The Binding by Bridget Collins -> Starting June 4th, 2022

[Aly]

Books are dangerous things in Collins's alternate universe, a place vaguely reminiscent of 19th-century England. It's a world in which people visit book binders to rid themselves of painful or treacherous memories. Once their stories have been told and are bound between the pages of a book, the slate is wiped clean and their memories lose the power to hurt or haunt them.

After having suffered some sort of mental collapse and no longer able to keep up with his farm chores, Emmett Farmer is sent to the workshop of one such binder to live and work as her apprentice. Leaving behind home and family, Emmett slowly regains his health while learning the binding trade. He is forbidden to enter the locked room where books are stored, so he spends many months marbling end pages, tooling leather book covers, and gilding edges. But his curiosity is piqued by the people who come and go from the inner sanctum, and the arrival of the lordly Lucian Darnay, with whom he senses a connection, changes everything.

[Ellen-Arwen]

Yay, checking in because I'll lose the thread lol. Thanks Aly!

[Andy]

:)

[Andy]

Will start this tonight or tomorrow! ;)

[Ellen-Arwen]

Ah - I'm going to be a bit late starting this but really looking forward to it :)

[Andy]

:) I have started because I need to get it finished before holidays! ;)

Chapter 2: (view spoiler)[So, our protagonist is annoyingly clueless... I mean... Come on! That he has a book there is practically in the blurb, we either don't need these many references to it, or Emmett needs to get this already! :/

I like the writing, but not the lack of subtlety. Let's hope it gets a bit less drawn out... (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Sorry, I'll have to be a bit snarky at this book from now on... Also, why is it that I can predict what every reveal is going to be? I know I haven't read this book yet... Will probably improve, but was very predictable up till now...

Hope you'll get here soon Ellen-Arwen!

Chapter 7: (view spoiler)[So, second most frustrating character in the book is... Serendith! Well done!

What do you do if you are very old and sick and might die qite soon, and also you are sort of losing it a bit...
A) Nothing, you are too sick
B) You have a good talk with your apprentice to try to take him up to speed
C) You spend your time being secretive and dismissive

Mmm... I wonder what Serendith would do...

Also, don't worry Emmett, you are still winning the position of most frustrating character in the book, mustache twirling villains don't count.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Ah, sorry - I'll be here soon, I just need to finish my buddy read of Winter.

Sorry it sounds like you're not enjoying it...

[Andy]

I might get to the other book I'm reading and get back to this in a couple of days. It's not terrible, I like the premise, but I find it rather drawn out...

[Ellen-Arwen]

Sorry I'm a bit late! Fair enough if you're not enjoying it - see what you feel like after a bit of a break. It's pretty slow paced.

Chaps 1-5

(view spoiler)[

I like the premise a lot but Emmet is a kind of annoying character for me atm. He's clueless! ( like you said, Andy!). And I'm finding it pretty slow. To be fair, I've just read some SUPER fast-paced books recently so maybe I just need to get into it. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Hi Ellen-Arwen! I got to the end of part 1 and I thought to wait you there, I'm nearly finished with the other book, so I'll join you with this soon!

I got more into the writing style as I kept reading but it is a slow book I think! ((view spoiler)[It also has some of the worst of humanity... (hide spoiler)])

[Ellen-Arwen]

Andy wrote: "Sorry, I'll have to be a bit snarky at this book from now on... Also, why is it that I can predict what every reveal is going to be? I know I haven't read this book yet... Will probably improve, bu..."

Chaps 5-8

I had to laugh at your comments, Andy!

(view spoiler)[

I agree that Serendith was frustrating by not telling Emmet bloody anything! I'm not finding Emmet particularly frustrating though - and I'm getting used to the writing style.

I really want to get to know some more secrets that are in the books - I would make such a bad binder because I'm too nosy lol (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

:) I had fun writing that!

I am one chapter into part 2 and actually came round to the writing - it challenges my biligual brain in a way few books do these days! I just have to set my expectations low on the ratio of words/plot development...

(view spoiler)[
I maintain my point on Emmett - waaay too naïve (and also quick to judge?)

I think binders are actually very curious! Imagine doing that for a living and not really caring! ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

End of part 2:

(view spoiler)[I feel for Emmett, poor thing, I really do, but also... How naïve can he be? His younger sister is of "marriageable" age, he must be at minimum 16, more like 18: he's too naïve!
Also, how did he think this could end well?

At least now we know about the binding, I was thinking that their relationship had ended into something awful, but no, society pressure. Does make sense enough... (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Finally finished part 1! I'm on a real go slow at the moment - life is so busy!

What two languages do you speak out of interest?

(view spoiler)[

Binding is indeed very curious! I'd thought of it as a mostly good thing (although maybe a bit sketchy) until Darnay pointed out the way it can be TERRIBLY ABUSED. I hope Emmett doesn't agree to continue working for them - although he has very little autonomy...

Why do you think he's quick to judge? I haven't got that sense but maybe I'm reading it in too little bits to notice lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Italian is my first language! I just meant that this was the first time in quite a long time since I actually had to stop and search words in the dictionary - there was like a sentence that I read and I could sort of imagine it was about food, and that was basically it (turns out it was very weird food anyway! :P)

Other answers to your spoiler in the spoiler ;)

(view spoiler)[
I meant that binders are curious as people (eager to know) - I think binding is super sketchy, and I don't think it can be considered a good thing to do - if you choose to forget things you don't grow up nor learn anything (which is the point the book is making, I think?, and I stand by it... Bad thing, bad thing! :P ).

Ah! Read part 2, then you might see why I think Emmett is quick to judge... I don't know... He seems to form impressions of people based on nothing and then run with it for a long time (both Serendith and Julian)... Don't you think? Maybe quick to judge is the wrong term, maybe... Prejudiced? Something like that!
(hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Up to end of part two
I can DEFINITELY see what you mean about Emmet being naive now!

(view spoiler)[

This section was a much faster read; I guess because there was a more standard plot, it moved really smoothly. It was good to get to know Emmet a little better because I feel like he's just been kind of characterless till now which makes sense NOW.

Yeah, it all makes sense. I feel sorry for Emmet too :( I didn't expect this even though it all seems so obvious now! (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Andy wrote: "Italian is my first language! I just meant that this was the first time in quite a long time since I actually had to stop and search words in the dictionary - there was like a sentence that I read ..."

Sorry - I didn't see this for some reason, but YES I see what you mean so much! And I'm so jealous you're bilingual - I wish my parents had been more considerate and decided to have children with someone who spoke another language lol

I can see why you'd have to look things up - a lot of old fashioned things (including food) and just some really nice sentences with words that aren't widely used. I love things that stretch my vocabulary. Does it make it slow for you to read, or do you generally not look things up because you can get the general gist?


(view spoiler)[
Emmet is basically a reverse snob in that section; Lucian is automatically bad because he's rich and from an aristocratic family, and I did get kind of annoyed with him for that (although I can understand the prejudice if you're poor)

Binding is 100% sketchy! And, yeah, that's the point the book seems to be making - but I feel it even stronger! Definitely you can never learn from things, grow up, develop as a person... And when someone like Lucian's father is calling the shots about OTHER people being bound then it's even worse. Poor Nell :(

I wonder whether Emmet was forced to be bound or was it by choice? I'm sure we'll find out!

Definitely got into this - I'm really enjoying it now :) (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Italian is my first language! I just meant that this was the first time in quite a long time since I actually had to stop and search words in the dictionary - there was like a sentence..."

:) I am glad you are enjoying it! :)

Yes, the writing is a strength, I like "old" sounding writing! I don't generally look up words in the dictionary anymore (but when I started reading in English I made a point to search EVERY SINGLE WORD I didn't know in the first book I read - which was "Gone with the wind"... It took me literally years to finish! Worth it though, beautiful writing. I even wrote everything in the margins, my copy is very... used...lol)

I think the plot feels flimsy to me, because both characters are weak (for different reasons), so I don't love their continuous whining and doing nothing and changing their minds, etch. etch. ... Sorry!
I agree, the second half of the book is a much faster read than the first though!

(view spoiler)[Lucian father is the absolute worst! (hide spoiler)]

I'm almost finished!

[Ellen-Arwen]

Andy wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Italian is my first language! I just meant that this was the first time in quite a long time since I actually had to stop and search words in the dictionary - there..."

Looking up every word makes it SO SLOW! I read a French classic (can't remember what now) in French and it took me years as well - and my French is nowhere near as good as your English! My copy was very used as well lol.

I've actually finished now - yay :D

(view spoiler)[

I agree that the characters are kind of weak, and also judgemental, in their own ways, but they DO do some things to change their situations. It felt quite realistic in that way because it's really easy to moan about your life and not do anything, so I could kind of relate lol.

I don't know why I wrote we'd find out whether Emmet had been bound by choice or not - we already found that out at the end of part 2, oops!

Interesting though - that Alta and Emmett were both bound but their parents weren't, so they still had all the memories and the shame. And wouldn't they still have the shame on their family, all the gossip and stuff? Or had they moved? I can't remember now lol. It makes sense why his parents weren't terribly paternal I guess AND it makes the binder's fever make proper sense (I didn't get why he had it so badly).

Nice dramatic flourish at the end with burning all the books! I know Emmett said they were for trade, but what if there were horrible memories storied in there too? I don't think the answer to having a horrible experience is to forget it - like we've said - but if lots of people suddenly remembered traumas at the same time, that doesn't sound ideal either! I like the thought that some people were getting good memories back too - memories they'd sold. Imagine selling the memory of holding your child or something so you could feed them? That would make for one messed up family relationship...

Overall, I did actually enjoy it. The beginning felt super slow, and both MCs had plenty of flaws but I really got into it for the second half. I hope you enjoy the last bit :)

And Lucian's father is aaaaawful. Gah. Seriously. (hide spoiler)]

[Andy]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Italian is my first language! I just meant that this was the first time in quite a long time since I actually had to stop and search words in the dicti..."

Oh, thank you for telling me about your similar experience witg the French book! People really did not get why I was reading it that way at the time! :)

Finished too!

(view spoiler)[Where did you get that Emmett was bound twice? And Alta? My ending didn't say anything of this! It's just Lucian getting his memories back! Lol!

Yes, good point about the gossip, though I don't think that many people knew, just Alta and the parents, so they can keep quiet?

The book definitely became more enjoyable for me in the middle, but the ending is left a bit too open for me... I mean, now they have the same problems as before, nothing is changed... Except that they know it could be worse? Not sure what's the point... And I have too many questions! What are they going to do now? Lucian's father is going to be a problem no metter what...

And poor girl, Lucian's almost-wife! She seemed nice, now she's going also to have to deal witg the gossip...
(hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Andy wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Ellen-Arwen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Italian is my first language! I just meant that this was the first time in quite a long time since I actually had to stop and searc..."

I'm glad we have similar experiences with reading in other languages lol - but you've obviously come a long way from there! And yay, we both finished :D

(view spoiler)[

I'm confused - I didn't think anyone got bound twice! Sorry, I must've written very confusingly, I'm not that thick I promise!

Re: gossip - surely some of the people in their village would have noticed... I dunno. I guess they're pretty secluded.

Yeah, definitely improved as it went through! I was okay with the end - I guess I like open endings. The whole thing could repeat itself OR they could manage to get away and... make a life? Okay, I know that's unlikely but still. I quite like bleak endings so the idea that things are gonna repeat themselves appeals to the dark side of me lol

Yes - totally felt sorry for Honour! (hide spoiler)]

Thank you for buddy reading with me :D

[Andy]

Ellen-Arwen wrote: "
Thank you for buddy reading with me :D "

Thank you for buddy reading! It was really fun reading with you! :D

(view spoiler)[Sorry, I must have gotten confused about binding when you talked about Alta, I don't think she was bound! Lol!

Ah, I didn't think about history repeating! Good point! :)

Ah, you've got a dark streak there! ;) I used to like bittersweet endings A LOT, but I guess life's too stressful and unpredictable these days, I prefer happy or at least clear endings in my fiction! :P

(hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Andy wrote: ":) I have started because I need to get it finished before holidays! ;)

Chapter 2: So, our protagonist is annoyingly clueless... I mean... Come on! That he has a book there is practically in the b..."

I started this!

And I agree with you. This was a slow start but hoping that there would be less worldbuilding and more action further.

[Kira]

Chapter 5 : (view spoiler)[So finally we reached the part which was all given in the description, honestly a bit annoyed that a good chunk of the book was just detailed version of the blurb but have not lost hope that it'd redeem itself in later chapters. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

End of part 1 : (view spoiler)[Lucian's father is such a piece of shit! He is using binding to fulfil his evil desires, Poor Nell and all the other servants :( Lucian seemed like a good character but he is so scared of his father that he's helpless against him. I wonder what bad memories were stored in Emmett's book which has now burned so he'll remember! (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 14 : (view spoiler)[mmmm I am guessing Lucian really did fall for Alta and so his father had Alta and Emmett's books made to make them forget, it's clear by now that he's an evil evil man and would do anything to further his interests without any regard for other person's feelings (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

End of Part 2 : (view spoiler)[This was heartwrenching. I should have guessed that Lucian and Emmett would end up falling for each other! I absolutely adore them but Acre is so cruel. Poor Splotch :( Now that Emmett has remembered all that had happened, will he go to Lucian? (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Chapter 24 : (view spoiler)[I am getting impatient!!! I want Lucian to find his book already and go back to Emmett, shipping these two so hard! (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Finished : (view spoiler)[I liked the way it ended, all the books burned and everyone got their memories back, sure it got to be painful but apt. I still however felt like there was something missing in this book. I wasn't expecting this to be entirely about Lucian and Emmett and I would have liked if the author had explored the binding itself and other people involved more and focused a little less on the romance. (hide spoiler)]

[Ellen-Arwen]

Kira wrote: "Chapter 5 : [spoilers removed]"

I agree so much about blurbs that are spoilers! Drives me completely insane - if I'm been recommended a book then I avoid the blurb completely.

(view spoiler)[
Overall, agree with you - I wish there was less romance and more on the magic of binding; it felt like an untapped idea. (hide spoiler)]