The Giver of Stars (July 2020) Buddy Read Discussion - Melanie & Mina

[Aless, Discord/Readathon Procrastinator]

Welcome to The Giver of Stars Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on July 12th and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each week we will be reading by chapters. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 7/12
July 12: Chapters 1-7
July 13: Chapters 8-14
July 14: Chapters 15-21
July 15: Chapters 22-28


PARTICIPANTS
~ Melanie
~ Mina

[Melanie]

Mina... I know you are buddy reading other books, but I'm going to start a day early. I'll be cautious not to post any spoilers. I'm excited to read this as so many friends have read it an loved it. But I just don't want to push it, since the book will automatically return to the library in 5-days.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Hi :D

It's no problem. I'll try to at least start it today, but I make no promises.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I just started it and listened to the prologue.. and I realized that I have no idea what the book's about. I have a thought about something I read, the synopsis I mean, but time has passed since then and I don't know if it's this book. But it doesn't even matter, I'm gonna be surprised.

I'm listening to the audiobook while also reading it, and I think that's going to be how I'll finish this book. It looks wordy.

I couldn't even finish the first chapter because I'm falling asleep.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I haven't made much progress today, I finished the first 3 chapters. It's wordy, but it's not the wordy that takes you time to read which I like. I like the writing, it's giving me Little Women vibes. So far I don't know very well the characters, but I think they are going to make a great family (I mean the librarians) and I'm there for it :D

[Melanie]

I took a 2-day reading break. I just needed it. I’ve been trying to keep up with the Summer Days challenge but sometimes I need a reading holiday. Will finish tomorrow.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Tell me about it. I just can't wait for the Summer Days to end 😂 I love it but it's also stressful if you want to win.. and I want to win 😅

I'm not following the schedule 😅 Yesterday I listened to the first 6 chapters, I don't know how many chapters I'm going to cover today.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I didn't have much time to listen at work so I sat down and listened up to chapter 13. I love the vibe it gives, although I don't like how women are treated that irks me. I hope by the end Alice's father in law falls down the stairs.. that would be really nice.

[Melanie]

Once I got going I had to finish. I loved this book. It made me feel so deeply for these women who were the pack horse librarians of eastern Kentucky. I had no idea about this program. I literally felt emotional about how much they gave to help the people within their community have access to trustworthy information. For me this was one of those rare combinations of story, setting, and exposure to history that just left me so moved. Can't wait to discuss once you've finished. But take your time. No rush. I just had the added pressure of my library deadline.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I had to stop listening because it was late, but maybe I can finish it by tonight, if nothing else tomorrow. I like the book and the feeling it gives me, I don't know how to describe it, I guess I like how it makes me care about them and like you said it's nice to see how much they helped their community.

[Melanie]

You’ve been doing a lot of buddy reads this month. So no worries. This was my last scheduled one, but I really want to find someone to read We Were The Lucky Ones with me. It’s been on my TBR forever and it is set in the 1930s which is a needed category for my group. I miss being in the same group as you. Maybe next year.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I know, I'm overdoing it. So far I've had 17 buddy reads + 3 that are happening right now + 1 that I need to plan with one of my teammates. I hope you find someone to read it with, we are low on that task too but I hope someone else will do it because I have other books to read now. Well, there are the games that happen at the end of the year too :D

[Melanie]

Holy cow. 17 buddy reads! No wonder your group is winning. That’s a lot. I’ve never done the end of the year — usually crazy time. I’ll have to check that out.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Yeah, I went a bit crazy with it. I planed it all nicely for this month, but I had two buddy reads last month that I didn't like the books so that dragged and disturbed my plans. Yeah, my team is doing pretty good, but The Sultans are really close.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

As you saw, I finished the book last night. I was to tired to compose a comment.

I liked it. Although Margery going to jail gave it a more tragic story, by that point my enjoyment went juuuuust a little bit down, but that's because I really liked them going out, giving out books.

I was wondering how the story would end for Alice. It was understandable why she wanted to go, even though she didn't really want to, and for a second I thought she would really leave. That wouldn't be a happy ending for her but I wouldn't have minded because in life things happen even though we don't want, so that would've been a realistic thing. But yes, they annulled the marriage because it wasn't consummated which I was thinking about somewhere half way into the book.

I have to say, Van Cleve not doing was a disappointed. I would've liked for him to catch a bullet with his head. I was so shocked with the part where he killed Marge's dog 😢😢