"The Rook" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Kim]

For fantasy this month we're going with a debut novel by a young Australian-American author. The premise is a mix of interesting and cliché but I'm willing to see how it goes. Any one interested in leading the discussion?

[Rich]

I'm about 20% of my way through the book and I hardly know what to say about it right now. Some of the story seems flat out silly but then something that intrigues me is revealed that makes me continue reading.

[Jenny]

I read The Rook earlier this year and loved it! I thought the characters were fun and interesting. It reminded me of a mash up between X-Men, X-Files, and even some Torchwood in there. I'm not able to lead the discussion due to other commitments but I'll pop into the discussion. I hope everyone likes it!

[Rod]

Jenny wrote: "I read The Rook earlier this year and loved it! I thought the characters were fun and interesting. It reminded me of a mash up between X-Men, X-Files, and even some Torchwood in there. I'm not able..."

I completely agree. In fact, this book makes my top 10 for 2012. I loved the protagonist, supporting characters, the mystery and the extra helping of dry British humor!

[Casceil]

I want and plan to read this book, but I have to finish something else first, so I probably won't start it until next week.

[Rod]

Everitt wrote: "Terez wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I read The Rook earlier this year and loved it! I thought the characters were fun and interesting. It reminded me of a mash up between X-Men, X-Files, and even some Torc..."

Very good. I hope you enjoy it!

[Suz]

I'm listening to this one on audiobook. It kept getting recommended to me by various engines (amazon, goodreads, etc.), so since this group is reading it I went with it.

I like the narrator, which is good. I just finished chapter 2, and while it is a bit cliche, I'm still looking forward to reading/listening to more.

[Kim]

In the very little time I have available lately I've been reading this. I'm liking it so far. It's interesting and has some humourous parts and I want to know where it'll go.

[Michelle]

wow, the club is 2 for 2 this month! i very much liked Old Man's War from the get-go, and this one is following suit 100 pages in.

Jenny wrote: "It reminded me of a mash up between X-Men, X-Files, and even some Torchwood in there. "
Jenny, that's the exact blend i was thinking of, too! yes, we've seen most of these plot ideas somewhere before, but i love the idea of exploring who this person really is by removing all of her background baggage.

Everitt, yup, i had a huge appreciation for that pronunciation tip also - just about the point where i was really stumbling across that Welsh mouthful, the troublesome w got explained right out of it.

[Banner]

I just briefly looked this over and was not very interested, until I saw the comments about x-men & x-files. I downloaded and read the sample and I'm really enjoying this. It is a fast read.

[Michelle]

gobbled up the rest of it today, and yep, i'm in love with this one.

[David Sven]

Just finished chapter 5. @15% in my initial thoughts are that the protagonist seems to be coping quite well with what should be a more disorienting experience. I'm not buying the level of, or lack of, bewilderment. But I'm still very curious about how things pan out. Chapter 5 though is a little clumsy. The letter to the protagonist is more story narration, complete with detailed dialogue with stumbles and changes of thought, which seems out of place for a letter.
Anyway, it's not enough to distract me from wanting to discover more just yet.

[Coralie]

I'm almost halfway through and have almost forgiven her for mispronouncing her name.

[Jenny]

Terez wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I read The Rook earlier this year and loved it! I thought the characters were fun and interesting. It reminded me of a mash up between X-Men, X-Files, and even some Torchwood in there..."

Terez your review on S&L was awesome!

[Michelle]

David, that was probably my biggest issue with the whole book, that (view spoiler)[this total amnesiac fakes like everything is normal, and then just a little too smoothly, it IS normal. i would have screwed that up a whole lot more. (hide spoiler)]

[David Sven]

Michelle wrote: "David, that was probably my biggest issue with the whole book, that [spoilers removed]"

@34% I'm still interested in what Miffany(I can't be bothered checking the spelling) learns as she explores her powers and I do like how she's standing up to her peers and I wan't to learn more about the new threat emerging. So its definitely growing on me in spite of my early misgivings.

[Suz]

I'm about halfway through, I'm 100% thoroughly entertained (so I'm letting things that might bother me go), and I am really enjoying the narrator on this one. She did a fantastic job.

Since I partially live in bureaucracy land, I'm really enjoying the snark on it.

[David Sven]

Anyone else notice both this month's books both feature a John Perry? They also both feature man eating fungus.

[David Sven]

Everitt wrote: " but which of the books, besides The Rook, involved eating fungus?"

It was the fungus doing the eating. OMW features a number of nasty planets including one with a semi intelligent fungus.

[Kim]

Is there man-eating fungus in Against the Tide of Years??

[Banner]

About 100 pages to go. I'm really enjoying this.

Kim I haven't started Against the Tide of Years yet. But I think their refering to Old Man's War.