Before I Fall, Middle Chapters, 3-4

[MissShopaholic]

I think the character and attitude she displays in these chapters can simply be described as human nature.  When there are rules and consequences placed upon a person, they can either comply or face the consequences.  I get the impression that Sam never really felt secure about her identity and just went with the flow.  She is easily influenced by peer pressure but really doesn't know who she is as person and doesn't feel comfortable in her own skin. At his point, i think she is testing the limits when she knows that tomorrow everything will be erased like it never happened. To all this, she is growing, and learning her true feelings (like with Lindsay). 

I do believe everyone around her is changing by responding to her new assertiveness. I am especially proud of her for not caring enough about the roses to place them in the trash.  This shows great confidence to be able to walk the halls without a single rose.  She could start a whole new trend of confidence among the rest of the student body if it caught on. Seems to me that Kent has been the most genuine person from the beginning.

Is she learning? Yes she is.  LIke i said before, she is growing, learning about life, taking risks, learning from mistakes, testing her limits. When a person knows there will not be long-term effects or consequences, why not see how it feels to charge the credit card??? It's like having the advantage of wishing if one were is someone else's shoes for a day....

I'm not sure if I like the kids.  They seem to be influenced easily by Sam.  In the other group, Sam was not their leader, infact she was somewhat insecure whereas now she is confident and in control.

[loves2read_MA]

I have read many of the First Look books over the past few years and this is the first one I would whole heartedly recommend.  I love the premise and as I read each version of Sam's do over day, I realized this book has some really deep ideas going on.

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? I did not like these stunts and Sam's recklessness.  I kept wondering would I be this reckless if I knew none of this matters?  I don't think I would.  However, she is a young girl and just trying to make sense of what's happening to her so I became a little more sympathetic to her.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? I definitely think that each day Sam relives she is learning more about herself and developing character.  I was so happy for her when she snapped out of her attraction to that dopey Rob.  And it seems she's finally noticing other people not just the cool clique she hangs out with.

[0104]

Sam seems to be acting just as she should when repeating that final day over and over.  I think we all like to think that we would immediately make changes, given the chance.  But, reality is change is difficult and even when we know what is the right thing to do/say/feel, we often fall back in to old habits.  I feel as time moves on she is changing for the positive.

[kels10]

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?

 Sam just goes with the flow of the February 12th days. Her actions change the way people treat her. I'm shocked by her nothing matters attitude, and I think it is more questionable than Cam's normal behavior.

Are any of the other characters changing as Sam changes in these chapters? Do Ally, Elody, Lindsay or any of the school kids Sam has always ignored seem seem more genuine or different in response to Sam's new (sometimes bizarre) behavior?

The other characters are changing too. For example on some of the days, Lindsay, Ally, and Elody actually care about Juliet the least bit because she die. Sam is starting to hangout with other people more and learn that she can talk to other people than just her three bestfriends.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? Which, if any of these, seems true for you in these chapters?

I feel like Sam is learning stuff as she goes along these February 12ths. Each day she tries to help or make things different; she always ends up learning a lesson in the end. She is changing. For example she is becoming more considerate and a better person. She is realizing that she should live it up while it lasts because in one minute everything could be gone.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters?

I think the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters are different but good for her. By that I mean that they change her and make her a better person. One person I think who is really good for her is Kent. He helps her realize so much and they just are great together.

[JennM14]

---

MaggieMcKickButt wrote:

I feel as though Sam’s trying to change and be different. But no matter how hard she tries, everything keeps going wrong. 

---

I completely agree with you - she just doesn't know what to do beacuse no matter what she can't get things to turn out the way she wants them to.  Ugh how awful it must be for her!

[flarglepuf]

The Do Over Day

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?

I really look down on Sam for her risk-it-all attitude.  If that was the day that stuck, the day that got her out of the cycle, I'm sure she wouldn't like having to live with the image people would have gotten from her behavior.  No matter what the situation, I think she should have done only what she was proud of.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters?

I really like the kids Sam hangs out with these days.  The Pugs were really nice, and very genuine-pretty much the exact opposite of Lindsay, Ally, and Elody.  Kent is just awesome, and he really cares for Sam.  And Katie was really cool and made Sam think about things in a different light.  I think hanging out with these kids was something that Sam really needed to do to finally change her ways.  (I just wish she would've treated them a bit better)

[jb70]

I had so much trouble staying with the schedule, so I took notes while I was reading.  I've been trying not to comment too much since I can't remember entirely when things happened and I hate to give spoilers.  I decided to give the thoughts I had while reading since I labeled them by chapter and know I won't be giving anything else away!

Chapter 3:

Since Sam goes in late on her own I wondered what happened with the parking spot, if Lindsay was early enough to get it.  It didn't really seem to play a part this time.  Do only things that directly affect Sam change the day?  She stared at Alex when he was with Katie eating but didn't confront him.  I thought it was an interesting anti-smoking campaign when she is hiding while Otto and the smoking Nazi teacher are together.  She doesn't fess up about the cheating with Lauren at the office and they avoid going to the party.  After Juliet;s suicide and Sam seeing in the yearbooks that Lindsay and Juliet were once best friends I wondered why she now hates her so much, why Juliet took the broken friendship so hard while Lindsay seemed to have moved on without a care.  Is it just Juliet's last name that makes them call her "psycho"?  I really wondered if Rob even cared and why it was so hard to say"I love you", or if Sam really does love Rob on any level.  With the quiz, why does Sam continue to cheat- doesn't she know the answers by now and why not sit by someone else to avoid the whole replay with Lauren.  Since in this chapter she doesn't die I wondered why she had to still relive the day.  Does someone have to die to make this end and are they all reliving the day and just not talking about it?  Will she keep drinking at the party?  Why was popularity so important to Ally's mom, does it have anything to do with Ally not being the brightest and her mom wanting her to have something she could excel at?

Chapter 4:

How could Sam keep skipping all of her classes and not get caught- isn't there some sort of attendance report that goes to the office.  Why does Kent keep trying to help her and why doesn't she want help or to be "fixed"?  When she is with the pugs does she act like the Lindsay of the pugs?  Why does Lindsay hate Katie- is she a threat in some way?  Since she fit in so well with the Pugs would she even miss her group if she lived from here on out in a new group?  How much does money play into who is cool and who isn't?  Does the parents money buy a portion of the coolness?  On page 244 she talks about not begin a whole person.  Is Lindsay purging or does it have something to do with the sex/date rape while viiting her brother and that is why she talks about her first time being with Patrick.  Are both Juliet and Sam Dead men walking?  Since Kent has the party to save her, could he save her, is it really too late, does someone have to die to right a wrong?  Does Juliet die in each of the endings too?

[sarah_in_ca]

I don't see much change in the other characters Sam hangs out with.  They see oblivious to the hurt they cause, and think rules are for everyone but them.  Her pals seem very loney except when they're with each other, as if the group has become their family.  Sam has a good family and therefore is open to the changes she observes and sees the need to fix things right.  Her friends react to Sam's behaviors as if they were normal and totally acceptable.

I find little to like about Sam's friends, but I like their families if we meet them--the mothers and fathers and siblings.  My highschool days were played out with a group  much like Sam's friends, and it was no fun to be on the outside.

[Bookw0rm]

The Do Over Day

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?

At first I was a little surprised at her attitude but she knew she would get to relive her last day. Its understandable in the way she acts it must be hard to have to relive a day over and over and not make it stop or change its outcome. I think the day she makes everyone angry and lets loose is just a way for her to vent and deal with the situation she has been put in.

 Are any of the other characters changing as Sam changes in these chapters? Do Ally, Elody, Lindsay or any of the school kids Sam has always ignored seem seem more genuine or different in response to Sam's new (sometimes bizarre) behavior?

I don’t think the people that surround Sam are changing at their own free will its Sams actions that make everyone and everything around her change. The kids who want to be like her who want to be popular are thrilled that she is talking to them and the girls that belong to her friendship circle are confused as to why she is doing this.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? Which, if any of these, seems true for you in these chapters?

Sam’s opportunity to relive the same day over and over is also giving her the opportunity to be her true self since she knows if she messes up she will get to re do it.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters? The Do Over Day

I definitely like the kids in these chapters better than the her friends. The group of girls she goes shopping with although they are fake and wannabes there better people than her friends.

[Annette94]

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?

 It's much more questionable! She has stooped down to the level of seducing her Math teacher! The way I see it, is that she has come to terms with the fact that the next day, everything it's going to be erased and start all over, so she wants to do (and say) everything she's every wanted without dealing with any of the consequences. But because of this behavior, she has learned about things she wished she hadn't. She will never be able to Daimler the same and she probably has more respect for Katie, than she had in the begining of the book.

Are any of the other characters changing as Sam changes in these chapters? Do Ally, Elody, Lindsay or any of the school kids Sam has always ignored seem seem more genuine or different in response to Sam's new (sometimes bizarre) behavior?

Of course some of them are going to act different. Just look at the building relationship between her and Kent, and the deteriorating relationship between her and Rob. Katie doesn't seem like such a whore to her anymore, and the girls are starting to realize that Lindsay is more like a dictator, than a friend.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? Which, if any of these, seems true for you in these chapters?

I think she is learning, for now, she's not going in the direction she should be going toward, but maybe in the next few chapters, she'll realize that she can make a difference and perhaps save someones life. Her true self is coming out. She feels out of place in her own group. At heart, she's not a mean girl.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters?

I think they're awesome. She's learning new things from new people. People whom she made fun of before.

[Annette94]

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?

 It's much more questionable! She has stooped down to the level of seducing her Math teacher! The way I see it, is that she has come to terms with the fact that the next day, everything it's going to be erased and start all over, so she wants to do (and say) everything she's every wanted without dealing with any of the consequences. But because of this behavior, she has learned about things she wished she hadn't. She will never be able to Daimler the same and she probably has more respect for Katie, than she had in the begining of the book.

Are any of the other characters changing as Sam changes in these chapters? Do Ally, Elody, Lindsay or any of the school kids Sam has always ignored seem seem more genuine or different in response to Sam's new (sometimes bizarre) behavior?

Of course some of them are going to act different. Just look at the building relationship between her and Kent, and the deteriorating relationship between her and Rob. Katie doesn't seem like such a whore to her anymore, and the girls are starting to realize that Lindsay is more like a dictator, than a friend.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? Which, if any of these, seems true for you in these chapters?

I think she is learning, for now, she's not going in the direction she should be going toward, but maybe in the next few chapters, she'll realize that she can make a difference and perhaps save someones life. Her true self is coming out. She feels out of place in her own group. At heart, she's not a mean girl.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters?

I think they're awesome. She's learning new things from new people. People whom she made fun of before.

[Annette94]

I completely agree.

[Annette94]

I also had trouble keeping with the schedule! I wrote editorial notes in my book and where they are, but that didn't occur to me. I'm deffinately doing that next time!

[Annette94]

That's true. When we're in high school, we are constantly presured into fitting in. We have to learn to grow out of that.

[lizabet1196]

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?  I totally understand the "nothing matters" attitude, If I had lived this day already twice and knew what the outcome was going to be I wouldn't care either.  I would just go through it like so what.  Yes I think this new behavior is more questionable and more noticeable because this is not who her friends are use to.

Are any of the other characters changing as Sam changes in these chapters? Do Ally, Elody, Lindsay or any of the school kids Sam has always ignored seem seem more genuine or different in response to Sam's new (sometimes bizarre) behavior?Yes, I think all the characters are changing somewhat or maybe Sam is seeing them for who they really are not just who they pretend to be for Lindsay and everyone else. 

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? Which, if any of these, seems true for you in these chapters?She's learning who she use to be and what she has become.  She is also learning things about her friends that maybe she doesn't totally agree with.

[bookharlot]

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? She convinces her friends to say in instead of going to the party, but then they learn that Juliet has committed suicide.  In chapter 4, Sam dresses provocatively, says what she thinks to her friends instead of humoring them, skips classes, flirts with and kisses a teacher, smokes pot with Katie, and charges clothes on her mother's credit card. Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? No, I expected it.  When you know you're going to die, and you've got nothing to lose, why not break all the rules?  Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior? Yes, because it just seems out of character for her.

Are any of the other characters changing as Sam changes in these chapters? Do Ally, Elody, Lindsay or any of the school kids Sam has always ignored seem seem more genuine or different in response to Sam's new (sometimes bizarre) behavior?  Elody and Ally seem more genuine when they learn of Juliet's suicide.  Lindsay still just comes off as cruel.  Katie seems like someone who has gotten a bad rap but would probably be a better friend to Sam than the rest of her friends, were she given the chance.  Tara, Bethany, and Courtney weren't cool enough to hang with Sam before, but when she's alienated her friends, the trio welcomes her into their group.  Kent, who knew Sam before she was cool, seems to be very perceptive about who she really is deep down, even if she doesn't want to acknowledge who she really is.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different? I think she's learning more about her true relationships with the people in her life, from her family and friends to the people in school she interacts with but doesn't really consider a part of her life.  Is Sam's basic nature changing?  Are there ways that she is either building character (an old fashioned phrase!) or revealing her true self? Which, if any of these, seems true for you in these chapters? I don't think her basic nature is changing, it's just being revealed.  I think her true self really comes out when she asks to stay with Kent after the party.  She's totally vulnerable and opening herself up to someone like she hasn't done before.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters?

[lasha908]

I have been so busy with school, but i look forward to reading and finishing this book. So far, im speechless in a sense that, this book is so cool. to repeat a day over, must be a nightmare, sam is a brave, smart girl who is dealt with a situation that is out of her control. Sam is such a relatable character, Lauren displays her emotions and really drew me in as a reader. Im so into this book, its scary. I have a funny antedote to add, i missed by stop on the way home from school, and had to walk home, i was so engrossed with sam and her days, that i got off the bus 8 blocks away from my house. i cant wait to finish this book, kudos to lauren oliver, you wrote a true winner, and im looking forward to a second book. Thanks for stopping by to chat with us, and i think your a cool person and writer. thanks!!

[dragonfly_yayn]

Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude?Yes & no.  I was suprised because she is usually a follower than able to do something on her own, but no because she was more agitated & angry than trying to figure out what was happening.

Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior? It seems that most of the characters were surprised by it but not shocked, so it seems that it is not.

Is Sam learning anything at all as we go through each of these February 12ths, or is she just floundering in new and more awful directions with every attempt to do something different?At this point she seems to be more floundering than anything.

How do you like the other kids Sam hangs out with in these chapters? They unfortunately are followers or rebels, which Sam gets to be the big shot more with.

[macp]

Sam starts to change her whole days by acting different. She doesn't realize what she is doing at first, but the outcome she gets I don't think she was expecting any of them. I'm not suprised by her attitude where nothing would matter anymore. I'm sure that if it was ever possible for people to relive the same day over and over it would get frustrating. You would aventually get to that attitude. I think that some of the characters have been changing in small ways. I don't think that their whole personality will ever change, but I think some of what they see in certain people will change. i think that Sam isn't really taking to heart what is going on with her. She is just wanting to change everyday over and over and I don't know if thats the way to take it. Though, I think later on we will find out more about herself.

[Vermontcozy]

Its  so good that you are posting.Even though I finished the book,I love reading the posts,and everyones  take on the Book..Lauren Oliver is on twitter,traveling she is oliver books on twitter,I think.The book is doing so well,no surprise. So many changes..i look forward to reading your posts as you are further along..Vtc..

[FortunaLuna]

What are Sam's new stunts to change the outcome of her day, and what effect do her actions have? Are you shocked by her "nothing matters" attitude? Do you think this new risk-it-all behavior is more questionable than Sam's "normal" behavior?

Sam's behavior changed drastically in the middle portions of the book. She flashes boys, steals her mom's credit card, smokes pot, and makes out with her perverted teacher. I'm not really shocked by it; when you keep waking up to the same day, extraordinary things are bound to happen. However, this behavior is definitely more questionable the Sam's regular behavior. Not only is it nonsensical and danger, but it also threatens her popularity and her position among the high school crowd.