Leslie Ann’s
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(group member since Mar 24, 2016)
Leslie Ann’s
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from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
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completion postLongitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time 8/16/20
Dancing With Werewolves 8/11/20
The Accidental Demon Slayer 8/16/20
Marilia, the Warlord 8/11/20
ss updated
Cathy M. wrote: "There wasn't a task there so you're good Diane!Reminders:
LAURI - please make sure you add Terror in Taffeta to your Wheel Shelf!
LESLIE - I added your Marilla book to the SS (saw it on your sh..."
Will update later today when on the computer! 😀
Suzanne wrote: "Leslie have you read the short story prequel to that one? I loved it."No, but I will .
Our school district is doing online only. Colorado university is having students come to campus with a mix of online and in person. We joke about not breathing while in Boulder when the super spreaders (students) arrive. Very stressful for the teachers.
My overall impressions of the novel :+ Things I liked
1. I learned about the dynamics between Koreans & Japanese. I never knew how badly the Japanese treated the Koreans.
2. Very educational novel using the characters to illustrate the dynamics between the Koreans and Japanese.
-Things I did not like
1. I never truly got invested in any characters it jumped around too much.
2. The writing was good but not compelling. I love books that I don’t want to put down. This book was easy to leave.
3. I had to force myself to read it. I know many people loved this book but for me other than the historical aspect I found it boring.
6. I might be too judgmental, but her pining for Hansu is constantly making me frown. She promised to care for and honor her husband, never to betray him. Yet she keeps marveling about her lost "love", how she misses him, how she wants to see him, how she has already been in the city with him in her mind, etc. Are such thought not a kind of betrayal? I believe it is her first love which is often romanticized in our minds.
7. After all Isak said about his successful brother and all his dreams about the better life in the city, he arrived to some harsh revelations. I am starting to think they might have been better staying on the island. Isak's brother's revelations about his house, his neighbors, the judgement in the city, the discrimination at work and spying everywhere are very disappointing and brutal. Do you think it a natural disillusion of impossible dreams? Or Yoseb's hope that it might be better for his brother here, where he can watch over him?
Yoseb wanted his family with him , he wanted to protect them. Isak views were the reality , which is hard for Yoseb to accept.
8. That scene in the church with the brother and sister. The pastor discussing what it actually means when a wealthy man wants to be a young girl's "friend". The duplicity of the pastor - being nice and not judgmental to the siblings, yet judging them harshly when they have left was not surprising but annoying still. The sweet talk to their face, but harsh berating behind their back would have been exactly what happened to Sunja and her family. Do you think this scene was included to reveal to Isak more truths about his wife's condition and impossible choices to help him understand her?
I was not surprised by the pastors behavior , he was looking out for the man . At this time it was a very male dominated society.
9. The pastor's reason for hiring Isak was revealed as well - to get money from his family and avoid paying him wages - and I must admit it didn't endear the pastor to me at all. And the pawnbroker and his greed, the loan sharks and their scare tactics. We get introduced to many characters that are not really likable and portray humanity at its worst. Do you think it is a decision by the author to reveal the true nature of people in all kinds of positions in general or is it included to especially note how people get in times of oppression and hard times? I am starting to think Isak coming to Japan was a huge mistake with every little revelation. Do you think it will work out? Or do you agree it was a mistake?
I think it was a mistake for Isak to go to Japan. I hope it works out but the odds are against it.
10. The debacle with the watch was very educational. We get to see a merchant's attitude towards women, husband's attitude towards a wife in stark contrast to how men are treated. Yoseb is enraged with his wife and sister-in-law, he can't forgive them or appreciate the help, yet he can forgive and accept when his brother asks him to. Do you think he would have gotten over it in time if his brother hadn't asked him? Or would he be always resentful towards women? The whole "head of the house" part further gets the point home that women will always be under the command of a man, even in regards to baby names. The prison scene also drives home how women are still supposed to be home and stay away from men's troubles, too weak to do something about it. And women who work are still frowned upon, even in their own family. Do you think it will change further in the story? Will oppression and war open their minds towards changing a woman's role in the family and world?
The culture is so male dominated and so ingrained in generations. I believe Japan today is still very male dominated.
Cathy M. wrote: "Leslie Ann wrote: "Do we have to answer all the DQ’s? Can I just answer a few? There just are tooo many!"You need to do at least 3 sets/days or 3 comments (can't just be I liked this book or I ha..."
Okay , I can do that!. I all ready did one set but got overwhelmed with all the questions!
Do we have to answer all the DQ’s? Can I just answer a few? There just are tooo many!
Trinia wrote: "Thanks Leslie ☺️ yes, our second goes next week, so I’m sure I will feel it more then. I know my boys won’t be crying that is until laundry day🤣"It’s an adventure for them😀Then reality hits when they have no clean underwear. 🤣
Trinia wrote: "Sorry all, I’m in Louisiana moving my kiddo into college dorms. Hoping to get some reading in on the drive home. Do we have an end date for this round/challenge?
I’ve got so many good books I w..."
Have fun moving them . It is a bit bittersweet. I remember when we dropped our youngest off, we cried almost all the way home on the drive back. When we dropped off my oldest it was more of a celebration..... she and I are alike so was glad to have a break .....lol 😀She is the one with the daughter .. so things change 😀
Day 1 DQs1. This novel starts with the sentence: "History has failed us, but no matter." Did you like this opening line? What do you think it means, and why do you think the author chose it?
I think it means , we haven’t learned from history.
2. I am half-Korean, and my mom has shared a lot of the history of her own family and how it's interwoven with Korean history in general. What, if anything, did you know of the Japanese colonization of Korea -- or the history of Korea, Japan, and China in the 20th scentury in general -- before beginning to read this book?
I really don’t know about the history of these countries.
3. Hansu seems like a complicated character. What were your thoughts on him? Did you hate him?
I don’t care for his behavior , but he is working from the norms of the times.
4. What did you think of Sunja's decision to not accept being Hansu's mistress? Why do you think she chose to reject him? Do you think she made the right decision?
Yes, she made the right decision. She was very brave to not accept his offer.
5. In this first section of the novel, we see two couples wed -- Hoonie and Yangjin, and then Isak and Sunja. What were some of the similarities between these marriages, and what were differences
They both found spouses who could accept them problems and all.
Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "How did you like that Leslie? I enjoyed that series."Love It! I will keep reading😀
I am currently reading 2 u books 😀
Completion Post .... sorry I am so latefinished 7/26
Sugar and Vice
A Stranger in the House
The Poker Chip
finished 7/29
The Mummy Case
An Innocent Client
added to ss
I have finished a few books will update and post tomorrow. 😀
