Brown, Pierce - Red Rising (Red Rising Trilogy #1) - Informal Buddy Read; December 8, 2014; REVISIT ; Start June 1, 2018

[Lexi]

Michelle wrote: "Lexi wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I just read the first 50 pages and I’m dropping out. Enjoy the rest but it has annoyed me too much to continue."

What didn't you like about it, Lexi? I r..."

Thanks

[ClaireB]

Lexi wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I just read the first 50 pages and I’m dropping out. Enjoy the rest but it has annoyed me too much to continue."

What didn't you like about it, Lexi? I read it a long..."

That's an issue I also have with the book. Because of that I'm not enjoying it as much as all booktube seems to. But I'll try to finish it.

[Rayne]

Slow going because I was trying to finish a few of my other books that I'd started. But I'm on chapter 11 and hoping to pick it back up again.

(view spoiler)[OMG! They are gonna make him Gold. I can't wait to read on that (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

I’m getting a late start but now that Quidditch is over I finally read through Part 1, chps 1-6. (view spoiler)[ It is clever (albeit cruel) how the Golds dangle that Laurel in front of all the miners knowing that they will always give it to Gamma. The others all hate Gamma instead of who they should really hate, the Golds who are oppressing them all. Everyone who sees the truth, Eo and Darrow’s father, is killed. So how can they fight back and free themselves? That is the question. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "Haha yes [spoilers removed]

I'm going to try and get a decent chunk read today. On to chapter 3 now!"

(view spoiler)[ ok so this is all underground correct .... because the air is unbreathable on the surface? (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

✿ Claire ✿ ~ Foxgard wrote: "I started the first two chapters.

I really like the preface/prologue of the book. It's powerful. It really sets the tone of what is to follow. It made me excited to read on.

Chapters 1-2

[spoil..."

(view spoiler)[ This place does sound horrible. Especially the part where they decide that peeing in their suit is the best option and living in the stink. Just sounds so gross. And he talks about air showers and how it 'hurts' .... no thank you! Showers are my realizing time and to think that there is no feel of water. I can't imagine how someone would think they were clean. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Chapter 1-2

(view spoiler)[ I guess we already know that this world is just horrible and sucks big time but I do not understand the hangings. I feel like that is the cruelest thing they can do. You can't physically hang someone so you have a family member or friend come up and pull the guy/girl's leg so they can die. I just can't imagine how traumatizing that might be. I'm sure that they could have thought of some other way to kill them so it seems that this society is making sure that everyone understands how horrible this is. And I noticed that Darrow describes this as "died Dancing." Can anyone explain that? I mean if there was gravity and they were hung then they would be struggling and I can understand that reference. But on mars and gravity problems I don't understand this reference.

Also this rivalry between the clans is, i'm guessing, to keep them in competition with each other but also to dislike whoever is winning. Because the losing side will be hungry and upset. (hide spoiler)]

Darrow: (view spoiler)[ I just love how good of a person he is. He seems sweet but also aware of himself and his personality. He understands himself. I just love how much he loves Eo and the way he describes her :) (hide spoiler)]

Uncle Narol (view spoiler)[ Not sure what to make of him. He seems not that great but then on further descriptions from Darrow he seems like a nice guy that helped raise him. (hide spoiler)]

[Rayne]

Tahmina wrote: "Chapter 1-2..."

(view spoiler)[I don't get the hanging either. But maybe the dancing is because if they have to be pulled to die, then once they die, they are just floating and swaying so that's what is meant by the dancing. (hide spoiler)]

[Elize]

Talia wrote: "I’m getting a late start but now that Quidditch is over I finally read through Part 1, chps 1-6. [spoilers removed]"

So clever how they do this! Stops a revival so easily. But also Gamma could stop all the hatred by sharing. So it's not just the Golds who are evil in this case?

[Eldarwen]

Elize wrote: "Talia wrote: "I’m getting a late start but now that Quidditch is over I finally read through Part 1, chps 1-6. [spoilers removed]"

So clever how they do this! Stops a revival so easily. But also G..."

Oh yes, definitely seconding this. There is more than one guilty party in all this. But then, I think the Gamma, in that particular respect, portray human nature. Because the percentage of people willing to truly share what they have is pretty small, especially when there is a risk of that privilege potentially being taken away and what they have not being enough anymore for themselves either.

[Eldarwen]

Tahmina wrote: "Chapter 1-2

[spoilers removed]"

Hmm, unlike you, (view spoiler)[I'm not sure I like Darrow. I agree, I love that he is so fond of his wives and the way he describes her makes it all very nice and pure. But all in all, his persona? It leaves me with a resounding "meh" at the moment. (hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

I read a little last night and am now somewhere in the middle of chapter 8. Will continue to read a little later today. The next few hours are dedicated to another book :-)

[[deleted user]]

Chapters 7-13 (view spoiler)[ Wow, the devastation to see that bustling city on the surface of Mars and know that Darrow and everyone he knows has been lied to for centuries! It is an interesting plan to carve him into a Gold to infiltrate the enemy from within. I hope it works! (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Brooklyn wrote: "Tahmina wrote: "Chapter 1-2..."

[spoilers removed]"

Ooo that makes sense too. Thanks Brooklyn!

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "Tahmina wrote: "Chapter 1-2

[spoilers removed]"

Hmm, unlike you, [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[hmmm .. what is it about him that you don't like (not in a crazy confrontational way but more of me being curious). I've only read it to about chapter three at this point so I might change my mind!

The criticism I've heard most about his character is that he is too perfect and everything come easily to him. And I have not gotten that far yet to really know what is going on. I read this book previously but I really don't remember much :(

I personally like his narration style because he doesn't sound like an unreliable narrator. He tells the story from his point of view but also critiques himself. (hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

Tahmina wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Tahmina wrote: "Chapter 1-2

[spoilers removed]"

Hmm, unlike you, [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"


(view spoiler)[I'm on chapter 8 in the meantime, so maybe that's what does it. I found him interesting in the beginning, and he still is interesting up to a certain point but ... I can't really point to what exactly it is. He works hard as a helldiver to earn more food for his clan and when Narol tells him not to do something stupid, he goes ahead anyway because he knows it will help. Which is really cool, and I thought he'd be an active character when things matter. But now that I'm at chapter 8, I'm left with this aftertaste in my mouth because when things got really important, he just did nothing, at all. (Once you get to chapter 5 and refresh your memory, you'll probably see what I mean.) Maaaaybe I'll change my opinion again once he finds his place again. (hide spoiler)]

As for the narration style, I find that interesting. It's different from a lot of first-person narrators and right from the beginning, he doesn't omit stupid mistakes he makes. Hopefully that'll stick throughout.

[[deleted user]]

Finished Part 2, through chapter 19. (view spoiler)[ Darn, they made Darrow kill Julian, the only nice one! :( It’s amazing that Darrow is able to pull this off, acting like a Gold. Goes to show that the speech about them not being equal was baloney. He’s a Red and he’s fitting in with the Golds just fine, even aces the entrance exam. And now the real story is about to begin! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Through chapter 26 (view spoiler)[ I love that Darrow steals House Minerva’s cook! lol But wow, this “game” is brutal! I hope Virginia’s Team was able to take Titus down. (hide spoiler)]

[Elize]

Chapter 22-27

(view spoiler)[ I knew they would all fall apart when they decided not to pick a leader. I have a feeling that they purposely make no-one have enough points to become the house leader.

I didn't think Titus would have such a following. I like that Darrow and Cassius are on the same team but I don't see that harmony lasting the whole time. There might be a divide once he learns of Julius.

Darrow keeping the matches to himself is EXACTLY what Gamma was doing to him when he was a red. I expected better.

Toward the end of this the book definitely took a turn. I can see the thought process behind toughening up these priveladged children but there should be a line drawn at rape and some of the things the slaves are made to do.

I was so interested by the encounter with Mustang. This gave us a snapshot of what a functioning group/team should be like. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Brooklyn wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I started the first two chapters. "

[spoilers removed]"

That's true. They don't realize that it could actually be better (view spoiler)[ Though I think Darrow realizes this at the end of Chapter 3 that the society is made in a way to be unfair and exert control. Let's hope he finally does something (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "chapter 3"

Eurgh, yes, [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I think its more telling how Darrow reacts. The magistrate doesn't even try to hide the fact that Darrow's clan won. They just give it to the other clan. But Darrow is calm and aware that the society is oppressing them and exerting control by giving the laurel to the same clan that always gets it and the magistrate does not even care to make it look legit. And he even says that they should be mad at the society but instead they hate Gamma. Which his character, and narrative, is aware makes no sense. And he doesn't do anything about it. (hide spoiler)]

Eldarwen (view spoiler)[ Ok so i finally understand what you mean and I hope he does fix himself. Cause this is stupid and I am starting to remember some of this. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "Tahmina wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Tahmina wrote: "Chapter 1-2

[spoilers removed]"

Hmm, unlike you, [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"


[spoilers removed]

As for the narration style, I fin..."

(view spoiler)[ok i'm starting to see what you mean. He's getting annoying. but I remember that i liked the beginning was bored in the middle and then it got good again. And I am starting to remember more of it so I am not going to say more than that :) (hide spoiler)]

And yes! I love the narration style too for that reason. And for the reflections he makes. He is a lot smarter than he acts

[Eldarwen]

It's slow reading for me at the moment due to various real life reasons but I try to read a page whenever I can (I'm of course also juggling a couple of books at once) and I'm starting to be really intrigued by the story and how it's going to continue.

Still not a fan of Darrow but I think I finally nailed down why that is. As Tahmina mentioned, he is a lot smarter than he acts. And that's exactly what's bothering me. So far, he is very passive about everything. And most of all, (view spoiler)[it bugs me enormously that he sees what is wrong with society but doesn't want to do anything about it, and then simply goes ahead and basically signs his own death-warrant after his wife dies instead of not wasting the sacrifice she made so he would get a move on (since she had to die, might as well make something of it!). (hide spoiler)]

I'm now on Chapter 12 and curious to see how the story continues. Chapter 11 was eye-opening - to the narrator anyway, the reader had already figured that out for a while.

[Elize]

Eldarwen wrote: "It's slow reading for me at the moment due to various real life reasons but I try to read a page whenever I can (I'm of course also juggling a couple of books at once) and I'm starting to be really..."

After this point in the book it REALLY picks up!

[Eldarwen]

Haha, you're right, it does pick up after that! Hopefully it'll keep my interest more now.

I'm not getting a lot read yet, but Darrow is starting to be a little less passive.

The stallion/pony scene was hilarious at the end of chapter 14.

[Rayne]

I was finishing up another book so I’m back to this book more. I think it’s gonna pick up now that he’s at the Institute.

(view spoiler)[I was a bit shocked at all the physical tests they did on him. That was nuts. No wonder they pushed so his body would become almost super-human. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "I just finished the first part - that is the first six chapters

The other though..."

Msg 137: (view spoiler)[ Yeah I just love the love story. It is so pure and they just seem to understand one another and what the other needs or doesn't need. I feel like she sacrificed herself knowing that if she continued to life he would never do anything. That he would constantly be trying to keep her safe instead of trying to free them.

At the end when she said something to her sister i feel like she knew he would give up and was trying to tell her sister to keep an eye on him. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Msg 143: ok wow! (view spoiler)[ Was not aware of the trope either but now that I think about it that does happen a lot and also when I think about it all the women that end up dying are always in what Eldarwen described as a "pure love." Where the guy is just head over heels in love with the girl and that girl tends to be his whole life. Though I guess it has to be that way in order for it to impact the MC. (hide spoiler)]

[Tahmina]

Elize wrote: "I am going to answer some of the DQ from when it was BOM because they look good!

DQs for Prologue - Chapter 6 -



1.What do you think of our main character Darrow?

As someone who has recently ma..."

2. ooo i didn't realize about the hair color and the clans. Never crossed my mind though I did think that was crazy coincidence that they all had read hair! haha so maybe not so much.

6. I think its also to plant a seed of conflict and hatred towards one another. The Gammas could always share but they chose not to do so.

7. I think if you read the song it talks about the golds ruling and greed and the red sowing seeds but also that they are in chains and screaming for better dreams ... something along those lines. So I am gonna guess that they are talking about the negatives of the system and the enslavement of people.

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "Elize wrote: "Talia wrote: "I’m getting a late start but now that Quidditch is over I finally read through Part 1, chps 1-6. [spoilers removed]"

So clever how they do this! Stops a revival so easi..."

yeah that's very true. Depends on who you are and what you perceive as important and as enough.

[Tahmina]

Eldarwen wrote: "It's slow reading for me at the moment due to various real life reasons but I try to read a page whenever I can (I'm of course also juggling a couple of books at once) and I'm starting to be really..."

I think unfortunately, most people do nothing. As long as they have basic amount of food and people to protect they will pretend that everything is ok probably because they feel like they are unable change anything so why get yourself killed. I think it takes a big incident in someone's life to change them (view spoiler)[ in this case Eo dying (hide spoiler)] and try and get the world to be a better place. Because up until then he has no purpose in life then to protect his family.

(view spoiler)[Once Eo dies he himself does not want to live so there is no point in trying to stay alive. Though he technically commits suicide I think he realized that was a mistake only it was too late at that point. (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

This has been on my TBR for a while. Kind of looking forward to starting this. :-)

[Megan]

Chapters 1 - 7
I love the writing style. Its almost written like a song I can't describe it maybe its just me but the authors style is different to what I'm used to.

The first part has me confused. I feel like I've been reading for ages but not getting anywhere in the story and where this is going. Curious...

[Megan]

Talia wrote: "Chapters 7-13 [spoilers removed]"

I agree. They really spark anger in him. Its sort of manipulative in itself.

Chapters 8 - 19

OK so a lot of these chapters creeped me out (view spoiler)[ the whole eye swapping wanted to hurl I'm so delicate haha! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Megan wrote: "Chapters 1 - 7
The first part has me confused. I feel like I've been reading for ages but not getting anywhere in the story and where this is going. Curious..."


I agree, the beginning was really long and totally different from the rest of the book.

[Tahmina]

Megan wrote: "Chapters 1 - 7
I love the writing style. Its almost written like a song I can't describe it maybe its just me but the authors style is different to what I'm used to.

The first part has me confused..."

The author is heavily influenced by ancient Greek writings so the fact that you said it reminded you of a song is probably dead on

[Rayne]

Yep. The first part was good. Part 2 sort of dragged. I’m just starting part 3. I hope the story picks up.

[Eldarwen]

I finished part 2 and found it interesting but a little slow. The ending of part 2 shocked me, though I probably should have seen it coming. And I'm still not sure what to make of Darrow. He fluctuates a lot between being passive, asshole and kind.

Going to start part 3 today.

[Elize]

Finished the book today!

Chapter 28-34 (view spoiler)[ I found Darrow killing Titus very hard but also realistic and true to what needed to be done. What do you guys think?

I wish I loved Darrow a little more than I do. He is the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. I wish I could be able to know and predict him a little better.

I was so mad when we found out the game is rigged. Up until this point he had every chance of survival but when you find this out I would be just about ready to give up. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 35 - end (view spoiler)[ I enjoyed this third part better but I still found myself getting confused in the battle scenes, which there were a lot of. I didn't get much out of them.

I found myself getting more connected with Darrow in the end when he was building his army. The way he went about it was so different to society and I think it shows a lot about how leadership should be done. This last part brought it up from a 3 to a 4 for me. (hide spoiler)]

All in all I think I will continue with the next one in the series. Maybe not straight away but soon. :)

Excited to see what you guys think!

[Eldarwen]

I finished Part III now. Up to and including chapter 33.

(view spoiler)[I... still don't know. Technically, Darrow should now die or be helped/healed by the medBots. I can't help but wonder though if either of those things is going to happen.

That the game is rigged doesn't surprise me all that much. The Society has their eyes and ears everywhere, which also makes me wonder if they didn't hear what Titus said to Darrow, and if the real reason why they allowed Darrow to kill Titus, or have him killed as it were, is that they wanted to eliminate one of the Reds that had infiltrated their ranks. (I don't believe that they do not know about Reds trying to rise.)

I did find the decision Darrow made regarding Titus to be hard. But at the same time, as with Julian, I think he could have gone about the whole thing differently. As Cassius says "it was the way you killed him". And that's exactly one of my issues with Darrow. He's by no means stupid and his plans are interesting in their little warfare game, but some of his decisions and acts are a little hard to swallow.

The more it therefore surprises me that he seems to have a weak spot for Mustang. He did not just let her go because he thought Vixus would hurt her. (hide spoiler)]

I like that the action and pace have picked up, that the story is moving along more rapidly now, but at the same time (view spoiler)[I can't bring myself to be really interested in it all. It just feels so... déjà-vue somehow. I can't make myself care about Darrow either. (hide spoiler)]

Will see where this goes. End race now!

[Megan]

Chapter 20 - 27
I stopped reading this over the weekend so I'm reading this super slow.

I'm not sure what to make of this book one minute I can't put it down the next its gone so slow. Almost like the books being padded out to make it longer and into a trilogy?

I find Darrow an interesting character, (view spoiler)[ I agree he goes passive, to aggressive to kind and back again. I think thats his upbringing. Hes had a pretty hard time in reality with his dad passing and seeing his body hanging up there for a long time as someone thats lost a parent the thought of that sickens me. I think that could explain him being a little off. Hes also gone through excessive body altering treatment that also would mess with you mentally. I'm curious to see if he gets anywhere near his goal (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Chapter 28 - 38
OK Now I'm back to reading it super quick.

(view spoiler)[ I'm not exactly shocked its rigged. I mean the fact they were pissed off that some really strong gold should have walked through his duel was evidence to me it wasn't fair.

I figured Caissus was going to find out Darrow killed his brother, it was too bad and this secret wouldn't stay hidden or quiet for long. (hide spoiler)]

[Megan]

Elize wrote: "Finished the book today!

Chapter 28-34 I found Darrow killing Titus very hard but also realistic and true to what needed to be done. What do you guys think?

I wish I loved Darrow a little more ..."

I agree with what you said about the fight scenes. There is so much going on its hard to keep up.

[Elize]

Megan wrote: "Chapter 28 - 38
OK Now I'm back to reading it super quick."

(view spoiler)[ I wish I had have known it was rigged. After I found out I was like 'Of course! I should have seen that coming.' But at the time I was so shocked and disheartened. (hide spoiler)]

[Rayne]

(view spoiler)[I don't remember what chapter I'm on, but I know Darrow's army has just taken House Apollo. So close to the end. Part III really started to pick up and it grabbed my interest way more than the first part. But I agree with others...there is so much going on, I can't keep it all straight! I feel like I'm just reading chaos and eventually it will all make some sense to me. I get that the Reds' Rebellion truly hasn't begun, but it's definitely making want to read the rest of the series to find out what happens next.
(hide spoiler)]

[Eldarwen]

I just finished chapter 41. So close to the end of the book! And I am absolutely (view spoiler)[pissed right now. I'm not even sure what exactly it is that rubbed me completely the wrong way in this chapter other than the fact that it is absolutely ridiculous that none of the proctors noticed Fitchner missing or even his gravboots. For people who have been doing this for years and who have seen a loooot of tricks being played (because let's face it, Darrow is not the first one to think of half the things he does), they are ridiculously clueless.

I know they're Gold and they're arrogant so probably don't believe anyone could actually ever really trick them if they rank beneath them, which students do, but COME ON! (hide spoiler)]

The other thing is that (view spoiler)[I'm feeling like I'm on a rollercoaster. You drift along and wonder what's going to happen next and you're constantly thrown for a loop. I actually usually like this. I like being surprised and having to keep guessing what is in store for the characters and who is going to cheat whom and who is going to end up dead at the end, but this is just too much. Every time they're in a pickle, lo and behold, Darrow has of course already thought of the solution and is prepared! Except for the obvious things. I want to slap him. (hide spoiler)]

There. I feel better now haha. I might even be able to finish the last 30 pages before I fall asleep.

[Eldarwen]

Finished this late last night but didn't get around to posting about it until now - just before heading to bed again hehe.

The ending was (view spoiler)[incredibly confusing with all the various battle scenes. I have trouble picturing them sometimes but all in all, I think Darrow went about it the right way in putting together his army. Loyal followers are always so much better than frightened ones or slaves.

The fact that he basically sold himself to the ArchGovernor doesn't sit well with me. He does it for the right reasons of course, but I can't help but wonder if he isn't going to stray from his original goal. (hide spoiler)]

Darrow:(view spoiler)[ He definitely learned some harsh lessons and I would not have wanted to be in his skin but he went through a spectacular development, all in all. I'm still not sure I really like him, but he has drive towards the end and knows how to get things done once he knows what to do. That doesn't mean though that I'm a fan. He did a lot of shitty things that he could have done differently and he is an arrogant prick a lot of times. There is something about him though. (hide spoiler)]

What I didn't like about the writing was that it was too confusing and too jumbled at times. There weren't enough hints sometimes as to what was going to happen. (view spoiler)[Darrow seemingly goes off without having a clue or a plan and then suddenly everything is completely planned out and nearly all possibilities taken into account. Of course I can't think of an example now but there were times where it annoyed me that the reader (or I anyway) was thrown for a million loops. (hide spoiler)]

What I did like about the writing was (view spoiler)[that sometimes those same loops I just ranted about were well done and kept me reading. There is a lot between the lines in this book and more than one lesson to be taken along. And no matter how much I hated on Darrow sometimes, I do like a book with a flawed main character who isn't always likeable. (hide spoiler)]

As far as the plot is concerned, (view spoiler)[a lot felt familiar either because it was really similar to specific books I might have read previously or because it simply is a dystopian trope. On the one hand, I liked that fact but at the same time it rubbed me the wrong way at times. (hide spoiler)]

I am curious though to see how this all continues so I might be inclined to pick up the second book at some point.

[Tahmina]

I'm hoping some of you are still on here :(

These contain spoilers up to Chapter 17

@Brooklyn Message 144: It is really depressing that they are slaves. And that its been centuries. I would think that they would have let people know by now especially as it seems that they have more than enough for everyone.

@ Talia msg 166: Yes I thought that was just heartbreaking.

[Tahmina]

Its interesting how much Darrow realizes their strategy on controlling the population. (view spoiler)[He realizes that if the reds knew that they had working atmosphere that all the clans would band together. So they keep this knowledge away from them and make sure there is enough conflict within their community to make sure they can keep them focused on other things.

But it does not make sense to me why the high reds wouldn't tell the low reds about what is going on above ground. And how do you get promoted? Or just born into it? the class system within a class system is a bit confusing because it doesn't really say whether there is a way up or down.

Also he realizes that he's being used by both the people that help him become Gold, showing again he understands what is going on around him but is also sad because you can tell that he has formed a bond and fondness for them (which they do not really reciprocate) and when he cries over it I think you get a sense of his loneliness (hide spoiler)]

And the reds are pretty much salves because they are not taught to read or write and all the things that they learn are on the job. And its interesting that he says he's never met an artist before. I would think that art was something that was natural talent and couldn't be taught to all people.

And from what I can tell, the hair color and eye color are different for each color? So the colors change according to the color you belong too and whether you belong to the lower class or upper class of that color. Correct?

And just a super random thought while reading these couple of chapters. The author really describes muscle formation. Haha

[Eldarwen]

Tahmina wrote: "Its interesting how much Darrow realizes their strategy on controlling the population. [spoiler removed]"

I think (view spoiler)[that they're born into it. So either you're born as a low red and have no outside communication. Or you're born as a high-red and while you live up top, you're basically still slaves for society, working in the lowest possible jobs.

Natural talent for art is probably beaten down in the low-reds. They can dance but everything else... who knows how many people die in "accidents" in the mines? (hide spoiler)]

The development of (view spoiler)[different hair colours and eyes had me a little stumped as well. It was probably a genetically engineered thing at first when the class system was introduced and then it sort of became a naturally developed thing over time? (hide spoiler)]