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Stranded
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Group Reads > November 2021 Group Read #2 - Stranded

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Alan | 7613 comments Mod
Our second Group Read for November is Bracken MacLeod's Stranded.

Please remember to use spoiler tags, percentages/pages/chapters when discussing.


message 2: by LTJ (new) - rated it 3 stars

LTJ (ltj81) | 2000 comments Wow, this looks like a good one! I haven't read this one either and am looking forward to it, great choice :-)


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
This does look good, finally got to read the synopsis, I'll try to join in on this one :)


Vickie (bookfan4ever) Had this on my list forever, so happy to finally get to it.😊


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
Nice Vickie, I just got myself a copy, should arrive in a few days :)


message 6: by Kimberly (new) - added it

Kimberly (kimberly_3238) | 7707 comments Mod
I've had this one as marked to read for ages! I think I'll get a copy and join in.


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
Wahooo :)


Amanda | 96 comments I just bought a copy. I am looking forward to reading this one.


lilithethedestroyer | 7 comments This one looks interesting, can't wait to read it.


jamako (jann1k) | 192 comments Had this one on my to-read for a while now and will probably join the group read as well :)


message 11: by Marcie (new)

Marcie | 20 comments My copy should be coming the beginning of November.


Suzanne Paul | 8 comments I just finished this book today. Can’t wait to see what others think of it.


message 13: by JasonA (new)

JasonA (jasonaa) Sounds promising AND my library has a copy available.


message 14: by Greg (new) - rated it 4 stars

Greg | 383 comments I read this one back 2016. It's not completely fresh in my mind but I remember enjoying it. It was a little bit of a slow burn but I recall pulpable tension and some unique and creepy premises.


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
Just got my copy delivered, the opening paragraph alone is awesome.


message 16: by Char (new)

Char | 17459 comments I dug out my copy and I’m finally reading this one!


Nancy (paper_addict) | 812 comments I am starting this tonight.


message 18: by Jennifer (new) - added it

Jennifer | 375 comments I am digging out my copy and am excited to finally read this !!


message 19: by Jess (new) - rated it 3 stars

Jess (barstr7) | 4 comments I was hit with one of my occasional bouts of insomnia last night and knew I'd be getting very little sleep so I said screw it and decided to start one of my HA Group Read books.

Stranded by Bracken MacLeod

I made it to Chapter 16 (37% according to my Kindle) before calling it a night. I can't help but feel like this could have used a heavier hand to edit it. I like slow burn building dread in a horror book but this is a bit ridiculous. Nothing happens for a really long time. There's almost three chapters at the beginning devoted to the history of the fishing industry and the main character's family that have absolutely no bearing on the story. Meanwhile, seemingly key bits of exposition are dropped with a single sentence. It's really starting to get good now but I definitely think some bits could have been excised for the sake of pace.


Vickie (bookfan4ever) It is definitely a slow burn with a constant building of tension. As to the main character's (Noah) family history info, it actually gives some insight into the relationship between him and the ship's captain. I loved the atmosphere and building tension, it made me want to keep reading, but I was rather disappointed with the twist to the plot and not much explanation for it, as well as the ending. I feel Macleod missed an opportunity with this one. It had such promise. It ended up a 3 star read for me, good not great. I hope everyone likes it better, though!😊


Netanella | 572 comments Spot


Kristen | 121 comments I’m picking up my copy from the library today. Looking forward to joining in the group read!


Patrick Ellard | 25 comments I just finished this today. I enjoyed it a lot, right up until the ending. It is definitely a slow burn but I like that as long as the tension keeps gradually building which in Stranded it definitely does. I enjoyed the twist however it's the sudden ending and lack of explanation that I didn't like. It's almost as if MacLeod himself couldn't come up with a satisfactory explanation so just ended the book and really left the reader hanging.

To be honest it is really frustrating, it was easily a 4 star book up to that point and it dropped to a 3 star at the end.


Vickie (bookfan4ever) Yes, totally agree with you Patrick!


message 25: by Ami (new)

Ami Morrison | 234 comments I can get the audio from my library! :D I'm hoping to squeeze this one in this month. I'd never heard of this book before but it sounds interesting and mixed reviews... now I'm curious!


Nancy (paper_addict) | 812 comments I finished it. I liked it but I like the twist and it’s one of my favorite types of science fiction (view spoiler) so when it veered in that direction I was excited and couldn’t put it down.


message 27: by Alan (new) - rated it 3 stars

Alan | 7613 comments Mod
Started reading tonight, with appropriate background noise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGkh1...


Chandler | 254 comments Alan wrote: "Started reading tonight, with appropriate background noise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGkh1..."


Thank you for sharing, Alan! I also like listening to background noise while reading.

I ordered a cheap used copy online and it's taking its time in the mail. Hoping to have in the next week!


message 29: by Alan (new) - rated it 3 stars

Alan | 7613 comments Mod
So I'm 163 pages in when they finally reach (view spoiler)
Well, that was unexpected.


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
Alan wrote: "Started reading tonight, with appropriate background noise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGkh1..."


Oo that's a perfect one for this book!!


message 31: by Alan (new) - rated it 3 stars

Alan | 7613 comments Mod
Finished it. This is my review (which doesn't contain any spoilers): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I liked the first half of the book much better than the second half.


Netanella | 572 comments I just started the third and final part of the book. I agree with you, Alan, that the vitriol between Noah and his father-in-law is over-exaggerated. Reminds me of WWF wrestling matches with overly dramatic feuds to pump up ratings.

I am digging the cold atmosphere, the bleak landscape, the isolation. I'm not sure about the new direction the story has taken, however.

The ending, however, still awaits . . . . !


Vickie (bookfan4ever) Alan wrote: "Finished it. This is my review (which doesn't contain any spoilers): https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I liked the first half of the book much better than the second half."


Yep, that's how I felt. Nice review!


message 34: by Alan (new) - rated it 3 stars

Alan | 7613 comments Mod
Thanks!


Netanella | 572 comments I finished the book last night. It seems I, too, was disappointed with the second half of the book. It opened up too many unknowns for me, ones that were not explained and left multiple plot holes.

I did like the atmosphere and the setting, however.


Patrick Ellard | 25 comments I'm glad to see so many other people feel the same way as I did. good first half, not so god second half!


Chandler | 254 comments Just started reading. The first couple of chapters are off to a rousing start. I'm sorry that the ending seems to drop the ball for a lot of readers :( I'll keep my expectations low.


inciminci | 650 comments I just started too, I'm at about 30% and already underwhelmed. I agree I don't get this hate towards the MC too, especially in a life thretening situation you'd try to forget the grudges and stick together, no?


message 39: by Char (new)

Char | 17459 comments I'm still only about 130 pages in, but I'm enjoying myself. I have to admit that so far, it reminds me of The Terror by Dan Simmons. This is not as detailed as that book was, but I did learn a lot about explorers getting stuck in the ice, sometimes for more than a year or two. Can you even imagine? What do you think it smelled like below decks after men have been living there for a year?


message 40: by Jennifer (new) - added it

Jennifer | 375 comments Char wrote: "I'm still only about 130 pages in, but I'm enjoying myself. I have to admit that so far, it reminds me of The Terror by Dan Simmons. This is not as detailed as that book was, but I did learn a lot ..."

We all have this image of large ships, those wood ships were fairly small. I visited the Fram Museum in Oslo and they have a wood ship, its the only ship to have gone to the Arctic and Antarctic. You were ablet o actaully walk the ship, go inside all the rooms . It was amazing. And tiny,

https://frammuseum.no/

I have to agree I get shades of the Terror as well. I am not far into the book, but I have not read the comments.


message 41: by Char (new)

Char | 17459 comments Jennifer wrote: "Char wrote: "I'm still only about 130 pages in, but I'm enjoying myself. I have to admit that so far, it reminds me of The Terror by Dan Simmons. This is not as detailed as that book was, but I did..."

Wow, that place looks cool! Thanks for posting that.


message 42: by Lee (new) - rated it 4 stars

Lee | 10 comments It's a bit late in the month, but I'm finally getting started on this one! The blurb sounded really intriguing, so here's hoping I enjoy it and it's not *too* slow burn for me.


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
I’m not used to such short chapters but they make for fast reading, only 50 pages in but I’m really enjoying it.


message 44: by Char (new)

Char | 17459 comments I’m around page 216, chapter 27. I don’t even know what just happened.


Kasia (kasia_s) | 4513 comments Mod
I"m only on page 108, didn't get to read today yet :(


inciminci | 650 comments I finished it yesterday and I have to say I didn't enjoy reading it and gave it 2 stars. I don't know, I quickly lost interest and I felt like except for three characters all of them were interchangeable to me ((view spoiler)).


Netanella | 572 comments inciminci wrote: "I finished it yesterday and I have to say I didn't enjoy reading it and gave it 2 stars. I don't know, I quickly lost interest and I felt like except for three characters all of them were interchan..."

makes for easy character development lol!


inciminci | 650 comments That's true Netanella :D


Chandler | 254 comments I'm about a third of the way through. I'm also getting some major vibes of The Terror. I loved The Terror so I'm hoping that's a good sign. Some early chapters were slow moving but it's starting to get interesting again. I still remember people being disappointed by the ending, though.


message 50: by Char (last edited Nov 16, 2021 11:07AM) (new)

Char | 17459 comments I finished late last night.

I'm not saying anything about the ending or the last quarter or so of the book, I don't want to ruin it for everyone.

(view spoiler)

I gave it 3.5 stars, but rounded up to 4 for Goodreads because I did find it compelling reading.


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