Vikki’s Comments (group member since May 25, 2014)

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

I finished Harry Potter #3 planning to use it for "brain candy" goal but realized it could be used for "ruining Christmas" goal since Hermoine told Professor McGonagall at the Christmas dinner that Harry received the Firebolt possibly from Sirius Black so she took it away to be checked for jinxes, ruining Christmas for Harry and Ron.

I started Harry Potter #4 for the "brain candy" goal

I am also still working on "hot chocolate" goal which is stated as a bestseller in Europe according to Amazon and it is pretty good so far. Also working on "brain-candy" but anyone is welcome to jump on that goal. I will start the second book in the Oz Series tomorrow which would complete our "5-6 hour audiobook" but anyone is welcome to that goal too.

I finished up the BOM which was awesome. It has magicians and folklore and kicka#s female heroines in it.

There is "hierophant" in the Five Levels of Attachment book I listened to-- Location 22, 24, 1509, and 1513

Discussion Questions 23rd December

33. This section opens with some graphic fight scenes, which I found slightly incongruous but incredibly vivid. What did you think?

I found the battle scenes hard to follow.

34. The reveals about the Wood, first marrying into humanity to try a different save her people then being bricked up alive... Does that change how you feel about the Wood? How?

Yes because at least there was a reason instead of just pure evil.

35. The Wood Queen's sister helps defeat the Wood Queen... I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Lilyana (sorry if I got the spelling wrong, am absent from my copy of the book) to watch her sister's pain and then try to stop her. What do you think? Should she have been more active in helping her sister?

I think she should have waited for her sister to return before changing. That would have prevented all of this.

36. The ending; satisfying or a cop-out? Did you think the Dragon would behave like that?

Satisfying and yes.

DQs for Chapters 24-27
Team Poseidon

29. Alosha mentions Ragostok… and then casually brings up that he is her great-great-grandson, and the only child of her line to show magic in the area. She also mentions Ballo’s history -- that he was a monk, living in a monastery and illuminating manuscripts for forty years before anyone noticed that he wasn’t aging. These are MINOR characters, but from the brief glimpses we’ve been given, we have fleshed out backstories and deep characters, even just from a few sentences. What tiny part of Novik’s Uprooted world so far has made you think “Wow, she’s really sucked me into this world she’s created!!!”? It could be a character backstory, a setting, a description… anything that made you think Novik was a master of pushing her world and her creation into your imagination. (Or perhaps you're thinking the opposite?)

The old spell books and the folk tales suck me in.

30. The Wood has taken most of the royal line now, and only Marek, Stashek, and Marisha remain. Did you see this quick turn of events coming? I sure didn’t. Any guesses on the Wood’s goal in all this? Not just for this battle, but overall. What is behind the sentient Wood? What is driving it? Why is it so BAD??? Did you expect that the queen *IS* the Wood and that it had found a way to hide?!

No. To make the people leaderless and chaotic so it can expand. The Wood resents man's push into its land and is fighting back to the point of anger/revenge turning to evil. No.

31. We see even more spells from Agnieszka in this section. What’s been your favorite spell so far? One of my favorite things about this book is the magic system that Novik has set up. Nothing is set into stone, and the rules are completely unclear (unlike so many fantasy masters who write the “best” magic systems, like Brandon Sanderson for example, where rules and limits are vital), but it feels so coherent and complete! Do you like the magic in the book or do you feel like it’s too vague?

I like it.

32. Another thing I love about this book is how Agnieszka continues to defy the traditions and push the limits. She might just have it in her to be the one to show the magical world that the limits they’ve placed on themselves are why they’ve been unable to beat back the Wood for good. Do you think she’ll be able to overcome these obstacles? The more that is thrown at her, the more we see her think on her feet and adapt… just like the Wood has seemed to do. Do you think that Agnieszka and the human world will get their happy endings? What predictions do you have on whole will make it to the end and if the Wood will be defeated for good (or will it end with the Wood being seemingly defeated and then the classic "oh wait, something more could happen" type ending)?

No idea

Dec. 21 Discussion Questions
Chapters 18-23

24. The book has been set so far in Agnieszka's village, the Tower, the Wood, and now the Court. Which setting has been your favorite to read about? Why?

The Woods since it is the most mysterious.

25. Agnieszka has really been struggling with the etiquette required at court, and with trying to get her point across about sending an army to fight the Wood. Would she have fared better with the Dragon by her side, or would he have made it worse? Should she have joined up with the Falcon, like he wanted her to?

I don't think she would have succeeded no matter who she was with.

26. Alosha made a great point: Why don't the people living in the Valley simply pack up and leave? Do you think there is something in the river or air that lures them to stay? Or is it more of a case of them not wanting to leave where they were born and have lived for generations?

I think people who grow up in the same place all their life become connected to it, emotionally and physically. Maybe the river lures them to stay.

27. What do you think is behind Queen Hanna's surprising recovery? Is she actually cured, or is the Wood still somehow controlling her?

The Woods are controlling her.

28. How do you think the title of the book fits in with what has happened so far?

It is accurate. They are physically uprooting people and the trees in the Woods and trying to uproot eopke's beliefs and prejudices.

Discussion Questions Dec-20
Chapters 14-17 Pages 187-239

18. They don't seem to have much of a plan going into the wood. I was surprised that they even managed to find the Queen, much less that quickly. What are your thoughts on their preparations and planning?

It was poorly planned.

19. Kasia seems to be turning into quite the hero. Do you think this was who she always was or did the wood change her to be like this?

She was always brave.

20. What are your thoughts on the rescue of the Queen? Was it worth losing 28 men? Do you think she will recover?

No. Maybe?

21. They made it to the city and the townspeople seem to rejoice but the King does not. Why do you think he doesn't seem pleased with things? It made me think that he might have had something to do with the Queens situation.

He may have to put her to death and I thought she ran away with another man.

22. Do you think Agnieszka will be recognized? What do you think her animal name will get to be? They all seem to be predator animals but she's a healer so maybe it will be different.

No. Something covered in dirt.

23. We're halfway through now. Any predictions for the rest of the book?

No

Dec 19 / Discussion Questions
Chapters 9 - 13

12) The Summoning is a truth spell. Were you surprised to find out that both Agnieszka and Kasia had secret hatred and jealousy towards each other? That doesn't seem to be normal feelings between two best friends...

No, because sometimes you don't always realize your feelings until you take a step back from yourself.

13) Agnieszka and the Dragon work another spell together, but this time things get pretty romantic, even ending in a kiss! Do you think it's their magic alone that's making them attracted to one another? Will they end up together in the end?

No. No.

14) Is it a good idea to go into the Wood to find Queen Hanna? What do you think 20 years of being corrupted in the Wood has done to the Queen (if she's even alive)? Would you be willing to play the hero and go into the Wood to find her?

No. She will be the Woods. No.

15) I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but it seems as if every time Agnieszka is thinking, the Dragon always answers her. Do you think he is able to read her mind/thoughts?

Yes.

16) The Dragon doesn't seem to be as cruel and violent as everyone believes him to be... so where do you think the nickname "The Dragon" came from?

He used fire to battle the woods.

17) If you could put a face to the Dragon, what would he look like?

Asian maybe. Or maybe a handsomer Snape.

Discussion Questions:
December 18 Chapter 5-8
Pages 62-123

1) Agnieszka finds herself back home to help when one of the villagers is infected by The Wood. How do you think the town felt that she came to their aid instead of The Dragon? There is barely any mention of a reaction from the town. If you were living there how would you have reacted?

I would have been grateful for any help I could get.

2) The Dragon should not have been able to recover from the sickness of The Wood. How do you think Agnieszka was able to save him? How do you think she knows the flow and pace of the spells when she has never seen them before? Why do these spells feel familiar to her?

Maybe it just comes naturally to her.

3) The Dragon and Agnieszka seem to be working closer together. How do you feel about their relationship? Do you enjoy seeing The Dragon struggle to perform the same spells that Agnieszka seems to do easily? What do you think they were both feeling when they performed the rose spell together?

I think they are tolerating each other better. I definitely enjoy Agnieszka outdoing the Dragon. I think they could feel the way their magic complimented each other.

4) How do you think Agnieszka is able to free Kasia from The Wood? Do you think Agnieszka was strong enough to defeat the hold The Wood had on Kasia or do you think The Wood let Kasia go on purpose?

She just knew the right spell. I think it was a combination.

5) Do you think The Dragon will be able to help Agnieszka to save Kasia? If so, do you think Kasia will have any lasting effects of being trapped in The Wood?

No. Maybe if she survives.

6) There is reference to this book as being a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Now that you are 8 chapters in do you feel this is a good reference for this book? Why or why not.

No. This doesn't seem at all the same

message 104: by Megan Dec 17, 2015 08:54PM
December 17 - Chapters 1-4


1. Did you have any thoughts/feelings before starting the book that have changed now that you've started it?

No

2. Why do you think the Dragon takes a girl exactly every 10 years?

No idea. So it is not forever.

3. How are you liking Agnieszka?

She is cool. Wish she was less clumsy.

4. Were you surprised to learn she had magic?

Yes

5. Are you looking forward to reading more?

Yes, but it is reading slower than I thought.

I got a "hot chocolate" book I will start shortly. I also have some other holiday books I will start reading in hopes that it may have "save or ruin Christmas" or "something important happening on Christmas Eve." I haven found a "warm weather Christmas" book though.

Top shelf for "Germany" (if that counts):

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Top shelf for "Germans" (plural):

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

Anyone see anything they read or want to read? I have one on audiobook I could do if needed.

Top shelf for "German"

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I'll read some "brain-candy" but don't let me discourage anyone else from doing the same ☺️

And Harry Potter is on the brain candy shelf!

Here is the link for the "brain-candy" goal:

https://www.goodreads.com/genres/brai...

Some of the Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood books are on it...

Completed "Read a book where presents are exchanged or that has presents on the cover for 10 points!" goal

Maybe completed "parallel worlds" goal too-- still not completely sure what exactly qualifies as parallel worlds but the Wizard of Oz has the "real" world in Kansas and then there is Oz which is reached by cyclone or hot air balloon.

I also think that the points for Paper Swans BOM I finished the other day may not have been added to the spreadsheet.

BOM Everything I Never Told You has notebook-like paper/ stationary on cover. Anyone else read or currently reading it? I think we used mine for a goal already.

The audiobook that I started in hopes to complete "warm weather" goal would possibly complete the "presents" goal or the "holiday meal" goal.

Do we need to complete the 25 Days of Christmas goals? December 25th? End of December?