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Unwind
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Unwind by Neal Shusterman (Group Read December 2013)
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Diane
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rated it 4 stars
Dec 07, 2013 06:21AM
The Roland chapter was haunting and very well written. The whole book has really stuck with me this week after finishing it. I think and wonder about it often. That is good writing thats really sticks with the reader.
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Roland's chapter freaked me out! I'm glad it was included though.
I read an interview with Shusterman at some point where he said he wrote Unwind as a stand-alone, then several years later had more ideas. I thought it worked fine as a stand alone, but was also impressed at how well some things from book 2 played as if he had intended a sequel all along.
I thought about buying this book for my brother's 7th grade class library. Do you think it would be too much? It seems like it's "clean" in the sense that there aren't swears or overt sex. But the issues it takes on... some of that is pretty heavy! I've been on the fence about sending it since I read UnWind a few months ago.Do you think this series is more intense than the Hunger Games? His kids love that series
Diane wrote: "The Roland chapter was haunting and very well written. The whole book has really stuck with me this week after finishing it. I think and wonder about it often. That is good writing thats really sti..."The Roland chapter. That's (view spoiler)
This book was absolutely amazing. I read it earlier last month, and it's probably the best book I've read all year. I don't cry very easily when reading books, but this one was a real tearjerker.
Rachel wrote: "I thought about buying this book for my brother's 7th grade class library. Do you think it would be too much? It seems like it's "clean" in the sense that there aren't swears or overt sex. But t..."My son has Hunger Games in his elementary school library (which I think is kind of odd but I guess kids younger than middle school have been into it), so I'm thinking that Unwind for 7th grade would be fine.
Go Go Chocobo! wrote: "Diane wrote: "The Roland chapter was haunting and very well written. The whole book has really stuck with me this week after finishing it. I think and wonder about it often. That is good writing th..."Yes, that's the chapter.
The second half of this book blew me away, although the first half had some moments. Storking was kind of WTF? to me. I can't imagine that ever working. My oldest kid and I used to randomly say "you've been storked" to each other after he read the book. I don't even know why now.
Stacia (charm school reject) wrote: "Go Go Chocobo! wrote: "Diane wrote: "The Roland chapter was haunting and very well written. The whole book has really stuck with me this week after finishing it. I think and wonder about it often. ..."lol...I like to say "Nice Socks"
Robin wrote: "Stacia (charm school reject) wrote: "Go Go Chocobo! wrote: "Diane wrote: "The Roland chapter was haunting and very well written. The whole book has really stuck with me this week after finishing it..."Haha yes! I laughed so hard when in Book 3 (view spoiler)
Stacia (charm school reject) wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I thought about buying this book for my brother's 7th grade class library. Do you think it would be too much? It seems like it's "clean" in the sense that there aren't swears or ov..."Stacia, I think you're right. Maybe I'll get a copy to send before Christmas
I see stroking as an extension of our safe haven laws (babies at fire stations etc)
The 'nice socks' thing is a bit one for me, lmao.
Whoops storking - stupid AC
Stroking would be an entirely different book. It might be interesting though. :p
i didn't even realize it until after the fact!!
So stroking at fire stations would be completely legal? Man, I want to live in that country
well, if I can stroke a hot fireman...oh wait...wrong discussion!
sorry, couldn't resist!!it was funny, one of my former co-workers and I were talking about books one day - maybe a year after I read unwind (I think i read it in 2010/11) - and she pulled it out of her bag and said I just picked this up...and I was like OMG...there is one chapter...I can't tell you about it, but when you get to it, you'll know
I just realized that I never moved this topic to the group read folder. Moving now. :p
I've got my husband reading this one. Can't wait to see what he thinks of it.
I read all three of the books this year and they are defintely in my favourites for 2013. I can't wait for Undivided to come out.
Undivided will be the very last book for sure?
Stacia, I think so. But with Shusterman you can never quite be 100% positive. He's already extended the series twice!
Stacia (charm school reject) wrote: "Undivided will be the very last book for sure?"From an interview I read with Shusterman he seemed adamant that it would be the last. I hope so, the last book seemed a lot like filler to me.
For as out there as the ideas of unwinding and storking seem, I was able easily accept it as the reality of the world set up by the book. So, I found it very odd when about 3/4 of the way through the book, I started thinking "seriously, helpful people just pop up whenever they get in a jam." The ideas posed by the story and the characters were great but the simplicity of some of the solutions to the problems bugged me a little.
Did others notice that Lev went from being (view spoiler)
In an interview I read Shusterman said the third book is really the first half of the last book. He had to polish it up a little differently but he said he was writing it and that it was already about 700 pages long and he still needed at least 100 pages to close it all up. So his publisher decided to split that last book into 2 books and have it be a quartet instead of a trilogy so it wouldn't seem cramped.
Anna wrote: "For as out there as the ideas of unwinding and storking seem, I was able easily accept it as the reality of the world set up by the book. So, I found it very odd when about 3/4 of the way through ..."Lev is one of my favorite characters because he has been pretty dynamic, just like you described. Connor and Risa are fine, but they've remained fairly static throughout the series.
That being said, I wasn't super impressed with Lev in book three.
Done!Loved it! I can see flaws here and there but it was so much suspenseful fun how can I not give it a 5?
I do have to say (view spoiler) Yeah, that was bordering on paranormal. And how crazy is it that the Bill of Life was passed (view spoiler)
Roland's chapter was disturbing for all the reasons mentioned but also because of the depiction of (view spoiler). That, unfortunately, really happens.
Anna wrote: "For as out there as the ideas of unwinding and storking seem, I was able easily accept it as the reality of the world set up by the book. So, I found it very odd when about 3/4 of the way through ..."Just out of curiosity, did you read
. It's Lev's short story that takes place in the time between his being a tithe and (view spoiler)? After reading that, I could completely understand the two extremes. He (view spoiler).
Wendy F wrote: "Anna wrote: "For as out there as the ideas of unwinding and storking seem, I was able easily accept it as the reality of the world set up by the book. So, I found it very odd when about 3/4 of the..."I didn't even know that short existed. I will have to check it out. Thanks Wendy!
No problem! I actually think that's it's a very important short to read before you get to
.
I am about to start
today but will check out
next - good to know, thanks
(you can read it after Unwholly, but it'd be best to do it before that one. Just an FYI.)
i told me mom seh needed to read this and thankfully teh library had a coffee...her face as she was reading the description was quite entertaining to say the least
Hha, my husband is readign it. Did I mention that already? He seems to really like it. It's right up his 'conspiracy theory' alley. He's already pinned me down to talk about how they can already take an amputated pigs leg and by using tubes in the lab where he works they can keep the leg alive by keeping the blood flowing right through it.
hahaha! It is pretty freaky!
Moving this discussion back to the sci fi folder. Wendy, that's a trip about the pigs. I think it's funny how some people have gotten so angry at this book because not everything is feasible in the world of science, but I think there's times when it's just okay to make up things for the sake of storytelling and it worked here.
I agree completely. I mean, the thing is that it's part of fiction, to make things up. I don't think Shusterman was really advertising it as a 'true story', lol. Sometimes I think people are too sensitive about things.
my mom said that she likes the story, but that the first person tense is irking her...lol - she's an english teacher and asks her students to do stuff third person unless it has to be first for a specific reason
I've heard that before from people. I barely even pay attention to what person they are. When the topic comes up i usually have to think about it, lol.
I've started
this morning.Checked out POVs in the chapter list. Happy to see Connor, Risa and Lev in there. I could only read Chapter 1 (I have guests at home so my free time after work has been reduced). Starkey has a bad name but I think I'm going to like him.
I'll be starting Unwholly tomorrow. I want to make some good progress on Madman's Daughter today.
I'm currently at page 18 and about to going to bed. No head start at all, hehe.
I'm almost finished with Undivided and it's pretty good!
Good to hear! Sandra, I feel the same way about Starkey. I've only read his first PoV so far, but I like how he's going to be a challenge (view spoiler)
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Books mentioned in this topic
Challenger Deep (other topics)UnDivided (other topics)
UnSouled (other topics)
UnSouled (other topics)
UnStrung (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Neal Shusterman (other topics)Neal Shusterman (other topics)
