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

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

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

Alongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city - or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems....

I removed myself from an O for the mini that I won't get to this month if someone else has a book that would cover it. I am only getting time to read on Sundays right now.

Daniel wrote: "I loved Under the Whispering Door! It was just as magical as I was expecting after reading The House in the Cerulean Sea. And personally, as a gay man, it’s so refre..."

I really enjoyed both as well and am looking forward to In the Lives of Puppets. I have not read T.J. Klune's YA stuff, have you?

I got three books from 2017 read on the way to Senegal:

Two were kind of bleh YA books but one was fun (also, YA):
- 3 stars
- 4 stars

This gets me up to 14 for the year

For "Read a book where a characters name is also a word", do you mean a word that is not a name, such as Sunny, Joy etc?

I have read enough books to skip the task - Read a book with "weak at the knees" in text

H - The Travelling Cat Chronicles - A: Hiro 288
E - The Serpent King - C: Dill Early - 384
L - Finna - S: Litenverse - 144
P - The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly - 400 - C: Philip

DQ May 19- How Noriko Learned to Love - End of Book

Do not read these if you haven't finished the book. Contains spoilers.

13. In this chapter we get to know Saturo's Aunt Noriko better. What adjectives would you use to describe Noriko's personality? How did you feel about the way Noriko revealed Saturo's birth story? Were you surprised to learn he was adopted?
It is interesting and I wondered if that really reflects the adoption process in Japan. (Books often get it wrong in the US so you never know). It was a rather thoughtless way of telling a child. I’m not sure it really mattered that he was adopted or maybe a better way of putting it, I am not sure what the author was trying to say with him being adopted mind that he parents loved a non-biological child, which does not seem that remarkable. Having a bit of hard time trying to put in words what I mean.

14. Did you think Nana running off towards the end and living his former life as a stray was fitting for the story. Was it believable that he would come back and forth visiting Saturo in the hospital?
Yes, given the intelligence and problem solving that they had given the cat throughout the book. With a real cat, a little less believable.

15. Endings...they must be the second hardest thing to write for authors after beginnings. Did you like the ending? You may consider the Epilogue also when answering the question, if ou like.
I liked that we got to see that life went on for everyone else and that Nana continued to be Nana in the epilogue. The ending is very predictable but still hard.

16. The author, Hiro Arikawa, has written other books, with very different genre. She has written books about Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). (I have to admit I know nothing about that!).
Would you read another book written by her? And lastly, would you recommend this book to others? If so, would you only recommend it to people who you know are cat lovers or would you widely recommend it?
It is a sweet, somewhat predictable book. I am not sure I would read others by the author. There are people I know who would enjoy it and some would hate it so it is not one I would recommend to all cat lovers even due to the ending but to some people, yes.

Days 1-3
I am doing 3 sections all at once because my WIFI does not really get set up until Monday (hopefully) so have limited access until then.

1. How are you liking the way the story is written with its alternating POVs ? Is there a POV you prefer ?

I think the different points of view help tell the story with the cat being my favorite. I think it also helps with the friends because otherwise it feels more forced that the narrator knows something that the reader does not. (I read a book where the MC was the missing heir but also the narrator, so it just felt really awkward and obvious even though it was supposed to be a big reveal).

2. Through the flashbacks we get to know Satoru's personality a bit more. What do you make of him so far ? What did you think about his way of helping his friend Kosuke?

I think he seems quiet and somewhat damaged by life.

3. Talking about Kosuke, what's up with his parents ? It seemed to me that Kosuke was genuinely convinced that his father would agree to keep the cat (Hachi). What did you think about his backstory ?

Children don’t always get other people’s worldview since if it would work in their house, it should work in others. My dad is lactose intolerant and I thought all Dad’s did not drink milk as a young child.

4. Why do you think Satoru can't take care of Nana anymore ?
This is a reread but I guessed considering the narrative style and how much he loved the cat.



DQ: 17 May - The Unsentimental Farmer

5) I really like reading the cat's thoughts. It can be quite funny. Do you think these are convincing cat thoughts?

I think they are good cat thoughts and it is always interesting to see how authors narrate animals. I think a street cat would be especially snarky.

6) In this chapter we are introduced to Yoshimine, another potential owner for our cat. What do you think of him and his backstory?

He is a bit gruffer and more stereotypical farmer, (practical and at first glance not sentimental). I like that he has his grandmother and that she is so supportive of him. The new kitten is also kind of cute.


7) Do you think Yoshimine would have been a good owner for Nana ?

No. Also, I’m not sure Nana wanted to share with a new kitten and not a household where he was not the center.

8) Yoshimine has already a kitten called Chatran, and Satoru makes fun of him for naming his cat with such a cliché name. What is for you the most cliché cat name(s)? In French it is quite common to call a cat Chaussette (meaning sock), Mistigri or Felix (actually a cat food brand).

I agree with others: Blackie, Fluffy, Tiger etc. (I have a cat named Taiga and I did not realize how many people would think I was saying Tiger).


DQ: 18 May - Sugi and Chikako's Hotel for Pets & Between Friends

9) Considering Satoru seems to be quite perceptive overall, do you think he knew about Sugi’s less charitable feelings about him, both in the past and during this visit?
Yes, I think he knew what was going on but was also grateful for friends in what seems like otherwise a lonely childhood.

10) So far, the chapters have all been combining Satoru and Nana’s journey with Satoru’s past with several other people, as well as their backgrounds. How do you feel about this interlude (chapter 3.5) focused entirely on the man and his cat? What does it add to the story?
That was nice and allowed the author to give a sense of peace in their travels.

11) For the first time, we got a hint of what’s going on with Satoru when the dog said “he smells like he isn’t going to make it” in chapter 3, and this came up again in chapter 3.5. So it sounds like Satoru is ill… was that your prediction for question 4?
That was my guess the first time I read the book. I agree with others that I couldn't think of a different reason to give up a beloved cat as an adult.

12) Squabbles between cats and dogs were really present in these sections. So: Are you a cat person or a dog person or both (or neither)?
I grew up with both and want a dog again someday but for now, am happy with my two cats. I don’t have work that currently would accommodate a dog as I already have to find a place for my cats when I do fieldwork for a few months a year.

Hi all, made it to Senegal and I have been reading. I only have access to internet on my phone but I will add my books to the spreadsheet when I get on my computer tomorrow. I enjoyed my reread of the traveling cat book and am glad people are enjoying it.

I’ll join as well. I downloaded it today.

I’m stuck in an airport hotel due to flight cancellations so hopefully time to read tomorrow and this evening.

Last day to vote for Backroom BOM, and Truitt's book is winning:

Backroom BOM Poll:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

Jenny wrote: "HELP!
I just got Task: Read a book with a interjection in the title.

Would The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True work? Or should I be looking more for something like"

Not sure what direction you are going in but what about Alas, Babylon?

Daniel wrote: "24 hours to go! So excited!"

Here is the countdown and thank you for the reminder:

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

(Also, scared me for a moment but I fly out Monday and not Sunday, so I have 24 hours extra before I have to be fully packed).

Judith wrote: "I moved mine to Truitt’s as well. But I have a feeling we are going back to Dino island for a 3rd time.

I’ll be DQ tribute if it wins. Lol"

I won't so it is all yours

Lexi wrote: "Backroom BOM Poll is up until May 15:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2..."

Truitt, I moved my vote to yours as the only one I want to read in the top three options

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable--she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

- Team Pandora

I keep getting phrase in text ones, and most people know how much I love those. Found a book that works for "weak in the knees" and now to see if I read it before I read 4 other books that work for SKIP.

Ones I have for sea but may not be popualr:


General adult books that might be interesting:

Nominations are up for July:

The two options are general Adult and "The Sea." Some books have already been nominated so no repeats but we can discuss as a team if there are any books we might want to read.

Sea: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Adult: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I need to finish The Cartographers and I'd like to read The Lived Nile: Environment, Disease, and Material Colonial Economy in Egypt (the book without notes is under 200 pages) but we will see what the weekend brings. If I am feeling really ambitious, I have a library copy of Siren Queen, which is too short for TT, but I want to read.