the Programs only occur within Japan, or are they worldwide? Because if there were 50 classes just throughout Japan each year, that's terrible and horrific! (hide spoiler)]

I want to keep reading, but I'm getting tired XD It's crazy so far! And only going to get crazier. People are starting to make a bit more sense to me, but definitely not all of them. Doesn't help they're all Japanese, so I can't even distinguish them differently in my mind XD That sounds bad, but they do all have the same skin and hair colour.

[Maddie]

Chapter 7, 9% (view spoiler)[This book is insane. The battle's just starting finally! Can't wait to see what's going to happen. Can't believe that his friend was one of the only people I was getting straight in my head, and now he's dead. Bleh. (hide spoiler)] These Japanese names are really tricky for me.

[Maddie]

Chapter 10, 12% (view spoiler)[My first thought was that by knocking Yoshio off the building, he'd killed him. But wasn't the school forbidden zone as soon as they left? So Yoshio should've been killed anyway? (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

The names will throw me too. Just barely started.

[Maddie]

Ah yeah. Planning on finishing tomorrow. I was going to get halfway through today, but that didn't happen. I don't wanna get all read out by tomorrow's readathon. I'll focus on this one after I finish up Scythe.

[Maddie]

It's just so hard to link these names with personalities. Doesn't help everyone looks the same too (not racist just stating).

[Jamie]

Maddison wrote: "Ah yeah. Planning on finishing tomorrow. I was going to get halfway through today, but that didn't happen. I don't wanna get all read out by tomorrow's readathon. I'll focus on this one after I fin..."

Haha. I somehow ended up with 4 BRs all starting today so bit slow lol. But I will get there!

[Maddie]

Haha that's fine XD Where are you up to now?

[Maddie]

Alright going to read a little bit more now before my dinner comes.

[Maddie]

Chapter 12 (view spoiler)[Holy wow some of these people are ruthless.

But the suicide was such a good idea, I'd go that way as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Maddison wrote: "Haha that's fine XD Where are you up to now?"

Just finished Ch 3 lol.
(view spoiler)[I guess the teacher protested and was therefore killed... (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah that's what happened. So detailed though!

Also with the CC group, do you actually buddy every book over there? Or do you just make threads for the points? Because every book that's BRed in this group also has a thread over there for you guys

[Jamie]

Maddison wrote: "Yeah that's what happened. So detailed though!

Also with the CC group, do you actually buddy every book over there? Or do you just make threads for the points? Because every book that's BRed in th..."

I think a lot overlap. I know if members are in both groups there is a br in both. I have some in both, some just here and a couple that are just there myself but I can't speak for everyone. Same in a few other groups I have noticed that with too. But probably not as heavily as members match up between the two strongly and also I am not as active in some of the other groups so I don't pay attention to too many BRs. Tracking my own is enough lol.

[Maddie]

Why make a BR thread over there then if no one else is on it?

[Jamie]

Not sure what you mean. BRs are active over there. I guess some don't' get used but same goes fro here where brs are made and people don't follow through. As far as I know every BR over there has at least 2 members that agree to read a specific book and set a date together. Personally I feel BRs are more active over there in a lot of ways.

[Jamie]

Honestly if you have questions about the BRs there though, I'd ask the mods. :) I am still not familiar with their BR system to speak much on it's behalf.

[Maddie]

Ah right yeah I was just curious XD

[Jamie]

You are fine. I am still trying to keep straight where I have BRs and with whom. I finally made a list on my laptop so I know but even that is a few BRs behind lol. I have a friend trying to get me to do them in another group but I just can't take on more lol. And then I get messes like I have a br set for the 1st here for the Handmaid's Tale and over there it is the 4th. So sometime this week... then it gets really confusing lol

[Maddie]

Yeah XD I'm pleased I've dropped back on the BRs. But I've still got a planner where I list what I'm reading with who and when

[Jamie]

Ch 9. (view spoiler)[Wow. Panic and fear is driving these kids to bad choices fast!. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Maddison wrote: "Yeah XD I'm pleased I've dropped back on the BRs. But I've still got a planner where I list what I'm reading with who and when"

I go in waves on BRs. BUt I am bringing pickier on which books I will BR at least. This is going ot be a heavy month for them. I hope I can sort ofof keep up!

[Jamie]

Maddison wrote: "Chapter 12 Holy wow some of these people are ruthless.

But the suicide was such a good idea, I'd go that way as well."

(view spoiler)[I don't normally go for suicide but yeah, under these circumstances. I don't think I could kill and I don't want my blood on someone else's hand who might just be trying to survive. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Yeah, I'm finding it a little but frustrating though how (view spoiler)[people just assume that everyone will want to team up. It's like Shogo said, people might just want to team up to kill them in the end and not be suspected. I suppose it is the original story so it might be a little crazy for them to think that. (hide spoiler)]

I'm up to Chapter 22. So much violence, it's great.

Are you reading it right now?

[Maddie]

I think it might be slumping me :/ I'm just not feeling connected with the characters