Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
This topic is about
A Million Suns
Previous BRs - Authors; Q - T
>
Revis, Beth; A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2)"Relaxed Buddy Read" (Start Date: July 19, 2013)
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
Chapter 1-9 my 2 cents 1. Big shocker at the end of the 1st chapter. Did you see that coming? I didn't "Eldest lied to you," Marae says calmly, "because we lied to him." Why did Marae lie to Eldest? The engine is fine, why is giving me that a bad feeling though? Your thoughts?
2. When I were on a spaceship ... :) So cool, would be my first thought. Seeing the stars from the spaceship that must be a sight, so jealous. I don't know if I would get claustrophobic. I would not want to be stuck there like Elder, Amy and everyone else is though. But I really would miss driving a car and opening the windows and letting in a nice breeze and let it disarray my hair (although that last one is a love/hate thing). Would you miss having cars around and driving a car?
3. "I don't know who I am here. Without my parents, I'm not a daughter. Without Earth, I barely even feel human. I need something. Something to fill me up again. Something to define myself by. Amy's feelings are in a turmoil, I feel for her and I really like that quote, makes me thinking, I like books that make me think :)
4. Entropy? Wiki says "Entropy is a measure of the number of specific ways in which a system may be arranged, often taken to be a measure of disorder. The entropy of an isolated system never decreases, because isolated systems spontaneously evolve towards thermodynamic equilibrium, which is the state of maximum entropy." Damn, Godspeed is falling apart. That's a bombshell to drop.
5. This is a trilogy, right? The ship is falling apart and we are floating in space with no back and forth at all, duh, that sucks. Basically, Ms Revis could have made this a duology - I wonder what's left to happen in the 3rd book.
6. I don't know if I would want to get a wi-com implanted. The ship can track you down everywhere :( That's a no go. I shudder at the thought that Orion ripped his wi-com out of his body *ugh* But talking with everyone at any time could come in handy in difficult situations. Therefore I can understand Amy to be hesitant.
7. Amy used the word "frex" wheras before only Elder and the ones of the ship would use that word (Loc 399: "Frex. He's right.") She is becoming one of "them", though she tries to think she is not. Identity crisis ahead?
8. It does not bother me anymore that they are switching povs all the time and I anxiously await both of their opinions equally.
9. "Abandon all hope." Abandon all hope is the phrase written above the gates of hell in Dante's inferno. Do you think the message from Orion for Amy has a deeper meaning as the two of them are the only ones who have/had access to books?
10. I don't get why Amy isn't telling Elder about Luthe. He should get punished, now that they are establishing a police force on the ship, they also should put up some holding cells or anything similar. That guy just creeps me out and Amy not telling freaks me out.
Mod
And I would REALLY miss the sun. I understand why Amy struggles with not being able to run, I love the fresh air. I'm not sure I would miss driving
3. Yes, it is that whole what makes you "you"
4. lol!
5. I'm snooping to remind myself of this book so I can read #3 with you :)
6. I think it is kind of cool. But like all thing in the wrong hands....
7. I remember "frex" more than anything else about this book. I got so sick of that word! haha
10. Yeah he is a piece of work
Sorry I haven't had a chance to check in yet. I have an out of town guest and am behind on my reading but I hope to catch up tomorrow and post some thoughts.
No worries, I am waiting for you :)
@Karen & Logan: did you read As They Slip Away? I just finished it and in regards to Luthe it was kind of eye-opening, I wonder what happens along the way to him.
Is that the prequel novella? I haven't read it yet. Interesting! I did start the book last night, and my houseguest leaves tomorrow morning so I'll post my thoughts then.
Mod
Mod
Okay, through chapter 6 so far. 1. Definitely a big shock. And made me want to turn the page immediately!
2. I would miss fresh air and sunlight/moonlight. I think the freedom the car represents is a big loss. I like that Revis writes Amy as truly feeling these losses without seeming mopey. Awesome.
3. I love these passages. Just beautiful.
4. So the ship is just floating? Without any gravity wouldn't it just keep going forever? I'm confused, but physics was always my weak spot in the sciences.
5. I peeked at the jacket copy for book 3, so I know where this is headed. ;)
6. I get Amy's hesitation, but I would feel safer knowing I had a way to call for help. She's already so vulnerable, so why push it?
7. Maybe that's the theme of thos book - her acceptance of her place on the ship.
8. It hasn't been bothering me as much either. Though Elder is more irritating to me now for some reason.
9. I want to know what's on the floppy that fell out of the book!
Mod
lol!!
I love that these are such quick reads. I'm sorry again for holding you up for so long!I got through chapter 14 this morning. Here are some quick thoughts:
10. I understand Amy not wanting to burden Elder about Luthe, but after the second attack I really want her to tell someone! It doesn't have to be Elder, but sheesh - this guy is a piece of work.
11. Elder made my skin crawl when he a) called Amy a freak and b) asked her to live with him. Seriously dude? The only reason the freak is here is because you selfishly woke her up because she got your loins going. To throw that back in her face is not cool. Then to assume that they should just pair up, and not get it at all when Amy tries to tell him why? UGH. NO.
12. It looks like finding Orion's clues will be the mystery in this book. I'm very interested to see what the choice will be and how it plays into the ship's engine problems. Why is Amy the one who will know the choice? What about Sol-Earth gives her the necessary information to understand it?
13. I really liked the conversation between Bartie and Elder. It's actually good to know that Elder has people willing to say what they think. Did you read this as a warning, or was Bartie just stating the facts? Do you think Bartie is implying that they should set up a democracy? I hope Elder can convince them to try that instead of a bloody revolution!
14. Do you think Amy should wake up her parents? Or the other cryos? It's hard for me to think that a bunch of people raised to do nothing but farm or repair a ship (but not the engine, apparently) will be able to find a solution to their stasis issue.
Mod
11. The "freak" comment and the "pairing" is what they really feel I guess. She is so very different and what was once interesting to him, under stress isn't! He isn't very likeable at this point!!
12. I loved the clue treasure hunt :)
13. The age-old question about how is it best to "rule"?!
14. No, I don't see how they can help. They weren't frozen for a broken down ship, they have skills for land. It seems unfair to wake them at this point
10. So true!11. Elder is mean to call her a freak :(
12. I am all in for a treasure hunt :)
13. That' exactly what I thought. The people start thinking and mouthing their opinions, it was both I suppose, a warning and mouthing his opinion. A revolution on the ship could turn out really bad. You cannot run anywhere when hell breaks
14. Nooo! Don't wake them up! I hope they find a solution themselves.
Some more thoughts:15. I suppose it's natural for depression to hit some of the passengers. Poor Elder keeps getting a longer and longer list of things to manage!
16. What do you make of the second video showing Orion ultimately making the decision to unfreeze Amy? I'm still not sure I understand his timing on why he had to start unfreezing people. Is it because they're close to the planet?
17. Okay, Amy has to know Orion is pointing her to Alice in Wonderland. Why lead Elder to the rabbit field?
18. Do we have a murder mystery on our hands? Exciting!
I'm up to the halfway point now, at Chapter 33. I'll be zooming through this during lunch and my evening commute.Here are some thoughts on the second quarter of the book:
19. Is there something in the system killing passengers? First the girl in the rabbit field, and then Harley's dad goes down. Is it purposeful or are these just accidents?
20. The citizens' unrest seems to be building pretty naturally, and it's both interesting and frightening. Will Elder be able to lead the ship? None of his training has prepared him for being the kind of dynamic and responsive leader the ship needs. Will Bartie take his place?
21. If the video about the secret outside the ship is a fake, who has the real one? Victria? Is it in Eldest's room? Who knows how long ago he hid these videos.
22. Any guesses as to the secret? Though it would be really cool to send Amy off in a space suit, I don't think it's very realistic. I have no idea what to think is on the outside of the ship, but I love speculating!
sorry i am a bit behind, it has been rather hot the last days *heat wave* and i have to work late *messy* i hope i'll catch up by tomorrow - day off. will be back with feedback by then :)
Oh good! I was so worried that you had been waiting for me and then I was leaving you hanging! I won't post any more until tomorrow. :)
Mod
Logan wrote: "Some more thoughts:15. I suppose it's natural for depression to hit some of the passengers. Poor Elder keeps getting a longer and longer list of things to manage!
16. What do you make of the sec..."
Orion made a video showing that Elder unfroze her, then Orion shoved her back in, then changed his mind and put her back out to unfreeze. That's confusing. What might his thoughts have been?
A riot would shake everything on the ship up. I wonder if it will come to that? What's going on with Bartie, why is he the revolution leader?
Luthor is as creepy as ever, no wonder Amy has bad dreams.
Who murdered Kaleigh? Was it really Eldest? Who murdered Stevie, Harley's father? That's getting more and more interesting :)
I thought the Bartie thing seemed really random. Would your childhood friend go against you like that? It seems like he never even tries to have a productive conversation with Elder and that irks me.I still, even after finishing the book today, don't understand why Orion started unfreezing people then. This goose chase he's sending Amy on means that he had this information for a while, so why now (then)? There's a half-cocked answer thrown away in ONE sentence toward the end of the book that made no sense to me. So hopefully you can provide some insights!
I'll hold off on specifics until you finish, but this story went to some really interesting places. When do we read book 3? :)
I finished! I am all in to read the final book in August, how about mid-August?-
The treasure hunt was interesting - I liked to follow Amy through the leads that Orion left for her, I thought then, that they have kind of a bond (a strange one through knowledge) but there was something in my opinion. That thought got destroyed by the ending or better said the behaviour of Amy. She was a bit annoying with the constant nagging about "Please leave Orion behind!". I would have liked to see something different.
I was kind of shocked about the mental state of the doctor, he killed all these people for the "real" leader Orion :( What happened to the oath he swore to help and heal people?
I am relieved that Amy did not kill the doctor in the final showdown, she is not a murderer.
I am not interested at all in the love interest between Amy and Elder. I just can't see her all over him.
Even after finishing the book it still makes no sense that Bartie was chosen as the revolution leader. It was an interesting turn though, when he finally had a meeting with Elder and decided to stay on Godspeed with what 800? people because Godspeed is their home.
I have to admit I am quite excited for Centauri-earth :) How many scary monsters will there be? What will the planet be like? What will happen next?
Oh my gosh, I so agree that the love interest angle is not working. What a snoozefest. It feels so forced, like they wouldn't let her publish a YA book without a romance. This story does not need it.I also agree that Amy got really annoying toward the end. I'm glad she didn't shoot the doctor, because after whooshing Luthor out into the stars without telling anyone (is that ever going to come up?), and then all of her insisting that they basically kill Orion, I was starting to not like her very much.
Overall, this book was not as enjoyable to me as the first one, but I'm very excited about book 3. I don't think I could have handled another book on the ship, and I'm really anticipating the struggles on their new planet. Will they have contact with the shippers? Will things be even worse than the probes identified? Will Elder keep his role as leader? Will they wake up the cryos?
I'm so glad I read these after all of the books were out, because that wait for the answers would have been awful!
August would be great. That green cover will come in handy for my tower team challenge. :)
Mod
Mod
~Karen
Sounds good to me! I've got a lot of buddy reads and library books to get through before then as well. :)
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
As They Slip Away (other topics)Ярче солнца (other topics)
Ένα Εκατομμύριο Ήλιοι (other topics)
A Million Suns (other topics)
A Million Suns (other topics)
More...
BE PREPARED FOR SPOILERS
What is a buddy read?
About this Buddy Read
A “Relaxed Buddy Read� is similar to our usual “buddy reads� except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers
Synopsis
Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.
It’s been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. Everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed.
But there may be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to act on his vision—no more Phydus, no more lies.
But when Elder learns shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a mystery that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier. Their success—or failure—will determine the fate of the 2,298 passengers aboard Godspeed. But with each step, the journey becomes more perilous, the ship more chaotic, and the love between them more impossible to fight.
Beth Revis catapulted readers into the far reaches of space with her New York Times bestselling debut, Across the Universe. In A Million Suns, Beth deepens the mystery with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship