Ok, so we're on week three, and along with Bean's social struggles at Battle School, we're hearing a lot back on earth about Sister Carlotta's search for his parentage. Bean is continuing to be a snoop, he's not playing the mind game, and he's planning to climb through the vents, and he's worrying his teachers, who are desperate enough to call the nun for help. What do you guys think of what Bean finds about the school and what Carlotta finds about Bean? What are your thoughts on the mind game? And what are your thoughts on the fact that Sister Carlotta is so insistent on finding out where Bean came from, and her findings? Once Bean learns of the teachers' mistrust and sets out to be a model student, we find how closely tied he really is to Ender's army and it's success, both as a soldier and as the one who chose his soldiers. Now Bean and Ender's worlds are about to mesh closely for the first time. Has Bean changed yet in his social skills as he strives to emulate Ender? What do you think of Bean's perception of Ender?
For next week, next section: Soldier.
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So is everyone finished reading and ready for the next section, or do we need to wait a bit longer before I post it? I'm in no hurry, just want to see where you all stand.
Hey Angela,
Sorry it's taken me so long to join this discussion. I'm back from a 9 day trip and ready to keep reading. Plus, I got behind and had to catch up.
I think Sister Carlotta is so driven to investigate his past because he's so stinkin' smart. She's amazed at at everything he was able to accomplish and remember at a very early age. To the point where, as was implied, he almost doesn't seem human. The fact that his sneaking around the school led him to find that out was rather convenient.
I'm also very impressed that his drive to learn more about the school and what they don't let the children see is so strong that he'd put himself in uncomfortable and potentially dangerous conditions to find out. His desire for knowledge and all the inner workings is very strong.
It was surprising to learn that he hand-picked Dragon army. Never saw that coming. I enjoyed reading his thoughts in the selection process. Who was in and out and why.
I don't think Bean has changed much socially. Yes, he wants to emulate Ender, but as he learns what it is about Ender that motivates people to follow him, he realizes how different they are. Ender is good. Bean...I'm not sure if I could say he's either bad or good. Calculating is what comes to mind. But I think he desires to have that goodness that Ender has. The questions is CAN he ever be that way, considering how different their backgrounds are and the influences that have shaped them?
I was fascinated by what Sister Carlotta found out about Bean: his parentage (which makes me hope that he'll be able to join them at the end of the book), his brother (love the part where Nikoli reveals that he thinks of Bean as a brother), his future because of the genetic tampering, the stolen embryos. It makes me sick that all those other children were killed.
I'm really enjoying this book and ready to read the next section.
I'm rethinking the book I'd like to lead for our next reading. I'm trying to decide between two books:
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
or
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Anyone have any yeas or nays towards either of these books?
I don't know anything about either book, but going by title alone, I'm more interested in women warriors, I think. I'll give either a shot though.
The Poisonwood Bible sounds familiar to me - maybe from seeing friends update it on goodreads. I'll have to check. That one gets my vote based solely on title. :) Maybe we'll have to flip a coin.
I'll make my comments about Ender's Shadow in the next discussion that Angela posted most recently.
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