Day One
Location -- Noisy Coffee Shop where I prove that I CAN be much noisier than the noise.
This is pretty much how it went down in a not so very brief-tastic summary with probable exaggerations and some paraphrased conversations because my memory sucks at exact details and maybe I should have been recording everything, but I didn't. Anyway, long day aside, this is my best friend and my first attempt at committing to something like a book club. But we tend to be more or less easy-going about books, so we agreed on simply discussing how we feel about the book thus far with no "high school style" deep analysis.
The session was overall pretty laid back, and as my best friend likes to remain anonymous within the online world (she doesn't even have a social networking account of any kind outside of her GR account that she rarely frequents), I shall refer to her as BFF.
Me:
Shows up 15 minutes late and immediately starts talking about how life sucks and our table is in the middle of too much crowd. Wonders what kind of fattening fancy coffee shop drink to get.
BFF:
"Yeah, it's really crowded tonight." Proceeds to talk about book and how she had wanted to read more than our agreed upon ten chapters because she was enjoying it. "I read all ten chapters in one whole sitting... then I sort of started on the next chapter a little bit..."
Me:
"Oh right. The book." Plops down onto the chair. "Um... I'm enjoying it too. But honestly, I liked Puck's portion of the narration more than the other guy." Because Puck sounds wittier and livelier and I like wit and sarcasm and liveliness. And I also like the relationship between Puck and her brothers.
Gives very brief "I can relate" segway with a roll of the eyes and wave of the hand about Puck's relationship with her brothers. Continues to wonder what type of fancy drink to indulge in.
BFF:
"I thought of that too!" Proceeds to flip through book to end of Chapter 3 after Puck's elder brother, Gabe, announced that he's leaving the island... for good. Puck feels abandoned, little brother Finn is semi-trying to keep the peace. Puck tries to act nonchalant and brave.
"I especially made the connection at this part," points to book, "here when Puck goes to her room and says something like, 'Jackass', or whatever. I thought it sounded like you and your brother."
(Random tangent)
Well, the actual line is, "Selfish bastard," right before Puck sobs into her pillow after putting on a strong front and proclaiming that she's going to participate in the races that could get people killed because they'll need the money if she can win it. But nonetheless, the sentiments and the feelings are there. And yes, while I don't relate with Puck too much (she's pluckier and has more determination than I do), I can relate with her situation somewhat. The difference is that her parents are gone and mine are still here, but between the "selfish bastard" big brother and the strange little brother with disjointed behavior and unpredictable color commentary, I think that's pretty similar in some ways.
(Random tangent end)
Me:
Talks about the difference between Sean and Puck and why Puck is more easily related to than Sean. Sean is too dark and broody -- dark and broody doesn't always work for main male characters.
BFF:
Talks about some lines in certain chapters she has highlighted and why.
Me:
At some point during the discussion that I can't quite remember, points at a nearby taller table that just got vacated. With a happy grin: "Window table."