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

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

Sophie wrote: "

I'm seeing yellow text, it works for letters and the page count is impressive. First book for the next round is chosen."

Yay, hope you love it as much as I did. I want to read the 2nd but only 350 pages

If anyone is interested, my favorite book I've this round is over 900 pages, The Hands of the Emperor. I loved it and am holding off on the second one as it drops to 350 pages. I'll start moving books around as needed to drop the smaller ones. We have no books under 200 so far. I'll start dropping the low 220s next of which we have a few.

DQ'S DAY 1 - PROLOGUE - CHAPTER 4

1. I nominated this book because titles with libraries or books naturally draw me in and I've wanted to read a Garth Nix book for ages. What are your reasons for reading.. long term Garth Nix affectionado or "It's only about the points, baby"?

I like the first two of the Abhorsen series (I still need to get to book 3), and I enjoy the world building, which does seems to be given as you go and not very complex but complete. I DNF one of his later books (something with the word Princes in the title) and have been meaning to red Angel Mage at some point.

2. Wikipedia (The Oracle of quick searches about whatever and sometimes actually factual) defines a prologue as "Opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one and other miscellaneous information." What have you learnt in this particular prologue that seems important to the story moving forward?

Dad is important, Susan has inherited it, and mum has some issues, which may or may not be magical, as forgetting seems common


3. Chapter 1 introduces us to our main protagonists in a scene filled with murder, fashion descriptions and a giant louse! First impressions of Merlin and Susan and any sign if they will be friends or enemies or maybe even frenemies ?

I have finished the book so no spoilers, but I liked the introduction on Merlin and the escape.

4. Right-handed and left-handed booksellers policing multi layered worlds and realities. Set in 1983 London but the language and environment heavily leans on the Victorian Age. Are you comfortable with the preliminary world building, do you find it interesting and unique or same old same old in the YA fantasy genre?

It was fun, but the time-period felt a bit off in a few places and continues to do so through the book. The actual left-handed / right-handed thing is a bit odd with the eventual even handed (ambidextrous) thrown in later. It is a fun world but one I tried not to think too hard about as there were a few inconsistencies.

5. It seems someone is after Susan, probably because of her mysterious missing father. Who do you think he is and what maybe is his significance in this alternate world and to the plot in general?

I have finished the book but lots of mayhem and all powerful missing fathers is the general requirements for these type of books.

Thank you, both Maddy and Lisa

That would work if you don’t mind reading it

We could probably use a white cover book if anyone has one planned. I have one but want to finish my two X books first.

Quiet weekend here, I got some work and reading done so both good. First snow of the season; only an inch or so stuck.

I am trying to focus on this again. Read and whoever suggested the audio book, thank you. It was great.

I finished . It was young YA and very predictable but still fun.

Sophie wrote: "I've ditched The Only Good Indians. Haven’t wanted to read all day because I can't face its darkness. Feels v out of character given my normal enthusiasm for any book that gets extr..."

It is a hard book. I hope your next book is better.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Yay, I got picked for DQ's for too."

It was your nomination, so you were guaranteed a day but glad you are excited.

Thank you, Maddy

DQ's Day 5: It Came from the Rez – End

17. And then there was one... Were you surprised by who the one was? Why do you think that this person was "the one" who was left? Was there significance there?
I figured Denorah was going to live when they gave her the “only Dead Indian” quote and she said she was going to be the worst Indian. At that point, there was going to be some very mixed messages if she was killed. I got kind of tired of all the random people getting killed. It didn’t seem like the best revenge if it was indiscriminate.

18. Let's talk about that basketball game. I'm not talking about the technical stuff with the moves and everything because frankly that doesn't mean much to me. But, what do you think that it represented? Why was so much time spent on that at this point in the book?
That dragged for me but I think it represents the fight anad will she had to live.

19. What did you think about that ending? Did the story come full circle?
And I know that this is a little off topic, but were you surprised by who Denorah's stepdad was? I didn't remember his name being revealed before, or did I just miss it?
They told or pretty much told us who they stepdad was earlier when talking about telling stories and why Denorah knew about the elk hunt. For the spirt to stop being murderous, she would need to turn back into an elk so that wasn’t a surprise but the calf was a nice touch.

20. Finally, let's talk overall impressions. What did you think about the book? Is this your first book by this author? Do you think you'll read anything else by him?
This is my first and likely last by the author. It relied a lot on gore for the horror and that just bored me and not really grossed me out. I found the revenge spree a little unoriginal and indiscriminate so hard to see as pure revenge.

Can I be first day for DQs or at least, not the 18/19th?

I volunteered for DQs if someone can be backup as that helps us get questions with the randomizer for The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Link here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Volunteering for Team Max

Lisa, yes, you can read it again and volunteer for DQs. I will be your backup unless someone else wants to. The rule for rereads is only 6 months.

You all are doing awesome as we are currently in 3rd place.

Also, the last BOM for Wheel is the Dec Adult book and is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo if people want to get in line at libraries etc.

Books can now be finished for Round 3. Great job everyone. You all are doing great. Also, you are one of the easiest/best teams I have ever captained for all participating so thank you everyone.

Keli,

I really liked The Fifth Season (I have read the first two), The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (I liked the first two) and The City We Became. I think her later works are much stronger.