April 2020 Group Read #2 - The Deep

[WendyB]

The Deep by Nick Cutter has been chosen as the Group Read #2 for April 2020.

Remember to use spoiler tags where needed.

Have fun!

[Melanie]

Wicked! I've had this on the bookshelf for a while so looking forward to it.

[Michael]

I read this several years ago, so I'll just be an observer here. Interested to see the comments. This book made a favorable impression on me as regards the work of Nick Cutter, and I've since given my copy away to a friend. Carry on.

[Jill]

Oh my gosh, this is such a good read. I hope everyone enjoys it 🙂

[Daniel]

Loved The Troop. Looking forward to this.

[destiny ♡]

I've been meaning to read this for years! Can't wait. :)

[Kimberly]

I've read this one, but would love to participate in the chat.

[▫️Ron]

I've read this in the past as well - - good choice for quarantine days!

[Annie]

I loved Nick Cutter’s “The Troop” and this looks like another great read but maybe another time for me, than now.

[Bob]

I’m in, good call

[Meg]

After reading that this book is truly scary, I'll join in!

[Tiffany]

I’m all in!!!

[Stephanie]

Just read this. Really enjoyed it.

[Kelly]

My copy came in today! Going to start reading tonight!

[Chandler]

I loved The Troop! Going to start this today and looking forward to it :)

[Melanie]

I'll be starting in a few days.

[Robby]

Been on my TBR shelf since 2016. Looking forward to reading both the book and discussion inputs from the group.

[Meg]

I'm into this one, interesting right off the bat! Can't wait to see where this one goes...

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

It's ok. Meh.

[Lauren]

Really loved the Deep by Cutter waiting for more work from him read all of his other books

[Lance]

I'm excited to finally dust this one off. It's been on my shelf for a while and I've enjoyed everything else I've read by Nick Cutter.

[Alison]

I was initially going to skip this one because I’m avoiding anything about plagues right now, but last minute I decided to borrow the audiobook from my library and just give it a try. It *immediately* sucked me in. Currently 21% of the way through.

[destiny ♡]

Alison wrote: "I was initially going to skip this one because I’m avoiding anything about plagues right now, but last minute I decided to borrow the audiobook from my library and just give it a try. It *immediate..."

Alison, I'm avoiding books about plagues right now, too, for obvious reasons — do you feel like the plague-related themes in this book are particularly heavy related to current events? I'm a little nervous about whether I want to read this one right now or not! lol

[Melanie]

I just started last night, I didn't realise it was about a plague but I'm enjoying it so far. Short chapters make it easier to read small parts, especially while the kids are home for a few more weeks and seem to tag-team how to interrupt Mum's reading time.

[Alison]

destiny ♡⚔♡ wrote: "Alison, I'm avoiding books about plagues right now, too, for obvious reasons — do you feel like the plague-related themes in this book are particularly heavy related to current events? I'm a little nervous about whether I want to read this one right now or not! lol"

I'm only 30% of the way in right now, but so far the plague feels secondary to the actual horror, more backstory/justification than main plot. And it's a very different plague than what we're experiencing.

This impression may change as the story develops, but so far the book is more Crichton's Sphere than King's The Stand.

[destiny ♡]

Alison wrote: "destiny ♡⚔♡ wrote: "Alison, I'm avoiding books about plagues right now, too, for obvious reasons — do you feel like the plague-related themes in this book are particularly heavy related to current ..."

PERFECT. That is incredibly reassuring to me, especially if it's very different from real-life issues. Thank you so much!

[Chandler]

I finished it today. I wasn't as nearly as engrossed with it as The Troop but I still enjoyed it. It was surprisingly emotional at times. It's a blend of Crichton's Sphere and King's The Shining.

As far as the plague goes, (view spoiler)[ it's not as crucial to the plot as it seems to be at the start. It's a red herring. The true evil is far more abstract. (hide spoiler)]

[Meg]

Yeah the family issues are really the creepy part of this story.

[Melanie]

Part 3, chapter 11 (view spoiler)[ This is one seriously fucked up family! (hide spoiler)] I'm enjoying Cutter's writing style, it's one of those ones where the story romps along and you forget you're reading, but I'm not so keen on the quick jumps between time lines right in the middle of a particularly tense scene. I'm more intrigued at the moment by (view spoiler)[ the disappearance of his son. What was with a 'zipper' sound? A rip in the fabric of time? (hide spoiler)]

[Mark]

Just started the Deep, and love it. Love her style, and i have to pause once in a while to admire a sentence despite wanting to read on and on.

[Terry]

Melanie wrote: "Part 3, chapter 11 [spoilers removed] I'm enjoying Cutter's writing style, it's one of those ones where the story romps along and you forget you're reading, but I'm not so keen on the quick jumps b..."

I'm just up to the same part as your second spoiler and definitely wondered the same thing. (view spoiler)[ What a creepy description! A zipper sound and the sound of sucking?? What in the world (or out of this world)... (hide spoiler)]

[Robby]

Oddly, I found myself comparing whether a case of the "Gets" was worse than contracting "The Coronavirus". But on a positive note, that very contemplation was the impetus to pique my interest on what I thought was to be the focal point of the book. In other words, a zemblanity in effect. This by page 5. Alas; not until "PART 2 DESCENT" page 77 did my interest again get involved. More to come.

[TC]

Wish I hadn't elected to do this one on audiobook. The quick jumps make it hard to follow.

[David]

Hmmm, I'm not reading with either book right now, but it seems clear to me that some of you are reading the Cutter book and some of you are reading the Katsu book.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I definitely got the 'gets' plot by Cutter - unfortunately.

[Melanie]

I've finished. Not sure how I feel about this one. I didn't love it but I still think it deserves 4 stars? It will stay with me for a long time, particularly some of those body-horror themes. (view spoiler)[ I found myself comparing it to The Thing quite a lot, and while the writing's good, I didn't like the jumping back and forth in time, particularly during a tense scene, It completely took me out of the narrative. For that reason, every time the impending sense of doom crept in, I was suddenly transported to another space or place. I liked the ending, and the 'creatures', and hated Luke's mother. I kind of wanted her to die a much more gruesome death (hide spoiler)]

[Bertie (LuminosityLibrary)]

I finished this yesterday! I really enjoyed it, I can definitely see the negatives other people mentioned though. It's incredibly reminiscent of other horror movies/books and I would have liked to see more originality. Despite that, I thought the atmosphere was brilliant and the plot was engrossing. I don't have as much of an issue with the flashbacks as other people, I think they helped the dreamlike quality of a lot of the book! I haven't read The Troop but I've added it to my to-read list because of this.

[Jen]

I just got this ebook, so I'm starting it tonight! Very excited to start my first Nick Cutter story! I have heard a lot of great things about his work.

[Erin]

I really want to try this one; did anyone read it who did NOT love The Troop?

[Kimberly]

Erin wrote: "I really want to try this one; did anyone read it who did NOT love The Troop?"

I read both, and felt they were quite different in tone overall. :)

[TC]

I've never read the Troop and am about done with the Deep. It's good, but I do find the psychological flashbacks to be tedious at times. I was hoping for more plague and less, like, monstrous family dynamics. Lucas' mom. *shudder*

[Alexander]

It about lost me but I’m loving it now, about 2 hours from the end.