August 2020 Readalong: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

[Noelle]

Absolutely agree, have any of you seen The Devil's Backbone? Creepy, sad and all about spirits trapped - like the Sundown's permanent residents

[Kimberly]

Frances wrote: "I like creepy stories that aren't just plain creepy but that have a human element to it, but which of course are usually sad. [spoilers removed]"

Agree 100%.

[Latasha]

Noelle wrote: "Absolutely agree, have any of you seen The Devil's Backbone? Creepy, sad and all about spirits trapped - like the Sundown's permanent residents"

love that movie! well, TBH, i'll watch anything with Guillermo Del Toro's name on it. i love that man!

[Frances]

MAMA was Del Toro too! I watched that 3x! I'm so lucky in that my son likes the same books and movies that I do so I have someone to watch with... he just hates it when I suddenly squeeze his arm or leg when things get super spooky. Ha ha

[Latasha]

Yep, i watched Mama too. I don’t know anyone in real life that reads horror. I have a friend that likes scary movies. And my mom will watch some of them. Mostly just haunted ones.

[Frances]

What category does Bird Box fall under? I really enjoyed that book pre-hype. And my son liked it just as much. He got such a big crush on Nicole Kidman after seeing her in The Others. 😅 This book would make an awesome movie actually...

[Erin]

Frances wrote: "What category does Bird Box fall under? I really enjoyed that book pre-hype. And my son liked it just as much. He got such a big crush on Nicole Kidman after seeing her in The Other..."

I would say post apocalyptic but I think it's the type of book that could fit into several different genres. The movie version of Bird Box is pretty good too, it's on Netflix.

[Kari]

I LOVED this book. (view spoiler)[What did everyone think about what Viv did? Vigilante justice justified, or no? I was personally surprised Carly had a lot of mixed emotions about it, but in retrospect after everything she went through, it made sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Tracy]

Starting today!

[Jen]

Yay, Tracy! I'm probably starting tomorrow.

[Latasha]

I probably will as well.

[Kimberly]

Kari wrote: "I LOVED this book. [spoilers removed]"

Kari (view spoiler)[ I, personally, would have justified Viv as self-defense, and the fact that she DID THEIR JOBS FOR THEM should account for something. I think Carly was more upset that she was alive and didn't contact them, than anything, but could be wrong.... (hide spoiler)] At any rate, I really enjoyed this one, and want to read more by the author!!

[Michelle❀]

ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I think it is a 3 for me, I was ready to give it a 4 but then (view spoiler)[Viv turned herself in... I was honestly disappointed that throughout the whole book women characters talk about how no one would believe them and how men just do whatever they want with them, and then she goes and just confesses to killing a fucking women serial killer? and I know it is implied that she will have a trial and all, but still... (hide spoiler)]

[Latasha]

I started today too. I will admit I was very distracted listening. I like it but I’m not loving it as much as I did The Broken Girls.

[Emily]

Just started this tonight!!!!

[Frances]

Michelle wrote: "ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I think it is a 3 for me, I was ready to give it a 4 but then [spoil..."

I agree so much with this, Michelle! I think what might have redeemed it somewhat is if (view spoiler)[ Callum's character actually tried to atone for his grandfather rather than avenge him. It is a small blessing if Viv succumbs to her illness in prison than having to serve a long, miserable term for having killed a man.

I know that there are books where the line between what is good and evil is drawn clearly so that the readers are impassioned and made aware of issues in society. But I don't think this book did a good job of doing that. This left a bad taste in my mouth rather than a satisfying read, unfortunately. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle❀]

Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I think it is a 3 for me, I was ready to give it a ..."
exactly (view spoiler)[it was like welp that´s just how it is for us women and there is nothing we can do about it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
ugh it made me even madder to find out Viv had cancer again like really? I felt Carly also wasn´t quite understanding of the situation and that made me feel bad for Viv. It´s a hard topic to discuss, kinda controversial I know, but being a woman and reading this just made my heart wrench. (hide spoiler)]

[Frances]

Michelle wrote: "Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I think it is a 3 for me, I was rea..."

Even if Viv were a male, I think it was still a raw deal. Her sex has nothing to do with it. (view spoiler)[A better ending . . . in my opinion, and that's just me, is if Viv and Simon both died while Viv was stopping Simon, and if Marnie hid both their bodies in the car. And if Marnie was Ill and confessed to Carly. There! I've rewritten the ending. Ha ha! 😅 (hide spoiler)]

[Frances]

My apologies for the disorganized posts. I'm running on caffeine trying to keep up in the Buddy Reads that I am so far behind in. 🤗

[Michelle❀]

Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I think it is a 3 ..."
I think it has absolutely everything to do with her being a woman, because the author made that choice. (view spoiler)[She chose to make Viv a woman and Simon a women serial killer. The author repeatedly tells us how women are not heard, how women are helpless in this 1982 scenario, Viv and Carly both ache at the thought of those women/girls murdered and the cases literally going cold because no one cared that much to catch the killer. Until someone (a woman) decided to end it for good.
Of course, if Viv was a man it would still be a hard topic to discuss, but the story would not have been the same, that would be a totally different book. (hide spoiler)]

[Kimberly]

Michelle wrote: "Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I ..."

Agree (view spoiler)[The point was that Viv was a woman and the police--expect for the female policewoman, who they "didn't want" and made her work nights--wouldn't take anything she said seriously. Keep in mind, this was a different time period, and women weren't as "accepted" in roles like that then. At least, that's what I think the author was going for. (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa]

Sun Down Hotel was my Book of the Month picka few month ago but I never got around to reading it. Glad I waited! Now I get to read it with you ladies! So far, so good!

[Latasha]

Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Frances wrote: "Michelle wrote: "ok so I finished today, it took me a lot to get through the first 40% of this book for some reason, but after that I got hooked. I think it is a 3 ..."

i soooo thought that is what happened. but nah, i was wrong.

[Latasha]

I finished this morning. I agree with everything being discussed in the spoilers above. (view spoiler)[ I was really disappointed Viv turned herself in. I realize that sounds messed up but that's how i felt. (hide spoiler)] I loved the motel setting and Fell. The one i thought was the spookiest was (view spoiler)[ Betty. And the fact that even after death she couldn't escape that asshole. He tormented her even then. That broke my heart so much. I wanted to help her so bad. I wish Viv and Carly had helped the ghost. Maybe something as simple as telling they were dead would've helped. (hide spoiler)]
But anyways, I really liked this one and I'm ready to read or listen to more by this author.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "I finished this morning. I agree with everything being discussed in the spoilers above. [spoilers removed] I loved the motel setting and Fell. The one i thought was the spookiest was [spoilers remo..."

I thought that (view spoiler)[ Viv turning herself in was really disappointing, too. (hide spoiler)]

[Frances]

I just realized today that this book reminded me of (view spoiler)[ Thelma and Louise (Viv and Marnie), but one of the differences is they chose not to turn themselves in (hide spoiler)]

[Vanessa]

(view spoiler)[I really enjoyed this up until the ending. I'm not sure about Viv and Carly leaving the motel at the end. I would have rather got a little more closure with Betty's ghost. Her ghost staying at the motel just to wait for her killer's grandson to show up decades later wasn't the best thought out subplot. I also was not a fan of Viv turning herself in. I think it would have been better if the last chapter wasn't set only three months later. Knowing that Viv wasn't going to spend the rest of her life in jail would have made up for it. (hide spoiler)]

There were a lot of things I liked, though. The variety of characters were nice. Each one had at least a little plot arc or a role to play. (view spoiler)[Because the main villain was settled on pretty early in the book, I think we got more well-rounded characters. Even the ghosts had a variety of motivations and haunting methods. (hide spoiler)]

I thought the spookiest ghost was (view spoiler)[the cigarette man. I generally like when a haunting involves multiple senses. I think being able to smell and taste a ghost is extra creepy. Also, because he wasn't really relevant to the plot, I think he added to the theme of Carly and Viv not being able to trust any men. (hide spoiler)]

[Jen]

One of the voices is so familiar on the audio! I would swear I just listened to an audio by the same narrator, but I can't put my finger on it.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I *finally* started the audio this morning (I hate this pandemic life but I don't miss my commute) and am at only 7% but it's off to a good start. One of the narrators sounds a little too polished for the character but I'm hoping the voice grows on me. The other narrator is a perfect fit. I hope we get an equal amount of flashback scenes because I'm finding that timeline fascinating right now.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Frances wrote: "My apologies for the disorganized posts. I'm running on caffeine trying to keep up in the Buddy Reads that I am so far behind in. 🤗"

No apologies needed. This is how I wander my way through my life so there's nothing but understanding over here, haha.

[Latasha]

Bark wrote: "I *finally* started the audio this morning (I hate this pandemic life but I don't miss my commute) and am at only 7% but it's off to a good start. One of the narrators sounds a little too polished ..."

i think we got equal amounts of both timelines. i hope you love it!

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Yay! I'm so happy to hear that!

[ｃｌａｉｒｅ]

I finished this book in 2 days. I really really loved it!

[Noelle]

Hey guys, I can't seem to find the September poll. What's the winner? :)

[Kimberly]

Noelle wrote: "Hey guys, I can't seem to find the September poll. What's the winner? :)"

Bunny was the winner. At the top of the page, click on "polls".

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Thank you Kimberly! That's on me. I forgot to send out the broadcast message with the winner. I'm so sorry, everyone! The thread is up now thanks to LOHF team member Jen (thank you Jen!)

[Noelle]

Thanks Jens and Bark :)

[Kimberly]

Bark wrote: "Thank you Kimberly! That's on me. I forgot to send out the broadcast message with the winner. I'm so sorry, everyone! The thread is up now thanks to LOHF team member Jen (thank you Jen!)"

Any time!!

[Jen]

I finished this today. I loved reading through all of the spoiler discussions here. As much as I had a great time reading The Sun Down Motel, I think I was a bit disappointed by the end. It was a great read, though.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

I'm agreeing with everything already said here as well. I just finished it up, late as always, and was let down by the ending. Such an odd choice after *waves hands in air* everything. But everything else was fantastic, especially the motel ghosts. I'm so glad this was narrated by two very distinctively different voices because otherwise I would've been terribly confused by the timelines.

[Tracy]

I’m still reading 😭

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Tracy wrote: "I’m still reading 😭"

It's okay, Tracy. I'm glad I'm not the last for once!

[Kimberly]

Bark wrote: "Tracy wrote: "I’m still reading 😭"

It's okay, Tracy. I'm glad I'm not the last for once!"

It's usually me.... but now I'm late for Horror Aficionados reads (if I get to some), and more in with the Ladies of Horror Fiction!

[Tracy]

Okay, I’m done! 5 stars!!! What an addicting read once I finally sat my butt down and got into it

[Latasha]

i got The Haunting of Maddy Clare audio book from the library. if anyone wants to read or listen with me in the next couple of weeks, i'll wait.

[Latasha]

Latasha wrote: "i got The Haunting of Maddy Clare audio book from the library. if anyone wants to read or listen with me in the next couple of weeks, i'll wait."

Here's the thread for the buddy read if anyone wants to join in. we aren't starting until 9/21/20, next Monday.