Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy?

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other
☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★


What is a buddy read?

An “Informal Buddy Read� doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book


EXPECT SPOILERS!

reserved

I started, but I've now put it aside for some others to join this in a few weeks.

The book really starts off with a bang and I'm looking forward to everyone's thoughts!

I have the audio through sync. If I can, I will join. It turns out that most of the BOM discussions I want to join are all audio next month! I do want to read this one though!

Can't wait.

This is one of my absolute favorite books. I may just have to join in the buddy read since it's been a while.

I actually read this during the last tower teams based on a friend's recommendation :D.

Great stuff Amanda. We will probably move to book 2 afterwards, so a good way to refresh your memory too ;)

I am going to fit this one in too!

I think I'm going to join in for this one

I'm picking this one up from the library this weekend.

I've reserved this book so I'll be able to join the discussion

Karen wrote: "Great stuff Amanda. We will probably move to book 2 afterwards, so a good way to refresh your memory too ;)"

We need to set up buddy read for the second book... And I say not in November. Also needs one too.

I think if we move on to book 2, it may not be until the new year :)

I started this a few months ago but for some reason couldn't get into it so maybe I'll try again for this buddy read. I think it was just my mood because it sounds really good and I know it is well loved around GR.

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "I started this a few months ago but for some reason couldn't get into it so maybe I'll try again for this buddy read. I think it was just my mood because it sounds really good and I know it is well..."

I'd say to definitely give it some time. The first part is still setting up the characters and there is a lot of information, especially about planes. But if you stick with it the rest will blow your mind :).

I am starting already because this is the BOM in another group I'm in. Loving it so far!

Greta wrote: "I am starting already because this is the BOM in another group I'm in. Loving it so far!"

I listened to the first 2 parts of the audio before putting it on hold for this BR (and to count for TT!). I really liked what I heard to that point and I'm looking forward to continuing ;)

I have so many books that I reserved for TT3, and it looks like a good portion of them are either BOMs or BRs.

I would like to join in. This book has been on my TBR for a while.

I'm listening to the audio and I've started a little early as I'd like to finish on audio this weekend

Audio - parts 1&2

The book starts off with quite a bang and really dragged me in. I'm still not sure if the narrator is Queenie or Maddie. I know she suggests that she is Queenie, but I don't feel like there was a definite there, and as she writes in 3rd person, I do wonder how she could know so much about Maddie.
Big question from me at this point is where is the story going? Surely the whole book can't be told from the POV of writing to your captors as a POW. It will be interesting to see what happens next

I'm going to start this today! I'm so excited! I'll need to read slowly though so I finish it after the challenge start date.

Audio parts 3&4

Sorry I don't know where in this book t this is for the paperback/hardback versions. I am picking up a physical copy from the library over the next day or so, and I can edit the post then.
(view spoiler)[ I love the use of script pads and her jokes for Engel on this. It is a nice change from the horrors of war.
I can't help but remember that everything she is writing is being seen by the Germans which means it can't all be real, or the truth. Especially when she met the American and they put her forward for the 'interview'. Is it possible she found some way to signal her and get her to save her from this torture? I have to hope so. It doesn't make much of a book if she dies.
(hide spoiler)]I love the audio narrator. What a fabulous job she is doing.
This is a very slow read, but it is engaging and I'm curious to where it can go from here

Today is the day! I'm excited to participate in my first NBRC buddy read!

As of page 88: before heading Air Taxi with the ATA

I really love how this book is set up. (view spoiler)[ Not the torture and capture because that's pretty terrible, but the way the author used this situation to set up a unique POV for telling the story. Verity isn't just telling the story of how she met Maddie and what she was doing in the British war effect. She is giving her confession to the Nazi's. I don't know why but this just really strikes me as a very interesting way to set up the narration.

I also like how there are bits and pieces of her life as a prison, info about the guards, and the different paper she is given to write on.

At first, it strikes me as very odd that the Nazis would give her ample paper and lots of time to tell her story in a very novel-esq way, instead of demanding only the important facts. But then, I don't know what their real motive is and maybe they are bored and are enjoying her story. Maybe they are also trying to waste some time. I can't wait to see how this story progresses, both her imprisonment and her flash-backs. (hide spoiler)]

I can't wait to start today. I gotta move it move it. It is due back on the 8th. Aaaack.

I'm only about 20 pages in but so far I'm enjoying it

I agree RebeccaS
It makes me wonder how much of what she is writing is the truth. She must be pretty important, or they believe she is, to let her do this task

RebeccaS wrote: "As of page 88: before heading Air Taxi with the ATA

I really love how this book is set up. Not the torture and capture because that's pretty terrible, but the way the author used this situation t..."

Spot on Rebecca, makes me curious about what the real end point is going to be. I also agree about the setup.

This is my first audiobook experience, so that is taking a little getting used to for me :) Just not used to having a real voice!

Now I'm anxious to get t page 88 to see what y'all are talking about

First six pages and this is what I have to say - What a disconnect between the voice and the story she is telling - the voice is so matter of fact and a little humorous, but what she is telling about is kind of dark and scary. Any thoughts? This is just my first impression. I like the voice, but just seems incongruent with what is being told.

@Sarah - My impression was similar where I thought the voice was too light and humorous considering she's being kept prisoner and currently being a traitor to her country. But maybe that's just the way her personality is - making the best of a horrible situation.

Also, this so far unnamed narrator,said she is good at making up stories - is this foreshadowing a made up story she is about to tell the Gestapo she is now a captive to? Hmmm.

Erin wrote: "@Sarah - My impression was similar where I thought the voice was too light and humorous considering she's being kept prisoner and currently being a traitor to her country. But maybe that's just the..."

I guess so. She has got one good sense of humor.

Thoughts up to page 88

(view spoiler)[I think they way she's talking about herself in 3rd person is kind of odd. It makes it hard for me to connect Verity and Queenie in my head as the same person.

And I agree with RebeccaS with how it seems odd that the Nazis are giving her this time and paper to draw up her confession. And something about the main captor Von Linden seems a little off to me. Like how on page 86 he has a genial argument with her about an Orwell book. To me that just does not seem like normal captor behavior (hide spoiler)]

I agree Erin, there is more to VL than meets the eye.
I do think she is writing a story and isn't as innocent as she seems (and she does say she no longer feels that she is Queenie); which may be one of the reasons for writing in third person

Rough week at work...I'm going to have to start this one a little late. Hopefully, tomorrow.

This disconnect in her personality and uncertainty of what is really going on is keeping me intrigued though, there has to be more than meets the eye and I want to see what this is.

I also like the girl power :)

Wow, learning a lot about air control, flying planes, all that stuff. Still don't expect me to remember any of it. A little over my head, but interesting.

I understand Kristie & Kristin... I don;t get much reading done through the week. I've only gotten through the start of this because I am listening to the audio on the commute to and from work

It's fine Kristie and Kristin! I just dove right in because I finished my last book and was excited to start discussing my first BR.

I agree with you all about the disconnect between "Queenie" and "Verity". I am hoping there's a hidden motive for this that we will discover later.

Or it's possible that all the torture has just changed her so much that she is almost a different person.

I had to finish for another challenge, what a great book!

@Sarah, I do love all the plane information too! Even though this is fiction Wein did a lot of research for the book and I appreciated it.

I can't believe I waited so long to read this book. It's so very good.

I've read through Ormaie 20. (view spoiler)[
I initially believed that Verity was Maddie, and writing about herself in 3rd person.

Then along comes Queenie, whom Thibault asserts is actually Verity, and she readily agrees. However, she states that she 'hadn't even noticed I was doing it until he asked' (referring to writing about herself in 3rd person).

She speaks of 'small, hidden, nasty short circuits got during her savagely inhuman interrogations'. What effect is this having?

And what about this radio propagandist from America? 'I'm looking for verity.' I was surprised. (hide spoiler)]

Have you figured out why she's underlining sections? I realize they're revealing important information the allies could use if they mount a rescue, but how in the devil does she expect to get that out?

I thought she may have been alluding to Ian Fleming when she wrote about meeting with the recruiter. 'he jokingly identified himself by a number because that's what the British Empire spies do in Kim'. But of course Fleming was in Naval Intelligence, not Air Force.

Greta wrote: "I had to finish for another challenge, what a great book!

@Sarah, I do love all the plane information too! Even though this is fiction Wein did a lot of research for the book and I appreciated it."

I think I read that the author also has background in aviation - she might fly? I hope I am not making this up.

I'm so into it now, that I'm afraid I'll zoom through it before Saturday.

I'm planning to read through the Ormaie section today, which is a little over halfway, and through Chapter 13 tomorrow.

Okay last night I read up to Page 137.
The heading on the next page is: Ormaie 21.XI.43 VB-S

@Cynthia - I was just about to ask about the underlining sections.
It's almost as if she is underlining important information about the prison/hotel in case they invade. I wonder if she's going to find a way to send these out to the Allies in hopes that they rescue her or some other prisoners. But I'm with you, I have no idea how she will get them out. She seems to be almost trying to learn more about her captors. I wonder if she thinks she can get one of them to help? I can't wait to see what these are about!

Also, my favorite favorite scene so far!
(view spoiler)[ When Maddie goes to Queenie's castle and meets her brother! And he's in the kitchen making boiled eggs for the refugee boys. So precious! Absolutely my favorite scene and I'm so glad there are a couple happy times in the story, (hide spoiler)]

I just started today, so I'm only about 3% in or something.

@RebeccaS - I didn't realize this was your first buddy read. Glad to be joining you in it. :)

@Karen - Are you using the free audio edition? If so, what do you use to play it on your commute? I only get those on my laptop. I had to pick the CDs from the library for my commute, then find my spot on my laptop to listen at home. If there's a way to listen to the freebie on my phone or something, that'd be great.

@Cynthia - I am listening to the audio version, so I didn't know there was underlining. I bet it's a secret message! I think our narrator is a smart one.

@Sarah - I was wondering already about the planes. I wonder if our narrator is unreliable and she is really the pilot. Reverse the roles of the characters in her story??

Looking forward to getting further into the story, so there's more to discuss!

@Kristie - You're right! I never thought about the possibility that the narrator is actually Maddie! And she never gives herself a name. I need to get more time to read tonight!

Kristie wrote: " I wonder if our narrator is unreliable"

I think she's unreliable in one way, and truthful in another. She tells us she's an actress. She gives all sorts of hints, even stating that she isn't telling the truth in the story. 'All my proper nouns are lies' she says. So she is reliable in her unreliability, I would say.

Regarding the emphasized information in the text, it's the fact that it is emphasized that intrigues me more than the information it contains. No use sending a secret message unless there is someone to read it. And supposedly only whatsherface the female guard and von Linden are reading her story. Hmmm.

I need to read slower Karoa! I'm just so curious I don't want to put it down.