Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion
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The Perfect Run
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Vagabond Treehouse ~ [Fall 2025: World of Chains #1-3 (Wayward Bard) | The Perfect Run 1-3 (alternating)]
The Giver: - It's a completely regimented society with compartmentalized roles.
- All except the Receiver has to follow the rules.
- Brainwashing happens from birth. Medication starts as soon as kids show out of box thoughts/actions. If not open to manipulation, killed.
- Kids "grow up" to be put into Role/Career at 12 years.
- Breeder role has to give birth 3x and then becomes laborer. Like all roles, breeder goes to training at 12. No talk about what age giving birth is at. It sounded like real sex, not insemination.
- Kids of opposite sex of elderly are given chores to wash elderly.
- Emphasized weight on meaning of words, but only for directed words and meaning.
RECEIVER ROLE: Only person that can have all memories. Like a memory keeper. No talk about how that actually works. Supposedly, only light eyed people + persaonality trait & intelligence can be receiver.
Old Receiver gave himself the nickname Giver.
Ya know why?
Cause he was a Pissed Off + Depressed + Grief Struck man who wanted to destroy the group.
When a Receiver DIES without passing down memories to a successor, those memories are thrown into the group and everyone has to deal with those memories. Except where's the whole only light colored people are chosen for Receiver role but anyone can get these memories and somehow these memories are only containable within a certain area? What? What?
So the PLAN made by the Giver was for Jonas to run away from this place and Jonas memories would somehow automatically leave him to bomb the group.
Giver focused on war memories and stuff on Jonas.
Yah, the GIVER definitely gave a lot of death and destruction.
So nice.
Let's not talk about an ignorant 12 year old, maybe 13, boy who doesn't know jack about anything or survival thinks he can RUN AWAY with a baby.
The author's note ebook talked about stuff. It made me mad. 🤣🤣🤣 I was like, Jonas & baby Gabriel survived? What? The memory thing isn't explained at all. One sentence towards end of story stated Jonas could feel the memories leaving him. IMMEDIATELY followed by Jonas having a hallucination/dream/etc about snow, hill & sled in the freezing cold. Yeah, so that was referral to the 1st memory Jonas was given. Except when the memories are given away (or gone cause of boundary) supposedly the memory is faded or forgotten.
Really cool how Jonas "remembered" something that he should have forgotten.
🙄
Oh wait, maybe Jonas is a magical person where no rules apply.
Gabriel was a magical baby that didn't need food, poop or warmth and survive.
Yeah.
PLOT HOLES!!!
Not a happy story. Definitely a horror. Great for a directed critical thinking class.
Ya know, lots of people think Giver is a happy story.
🤔💩💩💩🥸
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No way. I'm ok not reading any more books by that author. Thanks. 🤣🤣🤣
During my 1st listen of terrible audiobook, I was like:
Wait, this is one of a series?!?!?
💩💩💩
Mod
Timelord Iain wrote: "Next audible sale popped, and it has tons of deals on 3-4 books in single series... trying to get people to pick up clusters of books..."Ugh. Goes to check sale. AGAIN
I wish it was easier to remove audiobooks on Audible wishlist. There are a bunch tagged as on my wishlist in the sale, but I don't want to buy them cause reviews are sketchy. One dude renamed himself Angry American as author name.
🙄
No desire to read any of those books now.
🤣🤣🤣
Mod
One dude renamed him..."
Not Angry... Angery... he didn't even spell it right, lol...
WHY is Emily Woo Zeller the narrator for a romance? Whyyyyyyyyyy?She does NOT fit romance at all.
🤣🤣🤣
Consortium Rebellion series. Another need to remove from Wishlist book.
Also, most of the books on sale suck.
Ooo Spells, Swords & Stealth series by Drew Hayes is on sale. 👌
Mod
It's 10% shorter than February, and I seem to have 10% more BRs, 20% more pages, and 5-10% more hours of audio...
Something's gonna give, most likely...
...
Just finished inputting all my February data...
Okay but The Giver was my first exposure to dystopian fiction as a kid so.... nostalgia :D
Speaking of unexpected finds... I just saw that Drew Hayes released the third 5-Minute Sherlock book The Case of the Felonious Faire and spent an Audible credit on it :)
Mod
A bunch of Drew Hayes is on sale right now...
Spells, Swords, and Stealth, as mentioned by Soo... and Villains' Code, including the anthology Vignettes, Vol. 1...
Tonari no Emily wrote: "Okay but The Giver was my first exposure to dystopian fiction as a kid so.... nostalgia :D"People think the Giver is a happy story.
😱😱😱
Narilka wrote: "Speaking of unexpected finds... I just saw that Drew Hayes released the third 5-Minute Sherlock book The Case of the Felonious Faire and spent an Audible credit on it :)"Yah! We all should read it at some point.
Soo wrote: "Tonari no Emily wrote: "Okay but The Giver was my first exposure to dystopian fiction as a kid so.... nostalgia :D"People think the Giver is a happy story.
😱😱😱"
Did they read it? lmao
Soo wrote: "That's what I'm ranting about! 🤣"Wild! 🤣
Most of Drew Hayes is on Hoopla for me, else I'd've picked those up... Finding a lot of things on the sale that we're reading this year or have read recently... The Will of the Many is one coming up if anyone hasn't snagged it yet, Wandering Inn for those folks thinking of starting...Regarding the Giver--I read it in school too, I think 5th grade? At that age, it was a very impactful book... I remember the teacher emphasizing that they all died at the end. This was before the sequels came out and overturned everything in the book... Like Emily, this was definitely my first exposure to dystopian fiction... it might not hold up today, but it was some of the first dystopian fiction written for kids...
Would be down for a Drew Hayes series read... but not in Feb--same problem as Iain!
🤔 GiverNot sure why your teacher emphasized that the town died. The end for Jonas & Gabriel could be spun as a hallucination, but I went with them dying cause Jonas was clueless + baby in winter. 🤷♀️
Commune/Town/etc definitely suffered backlash from the memories being tossed back at the community-prison, but the whole deal with memories was super hand wavy so it's all badly cobbled guesses. 😆
I ended up borrowing the ebook to double check my thoughts by skimming the book. There's an author's note in ebook that explained how Jonas & Gabriel survived. Jonas shows up in cameos and Gabriel is the MC for last book. 🫠
Hmm I feel like there were other dystopians, but I'll rabbit hole dive that later.
Oh not the town. Everyone being Jonas and kid. I was unspecific with my words. There was no author's note explaining survival when I read the book--I remember when the sequels came out people were unhappy because it undid their thoughts of the ending...
Mod
If anything, you have it worse... you read like 75 books in January, to my 50... altho you're also doing more short stories than me, I think...
I'm already in plan mode, trying to figure out how I'm going to make February work...
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It's called Listenbook... not sure if there's a Google Play version...
I can go faster than 3x speed already on Hoopla/Audible, but Audible doesn't interact with my iTunes library very well... super buggy and not worth trying...
Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry: I meant to listen to these on Audible Plus a while back. Going to put more non-fiction and historical into my reading rotation.This is an engaging intro for kids, but I think it would be best with an adult that could answer questions or help with searching for answers that are not Wikipedia. 🙃
Started Great Mythologies of the World - Started this and the way myths are parceled, summarized, linked and etc has been good brain exercise. But ultimately not great for initial exposure to mythologies cause all of the above is littered with opinions. I think it would be better to read mythology stories and use this course style as a refresher.
My take against opinions woven into the summaries/etc - if that's your exposure, it would probably become a default take without reading the story.
Timelord Iain wrote: "I downloaded a new 3rd party audiobook app to try, that goes up to 4-5x speed in 0.1x increments... maybe there's some easy books I can do even faster than 3x speed, to help with my overbooking :D..."
LoL why would you wanna go faster than 3.5x? That knocks down the length a lot.
Though, there have been times I wanted faster than 3x in Libby.
Google Play - Listenbook by Tigermax Studios is up for early access. Is that the same developer of the one you're using?
Mod
Both are on Audible Plus! 🎶🎵🎶2/3 of my reading is online LNs. In January, I've read about 11,000 pages of LNs. 🤣🤣🤣
Cause I don't read the short ones that tend to be about 120 chapters. That's like a book length. I prefer ones around 1,000 chapters.
Oh! I also took a day to read Kaikeyi ebook while listening to audiobook. I got the audio from library and bought ebook cause it was $2 sale. Good story in the almost epic-ness in story scope. Not a good adaptation. Reading that reminded me to get back into mythologies. Since it's been ages since I read them. I did a spree of Homer and stuff a few years ago with pals in SFFBC. Also read the Giver, cause I was mostly appalled by the casual manipulation and plans to kill people.
Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry is a nice refresher for some parts of Sci-Fi books we enjoy reading.There is an adult version by Degrasse: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Will listen to that next. Also on Audible Plus
- Kane wrote silly review for his book. I laughed. Then I went and bought audiobook. 🤣🤣🤣Let me know if anyone wants to BR it!
Soo wrote: " - Kane wrote silly review for his book. I laughed. Then I went and bought audiobook. 🤣🤣🤣Let me know if anyone wants to BR it!"
Damn, no KU discount... But I'll definitely want to read it!
Mod
Hoping it gets fixed...
Timelord Iain wrote: "I haven't bought it because the book isn't correctly linked to Amazon... if you go to Amazon, the ebook/paperback page doesn't list an audiobook... that's why the whispersync pricing is missing......"
I'll hold out a bit longer too then... Doubt I'll be able to get to it till March at the earliest anyway Unless I burn out and start to mood read lol
Mod
Ebook/Paperback page: https://www.amazon.com/Scum-Earth-Ale...
Audiobook page: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Scum-o...
Maybe if you guys do similar, we can get it fixed and save money :D
I just went to each page and said there were 2 unlinked listings, and then posted the URL of the OTHER listing, so hopefully someone with power would combine them...
Timelord Iain wrote: "I went to the Amazon pages and clicked the report issue (Other), and posted a complaint/correction (the button is right below the book blurb):Ebook/Paperback page: https://www.amazon.com/Scum-Ear..."
Done! lol
@Soo - I saw your note on my update for the Wim Hof Method. I've been using his breathing technique for a couple years now and am a believer so picked up the book when it went on sale a month or so back. The full method combines cold exposure with breath with meditation, which is what I'm most interested in at the moment and, of course, is towards the end of the book. Did you have any questions in particular?
How did you get into it? What have you noticed in yourself by adding the exercises?I'm just curious. Different experiences and so many unknown things in the world. Fun to ask questions.
Read basics on the website. Interesting blend of ideas.
I've used different forms of meditation my whole life. Basis of that are breathing techniques.
Apply use of hot & cold in temps & food reactions to every day life. It's a part of the general routine. Part passed down by family (mostly Asian side), part learning, experience, etc.
Soo wrote: "How did you get into it? What have you noticed in yourself by adding the exercises?"Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This is not medical advice. This is my personal experience.
To help myself get through the pandemic I got into many things, one main one being meditation in 2021. As I was searching for meditation techniques to find one that works for me I stumbled across Wim's breathing technique and gave it a try. It killed all my anxiety and helped me relax, feel almost normal again for a little while. So I kept at it. Over time, benefits seem to last longer. I'm not as consistent as I should be but it's going well.
Benefits I've experienced:
-Reduced anxiety and stress
-Stops panix/anxiety attacks in their tracks
-Increased mental resiliency
-Better exercise performance and recovery (I think due to being oxygenated)
-Resolves digestive upset in its tracks
-Overall better sense of well being
-Stopped (view spoiler) which surprised the heck out of me :)
-Better awareness of my body and blockages to be addressed
-This technique led me to my own technique to get rid of almost any headache so I basically never have headaches any more unless I'm sleep deprived
I have not done the cold water stuff yet though tried my first cold shot in my shower yesterday. I'm a cold wimp hah so hopefully I can stick with it. I do need a timer or clock in my bathroom so I can start building up to the recommended 1-2 minutes. That's all you need to gain health benefits. I have a pulse oximeter so I'm curious to see if I can stick with it if I can gain the heart rate benefits that studies of said happen after a consistent 10 days.
The main benefit for the cold water portion is supposed to be around retraining your vascular system. With practice, Wim has gained control over his autonomous nervous system that's not supposed to be possible, staying warm in extreme cold and staying cool in the heat. I want to see if I can do similar :D I'm crazy lol I am a firm believer of mind over matter having witnessed and experienced too many things. There is a lot more to this world than you can see and touch.
FWIW, I overhauled my whole diet 10ish years ago so don't get sick much anyway. I can't speak to that potential benefit though it is supposed to be one too. As part of that I healed many of my health annoyances so also can't speak to those potential benefits.
The regular meditation portion is later in the book and I'm only half way through so no input yet. The breathing technique is almost a form of meditation though.
I'm not medically trained either. Thought about training in various fields but ultimately not interested in any of the jobs. 😆 I'm a bit strange in that I don't like having a full time job doing something that's part innate traits for me. My mind frame for what is freely given vs work obligation. Either way, I tend to do what I feel is best and that aspect always puts my state of being low on totem pole. 😆It's easier to have better personal boundaries when the choices aren't framed within professional work constraints.
Totally with you about food impact on body! Allergies pushed my love of noms into what am I eating and the many divergent fields related. Food processing, chemical treatment after harvesting, salt, sugar, types of sugar, flour vs rice/other, gluten or not, types of oils, herbs, temp of foods, Asian medicated food, etc.
There's stuff about blood types & food that generally digested better.
Differences of sleep vs rest vs healing. The 3 are not necessarily the same.
Lots about how body responses are tells for what may be wrong or healing.
Like there are times when you need to fuel the body with nourishing food to heal. Concept of feed the cold. One old saying. Or times when fasting + resting does a better job of releasing toxins and clearing system.
Technology has made leaps in human lives, but we definitely have a disconnect on how to balance mental, emotional, physical and spiritual as a whole.
Like we don't need to go completely primitive, live off the grid and eat only what's 'naturally' grown or lives in area. There's a long list of invasive species (insects, plants, animals) for a reason. 🙃
But! There's something about how it took more time, strength and effort to get stuff done in the past. Like you had to chop wood or gather it. Collect and pour water to heat, drink, etc. Daily activities & profession had people moving, physically exerting and lack of leisure activities lead to being more intentional about activities.
So, I don't think we have to live in the dark ages. But I do believe in doing your best to understand a part of the world we live in, taking time to understand your body/mind/spirit, and doing things in an aware + connected manner.
Meditation is great. Should be part of everyone's life. Good for balancing cause state of mind to body to out.
Cold for system shock and reset is part of detox, eases inflammation due to illness or physical activity or accidents - that whole yin-yang balance bit. Like you can assist by letting body run hot to do it's thing and then help tone it down by cooling.
Same for heat application by medicine, warming pad or food.
I could ramble happily with ya on the Awareness & Application topics. 🤩
I like the topic too :) Yeah, there's a happy balance in there somewhere between caveman and modern man, just have to find what works for you. It's highly personal.Assuming I can stick with the cold shower thing, I'll report back if I experience any benefits.
Please do! Be fun to hear. One of my current experiments is to do hand exercises that engages the different acupuncture points in the hands. Idea is that it helps with circulation of different areas. Hands and feet acupuncture points are connected to all major functions/systems.
The variety of movement exercises are good to help with my hands + wrist healing.
Based off Tai Chi.
Spent over 5 hrs DIY repairing a chair. It felt like a whole body workout. Took 3x longer to do now cause I was trying to be more intentional about my movements. I didn't think my wrists ligaments would be able to handle it, but it was ok on that front. Kept movements mostly even with no sudden turns/lifts.
So it was a nice, happy surprise, reminder that I can do stuff. I just need to be very intentional about hand/finger/arm movements.
Mindset is everything. "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right." Why not think you can? :)I've had a lot of luck with acupressure on myself to relieve myself of seasonal allergy symptoms. It lasts for a 2-3 hours but only takes a few minutes to do so is worth it IMO.
You know, you may be interested in trying the WHM yourself, both the cold and the breathwork. As I keep reading, he's provided user stories of things they've healed for themselves, including rheumatoid arthritis, MS and other things with no supposed cures. You don't need the book btw. All this info can be found free online too. If you want I can get you some links.
I bought all the audios for Planetside #1-3 from the current Audible Sale. I can finally read #3! Gonna reread #1-2 first.
Timelord Iain wrote: "I went to the Amazon pages and clicked the report issue (Other), and posted a complaint/correction (the button is right below the book blurb):Ebook/Paperback page: https://www.amazon.com/Scum-Ear..."
Did the same thing. Definitely want to read!!
Soo wrote: "I bought all the audios for Planetside #1-3 from the current Audible Sale. I can finally read #3! Gonna reread #1-2 first."Dammit, I wanna read those too! Ah well, it'll come around again eventually....
@Soo, this should get you started.Official Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wimhof1
Versions of guided breathing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BNej...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tybOi...
About cold:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwUg3...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLHdG...
Whole series on the method:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgKdH...
I do the breathing every morning (recommended before food but I've done both and tend to do what's most convenient in the moment) and a cold shot at the end of my shower at night. On day 3 of the showers and I think I lasted 8 seconds today lol I need to move an old fashioned clock into the bathroom and measure for real. I'm debating trying a cold bath in the morning but haven't worked up my bravery yet.
There are tons of interviews on YouTube if you do a little searching.
Fantasy Buddy Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nathan Lowell (other topics)Nathan Lowell (other topics)
Nina Bangs (other topics)
Wasn't impressed...
Read it/finished it, mostly to find out what I'd been ignoring as a kid (wasn't interested in books with old men on the cover, lol)...