Wein, Elizabeth - Code Name Verity - Informal Buddy Read - Start Date November 5, 2014

[Sophie, The other one]

Just finished this. Really enjoyed it - but such an emotional rollercoaster. (view spoiler)[ I'm in awe of the strength of Maddie. If I was asked to do that I don't think I could, and I definitely don't think I could face her family with the grace that she achieved. I'd be interested to re-read it and see where the underlining starts and what's been said about Engels up to that point. I thought for a while that it would be Thibault who turned out to help (hide spoiler)]

[Snowtulip]

Erin wrote: "I just finished. I really liked it. I ended up liking the kitty hawk part more than the verity part. [spoilers removed]"

I'm with you Erin, I liked the kitty hawk part better, I think because I felt her emotion throughout her writing, and possibly because of everything I learned about her from part one of the book. The author did great with ending on her narration.

I admit that it took me some time to get in this story initially, but heartbroken by the end!

[Erin]

@Sophie - (view spoiler)[I agree, I kind of Thibault was going to end up helping too (hide spoiler)]

[Cynthia]

I never expected (view spoiler)[ Thibault to help. He placed not only himself but his family at risk to become a collaborator. We know that he isn't at risk, and that his family is safer from Nazi suspicion. He doesn't know that, doesn't know that they're Resistance.

No, I never expected him to help either Julie or Maddie. (hide spoiler)]

[Rebecca]

I agree with Cynthia. (view spoiler)[ I think as an interrogator herself, Queenie knew she wasn't going to get any help rom Thibault. It makes sense that Engel would help because it seemed like the women in the book were the strongest characters. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda A]

I finished this morning. This was such a beautifully told story. I have to admit that I struggled through the beginning and it took me a while to get into the story, but by the end I was devouring each page. (view spoiler)[It was clever how the underlined sections came together to help them rescue the others and I never would have expected Engel to be involved in it. I also liked the Kittyhawk section told in Maddie's POV more. It seemed to flow better and the pieces started coming together at this point too. That was when I really started to fly through the pages. I could never do what Maddie did and admire her for having the courage to do it and to tell Julie's family what happened. I loved the letter at the end from Julie's mom and that Maddie knows she made the right choice. (hide spoiler)]

I liked that the author admitted the story may not be 100% historically accurate. Most of it was based on historical instances so it did not detract from the story for me at all. I cannot imagine how much research had to be done for this book. I think I will read the companion book, Rose Under Fire, at some point too. The reviews for it seem to be good as well.

[Sarah]

I was able to renew my loan on the book, so now I am not as crunched for time. I am only 40 percent done. But I have another BR today and that book is due in seven days so I do gotta start that today and get it done.

I have been highlighting the underlined sections and will go back later and see if there are clues there.

[Sarah]

Why don't we set up a BR for the second book... in like February:-)

[Cynthia]

Sarah wrote: "I have been highlighting the underlined sections and will go back later and see if there are clues there. "


Brilliant! I wish I had thought to do the same. Especially in the ebook, it's so easy to read the highlights sequentially.

I'm in for the 2nd book, too. She's so gifted at story-weaving. I think I'd read her books on any topic.

[Rebecca]

I had no idea there was a 2nd book!! I would definitely be up for read it!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Sarah wrote: "Why don't we set up a BR for the second book... in like February:-)"

Feb would be good :)

RebeccaS - from the synopsis I think it is more of a companion book than a sequel. It sounds very interesting!

I'll set up a thread when I get home tonight

[Rebecca]

That sounds awesome! I think I will read anything that she writes. I was completely captivated by this book and the characters.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I'm joining late in the game but I'd like to start reading this book. :) I'll try to catch up.

[Kristie]

I only have this book on my laptop, so it is slow going for me. I'm waiting on a library copy to check out the underlining. Can't believe so many of you have finished already and the spoilers are all from the end, so I can't even peek!! Eep!

[Joi]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I'm joining late in the game but I'd like to start reading this book. :) I'll try to catch up."

I'm just starting today as well. I'm really enjoying it so far.!

[Rebecca]

Welcome Joi and RachelvlehcaR!

[RachelvlehcaR]

Thank you and nice to see you here Joi. :)

[Joi]

Thank you Rebecca.! Nice to see you as well Rachel. I decided to join because the book was readily available from the library.

[RachelvlehcaR]

I joined because I saw it was the BotM for the group, A Million More Pages and would count for the Hogwarts challenge. :P Also, sounds interesting.

[Joi]

Wait....it's botm? I so did not see that.

[RachelvlehcaR]

For the other group, it's only a BR for here.

[Kristie]

Karen wrote: "@Kristie
One way is to download the Overdrive app onto your phone and then just download the books straight to the app. Because I download all the audibooksync files over the NH summer (and I don't..."

I missed this. I downloaded the overdrive app, then I used the transfer button on the overdrive on my laptop to transfer them to my phone. I thought they'd go into the overdrive app, but they went directly into itunes and are all mixed in my music. They somehow messed up all my files, so when I click on a song or book, I can get any song or book in there. The titles don't match up and they move around, which is so strange. I'm going to have to delete them and do it properly. I'll try to add some directly next time.

[Kristie]

Hoping to get a chunk of time for this one tomorrow evening. It's just sitting there waiting for me!!

[Cynthia]

@ Kristie, I have the Overdrive app on my phone, so I don't have to download and transfer anything. I usually look for books on the computer, being old and appreciating the larger screen, but I download directly onto the device I'm reading with.

My library has just started using the 3M Cloud Library and Hoopla along with Overdrive. Hoopla has audiobooks, in addition to music, movies, tv shows.

It takes me longer to read books checked out from 3M though, because I can't read for hours on end on my iPad. My eyes get too tired. I prefer the Kindle, but I don't know how to use the 3M service to get books to my ereader v. a device.

Not that I'm compaining, because I've got enough going to keep me busy without spending hours on it.

[Kristie]

Thanks, Cynthia. When I get ebooks from my library they go to my Kindle. The problem I'm having is that this is an audio book that I downloaded to my computer and had trouble getting it onto my phone. I don't often listen to audios off my laptop. When I have them on my phone, I can use my bluetooth to play them in my car on my commute. I'm so not tech savvy and not an itunes fan at all. Every time I have to log into it, I mess something up!

[RachelvlehcaR]

My goodness Kristin that was quick. I'm just starting it.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Oh no! That's why I write in a word doc then copy and paste. I learned that from my college days. Nothing is worse than losing your work. :(

[Joi]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "My goodness Kristin that was quick. I'm just starting it."

me too

[Clare]

I'm reading this one, but I don't really want to say much as I don't know how to put spoilers in. Anyway I think it's ok so far, hoping it gets better. Am at the bit where she has just got the German pilot to land and he thinks he's in France

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Kristie (~ Gaildis, of the Elves ~) wrote: "I missed this. I downloaded the overdrive app, then I used the transfer button on the overdrive on my laptop to transfer them to my phone. I thought they'd go into the overdrive app, but they went directly into itunes and are all mixed in my music. They somehow messed up all my files, so when I click on a song or book, I can get any song or book in there. The titles don't match up and they move around, which is so strange. I'm going to have to delete them and do it properly. I'll try to add some directly next time. ..."

Ah, well maybe instead of deleting you can right click - get info - and then change them to media type of audiobook etc. and it may work?
good luck!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Clare wrote: "I'm reading this one, but I don't really want to say much as I don't know how to put spoilers in. Anyway I think it's ok so far, hoping it gets better. Am at the bit where she has just got the Ge..."

to put in spoilers just type
< spoiler >
(take out the spaces)
and then your text followed by
< / spoiler >
(take out the spaces)

[Sarah]

Karen wrote: "Audio parts 3&4

Sorry I don't know where in this book t this is for the paperback/hardback versions. I am picking up a physical copy from the library over the next day or so, and I can edit the po..."

There is a part in , when Louis Zamparini, who is a POW taken hostage by the Japanese, he was also a competitor in the Berlin Olympics so semi notable person, and this is true story, but they prepped him for an interview as a POW a lot like in this book.

[Sarah]

Kristin wrote: "I think the reason why there is a disconnect between Verity and Queenie is because she is making it that way. She says she is writing from Maddy's POV because she doesn't want to have to deal with ..."

And if she is in fact an interrogator herself, I would assume she is no stranger to being able to emotionally disconnect - karma is a bitch, now the tables have turned on her. Also I appreciated when Maddie took responsibility for her own culpability when Queenie was talking about her guilt, and Maddie pointed out she is responsible for delivering weapons that do kill innocent civilians.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Kristin

I agree with your comments. Particularly (view spoiler)[ how Maddie told the truth the Julie's brother. I can't imagine how hard that would've been (hide spoiler)]

[Logan]

I'm woefully behind on this. I just got my copy from the library. Hopefully I'll be able to catch up quickly!

[Sarah]

I don't know the ending, 65% in, but I have to point out one criticism. If in fact there are different narrators, I have to say that the writing really feels like it is all in the same voice.

[RachelvlehcaR]

Logan, I am just starting too. I am only on page 12. I do like the style. I will get more reading in today.

[Logan]

I'm through page 112 now. The beginning really hooked me, but the longer we spend hearing Queenie (or whoever she truly is) recount endless details from her past, the more frustrated I get. Am I the only one who got a little bored? At this point I don't have a sense of where this is going. She does not appear to be in any true danger, despite the constant death threats. As others pointed out, her captors' behavior toward her seems quite lenient at times and so I don't trust our narrator and it gets me wondering where she's leading us. Is she going to actually confess anything? I don't get it, and I hate it when I can't decipher a book's plot after reading a third of it.

[Cynthia]

You can't really appreciate the first half until you get into the second half.

I enjoyed part one because I like that time period. I also spent waay too much time trying to figure out who was writing it, so that was interesting in and of itself.

The second half is definitely a different pace.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

I finished the book today and I have to agree. In the first part I spent my time wondering who was who and when I stopped I started to just enjoy what was going on and how the narrator was reading the letters of what happened during the war. What I really enjoyed about the book was the fact of how this book tells about how the women helped and were involved in the war. There are parts where you laughed but there were also parts the you just wanted to stop and cry. It was a really good book. I don't know if I could be strong enough to do what they did but I guess you don't know what your strengths are until you are in that situation.

[Joi]

I'm still on the first part. I'm confused as all get out.!

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Joi you'll like the second part better. I was getting bored with the first part too because I was spending too much time trying to figure out who was narrating.

[Joi]

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Joi you'll like the second part better. I was getting bored with the first part too because I was spending too much time trying to figure out who was narrating."

Yes, that is the exact problem that I am having. I'll keep going though

[Kristie]

I'm glad to hear that the second part is a different pace. I'm still on the first part. I was enjoying it, but not in an 'I can't put this down' way. I'm also reading a couple other books and this one seems to be the bottom of my pick up pile. I'm hoping to focus on it more and I'm hoping that I fly through it once I make it to the second part.

[Andrea]

I've just read the first part and am enjoying the book so far. It was a bit slow to get into but then it became quite a page turner! I spent most of the first part unsure (view spoiler)[who the narrator was. I was surprised when Queenie/Julie turned out to be an interrogator herself. Didn't see that coming... I think the underlined messages are some kind of a code but for who? Maybe Queenie is being kept alive by v.l. because he thinks others will try to rescue her and he can catch more spies?? (hide spoiler)]

I'm also liking the fact that this book seems to be romance-free so far and the focus rather is on a friendship and courage under tough circumstances. I'm kinda scared to keep reading now but I gotta know how this turns out...

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Andrea wrote: "I'm also liking the fact that this book seems to be romance-free so far and the focus rather is on a friendship and courage under tough circumstances. ... ..."

Good point. I liked that too

[Rebecca]

I agree about the romance. Though I'm sure it wouldn't be completely far fetched, but it really wouldn't fit in with the feel of the story at all. No time for romance when your best friend is in danger and you are fighting for your life.

[Kristie]

Karen wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I'm also liking the fact that this book seems to be romance-free so far and the focus rather is on a friendship and courage under tough circumstances. ... ..."

Good point. I liked t..."

I agree. Too many books fall back on romance that isn't needed. This on stands alone without it. (At least so far..)

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎]

Andrea wrote: "I've just read the first part and am enjoying the book so far. It was a bit slow to get into but then it became quite a page turner! I spent most of the first part unsure [spoilers removed]

I'm a..."

I was also glad that there wasn't a romantic theme to it because I don't think it would have suited this book.

[Andrea]

Kristin wrote: "I liked that it was romance free though there did seem to be something blooming between Jamie and Maddy."

Yes, there does seem to be something between them... but I like it's not addressed explicitly (so far at least). I think when your life is constantly in danger you probably don't have time to get romantically sappy over a guy or a girl.

I've read most of the second part and stopped at about 40 pages from the ending, just when (view spoiler)[ Maddie and Engel are walking and meet Julie's interrogator. I have to say I was so nervous reading through the second part of the book. I thought maybe Julie will be rescued but oh so sad Maddie had to shoot her. I get why she had to do it though. (hide spoiler)] I can't wait to get home and finish this. I have to say I have no idea how this is gonna end. It's always nice to read a book that keeps you on your toes like that.