Ruckley, Brian - The Edinburgh Dead by Brian Ruckley - buddy read Start Date October 10th

[Lisarenee]

No problem. I'm totally behind. FYI I was in the emergency room from midnight to 5am yesterday (Thursday to Friday) and just caught up with sleep but still not 100%. Woke up with a strong pain encircling me from chest that wrapped around to my back. Main pain located in the back. It would come in waves and when the pain was really intense I'd get physically ill. After tons of tests no one knows for sure what happened but believe I either pulled or ripped a muscle or whatever else is in that area and that somehow caused/causes the pain. So far when pain meds wear off the pain comes back. Lucky me. Well, at least it's not a heart issue because the pain was located in a very questionable area. Strange thing is I have no memory of doing something that would cause the type of injury they suggest I have. They also found out I have an infection so I can't help but wonder if the two could be somehow related? I'll try to catch up today and get my questions up tonight.

[Midu]

Lisarenee wrote: "No problem. I'm totally behind. FYI I was in the emergency room from midnight to 5am yesterday (Thursday to Friday) and just caught up with sleep but still not 100%. Woke up with a strong pain enci..."

Oh god, Lisarenee! I hope it gets better and soon too. What about the lungs? Did they check that too?

[Lisarenee]

They did a chest xray but I don't know the results. I only had trouble breathing when the pain got severe. I'll have to ask my doctor about the results. I did not get any reading done. Can't keep anything down. BCk feels better but head is killing me. First time since this morning that I can actually function. Ginger back to sleep now. Been alternating between rep and getting I'll .

[Midu]

Lisarenee wrote: "They did a chest xray but I don't know the results. I only had trouble breathing when the pain got severe. I'll have to ask my doctor about the results. I did not get any reading done. Can't keep a..."
I hope everything comes out all right.

[Sans]

If you have a spinal infection, that could explain the pain, especially if it gets into the nerves. Possibly a herniated disc? I hope you get better soon and the figure out what's causing the pain!

[Lisarenee]

Sans, I'm starting to think this has to have something to do with the spine. The pain seems to travel up and down the darn thing. Never in the exact place. Thought I might have kicked it yesterday. Felt good for most of the day and got some reading done and kept food down, but around 2PM I was in severe pain again and the pain was in new location. They thought I had a bladder or urinary infection because of I believe it was white bloods cells in the sample. My pain medication just wore off so I'm up getting food in my stomach so I can take the next dose. Even when I felt almost normal I didn't have any appetite to speak of.

[Sans]

Yikes. I really hope the figure it out and you're able to get rid of it!

[Midu]

It keeps notifying me that Liad commented on this thread but I don't see his comments here. Anybody else having this problem?

[Sans]

Anomander wrote: "It keeps notifying me that Liad commented on this thread but I don't see his comments here. Anybody else having this problem?"

I am too. Very strange.

I'm guessing it'll be a while before Lisa can join us again, so I can take the next set of questions, just won't be able to post them until Wednesday. Still struggling with this book. ^_^;

[Midu]

All right. Lemme know if and when i need to make questions.

[Sans]

I guess we'll be trading off the remaining sections. I'll do 21-24, can you do 25-28 and I'll finish off the book?

[Midu]

Sure! Answer my previous questions first! :-p

[Sans]

Sans' answers for Chapters 17-20:

1. Did you expect Quire to get any back up?
Nope, that never got a look-in for me.

2. Well, what do you know..another pissing scene! Sorry Sans, but this is the first one I noticed and that too after you mentioned it. Did every body else feel that there were too many scenes with urination?
LOL! Definitely too much pissing! At least we aren't subjected to more than the one scene of defecation (Quire's flashback to Hugomount).

3. Quire has certainly become a one man army, is it possible due to his background or too much?
I think the author is trying to attribute it to Quire's military history, but it's honestly over the top for me.

4. Why did the shed at the farm smell of goats?
I'm thinking zombie goats now, and it's just getting silly in my head. ^o^

5. Poor Davey Muir. Since Quire has already faced one of the undead, wasn't he a little unprepared for another confrontation with just a pistol and his baton?
Right?? TSTL, that's all I'm saying. I've ranted and threw books at the wall for heroines in romance novels doing the same stupid stuff Quire is. He knows the danger, he knows what's out there...and he decides a pistol (which has a LOT less velocity and mass than a shotgun) and a truncheon will be just dandy to investigate the creepy zombie farm?!

6. Oh god, what part of Davey could Blegg still have a use for?
Ew. I'm thinking Necrophilia now. Totally squicked myself out there.

7. Okay, what was Knox's speech about? Just to fill a few pages? (Or to make Sans stop reading the booking completely) The same with the scene about Dunbar, a few pages ahead.
I think the author had access to my literary pet peeves and decided to push as many buttons as he could. ~_~ (Yes, it IS all about me. ^o^ )

8. Thoughts on the dismissal scene with Baird. Who do you think ratted out on Quire about Cath?
It wouldn't surprise me if Baird had his own little squad of spies watching out for anyone who's in his way.

9. Did you think we'd be meeting the Hare brothers again? What do you think Blegg wants them to do?
I figured Burke & Hare would make an appearance. I'm thinking the author is attempting to lend this book some respectability or to prove he read a primer on Edinburgh history.

10. The Widow is an interesting character. Think we'll see more of her? Will she be important to the story?
Besides Cath, she's the most likable character so far. I think she'll end up being the power behind Quire's little zombie war.

11. So, Quire has a witch at hand..too convenient?
*headdesk* Oh yeah. Way convenient.

[Sans]

Anomander wrote: "Sure! Answer my previous questions first! :-p"

LOL! We were running at the same time. ^_~

[Sans]

Also, thank you for taking my snark and complaints in stride! I've been in a mood and trying to break out of it is proving difficult. Let's keep the humor going!

[Midu]

Sans wrote: "Also, thank you for taking my snark and complaints in stride! I've been in a mood and trying to break out of it is proving difficult. Let's keep the humor going!"
Hey, no problem! You've NO idea about the kinda day I'm having right now! So, I know all about the funk we get under at times.

[Midu]

10. The Widow is an interesting character. Think we'll see more of her? Will she be important to the story?
Besides Cath, she's the most likable character so far. I think she'll end up being the power behind Quire's little zombie war.
Seriously? Hehehe remember, I'v finished the book so.. hehehe

[Sans]

Hmmm, now you're making me doubt myself. Which is probably smart, considering I've got no clue where this is going!

[Midu]

4. Why did the shed at the farm smell of goats?
I'm thinking zombie goats now, and it's just getting silly in my head. ^o^
Or they're feeding goats to the undead things? Yours is more plausible ;-)

[Midu]

6. Oh god, what part of Davey could Blegg still have a use for?
Ew. I'm thinking Necrophilia now. Totally squicked myself out there.
Nice!! I don't remember it being mentioned what he did with the part.. See, if you can find out.

[Lisarenee]

Hey guys. Tried to read some more but talking of dead dogs and other such things is a bit hard on the stomach when you're nauseous.

[Sans]

No worries. We'll finish up posting questions and you can join when you're feeling better. ^_^

[Lisarenee]

I did manage to read this when I wasn't nauseous.
Answers to Sans' questions for chapters 13-16

1. Are you suspicious of Quire's calm at the beginning of chapter 13?
Nope.

2. Now we know why the shirt was stolen. Why didn't I think of scent tracking before?

We got distracted by other thoughts. There were several possibilities. I was thinking Voodoo.

3. Who do you think pounded on Quire's door and played possum in the middle of the street? And what do you make of the dogs?

Dogs were creepy. The description of the teeth and stench was not appealing.

4. Knox is an ass. Thoughts on if he'll pop up again?

Probably will.

5. Are you getting a bit annoyed by the continual exposition in each chapter? "Most of the rich and the title had emigrated to the New Tow, leaving their former haunts to men of a meaner sort. Amongst whose number Quire was quite content to count himself." Did that really need to be said? We've already had it ground into our heads that the rich live in New Town, the other 99% live in Old Town.

I think it's been over done. Time to stick a fork in it.

6. Do you think Quire and Cath will eventually get back together?

7. Things are going to get a lot more difficult for Quire now that Robinson is gone. How much do you think the superintendent really helped keep Quire out of trouble?

Probably put himself on the line.

8. That coffee house sounds like my local Starbucks. Durand made another appearance. Thoughts on their conversation? What kind of farm do you think Quire will find?

No idea. Maybe a zombie farm?

[Sans]

Sans' questions for chapters 21-24

1. There have been several references to notable historical figures and some literary references too (Hamlet most recently). Do you like the blending of "real world" with the fictional one Ruckley has created?

2. Did the conversation in Agnes' home make any sense to you? Cause I'm still lost. >_<

3. How many more times are we going to be slapped with the contract of a new, civilized age with pagan beliefs? I'm getting bruises.

4. WTF is that creepy moving skin/face on the wall?! So this is definitely a black magic thing, no Frankenstein-esque reanimated corpses using electricity after all?

5. What is Isabel's role in all this?

6. Hands up if you were hoping Ruthven would choke on his own smug insanity.

7. I'm betting Dunbar is going to be a casualty?

[Lisarenee]

Questions for Chapters 17-20:
1. Did you expect Quire to get any back up?

Nope. I thought he was a gonner.

2. Well, what do you know..another pissing scene! Sorry Sans, but this is the first one I noticed and that too after you mentioned it. Did every body else feel that there were too many scenes with urination?

Yes! I did. lol I was thinking that very thing. What's up with that? Does the author enjoy that kind of thing? Is it a rebellion against the fact people aren't really supposed to do that any more? Was he that desperate for some filler? "Darn! Have 150 more words to go...I think I'll add a piss scene." Seriously? Pardon my language.

3. Quire has certainly become a one man army, is it possible due to his background or too much?

I thought he was darn right stupid myself. The guy told him to bring reinforcements.

4. Why did the shed at the farm smell of goats?

It was time to upgrade? One up from dog is a goat? Wonder what an attack goat would do? (Truly I have no idea, but I think being sick has made me snarky with a weird sense of humor.)

5. Poor Davey Muir. Since Quire has already faced one of the undead, wasn't he a little unprepared for another confrontation with just a pistol and his baton?

I would have brought a sword or blade of some sort. Guess he wasn't a boy scout. You know...Be prepared...

6. Oh god, what part of Davey could Blegg still have a use for?

Don't want to go there.

7. Okay, what was Knox's speech about? Just to fill a few pages? (Or to make Sans stop reading the booking completely) The same with the scene about Dunbar, a few pages ahead.

They were so randomly placed. It made me read them again wondering if I somehow missed the connection.

8. Thoughts on the dismissal scene with Baird. Who do you think ratted out on Quire about Cath?

He's probably being watched.

9. Did you think we'd be meeting the Hare brothers again? What do you think Blegg wants them to do?

No idea.

10. The Widow is an interesting character. Think we'll see more of her? Will she be important to the story?

I don't know. I'm thinking not, but I could be wrong.

11. So, Quire has a witch at hand..too convenient?

I think I missed something. He does?

[Midu]

So, Quire has a witch at hand..too convenient?

I think I missed something. He does?
Yeah, Agnes the old lady's a witch!

[Midu]

Sans' questions for chapters 21-24

1. There have been several references to notable historical figures and some literary references too (Hamlet most recently). Do you like the blending of "real world" with the fictional one Ruckley has created?

Usually I like it..in this book? Meh.

2. Did the conversation in Agnes' home make any sense to you? Cause I'm still lost. >_<

I think the author was trying to make Agnes into a mysterious character. He failed miserably.

3. How many more times are we going to be slapped with the contract of a new, civilized age with pagan beliefs? I'm getting bruises.

*agrees*

4. WTF is that creepy moving skin/face on the wall?! So this is definitely a black magic thing, no Frankenstein-esque reanimated corpses using electricity after all?

That too. The face works like a security camera hehehe

5. What is Isabel's role in all this?

Isabel's Ruthven's wife, if I remember correctly? Well, you'll see. We were told she had an unhealthy attraction to Blegg, weren't we?

6. Hands up if you were hoping Ruthven would choke on his own smug insanity.

Is that even a question? *raises her hand*

7. I'm betting Dunbar is going to be a casualty?

Certainly looks that way.

[Sans]

I'm just about finished with the book! I wanted to be able to start the YA group read tomorrow so I plowed ahead. Going to finish it, then crash. I'll stash the last set of questions to post on Friday and respond to your answers tomorrow!

[Midu]

Questions for chapters 25-28:
1. Okay, is there something going on between Agnes and Durand..or is it just me?
2. There's our Egyptian connection..another thing which was sprung upon us almost out of nowhere. What do you think?
3. Do you think Durand's sickness is due to Blegg? I doubt it.
4. Quire asked Andrew and co. to go with him this time but he didn't bother to mention all the details. That was very callous and not at all like the character Quire has been shown to be till now. True?
5. That was very stupid of Burke. Killing the person he's just renting his lodgings to? Would a man who kills people for a living be that stupid?
6. Aha! See I told you Blegg was acting out of character the second time we met him!

[Sans]

Sans' answers for chapters 25-28:

1. Okay, is there something going on between Agnes and Durand..or is it just me?
I got that impression, too.

2. There's our Egyptian connection..another thing which was sprung upon us almost out of nowhere. What do you think?
Way random and it just didn't work for me as a "surprise!" plot point.

3. Do you think Durand's sickness is due to Blegg? I doubt it.
I think he's got the shakes and maybe that cold/dread feeling Quire and Agnes felt when they went to Muir's house, but I think most of it is just stress.

4. Quire asked Andrew and co. to go with him this time but he didn't bother to mention all the details. That was very callous and not at all like the character Quire has been shown to be till now. True?
Very true. Quire isn't even thinking anymore.

5. That was very stupid of Burke. Killing the person he's just renting his lodgings to? Would a man who kills people for a living be that stupid?
Seriously. I guess he just got too greedy.

6. Aha! See I told you Blegg was acting out of character the second time we met him!
You did! Well spotted. ^o^

[Sans]

Sans' questions for 29-33

1. I didn't see Ruthven getting killed quite so quickly. Do you think his death was over-the-top or did he get exactly what he deserved?

2. Burke's execution makes me so glad I live in modern times. Would you have gone to a public hanging if you were around in ye olde days?

3. I thought Rutherford was supposed to be Quire's friend? Did I miss something?

4. Can't say I'm sad that Isabel got hers in the end, either. Did you think Blegg (or whatever was possessing his body) would take over Hare's body? What exactly IS it that's possessing them anyway? And why would it want such a public face that already caused problems in Dumfries?

5. And the book is done. Over all impressions and reactions?

[Midu]

Sans' questions for 29-33

1. I didn't see Ruthven getting killed quite so quickly. Do you think his death was over-the-top or did he get exactly what he deserved?

Yeah, I did think it was a quick wrap up but then we've been told Blegg's the big bad, right?

2. Burke's execution makes me so glad I live in modern times. Would you have gone to a public hanging if you were around in ye olde days?

Ooh I definitely would have..vomit my intestines out afterwards but it'd be totally worth it!

3. I thought Rutherford was supposed to be Quire's friend? Did I miss something?

Elaborate?

4. Can't say I'm sad that Isabel got hers in the end, either. Did you think Blegg (or whatever was possessing his body) would take over Hare's body? What exactly IS it that's possessing them anyway? And why would it want such a public face that already caused problems in Dumfries?

Yeah, I did think Blegg'd need a new body. I think using Hare was a wise thing since he was already leaving town and if people outside did recognize him, they'd get that he wasn't a man they should mess with. Its Blegg's or rather Weir's will that's taking over people.

5. And the book is done. Over all impressions and reactions?

Obviously, I didn't like it as much as you did Sans *chuckles* but I did like it! It was a break from the paranormal romances I've been reading these days. The weak points we've already pointed out.. the author tends to ramble at times.

[Midu]

Oh and we're starting Changeless on Monday. Come with?