Ape House by Sarah Gruen

My online bookclub just started reading Ape House by Sarah Gruen.  I have to admit I was not all that excited about the selection.   I just finished Water for Elephants by the same author a couple weeks agoand did not like it all that much.  I know that everyone I talked to loved the book.  I just never really  into and never loved it.  Granted I was trying to read it during a couple difficult weeks of my life so that may have had something to do with it.  Also, when I heard about the selection of the book I could only think to myself that I have not an ape person or an animal person so how could I possibly enjoy this book.

Well, I was very wrong!  So far I have really enjoyed this book.   I have had to stop myself to stay on track with the schedule.

So here's my thoughts on this weeks questions:

1.  What was your initial reaction to the idea of a language lab with bonobos who are capable of having conversations with humans?
This brought back so many memories to me of my college days.   I was a psychology major and some of my study was on different communications and the psychology etc of animals.   I was very interested in the lab and the communication with the bonobos.   I am sure that humans and apes communicate in varies way and it seems really interesting to me that the language is studies in the lab.

2.  Isabel said early in the book that the apes know they're apes and know that the humans are humans, but they don't see any superiority with either... What do you think the major difference is between the two?
Tough question to answer.   I know that Isabel probably feels the same way about the apes, she doesn't see any superiority beacuse she interacts with them all the time.   To me, it is very clear that humans are superior to apes because we can do things such as drive, run businesses, etc.   Apes are very intelligent and can communicate with humans but it is clearly not at the same level.  If I spent as much time as Isabel with the apes I may feel very different about the superiority of the two beings.

3.  What are your thoughts on John and his feelings toward Isabel?  How do you think their relationship will play out?
It seems very obvious to me that John and Isabel will develop a relationship later in the book.   He seems to have a connection to her and she is very vulnerable after the explosion of the lab.

4.  How do you think that Isabel will respond to the apes being taken?
The apes are a big part of Isabel's life.   I think that she will react like person that has lost a close friend.

5.  Do you think Celia is part of the team that ambushed the learning center?
I do not think that Celia is part of the team that ambushed the learning center.  She has something else going on in her life that I think will develop in the story, but not the bombing.

6.  What are your thoughts on John and his relationship with Amanda?
John and Amanda seem to have a pretty good relationship I am assuming that something is going to happen between them.  Amanda is so upset and trying to get her life on track with the move to L.A.  Long distance relationships usually don't work so it is presumable that they will not work.