Book Discussion of Mad Honey
Hi everyone! I'm writing to see if anyone would like to read and discuss the book Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult.
I will tag people who expressed interest in the last book that a few of us read. Please feel free to ignore the tag if you are not interested or able to participate. Please also feel free to tag others who might be interested.
Thank you!
@adventurousBranch3786 @glowingPond @Cancun @AffyAvo @ThadSterling @svobodovaa
I currently bought the book but didn’t have the time to read it yet, but this is a sign to read it! This book caught my attention not too long ago so I’m looking forward to read it!
thanks for the tag btw, always love to get new recommendations or get to know new books!🫂
@svobodovaa you are welcome! I always enjoy discussing books with others and look forward to discussing it with you and everyone else 😊
@ReadBooks7. I am interested 😊.
@adventurousBranch3786 that sounds great 😊I always enjoy the book discussions with you. Thank you for making the book suggestion!😊
@ReadBooks7 I got the book today 😊.
@adventurousBranch3786 that's great! I've been extra busy with work this week, but I'm hoping that I'll have some time to get started on Saturday. I hope you enjoy 🙂
Hi everyone, I started reading the book yesterday. For anyone else who has started, do you have any initial impressions of the book?
@ReadBooks7. I read the 1st chapter. I see that a main character is a beekeeper but I don’t have that many impressions yet.
@adventurousBranch3786 I am a few chapters in, so I will not make any comments yet 😊I hope you are enjoying it so far!
@ReadBooks7 I did read the 2nd and 3rd chapters. It’s starting to get interesting. I like it so far.
@adventurousBranch3786 I'm really glad that you like it! I had some unexpected free time today (needed self-care breaks which I spent reading and napping), and I'm flying through the book. It's definitely one that is hard to put down because I'm really curious to find out the details that are being alluded to but not in the open yet.
Hi everyone! How is the reading going? I actually finished already. It was one that I just couldn't put down, and I've read every spare minute I had since I started.
@ReadBooks7. Wow 😮 so fast! It must have been good.
@adventurousBranch3786 it definitely grabbed my attention early, and I really wanted to see how the story would turn out and get more background on the characters. I think it is a great book. There are other books by Jodi Picoult that I think I enjoyed more (mainly because I think the descriptions of beekeeping just really do not interest me much), but every book she writes is, in my opinion, outstanding.
@ReadBooks7. I’m about halfway through the book. I just got to the part where the bombshell was dropped In court. Omg! I do like how contemporary topics are weaved into her novels. Thanks for introducing me to this author. I may even try out a book by the coauthor sometime.
@adventurousBranch3786 I am so glad to hear that you enjoy her books so much! I think the co-author's books are probably great as well, although I have not read any yet. I think that they did an excellent job of working that into the plot and not giving it away before. I went back to look throughout the book, and there are a lot of hints, but nothing specific. It really is an excellent book.
@ReadBooks7 I finished today 😊.
@adventurousBranch3486 nice! What did you think?
@adventurousBranch3786 I accidentally pressed the incorrect number before😊
@ReadBooks7. I liked it. There were some parts that seemed long while I was reading. I wondered why it went from present to past memories such much. Now having finished I think the memories helped me to get to know the characters better. It was moving to me all that They had to go through.
@adventurousBranch3786 it was a very moving book in terms of everything that the characters dealt with. I love how Jodi's books always provide a lot of insight into various sides of an issue or topic or various reactions and interpretations of events, or both. It really helps to empathize with each character. I give both moms a ton of credit for doing whatever they had to do to care for their kids and make sure that they could be in the safest, healthiest, happiest environments possible.
I am going to look for some discussion questions to post, or maybe think of some of my own. I have an extra busy few days, but I will start posting them asap!
@ReadBooks7
I'm actually working through reading a trilogy right now, so I won't have a chance to join this one. But I'd be interested to join in the future, when a new book is chosen. So, if you're keeping a tag list, I'd happily be a part of it.
@OneErased that sounds great! Thank you! I will add you to the list 😊
Hi. This is very out of character for me. I think I would like to join. I am not much of a reader, but I’m looking for something to do. I might not be ready to participate, but I would like to be able to follow the discussions and get people’s perspectives. I would never try this any where else. Thank you for this opportunity.
@shyCat542 welcome! We are happy to have you join 😊Please feel free to participate as much or as little as you like 😊💚
@ReadBooks7 Take your time , there’s no hurry. I can look for some questions also if you like.
@adventurousBranch3786 that would be great! Thank you 😊
First discussion question, from Book Club Questions for Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan - Book Club Chat by Heather Caliendo:
"We read the story from the perspectives of Olivia and Lily. Why was it important to feature their viewpoints? In what ways are they similar?"
@ReadBooks7 Spoiler alert. I suppose Olivia’s viewpoint was needed to explain some of the actions she took like waiting so long to contact her sons father for help with bail.
Lil’s viewpoint also explained many of her difficult decisions about what to share about herself.
They were similar in having to consider the repercussions from what they shared about their lives.
@adventurousBranch3786 great observations. I remember reading something, I think that Lily said, but it might have been Olivia, about what we're required to share about ourselves and our pasts. It got me thinking about it. Like, what is just ours to keep to ourselves, and what should we share with others who we become involved with, and how is that decided.
I think both perspectives were important also for the fact that both women felt some sort of shame or ambivalence associated with events from their past because of how they were treated, but in my opinion, neither one had anything to actually be ashamed of. I think the purpose was to show the deep emotional scars and trauma that other people's actions and lack of acceptance can project onto others who should instead be treated with compassion and respect.
The perspectives also show a lot of bravery and insight.
Here is a question which contains spoilers.
How did you think Lily dies before it was revealed in the end?Who were your prime suspects?
@adventurousBranch3786 I thought that it was an accident of some sort (especially with Jordan's defense, which made a lot of sense and could have happened), or I thought that the friend of theirs, I cannot remember his name at the moment, might have had something to do with it. I was totally surprised with the revelation of what really happened.
@ReadBooks7 I think his name was Dirk. I was wondering about him as well since he stopped by Lily’s house. I had wondered about Mya as well but I was off. I thought that maybe she liked Lily and was surprised that she liked Asher.
@adventurousBranch3786 I was also really surprised that she liked Asher. I did not pick up on any clues or see that coming at all. At no point did I actually think that Asher did it, and I am not sure if that was the idea or not. I was wondering while I was reading it why I thought that. I would be curious to hear from the authors if that is what they intended the readers to think or not.
It is interesting to compare how the different cases are handled. Jordan is a much more experienced lawyer than Oliver in the last book, but I think they were both extremely effective. I read another book by Jodi called Nineteen Minutes, and Jordan is the defense attorney in that one, too.
I will look for some more questions to post when I am not so tired 😊
@ReadBooks7. The book Nineteen Minutes looks interesting!
@adventurousBranch3786 it is really good. I highly recommend it. It is one of my top five favorites by Jodi.
Hi everyone! I have had an unusually extra busy week, so I have not had much time to post any other questions, but I will asap.
In the meantime, are there any book suggestions/is there any interest in another book discussion? I have several I could recommend, but I would like to defer to someone else if someone has a suggestion.
Thank you all! I wish you all a peaceful week💚
@ReadBooks7. There is a book I saw called Defending Jacob that I am interested in reading. The book Nineteen Minutes I am interested in as well. I am interested in hearing your suggestions also.
@adventurousBranch3786 I have heard great things about Defending Jacob! I have read Nineteen Minutes and actually planned to read it again soon because it has been a while and it is so good. I think you might have just chosen our next two 😊 I was going to recommend Lisa Jewell in general, as several of her books are fantastic, or possibly Ruth Ware, but I would be happy to go with your suggestions. What do you think: Jacob first, then Nineteen? Thank you! 😊
@ReadBooks7 Sounds good to me 😊.
@adventurousBranch3786 that sounds great 😊 I will write a post soon and tag people who might be interested. Thank you! I'm planning on adding some more questions here, too. It's been an unusually overly busy week for me.
@ReadBooks7. Thank you for the names of these 2 authors! I am adding them to my list.
@adventurousBranch3786 you're welcome! I recently read Lisa Jewell's newest, titled None of This is True (if I remember correctly), and it had my attention and me guessing from the beginning. Both she and Ruth Ware excellently craft storylines and combine them with twists and suspense.
