Middlegame (November 2020) Group Read Discussion

[Althea ☾]

This is the group thread for Middlegame!

This thread is open for discussion beginning November 10th! Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed (mark as a spoiler) 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 of the month can be used to catch up if needed! Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads.

The Group Read Discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 11/8
November 10: Pages 1-30
November 11: Pages 31-60
November 12: Pages 61-90
November 13: Pages 91-120
November 14: Pages 121-150

Week of 11/15
November 15: Pages 151-180
November 16: Pages 181-210
November 17: Pages 211-240
November 18: Pages 241-270
November 19: Pages 271-300
November 20: Pages 201-330
November 21: Pages 331-360

Week of 11/22
November 22: Pages 361-390
November 23: Pages 391-420
November 24: Pages 421-450
November 25: Pages 451-492


You can read the group book at any time during the month and at your own pace. This is the pace the group will be using, but if you read ahead or will be giving spoilers, please mark them (click the "some html is ok button"). If you have any questions a mod or another member can help you.

[Katie]

OKAY so I started reading this probably 6 months ago and dnf'd at around 30 pages--not because it wasn't good, but because I was super slumpy. I'm so happy it's a group read though, I hope you all can keep me motivated this time!

[Althea ☾]

So glad you're out of your slump Katie! I'm also planning to read this within this month <3 super excited to be reading this with you guys :)

[AG]

Yay!!! I got this book last week and am at page 150. I’m so happy that I get to read it with everyone!

[AG]

BTW I got the book because of Booksandlala

[Althea ☾]

Oooh I love Kayla!! This has simply been on my tbr for the longest time and I finally have an excuse to :3

[AG]

I watch 5 minutes her vlog of her reading it and Over the Woodward Wall and immediately picked up the book from my library 😂

[AG]

Wow. School made me not be able to spell.....

[Katie]

Kayla is one of my favorites on booktube! We have pretty different reading tastes for the most part, but I feel like Middlegame is the type of book we will both love. Her videos are always so unique and creative too.

Now all I need to do is actually unpack my books even though I moved 3 months ago...

[Althea ☾]

Yeah we have the same reading taste when it comes to the "weird" and unconventional books so I think I'm going to like this one. Also Regan from peruseproject really loves it and we have the same reading taste usually :D

ahhh goodluck unpacking Katie, I just unpacked my books a few months ago and it was a total hassle

[Laura ☾]

This has been on my list forever!

[Michelle]

This book is way to sci fi for me and totally weird. Looks like some of you will love it!! Not my cup of tea, but interesting for sure.
Glad I finally understand the cover.

[AG]

I finally understand the cover

[Katie]

The last time I tried to read this I was not in the right headspace to concentrate on a book like this and ended up only getting about 30 pages in before setting it down for later. This time I blew past that mark and in one sitting read the first 80 pages. I think I am in more of a weird sci-fi mood so this is fitting the bill, though I have been reading a lot of heavy books lately. I think my next read will need to be more lighthearted to offset all the doom and gloom I've been reading, like a romance or something.

I have only ever read the Wayward Children series from Seanan McGuire and I'm already picking up on some similar themes. She really likes writing about children and how their upbringing affects them, especially when it comes to parents or other people trying to force them into some kind of mold. But she also always comes up with these bonkers scenarios as a lens to view this topic she's exploring. I know I'm a little behind the schedule but I'm excited to keep going and see what happens!

[Laura ☾]

Ok I'm about ten percent into this and boy am I confused...

[Katie]

I just embrace the confusion lol. I trust Seanan McGuire to reveal things when the time is right. I'm about at the halfway point and I'm also still confused but I can see how things are starting to come together.

[Laura ☾]

Ok I finished it - that just wasn't for me honestly. I feel like when I got little bursts of clarity, it would just raise 20 more questions, and I essentially just spent most of the book confused.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

@Laura When I saw yesterday that you said it was confusing I was immediately intrigued 😂 I was planning on starting it sometime, but was swamped with BRs.

[Laura ☾]

Hahahah if you do let me know what you think! for me, it just wasn't my cup of tea

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I'll comment.. but there's a bigger chance I'll like it at least 1 star more than you 😂 You didn't like Gideon and gave it 2*, I liked it to some extent and it got a 3* from me.

[Laura ☾]

Fair play 😂 for me two stars is ‘I didn’t like it but I can see sone merit’ while 3 usually means ‘I liked it but it wasn’t that special’

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Yep, my rating is like that too..

[Laura ☾]

Makes sense!

[Michelle]

Glad I am not the only one who didn't like it. I haven't read any of the authors other books which people rave about.

[Althea ☾]

I read the first book of the author's other series (Wayward Children) and I felt underwhelmed. They did say that the first book is the weakest so...

[Katie]

I guess I have the unpopular opinion in this group, but I finished reading this morning immediately after waking up and I LOVED IT. An easy 5 star! I think my reading mood really did need to be in the perfect place to read this book because it is so weird, so I totally get that it isn't for everyone. Personally, though, I found the vibes to be ~immaculate~

@Althea, the second book in Wayward Children is my favorite, so I hope you give that one a try and see if you like it better as it continues! I actually thought the first two books were the strongest out of all of them so far.

[Althea ☾]

Yea I heard that that people who didn't love the first book liked it more as it goes on. Definitely been meaning to continue it though, hopefully soon :)

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

There are a brother and sister called Roger and Dodger ... okay 😂 So yeah, I'm finally starting this.

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I read 20% of the book. It is a bit confusing, but it's still the beginning and I don't mind it. I like the writing, with this book I think I can conclude that I like magical realism (at least I'm pretty sure this is magical realism because of the feeling it gives me when I read it, btw that's my magical realism radar *a feeling*)

[AG]

I’m 76% done and I am loving it. I love the confusing parts and when the book makes me feel done. And her writing style is just *chefs kiss*

[AG]

Dumb*

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Currently at 63%

* I like how Dodge, that is bad at socializing made a plan how to connect with people, how she collected data so that she can at least fake it very well.
* Roger :) I do not like him.. Like, okay, he left her when they were kids because he had a reason, but he keeps doing it!

@Aubrey I love being confused and feeling dumb 🙈 by this book. I think that's the reason I'm also loving it 😂