It's noon (Pacific Time) and time for today's book chat!On Monday we discussed the first chapters at J. Kaye's Book Blog.
Tuesday we continued the discussion at Pop Culture Junkie,
Yesterday we were at Presenting Lenore,
And tomorrow J. Kaye, Alea, Lenore and I will each have a summary post and/or review.
Today we're discussing King's Manor and Queens House of Detention.
First, I want to say that the chapters before these two were the highlight of the book for me so far. They were sad and disturbing, yes, but crazy and funny as well. I did a lot of laughing.
Now things are turning darker again, and while there is some humor in attempting to kill yourself with antibiotics, Coke, and Pop Rocks, it loses its funniness when the next step is to start using again.
I am anxiously waiting for the "something resembling hope" which was promised in the front matter.
When Benny's introduced, for example, I was expecting something good to come of her relationship with him. She indicates from the start that he'll be around for a while, and yet I don't see what purpose he serves in the plot. If it's someone for her to start using with again, why not let Frank be that person? I don't see any emotional connection between Joon and Benny. So, what do you think the purpose of Benny is, at this point of the story?
My other question is, what is Joon seeking in these chapters? Early on, I thought she was searching for a relationship that would fill the void left by her father. But when Ray attempts to connect with her, she backs away from him: "I had nothing left to give." Even finding her father seems to only bring more emptiness. What, if anything, would heal her and allow her to move on?
Yeah I too was hoping Benny was going to be something good for Joon too and instead he just held her back. That was disappointing. I'm not really sure what the point of it was.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what she is seeking... LOL
Maybe the point was to show how aimless she was? I don't know.
ReplyDeleteThat could be it. It seemed like she really wanted to get her act together in the end, wanted to get clean, hold a job etc. But some of the book was really random I felt. Just sort of fluttered around.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's sort of hard to find anything to grasp onto. Since Joon is so passive, I keep looking for another character to come along and make a change. I think that's what I was hoping for from Ray or Benny, or even Frank. At this point I'm most just frustrated with it. She's using, she's in trouble: we've seen this before. It doesn't add anything new.
ReplyDeleteWell put! It was frustrating. The further in the chat we get the more I'm not really sure how I feel about the book. It seems like she just went in circles over and over again.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the officer taking her to the counseling group, not telling her what was going on, and she's thinking he's about to kill her or attack her? What was up with that?
ReplyDeleteWell for that one-I actually kind of got it. I'm the type of person that always imagines the worst case scenario with anything so it's easy for my mind to make up crazy things that make next to no sense.
ReplyDeleteI think her fear is more real than that though. I guess maybe she is used to bad things happening to her? And expects nothing different that what she's already been experiencing.
I understood her reaction, but the officer's actions didn't make sense to me. It goes back to the realism (or lack of) we were talking about yesterday. Why wouldn't he have told her, at some point, where they were going? There was never an explanation for his actions--except, I guess, that the author wanted the character to be afraid. It seemed artificial.
ReplyDeleteOh I see what you mean. That is a good point, there wasn't a real reason for him to do it that way besides to scare her.
ReplyDeleteApparently I remember books really well only 2-3 days after i finish them :P
I am sorry I did not manage to get here today. work emergency and then the christmas party. I actually haven't even read these chapters yet (bad me) so I will read them and then come back with my comments.
ReplyDeleteWe missed you, Lenore, but it's okay! I realized it wasn't a good time for you. I'm not sure what happened to J.Kaye. Maybe all that snow in Louisiana put their power out?
ReplyDeleteI'm here! I was here at central time, but no post. I checked back again a few times and nothing. After that, I had school work with the kids and couldn't break away. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteNo power is out. Thank goodness. Wouldn't that be awful?
About the story, I am with everyone when it comes to Benny. At one point she's said they had meant to be together? Or something like that. So I thought there was a plan.
The guard, I got. At least, I think I did. I think the author is shooting for realism. The ones I've met are like this guy.
I don't understand where this is all heading and if the ending isn't a good one, I am going to be disappointed. The author has carried me along. I am attached to Joon. I want to see something good happen.
Of course this is the week I'm going to the doctor. Which means tomorrow I won't be able to chat in real time. But you'll be glad to know I'm going to go to Half Price Books at some point. It's right next to the doctor- which is always the highlight of a trip to the doctor LOL! But I'll be sure to make the rounds once I'm home :D
ReplyDeleteSorry, J.Kaye, I didn't know it was supposed to be noon Central Time. Glad it was just a matter of being busy and nothing was wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the next chapter now and I don't have a good feeling about this at all.
Alea ~ Doctor visits - yuck! But even I would have a smile on my face if I knew I was going to a book store after...lol!
ReplyDeleteAli ~ Nah, whatever time zone you are in is good. I just keep forgetting to ask. Normally, later is better for me, but finals are this week and the schedule is INSANE! ;) After tomorrow, it's clear sailing until next year.
I'm glad it was your time zone today because i was out to lunch during mine :D
ReplyDeleteOk, I just now finished the book and I agree that Benny was just an extra character that didn't seem to serve much of a purpose - but maybe that's part of the realism. I've had lots of encounters I'd rather edit out of my life - ha!
ReplyDeleteI agree Lenore. I think a lot of what she did was to add realism to the book.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to address some of your questions about the officer. I think the officer wasn't going to tell her anything at the beginning because she wouldn't be so receptive to it. If you were in Joon's position all these people that tried to help you and yet you just walked a way from it. So if she took the bait into the program she wouldn't have needed any reasoning from the officer to begin with. It's almost as if she were warned she would have been more apt to not keep an opened mind about the program before going in.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think Mun wanted us to know how Joon's been reacting to people. I think part of Knowledge's paranoid personality is shown in Joon at this moment as well as throughout the story.
Good point, Train. And the officer, having dealt with many drug addicts in the past, is probably pretty jaded at this point, so why should he be all, "We're here to help you, tra-la, tra-la!" He's just doing his job.
ReplyDelete