The DIS Book Club Discussion Group: Round 4 - Wild Ride!

[DisneySunflower]

Based on the cover of this novel, what do you think it is going to be like? Have you ever read a book by Crusie or Mayer before? How is this book "timely" for us now that summer is approaching? Is visiting an amusement park or carnival a tradition in your household?

I did not know what to expect based on the cover and after I began to read the book, it made so much sense - A Completely Wild Ride!

This is my first Crusie or Mayer read.

I like the thought of preparation of the Park for Halloween. It reminds me of Halloween at Six Flags Great America when I was younger and how I imagined that everyone would be working when the Park was closed after the busy Summer and only open on Weekends to prepare for the Halloween openings. Brought back great memories.

I would suppose that now, as an adult with my own family, our annual visit to the State Fair would be the only Amusement Park/Carnival that is a must do. Love all the "fried" foods - Deep fried snickers, Deep fried twinkies, Deep fried you name it! Yummy!

 

[kramer222]

Looking at the map, I immediately thought of Oaks Park. Too funny!

 

[WDWGeek1971]

Fun read. Very engaging. I would have read it in one sitting were it not for silly things like work interfering! Now I'm going back and reading the first three books the group read.

There's going to be a lot to talk about as we discuss "Wild Ride!"

 

[thunderbird1]

Map? I have to go check that out!

Kramer222--nice to see another left coaster on here! And one that's been to Oaks park, too!

WDWGeek1971--Tease! But I'm glad to hear someone enjoyed the book, and can't wait to start reading it.

 

[mommyceratops]

I have the book and started reading it... however I have to pause to read Sizzlin' Sixteen tomorrow. I usually finish it in a day or couple days...

 

[georgemoe]

Just popping in to say hello. The latest book club books haven't been my thing but I'm waiting on the next one. My next book will be "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. It's getting pretty good reviews.

Hope everyone enjoys their read!

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

Based on the cover of this novel, what do you think it is going to be like? Have you ever read a book by Crusie or Mayer before? How is this book "timely" for us now that summer is approaching? Is visiting an amusement park or carnival a tradition in your household?

I get to pick up my copy from the library tomorrow. This will be my first book by Crusie or Mayer before. I'm kinda excited to be reading something that I consider 'different' for me. Hopefully I'll like it and STILL go to amusement parks...lol. I grew up in NY and now live in NC so amusement parks are my thing (just less repeat trips on major roller coasters....)


Looking forward to it!

 

[mommyceratops]

I started it today... Not to sure what I think yet...

 

[RutgersAlum]

Just found "Wild Ride" at the library tonight. Am finishing up the latest Twilight spinoff book, "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," and then I'll be reading Wild Ride. I've tried, but I have a hard time reading two books at once, I'm linear, I guess!
Michele/RutgersAlum

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

How is this book "timely" for us now that summer is approaching? Is visiting an amusement park or carnival a tradition in your household?[/B]

When I was a boy, we always went to Whitney's Playland at the Beach at San Francisco's Ocean Beach. It had a traditional Fun House, Tunnel of Love, Haunted House, and all the standard amusement park rides and games. Every child's birthday party was held there! The ice cream treats "Its Its" were invented there and you could watch them being made. Alas, it fell into decay and closed right after my 16th birthday. It's now a large supermarket and condos.

I used to take our children to Santa Cruz Beach & Boardwalk in the summer. We'd have a picnic on the beach, play in the surf, ride the boardwalk rides and buy their famous salt water taffy for the ride home. Santa Cruz has a very nice tribute to Playland at the Beach including some artifacts from the Fun House.

Now my daughter and I go to the California State Fair each year. We go to our traditional attractions, see the new exhibits and eat whatever the new deep-fried treat is that year.

Good Times!

 

[RutgersAlum]

Is visiting an amusement park or carnival a tradition in your household?

I grew up down the Jersey Shore, could ride my bike to Keansburg Amusement Park and its small boardwalk. When I moved up to north Jersey and started a family of my own, my parents introduced my own kids to the place, which has since been built up with a big water park. Since my mom passed away 2 yrs ago and my father is in an assisted living now, those memories of my parents taking my own kids there are so meaningful to me, like a connection with them<3. My kids STILL talk about when they went to the water park with their grandparents who can no longer take them there...special memories of a very small Jersey Shore town!!

I know it's probably not a nostalgic book, but a book set in an amusement park could be fun...
Michele/RutgersAlum

 

[minie_meese]

Got the book and have been enjoying it quite a bit. I found the characters a little hard to follow at first but am ok now. It is quite different from things I usually read (I am "reading" the audio format of the book). This summer we are vacationing at the Jersey Shore near an amusement park. We've never been to the Jersey Shore and are really looking forward to it. I haven't been to an amusement park like the one described in the book for 20 years or more. While the book itself isn't a nostalgic story it has elements of the old style amusement parks in it. It is timely for us! I'm looking forward to the discussion.

Elaine

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I haven't read anything by these authors either, but am interested in the plot idea.

Rutgers - I live very close to that boardwalk and water park. It was funny that you mentioned it.

I think the entire idea of a story based on an old time amusement park is interesting. I wonder where the authors got the idea? I'm going to have to look into this.

 

[BeamsofLight]

I'm through the first few chapters and I'm not sure I'm really digging the main character. The 'support' characters, however, are growing on me and - against all odds - I'm finding the creepy clown issue more interesting than, well, creepy. So there's hope for this yet.

 

[ragtopday]

I am reading this, slogging through, as it were. Creepy clowns are not my thing. I am a huge Stephen King fan and there are definitely some of his influences here, IMHO. I also can't get the scene in the movie "Big" out of my head where the fortune teller machine gives cards with eerily relevant advice. And that was even before it started happening to Mab!

 

[kramer222]

Through the first 7 chapters or so now. Really digging the humor and some of the dialogue. What a shift from "House Rules"! Not a book I MUST pick up and read when it is sitting next to me - but definitely one that is sucking me in.

I agree with BeamsOfLight - Mab is not the most interesting character, but she is growing on me. Definitely interested in her background story.

Finally, this book reminds me of a David Lindsay-Abaire play. Mostly "Fuddy Meers" or "A Devil Inside" - interesting plays if you get a chance to read/see them. In his plays, he deals with dark humor (sometimes with bizarre and supernatural themes) and most or some of his characters interconnect between other characters. Sometimes that isn't revealed to us, however, until the final act. So --- are we going to see relationships revealed that we didn't know were there?

 

[CoMickey]

I'm half way through the book on my Kindle...don't really know what page.

I am liking it too but I am not a fan of creepy clown type people/things either.

I too am a Stephen King fan and this does remind me in ways of his books, however minus the minute details that he puts in his books.

LOL! Ragtopday - I am having the same vision in my head when I read about the Fortune Telling machine...Big!

 

[wondermomamy]

Just bought the book for my kindle. I'm looking forward to it, especially after reading the earlier posts about a Stephen King influence. I haven't read King in a long time, but I usually enjoy his books - hopefully that will carry over to this book. Can't wait to get started!

 

[A.Mickey]

I am still reading The Help, only read on my breaks at work so it is taking me a while. I just don't want the book to end, because I will be sad when I can't here what is going on in Skeeter's life. This book is excellent. I think I will skip the Jodi Picoult book as it seems like the majority of readers didn't like the book. I think I will pick Wild Ride up at the library next week! I love this book club, I hope it is here to stay indefinitely! It gets me reading books I never would have picked up.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Great to hear it, Shanan! I'm hoping to post more now that school is wrapped up. The last week was brutal!

Keep your thoughts coming, everybody!