Hellobee Boards

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.

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.

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.

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.

Where you shocked that June is, in fact, dead? No, I assumed she was dead from the beginning.

Would you qualify this book as a mystery? Yes.

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.

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.

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?
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.

Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?
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.

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?
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.

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)?
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.

Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?
No.

Would you qualify this book as a mystery?
No. I think that it was more of a character study. It was interesting but it wasn't what I expected.

Who is your favorite character of this whole story?
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.

What's your overall opinion of this whole book?
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.

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?

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.

Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?

No, I wouldn't have gone anywhere with an essential stranger who was acting shady.

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?

Not really. I mean, I can see what Ren's motive was, but I think there was a better way to handle it.

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)?

Nope, never estranged from a parent, thankfully.

Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?

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.

Would you qualify this book as a mystery?

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.

Who is your favorite character of this whole story?

Fadi!! He seemed so genuine and kind and like he really cared about the community and everyone in it.

What's your overall opinion of this whole book?

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.

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

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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?

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.
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Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?

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!
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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?

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.
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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)?

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.
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Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?

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.
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Would you qualify this book as a mystery?

I'd say more of a suspense novel.
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Who is your favorite character of this whole story?

I think that Fadi was great, and I loved how his relationship with Ren developed.
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What's your overall opinion of this whole book?

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.

What are your thoughts on this relationship?

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.

Ren asks Cree to leave Red Hook with him. Would you have left if you were him?

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.

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?

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.

Were you shocked that June is, in fact, dead?

nope. i was a little surprised it was as innocent as it was though.

Would you qualify this book as a mystery?

no, not really, more of a suspense.

Who is your favorite character of this whole story?

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!

What's your overall opinion of this whole book

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.

Jonathan's relationship with Val is inappropriate. It is a perfect storm that brought them together.

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.

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.

I've never been estranged from my parents, thankfully.

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.

Ren was the most interesting but I wasn't really rooting for him. More curious.

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.

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!

I bet they will make this book into a movie one day.

Thanks @locavore_mama: for leading the discussions on this book.