Rebekah’s Comments (group member since Jun 22, 2013)

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

Hi Sherry!!

Finished if we want to use it for an orange cover or if it will fit anywhere else in a mini-challenge

Woohooo hi Janet!!

For the quest to save Christmas, I read the Lies of Locke Lamora. That could count as BOM to finish the sleigh mini-challenge or as a white cover for the paint one.

Hope you all feel better!! It's a stressful busy time of year!

Yes and it is more realistic. I cant stand it when the heroes *always* manage to survive or escape impossible situations at the last second. But I really loved poor little Bug...

Thank you Renee!!

I was absolutely devastated by the death of Bug and the twins though! It was definitely a dark book and I was wondering if anyone would be alive by the end! It is interesting because revenge tragedies usually do spiral out of control this way until you end up with a Hamlet situation (a pile of bodies on the stage). I am glad Locke and Jean at least survived!

Also I am confused about the Quests. Can our books for BOM or BR points also count for quests? Can't multiple team members help each other complete quests?

I read Lies of Locke Lamora - which can count as a BOM Paint Remover or a white cover

Also Im about to finish which can be an orange cover

I see that I did not get points for The Lies of Locke Lamora BOM. I answered three different sets of questions? Is it because nobody responded?

46) What do you think was the purpose of the story about the war between the prostitutes and the capas?

I really liked this book because it was not sexist, like a TON of other modern fantasy I have read recently (cough cough Game of Thrones). In this story, the women are capable and powerful, with well-developed personalities and intellects. They are not just sexual objects or love interests or victims. From Sabetha to Nacza to the Spider, all of the women play a vital role and are strong. I think the author is just turning that sexist trope on his head, by saying, don't mess with the women in this story. The ones that seem most powerless in the tale, are actually quite capable! I loved it!

47) We got our first glimpse of the mysterious statues. What do you think they are?
Ha! A very obvious "Trojan horse" in my opinion

19.What do you all make if the Bondsmagi? They permit no one else to study their art, and they make outsiders either join them or be slain. If you could learn their skills, without the threat of death, would you?

No I think they are shady! It is interesting the amount of power the Bondsmagi have in this book. In most other fantasy series, there is some sort of balance of power or weaknesses the magicians have in order to keep them from running amok

20.Stiletto or Crossbow?
Crossbow all the way!

21.What do you think of Locke telling the Gentleman Bastards, the Gray Kings plans? Can they be trusted? Or will this make matters worse?

Of course, he trusts them with his life!

22.Chains just bought Jean Tannen, what did you make of him, do you think he will be a great asset to the Bastards, or will he hold them back?

I thought Jean was fantastic but I was worried about him when he beat up Locke. I thought Locke would not stand for that and would be focused on getting revenge at all costs. It was really a turning point in Locke's character development.

23.I do have to say I am still enjoying the interludes better, I almost wish the entire story was about Lockes childhood. Do you find his childhood or adult life more interesting?

Childhood, but I always find origin stories more interesting! (And I'm a child psychologist lol) I too wish there was an entire book just about the Gentlemen Bastards gang as tweens and teens!

24.Chains and Locke seem to have a very close relationship, do you think this is good for Locke?
Yes, Locke is lacking a father figure and Chains is a good one for him

25.First of all really? Nazca is dead? It almost seems like another scheme. Some one must really hate Capa to put his daughter in a barrel of Horse urine. Do you think the plan came Gray King or the Falconer? Who do you think is really in charge?

I really couldn't believe when this happened! I realized the author was serious and was going to actually kill off important characters

26.The House of Glass Roses sound beautiful, but is also sounds deadly, would you take a chance and wonder around the gardens?

So beautiful! Amazing! I like how something so beautiful can be so dangerous but also teach the character's something so important - patience and discipline and self-control

1. Are you reading a book or e-book, or listening to the audiobook?
e-book

2. I absolutely love the prologue. As the Thiefmaker told the story of the magic boy to Father Chains, I was reminded of Fagin from Oliver Twist, but I definitely see Locke as more Artful Dodger than Oliver. Do you see any similarities between the characters from Oliver Twist and The Lies of Locke Lamora? Does it remind you of another story?

I love the Victorian-era poorboy kiddie gang aspect to the story, definitely reminds me of Oliver Twist. Also reminds me of The Godfather and Ocean's 11.

3. Until the appearance of the white shark's tooth, I was certain that the Thiefmaker's threat to kill Locke was all bluster. Do you believe he would have gone through with it if Father Chains hadn't taken Locke in? Absolutely!

4. Why do you think it was so important to the Thiefmaker to get Locke out of his gang? He's a 7 year old boy! Is he really that big a threat? He is too smart and ambitious for the gang. The gang operates on fear and physical force and Locke would have messed that up

5. I found the jumping timeline in Chapter One less enjoyable than the prologue, perhaps because I was listening to it rather than reading it. Did you like that format? What benefit does this style present to the reader and/or the author? I tend to like it, we don't know everything until the end

7. The story has alternated between between Locke's boyhood and his present adulthood. Which story do you find more interesting? Are you tempted to read all the Interludes before reading the chapters? (I am so very tempted!) I read them in order but I honestly find childhood/origin stories much more interesting.

8. We now know how Locke managed to kill two people. Father Chains is ruthless in his examination of him despite Locke's youth. What impact, if any, do you think the knowledge of his culpability in Veslin's and Gregor's deaths will have on Locke's future relationships and leadership style? He will carry great guilt and will be more cautious

I am reading The Lies of Locke Lomora and it is great!! I was tempted to stay up finishing it last night but I do need to work today ;)

Hi Cassie and Kilgore!

I had a very busy Thanksgiving so I wasn't able to read very much!

Maybe they could do two separate tower teams next time? A casual version and a competitive version?

Megan L wrote: "UPDATE

Our spreadsheet has been updated and sent to the mods for this week! Good job team! Just a few items:

At the rate some teams are reading the mods have estimated that the game will be over ..."

That is CRAZY soon! I was disappointed when the last Tower Teams ended quickly b/c I was really having fun. I kinda wish it was just a time challenge - join the group and participate for a year or so....to challenge yourself and make friends than the whole deal with points. It is discouraging to those of us to who do not read for a full-time job ;-)

Sorry I didn't add my books this weekend, but looks like they got tabulated on the spreadsheet anyway.

I finished two (20 points each)The Kilgore Curse and The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT to finally finish the stragglers in my TBR list.

Now I'm reading one BOM The Lies of Locke Lamoraand The Invention of Wings.

Happy holiday everyone!

Ezinwanyi~the Troublemaker wrote: "Where are the results?

Rebekah, welcome to Dallas. I live here and I am hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas this year"

Thanks! I have found Dallas to be very friendly & fun so far!

I'm going to try to make all of my new books BOM or BR's from here on out. Did you guys see the spreadsheet to find out if it was a past one?

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...