Monday, July 15, 2013

Week Two Discussion of The Last Policeman




























HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO BEN!!!
COUNTDOWN CITY IS OUT TODAY!! 7-16-13




The Last Policeman Week Two
Part Two
Non-Negotiable Possibilities

We’re learning a little more about where Hank came from, his family situation and his sensibilities and also getting a clearer picture about the case and the possible events that led to Peter Zell’s death.


First I’d like to discuss what you like or dislike about Ben’s storytelling style.


And from the novel so far do you think he’s a plotter or a panzer (we’ll let Ben tell us if we’re right or wrong later in the week)


Have you changed your mind about any of the characters?


Do you think that the deaths of Detective Anders and JT Toussaint was ultimately they couldn’t face the end?


Have you read per the schedule or did you have to find out what happened?




And of course please add anything you’d like to discuss as well.


I’m reading Countdown City and will have a review right after it’s release day!


21 comments:

  1. First I’d like to discuss what you like or dislike about Ben’s storytelling style.

    What I like about Ben's storytelling is that it's right to the point, by that I mean, he doesn't use a lot unnecessary words. His story is easy to understand which I like because it doesn't tax my brain especially with the sci-fi aspect. The story is very interesting and keeps me wanting to keep turning the pages. The chapters are short and not drawn out. All-in-all, he needs to keep writing and I will keep reading because I like his style.

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  2. And from the novel so far do you think he’s a plotter or a panzer (we’ll let Ben tell us if we’re right or wrong later in the week)

    I would say that Ben is a plotter. I would say this because every character has a purpose and that purpose is only revealed when necessary in order to unfold the story. All of these characters and their jobs seemed to be well thought out otherwise if he was just flying by the seat of his pants, it seems to me that he would have to go back and re-write too much!

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  3. Have you changed your mind about any of the characters?

    I am a little surprised at Sophia and Erik's holding back the info about Peter and the prescription pad.

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  4. Do you think that the deaths of Detective Anders and JT Toussaint was ultimately they couldn’t face the end?

    No. I think there is more to the deaths of Detective Anders and JT Toussaint. Something is just not adding up there but I can't pinpoint what it is.

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  5. Have you read per the schedule or did you have to find out what happened?

    I have read per the schedule but it is hard to stop at the designated areas.

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    Replies
    1. Eadie, thanks for your responses. I'm almost done with Countdown City and OMG it's just as good as The Last Policeman, I can not put it down.

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    2. I'm definitely reading that one too!

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  6. Ben's writing style:
    I really like it, for the same kinds of reasons that Eadie mentioned. I wouldn't necessarily call the style 'spare', but it's right to the point and keeps the story moving. Like Eadie, I don't need to know the details of the science to be able to follow the story, and Ben doesn't bog things down with unnecessary details.

    The deaths of Anders and Toussaint:
    I think that they were wanting to commit suicide before the end of the Earth, but were reluctant to do it. At this point in the story, I wasn't convinced that there was any more to it than that. Because.....

    Did I read ahead?
    Absolutely! I finished it this weekend! But my comment, above, is based on my knowledge of the story to that point. And this is all I'm going to say, so I don't spill the beans!
    Elaine

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    1. Okay not bean spiller :)
      Have you started on Countdown City yet?

      thanks for your post and I never worry about spoilers from you or any of my participants

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    2. Funny you should ask - it's next on my list ;-)

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    3. :) I'll be posting my review soon all I can say is come on book three

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  8. Ben's storytelling:

    I like the way Ben tells this story. His writing is fast-paced and straight forward. The book has had me hooked from the beginning. I was immediately interested in the plot of the story and like Henry, I became obsessed with whether or not Peter Zell committed suicide or was murdered.

    -April

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  9. Do you think Ben's a plotter or a panzer:

    I think Ben's a plotter. There have been so many twists in the story so far (Peter Zell's drug use, Andreas' suicide, just to name a couple) that I just don't think it would all be able to come together so smoothly unless it were planned beforehand.

    -April

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  10. Have you changed your mind about any of the characters:

    The character that has changed the most in my mind is our suicide/possible murder victim, Peter Zell. He started off as a straight-laced kind of guy, very quiet, kept to himself. Never in any kind of trouble, but by the end of this section, we find out he stole his sister's prescription pad so he could get his hands on some drugs. He also has told multiple people that if he was ever to end his life that he would do it at the exact McDonalds he was found dead in. The more we find out about Peter, the more surprised I seem to be.

    -April

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  11. Do you think that the deaths of Detective Andreas and JT Toussaint was ultimately they couldn’t face the end:

    I do think Andreas could have been contemplating taking his own life before the end of the earth. It seemed to me that he was becoming more and more obsessed with the asteroid heading towards earth, watching the orbit video over and over again, trying to decide whether or not it would collide with earth. He also was found just staring at the brochure stating prayers were the way to stop the collision. By the end he just seemed so depressed to me that while I was surprised he jumped in front of the bus and took his own life, in a way I felt he had been teetering on the edge for awhile now.

    As for JT Toussaint, I don't think his was a case of he couldn't face the end. Earlier in the book he said if he knew the end was near he would have to shoot his dog because the dog was a scaredy-cat and he couldn't think of him dying in fire, cold or drowning. With that piece of information, I just don't think he would end his own life without ending his dog's life first. When he was shot by police officers, I think his only motivation for attacking Henry and running like he did was that he couldn't face the fact that he would have to be in jail for months. With the end so near, he couldn't fathom having to waste what precious time there was left by sitting in jail. He was like a cornered animal whose only instinct was to attack the people cornering him so he could run away to freedom.

    -April

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  12. Have you read per the schedule or did you have to find out what happened:

    I have stuck to the schedule and although it's been hard to wait, I'll be starting the next section tonight.

    -April

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    Replies
    1. Thanks April
      I agree with your assessment of JT's suicide by cop. It must be daunting to realize you'd be spending the rest of your days how many little there are left in a cell.

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  13. I just finished my review of Countdown City and it will be posted on the blog in the next day or so. Stay tuned :)

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  14. Hey Peeps. Happy Friday!!!
    I'll be posting my review tomorrow or Sunday so stay tuned :)

    And drum roll please, Mary Sharratt will be joining us for our August read of her novel Illuminations based on the life of Hildegard Von Bingen. So stay tuned I'll post the reading schedule Monday along with my August line up.

    Have a great weekend and for heaven sake keep cool!!

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  15. Happy Sunday peeps. Are you ready for "The End"?
    Ben is busy this week promoting Countdown City, i'm sure he'll be with us when he can.
    this month has gone incredibly fast don't you think?
    See you tomorrow

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