Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
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The Passage
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Cronin Justin - The Passage- Start Date June 12th
Boy, I feel as if I'm going to be reading this book forever.....Questions and Comments for Chapters 4 - 7
8) Amy can talk to the animals. Just imagine it, talking to a bird or chimpanzee.... Oops! Sorry that silly song--If I Could Talk to the Animals--entered my head from when I was little and I got carried away. Did this remind you a little of Harry Potter with the snake? What exactly is Amy??? I thought the experiment would come into play with her but is she not a normal human? Was her mother or father like her? The whole episode sets off a bunch of questions in my head. Plus, did you notice that when Amy went into Sister Lacey's room it was said she was "glowing like a coal" and "giving off waves of heat"? Is the glowing like that of the glow lights/vamp experiments or do you think it was an exaggeration? Also, how did Sykes know about Amy?
I'm really curious to know what Amy is. She kept saying that the polar bears knew what she was but didn't say what they said. That was killing me!
BTW - I woke up a couple of nights ago singing that silly talk to the animals song in my sleep too. So, so sad...
9) While taking prisoners from death row set off bells in my head, taking Amy from the convent leaves no question in my mind that what they're doing is illegal.
Yep, that Sykes guy obviously has no human emotions at all to decide to experiment on a child as well as the inmates. It will be interesting to see what happens to his character at the story goes on.
10) I'm starting to wonder if maybe Carter didn't kill the woman. Perhaps it was an accident and they blamed Carter for it because they couldn't accept it was an accident? Anyone else wondering the same thing?
I'm wondering the same thing as well. Maybe she had a siezure or stroke or something and drowned herself? It seems a bit weird that he keeps saying he needs time to work out what happened.
11) So even the caretakers can get sick? I wonder how with them being so careful? This could be a case where people truly do go bat sh*t crazy by being part of the cleaning crew. Scary thought. It makes me wonder how contagious this disease/virus is? I had a friend who was a nurse who contracted a disease which when passed to a fetus caused birth defects and she was pregnant. They'd known she was pregnant, known the patient had the disease, and told her she had to treat the patient or be fired. They suited her up and she still passed it to her unborn child. Very sad.
You'd have to be a certain type of person to work in a situation like that I think. I don't know if I could be part of a crew like that around unknown viruses and diseases as part of my daily duties and just go on like there's nothing wrong.
12) What did you think of Grey's story about his trip to the test site? I think I'd be shaking in my boots knowing I almost got shot because I had to make a pit stop. Do you think the caretakers are being experimented on and they put them to use working until the side effects kicks in? Grey's back story was rather troubling. I have no sympathy for the man, but wish the author didn't have to give such detailed accounts about everyone.
That's one thing I've definitely noticed about this book. The huge descriptions that have to go into every part and character. I think a lot of that could have been cut down without sacrificing the actual story.
13) So do I have this right? Is Zero actually an individual named Fanning who was once a friend of Lear's? Could he be the Tim from the emails? The one who seemed to be getting better? That would make the lead scientist of the experiments Jonas Lear, the man who wrote the emails? How did he go from there to doing experiments? I'd think Zero's condition would scare the you know what out of people. *shudder*
I'm a little bit confused about this bit too. I'm hoping it all becomes a bit clearer soon.
14)I am so not liking Richards. Any comments on the man? He seems like a cold blooded killer to me. I don't think I'd want to be friends with him either.
I guess you'd have to be that type of person to be participating in the whole process of what is going on.
15) What about those creepy dreams with the voice? Isn't that what the escapee caretakers were talking about when Richards shot them? What's up with that?
I don't blame them for running. If I was having creepy dreams like that all the time I'd want to be out of there too!
16) What do you think of the author's writing style? Sometimes I feel he jumps around too much in chapters. What do you think?
I think he's a little too detailed in some parts. I know it's probably to build a good background and atmosphere but it just makes it a bit too much of a slow read for me and makes me impatient for more story and less details.
17) So I'm assuming that when they are referring to Amy as Amy NLN, the NLN = No Last Name? I was listening to the audio and I don't believe they explained the initials and that's what I came up with.
I wondered what that meant too. Now you've said that it makes complete sense!
18) I have to comment on this because it seems to be a recurring theme with male authors--why do they always have to talk about urinating? Anyone else notice this? I rarely read books by males, no deliberate attempt to avoid them or anything, but I think with one or two exceptions they always include a scene or two centered around this. Out of curiosity, guys, when you read books by female authors, is there anything you notice that makes you think without looking that it was written by a female?
Hehe, I guess it's because males always have that convenience to just urinate anywhere that females don't. Maybe it's to make the characters seem more human. I mean, if you read a huge book where the characters were travelling along and never ate, slept or went to the toilet it would probably seem a bit weird, right?
So I'm not feeling good. I have a headache and sore throat and not feeling all that great. I started a list of people and will try to up date it at a later time. I'm keeping this short and sweet because I'm feeling somewhat miserable.People
Amy; Parents Jeanette Harper Bellafonte and Bill Reynolds
Bradford Joseph Wolgast - FBI agent who is bent on saving Amy; ex-wife Lila and daugther who passed away was Eva
Cole - headed expedition to the jungles of Bolivia and died
Jonas Lear - Sender of Emails/Scientist/Survivor of bat attack/More than likely responsible for the 12 and Amy
Elizabeth Macomb Lear - Jonas' wife who died of cancer and possibly what spurred him on to create the perfect race
Doyle
Sister Lacey Antoinette Kudoto
Zero (aka Tim Fanning) now vamp and possible leader
Giles Babcock - 1st of 12 to survive
Morrison- 2nd
Chavez- 3rd
Baffes- 4th
Turrell - 5th
Winston - 6th
Sosa - 7th
Echols - 8th
Lambright - 9th
Martinez - 10th
Reinhardt - 11th
Anthony Carter - 12th and last to join the 12
Richards - Assassin
Colonel Sykes - in charge of testing facility
Lawrence Grey - sweep/pedophile/let Zero out
Sam - sweep transported with Grey and killed by Richards for escaping
Jack - sweep transported with Grey and killed by Richards for escaping
Peter Jaxson - Theo's brother
Theo Jaxon - Peter's older brother/captain
Alicia Blades-
Caleb-
Arlo
Leigh
Sara
Elton Hollis
Terms
Vamps = Glow sticks = jumps = smokes = virals
Watchers - FEMA - People who stand watch at night?
Project Noah - quest for immortality that led to destruction of the world as we know it
Walkers - not sure but maybe survivors who travel by foot to find others?
VSA = Very Slow Aging
Great Viral Cataclysm - the vamp virus epidemic
Questions and Comments for Chapters 18 - 21
39) So we are now looking at a time period called AV which I would assume stands for After Virus? We've got vamps called jumps and a train leaving the East coast for the west. What a scary trip for a little girl and to think she almost didn't make it. They started out with an enormous amount of cars and only three made it? Crazy and sad. It reminded me of what they did in England during WWII, I believe it was operation Pied Piper, where civilians, particularly children were evacuated from known bomb zones to safer areas.
40) So 92 years after the Great Viral Cataclysm we get a view of what is happening and things don't look so good. Jumps (vamps) are still around and the population has dwindled. We have no clue what has happened outside the US and the colony has cut off all radio ties. What do you think of the society that they've created? What do you think of their way of life?
41) So power will give out somewhere in the near future, possibly the next 2 years. That's scary, but if no manufacturing plants are operating understandable. Do you think Michael should tell someone so they could prepare or is there no way to prepare?
42) In this section, what caught your attention most? Can you imagine spending the first 8 years of your life inside? That just doesn't seem healthy.
43) What do you think of Peter? It sounds like he will have a major role to play. Hopefully, Amy will show up soon.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 18 - 2139) So we are now looking at a time period called AV which I would assume stands for After Virus? We've got vamps called jumps and a train leaving the East coast for the west. What a scary trip for a little girl and to think she almost didn't make it. They started out with an enormous amount of cars and only three made it? Crazy and sad. It reminded me of what they did in England during WWII, I believe it was operation Pied Piper, where civilians, particularly children were evacuated from known bomb zones to safer areas.
I want to know why California was thought of as safe. Because they hadn't had any cases reported yet? It doesn't seem as if seceding from USA kept them safe, maybe it just took longer for the bad guys to get there.
40) So 92 years after the Great Viral Cataclysm we get a view of what is happening and things don't look so good. Jumps (vamps) are still around and the population has dwindled. We have no clue what has happened outside the US and the colony has cut off all radio ties. What do you think of the society that they've created? What do you think of their way of life?
They are mostly succeeding in keeping their families alive in a world where a lot of people have died, so that is a good thing. Their society doesn't seem to have a lot of the problems with crime etc that our world does and it seems as if they are backward in time rather than in the future. I don't understand why the children all live in Sanctuary and not with their parents. And how was the age of 8 determined to be the right age to enter into the 'real' world?
41) So power will give out somewhere in the near future, possibly the next 2 years. That's scary, but if no manufacturing plants are operating understandable. Do you think Michael should tell someone so they could prepare or is there no way to prepare?
I am not sure if there is a way to prepare, but I think he should tell others so they don't get surprised.
42) In this section, what caught your attention most? Can you imagine spending the first 8 years of your life inside? That just doesn't seem healthy.
What caught my attention most is that although this takes place in the future, it almost seems as if they are living in old-fashioned times where everything is done by hand although there are a few modern conveniences such as electricity, but only to run certain things like the lights.
43) What do you think of Peter? It sounds like he will have a major role to play. Hopefully, Amy will show up soon.
Peter seems watchful and a little resentful of his older brother. He is biding his time before something happens. I think Peter and Alicia are going to have major roles in the future. I just don't see where Amy is going to show up, but she has to sometime since so much of the first part of the book was about her.
I haven't quite finished today's section yet, but I will have questions for it up in a couple of hours.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 12 - 1725) Without getting too in-depth into religion, what do you think of the religious element in the book? Do you like the voice that guides Sister Lacey? I once went to a retreat with my church group and they had some phenomenal speakers and one told a tale about how she was (I believe) in the hospital and a voice in her head told her to get off the elevator and hide. She did and found out later if she'd gone to the floor she was supposed to she'd probably have ended up dead because there was a crazy man loose shooting people and that's the floor he ended up on. I can't remember all the details, but it was a really scary story and that is what Lacey's story reminded me of so I really like how the author did that. I wonder if he heard the same story?
I don’t dislike it. I like that it makes her special, but I would like to understand it more.
26) Wow! So even the nuns weren't spared by Richards. At this point I'd think the witnesses were far too many to really contain this.
I think it would have all been moot eventually anyways, as the things got out and ruined the world!
27) It sounds as though when the second phase of the project, Jump Start, was to start by transferring Zero and the twelve to White Sands? Transportation to anywhere sounds crazy and risky, but it never came to that. I wonder what the second phase to the testing entailed? It also sounded like the majority of people who worked on the project would have been killed.
I agree. I think there would have been a cleanup coverup killemall type scenario. I also agree that the transporting idea was a stupid one to begin with!
28) So it sounded like someone took control of Grey's mind and he lost portions of his day. Do you think that is what happened when he entered Zero's containment unit? It sounded like he wasn't the only one to do this. It almost sounded like each of the twelve had someone who let them out as well. That's kind of scary. I wonder what other unusual powers these guys have?
Creepy, really. These twelve sound crazy scary.
29) Were you surprised that Wolgast refused the suit? After all they said the virus might still be viable.
I’m not. He cares more about Amy than himself.
30) So we finally meet Lear. What was he babbling about? "Once I saw, once I knew what they were planning, how it would all end. I wanted there to be at least one." and "Keep her close. She's everything."??? I'm guessing it had something to do with Amy? If so why create 12 more of the vampire people? Is anyone else confused?
I wish we understood what he meant. It seems some people (even Wolgast and Doyle, eventually) seem to get some feeling/idea/voice/understanding that guides them. Hope this gets further explained.
31) Does anyone else see a lot of religious similarities in this book? There were 12 disciples. Is Zero supposed to be the antichrist or something? Plus, on the third day, he (Christ) rose again..."On the third day, he told her a story" and Amy rose from her bed???? Is it just me or is there something to this?
I dunno. Hadn’t thought about that, but as I’m pretty anti-religion in general, I don’t think about it much?
32) Doyle was a surprise. I didn't see that coming.
I’m glad he got on board the right train, for lack of a better phrase. :)
33) The Year of Zero? *shudder* Is Zero in control of the others? Too bad we don't see a little into the dynamics of this group of vamps. I wonder if there is any order to them like a pack? The Chicago Falls newspaper article seems to suggest there is.
Seems like there is a hierarchy and an order to their chaos.
34) So they ended up in Oregon and Amy has stopped growing. I wonder why she's different from Zero and the rest? It seemed Lear and his group weren't concerned that Wolgast would turn into a tasty snack. Why is that? What don't we know? I feel we're missing a crucial piece of information.
I feel like there will be more tidbits given to us over time. Because apparently, time is what Amy has as well -- so her story will be a long one.
35) What do you make of the quick spread of the virus? It sounds like many of those infected are becoming vampires. I'm a little surprised by this. I thought in its purest form the virus mainly killed, but if Fanning survived, maybe not? Could their alterations made it less fatal?
I’m not surprised it went fast. Our world is so connected these days. Worrisome though!
36) How'd you like the spin the government put on the virus? That it was terrorist related?
Typical of both parties, in my opinion.
37) What do you make of Amy seemingly be connected to everything and knows what is going on in the world to some extent? Do you think she connected to and therefore knows what Zero and his motley crew are doing or is it something more?
I think she is connected to everyone infected with the virus. I wish I understood more, but like I said, I understand the author’s need to spread the reveals out!
38) So it sounds like Wolgast died. I'm surprised Amy left him. Did anyone else think that odd? I wonder if she thought he was already dead?
It would appear that he was attacked by the glowing vampires, who finally caught up to them. Amy left, in my opinion, not because she wanted to or because she thought he was dead, but because she saw them coming and knew that he couldn’t (and wouldn’t want to) hold her back from escaping them -- she’s HOPE personified.
Questions and Comments for Ch 22-2544. Why didn’t they go after Caleb? Was Zander somehow protecting him in order to get to the people he knew would be coming to visit? I want to know why the ‘smokes� don’t seem to remember who they were until right before they are killed.
45. Do you think it is the right decision not to bring the guns back to the Colony? Do you agree with Theo that it might cause more harm than good? It seems to me that guns are just too slow to deal with the ‘smokes� and to be effective at killing them, you have be close enough to use a knife.
46. Why doesn’t the girl remember who she is or the names of the people she stayed with? Is she one of the creatures herself since they don’t seem to attack her? She is the opposite of them in that she wants to protect people not attack and eat them. I think it has to do with the fact that she got a virus changed from the experiment, not directly from those infected with it.
47. Was anyone else as surprised as I was that Amy seems to have a little control over the creatures? They flock to her and do not harm her and try to do what she says, but their instincts override her wishes.
48. I think there is a conspiracy going on in the Household. Peter’s feeling that there is something going on that he doesn’t know about is true. Just what was explained to Dana to get her to take the family spot in the Household when she wouldn’t before?
49. It is creepy that people are sleepwalking and waking up not knowing what they have done. This is the same thing that was happening to sweeps back in the experiment. Do you think the creatures are strong and/or close enough to alter their minds now and not just attack them?
50. What about Auntie’s predictions? How did she know that the girl was coming and that Peter already knew about her? We got that brief glimpse of her journal earlier, but where exactly does she fit into this story?
Questions and Comments for Chapters 18 - 2139) So we are now looking at a time period called AV which I would assume stands for After Virus? We've got vamps called jumps and a train leaving the East coast for the west. What a scary trip for a little girl and to think she almost didn't make it. They started out with an enormous amount of cars and only three made it? Crazy and sad. It reminded me of what they did in England during WWII, I believe it was operation Pied Piper, where civilians, particularly children were evacuated from known bomb zones to safer areas.
It just reminded me of the cattle trucks in the Holocaust. How they often put kids on trucks without their parents thinking they were going somewhere safe. I found that bit really sad. The thought of all those other children getting caught by the bats.
40) So 92 years after the Great Viral Cataclysm we get a view of what is happening and things don't look so good. Jumps (vamps) are still around and the population has dwindled. We have no clue what has happened outside the US and the colony has cut off all radio ties. What do you think of the society that they've created? What do you think of their way of life?
They sound like they have it very ordered. SOunds a bit communist but I suppose when you are setting up a society like that it will always have that tendency. I couldn't live with that imminent threat all the time - the fact that they can't go out at night...
41) So power will give out somewhere in the near future, possibly the next 2 years. That's scary, but if no manufacturing plants are operating understandable. Do you think Michael should tell someone so they could prepare or is there no way to prepare?
I don't think they should tell the main body of people as that will cause a panic but he does need to get a few more people involved to try find alternative energy. It sort of feels a bit like the situation we have in the world at the moment although in a more condensed situation; we are running out of the fossil fuels and need to find alternative energy sources.
42) In this section, what caught your attention most? Can you imagine spending the first 8 years of your life inside? That just doesn't seem healthy.
Yes the Sanctuary was quite interesting. I guess what caught my attention was the fact that they would go to that power station off the main campus and have to take all the minders with them and then bolt it down at dusk. That was really scary to me
43) What do you think of Peter? It sounds like he will have a major role to play. Hopefully, Amy will show up soon.
I like Peter he is intriguing. Where is Amy??
I know I'm very far behind with this, but I will start ready this today. I join the club earlier and thought of joining this reading challenge.
I know, I'm far behind but trying to get there:Questions and Comments for Chapters 1 - 3
1) From the very first chapter we know there's something about Amy--"Before she became the Girl from Nowhere--the One Who Walked In, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years--she was just a little girl in Iowa, named Amy." Do you think all the background information on Amy's beginnings will play a part later in the story or is the author just trying to paint the picture she started out life as a normal child with humble beginnings?
I think that the background story on Amy is necessary. Knowing all of her story makes you understand why did she got there, why she was chosen. That it wasn't random.
2) Was there anything in Amy's background that struck you as odd or different besides her being left by her mother at a convent? Did her mother do the right thing by leaving her?
I think that it isn't fair that her mother left her at the convent, but maybe it was the right thing to do. She was in over her head. No money, no place to live, no food, exposing her child to terrible things and over all of that she had killed somebody and there was a big possibility she was going to get caught.
3) What did you make of the bats attacking the people in the jungles of Bolivia? I don't think I've ever heard of them swarming on people.
Obviously, a strange thing. But I assumed that they were protecting whatever "cure" for every sickness that was down there. It seem that as they got nearer they attacked more so that was what I thought.
4) What were your thoughts about the creepy statue and the Chuchote legend about destroying the demons of man to save the world? Are you feeling yourself being pulled into the story?
I was very confused at first, because I didn't knew at first that this book was about vamps. I started reading it because it seem a great paranormal book but tried to stay away from all the spoilers on the site.
5) Do you think Jonas survived? Why do you think the soldiers were there?
I think that he was the only or one of the few ones that survived. I think he is going to appear again in the book because he is going to be a big part of this experiment. I think that the soldiers were there because if this cure for everything deadly was there, they were going to try and capitalize it.
6) What did you think of Anthony Lloyd Carter? Seems like they're looking for disposable people whom they can experiment on. Do you think what they're doing is legal? If they can cure everything and increase a person's longevity, are criminals on death row the right people to be potentially be giving an extended life to?
It's legal because they are creating or fabricating all of the right paperwork to make it legal but I don't think its the right thing to do. It's not moral nor ethical. And I think that they are choosing criminals for this experiment because even they don't know what to expect about the experiments. Maybe some will die in the trials or maybe suffer. Who more to pass through this that people that for them don't deserve pity or to live. For me, Anthony Lloyd Carter is a strange prisoner. He doesn't seem to even know what happen. Why he is there. Maybe it was all an accident and not a killing.
7) So Walgast had a daughter who died and is now divorced from his wife. What's your first impression of him? Do you like him?
I like him. I see him as a vulnerable character. Someone that seems strong, and emotionless for some thing but in the end he cares. And I think he is going to play a big part with Amy because he is maybe going to think of her as the child he lost.
Karim, welcome to the group AND the buddy read :)I'm behind as well and working on catching up. Glad to have you!
Questions and Comments for Chapters 18 - 2139) So we are now looking at a time period called AV which I would assume stands for After Virus? We've got vamps called jumps and a train leaving the East coast for the west. What a scary trip for a little girl and to think she almost didn't make it. They started out with an enormous amount of cars and only three made it? Crazy and sad. It reminded me of what they did in England during WWII, I believe it was operation Pied Piper, where civilians, particularly children were evacuated from known bomb zones to safer areas.
That’s what I assumed! “After virus�... It is really sad.
40) So 92 years after the Great Viral Cataclysm we get a view of what is happening and things don't look so good. Jumps (vamps) are still around and the population has dwindled. We have no clue what has happened outside the US and the colony has cut off all radio ties. What do you think of the society that they've created? What do you think of their way of life?
I think they have established what worked to keep them alive, and I think that’s good. But I think that as the situation changes, they need to keep up... and they aren’t. I have a feeling it’s not going to end well for a huge chunk of these characters that I’ve grown to like (after the initial shock of the drastic change in storytelling and cast of characters!)
41) So power will give out somewhere in the near future, possibly the next 2 years. That's scary, but if no manufacturing plants are operating understandable. Do you think Michael should tell someone so they could prepare or is there no way to prepare?
I think he should be focused on that instead of on listening to the radio. Just saying.
42) In this section, what caught your attention most? Can you imagine spending the first 8 years of your life inside? That just doesn't seem healthy.
I think that’s one of the things that caught me the most -- 8 years of protected childhood, allowing them to be children... and then they have to face reality. Also the whole “standing for the turned� thing... I like that. Family waits for family, as it’s their responsibility and their duty to end the “suffering� (changed state) of their kin.
43) What do you think of Peter? It sounds like he will have a major role to play. Hopefully, Amy will show up soon.
Of course, I agree completely. He and Amy will bond... that’s got to be why the writer named both Amy’s favorite stuffed rabbit AND this character Peter.
Questions and Comments for Ch 22-2544. Why didn’t they go after Caleb? Was Zander somehow protecting him in order to get to the people he knew would be coming to visit? I want to know why the ‘smokes� don’t seem to remember who they were until right before they are killed.
I think they retain some fight in them, sometimes, and I think that had something to do with it. I also think it was part of the strategy to draw out more “food� (aka people).
45. Do you think it is the right decision not to bring the guns back to the Colony? Do you agree with Theo that it might cause more harm than good? It seems to me that guns are just too slow to deal with the ‘smokes� and to be effective at killing them, you have be close enough to use a knife.
I think that the guns are powerful weapons, and I agree that guns provide a bigger false confidence that could be fatal against these things. Of course, I’d rather have a gun or a knife than a crossbow like they seem to prefer.
46. Why doesn’t the girl remember who she is or the names of the people she stayed with? Is she one of the creatures herself since they don’t seem to attack her? She is the opposite of them in that she wants to protect people not attack and eat them. I think it has to do with the fact that she got a virus changed from the experiment, not directly from those infected with it.
I think it’s because it’s been so long. I think it has to do with the fact that she was special beforehand, and I don’t think the virus reacted the same way in her special genetic makeup.
47. Was anyone else as surprised as I was that Amy seems to have a little control over the creatures? They flock to her and do not harm her and try to do what she says, but their instincts override her wishes.
I think this will provide some very interesting plot points later on!
48. I think there is a conspiracy going on in the Household. Peter’s feeling that there is something going on that he doesn’t know about is true. Just what was explained to Dana to get her to take the family spot in the Household when she wouldn’t before?
I feel like they are definitely planning something, and they don’t think that Peter will be capable or willing to go along with it.
49. It is creepy that people are sleepwalking and waking up not knowing what they have done. This is the same thing that was happening to sweeps back in the experiment. Do you think the creatures are strong and/or close enough to alter their minds now and not just attack them?
Yes, that is creepy. It sounds just like what was going on with the sweeps, and Sanjay even says BABCOCK! And Michael wondered why Sanjay was near the breaker box.... which means Babcock was going to have him turn the lights off, methinks!
50. What about Auntie’s predictions? How did she know that the girl was coming and that Peter already knew about her? We got that brief glimpse of her journal earlier, but where exactly does she fit into this story?
I think that will be explained further, for sure. I’m looking forward to seeing the relationship between Amy and Peter form and grow and deepen. Hopefully they can be a strong force for good in a very scary dark world.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 4 - 7Wow! A lot happening in this section...
8) Amy can talk to the animals. Just imagine it, talking to a bird or chimpanzee.... Oops! Sorry that silly song--If I Could Talk to the Animals--entered my head from when I was little and I got carried away. Did this remind you a little of Harry Potter with the snake? What exactly is Amy??? I thought the experiment would come into play with her but is she not a normal human? Was her mother or father like her? The whole episode sets off a bunch of questions in my head. Plus, did you notice that when Amy went into Sister Lacey's room it was said she was "glowing like a coal" and "giving off waves of heat"? Is the glowing like that of the glow lights/vamp experiments or do you think it was an exaggeration? Also, how did Sykes know about Amy?
I think Amy is not a normal human. All of what is said it seems to be pre-experimentation. I really don't know what she is but she can talk to animals and the animals didn't responded to well to her because all of them went nuts when noticing her. Sykes don't know how special is Amy. Lear wanted a child and she was a case in which she didn't have any family nor relatives that will try to find her.
9) While taking prisoners from death row set off bells in my head, taking Amy from the convent leaves no question in my mind that what they're doing is illegal.
Definitely, illegal. Taking prisoners that are on death row are criminals that have already been sentenced to death but a child, which only sin was having a mother that abandoned her. That's not right.
10) I'm starting to wonder if maybe Carter didn't kill the woman. Perhaps it was an accident and they blamed Carter for it because they couldn't accept it was an accident? Anyone else wondering the same thing?
I already knew he didn't killed her. Now, I'm more certain. I think that when he went to show the lil' girl the toad, the girl scream with fear and the mother taught that he was touching her inappropriately. The mother went all wild and started screaming, hitting Carter. He trying to calm her walked towards her and she fell in the pool. And some how drowned.
11) So even the caretakers can get sick? I wonder how with them being so careful? This could be a case where people truly do go bat sh*t crazy by being part of the cleaning crew. Scary thought. It makes me wonder how contagious this disease/virus is? I had a friend who was a nurse who contracted a disease which when passed to a fetus caused birth defects and she was pregnant. They'd known she was pregnant, known the patient had the disease, and told her she had to treat the patient or be fired. They suited her up and she still passed it to her unborn child. Very sad.
I don't even know if the virals are the one causing telepathically to get the dreams, the way people react all of it to the others. If it was the same virus, if would have spread even quicker than this story is unfolding.
12) What did you think of Grey's story about his trip to the test site? I think I'd be shaking in my boots knowing I almost got shot because I had to make a pit stop. Do you think the caretakers are being experimented on and they put them to use working until the side effects kicks in? Grey's back story was rather troubling. I have no sympathy for the man, but wish the author didn't have to give such detailed accounts about everyone.
I think that I would react like Jack and Sam reacted to the dreams. I would have bolted out of there. Feeling as pray. Being watch by that thing that used to be human could easily eat me up.
13) So do I have this right? Is Zero actually an individual named Fanning who was once a friend of Lear's? Could he be the Tim from the emails? The one who seemed to be getting better? That would make the lead scientist of the experiments Jonas Lear, the man who wrote the emails? How did he go from there to doing experiments? I'd think Zero's condition would scare the you know what out of people. *shudder*
Fanning seems to be the man that started to get better after the bat attacks. Lear seems to be the scientist that was hopeful to start his research and find a cure for everything. How did he got there? I think that starting with his wife's death and later on what he saw that terrified him in the woods changed him. He became obsessed with finding this cure.
14)I am so not liking Richards. Any comments on the man? He seems like a cold blooded killer to me. I don't think I'd want to be friends with him either.
Richards seems to be Lear's right hand killer for all of the experiment. Who eliminates whatever threat that comes in the way of messing this scientific investigation.
15) What about those creepy dreams with the voice? Isn't that what the escapee caretakers were talking about when Richards shot them? What's up with that?
Liked I said before, I think that the virals are responsible. Like they are creating this panic telepathically to the others.
16) What do you think of the author's writing style? Sometimes I feel he jumps around too much in chapters. What do you think?
Sometimes I get lost in the story. Have to go a lil back to see when did we jump to another storyline, but I think that it helps to get every bit sense of the story. He makes us see the story from every angle, from every character.
17) So I'm assuming that when they are referring to Amy as Amy NLN, the NLN = No Last Name? I was listening to the audio and I don't believe they explained the initials and that's what I came up with.
I think so, until know I didn't know what it was for.
18) I have to comment on this because it seems to be a recurring theme with male authors--why do they always have to talk about urinating? Anyone else notice this? I rarely read books by males, no deliberate attempt to avoid them or anything, but I think with one or two exceptions they always include a scene or two centered around this. Out of curiosity, guys, when you read books by female authors, is there anything you notice that makes you think without looking that it was written by a female?
I've noticed it too, and I think this isn't going to be the last time that we read of someone peeing in the story.
Am still feeling under the weather, but have read the chapters for today and will start writing the questions in an hour if I don't fall asleep. Just finished dinner and wanted to take a breather for a little while. Thank for doing the questions yesterday Turtlecollector, I don't think I could have done them yesterday. You picked the right day to do questions. How did you know? ;)
Lisarenee wrote: "Am still feeling under the weather, but have read the chapters for today and will start writing the questions in an hour if I don't fall asleep. Just finished dinner and wanted to take a breather f..."Didn't, but you're welcome. That was my day off so I knew I would have time.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 27 - 3551) So for almost a hundred years Amy has been roaming mostly alone. She's forgotten her name and how to speak. She seems to care for the virals but more so for people. Over the past 92 years she seems to have aged a little and now looks to be between 13 and 16 years of age. That goes with the VSA (very slow aging) theory which was first presented. She followed Peter home. I wonder how she is the solution? Who or what is the voice asking Amy to bring the humans to him? With the radio device removed will anything change?
52) I'm a little confused about all the terms being slung around. We have First Night, Dark Night, and maybe one or two more. I wish things were explained a little better. First Night sounded like a holiday while Dark Night was perhaps a term for people who died from virals? Is this what everyone else thought? And why all the different names for the vampires? It's confusing. We've got Glow Sticks, Jumps, Smokes, and Virals. Please tell me the author is done and isn't attempting to make it to 12 different names? Gah!
53) Do you think the new virals are different? Peter kept wondering when did the virals start doing "this" and "that"? Does Amy herself carry a strain of the virus and if so, how will it affect other people? Could she just be a carrier?
54) Anyone curious about what Michael will find in the chip? I'd actually forgotten about it.
55) What is with Sanjay? It sounds like he's infected. Has he really been hearing the voice for years or only a short while? I'm a little confused by the statement, "Sanjay Patal, Head of Household, might have said that it had all started years ago. It had started with the dreams." Can the virus lie dormant that long or is it altering his memory?
56) Do you think they'll be able to stop Sam from putting Caleb out? It sounds like Caleb is still pretty young.
57) Anyone else think Alicia's demotion was a bad move?
58) We've heard via Amy from all the 12, but is anyone else curious about what happened to Zero?
59) Do you think people underestimate Peter because of his size? It sounds like he's pretty good at dodging and fighting yet he's been passed up many times for those who are bigger and stronger. I felt it a bit ironic that it was Theo who ended up freezing.
60) Wouldn't you think with two people getting infected while at the power plant that there should be some major cleaning going on to ensure the virus doesn't spread? I'm guessing Galen will be the next to either be killed or changed.
62) Why do you think Alicia, Sara, Michael, Peter, etc are trying to keep Amy's miraculous healing a secret?
63) Any predictions for the next section? I haven't a clue, but can't wait to find out what happens next.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 27 - 3551) So for almost a hundred years Amy has been roaming mostly alone. She's forgotten her name and how to speak. She seems to care for the virals but more so for people. Over the past 92 years she seems to have aged a little and now looks to be between 13 and 16 years of age. That goes with the VSA (very slow aging) theory which was first presented. She followed Peter home. I wonder how she is the solution? Who or what is the voice asking Amy to bring the humans to him? With the radio device removed will anything change?
I have no predictions on what is going to happen. It could go so many directions, that I’ve decided to just hang on for the ride!
52) I'm a little confused about all the terms being slung around. We have First Night, Dark Night, and maybe one or two more. I wish things were explained a little better. First Night sounded like a holiday while Dark Night was perhaps a term for people who died from virals? Is this what everyone else thought? And why all the different names for the vampires? It's confusing. We've got Glow Sticks, Jumps, Smokes, and Virals. Please tell me the author is done and isn't attempting to make it to 12 different names? Gah!
I know Dark Night is the night of the Earthquake that killed the walls and lights and left a bunch of people dead (both to the earthquake damage and the virals). He also uses “Flyers� as an almost curse word!
53) Do you think the new virals are different? Peter kept wondering when did the virals start doing "this" and "that"? Does Amy herself carry a strain of the virus and if so, how will it affect other people? Could she just be a carrier?
No idea!
54) Anyone curious about what Michael will find in the chip? I'd actually forgotten about it.
I had to... I can’t wait to find out its importance.
55) What is with Sanjay? It sounds like he's infected. Has he really been hearing the voice for years or only a short while? I'm a little confused by the statement, "Sanjay Patal, Head of Household, might have said that it had all started years ago. It had started with the dreams." Can the virus lie dormant that long or is it altering his memory?
I dunno, but I’m not a fan of him, and I have a feeling he’s going to cause some serious issues.
56) Do you think they'll be able to stop Sam from putting Caleb out? It sounds like Caleb is still pretty young.
I hope so... I really liked him so far.
57) Anyone else think Alicia's demotion was a bad move?
I think that while she is rash, she is also strong and capable, and they should trust her more than they do. She bravely jumped out to save a human life -- if it had been their child, would they be so evil to her?
58) We've heard via Amy from all the 12, but is anyone else curious about what happened to Zero?
I was wondering that myself!
59) Do you think people underestimate Peter because of his size? It sounds like he's pretty good at dodging and fighting yet he's been passed up many times for those who are bigger and stronger. I felt it a bit ironic that it was Theo who ended up freezing.
I definitely think they discount him. I also think that’s going to bite them in the ass, or at the very least, they’ll be proven wrong.
60) Wouldn't you think with two people getting infected while at the power plant that there should be some major cleaning going on to ensure the virus doesn't spread? I'm guessing Galen will be the next to either be killed or changed.
Yes! I feel like the voices told Sanjay to send Galen... meaning he is the next the virals want. And heck yeah, they need to be cleaning like wild people to make sure it doesn’t infect more!
62) Why do you think Alicia, Sara, Michael, Peter, etc are trying to keep Amy's miraculous healing a secret?
Because it would cause confusion, and chaos, and people would want answers! Then she might even turn into a test subject to see if that could be utilized.
63) Any predictions for the next section? I haven't a clue, but can't wait to find out what happens next.
No clue... but ready for more!
Questions and Comments for Chapters 8 - 1119) So it looks like Amy will end up part of the experiments after all. Were you surprised at the lengths Richards would go to to eliminate any trace of who they were? Will it be enough? Do you think he's acting on orders or is a loose cannon?
For what I can see Richards is a mercenary. It seems as if his orders are to make everything possible no matter the consequences and that's what he is doing. He doesn't care who he has to kill but everything needs to happen as plan in his mind.
20) So here is one of my crazy thoughts (and if you've ever buddy read with me you know I occasionally do this--sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong)-- What if Bill Reynolds, Amy's dad, was one of the guys who worked at the government testing facility like Walgast. I just can't figure out how they would know about Amy unless someone was tracking her or they had a cop in their pocket in Memphis or they listened to a police channels. Her father fits their salesman MO and my mind keeps drifting to his ruffled exterior. What if his genetics passed something on to her and he was a carrier of the virus but immune to it? Like I said a wild thought.
I've thought of it. Not because of how easily it was to them to track Amy, but because of all the weird things that Amy can do. She can speak to animals, even the animals know what she is, which we do not. She almost always predicted when something bad with them was going to happened, even when Richards was coming to the precinct.
21) The carnival scene reinforced my like of Walgast. I think he definitely wants to substitute Amy for Eva.
Yes, he does. He thinks as if God is giving him the opportunity again to be a parent. To his ex-wife, he already has. So now is his turn, with Amy.
22) Paulson is very unlikable. Do you think everyone or almost everyone in the facility eventually gets those dreams or just those infected? It almost sounded like Paulson got them too or did he hear a rumor?
I think that everybody gets the dreams. That's why there seems to be less people in the cafeteria every time and every time people talk less and are less cheerful. I don't think that they are infected but they are being manipulated by the virals to let them go. Maybe if they make everybody dream, somebody will get crazy enough and let them out.
23) So now we know for sure, Carter was innocent and he'd rather die than tell anyone that Rachel killed herself.
Since Carter was introduced, I knew he was innocent. He wasn't the criminal type. Now, we know he is just keeping a secret that a good friend told her. He promised her in her car, in the beginning of their story together that all of this was going to be between them and it was.
24) So are you surprised Sister Lacey left? Did she go after Amy? Were you surprised she realized how Walgast felt about Amy? Did you think it unreasonable for everyone to judge her (Lacey) because of something that happened to her in her past?
I am not surprised. Sister Lacey is the same that it seems God talks to her from time to time. I think she is going not only after Amy but also after Walgast. She knows he loves the little girl. I think that anybody judges, even nuns when they are afraid or don't know what they are up against.
P.S. - Trying to get up to date fast. Hope I can do it.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 12 - 1725) Without getting too in-depth into religion, what do you think of the religious element in the book? Do you like the voice that guides Sister Lacey? I once went to a retreat with my church group and they had some phenomenal speakers and one told a tale about how she was (I believe) in the hospital and a voice in her head told her to get off the elevator and hide. She did and found out later if she'd gone to the floor she was supposed to she'd probably have ended up dead because there was a crazy man loose shooting people and that's the floor he ended up on. I can't remember all the details, but it was a really scary story and that is what Lacey's story reminded me of so I really like how the author did that. I wonder if he heard the same story?
I'm liking the religious element so far in the book. For me it seems that it's part of the heroism of the book. The so called vampires are the evil root of the problem. Are the ones that had destroyed the Nation and Amy in part with this people that seemed to be touched by God are helping her.
26) Wow! So even the nuns weren't spared by Richards. At this point I'd think the witnesses were far too many to really contain this.
I wouldn't expect nothing less from Richards. He is a ruthless killer, with no conscience. He only cares of getting the job done no matter ha is that he has to do to accomplish it.
27) It sounds as though when the second phase of the project, Jump Start, was to start by transferring Zero and the twelve to White Sands? Transportation to anywhere sounds crazy and risky, but it never came to that. I wonder what the second phase to the testing entailed? It also sounded like the majority of people who worked on the project would have been killed.
I was very dumb of them to think that they could even transport the virals to another place. Seeing all of the signs that surrounded them, they should have know all of this was going to happen. The dreams, the voices, they should have know. I think that deep inside they knew but they were just ignoring all of the signs. They didn't want to think nothing of it. And yes, I think the majority of people who worked there were killed and the ones that survived the virus, were converted into one of those things.
28) So it sounded like someone took control of Grey's mind and he lost portions of his day. Do you think that is what happened when he entered Zero's containment unit? It sounded like he wasn't the only one to do this. It almost sounded like each of the twelve had someone who let them out as well. That's kind of scary. I wonder what other unusual powers these guys have?
I think that every one of the virals were controlling each of the sweeps that took care of their cell.
29) Were you surprised that Wolgast refused the suit? After all they said the virus might still be viable.
I wasn't surprised. He loved Amy. Hey didn't wanted her to be scared of him after all he thought of her as his child.
30) So we finally meet Lear. What was he babbling about? "Once I saw, once I knew what they were planning, how it would all end. I wanted there to be at least one." and "Keep her close. She's everything."??? I'm guessing it had something to do with Amy? If so why create 12 more of the vampire people? Is anyone else confused?
What I think he meet that the reason why he wanted Amy, was to create someone that could defeat all of the 12 virals. I think that after all of the experiments and the virals being in his head, he realized what they were planning, what they wanted. And the only way of stopping them was to create another to be able of stopping the madness.
31) Does anyone else see a lot of religious similarities in this book? There were 12 disciples. Is Zero supposed to be the antichrist or something? Plus, on the third day, he (Christ) rose again..."On the third day, he told her a story" and Amy rose from her bed???? Is it just me or is there something to this?
I hadn't looked at it that way, but now that you mention it yes. We have to see how to story continues to unfold itself to see if there are still some more similarities.
32) Doyle was a surprise. I didn't see that coming.
Me neither. But later on, you noticed that as Sister Lacey, him too has been touched by what they are calling the voice of God and let him see what would happen if he didn't help Wolgast.
33) The Year of Zero? *shudder* Is Zero in control of the others? Too bad we don't see a little into the dynamics of this group of vamps. I wonder if there is any order to them like a pack? The Chicago Falls newspaper article seems to suggest there is.
I think that somehow, Zero is the leader. He was the first. Created not in the laboratory but in the wild, by the real thing. So yes, I think he may be the leader of all. I hope later on we could see more of their dynamic cause I feel that the more the story progresses the less I know about the qualities of this monsters.
34) So they ended up in Oregon and Amy has stopped growing. I wonder why she's different from Zero and the rest? It seemed Lear and his group weren't concerned that Wolgast would turn into a tasty snack. Why is that? What don't we know? I feel we're missing a crucial piece of information.
Yes, we are missing a big part of the puzzle with Amy. Since the beginning we've been guessing what she is and now what she has been transformed to. Lear told us before he needed at least one. So we can implied that the adjustment that he did to the virus he injected to Amy is different in a way and with what it is needed to defeat this.
35) What do you make of the quick spread of the virus? It sounds like many of those infected are becoming vampires. I'm a little surprised by this. I thought in its purest form the virus mainly killed, but if Fanning survived, maybe not? Could their alterations made it less fatal?
I think that what the people are getting exposed to isn't the virus in its purest form. The virus in it's purest form was found in the jungle and the crew that went there couldn't even get to the site without getting killed so they turned back and what they got was the virus inside of Fanning. From that every viral that came after him had some alteration to him and that's why I think they are getting more infected than sick.
36) How'd you like the spin the government put on the virus? That it was terrorist related?
Well it almost is in a way. It was created inside the nation, but any sane person would have know the dangers to it and what sort of epidemic would have happened if loose. So they new the dangers so with that in mind, the people involved without even noticed attacked the nation. They were the terrorists.
37) What do you make of Amy seemingly be connected to everything and knows what is going on in the world to some extent? Do you think she connected to and there fore knows what Zero and his motley crew are doing or is it something more?
I think that because she has the virus inside of her, she can also listen to the others in her mind. But then that couldn't explain why when Richards went to get her and Wolgast and Doyle in the sheriff's office, she knew he was coming. She has to be something else. She has to have some kind of other gift.
38) So it sounds like Wolgast died. I'm surprised Amy left him. Did anyone else think that odd? I wonder if she thought he was already dead?
I am still thinking about this. I really don't know what to think of it. I only remember when Wolgast told Amy that if he didn't make it where to go, and knowing that she seems to feel, and see what is going to happen well she continue before he woke. What it bothers me is that I don't really know if she misses him and that if she;s sad because of his impending death.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 27 - 3551) So for almost a hundred years Amy has been roaming mostly alone. She's forgotten her name and how to speak. She seems to care for the virals but more so for people. Over the past 92 years she seems to have aged a little and now looks to be between 13 and 16 years of age. That goes with the VSA (very slow aging) theory which was first presented. She followed Peter home. I wonder how she is the solution? Who or what is the voice asking Amy to bring the humans to him? With the radio device removed will anything change?
I don't see how she is the solution right now, but maybe she can make the virals hold off attacking a little more. I'll have about the radio device.
52) I'm a little confused about all the terms being slung around. We have First Night, Dark Night, and maybe one or two more. I wish things were explained a little better. First Night sounded like a holiday while Dark Night was perhaps a term for people who died from virals? Is this what everyone else thought? And why all the different names for the vampires? It's confusing. We've got Glow Sticks, Jumps, Smokes, and Virals. Please tell me the author is done and isn't attempting to make it to 12 different names? Gah!
I agree, very confusing. I think all the "Nights" had something bad happen on them. They are called "Nights" because the lights didn't work for some reason and the creatures killed some of them.
53) Do you think the new virals are different? Peter kept wondering when did the virals start doing "this" and "that"? Does Amy herself carry a strain of the virus and if so, how will it affect other people? Could she just be a carrier?
The new virals are adapting to their environment. They are learning new ways to survive. I think Amy had a genetically engineered strain from the experiments so its effect on other people is going to be much different. She could just be a carrier of it.
54) Anyone curious about what Michael will find in the chip? I'd actually forgotten about it.
I am definitely curious. I am also beginning to wonder if this is an ongoing experiment and there are scientists out there watching and receiving the data from Amy somehow.
55) What is with Sanjay? It sounds like he's infected. Has he really been hearing the voice for years or only a short while? I'm a little confused by the statement, "Sanjay Patal, Head of Household, might have said that it had all started years ago. It had started with the dreams." Can the virus lie dormant that long or is it altering his memory?
A lot of the people in the Colony are acting very strangely lately and seem to have had some sort of dreams for a long time. Maybe it is not related to the virus?
56) Do you think they'll be able to stop Sam from putting Caleb out? It sounds like Caleb is still pretty young.
I don't think Caleb will be put out. I think worse things are about to start happening and he will be forgotten about.
57) Anyone else think Alicia's demotion was a bad move?
58) We've heard via Amy from all the 12, but is anyone else curious about what happened to Zero?
Even with that list of names you gave us earlier, I am having difficulty keeping track of all the people in this book. The hardest ones are the 12, who only show up every so often. Knowing that the next book in the series is called The Twelve, makes this more frustrating for me, that I can't figure them out.
59) Do you think people underestimate Peter because of his size? It sounds like he's pretty good at dodging and fighting yet he's been passed up many times for those who are bigger and stronger. I felt it a bit ironic that it was Theo who ended up freezing.
He is underestimated and I think they are going to regret that in the future.
60) Wouldn't you think with two people getting infected while at the power plant that there should be some major cleaning going on to ensure the virus doesn't spread? I'm guessing Galen will be the next to either be killed or changed.
I'm kind of hoping he is changed, I don't like him right now. I think it is surprising that they keep sending people out there, although I guess it is a matter of survival inside the walls. I also think they should be testing everybody since one got into the compound. One thing, if they forget who they are until right before they are killed as it seemed, why did the one who got in go directly to the Sanctuary where his child was?
62) Why do you think Alicia, Sara, Michael, Peter, etc are trying to keep Amy's miraculous healing a secret?
They are afraid she is one who survived the virus and don't want a child to be killed.
63) Any predictions for the next section? I haven't a clue, but can't wait to find out what happens next.
None
Questions and Comments for Chapters 35 - 4264) So a lot of killing going on. First Sanjay, as I think we all pretty much figured, appears to have gone viral. What was surprising to me is the man went home and acted like seemingly nothing out of the ordinary happened. Is that weird or what? I thought He'd totally morph. I guess the process takes a little longer than I thought?
65) Michael figures out how old Amy is and that a signal is coming from Colorado where the outbreak began. Do you think anyone is there? Do you think it is the voice of someone from there that Amy heard in her head telling her to take everyone to them? Would you go to Colorado? If nothing else, they may find a power source.
66) So Galen did know about Theo and his wife. Kind of sad. It sounds like he really loved her. Do you think he's a goner or will he survive the attack?
67) So Auntie is Ida, the little girl from Chapter 18. I like the contrast between her and Amy. I think they may be approximately the same age and I was surprised she was still alive too. Too bad she and Amy didn't meet. I think that could have been fun.
68) So we have a crew heading for Colorado. I feel so bad for all those left behind. The people seem to have lost their minds and I worry about the children. I was sad to hear about Elton and the rest. I thought they'd take Elton with them.
69) So were you surprised Sanjay would turn on Amy? I figured if the Virals would respond to her surely the newly or those in the process of becoming full fledged virals would too.
70)Was there anything else that struck you about this section that I didn't mention. (I'm still pretty sick so I had to read things a couple of times to make sure I understood what I was reading. I hate head colds)
Questions and Comments for Chapters 35 - 4264) So a lot of killing going on. First Sanjay, as I think we all pretty much figured, appears to have gone viral. What was surprising to me is the man went home and acted like seemingly nothing out of the ordinary happened. Is that weird or what? I thought He'd totally morph. I guess the process takes a little longer than I thought?
I think several people have turned viral without realizing it. I also think part of the adapting they are doing might be causing a slower turnaround?
65) Michael figures out how old Amy is and that a signal is coming from Colorado where the outbreak began. Do you think anyone is there? Do you think it is the voice of someone from there that Amy heard in her head telling her to take everyone to them? Would you go to Colorado? If nothing else, they may find a power source.
At this point, I think they have to do something because they are not going to survive if they stay where they are. So far, Amy seems to be able to keep some people safe, so it might not be a bad idea to do something with her. I think hat they are going to get there, though, and it will just be a recording.
66) So Galen did know about Theo and his wife. Kind of sad. It sounds like he really loved her. Do you think he's a goner or will he survive the attack?
Weirdly, I think he might actually survive.
67) So Auntie is Ida, the little girl from Chapter 18. I like the contrast between her and Amy. I think they may be approximately the same age and I was surprised she was still alive too. Too bad she and Amy didn't meet. I think that could have been fun.
Due to all the dreaming in this story, what if it is all a figment of Auntie's imagination? She can't really meet her own self, but makes herself out to be the hero of the story. Not really what I think but it would be a crazy idea for a story.
68) So we have a crew heading for Colorado. I feel so bad for all those left behind. The people seem to have lost their minds and I worry about the children. I was sad to hear about Elton and the rest. I thought they'd take Elton with them.
I didn't think they'd take Elton with them. It seemed to me that even Elton was starting to turn. I think he is the one who made the lights turn off.
69) So were you surprised Sanjay would turn on Amy? I figured if the Virals would respond to her surely the newly or those in the process of becoming full fledged virals would too.
They have a hard time doing what she wants them to do and resisting attacking people. Eventually, some are going to turn on her as well.
70)Was there anything else that struck you about this section that I didn't mention. (I'm still pretty sick so I had to read things a couple of times to make sure I understood what I was reading. I hate head colds
Turtlecollector said, "Due to all the dreaming in this story, what if it is all a figment of Auntie's imagination? She can't really meet her own self, but makes herself out to be the hero of the story. Not really what I think but it would be a crazy idea for a story.I think seeing the state of Auntie at this time does make one wonder how accurate her journals really are. The dreams were interesting and I was kind of surprised the author did the whole dream sequences. So you're saying it would be interesting if Amy ended up being part of a dream sequence kind of like the TV shows Dallas had with the Who killed JR? or the dream sequence at the end the Mary Tyler Moore spin-off (I believe it was Lou Grant) where the person wakes up and it was all a dream? Hmmm...I like your imagination, but I'm doubtful that is what is happening or is it her role in this last part that you're questioning? Telling her grandnephew that "she is coming" and all that?
Questions and Comments for Chapters 35 - 4264) So a lot of killing going on. First Sanjay, as I think we all pretty much figured, appears to have gone viral. What was surprising to me is the man went home and acted like seemingly nothing out of the ordinary happened. Is that weird or what? I thought He'd totally morph. I guess the process takes a little longer than I thought?
I think he is definitely being controlled by Babcock.
65) Michael figures out how old Amy is and that a signal is coming from Colorado where the outbreak began. Do you think anyone is there? Do you think it is the voice of someone from there that Amy heard in her head telling her to take everyone to them? Would you go to Colorado? If nothing else, they may find a power source.>
I’ve read ahead now so I won’t comment! :D
66) So Galen did know about Theo and his wife. Kind of sad. It sounds like he really loved her. Do you think he's a goner or will he survive the attack?
That is sad, but he doesn’t seem like the nicest or best person now, so I don’t feel bad for him at all anymore.
67) So Auntie is Ida, the little girl from Chapter 18. I like the contrast between her and Amy. I think they may be approximately the same age and I was surprised she was still alive too. Too bad she and Amy didn't meet. I think that could have been fun.
I think we haven’t seen the last of Auntie yet. Hopefully.
68) So we have a crew heading for Colorado. I feel so bad for all those left behind. The people seem to have lost their minds and I worry about the children. I was sad to hear about Elton and the rest. I thought they'd take Elton with them.
I feel bad for those that they left behind that weren’t nutso or on their way. I felt bad for Elton, for sure, and the others they threw over the wall.
69) So were you surprised Sanjay would turn on Amy? I figured if the Virals would respond to her surely the newly or those in the process of becoming full fledged virals would too.
Not in the least. He’s a manipulated jerk. Don’t like him at all.
70)Was there anything else that struck you about this section that I didn't mention. (I'm still pretty sick so I had to read things a couple of times to make sure I understood what I was reading. I hate head colds)
Nope! Just that I’m really digging this book, and was unable to stop reading. This morning I got up and finished reading today’s section... and still couldn’t stop. I’m part of the way into tomorrow’s! X( So much for staying with the group... but I can’t help it! It’s good!!!
:D Wow. I was just at the bookmobile and found this book. I remembered that there was a BOM with this book and hurriedly grabbed it. :D It is LP though and over 1000 pages because of that, but it was the only copy they had. :)
Melissa (ladybug) wrote: ":D Wow. I was just at the bookmobile and found this book. I remembered that there was a BOM with this book and hurriedly grabbed it. :D It is LP though and over 1000 pages because of that, but it ..."Welcome to the group read Melissa. Grab yourself a bowl of snacks and something to drink and get ready to read for a while. This is one long, but so far so good read.
It's very good so far!!!
Steven wrote: "It's very good so far!!!"lol I need to feed my need to read. Seems so appropriate with this book. :) If I wasn't sick I'd be ahead with the reading too. Now I really want to know what happens that put your reading into overdrive.
It's a great book, quite supriseing. Best book I'm reading this year if the sequel isn't better.
For those of you who are behind...Hang in there,you're doing fine. This is a very long book.
The group leaving the Colony really pushed the story out of a comfort zone and into more action. But Amy showing back up really made me more interested too. :)
All parts of the boo are intersting in own way. After Amy's arrival and leaving the colony story is starting to unfold. Now will found out what's the connection with Amy and Others, Them...
Lisarenee wrote: "For those of you who are behind...Hang in there,you're doing fine. This is a very long book."
I started late with it trying to catch up. Don't think I can't but still ain't going to stop 'cause I'm liking the book so far. In parts a little confusing with all of the terminology but still good.
You'll catch up! :D And if not, this forum won't be going anywhere! I caught up from being two and a half days behind, and now I'm ahead. :D
Melissa (ladybug) wrote: ":D Wow. I was just at the bookmobile and found this book. I remembered that there was a BOM with this book and hurriedly grabbed it. :D It is LP though and over 1000 pages because of that, but it ..."The copy I bought at the iBook store, so over 1000 pages also. But still when you start to read and get immersed in it you forget about how long it is. I started it like 3 days ago and I noticed I'm over the 500 page mark. :D
Questions and Comments for Chapters 18 - 2139) So we are now looking at a time period called AV which I would assume stands for After Virus? We've got vamps called jumps and a train leaving the East coast for the west. What a scary trip for a little girl and to think she almost didn't make it. They started out with an enormous amount of cars and only three made it? Crazy and sad. It reminded me of what they did in England during WWII, I believe it was operation Pied Piper, where civilians, particularly children were evacuated from known bomb zones to safer areas.
Parents suffered but it was the only way. If people were going to be saved, it would have been the children. They were little, had good years in front of them, to learn how to do things in the Colony and repopulate.
40) So 92 years after the Great Viral Cataclysm we get a view of what is happening and things don't look so good. Jumps (vamps) are still around and the population has dwindled. We have no clue what has happened outside the US and the colony has cut off all radio ties. What do you think of the society that they've created? What do you think of their way of life?
I think they did the best they could. Most of the people living in the Colony are a new generation that doesn't really know about the Time Before. They know in there own words what have been passed to them from early generations but not much. So they did what they need to do to protect themselves and to try to keep repopulating slowly their Colony.
41) So power will give out somewhere in the near future, possibly the next 2 years. That's scary, but if no manufacturing plants are operating understandable. Do you think Michael should tell someone so they could prepare or is there no way to prepare?
It would happen eventually. Nothing last forever, not even batteries. I think that if he told everybody panic would ensue. The Colony thinks that going to the run from place to place is very dangerous so that is why they don't move. Only a few go to certain places and that's only because of necessity. So they would all think that everything is lost. If they maybe go, some will die in attacks and some will live. It is all chance. But there is nothing they can do. Lights will go out and they will need to go. If they understood this, maybe Michael could tell them this and they would prepare themselves for the moment to leave, but I really doubt they'll listen to this logic.
42) In this section, what caught your attention most? Can you imagine spending the first 8 years of your life inside? That just doesn't seem healthy.
I think that its heartbreaking how they make believe the children that the world is perfect on the outside. That every beautiful thing exist, when the world is just a big battlefield. I think that the sanctuary should exist to protect them but they should be able to know since the begin what is out there.
43) What do you think of Peter? It sounds like he will have a major role to play. Hopefully, Amy will show up soon.
I think so. He and Alicia seem fit for each other. I think they need to see this. Maybe they will be the ones guiding the Colony when the lights give out or maybe give birth to an important piece of the puzzle needed to save that Earth.
Steven wrote: "You'll catch up! :D And if not, this forum won't be going anywhere! I caught up from being two and a half days behind, and now I'm ahead. :D"I don't really know how you did it, LOL! But still I'm trying. The best thing is that the book is so good that I don't get down knowing that I'm behind. :D
Try not sleeping for two nights and having to find something to do and you'll catch up haha
Steven wrote: "Try not sleeping for two nights and having to find something to do and you'll catch up haha"hahahaha! Now I know how you are so ahead.
And why I'm so sleepy!
Steven wrote: "And why I'm so sleepy!"I think this book is so good you can sleep when you are finished. LOL!
Yep, you won't find me doing this:
I'm really behind but still plodding along slowly....Questions and Comments for Chapters 8 - 11
19) So it looks like Amy will end up part of the experiments after all. Were you surprised at the lengths Richards would go to to eliminate any trace of who they were? Will it be enough? Do you think he's acting on orders or is a loose cannon?
He’s definitely acting on orders but obviously loves his job and doesn’t have normal human emotions or care for ending innocent lives. It’s scary to think there are people in society who are like this.
20) So here is one of my crazy thoughts (and if you've ever buddy read with me you know I occasionally do this--sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong)-- What if Bill Reynolds, Amy's dad, was one of the guys who worked at the government testing facility like Walgast. I just can't figure out how they would know about Amy unless someone was tracking her or they had a cop in their pocket in Memphis or they listened to a police channels. Her father fits their salesman MO and my mind keeps drifting to his ruffled exterior. What if his genetics passed something on to her and he was a carrier of the virus but immune to it? Like I said a wild thought.
Maybe? Anything is possible at this point when the story is so fresh. It could be why he was so agitated all the time.
21) The carnival scene reinforced my like of Walgast. I think he definitely wants to substitute Amy for Eva.
Wolgast seems to have a bit more of an emotional side considering the job he does. I can see him being an important person in Amy’s like from this point on.
22) Paulson is very unlikeable. Do you think everyone or almost everyone in the facility eventually gets those dreams or just those infected? It almost sounded like Paulson got them too or did he hear a rumor?
I’m a bit confused as to why they are all having those dreams. I wonder if they are given drugs secretly or even hidden in their food? It just seems weird that it happens to everyone there.
23) So now we know for sure, Carter was innocent and he'd rather die than tell anyone that Rachel killed herself.
This has been interesting. I’m surprised that he’s done that, especially when he started having a better life once she helped him. Why would he want to give that up by going to jail for a murder he didn’t do? I’m not sure if he’s just a bit slow or whether he just didn’t think his life was worth anything more.
24) So are you surprised Sister Lacey left? Did she go after Amy? Were you surprised she realized how Walgast felt about Amy? Did you think it unreasonable for everyone to judge her (Lacey) because of something that happened to her in her past?
I’m interested to see what happens to Sister Lacey and whether she’ll appear more further on. She seems to be an interesting character due to her childhood and background and obviously didn’t want to just sit around at the convent and wait to see what would happen after Amy’s abduction.
Seriously if this book's ending doesn't screw it up, this book will end up on my favorites shelf.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 43 - 49This was the craziest section so far. I don't know what is going on. lol
71) So, the group makes it to a military base. It was well stocked and I kept thinking they should have moved the colony to it. It sounded pretty secure. I wonder if these vampire like creatures have sensitive hearing and these bases give off some sort sound wave they don't like? I was surprised Peter's father and uncle hadn't raided the place better in one of their trips. It seemed odd to me.
72) So they get two Hummers up and running and head to Las Vegas. I can't help but wonder what these things (Virals) are surviving on?
73) The whole Vegas attack seemed odd especially since Sara was found alive and unharmed. Who are the people who rescued them and what is going on with Michael? Why was he so sick?
74) What is the Ring? It doesn't have a pleasant ring to it.
75) Why are there no boys and why aren't there many children?
76) The whole scene with Mira was kind of creepy. Is this some kind of olden day biblical type family? Like back when one guy would have several wives?
77) Did Alicia see who she thought she did?
Questions and Comments for Ch 22-2544. Why didn't they go after Caleb? Was Zander somehow protecting him in order to get to the people he knew would be coming to visit? I want to know why the ‘smokes� don’t seem to remember who they were until right before they are killed.
I think that every smoke is controlled by some viral on top. As if the 12 original virals are the ones in charge. Or maybe leaving him alive was a trap for killing others. I think that when a smoke realizes is going to get killed it stop resisting the host a bit and remembers who it was.
45. Do you think it is the right decision not to bring the guns back to the Colony? Do you agree with Theo that it might cause more harm than good? It seems to me that guns are just too slow to deal with the ‘smokes� and to be effective at killing them, you have be close enough to use a knife.
I also think that. When using a gun, a person gets more distracting with aiming correctly than to killing the monster.
46. Why doesn't the girl remember who she is or the names of the people she stayed with? Is she one of the creatures herself since they don’t seem to attack her? She is the opposite of them in that she wants to protect people not attack and eat them. I think it has to do with the fact that she got a virus changed from the experiment, not directly from those infected with it.
I think that so many years have passed without her speaking or saying the names of those people that she simply forgot. She has been along for all this time.
47. Was anyone else as surprised as I was that Amy seems to have a little control over the creatures? They flock to her and do not harm her and try to do what she says, but their instincts override her wishes.
I think this is the beginning of everything. She has to have more powers than that over them. And I think that because she hasn't mastered them yet, that's why the smokes instincts override her wishes. She was created different. Lear had said it once. He needed her to be different for all that was going to happened to stop.
48. I think there is a conspiracy going on in the Household. Peter’s feeling that there is something going on that he doesn't know about is true. Just what was explained to Dana to get her to take the family spot in the Household when she wouldn't before?
I also think the same. I think that people all around camp are being controlled by the virals in some sort of way. As in the beginning. through their dreams. That's why they are acting that way. The are acting through instinct of those thoughts that are being inserted in their minds through their dreams.
49. It is creepy that people are sleepwalking and waking up not knowing what they have done. This is the same thing that was happening to sweeps back in the experiment. Do you think the creatures are strong and/or close enough to alter their minds now and not just attack them?
I think that each of the twelve, which are the originals are strong. Are the ones doing this. And I think this because of what Sanjay said while sleepwalking, he said "Bab..cock?" So might be the one of the twelve close enough to them.
50. What about Auntie’s predictions? How did she know that the girl was coming and that Peter already knew about her? We got that brief glimpse of her journal earlier, but where exactly does she fit into this story?
I really don't know. In this part of the story, the story of the Colony, the religious influence haven't been seen yet. Maybe she is that religious influence in that part of the story. Maybe as Sister Lacey and Doyle, she knew that she was coming.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 43 - 4971) So, the group makes it to a military base. It was well stocked and I kept thinking they should have moved the colony to it. It sounded pretty secure. I wonder if these vampire like creatures have sensitive hearing and these bases give off some sort sound wave they don't like? I was surprised Peter's father and uncle hadn't raided the place better in one of their trips. It seemed odd to me.
I think the father thought he might have to go back there so he left things there. Who knows why the creatures don't like to go near it.
72) So they get two Hummers up and running and head to Las Vegas. I can't help but wonder what these things (Virals) are surviving on?
I think they survive on people, but the energy lasts longer than food does for people.
73) The whole Vegas attack seemed odd especially since Sara was found alive and unharmed. Who are the people who rescued them and what is going on with Michael? Why was he so sick?
That is one wacky bunch. I don't think Michael was really sick, but that they did something to him to keep him away from everyone else.
74) What is the Ring? It doesn't have a pleasant ring to it.
I think it is where they keep all the males separate from the females. I think maybe that is where Theo is.
75) Why are there no boys and why aren't there many children?
Maybe not enough males survive in the Ring.
76) The whole scene with Mira was kind of creepy. Is this some kind of olden day biblical type family? Like back when one guy would have several wives?
It does have a cult like feeling to me. I also thought that it is maybe where all the people who disappear but survive an attack end up. It is like the 'tenth rabbit' in the past experiment being left alone. A tithe to some kind of 'god' to them maybe?
77) Did Alicia see who she thought she did?
I think she did see someone from the past.
Turtlecollector, I like your 10th rabbit thought. I'd forgotten about that.
Questions and Comments for Chapters 43 - 4971) So, the group makes it to a military base. It was well stocked and I kept thinking they should have moved the colony to it. It sounded pretty secure. I wonder if these vampire like creatures have sensitive hearing and these bases give off some sort sound wave they don't like? I was surprised Peter's father and uncle hadn't raided the place better in one of their trips. It seemed odd to me.
Yeah, that was a good base, but they couldn’t have moved the colony to it... once they left, there pretty much at that point was no going back. At least not until some of the chaos there had died down and people could look at the situation rationally. Otherwise, they’d probably kill them or lynch them!
72) So they get two Hummers up and running and head to Las Vegas. I can't help but wonder what these things (Virals) are surviving on?
I feel like they are surviving on random wildlife at this point, and moving around constantly.
73) The whole Vegas attack seemed odd especially since Sara was found alive and unharmed. Who are the people who rescued them and what is going on with Michael? Why was he so sick?
The people that rescued them seem too good to be true, and the author is dropping hints that they have some serious issues to beware.
74) What is the Ring? It doesn't have a pleasant ring to it.
Sounds like an arena. Can’t say more! :D
75) Why are there no boys and why aren't there many children?
Sacrifices? :D
76) The whole scene with Mira was kind of creepy. Is this some kind of olden day biblical type family? Like back when one guy would have several wives?
I feel like the women want to be pregnant to up their population.
77) Did Alicia see who she thought she did?
Absolutely. If Theo is there, I’m sure other missing people have ended up there too!
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
A Discovery of Witches (other topics)The Twelve (other topics)
The Stand (other topics)
The Passage (other topics)
25) Without getting too in-depth into religion, what do you think of the religious element in the book? Do you like the voice that guides Sister Lacey? I once went to a retreat with my church group and they had some phenomenal speakers and one told a tale about how she was (I believe) in the hospital and a voice in her head told her to get off the elevator and hide. She did and found out later if she'd gone to the floor she was supposed to she'd probably have ended up dead because there was a crazy man loose shooting people and that's the floor he ended up on. I can't remember all the details, but it was a really scary story and that is what Lacey's story reminded me of so I really like how the author did that. I wonder if he heard the same story?
Lacey's story confused me a bit. There were times I couldn't tell if she had been saved by someone in her country or she hid well enough they didn't find her or if they found her, but nothing bad happened to her. I think the book is comparing the voices she hears telling her what to as good and the voices coming from the vampires as evil.
26) Wow! So even the nuns weren't spared by Richards. At this point I'd think the witnesses were far too many to really contain this.
Evil guy at it again, I am glad he didn't survive long in this book. There does seem to be an awful lot of people 'in the know' to keep it contained.
27) It sounds as though when the second phase of the project, Jump Start, was to start by transferring Zero and the twelve to White Sands? Transportation to anywhere sounds crazy and risky, but it never came to that. I wonder what the second phase to the testing entailed? It also sounded like the majority of people who worked on the project would have been killed.
It sounded to me like they were trying to create an indestructible army and the workers would be killed because they were no longer needed.
28) So it sounded like someone took control of Grey's mind and he lost portions of his day. Do you think that is what happened when he entered Zero's containment unit? It sounded like he wasn't the only one to do this. It almost sounded like each of the twelve had someone who let them out as well. That's kind of scary. I wonder what other unusual powers these guys have?
Vampires are scary but these seem to be supervampires with only all the bad characteristics. They seem to have a collective mind and can hear all the thoughts of everyone.
29) Were you surprised that Wolgast refused the suit? After all they said the virus might still be viable.
I was not surprised. He had developed a strong connection to Amy and was starting to see her as a substitute daughter.
30) So we finally meet Lear. What was he babbling about? "Once I saw, once I knew what they were planning, how it would all end. I wanted there to be at least one." and "Keep her close. She's everything."??? I'm guessing it had something to do with Amy? If so why create 12 more of the vampire people? Is anyone else confused?
I am very confused.
31) Does anyone else see a lot of religious similarities in this book? There were 12 disciples. Is Zero supposed to be the antichrist or something? Plus, on the third day, he (Christ) rose again..."On the third day, he told her a story" and Amy rose from her bed???? Is it just me or is there something to this?
It definitely could be references to religion. Maybe religion is going to have more of an influence as the story progresses and people are trying everything to keep the creatures away.
32) Doyle was a surprise. I didn't see that coming.
33) The Year of Zero? *shudder* Is Zero in control of the others? Too bad we don't see a little into the dynamics of this group of vamps. I wonder if there is any order to them like a pack? The Chicago Falls newspaper article seems to suggest there is.
It seems they have some kind of order and leader. Zero seems to be the one who starts everything and the other follow suit not long after.
34) So they ended up in Oregon and Amy has stopped growing. I wonder why she's different from Zero and the rest? It seemed Lear and his group weren't concerned that Wolgast would turn into a tasty snack. Why is that? What don't we know? I feel we're missing a crucial piece of information.
I am missing a lot I think. I still want to know what the original idea was in the first place. It seems to have changed and Lear predicted bad things happening when it did.
35) What do you make of the quick spread of the virus? It sounds like many of those infected are becoming vampires. I'm a little surprised by this. I thought in its purest form the virus mainly killed, but if Fanning survived, maybe not? Could their alterations made it less fatal?
I thought it was strange that it took Carter longer than everyone else to change, but as soon as the creatures were released, it took only a few hours instead of days for people to change. After the change, does the virus revert back to its original form?
36) How'd you like the spin the government put on the virus? That it was terrorist related?
Not very nice of them but of course they don't want the public blaming them. I was kind of glad California seceded to form its own country to protect themselves.
37) What do you make of Amy seemingly be connected to everything and knows what is going on in the world to some extent? Do you think she connected to and there fore knows what Zero and his motley crew are doing or is it something more?
I think there is a connection between Amy and everyone else. I kept expecting them to be found because of it and thought that was what the flash was - the creatures coming to get Amy.
38) So it sounds like Wolgast died. I'm surprised Amy left him. Did anyone else think that odd? I wonder if she thought he was already dead?
I think she thought he was already dead or knew he was close and there was no way he would survive.