TWOTW Chat Room by Tasha Thomas https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo Use the forum below to discuss specific aspects of the David Joy's novel, The Weight of This World. Be sure to RAISE QUESTIONS about the book, discuss CHARACTERS, AUTHOR'S CRAFT, PLOT, STRUCTURE, etc. I want to see evidence of critical thinking and analysis. ALSO, be sure to REPLY and RESPOND to each other by name as you take part in this conversation. Refer to the discussion questions in the back of your book if you need ideas. en-us 2018-10-29 11:57:07 UTC 2026-01-19 02:50:46 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Xmastree.png https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297978095 Anna Cantrell - Why did Joy end the book with Aiden about to kill Samuel Mathis instead of actually killing him?]]> 2018-10-29 12:47:42 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297978095 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297979466 Why did April want Aiden and Thad to go back to Wayne Bryce's house to get the dope, if she was just going to sell her house to get her own money and leave?]]> 2018-10-29 12:50:18 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297979466 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297979891 I think it was important for Joy to leave the novel with a bittersweet ending. This allows a reality for the readers to understand in relation to the everyday struggles in Appalachia. ]]> 2018-10-29 12:51:07 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297979891 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297979978  I think that April is the strongest character in the book. She transitions from this seemingly weak and mysterious woman to a brave character that has been through hell and back.]]> 2018-10-29 12:51:15 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297979978 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980076  Did April truly care about Aiden, or was she using him for her pleasure? because she ended up leaving him, even though she gave him money before she left.]]> 2018-10-29 12:51:27 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980076 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980161 Noah Doering - Anna, I think he ends the book like that because he wants to leave the book where people pretty much know what's going to happen, but they can still use their imagination to make different assumptions and leave the end up to discussion. It's like ending a movie with a black screen and a gunshot. ]]> 2018-10-29 12:51:36 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980161 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980677 If April really loved Aiden, why did she not let him come with her? Is it because even though she cared for him, she knew he was prone to bring problems with him?]]> 2018-10-29 12:52:30 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980677 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980951 Maybe April was thinking that if Aiden  ended up getting more money from the dope at Wayne's house he would give some of it to her and she could get out of there earlier]]> 2018-10-29 12:52:57 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297980951 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981251 Anna - Joy's gritty tone makes the novel much more realistic and authentic. Without using cuss words and graphic content, the story would not be as rich.]]> 2018-10-29 12:53:25 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981251 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981324 Why did April and Aiden part ways?  They both wanted out and they both cared about one another, so why didn't they just go to Asheville together?]]> 2018-10-29 12:53:34 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981324 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981351 Why didn't Aiden leave when Thad disappeared in the woods?]]> 2018-10-29 12:53:37 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981351 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981402 I agree Anna]]> 2018-10-29 12:53:43 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981402 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981805 How is the eventual downfall of Thad in the last few chapters related to the recent changes in relationship between him and Aiden?]]> 2018-10-29 12:54:31 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297981805 cgaffney594 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982577 Connor Gaffney - If a lot of people regularly go to the dope house, how was no one close enough to hear the gunshot and investigate? How did no one go to the dope house before Aiden and Thad went back to raid it?]]> 2018-10-29 12:55:06 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982577 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982618 Is Thad justified in taking his own life?]]> 2018-10-29 12:55:11 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982618 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982645 Why is Aiden still hanging around when he could have left? Why didn't he just kill Sam like he was going to kill Leland and then leave?]]> 2018-10-29 12:55:14 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982645 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982970 If Aiden was so afraid of being alone, from his PTSD, then how come Joy never inserted flashbacks from when Thad was in the military and he hadn't started talking to April yet?  These could've been place in the novel when Aiden was laying in the grass after he left that with Doug and Julie Dietz and Meredith. ]]> 2018-10-29 12:55:53 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297982970 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297983288 could the story have had a different ending that would have been a better one?]]> 2018-10-29 12:56:29 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297983288 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297983344 Anna - Connor, I also thought about that. It didn't make sense that no one else heard. Maybe the author chose to not discuss it. ]]> 2018-10-29 12:56:37 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297983344 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297983499 I think Thad is justified in taking his own life because that was his only real escape from his problems]]> 2018-10-29 12:56:54 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297983499 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297984074 I believe if Thad would have gotten proper help, he would not have had to end his life and he could have stayed around with Aiden and had a much better life.]]> 2018-10-29 12:58:01 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297984074 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297984624 I think that he ended the book on a note that you could imagine many possibilities on what would happen even though we would know what happened. - Clay]]> 2018-10-29 12:58:59 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297984624 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297984938 Anna - I am happy for April that she finally was able to leave. If Joy hadn't had April leave, her story wouldn't have really been concluded.]]> 2018-10-29 12:59:29 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297984938 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297985176 I think some closure on what happened to the main characters would have been a better way to end it, but at the same time the ending we got leaves room for discussion.]]> 2018-10-29 12:59:56 UTC https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297985176 https://padlet.com/tthomas/l1qpgytq13zo/wish/297986585  
Eryn Boone: Why did April and Aiden's relationship develop the way it did? . Aiden is in love with her, and even though her feelings aren't completely reciprocated, she still cares for him very much.  Aiden was left all alone after Thad committed suicide, so why wouldn't April let Aiden join her when she left Jackson County? 

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