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Post by peacemama on Jul 16, 2023 20:00:45 GMT -5
Sometimes making the world a better place just involves creating space for the people who are already in it. ― Jodi Picoult
Welcome to the Mad Honey discussion thread! Glad you’re here. For those of you not finished yet, please feel free to drop by later this week… or even after this week… to share your thoughts.
If you’re new to the GDT Book Club, we’re so glad to have you join us. Over the next five days (M-F), I will post a quote from the book, along with a daily question or two, to spark the discussion. However, we have no rules, so feel free to share your own questions/wonders about the novel. Tangent conversations are welcomed; as are random thoughts.
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Post by peacemama on Jul 16, 2023 20:20:44 GMT -5
MondayThere is one type of honey you should avoid at all costs. Mad honey comes from bees that forage on rhododendrons and mountain laurel, and it’s full of poisonous grayanotoxins. It causes dizziness, nausea and vomiting, convulsions, cardiac disorders, and more. Symptoms last for twenty-four hours, and although rarely, if left untreated, can be fatal. It has been used in biological warfare as far back as 399. -Mad HoneyAlthough I’ve had several of her books on my TBR list, this is the first novel I've read by Jodi Picoult. Jennifer Finney Boylan is also new to me. I found the story of how they came to co-write the book interesting. Here’s a 6-minute clip from Juju Chang’s Nightline interview with the authors: youtu.be/A3YGPOJoJw8 A couple general questions to get us started: 1) Have you read other books by either of these authors or, like me, are you a first-timer? 2) On a five-star scale, how would you rate Mad Honey?
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sal
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Post by sal on Jul 16, 2023 22:09:10 GMT -5
I think this was my third Picoult. First by Boylan.
I'd give it a 4/5. There was a bit too much going on, but the issues all were important. Just maybe a few too many at once.
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Post by honeybzzzs on Jul 16, 2023 22:33:53 GMT -5
I have read other Jodi Picoult books and have enjoyed them. I was introduced to them by my niece. She mentioned that she enjoys Jodi’s writing and I said that I wasn’t much into beach reads. She challenged me to read one, I did, and was hooked. I enjoy her hard hitting and educational writing on tough subjects that we are facing today.
I haven’t read anything by Jennifer Boylan. I just did a quick search to see what she has written. I’m familiar with some of the titles. I will add her to my reading list.
The quote on Mad Honey. I’ve had bee hives in the past. I also live in the PNW where we have lots of rhodies. I had never heard of mad honey before. Quick search says it’s a honey from Nepal and Turkey. It is produced by a certain species of honeybee and from a certain species of rhododendron. Interesting read and education on this.
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Post by abqwow on Jul 17, 2023 10:58:56 GMT -5
I agree there was a lot going on, I really enjoyed the book and have enjoyed several other Picoult books. I like how she weaves the beekeeping information into the story and I’ve found that’s what I enjoy about her writing. There’s typically detail beyond the main story that she’s done thorough research on and I typically learn something. The only exception I’ve found so far is Wish You Were Here, there’s way too much archaeology detail in that one (for me) and I kept finding myself wishing she’d get to the story.
I also appreciated her working with a coauthor on this one. The authors’ notes at the end, at least on the audible version, were so very good. I did find myself missing Ava’s perspective on what happened for much of the book. Our neighborhood book club will be discussing tonight so the timing between the GDT and here worked out nicely for me.
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Jul 17, 2023 14:10:46 GMT -5
This was a first for me for both authors. I gave it a 3. While I will read YA fantasy stuff, the teens in those books aren’t real life teens. I find any book where teens are the main character, I’m not in to it. Maybe it is just because it brings back bad memories of all that angst and bad choices! Also, I hated the ending. Did like the stuff about the bees though.
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suby
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Post by suby on Jul 17, 2023 14:39:09 GMT -5
I have never read books by either author before. Jodi Picoult, in particular, I've never had an interest in. Nothing against her; just nothing came up that grabbed my attention. I know she has written many books, but I don't think I could have named one. I had never heard of the second author. My decision to participate was entirely dependent on whether my library hold came in on time.
That being said, I REALLY enjoyed this book. I gave it a 5 on Goodreads.
Oh, also, I'm terrified of bees and usually nope out if anyone even mentions them, but it was interesting.
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Byrd
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Post by Byrd on Jul 17, 2023 17:14:05 GMT -5
I’ve read several by JP and liked them. None by JB. I didn’t care for this one. 2/5*s.
I’m a first timer here and will try to be civil.😂
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Post by fitin14 on Jul 17, 2023 21:08:42 GMT -5
I have read many Jodi Picoult books but none by Jennifer Boylan. I will look her up now. I gave the book a 4/5 as I enjoy most Jodi Picoult books and this one did not disappoint.
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Post by peacemama on Jul 17, 2023 23:31:40 GMT -5
TuesdayDECEMBER 7, 2018 The day of From the moment I knew I was having a baby, I wanted it to be a girl. -Olivia
From the moment my parents knew they were having a baby, my father wanted me to be a boy. Instead, he got a daughter: boyish in some ways, I guess, but not in the ways that mattered to him. -LilyWhat did you think of the structure of the novel? 1) How did you feel about the narrative alternating between Olivia and Lily’s points of view? (That the authors selected these two specific characters to reveal the story with Olivia’s chapters moving forward in time while Lily’s moved backward) 2) If you could choose to include a chapter devoted to another character’s point of view, who would you select? (Inspired by abqwow comment from Monday: “I did find myself missing Ava’s perspective on what happened for much of the book.”)
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Post by peacemama on Jul 17, 2023 23:44:57 GMT -5
Unrelated to Mad Honey...
I was revisiting some of the old GDT Book Club discussions this evening and noticed a deleted account. Looks like it belonged to fairazzbueller. Anyone know what happened?
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Post by abqwow on Jul 18, 2023 8:21:23 GMT -5
peacemama, our book club was mixed. Many enjoyed the book but several were frustrated by what they saw as YA-level writing. I don’t disagree about the writing level but that’s pretty common for Picoult. I enjoy her books that make tough subject matter accessible. Some enjoyed learning more about bees, others felt like it was an annoying level of detail and a distraction. I was actually surprised by how many found empathy and compassion for Lily. My neighborhood isn’t exactly a bastion of diversity and inclusion. When we read There There by Tommy Orange, one commented she wished there had been more fact checking on what she viewed as exaggeration about the experiences of Native/Indigenous people. Several nodded in agreement. The perspective on Olivia was less empathetic from some, they just couldn’t imagine why she didn’t talk to Asher about why they left his father and felt her worries about him becoming like his father could have been avoided if she had. We had quite a discussion on the impact of being in an abusive relationship and the desire to protect by closing off that part of your experience and close ranks in what feels like a safe environment. The parallel with the bees protecting the hive and queen and re-forming to continue to protect after the hive was attacked was part of this discussion.
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sal
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Post by sal on Jul 18, 2023 8:25:11 GMT -5
1. The narration model bothered me less than I feared it would.
2. I would have liked to have gotten Ava's perspective at least somewhat. I am okay without having any of the male perspectives, as it would have probably ended up taking away from the mystery of things, and also, it's not like we don't have enough male perspective shoved down our throats all the time.
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Post by honeybzzzs on Jul 18, 2023 9:30:48 GMT -5
I wish they would give me a heads up about narration style before the book starts. It always takes me a few chapters to figure out what is going on. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where one set of characters were going forward in time, and another set were going backwards. Once I realized the writing style I enjoyed it.
Also agree with wanting to read more about Ava.
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Byrd
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Post by Byrd on Jul 18, 2023 9:42:10 GMT -5
The narrative style is formulaic for JP which is probably why I stopped reading her. Also, a bit YA which I like in the right context. I couldn’t believe we were still hearing from Lily towards the end. It felt like the book refused to end.
I was going to agree with hearing from Ava but she was drawn beautifully. She was the perfect mom for Lily. (Will we be discussing characterization?) Maybe the shoeless judge. Lol, just kidding.
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Jul 18, 2023 12:31:52 GMT -5
I liked the narration style, but once I realized that Lily was going to just keep going backwards I think I got annoyed that we wouldn't be getting more details. I can't remember any specifics I liked that there were just the 2 narrators. No changes from me there!
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Post by bernelli on Jul 18, 2023 14:04:24 GMT -5
I just came in to say hi to you all. I wasn't able to get the book... and even if I had I wouldn't have had time to read it. I love the bookchats, though, and wanted to just give a wave! Enjoy the fun convo! See you all next time.
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Post by peacemama on Jul 19, 2023 0:33:14 GMT -5
Wednesday
Nobody is a do-over of anybody else, and if you get to do anything at all on earth it’s live your own life, not be some sort of ghost version of somebody else’s. -Mad Honey
Today is all about Mad Honey's characters: Any favorites? Ones that made you feel, think, or wonder? Anyone you had lingering questions about? Here’s a by-the-chapter list of people mentioned in the book: www.bookcompanion.com/mad_honey_character_list.html
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Post by bumblebuzz21 on Jul 19, 2023 13:34:19 GMT -5
I guess Ava was my favorite. I didn't really like any of the other characters tbh.
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Byrd
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Post by Byrd on Jul 19, 2023 13:54:12 GMT -5
Oh boy. Here I go! The two dads were horrible one dimensional characters. Both Asher and Lily were too perfect. Except when Asher balled his fists and punched a hole in the wall. Lily knew everything. Both moms were ok. Olivia probably a bit too whiny. Ava was pretty solid. I liked Jordan and Serena. Maya of course was deceptive. I did get a laugh out of the shoeless judge.
My DDIL loved the book..
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suby
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Post by suby on Jul 19, 2023 23:12:43 GMT -5
I liked Olivia and Jordan and Serena, I think Jordan & Serena would make a good television show. Maybe make them independently wealthy so they could take on deserving clients even if they couldn't afford to pay.
There wasn't really anyone I disliked other than the overtly bad ones. Dirk, Maya, 2 dads.
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Post by peacemama on Jul 20, 2023 9:11:50 GMT -5
Thursday
One day, maybe, when Ava has settled in a new home, she will need a sweet substitute for baking, a remedy for a sore throat, some flavor for her tea. She will stand in her pantry, and her hand will close around that jar. Maybe so much time will have passed that she will not remember where it came from. But in all those years, it will never go bad. It will keep, until she’s ready. -Olivia, Mad Honey
Let's chat about the ending. What did you think of how the book wrapped up, including the unveiling of how Lily died? Prior to the reveal, what did you think had caused her death? Other thoughts about the final chapter?
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Post by honeybzzzs on Jul 20, 2023 9:34:46 GMT -5
I was totally annoyed that Maya got off scott free when she was revealed as the murderer. She needed to be arrested for 2nd Degree Murder.
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Byrd
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Post by Byrd on Jul 20, 2023 14:04:55 GMT -5
I agree. I also thought the TTP(?) diagnosis was contrived. Serena had the same condition? I hate when something never alluded to is all of a sudden the most important thing. Of course it saved Asher so there’s that.
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suby
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Post by suby on Jul 20, 2023 18:14:18 GMT -5
I was pretty sure it was Dirk, but it seemed too obvious. I was side-eyeing Maya the whole way, but not as a suspect necessarily.
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