Lexi’s
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(group member since Jul 27, 2016)
Lexi’s
comments
from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
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I have updated the task list and will add a Bingo List too. Thank you all
Hard Tasks Still Needing Claiming For those who like to aim at tasks, otherwise, I am not worried about us covering all the tasks and read whatever you want to. Having fun is the first goal.
"morris dancer" / "morris dancing" in text - Keely
#8 in series
author initials AM
boat / ship on cover
Book set in South Africa - Skandia
brown cover
Drink on Cover
focused on siblings
From the Best Endings List - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
from the Cold Cover list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
has the letters M-I-R-R-O-R in the title
MC has a son - Truitt
mini skirt on cover
MPG Espionage
MPG Fairytales
MPG Holiday
MPG Horror
MPG Mythology
MPG Vampires - Jen
on Spec-Fic Passing Bechdel Test list (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...) - Redshirt
ordinal numeral (e.g fifth) in title
recommendation from diff team x4
river on cover
sausage on cover - Sandy
Science MPG (not Science Fiction) - Jen
sea on cover - Sandy
set in a university
Set in China (may you live in interesting times)
Skull on cover
Steampunk MPG
Time of day in title (midnight, morning, noon, etc) - Sandy
title has all the letters in G-U-I-L-D - Truitt
Turtle on cover
two dogs on cover - Sandy
with a character of legend (e.g. Father Christmas, Jack Frost, Sandman, Tooth Fairy, etcetc)
Yellow cover - Kelly
Zombie MPG
Please tell me and sorry if I missed anyone people claimed in the chat. I will keep this updated in one of the top posts.
Keely wrote: "Do one of you more Discworld savvy people have any ideas of a good task to use my Equal Rites for?"I have a full list. I'll put it down for one of them. Thank you
I go another one from 2016 done -
and while it came with great recommendations, I really could just not stand it. I would have DNF'd it if I did not need it for a hard task in TTs. I gave it 3 and not 2 stars because what it did with King Lear was clever but I did not like the humor.
Polls for July BOM (last month) are up: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...If you have no idea what to vote for, my reccomendations (as in, I nominated) are Project Hail Mary and Lost in the Never Woods.
DQS - Day 4 13. Simon was kept very much a mystery character throughout the book. What is your opinion of him? How will he be able to support Esk in the future (or will he)?
I think this is the wrong question. Very clearly Esk will be taking care of him. He is obviously cast as the academic can’t handle real life type and Esk can not only run a small farm and other tasks but got to UU on her own. I’ve been trying to figure out his age and I think it is more of an early teen so closer to 14, so I am little bothered by him heading off with a 9 year old. Also, as can be seen from this question, people assume romantic/support, which at that age is creepy.
14. The meeting between Granny and the Archchancellor and their actions afterwards are a pivotal part of the book. What were your impressions?
That was fun. I think they learned from each other and fun that they grew up in the same area.
15. With duality of witchcraft vs. wizardry being one of the main themes, what do you think about the ending? Was it satisfyingly concluded?
Really, the ending never made me particularly happy as they head out and don’t stay and really the system never changes. In future books, (view spoiler)
16. How did you rate the book?
If you are new to Terry Pratchett, do you consider checking out more of his books (NOT just because of BOM points :)?
If you are familiar with his books/a fan - any changes in your earlier impressions/opinion?
Still, not my favorite Discworld book. I want to re-read Tiffany Aching now.
BONUS: Any favourite scenes? :)
Arguing with the staff in the lake was a favorite or the broom ride home. I do like Granny best.
DQs Day 6 Ch 51 - End
25. Willowdean, oh Willowdean. You are your own worst enemy. First she breaks Mitch's heart because she is finally (somewhat) honest with him, and then she lets her insecurities get in the way of Bo sharing his feelings. Have you ever let your insecurities and other people's opinions stop you from doing something?
I was always nervous in public about dancing (I went to one of those schools where square and round dancing was considered a normal part of PE class). I had to do it anyways so I guess that was good for me.
26. Will sees Ellen crying, but lets the moment pass. Later on the judges ask her about loyalty during her interview and she has some some hard realizations about her friendship with Ellen, and finally gets her moment to apologize. Did you think their make up scene was realistic? Have you ever had a friendship end on bad terms?
I think it was nice but in my experience high school friendships can sometimes go in different directions and not come back ever. Still, this book made it clear that things would work out in the end.
27. Will digs deep to find her confidence and walks the stage in her swimsuit. That takes courage, regardless of your body shape or size! No way I could do it. And then she goes completely off script for her talent and does her best Jolene (great song, btw). Do you think her mom did the right thing by disqualifying her? If you had been the pagent director, would you have let her compete?
Yes, something like that is a set rule and exists for a reason in such a conservative town, so yes, she had to do that.
28. Will and her mother have a nice moment when Will is helping her get dressed. What do you think about their mother-daughter relationship? Do you think they are finally beginning to understand each other?
I think they may be moving in the right direction and I have hope for them. I think they have a lot of history of not talking and that is hard to overcome.
29. Willowdean leaves the pageant after Millie is named second-runner up. It makes me a little crazy that they leave it unknown. Who do you think is crowned the winner? Did you like the ending?
The book has treated the rest of the girls as basically interchangeable so I don’ think it matters. Maybe the girl who Bo dated or the one who was good ate everything but sweet.
Cat wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Book #2 is out and a third one is coming soon ;-)"Though it's more of a companion than true sequel, right? Has Millie & Callie as main characters, iirc."
Yes and the third one has Hannah and a new character
Truitt, Since I saw you are reading The Empress of Salt and Fortune, the second one is free as an ebook until May 28th (https://ebookclub.tor.com/) - When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain.
For everyone, I highly recommend both of them (but read in order).
DQs Day 5: Chapters 44 - 51 20. Willowdean and her mum seem to briefly reach an understanding over the dress fitting but after the alterations are made they come to blows. It’s the first time that her mum tells her she expected her to lose weight and she fights back. Why do you think this is?
I think it’s her mum, and it’s just the two of them. However, there comes a point when she needs to speak up and this one I think falls on her mum as a communication issue, as compared to most of Willowdean’s issues with her own age group.
21. After the talent show Willowdean seeks help from the entertainers at The Hideaway, where they were shown how to walk in heels by pretending to walk the sobriety line. Why did she go to them and have you ever tried to walk the sobriety line, drunk or sober?
Second answer, maybe as part of one of the MADD talks in high school but not sure. I think they connected to Lucy and that is who she would go to before.
22. Willowdean is invited to Bo’s to study where she meets his stepmum properly and they discuss astrology. Is what she is told accurate from what we know of her? Does your star sign reflect you?
I don’t like astrology and thought it was a little too convenient for the story.
23. Bo lays his cards on the line with Willowdean and says he doesn’t want their relationship to be a secret, he wants to do it right. She is reluctant to give him an answer but accepts Mitch’s offer to be her escort to the pageant. Is this right? What do you think is going to happen? What would you do?
Ok, this is when I go fed up with Willowdean. She needs to not use people and I have finished by now but really, love triangles are my least favorite YA trope.
24. The slumber party brings out a few secrets. Will this change how Willowdean perceives herself and the other girls? Knowing Hannah’s reasons for entering do you think she will go through with trying to ruin it?
I think Hannah will not as she now has the other girls but I hope she still does her own thing. I hope Willowdean keeps her friends as she needed support in other directions and really, her inner monologue was just plain rude. We did not need to be introduced so many times to their physical faults. It made Willowdean seem like a jerk and further support much of the body shaming.
Truitt_T wrote: "Consider me good for 87 GUILD and almost certainly 72 MIRROR. And if there are other bunny books, it might be better to use The Empress of Salt and Fortune for MPG Feminism - not th..."I really enjoyed The Empress of Salt and Fortune and hope you do as well. It is a wonderful and unique story. Also, the second has mammoths.
I will post an update in the next few days with some of the harder unclaimed tasks for people who like to look for harder tasks. I have been listening to Fool on audio for the fool/jester task. Great job everyone
Jenny, usually unless you have permission, it is considered rude to finish words (https://www.say.org/stuttering-101/li...).
Snowtulip wrote: "Lexi, let me know if you need me to post questions...bedtime is in approximately 2.5 hours for me :)"I just got them up. Thank you
DQs - Day 3 9 . What do you think on the creatures from the dungeon dimensions? Do you find them creepy?
10. I enjoyed the Esk’s thoughts about being both witch and wizard and wanting to defend the one to the other. Do you sympathize with this view (more in general than in specific regards to magic fields)?
11. Why do you think Esk’s magic did not work?
12. Esk is supposed to be precocious but also nine years old. Do you think she acts in a way you could see a nine year old acting?
As a member of Team Ook, the bonus question is: Is not the librarian wonderful and would you want to be turned back in his place?
DQ - Day 2 Starting with a Bonus question...
“They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.” (Granny said)
First off, who are “they”? I have always wanted to know. Secondly, do you agree with “them”?
I think TP has a quote on who they are but I could not find it. Anyways, I think Granny likely uses they for Granny says and I agree. Sometimes a little knowledge is all that is needed for you to figure out that you know little versus assuming you already know everything.
5. Esk went ahead and did not follow Granny’s advice, and thought since she had a feeling she could get into the bird’s brain, then why not do it.
When you were a kid, did you jump off the swing, or touch the hot burner? If so, give us examples.
Do you think she learned something from it, or are we looking at shades of her future University life?
I jumped off things and climbed things. I used to try to ride the sheep like they were a pony and otherwise, tried new things but I do not remember them being banned (my mother may have a different memory on this). Also, I doubt Esk will change unless she ends up with a productive direction to channel that energy (also re-read).
6. What do you think of Hilda and her version of Headology? What do you think of Headology in general?
Headology in getting someone to buy in so that they try. I like how it is flexible to the situation.
7. Esk finds herself on a moving barge. Loved loved loved the resume of talents beyond washing and sweeping that Esk rattles off in an attempt to stay on the boat. What skills could you bring to the barge? Unless they have livestock, I am less useful. I bake, make jams and can clean and butcher some livestock/chicken/fish if you are not too picky on looks.
8. Speaking of the barge, what do you think of Esk’s decision to just leave Granny? Did she mean to leave on her own adventure, or was it an accident? Do you think her matter of fact attitude is a product of her magic, or just her personality or upbringing? I think the opportunity presented itself and she went with it. She had a pretty independent upbringing and personality so this is where life has taken her.
Alysa wrote: "@Lexi, what's your other least favorite? You have me curious now :)"Raising Steam, as I think it is poorly written compared to his others. It is one of his last.
Day 1 DQs 1. If you are new or relatively new to Discworld, what do you think of Pratchett’s world and writing style so far? For more experienced Pratchett readers, what are your favorite things about his writing style or Discworld in general?
I am not new to Discworld and have read every book in the main series. The Guards have always been a favorite and the witches my least favorite. In fact, this book ties for my least favorite in the entire series, so there you go. (Side note: if my team members are reading this, please ignore the last sentence).
2. So we have our plucky heroine Esk and her witchy mentor Granny Weatherwax. What do you think of our two main characters and their relationship with each other?
I think they are both really stubborn and think they know everything. Granny from experience and Esk from inexperience. I think it will be quite a paring.
3. A major theme is witch magic vs. wizard magic (and women vs. men), and I can’t wait to learn more about these different magical theories and world views. What do you think of this dynamic, and which type of magic are you more drawn to?
I always found the male v. female a little too black and white and (view spoiler) so again, not my favorite. I like Ponder’s magic with the ants but that is quite a few books down the road.
4. Oh dear. Esk went a bit too far with the borrowing. What do you think is going to happen next? And what will Granny say or do?
This is a re-read for me, but Esk is always going to push the rules. It is why we have a plot.
Bonus: I am really enjoying Pratchett’s wit so far. What is your favorite quote from this first bit?
I have enjoyed some of the ones others have mentioned including “rake in the grass” and the comment on front doors, as for my childhood, we mostly only used the front door when cleaning the spiders off.
Snowtulip, I will try to keep up with Equal Rites but just flagging that I may need help on questions.Edit: I just read day 1 and 2 so I should get to my section tomorrow so I am good.
Judith wrote: "Hello Everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying the books you are reading so far. Any favorites so far you'd like share with the team? Any stinkers we should avoid ;)Also,
If anyone on the team is i..."
Another option is A Deadly Education for Morris Dancers if anyone wants to read it. I enjoyed it.
