Five Hole Fiction #1
[Fontenot has been added to the chat by Kowalski]
[Mueller has been added to the chat by Davis]
Thompson
WELCOME TO THE INNER CIRCLE
Marchetti
THE CLUB GROWS
Mueller
what is this? Davis told me it was important
Kowalski
welcome to Five Hole Fiction. there are rules and there is a reading order. both are non-negotiable
Mueller
rules. for a book club?
Thompson
for THIS book club
Fontenot
who else is in here
Kowalski
current membership: me, Thompson, Marchetti, Hájek, Davis, Berger, M?kinen. and the captain, who has never once spoken in this chat
Mueller
the captain is in book club
Thompson
the captain is a ghost who haunts our book club. this has been established
Hájek
we have accepted his silence. it is part of our identity now
Berger
ANYWAY. initiation. Fontenot, Mueller. have you read The Trades
Mueller
i’ve read the series overview. i’ll start with Late Scratch
Thompson
...
Kowalski
oh no
Davis
i tried this. Thompson called me a psychopath
Thompson
i called you a psychopath because you WERE being a psychopath. and Mueller is being a psychopath
Mueller
Uh….
Thompson
you are being a psychopath who skips book one
Mueller
the books have different couples. then reading order is a preference, not a requirement
Kowalski
the emotional architecture IS dependent. Kerimore doesn’t land without The Trades. this is structural, not preference
Mueller
“emotional architecture”
Marchetti
you cannot logic your way out of reading order.
Davis
just do it. and whatever you do don’t read it on a plane
Mueller
why would the plane matter?
Hájek
You should trust Davis. Do not read it on the plane.
Mueller
Okay. i’ll start with The Trades. but i want it documented that i consider this an untested assumption
Berger
documented. Fontenot?
Fontenot
read it in October. Bug chewed through my Kindle cable on a road trip. Davis lent me his
Davis
wait. my Kindle had The Trades on it?
Fontenot
Davis you had twelve romance novels on that Kindle
Davis
...moving on
Thompson
Fontenot you’re cleared. Mueller you have homework.
Kowalski
...alright. next order of business. group read.
Thompson
my top pick: “Off the Record.” workplace romance. a journalist and a press secretary meet anonymously at a party. they hook up. no names exchanged. Monday morning she walks into the briefing room and he’s standing behind the podium
Davis
anonymous hookup to workplace collision. strong premise. i’m in
Hájek
the anonymous meeting creates a kind of tension. this is interesting
Kowalski
workplace ethics ticking clock. the journalist has more career risk than the press secretary. power imbalance baked into the premise. i like it
Marchetti
that sounds... fine. sure. whatever. i’m in
Kowalski
You usually have more opinions
Marchetti
i said FINE. it sounds fine. normal book club pick. let’s read it
Kowalski
Okay….
Marchetti
i am ALWAYS this enthusiastic. this is baseline Marchetti
M?kinen
sure
Thompson
all in favor. motion carries. Mueller you can participate in discussion once you’ve completed The Trades. the window for objection has closed
Mueller
i haven’t agreed to any of this
Thompson
you’re in the chat Mueller. the chat is the agreement
Hájek
welcome to both of you. we are glad you are here. this group has changed my English and my understanding of relationships
Thompson
is the captain still in here?
Kowalski
he’s here. zero messages across four full books’ worth of reading. but he named a cat after a ship name from this series so he is DEFINITELY reading
Mueller
he named a cat after a fictional relationship?
Thompson
you’ll understand when you’ve read the books
Marchetti
everyone download “Off the Record” tonight. Mueller start The Trades. welcome to Five Hole Fiction!