https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 03:00:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1190332 Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:54:22 +0000 ALV91711 1190332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks @locavore_mama: for leading the discussions on this book. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1190327 Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:53:56 +0000 ALV91711 1190327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the middle of the story after Cree goes missing from Val's life she starts to gravitate towards Jonathan. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?</p> <p>The relationship was very inappropriate. Jonathan should not of let Val get close to him like this, him being the adult and all. Lots of girls have crushes on older guys, but it is up to the adult to keep the relationship appropriate. I think she was attracted to him because she had nowhere else to go and nobody to turn to.</p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him? </p> <p>No way would I have left with Ren, he was kind of shady.</p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</p> <p>I can see why Ren did this, but I think he should of been upfront with Cree earlier on as to why he was always around. </p> <p>Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</p> <p>No, thank goodness</p> <p>Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>No, I figured she was dead early on. If she hadn't been they probably would have found her or heard from her. </p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>I didn't really think of it as a mystery. To me a mystery is a crime being solved. This was just about the neighborhood and something bad had happened to set off the moods of the characters. </p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story? </p> <p>I liked Fadi and how he tried to bring the neighborhood together.</p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</p> <p>It was all right. Not what I was expecting for a mystery. But I did enjoy reading it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1184610 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 11:27:32 +0000 808love 1184610@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Jonathan's relationship with Val is inappropriate. It is a perfect storm that brought them together. :(</p> <p>I would definitely leave. Cree didn't have enough time, life experiences to want to leave suddenly after that conversation with Ren. It would have taken a bit more time for him to realize/admit it was true. It would have been a leap at that point.</p> <p>I like that Ren came back to do Cree a solid. I think he has changed and has a realistic view of society and the nature of people in Red Hook. </p> <p>I've never been estranged from my parents, thankfully.</p> <p>I thought June was likely dead but wasn't sure since this is my first mystery. I don't know if it qualifies but sounds like everyone else doesn't think so.</p> <p>Ren was the most interesting but I wasn't really rooting for him. More curious.</p> <p>The book was good. I forced myself to read it in increments, waiting for the posts to come up. So there was suspense in that because I usually fly through books. I was also happy to see some of my initial predictions/instincts were actually on target. </p> <p>Thank you for the attached pics link, @locavore_mama. It's amazing there is an Ikea where the dockhouse was. I just watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (the first one) and it reminded me of their sardine town with the cruise ship coming to change their economy. Maybe the author watched that movie too! </p> <p>I bet they will make this book into a movie one day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1182076 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 13:04:48 +0000 mrsjazz 1182076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Relationship Val had with Jonathan was completely inappropriate. I don't think she would have even gave him a second thought had he not found her.</p> <p>2. If I were Cree I probably would have left Red Hook but NOT with Ren. I'm still mad that Ren took Cree's Dad's boat.</p> <p>3. Nope, I don't agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree, but I understand that he did what he thought was best to protect Cree from being arrested.</p> <p>4. I have been estranged from my father. In the beginning (when I was a little kid) and for most of my life it was his choice and then when I was an adult and in college it was my choice. But we have a great relationship now. </p> <p>5. I wasn't shocked that June was dead although I kept hoping for an alternative surprise with her. I actually wish she died in a different way or that there was more to the story.</p> <p>6. Yeah, it's a mystery. But I wouldn't say that</p> <p>7. Fadi! I loved him. </p> <p>8. I enjoyed the description of the neighborhood and although I did read the book pretty fast I don't think it's that great. I wanted more to the story of June's death. I think the author was great at character development but the overall story just didn't really appeal to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1181883 Tue, 29 Oct 2013 11:57:44 +0000 jmarionsmith 1181883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are your thoughts on this relationship? </p> <p>um, yes it was completely inappropriate. i totally get her attraction/pull towards him but his towards her was creepy! i could understand if it was more of a fatherly thing (in regards to him basically stalking her) but it definitely was not along those lines.</p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?</p> <p>i personally would not have left with ren BUT i really wanted cree to go with him. the guy obviously was only looking out for cree the entire book. i know he did a horrible thing but i actually liked him a lot.</p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</p> <p>yes, i agree with his way of protecting cree. he felt he owed it to him so how else would he have accomplished that? just introducing himself as the guy that killed his father? that would not work.</p> <p>Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>nope. i was a little surprised it was as innocent as it was though.</p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>no, not really, more of a suspense.</p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</p> <p>i really liked ren. i felt like he was the only character that kept me wanting to read the book, i had to figure out who he was! </p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book</p> <p>i thought it was ok. i gave it a 2/5 on goodreads. i don't think i would recommend it to a friend but i don't regret reading it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1180628 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 21:56:29 +0000 Ree723 1180628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Val and Jonathan's relationship: I thought this was highly inappropriate on both sides. He was showing some kind of weird obsession with her and she seemed to be craving any sort of positive attention. I was really disappointed that he didn't put his foot down and refuse to interact with her other than in the classroom.</p> <p>2. Cree leaving with Ren: I probably wouldn't have left with him but I did kind of like Ren and think he truly was repentant for what he had done. I did want Cree to get the heck out of Red Hook though!</p> <p>3. Ren's intervention: I think his intentions were good - maybe not the best way to go about things but he meant well.</p> <p>4. Parental estrangement: no, I have been fortunate enough to have a good relationship with my parents throughout my entire life.</p> <p>5. June: I assumed she was dead from the beginning. The girls didn't fall victim to any foul play, they were just being stupid and one of them paid the ultimate price for their stupidity.</p> <p>6. Mystery: Not really. More of an angst filled drama. I couldn't really relate to Val's mindset and found her supremely annoying.</p> <p>7. Favourite character: honestly, I didn't really have one. I liked Cree and Ren but everyone else drove me nuts.</p> <p>8. Overall opinion: It was ok, not great but not the worst book I've ever read. I found it a bit slow and honestly did not like hardly any of the characters in the story. I like to be somewhat emotionally invested in a book and I had absolutely zero investment in this one. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with it and definitely would not read it again, nor recommend it to others. </p> <p>That being said, it was super fun to participate in the book club chat! Thanks @locavore_mama for doing all the work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179961 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:37:16 +0000 MediaNaranja 1179961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ack, I feel like I have totally been slacking. I read the book along with you guys but this is my first time responding to a discussion thread. Here are my thoughts :happy: </p> <p>====<br /> In the middle of the story after Cree goes missing from Val's life she starts to gravitate towards Jonathan. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?</p> <p>I thought that this relationship was completely inappropriate. I think that Val read more into it than she should have in the first place, and Jonathan seemed a little creepy for going along with it. I understand that on his part he seemed partly responsible for the girl, especially after he failed to save his own mother from drowning. However, since he was the adult he should have sat down with Val and explained that this behavior is inappropriate and must end.<br /> ====<br /> Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?</p> <p>I wouldn't have. I think Cree did a lot of dreaming, but then faced with the actual possibility of leaving I don't think he would have. I'm the same way....I fancy myself a risk-taker, but then when faced with the actual possibility I tend to back down a bit. It's something I'm working on!<br /> ====<br /> We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</p> <p>I think Ren did it in the only way he knew how. In a way, I think it was actually kind of a sweet gesture.<br /> ====<br /> Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</p> <p>I had a rough patch with my mom a few years ago. It only lasted a few months, but I felt so horrible, and I never want to feel that way again! Luckily things are back to the way they were, and our relationship feels even stronger now.<br /> ====<br /> Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>Not really. It seemed like the only logical outcome. I was a little shocked that Val was the one who pushed her off the raft, though! I assumed it was just an accident. I guess it was in a way, and the outcome may have been the same either way, but still.<br /> ====<br /> Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>I'd say more of a suspense novel.<br /> ====<br /> Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</p> <p>I think that Fadi was great, and I loved how his relationship with Ren developed.<br /> ====<br /> What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</p> <p>I thought it was pretty good, but I would have loved to see a little more development of certain characters and their relationships. Monique, especially. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179933 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:26:52 +0000 erinpye 1179933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Only answering the last question: My overall impression of the book is that I didn't like it. I found it slow and predictable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179887 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 16:09:13 +0000 IRunForFun 1179887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the middle of the story after Cree goes missing from Val's life she starts to gravitate towards Jonathan. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?</p> <p>I think their relationship was entirely inappropriate, not just bordering on it! I understand why she gravitated toward him - he made her feel safe, he was older, she felt older than she was because of what happened, she wanted attention, etc - but I don't understand why he gravitated toward her. It kind of disgusted me that he behaved that way.</p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?</p> <p>No, I wouldn't have gone anywhere with an essential stranger who was acting shady. </p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</p> <p>Not really. I mean, I can see what Ren's motive was, but I think there was a better way to handle it. </p> <p>Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</p> <p>Nope, never estranged from a parent, thankfully.</p> <p>Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>Not shocked, although I kept hoping she was still alive somewhere. I was surprised about where her body was found, though, and that the wino did have a connection.</p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>Not in the traditional sense. I agree that it was more of a character study, although there was an "air of mystery" surrounding the whole thing.</p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</p> <p>Fadi!! He seemed so genuine and kind and like he really cared about the community and everyone in it.</p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</p> <p>I liked it, although it wasn't what I had expected. It could have played up the mystery aspect a bit more, and I felt that there were certain plot elements that were left undeveloped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179309 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 13:26:51 +0000 Mae 1179309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the middle of the story after Cree goes missing from Val's life she starts to gravitate towards Jonathan. What are your thoughts on this relationship? Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?</p> <p>I had really mixed thoughts on this! Obviously it is inappropriate. But somehow I was sort of rooting for them too... but then I felt horrible about that. In the end I think it's good he left. </p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?</p> <p>No way. Ren was shady as hell. </p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</p> <p>No. I think he should've been honest with him from the start. </p> <p>Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</p> <p>Nope. </p> <p>Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>No, I expected she was dead all along.</p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>Sort of...? I mean there was A mystery in it... but the book didn't seem terribly focused on solving the mystery. </p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</p> <p>I loved the grocer. He just seemed like such a good person who always tried to do right by the community. </p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</p> <p>Meh. I thought it was a little boring honestly. I thought it would be more of a real mystery whodunit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179246 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 13:14:45 +0000 Running Elley 1179246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are your thoughts on this relationship? Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?<br /> I feel like the relationship was extremely inappropriate and it made me very uncomfortable. I don't think that Val would have acted on any attraction to him if she wasn't in the situation that she was. </p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?<br /> No I wouldn't have but, while reading the book, I found myself hoping that Cree would go. I wanted him to get out of Red Hook.</p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?<br /> I think that it really was the best way for Ren to help him. I can't think of any other way that he could have protected Cree with the resources that he had/didn't have.</p> <p>Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?<br /> No, thank goodness! I was really happy for Jonathan that he was able to accept what he'd gone through with his mom's death and reconcile with his father.</p> <p>Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?<br /> No. </p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?<br /> No. I think that it was more of a character study. It was interesting but it wasn't what I expected.</p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?<br /> I really liked Fadi! He cared so much about the community and he worked really hard to change it for the better. He was also able to see the beauty in the simple aspects of like in his town.</p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?<br /> I liked it but it wasn't my favorite. I did enjoy reading it though and I really liked having the motivation of the online book club to actually finish it! I've started SO many books since LO was born and definitely haven't finished most of them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179187 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 13:01:11 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 1179187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In the middle of the story after Cree goes missing from Val's life she starts to gravitate towards Jonathan. What are you thought's on this relationship? Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?</p> <p>Extremely inappropriate. I can see why she was attracted to him - she was lost and felt so much guilt. She didn't have any friends. I think she would have been attracted to anyone that showed her attention. They way he was attracted to her was weird and creepy. </p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?</p> <p>Maybe. Cree was lost after his father died and Ren gave him a way out. </p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</p> <p>It worked. I think it was the only way for Ren to help Cree. I'm surprised at how much Cree trusted/accepted Ren without knowing anything about him. </p> <p>Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</p> <p>No, thankfully. </p> <p>Where you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>No, not after the first several paragraphs. The book wasn't about June, so I kind of just accepted that she was dead. I did think that she wasn't going to be found. That her body just got lost in the bay or pulled out to more open water. </p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>No. That's why I was so disappointed. I think I would have enjoyed the book much more if I wasn't waiting for something to happen that was never going to. </p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</p> <p>Cree's grandma. She told it like it was. </p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</p> <p>It wasn't a bad book and I don't regret the time I took to read it, but I wish I had a more realistic idea of what it was going to be about. It was about the complicated life of a teenager and the community she lives in, in the aftermath of tragic accident, not a "riveting literary mystery in which the disappearance of a teenaged girl sends shock waves through her waterfront community." </p> <p>Although I didn't love the book, I liked really enjoyed the discussion questions and the online book club! Thanks @locavore_mama: for starting all of the threads, and I'm sorry about the personal stuff you have to deal with! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1179143 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 12:46:43 +0000 bushelandapeck 1179143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are you thought's on this relationship? I do think it is inappropriate. I appreciate that Jonathan tries to set some boundaries in the end, but I was thankful when he left at the end of the book, away from Val. </p> <p>Would you have left if you were him? No, I would not have gone with him. Even if I had wanted to, I would never have hurt my family that way. I was very glad that Cree was going to be able to have the opportunity to leave at the end though. I would’ve been very disappointed if he chose to stay there. </p> <p>Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree? I think he did the best he could, with the background and life experiences he had. I think he was right about Cree being cast as a suspect in June’s disappearance and that likely would not have resolved without Cree’s intervention. </p> <p>Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)? I had a very difficult relationship with my father growing up that has only improved over the past 7-8 years or so. I wouldn't say I was estranged but there were months that would go by that I did not speak to him and didn't feel any obligation to either. </p> <p>Where you shocked that June is, in fact, dead? No, I assumed she was dead from the beginning. </p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery? Yes.</p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story? Fadi. I appreciate his perspective on the community and his ability to see the positive in most people. </p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book? It wasn’t my favorite but I’m glad I made it to the end. It was a little too slow for me and I generally expect a little more drama and suspense from a mystery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1178883 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:44:03 +0000 LuLu Mom 1178883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><b>What are you thought's on this relationship? </b> I think it is a very inappropriate relationship, she goes to his house/slept in his bed/ect. That is NOT an okay relationship between a teacher/student. </p> <p><b>Would you have left if you were him?</b> I never had a good feeling about Ren, so no I would not have left with him. The fact that you were going to be with a practical stranger in the middle of the ocean on a boat he pretty much stole from you, says a lot about his character.<br /> <b>Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</b> I understand that Ren had some serious guilt from killing Cree's father, but to keep that hidden from Cree shows there is still a reason to mistrust him.<br /> <b>Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</b> No, I've never been estranged, my parents have always been my backbone even when I was taking a bad path for awhile in college. I know this happens a lot, it makes me sad because I've always had a very ideal set of parents. I'm so blessed and thankful for that.<br /> <b>Where you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</b> No I wasn't, as the book went on I knew there wasn't going to be foulplay involved with her missing, although I was suprised about where her body was, that very much surprised me. </p> <p><b>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</b> No, I think it's more of a suspense/drama than a mystery. In my mind mystery is usually a crime book, here no crime was committed (well not involving June's death at least) </p> <p><b>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</b> Cree was my favorite, he had a good heart and just wanted a friend. It makes me sad he finally trusts someone and he turns out to be the guy who murdered his dad. </p> <p><b>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</b> I liked it, didn't love it. I think the first half was slow moving, and then I hit abotu 1/2 through and coudln't put it down. I wish there was some of that excitement in the first half. It wasn't a book I would normally read on my own, so it was fun to read something a little out of my normal zone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hb-book-club-october-visitation-street-week-3-amp-4-discussion-spoilers#post-1178834 Mon, 28 Oct 2013 11:30:21 +0000 regberadaisy 1178834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to apologize for slacking on week 3. DH's uncle passed away last week that along with personal scenarios made it quite a rough week.</p> <p>I'm just going to combine week 3 &amp; 4 discussions if that's alright. So basically the whole last half of the book.</p> <p>*****<br /> In the middle of the story after Cree goes missing from Val's life she starts to gravitate towards Jonathan. <b>What are your thoughts on this relationship?</b> Do you think it borderlines on inappropriate? Would Val have been attracted to him if she wasn't in this scenario?</p> <p>Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. <b>Would you have left if you were him?</b></p> <p>We finally learned that everything Ren is doing is to protect Cree. In the way HE deemed fit. <b>Do you agree with how Ren chose to protect Cree?</b></p> <p>Through his relationship with Val, Jonathan finally decides to go home and make amends with his father. <b>Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)?</b></p> <p><b>Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?</p> <p>Would you qualify this book as a mystery?</p> <p>Who is your favorite character of this whole story?</p> <p>What's your overall opinion of this whole book?</b></p> <p>Lastly, I leave you with this review of Visitation Street that actually provides some images of scenes!<br /> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16240790-visitation-street" rel="nofollow">http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16240790-visitation-street</a> </p>