The Selective Collective talking about… THE MURMURINGS

The Selective Collective reads THE MURMURINGS by CARLY ANNE WEST

The Selective Collective features THE MURMURINGS by CARLY ANNE WEST, provided to us by Simon Pulse for review and book club discussion. For my part in this Selective Collective post, I’m hosting all of the ladies from The Selective Collective for a few book club-type questions for what we like to call “Round Table”!

Before we jump in, here’s a little info on the book:

The MurmuringsPublishing Info: March 5th 2013 by Simon Pulse
Source: ARC provided by Simon Pulse for review and use for the Selective Collective promotions

Book Synopsis: Everyone thinks Sophie’s sister, Nell, went crazy. After all, she heard strange voices that drove her to commit suicide. But Sophie doesn’t believe that Nell would take her own life, and she’s convinced that Nell’s doctor knows more than he’s letting on.
As Sophie starts to piece together Nell’s last days, every lead ends in a web of lies. And the deeper Sophie digs, the more danger she’s in—because now she’s hearing the same haunting whispers. Sophie’s starting to think she’s going crazy too. Or worse, that maybe she’s not…. — From Goodreads.com

ROUND TABLE: THE MURMURINGS

One really interesting aspect about The Murmurings is that the characters themselves can’t always distinguish if the murmurings and the visions are real or if they cross the line into a psychological manifestation. Was there ever a time in the book where you doubted the characters’ sanity? (Sophie? Nell? Adam?) How did it affect the story for you?
[Kristina – Gone Pecan] I think because of how the book starts I never doubted what Sophie was seeing or what Nell saw wasn’t real so when reading I assumed they were correct and  believed them.  As far as Adam I felt I couldn’t trust him completely since he was so withdrawn.  I found after reading the parts with him in them I had more questions then answers.
[Brittany – The Book Addict’s Guide] I have no idea why, but for some reason I was really convinced that everyone in this book was a little nuts haha. Maybe I was starting to lose it a little bit (just like I had suspected with the characters), creating plot lines that weren’t there! It actually made the story a little more interesting though because although completely manifested in my mind, I had that extra bit of suspense not knowing what was real and what wasn’t.

Even though Nell had already died before the book begins, we get to see a lot of her through the diary that was left behind for Sophie. How do you think her presence through the diary affected your take on the story?
[Brittany – The Book Addict’s Guide] It was definitely interesting getting to know Nell only through her diary entries! Even though we didn’t actually “meet” her in the book, I still feel like we got to know a lot about her personality and in a way, I felt like I knew her just as well as I knew Sophie! I liked that even though she was already gone, the memories and info that she leaves behind is still helping her little sister. I actually liked Nell’s character a lot and I wished I would have been able to see more of her.

How did you feel about Evan as the love interest in The Murmurings? Did you like the developing relationship between him & Sophie? Were you ever doubtful of his motives for getting to know her?
[Kristina – Gone Pecan] I liked Evan as a whole but I would have liked to have seen his thought process (maybe by part of the book being in his POV?)  as to why he was interested in Sophie.  What about her drew him in?  Reading the book as is there seems to be  an instant relationship without the build up and I would have liked a bit more on that end for the it to be completely believable.

Along with dipping  into the paranormal, some of The Murmurings is straight up horror. I  mean…. SEEING THINGS IN MIRRORS. One of my nightmares come true. Did any of the book affect you even after you put it down? (Mirrors freaked  me out for a little while after that. Thanks a lot.)
[Tee – YA Crush] Funny story: I was actually reading this book in the bathtub late at night (in my children’s bathroom surrounded by octopus towels and water-logged Barbies so as not to wake up my sleeping husband), when a particularly creepy thing happened in the story. I put it down, climbed out and was drying off, running through the scene in my head when it occurred to me that with the exception of the shower, the entire wall in front of me was a gigantic mirror. There was that rational, sane side of me that laughed about it, but honestly, there was also that mildly freaked out, over-tired part of me that started to get a little weirded out. I couldn’t get the images from the book out of my head. Needless to say, I rushed out of that bathroom as fast as possible (to a pitch-dark hallway! Eeeks!) and since that moment I have these minor funny/creepy twinges about what’s lurking behind me in the mirror (even the rearview mirror in the car). I think the author touched something that I didn’t realize was a fear of mine (or helped to create a new one!).
[Sandie – Teen Lit Rocks] I wasn’t freaked out about mirrors after reading the book, but I definitely think books, like movies, have the power to affect what I consider scary or creepy. What DID freak me out more than the creatures was the idea of my sister being killed and found in such an unnatural pose. That definitely unnerved me, since I’m so close to my sister, and so many other people in our lives have died — but none in a violent manner.
[Candice – The Grown-Up YA] Mirrors, and seeing things in them, used to freak me out as a kid!
Even now, mirrors in dark rooms still give me the shivers. I don’t know if it really scared me, but Nell’s journal really stayed with me. Finding out things after someone dies is hard enough, but finding out what they were struggling with or fearful of really seemed to hit home for me. I sometimes wonder what people will discover after I die, what thoughts or fears I might leave behind, and how it will affect those that find it. Not to be morbid or anything. Just saying.

Have you read the book? What do you guys think? We want to hear from you on these questions too!

Hope you had fun talking about THE MURMURINGS with us!!! And please don’t forget to check out the features from the other ladies in The Selective Collective! We each have a post to feature a different side of THE MURMURINGS so please go visit their take on the book as well!

Tee @ YA Crush  Casting Call: The Murmurings
Candice @ The Grown-Up YA  Q&A with Carly Ann West & giveaway!
Diana & Sandie @ Teen Lit Rocks  Ghosts All Around Us
Daphne & Kristina @ Gone Pecan  Review: The Murmurings

 

 

Hi, I'm Brittany!
Hi, I'm Brittany!

I'm an avid reader, candle-maker, and audiobook lover! Here you'll find book reviews, fun blog posts, and my other loves of photography & craft beer!

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3 thoughts on “The Selective Collective talking about… THE MURMURINGS

  1. Sandie @TeenLitRocks

    Great conversation about what creeps us out — in books and in real life. I’m not super into horror as a genre, but I found the relationship stuff (grief, parent issues, dealing with the first guy you’re into) what I enjoyed most.

  2. Kristina

    Love the talk on mirrors! I’ve always been a little scared that I would see something in one. Great questions as always. 🙂

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