Largest Obstacle to the expedition

Use this forum to discuss the July 2020 Book of the month, "Zona: The Forbidden Land" by Fred G. Baker.
Post Reply
User avatar
houligan19
Posts: 80
Joined: 16 Jun 2020, 21:09
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 40
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-houligan19.html
Latest Review: The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye

Re: Largest Obstacle to the expedition

Post by houligan19 »

While alcohol always makes things worse, it seems like this crew would have clashed anyway. Power and greed are the problem, all too often.
User avatar
victoriasimons
Posts: 78
Joined: 11 Jun 2020, 10:30
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 13
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-victoriasimons.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: A New Arrival under Great Skies by Matthew Tysz

Post by victoriasimons »

I feel that alcohol became representative of their interpersonal problems. It symbolised their lack of trust and insecurities and it is arguably this which led to their downfalls.
Edwin Amah
Posts: 169
Joined: 25 May 2020, 03:16
Currently Reading: Mug the Wumph the Dancing Wizard
Bookshelf Size: 15
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-edwin-amah.html
Latest Review: The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life... by Dr. Allen Lycka & Harriet Tinka

Post by Edwin Amah »

For me, they could have just built enough trust. Alcohol was quite a problem, but not more of the problem they had. I think they lacked good communication and trust.
User avatar
Amy Murdoch Coleman
Posts: 354
Joined: 06 Aug 2018, 20:26
Favorite Book: Circe
Currently Reading: Hannah's War
Bookshelf Size: 6988
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-amy-murdoch-coleman.html
Latest Review: Caretaker by George Farrell

Post by Amy Murdoch Coleman »

I already have a bit of a distaste for liquor and its effects, so it seemed like a no-brainer to me to just get rid of it since an expedition of this nature would definitely require the members to be level-headed at all times. However, I did understand why it was included, as several other points of plot and characterization may not have been revealed to the reader otherwise.
User avatar
rahilshajahan
Posts: 751
Joined: 17 Jul 2020, 14:38
Currently Reading: Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Bookshelf Size: 96
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rahilshajahan.html
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: The Flesh of the Mind by Matthew Tysz

Post by rahilshajahan »

diana lowery wrote:
> I think that the alcohol caused problems, and I was annoyed that the
> commander didn't just dump it all out which would have solved the issue.
> Putting the others on the honor system not to get into it was not a good
> decision.

First off, most of the characters are Russians. Ain't nobody dumpin alcohol in the camp. I don't mean to stereotype and cause issues; its just an observation. Also, alcohol is key to bringing morale up among the campers and building a jovial atmosphere during celebrations.

I think the main issue was the fact that they didn't put much effort into finding a cure for their uncontrolled emotions. If they did, most of the problems could have been avoided.
kdstrack
Previous Member of the Month
Posts: 6473
Joined: 10 May 2017, 19:49
Currently Reading: The Savior
Bookshelf Size: 530
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kdstrack.html
Latest Review: How To Be Successful by M. Curtis McCoy

Post by kdstrack »

One of the main obstacles was keeping secrets. Grant explained his motives for not sharing his uncle's diary. Letting other members of the team read the diary could have resulted in different opinions about the contents. Each member of the team had an expertise that might have seen something different in his uncle's writings.
User avatar
Sushan Ekanayake
Official Reviewer Representative
Posts: 4853
Joined: 04 May 2018, 19:13
Currently Reading: Uplifting The Pain of Behavioral and Learning Styles Through Poetry Now
Bookshelf Size: 408
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sushan-ekanayake.html
Latest Review: Unsettled Disruption by Juana Catalina Rodriguez
Reading Device: B0794JC2K5

Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

Alcohol caused problems. But more or less, every bit of this expedition was a new experience and a new challenge. So it was full of obstacles
kathy2705
Posts: 80
Joined: 12 Jul 2020, 08:43
Favorite Author: Paulo Coelho
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 44
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kathy2705.html
Latest Review: The Vanished by Pejay Bradley
fav_author_id: 2451

Post by kathy2705 »

I think that the alcohol was an issue because it affected their ability to make good judgements about each other.
User avatar
Nelson Reviews
Posts: 65
Joined: 22 Jun 2020, 05:17
Favorite Author: Jack Winnick
Favorite Book: Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 47
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nelson-reviews.html
Latest Review: Puzzle of Fate by A. Reza Kamarei
fav_author_id: 77547

Post by Nelson Reviews »

I think the alcohol was not an obstacle. But the consumers where. If only they maintained good morals among them selves, the bad effect of alcohol could not have arrised.
User avatar
David_Kariuki
Posts: 126
Joined: 14 Jul 2020, 04:49
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 20
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-david-kariuki.html
Latest Review: Happy Healing by Dominique Bourlet

Post by David_Kariuki »

kathy2705 wrote:
> I think that the alcohol was an issue because it affected their ability to
> make good judgements about each other.
As much as, this also true, you have to acknowledge that how they handled the alcohol first depicts poor judgment.
User avatar
Haywhyre7
Posts: 70
Joined: 15 Jun 2020, 05:10
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 33
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-haywhyre7.html
Latest Review: California: On the Edge of American History by Ronald Genini

Post by Haywhyre7 »

The alcohol did bring problems to them and most were avoidable at best.. A little abstinence and discipline on their side would have saved them lots of trouble
User avatar
David_Kariuki
Posts: 126
Joined: 14 Jul 2020, 04:49
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 20
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-david-kariuki.html
Latest Review: Happy Healing by Dominique Bourlet

Post by David_Kariuki »

Ferdinand_otieno wrote:
> During the course of the expedition the group overindulged in alcohol and
> this caused many problems that could have easily been avoided. While they
> faced many obstacles from terrible weather to wild animals, In my opinion
> Alcohol was the largest obstacle to the expedition.
> What about you, what do you think was the largest obstacle to the
> expedition?
I'll point at three main obstacles in my opinion 1. Lack of trust 2. Poor communication and 3. Poor Self-Discipline.
Claris L
Posts: 59
Joined: 30 May 2020, 20:44
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 19
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-claris-l.html
Latest Review: The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings

Post by Claris L »

Leen282 wrote:
> I think it's the lack of trust and the lack of open communication. The
> alcohol itself was not a problem for me, but the fact that some people were
> stealing it instead of sharing and enjoying together.

I think the fact that the lack of trust and open communication certainly was a factor, but I do think the alcohol definitely made it worse once they overindulged in it.
femma
Posts: 103
Joined: 17 Jun 2020, 03:49
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 21
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-femma.html
Latest Review: Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula by R.F. Kristi

Post by femma »

Of cos, alchohol impacted their judgements, and thus compromises the efficient means of carrying out their expendition.
User avatar
Odette Chace
Posts: 518
Joined: 22 Feb 2020, 16:22
Favorite Book: The History of Love
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 576
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-odette-chace.html
Latest Review: Everyday Pocket Poetry by LoAnn Twedt

Post by Odette Chace »

diana lowery wrote:
> I think that the alcohol caused problems, and I was annoyed that the
> commander didn't just dump it all out which would have solved the issue.
> Putting the others on the honor system not to get into it was not a good
> decision.
I agree. I was wondering if the over-consumption of alcohol throughout the work was supposed to be a commentary on Russian culture or if it was just the characters having poor impulse control, or both.
Post Reply

Return to “Discuss "Zona: The Forbidden Land" by Fred G. Baker”