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Tilt | Emma Pattee

It‘s August and I‘m taking over the hosting from Meg for our final two #CampLitsy25 books. Today we‘re discussing Part One of Tilt.

As ever, if you‘ve read ahead, please try not to include spoilers for those who haven‘t.

Also, I‘ll only be tagging all of you in this question. Scroll down to find the other two questions. Enjoy!

Megabooks, squirrelbrain

BarbaraBB @Addison_Reads @Amiable @AmyG @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @BookNAround @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger 3w

BarbaraBB @BookwormAHN @Cariashley @Caroline2 @Catlass007 @CatGusMax @CarolynM @Cbee @CatMS @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @DebinHawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf @Flaneurette @fredthemoose (edited) 3w

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BarbaraBB @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK @Karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @Maggie4483 3w

BarbaraBB @Gatheringbooks @Gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books @ImperfectCJ (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @jhod 3w

BarbaraBB @Mcctrish @maich @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @MicheleinPhilly @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx @peaKnit @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @Reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville @Skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @Texreader @sblbooks (edited) 3w

BarbaraBB @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @TheBookDream @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @yourfavouritemixtape 3w

Meshell1313 Ooh I think it def adds more drama and makes the story more high stakes. I cared about her survival more and her situation seemed way worse because we were worried about the baby. 3w

Kitta I think it‘s provided an interesting way for her to tell the story - directly to the baby. And yes as @Meshell1313 said it adds drama! I cared about her either way but it certainly seems more high risk given she‘s heavily pregnant. 3w

jenniferw88 I'm probably going to be the #unpopularopinion here, but I think she'd have done the same things, pregnant or not. 3w

Lesliereadsalot I agree with @jenniferw88 Of course she was trying to save two lives, but at the end of the day, everyone tries to save themselves. I couldn‘t stop thinking about how cumbersome it was to be heavily pregnant! 3w

Ruthiella Would she have behaved differently if not pregnant? If anything she would have been perhaps more reckless? The whole book I was on edge. She thought more of her husband than her own or her child‘s life, it seemed. 3w

squirrelbrain I agree Kitta - it was a good way to tell the story. Otherwise there would have had to have been another person with her all the time, or it would have been a stream-of-consciousness inner thoughts-type book. 3w

BarbaraBB I agree the pregancy added to the drama - 36 weeks 😱 @Lesliereadsalot I kept thinking about that too, but I agree with @jenniferw88 in thinking that she‘d make the same decisions without being pregnant. Like @Ruthiella points out, she seems to hardly think of her baby. 3w

Megabooks @Ruthiella Me too. I was on edge. I think it also made the periods she reflected on the relationship with her own mother more poignant and impactful. I have heard there is some brain fog in pregnancy, and I have that with my chronic illnesses. Her actions and the split between being single-minded and not always rational is reminiscent of that for me. 3w

jenniferw88 @Ruthiella this 100%! She doesn't seem at all bothered about her own life, nor her baby's. She is SO NOT ready to be a parent. 3w

JamieArc I think one of the aspects that is directly affected by the pregnancy is how others perceive her or help her. More people are aware of her because of her pregnancy, and we as readers see that. And would she be getting the help she is if she weren‘t pregnant? 3w

TrishB Jeez, harsh judgements 😁 first baby/pregnancy, hard to imagine a child or being a mother! I don‘t think it‘s that she didn‘t think of the baby, she was just panicking. I mean she made some dodgy choices. I think as @squirrelbrain says, it‘s a good story telling device. 3w

Bookwormjillk @jenniferw88 I agree. Other than the physical issues she didn‘t really seem to think about the baby. The big thing though is that without the baby she would have been at work instead of crib shopping at IKEA. 3w

jenniferw88 @TrishB, my medical conditions may be influencing my judgement for this book! As I've said somewhere else on one of my posts, I probably can't have children, so I can't empathise with Annie at all because I'll never be in her position. 3w

TrishB @jenniferw88 no one is ever ready. It‘s life changing. 3w

BarbaraBB @TrishB You‘re absolutely right, it‘s life changing, and I think she did what she thought was best - under pressure of the earthquake and not knowing where Dom was. I think she would have made those decisions anyway, mainly because she isn‘t a mother yet. She‘s a lonely panicky woman at this day! (edited) 3w

Susanita She was “talking” to the baby constantly, for one thing. Yeah, she would be a hot mess regardless, but I think the story would have been different if she wasn‘t pregnant. Also, saving her life IS saving the baby‘s life. 3w

mcctrish I agree with @TrishB that first babies/pregnancy are hard - no matter what you read it‘s a constant feeling of being out of control imo, I think Annie feels that on so many levels, she isn‘t exploring her dream job, finances are a shit show, her husband is going rogue, and there‘s an earthquake. She‘s lost herself and not having her mother is 💔 3w

TrishB @mcctrish yes- that‘s a great summary. 3w

TrishB @BarbaraBB she definitely is a lonely panicky woman! Felt for her. 3w

vonnie862 Yes, I think her pregnancy added to her decisions and how people perceived her. 3w

Chelsea.Poole I think the late stage pregnancy added to the emotional impact of the book—both in the present day earthquake aftermath and the lens through which we get Annie‘s past (her mother, her partner). It changed both others‘ perception of Annie and her own interactions/thoughts with the crisis (the little boy alone in IKEA, etc.) And I think that‘s pretty much how it is in real life. Motherhood colors everything: both the way I am seen and the way I see. 3w

DGRachel Nothing new to add, but I think the pregnancy made it the experience physically harder for her. She‘d still be a hot mess if she wasn‘t pregnant, but I can see myself being just as lost, especially if I was alone. I agree with @JamieArc about it impacting the way others perceive and help her. I think if she hadn‘t been pregnant, she‘d have been invisible. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures I have a moderate tokophobia, so normally I would never read a book centering pregnancy in this way, but I do think everything is heightened a bit by it. I am with @Kitta it provided an interesting way to narrate the story, @Megabooks pregnancy brain fog added to disaster confusion, I honestly thought she was holding up pretty well so far. I cannot imagine the pain in the body, I thought Pattee did a great job describing it. 3w

AmyG Yes wha mt you have all said. I believe it changed how she might have reacted. We will bever know. It wasnmt just her, it was her and the baby. I also agree it changed how th e reader reacted to her. I may not have had as much compassion for her if it was just her. 3w

Zuhkeeyah Her pregnancy definitely played a role in how others interacted with her. Annie seems to be mostly ignoring the existence of the baby despite being late in pregnancy. There is also an element of shock to it all that leads to some decisions I don‘t agree with. 3w

ChaoticMissAdventures @jenniferw88 I agree she is not prepared, but more so what the heck is she doing with that man, having a baby with him??? @Susanita yes, constantly talking to Bean, I almost think having someone to constantly talk to is a bit grounding for her. My stream of conscious would have been out of control, but it seems like she is able to talk to Bean in a way to get her thoughts a bit more in order than if she was just talking to herself. 3w

GatheringBooks Was laughing out loud as I was reading the responses in this thread. Poor pregnant Annie lols. I echo the sentiment that pregnant or not, Annie would most likely make the same choices. However, I do sense her efforts to protect her Bean - she is very much aware of her own baby, but perhaps she overestimated her own capacity and underestimated the chaos and danger? As a first time hormonal mother, I think she would go even crazier if she went home. 3w

Jas16 I agree that her pregnancy had a large impact in the ways others perceived her and in her physical capabilities, I think in some ways though the feeling of not feeling being prepared for the way a baby is going to change her life and the way she reacts to an unexpected earthquake, digging deep insider herself are connected. 3w

Deblovestoread Not much new to add. I think she might be a bit better prepared for Bean‘s birth if she had a partner not just a husband. 3w

Butterfinger While reading, I was comparing myself to Annie, not really thinking about her not being pregnant. I remember being scared out of my mind and being very rash when I was at that stage. I locked my keys in the car when I started laboring so I calmly went back into the trucks top restaurant to grab a chair. I was not going to have my baby at a truckstop. My husband, who stupidly was not panicking, said let's just call someone. I WAS NOT IN A DISASTER 3w

Butterfinger I couldn't imagine being in that situation. I know I would walk to my husband's workplace to be with him. Maybe, if she hadn't been pregnant, she would have been more willing to offer aid to others hurt far more than she. 3w

Hooked_on_books The physical challenges alone for her would have been so hard. She‘s late in pregnancy, so she‘s quite front heavy having to navigate broken ground. She‘d also have leg swelling and reflux at this stage. It would change everything compared to having to deal with all that. 3w

CBee So strange - I never got a notification! Will check out all of the questions soon. @BarbaraBB Litsy being glitchy 🤪 3w

CBee I kept thinking that what she was doing was impossible. But somehow, she did it. Being pregnant definitely influenced her decisions. 3w

BarbaraBB That‘s frustrating @CBee I did tag you. I hope you‘ll enjoy the discussion nevertheless 🤍 3w

CBee @BarbaraBB no worries on my end! I know Litsy can be wonky sometimes 🙂 3w

willaful I'm maybe the only person here who has actually been this situation - NOT, thank goodness, pregnant! -- and getting home to my then boyfriend (now husband) was the only thing I cared about. I made what in retrospect were very foolish decisions and could have been killed.

I feel no one is giving Annie credit for listening to her intuition, turning down a bad ride for example. She's doing her best in incredibly dire circumstances. 3w

peaKnit @AmyG I agree, I would not have had as much empathy if she wasn‘t pregnant either. I totally think her pregnancy influenced her decisions. 3w

TrishB @willaful I hear you! I haven‘t been in this situation (thankfully!) but I understood the making decisions in a stressful situation and that‘s just the way it is. Some harsh judgements here 😁 3w

BarbaraBB @willaful You‘re right, I cannot imagine those circumstances. Next week we‘ll discuss her encounters with people along the way! 3w

cariashley Gah, this was such a tough read 8 weeks postpartum but better to read it now than when I was 37 weeks! The whole time I just kept thinking she was in shock and on autopilot out of sheer desperation, which I can‘t imagine would have been quite as visceral if she wasn‘t pregnant. I cannot imagine. My ankles were swelling so bad in heat at the end and it pained me reading about her walking such distances! 3w

BkClubCare Fifty comments!! 3w

BkClubCare Okay, I thought it insane that she was in Ikea and attempting to move/lift boxes; that she wasn‘t getting any help and that was before the earthquake. I was super happy that she connected to the girl again to assist getting out of the store. 3w

BkClubCare @cariashley - it pained me for her! All that walking! Bad shoes!! No water!!! Wow. 3w

BarbaraBB @cariashley You could relate to Annie very well much I think, and you describe her feelings perfectly. 3w

Suet624 @BkClubCare Her attempt to lift boxes! Insane. :) 3w

Suet624 I loved reading all these comments. I don't think she would have acted any differently if she weren't pregnant - she'd still want to get to her husband. That's anyone's first thought, isn't it? :) 3w

Maggie4483 Only a day late this time instead of a week! Woo hoo! I kinda don‘t agree with everyone about Annie‘s actions. I think she‘s definitely looking out for Bean (she‘s always very aware and protective of her belly), but it seems instinctive, not intentional. And her guilt at leaving the little boy in IKEA, and her hesitation to leave Becky‘s body, makes me think that, were she NOT pregnant, she might have become a helper. (edited) 3w

Maggie4483 @willaful - I think that‘s only natural. I imagine after a disaster all you want is to be with your loved ones, if anything just as reassurance that they‘re okay. I was a freshman in college on 9/11, away from home for the first time. Even though no one I knew was anywhere near NY or DC, but I called all my loved ones. I‘ll never forget my grandfather laughing at me and telling me that Nacogdoches, Texas was one of the safest places I could be. 3w

Well-ReadNeck I def think her pregnancy makes a huge difference. For the reasons everyone mentioned, but also because this baby will be coming at some point in the near future and she doesn‘t have the option to hunker down and wait and take things slowly. She needs to get to civilization and medical care. 3w

sarahbarnes I‘m sorry to have missed this discussion @BarbaraBB - I‘ve been so distracted lately and haven‘t even read this book yet. I hope you‘re doing well. 💕 3w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes No problem of course, I just hope you‘re doing well. Been missing you on Litsy 🤍 3w

ImperfectCJ Annie seems incredibly aware of her baby (I mean, she's talking to it the whole time), but it seems like she's thinking of the baby as a part of her, which it basically is. And really, the baby is in the safest place it can be, so she doesn't really need to think of it separately. She's just got a need to bring her little family together and feel safe, and it's not clear to her how to make that happen. 3w

ImperfectCJ I've no idea if she'd act differently not pregnant, but I suspect she would have less focus on one goal. And without Bean to talk to, she might be a lot more panicked. 3w

BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ wow you‘re late to the party but you add a lot to think about! Very insightful 🤍 3w

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 💕💕 thank you. My work is very connected to all the terrible things happening here and it feels very overwhelming these days. I still love Litsy and miss seeing you on here; I hope to have more time to be back on here soon. 3w

BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I am very sorry for you. I can‘t imagine how that must be but I guess it is frightening and frustrating. I hope books and Litsy can continue to be a much needed way out 💝 3w

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