March 2020 Group Read #2: The Roo

[Alan]

The Roo by Alan Baxter is our Group Read #2. Please use page numbers, percentages and spoiler tags when necessary while discussing the book. Enjoy!

[Latasha]

if i don't get too overwhelmed i'll join in this one as well.

[Teri]

I'll join in this one. I just bought the book last week.

[M.E.]

I just finished this book before the group read nominations came up. It's a fun one.

[Kelly]

I’ve been waiting to read this but I held off watching the poll with fingers crossed so I could read & discuss with you guys! 👍😀

[Kimberly]

Just finished this one, so I'll be joining in the group chat. :)

[Krystal]

I just confirmed my order so this should be in my hands just in time! Very keen to read, and read along with others!

[Greg]

Just finished this one. 4/5 stars I’ll have a short review up soon. Over all a fun short horror romp. I would love to see this made into a campy horror film with a terrible CG Kangaroo smashing heads and tearing his way through the Outback. Let’s do it👍

[Kimberly]

Greg wrote: "Just finished this one. 4/5 stars I’ll have a short review up soon. Over all a fun short horror romp. I would love to see this made into a campy horror film with a terrible CG Kangaroo smashing hea..."

I can picture that so well!

[Kelly]

I just started reading this. I was hooked with the foreword (it was hilarious). I'm definitely looking forward to this book.

[Teri]

I finished this last night and I loved it. It was so much fun.

[Char]

I bought this one and I'm looking forward to discussing it with you guys.
I was there for the Tweets where this book was suggested as a joke and now here we are! :)

[Alison]

Started today. Halfway through!

[Krystal]

Still waiting for mine to arrive! I'm so impatient for it!

[Kimberly]

The cover is AMAZING!!!

[Kelly]

Just finished. It was so much fun!!!

[His Ghoul Friday (Julia)]

Just finished! This was like watching a cheesy '80s horror film, super fun!

[Kelly]

Julia wrote: "Just finished! This was like watching a cheesy '80s horror film, super fun!"

I totally agree! It took me back to The Howling and American Werewolf in London.

[Graeme]

Jumping in on this. I just downloaded it after reading the first chapter.

What a cracker of a story.

[Graeme]

I read the opening chapter and it took me straight back home to where I grew up.

[Graeme]

(13% in...) Yeah, we had these sorts of carnivorous roos come sweeping in off the hot, red heart of the central desert. They used to steal cattle, and the occasional farm hand. I used to take them out with an old WW2 .303 rifle. Just had to use silver bullets - it was the only thing that seemed to hurt them...

[Alison]

It made me think of Tremors, actually.

[Graeme]

Finished it. Review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I laughed a lot while reading this, and I've been to Broken Hill and grew up in a farming community not to dis-similar to Morgan Creek.

Very entertaining over all, but gee whizz - the author was preaching real hard on the topic of domestic violence. Hats off to him for caring - but next time write and essay, and leave the 'preaching,' out of the story.

Otherwise a heap of fun and glad I discovered this book.

[M.E.]

Graeme wrote: "Finished it. Review at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I laughed a lot while reading this, and I've been to Broken Hill and grew up in a farming community not to dis-similar to Mo..."

That was my reaction as well. I found it very entertaining. I agree, the soapbox preaching could have been more subtle but I didn’t find it too much of a detractor. I’m sure it helped that it’s a cause I already agree in.

[Graeme]

Hi M.E.

(view spoiler)[Domestic Violence is at the dark heart of the Roo's existence as a force of vengeance/self defense run amok. Patricia admits she had no way to control what she'd conjured. Her target was her husband and there was a lot of collateral damage.

This could have been retained and fully expressed with value to the story line, but having DV mentioned everytime Catter comes on scene is heavy handed.

That became painful, and a real shame too, as everything else was smack on target brilliance as far as I was concerned. (hide spoiler)]

[Justin]

I'm in! My order just arrived.

[Latasha]

Don’t think so Evie.

[Char]

I'm having fun with this so far! For me, the biggest enjoyment is seeing the name of my Twitter peeps as characters. It's cracking me up. :)

[Krystal]

My copy FINALLY arrived so I'll be starting today :D

[Alan]

I have some Amazon credit, so after I catch up on a couple book on hand I may get this one. It looks fun.

[Char]

I finished this up last night and had a great time with it!

I feel like (view spoiler)[ the anti-domestic violence message came on a little strong (hide spoiler)] but I enjoyed this just the same.
A fun creature feature was just what I needed and THE ROO delivered!

[Krystal]

I'm just over halfway and definitely enjoying it.

It's definitely no masterpiece but it feels like a story written for the people and I'm really digging that aspect of it. I think once you read the forward you can kinda just relax and appreciate it for what it is.

[Krystal]

Finished last night, what a fun time!

My full review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I agree with the general issue, but wasn't too bothered by it. I didn't come into this one expecting much more than a bit of carnage and mayhem and since I got that I was happy :D

[Graeme]

I laughed a lot while reading this. I could easily picture this as movie too. If it was a movie - I'd watch it.

[Sarah-Grace (Azrael865)]

I'm just getting ready to read this one. I did as the author suggested in the intro, I googled pictures of Kangeroo feet. those things are crazy looking. ; D

[Ami]

Alright! FINALLY finished my other reads and can read this one now. I can’t wait! I love unsuspecting murderous animal stories. 😂

[Alan]

I'm about 56% of the way through, and have breezed right through it so far. Now THIS is old school horror. A vicious giant roo mysteriously shows up and kicks the shit out of everyone it encounters. That's what I'm talkin' about!

[Alan]

Now, THAT was a fun book. Fast-paced, no holds barred brutal action, logic and reasoning cast aside for good old fashioned creature horror. If a Syfy/Asylum movie were written by someone with actual talent, it would be this.

[Justin]

Quite possibly the goriest book I've ever read, but so fun, and laugh out loud funny at times. I really enjoyed the Australian slang, and the glossary to follow it all. Including a message about domestic violence, apparently common in the Australian Outback was a nice way to wrap it all up too. I can't see recommending it to any one in my family though, so I'm glad to have read it with you all here!