The Push

[Trisha]

This thread is to discuss The Push by Ashley Audrain.

Pages: 320 pages

Length: 1 Month (April)

Participants: Chantal, Trisha, Sneha, Alyana.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

[Chantal]

Thank you!

[Chantal]

Started this today and I can't put it down.

[Alyana]

Chantal wrote: "Started this today and I can't put it down."

I'm hoping to start in a few days.

[Trisha]

Chantal wrote: "Started this today and I can't put it down."

I agree, Chantal! This is so good! I started this today and am just short of 20 pages to finish it. What a well-written book! I will share my thoughts soon, will try to complete this first so that I can tick off another prompt from our 25k readathon.

[Trisha]

Alyana wrote: "Chantal wrote: "Started this today and I can't put it down."

I'm hoping to start in a few days."

Great! Would love to hear your thoughts!

[Trisha]

Finished! (view spoiler)[What a great book! I was on the edge throughout, not sure what to believe and what to disregard. Can’t believe this is a debut novel! I was slightly dissatisfied with the ending, I mean it’s great and all but I couldn’t get closure, which I’m sure was the writer’s motive all along. But I’m not at peace anymore. This is totally a one-sitting book! (hide spoiler)]

[Alyana]

Trisha wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

You are impossible :D

[Trisha]

Alyana wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

You are impossible :D"

Alyana, it’s a very quick read! Besides I think it was easier for me to read because I don’t have kids (yet), it could be slightly difficult for some mothers. You will understand what I’m saying once you start it! Pick this up soon! 🤓

[Alyana]

I'm next in line from the library :)

[Chantal]

well I dont have kids but I do have An over active thinking head and the book almost made me cry on several points because of the thoughts she has

[Chantal]

Finished!

(view spoiler)[ The book is like that movie there is something about Kevin. Trisha I think the end says it all, it was not her thinking negative things about her daughter.. but they really happened. The last few sentences say it all. Although you can see it as an open end, I dont think that was what the book was about. It was the question more did it happen like she thought and felt things or was it all in her head. (hide spoiler)]

[Alyana]

I started this yesterday. I am seeing similarities in the story with Verity. You were right Trisha, there are some things that makes it difficult for me as a mom of a little girl.

[Alyana]

This book is disturbing but I like it, am I crazy?

[Alyana]

Trisha wrote: "Finished! [spoilers removed]"

I just finished! This is one of a h*** book! Added to my favorites!

[Alyana]

Chantal wrote: "Finished!

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
All Blythe's thoughts about Violet were true right? I got confused in the end. I kept guessing all throughout the book if the things happened were all just an imagination or not. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I love it and I gave it 5 stars! :)

[Trisha]

Chantal wrote: "Finished!

[spoilers removed]"

Chantal, (view spoiler)[ when I said I was looking for some closure, I meant that now that we know Blythe was always right about her daughter's wickedness, I want to know more about her daughter's psychology. Violet started doing those cruel things at a very young age - what could have triggered her? How was she able to corner out her mother at an age when she had no understanding of the world? I wish I could have a sneak-peak into her mind. (hide spoiler)] Nevertheless, it was a perfect 5 star read!!

[Trisha]

Alyana wrote: "Chantal wrote: "Finished!
[spoilers removed]"..."

Alyana, yes! (view spoiler)[ It was Violet all along! Poor Blythe was right about her. What a strange child! I always dream of having a daughter in the future (when I'm prepared for this heavy duty job of a mother), but reading about Violet gave me the creeps. I really want to know her psychology - really!! (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

All three of us rated it 5/5 stars. Woohoo!

I'm definitely voting for this one in this year's goodreads Choice awards.

[Chantal]

Trisha wrote: "Chantal wrote: "Finished!

[spoilers removed]"

Chantal, [spoilers removed] Nevertheless, it was a perfect 5 star read!!"

(view spoiler)[ Well maybe the writer will write a second book. I don't think something triggered her, she is just the way she is a "psychopath" like serial killers are. Not all psychopath become killers but.... (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

Chantal wrote: "Well maybe the writer will write a second book. I don't think something..."

(view spoiler)[ I wish there’s a second book. I have been watching a lot of docuseries on serial killers, in fact, I read a few books too last year that focused on the psychology of serial killers. Shockingly, all of those serial killers have had either a traumatic childhood, or a traumatic event in their childhood. I’m not talking of fictional figures - these are real-life killers who are still locked up or long dead, and all of them have committed heinous killings - some of them at a very young age. Interestingly, most of them turned out sour because of their experiences/relationships with their mothers, who were not necessarily bad mothers (not all of them certainly), but they were guilty of doing things that ended up traumatising their children for life.

Talking of psychopaths, there have been numerous studies which claim that a person is not born a psychopath - there has to be a defining cause behind his/her behaviour. Some studies have identified neural and genetic aberrations that lead to such behaviour, while some claim that most of the psychopaths have had a disturbing childhood. A lot of this is still being studied and we are still miles away to know what leads to such behaviour, besides each psychopath has a distinct story.

Violet’s case is different though. She was seen being bitter from the time she was born. What could have caused that? Probably a genetic disorder transferred from Blythe’s family’s genetic makeup - who knows. Although I loved the book, I can’t stop thinking what was Violet thinking when she was doing those things? (hide spoiler)]