Caraval - book club discussion (all are welcome to join!)

[monkeyfeet]

Sept 3, 2017 15:28:27 GMT -5 Nonny said:

aurora, monkeyfeet, did Paloma leave an abusive marriage though? That was my initial thought as well, but at some point Scarlett was thinking back to when her mom was still around and it seemed like her dad was distant but normal before their mom left, and only become an unhinged, murderous psychopath after Paloma disappeared.

Yeah, it never stated that was what happened. It was an assumption, most likely wrong, especially with your info. I don't remember reading about that!!

[cole]

Replying before reading what others wrote!

1. I think I liked it overall? Lol. It was an easy read without much substance. The story was fairly interesting. What didn't work for me was how little development there was at times, like just jumping between things where it completely make sense.

2. I thought the island aspect was cool, I wish a little more attention had been paid to detailing where they were/what they were doing - related to what I said above regarding lack of development, I felt that was really true in just jumping around the island/into tunnels/etc.

3. Definitely caricatures, but it worked for me.

4. Maybe something about the choice? I don't know, this part didn't jive well for me.

5. Their dad is a dick and she knew it and got away?

6. Their dad was fucked up and I think it manifested in different ways for the sisters - Scarlett trying to do everything she could to protect from within and Tella doing everything she could to get out.

7. I still don't know how I feel about Julian. Looking forward to reading other's opinions.

8. Both.

[Nonny]

Sept 3, 2017 18:42:40 GMT -5 aurora said:

Sept 3, 2017 15:28:27 GMT -5 Nonny said:

aurora , monkeyfeet , did Paloma leave an abusive marriage though? That was my initial thought as well, but at some point Scarlett was thinking back to when her mom was still around and it seemed like her dad was distant but normal before their mom left, and only become an unhinged, murderous psychopath after Paloma disappeared.

I wondered if that was because Mom was shielding her children from the worst of his rages and bearing the brunt herself. I also wasn't convinced she left voluntarily; I had wondered if he killed her. But, if we're going to see her in the nest book probably not.

Sept 4, 2017 11:08:08 GMT -5 monkeyfeet said:

Sept 3, 2017 15:28:27 GMT -5 Nonny said:

aurora , monkeyfeet , did Paloma leave an abusive marriage though? That was my initial thought as well, but at some point Scarlett was thinking back to when her mom was still around and it seemed like her dad was distant but normal before their mom left, and only become an unhinged, murderous psychopath after Paloma disappeared.

Yeah, it never stated that was what happened. It was an assumption, most likely wrong, especially with your info. I don't remember reading about that!!

It's very possible that's how the sequels will end up explaining it, that Paloma was shielding the girls, because until that one bit wit Scarlett I also thought that Paloma was either murdered by PsychoDad or left to get away from him just like the girls did.  But I think really this just further goes to why I had issues with this book - the character development was awful. 

[rainbowchip]

I feel like a lot of you do. This book had so much potential but it sort of let me down in the end. I really liked the ideas behind it and I'm a sucker for people falling in love when they really shouldn't and it all working out for them in the end.

I'm really curious about the mother's story. It sounds like she was somehow linked to Legend maybe.

I got the impression that their father snapped when she disappeared so I don't see that he was always abusive to them or even to their mother but the girls might not have seen the abuse.

I do wish the game itself made more sense. Like others have said, there was basically one scene with other players and after that nobody else seemed to be playing the game.

[ufcasey]

Sept 2, 2017 8:41:29 GMT -5 aurora said:

ufcasey , I hope your dad is recovering well from surgery! And congratulations on your new job.

So far so good on both counts Thanks!

[ufcasey]

I meant to add that I definitely agree about how other players didn't even come into the picture. There was Dante, who turned out to be an actor, there was the girl with the drawings in the book who was an actor, and then there was the girl who pretended to be pregnant/the guy who stole Tella's earrings/and the people who were completely clueless that Scarlett lied to - I think those are the only times we ever 'saw' any other players, which seems like a huge missed opportunity for haviing this book make some actual sense LOL!

[bex]

I definitely think Legend had something to do with the disappearance of Paloma - or know he knows where she is - we are definitely supposed to think that at least with that ending letting from Legend.

I think the father was probably abusive in some way to the mother - or at the very least she was very unhappy (maybe he was just distant?) My guess is he that was abusive or verging on abusive but had never touched the girls in violence and wasn't mean to them, so she thought if she left the girls would be okay.

[rainbowchip]

The grandmother, Annaleise, was Scarlett's father's mother correct?

[bex]

Sept 6, 2017 12:38:19 GMT -5 rainbowchip said:

The grandmother, Annaleise, was Scarlett's father's mother correct?

Yes, I think so.

this was another plot hole for me. I felt it was supposed to be this big reveal with the grandmother being Legend's love interest but then I'm not sure what impact it had on the actual plot.

[rootbeerfloat]

Late to the party...

This book was just OK for me. I like a lot of YA (so things like instalove doesn't bother me much usually), and I loved The Night Circus, but this was a disappointment. I enjoyed the magical descriptions and some of the aspects of Carnaval (currency, tattoo fortune teller, comic book girl, Scarlett's changing dress). But I sort of hated the story, and I didn't like either sister. I actually checked into this thread halfway through to see if it would get better, so at least I knew not to keep my hopes up lol.

[rainbowchip]

It sounds like I need to move The Night Circus up on my list.

[expectantsteelerfan]

So I had this book from the library in time to read for this discussion, but I got caught up in other books and then my loan expired and I had to wait to get it again. I got it 2 days ago and finished yesterday.
But to quote Clueless, this book was a full-on Monet.
I enjoyed reading it to the point where I finished it in 2 days, but after ANY scrutiny, it's a big ol' mess.
And am I the only one who thought it desperately needed an actual sex scene???

[rainbowchip]

Did you guys see she announced the sequel?
Will you read it?
Check out this book on Goodreads: Legendary (Caraval #2) www.goodreads.com/book/show/33645809-legendary