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

[BeamsofLight]

I'm getting to the point now where Mab is blossoming a little and that does make her a bit more interesting, in my opinion. Prior to this, she's been a little too stereotypical closed off for my taste. Like, just a little too unflappable in that "Are you a Mary Sue? 'cause you're seeming like a Mary Sue to me" sort of way. Giving her a cutesy 'means-something-relevant-to-the-plot' nickname didn't help, either. Unless it's not a reference to Queen Mab and just a coincidence which, given the themes of the book, I sort of doubt.

But she's growing on me now that she has some actual feelings going on. Not so sure about her counterpart Ethan, yet. I'm still taken with the other characters, though. And with the ice cream flavors Cindy invents.

I do think they're a little heavy-handed with some of the foreshadowing, though. Either that or I'm just really good at guessing the plot somehow... Still enjoying it anyway, however. It's nice to read something from a new (to me) author.

 

[CBisMe]

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?[/B]

Hi All,
I've been listening to the book, and I have to say I really like the Mab character, I find myself laughing out-loud by some of the things she says.

I'm enjoying it enough, that I find myself sitting in the car in the driveway or a parking spot waiting for a good break before I get out!

I grew up in Southern Cal so the parks of my youth were Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. It was back in the day of the e-Tickets and my brother and I used to horse-trade the A,B, and C tickets I loved going to Knott's Berry Farm too as a kid. The haunted shack, the great chicken dinners it was all so much fun. I never went to a carnival until I was much older, and I found it creepy and scary. LOL.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I've been having a really, really difficult time getting into this text. I am not quite so sure why, but am pushing myself through it as much as possible. One thing I found out while researching the authors was how Crusie and Mayer collaborated while writing Wild Ride. I thought this was interesting. According to their official website:

Bob: She writes the female POV scenes, I write the male POV scenes. Which means I have more work. But she does most of the rewriting so it evens up.

Jenny: I write the heroine's scenes, he writes the hero's. Then he always insists on having another male POV, so I let him. Then we rewrite each other's scenes to save our characters from the horrible things the other person has done, like making his hero chat or my heroine wimpy. Then we rewrite the whole book, over and over. Bob loves that part. It's really more of a partnership than a collaboration.

While I am sure this is fabricated a bit for humor, I found it interesting that our last book, House Rules, had a unique writing style from various characters' points of view and now this one as well. Which style do you prefer --- various characters telling a story or focusing more so on gender like in Wild Ride?

 

[kramer222]

I sure wasn't a fan of Piccoult's first person, as I didn't think it added anything to the characters. (Or the story for that matter.) I'm much more a fan of this traditional third-person perspective, which still jumps from person to person as everyone is scattered throughout the park.

It's interesting that the majority of the book-clubbers who have had an opinion on the subject seem to enjoy Mab's story/character the least. Maybe this is a product of Crusie's writing?

As for your difficulty with getting into the text, Nikki, I'd say "hang in there." I had to reread the first 20 pages or so a number of times. It's a lot different than stuff I usually read, and a big jump from "House Rules!" But I think it's pretty funny, and there is a playfulness in how the writers take us through the quirky characters' thoughts and fears.

 

[CBisMe]

I've been having a really, really difficult time getting into this text. I am not quite so sure why, but am pushing myself through it as much as possible. One thing I found out while researching the authors was how Crusie and Mayer collaborated while writing Wild Ride. I thought this was interesting. According to their official website:


While I am sure this is fabricated a bit for humor, I found it interesting that our last book, House Rules, had a unique writing style from various characters' points of view and now this one as well. Which style do you prefer --- various characters telling a story or focusing more so on gender like in Wild Ride?

It seems like several people are having trouble with the book. I'm not, but I'm wondering if it's because i'm listening to it on audio? The reader is doing a great job with voices characters and inflection in the right places. It feels more like listening to one of those old time radio shows/plays.

I like to read "banter" between main characters. I get bored when the narrator goes on a long time with a character telling a story unless it's directly related to a theme or explaining a context. I like to read the interaction between characters and their "thoughts" and reflections, more than background stories.

 

[minie_meese]

It seems like several people are having trouble with the book. I'm not, but I'm wondering if it's because i'm listening to it on audio? The reader is doing a great job with voices characters and inflection in the right places. It feels more like listening to one of those old time radio shows/plays.

I had a little trouble following things at the beginning of the book. There were a number of characters introduced and I couldn't figure out how they all fit together. As I pushed on I really started liking all of the quirky people and I'm finding this a very enjoyable read. I am listening to the book as well and agree the reader is very good - interesting comment about the old time radio shows. I hadn't thought of that but you're right.

 

[BeamsofLight]

Jenny: I write the heroine's scenes, he writes the hero's. Then he always insists on having another male POV, so I let him. Then we rewrite each other's scenes to save our characters from the horrible things the other person has done, like making his hero chat or my heroine wimpy. Then we rewrite the whole book, over and over. Bob loves that part. It's really more of a partnership than a collaboration.[/B]

I realize the phrasing is probably more humorous than serious (as Nikki pointed out) but if this is really how they do it, it seems like a really convoluted way to make a cohesive work of fiction. I think it does explain why I was getting the feeling of Mab's sections being quite soft and Ethan's quite coarse, though. It's an interesting effect, but I wonder if it's not contributing to the problems with character development a few of us are noting? Some of the characters seem a little thin ... and it seems like they're only giving themselves half of the available chapters to develop them. Like, Crusie won't be able to effectively develop a character that 'lives' in Mayar's head, if that makes sense?

Though I suppose they've been pretty successful with this in the past, so what do I know? At the moment, the change of PoV kind of reminds me of the Babysitter's Club super specials. </dork>

Now that I'm into the meat of the book, I'm enjoying it a lot more. I agree with the others; it was a slow starter for me, but I think the background on how they write their books illuminates why that was a bit.

 

[hmonkeyruns]

I finished the book this weekend and to my surprise, I really enjoyed it!

Like many of you, I struggled quite a bit to get involved in the story. I found the dialogue annoying, the characters confusing and I felt thrown into a situation I didn't understand and didn't WANT to understand. However, once the concept of Dreamland as demon prison was made clear, I started to enjoy the story.

By the end I was rooting for the characters and cared about their fate and that's really all I want in a story.

I wish that I understood the mission of Dreamland and the role of the Guardia from the very beginning (I think this book would benefit from a brief prologue) and that more time was spent initiating the group to their new powers/roles.

On a side note, I would really really like to try some of Cindy's ice cream and I also kind of want

Spoiler

my very own pet demon dragon [end spoiler]

I'm not sure how much setting makes a difference in my enjoyment of a novel but when I was struggling with this book I was at home in my regular life and all of the supernatural concepts were bugging me. When I found myself enjoying the novel, I was sitting on the beach in Cape May, drinking iced coffee and my brain was in complete vacation mode. I don't think that's a coincidence.

One more thing -- does anyone here watch Warehouse 13 on SyFy channel? If you were interested in Weaver & her partner and their jobs you might enjoy that show. In my head, those two characters were played by the agents from Warehouse 13.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Interesting thoughts. I'm a bit deeper in now and am finding it easier. Every time it switches between female and male POV I think about how the authors wrote the novel. I do see a pretty big difference between the two as mentioned above. I have yet to really "bond" with a character, but plan to read more this afternoon.

 

[CBisMe]

One more thing -- does anyone here watch Warehouse 13 on SyFy channel? If you were interested in Weaver & her partner and their jobs you might enjoy that show. In my head, those two characters were played by the agents from Warehouse 13.

I watch Warehouse 13, and i'm really excited there is going to be a Season 2. I hadn't made the connection at all, but you are so right - they have the same job !

 

[*NikkiBell*]

There are a lot of Disney references in this novel (Small World, Pirates, Utilidors, etc.). Why do you think that is so? Were the authors merely poking fun, or is there another reason?

 

[A.Mickey]

Finished The Help yesterday. What an awesome book! I didn't want the book to end. I will miss Skeeter and Abileen and I wonder whatever happened to Mae Mobley and lil man .

Started Wild Ride yesterday and am really enjoying it, so drastically different from The Help. It is refreshing and entertaining so far, almost to Chapter 7. Funny thing is I don't want to read it at home, because I would be scared. I am such a wimp when it comes to supernatural stuff.

 

[Merry Mousketeer]

There are a lot of Disney references in this novel (Small World, Pirates, Utilidors, etc.). Why do you think that is so? Were the authors merely poking fun, or is there another reason?

I assumed the authors used these types of rides because dark rides are fairly common in the old-style theme parks - Tunnels of Love, Haunted Houses, etc. They probably used pirates, small world type dolls because so many readers are familiar with Disney parks and these type of rides.

The tunnels and locked rooms add to the creepiness of the scene - hidden figures jumping out at you in the dark, crawly things lurking in corners, etc. contributes your feelings of dread as you read the chapter - especially if you are reading it alone, at night, in the dark .....

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I agree especially when you think about the Tunnel of Love which becomes of much more importance later on in the book.

 

[BeamsofLight]

I agree it's probably mainly to do with those being recognizable themes. I think a few dark rides are sort of standard at any permanent carnival. I did chuckle at the obvious dig at Small World, though. Poor SW - the butt of so many jokes.

Is it wrong that I find Kharos to be the most entertaining character? The mental image I have of him, sitting there stuck talking to Ray - who doesn't do anything right - just cracks me up. It's like the boss with the incompetent employee. Or someone on the phone with tech support.

 

[CBisMe]

There are a lot of Disney references in this novel (Small World, Pirates, Utilidors, etc.). Why do you think that is so? Were the authors merely poking fun, or is there another reason?

I agree with everyone, I think it's because it's such an easy reference to explain something about an amusement park.

Perhaps they thought they had a built-in audience, and where thinking about that as they were writing the book..

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Kharos is an interesting character. I love the scenes involving him yelling at Ray. I find them hysterical!

 

[NitroStitch]

Is it wrong that I find Kharos to be the most entertaining character? The mental image I have of him, sitting there stuck talking to Ray - who doesn't do anything right - just cracks me up. It's like the boss with the incompetent employee. Or someone on the phone with tech support.

This is my first book club read, and I'm enjoying it so far. Kharos is quite entertaining, especially his frustration with the other demons and with Ray. You've so aptly described him!

Mab keeps cracking me up with some of her one-liners. Those will probably be bookmarked on my Kindle for future amusement.

I ended up doing a written list of all the characters and characteristics/back stories to help myself keep everyone straight when I was starting the book. After a slow start, I'm really wishing I had more time to read.

 

[evildiva]

I finished the book this weekend, and really enjoyed it. I thought the authors were able to bring all the secondary stories together and tie them up for a nice ending. I have also read the other two Cruise Mayer books and suggest "Agnes and the Hitman" for anyone who is really enjoying this book. Very funny and a little less choppy. I loved the Vanth and Kharos characters and how they interacted with Mab and her uncle.

 

[Eeyores#1Fan]

While I am sure this is fabricated a bit for humor, I found it interesting that our last book, House Rules, had a unique writing style from various characters' points of view and now this one as well. Which style do you prefer --- various characters telling a story or focusing more so on gender like in Wild Ride?

I've always been open to different styles...don't think I have a preferred style.

There are a lot of Disney references in this novel (Small World, Pirates, Utilidors, etc.). Why do you think that is so? Were the authors merely poking fun, or is there another reason?

I think it was just merely poking fun...Disney is very well known after all. Best form of flattery.