Book Club Mid Month Check-In: LOVE IS THE DRUG

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PinkyMcCoversong
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Hello! I hope you're enjoying LOVE IS THE DRUG as much as I am! What's not to love about a devastating plague and a government conspiracy plot?


Johnsonloveisthedrug by PinkyMcCoversong


Let's get into the mood with some spooky shots of DC:


The Grotto by theworldisavampire  Hope and Glory by futurowoman  soldier gazes back by futurowoman  Heavenly Light by aponom

 Capitol 5 by mikeypetrucci


And now for the discussion questions!


  • 1. How do you feel about the setting? Do you think it adds more tension to the story to have it set in the nation's capitol? How would it be different if this were set in a small town?
  • 2. It's not hard to imagine what it must feel like for Bird to be so under pressure from her parents to be a certain way, act a certain way, go to a certain college, have a certain future. How are you anticipating that Bird's feelings about her parents's wishes will change as mysteries unravel, and as she undergoes personal traumas of her own?


  • 3. Race plays a major role in LOVE IS THE DRUG, and in most of Alaya Dawn Johnson's work. I'm finding it striking how much LITD is paralleling current events, intentionally or not. How does this make you feel, while you're following Bird and the other characters in the book navigate their world?


  • 4. How about you ask some questions? I want to hear what you want to talk about this month, at mid-point. 

Audience participation?


For extra points, imagine that the v flu infected your town. What would you do? Write a short scene (500-1000 words) about this.

Remember, our prize this month is awesome:



Johnsonthesummerprince by PinkyMcCoversong

The top participant this month will receive a hardcover copy of Alaya Dawn Johnson's last book, THE SUMMER PRINCE, thanks to Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic. To win the prize, contribute awesome stuff to the discussion, and participate in the activities!

And, while we're on prizes, the big winner of the box o' books for January-June is AGMeade! YAY! AGMeade, get in touch with me, and I'll send you your winnings.

Now. DISCUSS!

xoxoPinkyMcCoversong :iconpinkymccoversong:


Skin by Dan Leveille
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doodlerTM's avatar
doodlerTM
ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING WOOO

1. Interestingly enough, I was reading something somewhere (hang on, I'll remember what book it was in a second), that said that there are not many books out there set in Washington DC. I think a lot of writers avoid using specific settings because most of the American cities come with presuppositions already set in the reader's mind. With DC it is that inevitable association with politics. It creates a very tense atmosphere - but I think it works here. Because everything about this book, right up until the very end is tense and uncertain.

2. At this point I've read the whole book, so I don't remember where the half-point is (whoops), but I would have said that she does break out of her shell. You can't let someone push you around forever, and if you do you will reach a breaking point sometime.

3. I found the discrimination to be a bit.. odd (why capitalize Black?) but reflective of many of the racial tensions today (with any major shooting today, if the crime involves a black person, there's automatic association with race whether it's racially motivated or not, etc etc). It's complex stuff, and I don't think Johnson covers ALL of it in the book, but it's mentioned enough to cause a bit of reflection. 

no questions I guess, since I finished the book :lol: