Group Discussion # 2 : Chapters 6 - 10, Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I'd like to get the ball rolling for our next discussion and I'll be putting everything under a read more cut so those who happen to be behind aren't spoiled.
On Chapter Six, Cinder is still trying to cope with what just happened to Peony. It's obvious she's very distressed, and to me this helps us see that despite what society might think of her as a cyborg, there's definitely a lot of humanity to her. Her grief for Peony proves that as well as her rollercoaster of emotions once she enters the apartment she shares with the Linh family. Now, I know a lot of people don't like Adri--her actions might seem despicable or harsh--but I do find her a great character and I like her a lot.
Her actions are not without reason. Her husband suddenly brings a cyborg home, later dies and leaves her to fend for their family--and a spare--on her own. It is obvious they have economical struggles and with society's view on cyborgs it is no surprise that Adri has certain resentment and detached feelings towards Cinder, compared to her biological daughters.
She is not emotionless; however, and this is proved on how she struggles to contain herself, over and over, throughout her discussion with Cinder. Yes, perhaps it was an inhumane act to give up Cinder for testing but Adri and most of society does not view Cyborgs as humane so is this something that should be held against her character or not? I'd love to hear your guys take on this.
I did feel bad for Cinder at this point. As a main character, Meyer has done a good job at making her compelling and it has been easy to like her. I liked that Cinder fought back, although I am always one to be very vociferous about the typical "badass" character that is only described as badass because she can hit people with sticks--in this case a magbelt. I think it was a great show of emotions, especially as Cinder's humanity had been questioned in the very same chapter by Adri, and this once more brings up the question: Are Cygborgs human after all?
Chapter Seven through Ten, we have Cinder in the lab being tested by the ever creepy Dr. Elrand. He's certainly mysterious, and there's more to him than what has been told in these chapters so I am curious to know what is going with him, specifically his hallucinations. I wasn't surprised at all that Cinder's immunity had somehow developed antibodies for letumosis, as I had come to that conclusion already due to the incident at the market. It was probably she, after all, who infected Peony as she was a carrier--maybe in her clothes or hair--even if she wasn't infected herself.
I'm curious as to what's going to happen with her now. Her body is the obvious key to finding a cure for letumosis, and it seems a little early for the plot in my opinion but I also have a vague idea that there's other little side-stories in mind for this book so I will keep an open mind for now. Your thoughts are welcome and encouraged so feel free to agree or disagree with whatever I have written up there. You can also provide your own input in the chapters up for discussion--themes or subjects I haven't touched on.
