Pushing the Limits Read-A-Long: Week Two

This is an amazing event hosted by Candace Book Blog, Dazzling Reads, PageTurnersBlog, The Book Swarm and The Bewitched Bookworms. I really enjoyed Pushing the Limits. Here is my review.

Every week we get to discuss different parts of the book and there is an oppurtunity to win in a giveaway. Yay!

If you want to take part all you need is a copy of the book (it is out today in the USA) and a platform to post on. Sound good? Head on over to The Bewitched Bookworms blogs. Link above.

Apologies that this week's post is up rather late. Life just got in the way a bit. Oh well better late than never.

Here are my answers to this weeks questions.

1. ­­­Noah and Echo create a plan to read their files. What do you think of this plan? Would you read your friends file first knowing you might not have time to read your own? Would you want to read your own file?

I was a bit confused about this part at first. By wanting to look at the file, they show that they have no trust in Mrs. Collins, who has provided no reason not to. I guess it shows how much distrust Echo and Noah have in authority figures. As for the technicalities of the plan, well I can’t say because they didn’t. Whether I would read my friends file first, if ever I was put in that situation, I guess it really depends on the context. I might read it first if I find it first but it all depends. I have never been put in a position where I have felt the need to.

2. Mrs. Collins starts to earn Noah’s trust by taking him to see his brother win a writing contest. What do you think of how she’s handling Noah? How would you feel if you were in Noah’s position, hearing that your brother sees you as his hero?

I love Mrs Collins. I think she handles Noah really well. She shows him the things he needs to see. I think Noah needs to have someone see him as a hero. Nearly everyone else in his life has written him off as a lost cause and given up. He needs people like Mrs Collins to care and his brother to need him. His brother ‘heroing’ him gives Noah more of a purpose in life, a need to be a better person.

3. Echo is starting to draw and paint again. She’s starting to express the feelings and what she’s seeing as she’s starting to remember what happened that day. Art therapy seems to be a popular way for people to deal with their feelings, why do you think Echo’s dad didn’t want her to continue with art since it was such a big part of her and is part of so many people’s therapy in dealing with similar issues?

This is one of those questions where it is a disadvantage to have already finished the book. However at this part of the book, when I was reading it, I assumed that Echo’s father didn’t want Echo painting for two reasons. The main one being he didn’t want Echo to bring up bad memories of the past. He wanted Echo to move on, and painting was what she used to do. The second reason is Echo’s dad seems very big on academics. He seems to rather have Echo use her free time for studying instead. As for it being good therapy, Echo’s dad appears to think that Echo doesn’t need any therapy.

4. We see how crazy Beth’s home life is and we start to understand why she is not as keen to be trusting with people in her life. At the same time, we get to see how fiercely loyal Noah is. What do you think of the way Noah reacted to Beth being beaten by her mother’s boyfriend? Do you think it’s showing bad behavior that could get Noah in more trouble or the act of a true friend?

People can express their loyalty and feelings for friends in different ways. I do not doubt Noah’s loyalty to Beth. What Beth’s mother’s boyfriend did was wrong but I don’t believe in responding with violence in return. Noah is also in a precarious position as it is with social services and I don’t think Beth would forgive him if he lost visiting rights in defence of her, especially in a violent manner. There has to be other solutions. In the end I am glad that Noah did not pursue his urges. That put him up in my eyes.

5. Echo has an unusual name. What do you think of the story behind it? Is there a Greek Myth or other story that would inspire you to name a child after a character?

I know nothing about Greek myths. The last time I studied them was when I was seven and I haven’t really read them since. I feel like the only one sometimes, especially with Greek myth re-tellings being an upcoming and coming thing in YA fiction. 

I thought the story was quite a sad one, especially for the character of Echo. To use her as inspiration shows you the sort of person Echo’s mother was. It was definitely an unusual name choice for a daughter.

I have never thought of naming a child based on a fictional character. I don’t associate names with a type of personality. A great character would still be a great character even with a different name. I was called Rebecca because it was popular at the time. I would pick a name that I like. I don’t want to expect them to become a character.

6. Echo’s big thing is trying to find “normal” again. She doesn’t want to be the scared girl or the girl who can’t remember what happened to her, she just wants to be normal. This goal impacts her relationships with her family, friends, Noah and her ex Luke. But at the end of this section, Echo is starting to figure out that there’s no going back to old normal and she’s going to have to find a new normal. How big of a step is it for Echo when she realizes she’s not “in” love with Luke and figures out that she does need to find a new normal?

This is a big step. Up until this point, Echo is trying to get her old life back. Being with Luke was a major part of that. When Echo realises that Luke is not the guy she thought he was, she also realised maybe her old life is not the one she wants either. It really all changed at this moment. A huge change of direction in your life is a huge step for anyone to take.

Becky