Hi new and returning readers!
Getting ready for our discussion this Monday and well, there are no appropriate links or pics I can use. hahaha!!! This isn't an 18 and older site and I do like to keep some things tame despite my perverted
nature. If you have not read the book, again, refer to our summary post and go to the goodreads link. From there, google whatever you want! hahaha!!!
Me throughout the book and in no particular order:
Quite a handful of:
Several:
And a WHOLE lot of:
I am ready to discuss this sucker because...well crap, I must have been living under a rock and I have become more informed than I thought possible in a three day read. hahahahahaha!!!!
This is so funny!! I love your faces up above. I had the same reaction as your Get Smart gif.
ReplyDeleteFirst let me say. I love reading about Mike and the rat. Those were some of my favorite parts. Also, when Mike & Trix went to Texas and hung out with Mike's old partner. I laughed so hard after he was outed by the waitress after ordering the "For Men Special." Anyway, I will wait to discuss the more disturbing sexual crazy bestial elements of the book simply because well I'm speechless. However, what was the saving grace in reading about these things was Mike's internal dialogue and responses to the ridiculousness of it all. U really identify with poor Mike who seems to attract Hell Storms.
I can't wait to discuss the sub text moral and political aspects to the story tommorrow.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! The Get Smart gif is pure win! Just thinking about the book and I start twitching and thinking, "Whaa?????" Mike's situations are truly of such that you have to laugh or cry, and laughing is a much better choice.
DeleteGoogle has been very educational. hahahahahaha!!!! I will c u tomorrow! :)
** I just needed to say I need to wear that GS gif everyday because there are some people in this world where words aren't enough **
ReplyDeleteFirst let me ask, what was your first impression of this novel? How did it change (or not) as you read and finished the book?
ReplyDeleteHi LB-
DeleteI think the first chapter had me hooked. I love Ellis writing style. He really gets to the point not too much down time before he's onto the next adventure. U really need an open mind when reading this book. I loved the visual picture he paints for readers with very few words.
I was pretty much hooked by the first chapter too. He writes Mike in such a way that is easy to identify. The guy admits to having problems, attracts problems like a magnet and sounds just like my husband sometimes! hahahahaha!!! And by that I mean I wouldn't put it past the hubs to answer the door naked. Mike is someone who is just so blunt and too the point.
DeleteLOL!! I loved Mike he's a straight laced character and not shy about calling someone out as a freak and he knows his limitations. Meaning he's not up for everything he's a realist.
Deleteyes I loved that about him.
DeleteAre u familiar with Warren Ellis comic book series?
ReplyDeleteI am not. I didn't even know about him until this book. Have you read his series?
DeleteOh! I forgot to add. My first impression of the novel? INSANE, HILARIOUS and ADDICTIVE!
ReplyDeleteWhat was your favorite chapter in the book?
ReplyDeleteNope! My first intro to Mr. Ellis. His comic book most people swear is better than Crooked LV is Transmetropolitan.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...I may need to check that out!
DeleteOh gosh, I don't know. The chapters were perfect lengths. the whole NULL movie theater chapter was a whole lot of WTH and fascinating at the same time. I was grossed out and yet it was like watching a train wreck. I had to keep reading and then the very last few lines made me dry heave!
ReplyDeleteWhat about you?
My favorite chapter by far was Chapter 13. I laughed so hard it made me question my sanity. I thought this is so gross but hilarious. Then I thought what freak is Trix? Mike will need to wear full body armor to sleep with her.
Deletehahahaha!!! That one I DID google! Whoooaaaaaa!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH! I found myself laughing so much because the situations were so CRAZY and yet everyone is so friggin SERIOUS!
DeleteU brave soul. I could not even bring myself to google that. I think I would become like Mike after that Ostrich case if I saw any visual examples. Hahahaha!
DeleteOB,
ReplyDeleteDo you know why he wrote this book? It's quite interesting and hilarious at the same time. He said he wanted to get his editor off his back so he wrote the most absurd thing he could think of and she ends up getting it published. hahahahahahaha!!!!
That is funny but ironic. I love it!! Great story!!
DeleteOB,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of the idea of there being a second constitution? What do you think of the great divide between those who try to keep things "normal" and "pure" as opposed to letting people progress or digress at their will? I'll get to mainstream in another question.
Hmm! Well I think people have to be careful about judging others. I'm all for change. I feel my God is creative and forever changing but love, truth and faith never changes those are constant. So to answer your question God has given us free will it's up to us to have love, truth and faith be apart of our will.
DeleteOk, going with that...at what point does free will become so perverse that it's time to close up shop? Also, who and how do we define what is perverse?
DeleteI think I sorta answered this question below. But I can elaborate more if u like.
DeleteNo you did. :)
DeleteI think of perverse as something that makes you feel uncomfortable, dirty, and dark. But I often wonder if people say something is NOT perverse because they have become so tolerant or a situation or action. ????
TRUE! I also think today overindulgence is such a problem that everything has to be extreme for people to feel satisfied because they are in search of the first high. Everything becomes about products instead of what's inside. Does that make sense?
DeleteI had never heard of HALF this stuff when I read the book. I realize if you are not into certain "things" you aren't going to know about them. So my question is, what makes something mainstream? You don't hear about saline testicles on the news or people watching Gozilla porn. I think of mainstream being out in the open and everyone knowing about it.
ReplyDeleteU Said: What makes something mainstream?
DeleteMe: Good question. I think when it goes beyond special interest groups and it becomes repetitive. I think people no longer question why it's popular or if it makes them a better person for doing it. For example does it make u more honest, faithful or loving? Or do these mainstream ideas make u more dishonest, fearful and hateful?
I don't know if I'd say any of these things were popular! hahahahahaha!!!
DeleteI agree with you about why people do things. I realize I'm setting myself up with this comment, but I find these fetishes filling spiritual voids. I would add to your "honest, faithful, or loving" with uplifting, edifying, and helpful (service).
hahahahaha! Yes! U did set yourself up. But I will move beyond my knee jerk reaction to have fun with u and just agree. Wow! I'm being unbelievably kind here. What do I get?
DeleteNo go ahead and play devil's advocate if you want! :)
DeleteReally? O.k. what about the person who has no desire for spiritual connections and are just into the adventure or act? Meaning they don't use these fetishes to get spiritually satisfied. Now, I can't relate to this at all. I just know people who are complete empty shells.
DeleteThat's why I think they are filling a void. They do not know what it is like to have a spiritual connection (i.e. overall sense of peace, connection to true happiness) and therefore they find this fulfillment in other things. However they will continue to look and seek out other adventures because they are always "thirsty". (Just my two cents folks)
DeleteI could not agree more LB. That's what I was trying to say in my convoluted response to your great questions up above. LOL!!
DeletePeople are trying to fill a void with outside things rather than evolving spiritually, which leads to peace and contentment.
Given stress is the #1 killer. I think the less stress one can have in their lives the better. Far too often people think what's popular and mainstream is better for them because it's less work for them to figure out and stress free. Today people don't bother to question if it's healthy for them or not. The more power people give away to others the more stressful and enslaved our lives can be.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree.
DeleteOk, OB, What questions do you have regarding this book? :)
ReplyDeleteWhat did u think of it's ideas on making information unregulated? Meaning anyone can have access to it and providing it?
DeleteThat seems to violate our privacy, imo. It also leads to chaos and we need order to function. Whether people want to admit to that or not, we can not live in chaos. However, it does seem we are getting that way---as far as accessing any type of information that we want.
DeleteI think it also tends to lead to irresponsibility and lack of accountability and self control.
ITA! Well said. I also think kids need order to feel secure. I like to believe we owe a responsibility to kids to look after their well being not just their parents IMO. The kids today can be chief of staff to the president tomorrow. hahahaha!
DeleteTHE CHEIF OF STAFF WAS ONE CRAZY DUDE!!!! hahahahahahaha!!!! Yes, order does create security.
DeleteHahahahaha! All I kept thinking??? Don't turn your back on that guy!!! I cringed when Mike described the monkey crap he shot into his veins. Ugh!!!
DeleteI will say that I do appreciate that some of these mainstream ideas aren't forced upon us. Whether you don't want your neighbor, friend, family member to know what you are "into" or not, there does seem to be a sense of respect toward's peoples' preferences. Ok, well there are those who don't have respect, and seek to squash POVs and lifestyles. You don't have to like something and you can teach your family your own personal beliefs and values, but it isn't up to us to judge and call names. People DO have their agency. My agency is not to go to Godzilla porn films, but if my neighbor wants to, that's his biz. Just conduct yourself like a civilized human being when out in public.
ReplyDeleteTrue! This book (if u can get past the ridiculous sex fetish stuff) really makes you question mainstream ideology, free will, privacy and social responsibility. That's what I'm always searching for in a narrative is how complex ideas and philosophies are compressed and manipulated. In that way the story is much more applicable. Does that make sense?
DeleteIn recommending this book to others, what would be your selling point?
ReplyDeleteHmm! I think I already answered this better somewhere else. However, I would say this book is funny and thought provoking.
DeleteLB- I have to go but I will come back tomorrow and finish answering questions. I loved the discussion and book and highly recommend it.
ReplyDeleteNo problem OB! Thanks for stopping by! I will check in later myself. :)
DeleteGoodnight everyone!