Book Blogger Hop No. 145: Urban Fantasy, or Horror?

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

Halloween Edition!!

This event is hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, and 

to find out the topic of next week's question, click HERE.

This Week's Question

It's getting close to Halloween.

If you HAD to read one of

these two genres, which would

you prefer -- urban fantasy,

or horror, and why?

(Submitted  by Maria @

A Night's Dream of Books)

WARNING TO HORROR FANS!!

I totally dislike the horror genre, so I have 

made some pretty negative statements

about it in this post. So read no further 

if you think you could find yourself getting 

upset by the opinions I express here.

You have been WARNED!!

My Answer

Here's the short and sweet answer: urban fantasy, hands down!! Lol.

Now, you didn't think I was going to leave it at that, did you? Of course not! I enjoy writing long (but not TOO long) posts for these BBH questions. Besides, I submitted this question myself, and for a very good reason: I totally DETEST the horror genre! 

Although I've written other posts about my dislike of this genre, I've never written one in which I compare it to urban fantasy. Actually, these two genres have some similarity to each other. There's one big difference between the two, though, and that's the degree of emphasis placed on fear and gruesome details. 

Horror writers have a field day describing the frightening events in their plots in all of their gross, hair-raising, disturbing, details. They also delight in describing the abject terror felt by their protagonists, who are usually helpless to deal with all the horrible, frightening villains.  As I have stated in other posts on this subject, I do not now, nor have I EVER, enjoyed being frightened out of my skin. Fear is NOT a pleasant emotion to me, nor will it ever be. I also dislike feeling disturbed in any way by the sheer impotence induced in the reader by a horror writer. Fear and helplessness is not an enjoyable combination. Some people do enjoy this combination. I am definitely NOT one of them!

Urban fantasy, on the other hand, may also include some frightening events in a plot, but the protagonists are usually not as helpless as those in a horror novel. Fear is hardly ever an overriding factor in an urban fantasy novel. Instead, the writer's focus is on how his/her protagonists solve the main problem presented in the plot. These writers might employ suspense, true, but it's not for the purpose of inducing an emotion of terror in the reader, and keeping that emotion predominant for most of the book. Instead, any terror in an urban fantasy plot is dealt with and overcome by the protagonists, with or without allies. 

Where these two genres might overlap is in the type of characters involved. In urban fantasy, there might be vampires, werewolves, and witches, just as in the horror genre. However, these characters are frequently the good guys. If any such creatures are the bad guys, they are usually classified as "rogues". This happens often with vampires, for example. The good vamps do not drink blood from humans, or, if they do, they only take enough to nourish themselves, and never kill these humans. Rogue vamps, on the other hand, DO kill humans, and relish doing so. Therefore, the good vamps are frequently involved in an ongoing war with the rogues, to prevent them from killing humans. 

This is one type of plot I have often come across in urban fantasy novels. However, the genre is in no way limited to dealing with the three types of characters listed above. These novels can also deal with such mythological characters as fairies (frequently known as "The Fae"), unicorns, angels, gods, demi-gods, dragons, magicians (also called "mages"), elves, goblins, trolls, etc. In other words, these novels can and do often include characters that one would expect to find in fantasy novels. The difference here, of course, is on the fact that urban fantasy usually has a modern urban setting, instead of the typical medieval setting most common in fantasy novels. 

If one takes into consideration all of the above differences between the horror and urban fantasy genres, it's immediately evident that the latter is much more interesting to read. Now, this is my own personal opinion. Of course, horror fans will not agree at all with me. And this is just fine! There are all sorts of reading tastes in the bookworm universe (and the book blogosphere), which means that anyone can agree or disagree with me. 

Bearing the above in mind, I maintain that an urban fantasy novel is far more interesting, fascinating, and a much more entertaining read than a horror novel, for several reasons. 

First of all, characterizations have to have more depth. I have not read that many horror novels, but I would imagine that characters in these novels lack depth, and that's because of the fear factor, which overrides everything else. Perhaps I'm wrong about this, and if so, my apologies to horror fans.  :)

Second, ever since I first began to read UF, I have found it VERY refreshing to see creatures that would totally inspire fear, if they were to appear in a horror novel, actually being depicted as good guys in an urban fantasy novel. Furthermore, in most UF novels, these creatures are depicted as being humane, caring, and even funny! 

Third, the world-building in UF novels can be utterly fascinating, and make the reader want to actually LIVE in one of these novels. Not so with horror novels! For example, I would NEVER want to live in The Exorcist, by William Peter Blatty! To this day, I STILL don't know why I even read this book, but I learned my lesson: stay away from the horror genre!! Lol. 

Fourth, the plot resolution in UF novels often lends itself to more than one book, and the reader tends to fall in love with the good guys, thus creating the desire to see more of them in future sequels. I don't think this type of thing is common with horror novels. I mean, where can the author go with their characters, if these characters have come to an untimely end in one of these novels? Thus, from what I've noticed -- again, I might be wrong here -- horror novels usually tend to be stand-alones. Stephen King, for instance, does have a series -- The Dark Tower. He also has a couple of trilogies. But, for the most part, his books are stand-alones.

Fifth, quite a few UF novels are also in the category of PNR, or paranormal romance. And I definitely have a VERY soft spot for romance! It's especially exciting when supernatural creatures are involved, of course!

Bottom line: as Halloween approaches, I feel the need to read UF novels, and not horror novels. I want to read books that will take me out of this humdrum reality, but WITHOUT scaring me so much that I'll have nightmares! That's just the way it is with me. I mean, hey, take a look at my Halloween header. Does it look at all scary to you? LOL. And, look! The pumpkin is even grinning. It's enjoying the kitty's affection. Awwww........   :)  (When you come to the end of this post, you'll see another CUTE Halloween image.)

To clinch my case, let me recommend some GREAT UF (many are also PNR) titles, just PERFECT for this supernatural season, MINUS the heebie jeebies!

Young Adult Fiction

The Twilight Saga, by Stephenie Meyer

The Vampire Academy Series, by Richelle Mead

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, 

by Heather Brewer

The Abandon Series, by Meg Cabot

The Nightshade Series, by Andrea Cremer

The Shadow Falls Series, by C.C. Hunter

The Demon Trappers Series, by Jana Oliver

The Revenants Series, by Amy Plum

Adult Fiction

The Children of the Night Series,

by Amanda Ashley

The Loving Husband Series,

by Meredith Allard

The Dark Series,

by Christine Feehan

The Dark Dynasties Series,

by Kendra Leigh Castle

The Sentinels of New Orleans Series,

by Suzanne Johnson

The House of Comarré Series,

by Kristen Painter

The Love at Stake Series,

by Kerrylyn Sparks

The Argeneau Series, by Lynsay Sands

What are your thoughts on

this topic?

If you're participating in this hop,

I'll go comment on your 

own BBH post.

If not, I will then comment on one 

of your blog posts!

Thanks for visiting!!!  
 

Book Review: Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation
(Dread Nation, Book 1)
Justina Ireland
Hardcover, 464 pages
Bilzer + Bray
April 3, 2018
African-American Fiction, Alternative History,
American History, Diverse Reads, Fantasy, Feminist Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, Paranormal Fiction, Satire, Social Justice, Southern Gothic, Young Adult Fiction
Source: Amazon

Synopsis:  Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.

But that’s not a life Jane wants. Almost finished with her education at Miss Preston’s School of Combat in Baltimore, Jane is set on returning to her Kentucky home, and doesn’t pay much mind to the politics of the eastern cities, with their talk of returning America to the glory of its days before the dead rose. But when families around Baltimore County begin to go missing, Jane is caught in the middle of a conspiracy, one that finds her in a desperate fight for her life against some powerful enemies. And the restless dead, it would seem, are the least of her problems.

Note

I participated in a buddy read of this novel with Barb @ Booker T's Farm. Be sure to read her review, which you can find HERE!

Buddy Read Links

Buddy Read Time!

Buddy Read Update No. 1

Buddy Read Update No. 2

Buddy Read Update No. 3

I must point out, right up front, that I am definitely not a fan of the horror genre. That might seem paradoxical, since I do enjoy reading urban fantasy, which sometimes almost crosses into horror.  I don't like the horror genre, however, because its writers thrive on the graphic depiction of fear and gory scenes. Besides, many urban fantasy novels are also paranormal romances, which, of course, do interest me! 

So what in blazes got me to read Dread Nation? Well, several months ago, I came across this novel on the blog of one of my book blogger friends, Barb (see above), and it immediately caught my eye! So Barb suggested we do a buddy read, and I agreed. Surprisingly, I didn't run screaming from the book! Instead, I found this to be a very interesting, even entertaining read, despite the seriousness of its deeper themes. But that was because it was what can be called "horror lite". In other words, Dread Nation is not a typical horror novel. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find other, stronger elements involved. Incredibly, there was even some humor in it in the form of snarky observations made by its female protagonist.

Jane McKeene is indeed a very strong, dynamic protagonist. The cover alone gives some hint of this, but then, when I actually encountered her in the pages of the book, she became a very real person. Her sense of justice and adventure, as well as her natural leadership abilities, make her not only likable, but admirable, as well. And her sense of humor, even in dire situations, hits the nail on the head every single time!

The background history of this novel -- which is an alternative version of real events -- is a fascinating, if appropriately horrifying one: the Civil War was actually brought to a halt by the sudden appearance of zombies walking the fields of battle, killing Union and Confederate soldiers alike. Surely one would expect to find some blood and gore here, right? Well, no. This event took place in the year Jane was born, and is not detailed at all, but merely mentioned in order to set the scene.

This unexpected event could have changed the attitudes of those who advocated slavery, but sadly, it didn't. Instead, African-Americans (referred to as "Negroes" at the time) were then legally required to train at special combat schools in order to defend wealthy whites. And this is where the author had a field day unmasking the not-so-subtle demon of racial discrimination. Through Jane, her spokesperson, Ireland depicted the blatant prejudice of the society of the time. While doing so, she also took aim at the prejudice and discrimination of our own times. And with a feminist heroine, no less!

This novel also involves a mystery that Jane is bent on solving, as one of the families which have disappeared are the Spencers. Lily, sister to an old boyfriend of Jane's, Jackson, has disappeared right along with them. 

The action moves from Baltimore, Maryland, to a strange location out in the West, where Jane emerges as a strong leader in the fight against the zombies. The reader sees her development throughout the book, as she battles not only the zombies (known as "shamblers" in the novel), but, even more importantly, the unjust treatment received by her fellow zombie fighters.

Ireland has woven a very believable historical tapestry here. While reading this novel, I frequently found myself believing in the reality of the zombie hordes, the combat schools, and Jane's ability to always, somehow, come out victorious, even against her worst enemies (none of which, by the way, were zombies, ironically enough). 

Dynamic secondary characters made this novel even more believable. The first, and most important of these, was Katherine, whom Jane delighted in calling "Kate", precisely because Katherine hated being called by this shortened version of her name. Although she and Jane were a study in contrasts, they also became good friends, as well as allies in the fight against the prejudice of the times. 

Jane's mother is another important secondary character, although the reader gets to know her mostly through the letters she and Jane send to each other. This woman was very influential in making Jane who she was, and she also hid a secret that, if exposed, threatened to bring tragedy to the slaves at her plantation, not to mention Jane herself.

In regards to this character, I was initially very sympathetic toward her. But, early on, I caught something in her attitude toward Jane.....I'm not sure exactly what it was. Later in the novel, this woman did something entirely shocking and horrifying, so I ended up actually hating her! I couldn't believe  that she had actually turned into a totally despicable person.....

Gideon, the brilliant scientist who sees Jane as who she truly is -- a dynamic, strong woman who acts on her principles -- is another great secondary character. He obviously admired Jane, and it was more than obvious that there was something going on there, too. He, like Jane, bucked the status quo, and I would have liked to have seen more of him in this book. Perhaps he will be featured more often in the forthcoming sequel. I certainly hope so!

Another interesting, though less important, character, was Jackson, also known as "Red". Although I didn't like the offhanded way in which he often treated Jane, I did like how concerned he was about his sister's disappearance, and the way he ended up helping Jane in her quest to escape an intolerable, brutal, situation.

Then there's "The Preacher"..... This character was obnoxious and evil in the extreme, with his disgusting "sermons" about "the divine order" of things, in which Negroes were "divinely ordained" to serve whites. Of course, this character not only represented the racist beliefs of the time, but was also meant as a satirical instrument to ridicule and expose the blatantly prejudiced views of some Evangelicals in our own time. 

I did have a problem with the inclusion of this preacher, though. In my opinion, his presence in the novel should have been balanced by that of at least one other Christian who held opposing views. Not all Christians who lived during the real historical Reconstruction Era after the Civil War were racists. (This period lasted from about 1863 to 1877.) Before the Civil War, there was also the Abolitionist Movement, not only in the States, but also abroad, and there were many Christians involved in it. In the States, such names as Charles Finney, Theodore Weld, and Harriet Beecher Stowe were well-known. So this was something that I found very disappointing.

More than anything else, I see this as a brilliant satirical novel which encapsulates the racist mindset. I also see it as an equally brilliant exposition of feminist ideals. Unlike Kate, Jane never stops to consider whether her actions might be considered "proper" or "genteel" for a young lady. She simply acts, and her actions come from a sense of justice for her people, as well as for all women. She is her own woman, and no one can talk her into acting as the society of her time thought she SHOULD act, not only as a woman, but as a member of an "inferior" race.

Despite all of my admiration for Dread Nation, especially its female protagonist, I am unable to give it the five stars I was sure it deserved when I began to read it. However, the book is so compelling, so well-written, that I cannot bring myself to give it less than four stars.

I have mentioned the shocking event regarding Jane's mother. I have also mentioned the problem with the stereotypical treatment of the Christian religion. There's one more thing, which I will not mention here in order to avoid spoilers. It concerns a shocking revelation toward the end of the novel, one that altered my overall perception of it due to its blatant immorality, as well as the fact that it entailed a very tragic loss of innocence....

It's really very unfortunate when an author makes his/her readers get totally immersed in a novel, only to throw the proverbial monkey wrench in the works towards the end of the story. That's just what happened here. I realize that there are characters who do deserve what they get, because they've done some very evil deeds, but, as another proverbial saying goes, "two wrongs don't make a right". That's all I'm going to state here.

I would still recommend this book to all lovers of alternative history, strong feminist protagonists, and books dealing with social justice. Despite its disappointing elements, this novel goes beyond the Young Adult Fiction genre to become a real tour-de-force, and I know I will never forget it! Although I was not quite satisfied with it, I would like to re-read it at some point in the future. It's just that Jane is such a POWERFUL role model for all young (and not so young) women! So I'm therefore eagerly looking forward to the sequel, which I will also buddy read with Barb! 

MY RATING:

Justina Ireland enjoys dark chocolate, dark humor, and is not too proud to admit that she’s still afraid of the dark. She lives with her husband, kid, and dog in Pennsylvania. She is the author of Vengeance Bound and Promise of Shadows.

Website/Twitter

Publisher Page

Amazon Author Page

Buddy Read Update No. 3: Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation

(Dread Nation, Book 1)

Justina Ireland

Hardcover, 464 pages

Bilzer + Bray

April 3, 2018

African-American Fiction, Alternative History, American History, Diverse Reads, Fantasy, 

Feminist Fiction, Historical Fiction,

Horror, Humor, Paranormal Fiction, Satire,

Social Justice, Southern Gothic,

Young Adult Fiction

Be sure to visit Barb's blog to read her half of our "chat"! You can access her post HERE!

Warning!
This post, as well as that of my fellow 
buddy reader, may contain spoilers!
Read at your own risk!

Both Barb and I have already finished this book, and will have our reviews up next week. What an AMAZING read this book has been (although some things did tick me off)! And it's been GREAT being able to share thoughts and insights on the same book with another book blogger! 

As I mentioned in last week's update, this book is VERY well-written, and the characters are SO real..... The female protagonist, Jane McKeene, is a VERY dynamic, strong character, and the author has skillfully used her as a spokesperson for social justice and feminist ideals. So these are the aspects of this novel that I've GREATLY enjoyed! And I'm SO glad the zombie element wasn't the main one in this book! Lol.

This will be our last update before our reviews. I hope you've all enjoyed our "chats"! We will DEFINITELY be doing more of these buddy reads in the future, as this one has been SO much fun!! (Just no horror novels, please, Barb! Lol.)

Here's our last "chat" on this book!

Barb: So now that we've had the big reveal about Jane's mother, does it make you feel any differently about her? It seems I've been up and down on my feelings about her and didn't care much for her and then did. Now I'm kind of back into the not liking category. Yes, we understand why she was so generous with the slaves, but she was living a false life. I can sort of see why she did it, but when she tried to kill her own daughter (I'm assuming just to keep her secret safe?), that kind of crossed a line for me.

Maria: You know, I've been going through the same type of "emotional roller-coaster" with Jane's mom. I can admire her for helping her fellow slaves, and really don't mind that she "lived a false life", pretending to be a white woman. She did this in order to survive, and I can't say I blame her for that. Besides, in her position as mistress of the plantation, "Rose Hill", she was indeed able to rescue many slaves. 

Having said the above, I do agree with you about the attempted drowning incident. In fact, I was horrified! So then my emotions, as well as opinion, switched again. I HATED her for attempting to kill an innocent child. And not only that, but HER OWN DAUGHTER! There's no justification for this type of thing! And she was doing it to protect her secret. So she was only thinking of herself. 

Remember when I asked you whether you thought that Jane's mom had ambivalent feelings about her daughter? I think somehow I picked up something lurking in the background, early on. Maybe I'm psychic! Lol.

So the final verdict is in: Jane's mom is yet another of this novel's despicable characters!

Barb: Along those lines, how did you feel about Jane killing her father? I really didn't mind. Sounds kind of harsh but he seems pretty despicable.
 

Maria: Oh, I TOTALLY minded that!! I was SO shocked when I read that part of the book!! I didn't like it at all!! I really think that Ireland could have had Jane kill her father in order to save her mother's life, as her father was beating her (the mother). (And how IRONIC that would have been!) That would have been in character for Jane. She was a heroic personality. But she killed him IN HIS SLEEP. Yes, she knew that he could have killed her mother at any point. But to kill her father IN COLD BLOOD..... This is totally HORRIFYING, especially considering the fact that she was a child when she did that! And then, on top of it, she LIED about the murder, not only to her mother and the other people at the plantation, but to the reader, as well.

This event, as well as the lying, plus her mother's attempt to kill Jane, has DEFINITELY affected my overall impression of the novel. Initially, it was overwhelmingly positive. Now, I'm not all gung-ho on it anymore.....Ireland just HAD to throw a couple of monkey wrenches into the works!

Barb: I really hated that Jane asked Kate to cozy up with the Sheriff. I get why she did it, but I felt badly for Kate. We can assume Jane knows her mother's secret, and do you think that played into her request of Kate?

Maria: Oh, I HATED this, too! And this was yet another surprise in the plot. This made me see Jane in a negative light for the first time. She was basically USING Kate. Yes, she had a plan which involved their escape from Summerland, but hey, the end does NOT justify the means. This was a manipulative scheme Jane engaged in. And to expect her BEST FRIEND (because, let's face it, by this point, she and Kate were, indeed, BFFs) to do something like this? And let's not forget that Kate SAVED her (Jane's) life. Had Kate not intervened, Jane could very well have died from the brutal whipping she received.

I'm not sure that the secret Jane's mom had been hiding played into this request. I just think it was rather, well, DESPICABLE (our favorite word, lol) for Jane to have made such a request of her friend. Maybe Jane felt there was no other choice, though.

Barb: What about Mr. Tinkerer (I can't remember his name and I don't have the book handy!) and his big reveal? I kind of have hopes for him and Jane together but do you think she would give in to her feelings with Mayor Carr's son?

Maria: I also had my hopes up for them, as there does seem to be attraction on both sides. His first name is Gideon, although he's known as "the tinkerer". I liked him a lot. He was the only man in Summerland who treated Jane with respect, plus he obviously admired her. He considered her a very intelligent woman. Furthermore, he was very kind to her, especially when he found out that Jane was being whipped. 

Jane was obviously shocked and surprised when she found out that he was related to Mayor Carr. However, I'm sure she then began to admire him for opposing his father's racist views and brutal methods of controlling African-Americans. So I think a romance could have developed. I certainly hope that Gideon will return in the sequel!

Barb: So we learn that Mr. Redfern was actually doing some good and he even let Jackson go. I knew more was going on with him.

Maria: I'm really happy about this! I didn't like that a Native American was being cast in the role of one of the villains in this novel, but it turned out that he was not really all that bad. This was a very nice surprise! I hope we see more of Mr. Redfern, as I'd like to see him helping "the cause" as much as possible!

Barb: So we've kind of touched on the controversy with this author and her representation of Native Americans. Does this affect your feelings on the book? I understand this is fantasy and alternative history. I read for enjoyment and try not to read too much into things. However, I think what bothers me the most is that Ireland comes across as such an activist, and has apparently brought other authors' actions into question, but has brushed off recent concerns regarding her writing. I have to admit, it does sort of taint my outlook on the book. However, I still want to read the next one. Like I said, it's an enjoyment thing. 

Maria: You know, it really doesn't make sense for Ireland to be such an activist regarding African-Americans, and then to be insensitive toward Native Americans. Prejudice is prejudice, no matter the ethnic group or race. On the other hand, I'm not sure that she has in fact been insensitive toward Native Americans. Yes, she did make Mr. Redfern sound like a villain, but then it turned out that he was actually working "behind the scenes" to help out Jane and her friends. (Although his dislike of Jane really bothers me. I wonder if that was "pretend", too.) 

I really need to do some research on this topic. However, I am already unhappy about the things I mentioned above, so, even if Ireland has in reality portrayed Native Americans fairly and objectively, I am not altogether satisfied with this book.


Well, folks, again, this is our last buddy read update. Just stay tuned for next week's reviews! 

This has been a fun and very enjoyable project that sparked some interesting discussions, and I'm ready to do more buddy reads with Barb in the future, as well as with any other book bloggers who would like to read books along with me! A great BIG THANK YOU to all of you who read and commented on our posts!!  <3  : )


 

What do you all think?

Have we piqued your curiosity

about this book?

Be sure to let us know!

Don't forget to visit Barb's blog

to get her side of the "chat"!

 

Buddy Read Update No. 2: Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation

(Dread Nation, Book 1)

Justina Ireland

Hardcover, 464 pages

Bilzer + Bray

April 3, 2018

African-American Fiction, Alternative History, American History, Diverse Reads, Fantasy, 

Feminist Fiction, Historical Fiction,

Horror, Humor, Paranormal Fiction, Satire,

Social Justice, Southern Gothic,

Young Adult Fiction

Be sure to visit Barb's blog to read her half of our "chat"! You can access her post HERE!

Warning!
This post, as well as that of my fellow 
buddy reader, may contain spoilers!
Read at your own risk!

So Barb and I are moving right along! This book is AMAZINGLY hard to put down! This means it's not easy for either one of us to slow down so we can keep the same pace. Of course, this kind of thing would be music to any author's ears! This book is VERY well-written, and the characters are SO real..... Barb has mentioned that she was VERY surprised when I told her that I had already finished reading the book! Lol. I think I'm more surprised than she is, though! Lol. This has turned out to be a really enjoyable buddy read experience, too!!

Here's our latest "chat" about our progress!

Barb: Now that we are getting letters from Jane's mom, and know what has happened, has your opinion of her mother softened very much?

Maria: Oh, absolutely! I now see how very wrong I was about Jane's mom! She is in fact very much concerned about her daughter. This becomes even more apparent later on in the book. And now that I know why Jane's mom "wasn't answering" the letters, I have really started to like her (Jane's mom)! At the same time, I now hate you-know-who even more!! I'm SO surprised this person actually returned the unsent letters to Jane, too. It wouldn't have surprised me at all if she had destroyed them.

Barb:How did you feel about that darn Mayor dinner party? I thought Mr. Redfern was a real jerk, and I still want to know what is going on with him. Don't you feel like he and Jane would be better if they worked on the same side? I mean, clearly, he's experienced some of the discrimination.
 

Maria: I think that party was definitely a setup. Miss A. and Mayor Carr were aware that Jane and her friends -- especially Red --wouldn't be able to resist the chance to find out more about the mystery behind Lily and the Spencers' disappearance, so they made SURE to make it easy for Jane and Red to attempt to get information by digging through the Mayor's desk. That way, they could be caught red-handed. Poor Kate had nothing to do with this, yet she was still included in the group to be punished. VERY unfair! Of course, this was done so that there would be no witnesses. 

This is a GREAT point you've made about Redfern, Barb, and I definitely agree! What the HECK is wrong with this guy? I still can't figure out why he dislikes Jane so much! Justina must have something up her sleeve, something not revealed just yet. He SHOULD be on Jane's side, for Pete's sake! And the reason for that is very clear, as you've pointed out -- he, too, has experienced discrimination.  

Well, I guess we must be patient. Perhaps his story won't be fully revealed in this book, but in the sequel, instead. It SURE is nerve-wracking not to know exactly what this guy is all about, though!

Barb: That train ride -- I'd never have survived it! 

Maria: OMG, I wouldn't have, either!!! The heat in those freight cars must have been INTOLERABLE. And no access to modern plumbing! UGH!! They had to get off the train at certain points to "do their business" in the bushes! I'm SO glad to be living in the 21st century!! Lol.

Barb:I know you love horses (you do, right?) So how do you feel knowing they are scarce because they became zombie lunch when the outbreak happened? (Which in my opinion is so tragic and uncalled for!!!!)

Maria: Yes, I ADORE horses!!!! I guess the author added this to the story in order to make the zombie plague more realistic, unfortunately. And it did provide that touch of realism. To be honest, this was where I was able to distance myself from the story. In other words, I would just tell myself that I was reading FICTION. Lol. Of course I simply could not picture zombies actually devouring a HORSE. No, no, no!!!!! This was just TOO HORRIBLE to even think about! But the mind has a way of blocking out certain unpleasant details, so  that's what happened to me. Thankfully, Justine never actually described zombies attacking horses. If she had, I would have had some SERIOUS issues with her! Lol.

Barb: Finally, Jane loves to read, even though she hides that ability. What three books would you recommend to her? 

Maria: She's already reading one of my favorite childhood books -- "Tom Sawyer"! Since she seems to like Mark Twain, I would recommend "Huckleberry Finn" (especially since one of the major characters is a young African-American boy), and "The Prince and the Pauper". I'm sure she would have enjoyed the switch these two boys engaged in  -- the prince became a poor boy, and the poor boy, a prince. 

I would also recommend "The Scarlet Letter", by Nathaniel Hawthorne, since Jane is obviously very much aware of social hypocrisy, and is quick to point it out and satirize it.

Well, folks, stay tuned for next week's update! This project was a TERRIFIC idea on Barb's part, and  I'm SO glad she suggested it!! This just goes to show that sometimes, reading outside one's comfort zone (although I do enjoy PNR and UF, guys!) can bring some incredibly rewarding surprises!


 

What do you all think?

Have we piqued your curiosity

about this book?

Be sure to let us know!

Don't forget to visit Barb's blog

to get her side of the "chat"!