Lexi’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2016)

Lexi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Day 1 DQs: Chap 1 to 5

1. What do you think of the choice of location for the book? Did the location effect your decision to read the book?

I nominated this book as I was interested in the location but at this point, it has mostly annoyed me. It still makes no sense to me to put Yorubaland in Mali. The history is just wrong, and it just seems a bit odd to me to have an empire that never got to Mali displace the one that was actually there at the time. Yoruba are not one of the major ethic groups in Mali Feels almost like an erasure of Mali’s actual culture and people. I think I am one of a few who know enough to care but it still bothers me.

2. There is a lot of information dropped in this first section. Are you finding it awkward to read or well-integrated? Are there questions you still have on the setting?

I find it a bit info-dumpy, but it is evening out as the book goes on. However, the book would be 20% shorter if everyone’s outfits were not described in every scene.

3. We meet the blacksmiths at the start of the book including Òdòdó’s mother. How do you think her relationship with her mother characterizes her as a character and her request for her mother to join her? If you have not read ahead, do you think asking for her mum to be kidnapped was a good idea?

I think she has strong family ties, but they do not seem to be entirely reciprocated so far since he mother hasn’t seemed to try to get in touch. I think the plot line is a way to drag out them getting married and that may be to make it more YA and not have the more dark aspects/non-consensual of forced marriages being involved.

4. We have met two new important characters Aremo and his first wife. Do you think he is as vapid as he appears? Do you like stories with a forced/political marriage theme?

He still comes across as violent but still not very strategic but potentially that doesn’t matter if all that matters is military success. I think Kolo is using Ododo but that is more in the next section. Finally, forced political marriages aren’t really that interesting to me but were very common. However, this one seems to be trying to be too many thing at once.

Steven wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I have updated the ladder plan in the planning spreadsheet. Since Steven is reading a book that starts with S, we can use any former BOM ending with S as the first book in the ladder i..."

T to S is even better. I just added it for one side of the square. That frees up another book for me to read something that isn't a former BOM. Thank you

I have updated the ladder plan in the planning spreadsheet. Since Steven is reading a book that starts with S, we can use any former BOM ending with S as the first book in the ladder if there are any books people want to read.

Lisa, I am jealous that you have a map in your copy of Masquerade. Mine is entirely map free and it would have been very helpful.

I also have defenestrated if needed in a book I have out from the library. I remembered that the author used it in her earlier book and authors tend to like words like that and reuse them I have found.

The Enchanted Greenhouse

Day 1 DQs: Chap 1 to 5

Just a note for anyone who wants some context: Timbuktu is in Mali and then, we travel south with the main character to the fictional capital, Ṣàngótẹ̀. The historic Yorubaland and Oyo empire is further south, containing western Nigeria, and I believe parts of modern-day Benin, and the Gold Coast is current day Ghana. Taghaza, which is mentioned is in present-day Algeria. Distance are more than a little compressed as these places would take a lot more traveling time if you wanted to walk or camel caravan there.

1. What do you think of the choice of location for the book? Did the location effect your decision to read the book?
2. There is a lot of information dropped in this first section. Are you finding it awkward to read or well-integrated? Are there questions you still have on the setting?
3. We meet the blacksmiths at the start of the book including Òdòdó’s mother. How do you think her relationship with her mother characterizes her as a character and her request for her mother to join her? If you have not read ahead, do you think asking for her mum to be kidnapped was a good idea?
4. We have met two new important characters Aremo and his first wife. Do you think he is as vapid as he appears? Do you like stories with a forced/political marriage theme?

I found hedgehog in the long book I am planning for this weekend so that was a good find.

Are we counting the USSR and Norway as non-Western then? Mostly asking for Russia/USSR, as I would switch mine to Roadside Picnic.

Have not had an Overly Specific Literary Monster in a while so here we go:

Shelob (LOTR)
350-400
Giant creature in book
Book from list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... (series sub ok)
Page number is a multiple of 8
All author initials in SHELOB

I can't read all of them but picked something I would read if no one else would, so please you or anyone feel free to claim one or switch out for one that works.

Denise wrote: "So in the ladder that Lexi posted, I could read Killers of a Certain Age for #1 (instead of the Gentleman's Guide... although that one looks like I might like it, too)."

Yes, you could. I picked the book since it was longer and I would be willing to read it if no one else took me up on it.

I am reading a #4 to a #6 in a series so that can work for the ladder as well.

We have started. Happy Reading, everyone.

Just a reminder than books have to be started from now on and any started before now cannot be used.

Thank you, Vi. That is a great second option, as we need 2 ladders.

16 is very helpful as well

Wonderful, thank you, Lisa, I will add your name by that one.

I'll add this to a top post, but for the square, I added Vi below:

The Book of Doors - I plan to read this one
The Diviners
Six of Crows
Sorcery of Thorns - Vi

For the ladder, all books must start with the previous letter. We have to use an article, so avoiding books with articles is a good start aside from the first book.

Ladder #1 (possibility but I would need help if anyone has a book they want to read on the list)
1. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
2. Etiquette & Espionage - I'll read this one
3. Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Lisa
4. Sorcery of Thorns
5. Another S to S: Six of Crows, Sharp Objects or Semiosis
6. Sabriel

Ladder #2 (anyone have ideas)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

We also need series numbered 1 to 10. We can have gaps but especially for the lower number, it will be easier to plan for at least 1-8 and then two higher numbers unless someone is reading a series currently.

Mini 7 is the hardest, as it will require planning across the team. I made a square that works from former BOMs.

The Book of Doors - I plan to read this one.
The Diviners
Six of Crows
Sorcery of Thorns

I can read all four of them, but I wanted to see if anyone else was interested in joining for any of these books. We also need ladders if there any other former BOM that anyone may want to read.

I'll share links closer to time when the threads are set up, but for people needing to find copies or get in line at the library, the two November BOMs are:
Our Share of Night
A Drop of Corruption

The second one (A Drop of Corruption) is the 2nd in a series, but it is a wonderful, fantasy mystery. The first one, The Tainted Cup, was my favorite new book I read that year, so I highly recommend both of the books in the series.

I have not read the horror book so I have no thoughts on it.

New vegi monster:
Jinmenju
350 to 450
"laughing" in text
Human head on cover
MPG Humor
Set in Japan, China, India, or Persia (Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan)

Well, I read one that counts. It wasn't very good, and it doesn't put me that much closer, but it is a start. The science of the world getting colder was very sketchy and so many cults.
- 3 stars