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[Krystal109]

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margie Stohl
Before: The Middle of Nowhere
Written by Krystal


In Gatlin, South Carolina there are only two types of people “The stupid and the stuck.” It was obvious which Ethan’s father was, but he’d never had to courage to ask why. Ethan’s father was a writer and had lived in Gatlin all his life, just like all the Wates had, ever since their ancestor fought and died in the Civil War.

Folks in the South didn’t call it that though. To anyone under sixty it was the War Between the States and to everyone over sixty it was the War of Northern Aggression, as if the North had baited the South into war. Ethan’s family wasn’t like everyone else though. They called it the Civil War.

Gatlin was even smaller than small town. They were too far from Charleston to have all the big franchises and their library still had a card catalog. Everything was out dated and nothing was like what you saw in the movies, unless the movie was fifty years old.

What was cliché South about Gatlin though, was the sweltering heat and there was nothing you could do about it except bake.

Tomorrow was the first day of school, but like every other first day, Ethan knew exactly what to expect; at least that’s what he thought when he went to bed that Sunday night, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. He never saw it coming.


Characters Involved
Ethan Lawson Wate
Mitchell Wate


Characters Mentioned
Ellis Wate
Mr. and Mrs. Gentry


Places Visited
Ethan’s House


Memorable Quotes

Ethan: There were only two kind of people in our town. “The stupid and the stuck,” my father had affectionately classified out neighbors. (Page 1)

Ethan: Everyone under the age of sixty called it the War Between the States, while everyone over sixty called it the War of Northern Aggression, as if somehow the North had baited the South into war over a bad bail of cotton. (Page 1)

Ethan: Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.
I never even saw it coming. (Page 3)


Questions for consideration:

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?

Is there anything you’d like to discuss with the rest of the book club?

[dawn]

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?

When I first started the book, I would have sworn it was written by a man. I couldn't fathom how a female could be in the head of a teenage boy and write from that perspective.

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?

I loved the rich detail about their town, their families, school, etc..I grew up in TX and it brought up a lot of memories for me.

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?

It was draw in. I was excited to continue reading.

[Krystal109]

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?
When I first read the prologue I thought it was a girl. Maybe because I didn't know prior or because I was reading it in my head and i'm a girl. I think it's very ambiguous until the end of the chapter (when he mentions a girl) or until the next chapter.

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?
I think Kami & Margie set a very southern, slow paced environment that I just have a feeling is going to get stirred up very soon.

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?
It manages to set up where we are and what our protagonist is used to, but the real drawing in, is the last few lines by Ethan about a curse, a girl and a grave. I'm like... who's gonna die. I want to skip to the end and find out.

[ifellhard]

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?
I was surprised that the book was going to be from Ethan's POV.  It wasn't really obvious in the beginning. 

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?
There's some definite foreshadowing that things are about to be shaken up in the boring little town of Gatlin. 

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?
The comments about Gatlin reminded me of the small town in Tennessee where I grew up.  I could certainly relate to the "stupid and stuck" philosophy, as well as living in a town with few surprises.  The statements about a girl, a curse, and a grave led me to think that things were about to get really exciting and had me anxious to read more. 

[Krystal109]

I get the pleasure of reading the summaries/chapters as I edit them.

I was born and raised in California so it's hard to understand that southern concept of stupid or stuck. Kami and Margie sure do make me not want to live there. I love the whole Daree-Keen instead of Dairy King. It's like no one in the town cares because they know what it is anyways, so why bother having an accurate sign. I imagine that in such a small town you don't really need business signs. Everyone knows where everything is and it's not like there are any tourists.

[dawn]

And everyone knows everyone else's business. It's disconcerting but I like they way they described it in the book.

[Chris54]

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?
I LOVE that it's a males POV, because like Kami had said, you dont really see that. Plus it gives us readers a whole new vantange point to the action. And no I didnt see it coming, until after the page or so when he finally said 'his' name. I really thought it was going to be a girl's POV

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?
They set the perfect southern feel, right from the first page. I should know I'm from Texas y'all

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?
Yes it did! I have no clue what I was going to read, I just knew I liked the sound of the southern background, and the mysterious female.

Is there anything you’d like to discuss with the rest of the book club?
Umm not much in this chapter..but def coming up are some things I wanna talk about!!

[ifellhard]

And everyone knows everyone else's business. It's disconcerting but I like they way they described it in the book.

So, so true.  I have an aunt who has a police scanner and she knows EVERYTHING going on in town.  Gatlin could have easily been my hometown!

[Krystal109]

And everyone knows everyone else's business. It's disconcerting but I like they way they described it in the book.

So, so true.  I have an aunt who has a police scanner and she knows EVERYTHING going on in town.  Gatlin could have easily been my hometown!

That would suck. I get the feel from small towns. The town I live in now is 5 times as large as the one I went to high school in, but even it was big. People knew "of" other people, but it wasn't like, "I know what you had for dinner," STALKERS.

[dawn]

lol@stalkers.

I knew from the beginning that it was from a male perspective, but I'm not sure how I knew that. Intuition maybe.

[Krystal109]

lol@stalkers.

I knew from the beginning that it was from a male perspective, but I'm not sure how I knew that. Intuition maybe.

Dawn thinks like a man I guess. Must be how come her head was like... "this is totally a dude."

[kpic724]

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?

When reading this book I could not tell that it was written by two women. Looking at the cover I just assumed that one edited it or something. They were flawless though!

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?

They set a very high bar in the first chapter, I had so many questions that I wanted answered rigth from the start so it definitely kept me reading.

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?

The prologue set up the book very well. I could see something coming that would turn this small town upside down.

[elizabeth]

Although I have stated that the main character is a male, were you surprised to learn this considering the book is written by two women? Is it obvious from the beginning?
I am kind of surprised that the book is written by two women. It definitely isn't obvious. I like how the book is in a male's point of view because it is different.

What kind of mood does Kami and Margie set for the tone of the book?
Definitely a southern mood. I could hear the southern accent as I read. I also saw some foreshadowing.

What do you think of the prologue, does it draw you in? What do you expect for the rest of the book?
The prologue definitely drew me in! I'm really getting into this book! I don't what to expect though.

[Krystal109]

Yay welcome Elizabeth

[elizabeth]

Thanks Krystal!