Alysa’s Comments (group member since Jun 27, 2015)

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

Completion Post


Details on Spreadsheet, including BOM info!

Can't believe we're so close to the end!

DQ Day 6 - Chapters 17-Epilogue

22. Were you expecting Linus to leave the island? What were your feelings while reading the different goodbye scenes?

I was expecting him to leave, yes, though I had no particular thoughts as to whether he would come back so soon. I never completely felt the chemistry between Linus and Arthur, so their first goodbye didn't especially tug at my heart, but I did feel for Linus being sad about leaving the children, with whom he clearly developed strong bonds.

23. Linus has gone through a journey of self-discovery throughout the book. The Linus from the beginning is a completely different person to the Linus defending the orphanage case to the Extremely Upper Management and challenging the people surrounding him. Do you think his speech was the reason why they approved the orphanage to remain open? Were you expecting him to change that much? What do you think that are the things that have impacted him the most?

Linus didn't fundamentally change as a person, IMO. What changed was his willingness to see beyond his initially narrow role and responsibilities as a case worker, after he gained broader knowledge of DICOMY's place in a larger system. He also got a little more courageous, I think, when he realized on a personal level that he had more to gain than to lose.

24. What do you think about the ending? Our beloved characters got their happy ending and it seems that things are starting to change in society. Would you have changed anything or are you happy with how things ended?

Sweet, but too idealistic. I'm not sure what other ending would have fit, since this is what was set up by the entire book. But… what will Linus do for a living now? What happens if none of the kids ever want to leave when they grow up, even as more kids come to live on the island? And although Linus and Arthur seem like a cute couple in the end, I never felt the chemistry leading up to that. it was more like, hey, they're both into dudes so let's put them together, and never point out the investigator/subject power differential that exists for almost the entire book.
But this snapshot of the kids in their happy bubble is so sweet that I can forgive a lot.

25. What is your final rating for this book? Did it deliver the story you were expecting? If you had to summarise your review for a friend in one sentence, what would it be?

I gave it 4 stars. I had low expectations (based on my one bad experience with the author's previous work), so it certainly exceeded them. Summarize in one sentence, hmmm? A frustrated case worker is sent to monitor a remote orphanage for magical children, and finds love, laughter, family, and purpose with the kids and their eccentric caretaker!

DQs Day 5 (thru End)

17. So the dungeon was not quite what I expected. And Lord Vetinari was utterly relaxed while being supposedly incarcerated, and waited on by rats no less. Who would have thought? What do you make of the man?

He's suspicious of everything and everyone, but very smart, so he plays a long game. Admirable, in his own way! And exactly the type you'd think would be running Ankh-Morpork.

18. Turns out that Errol was the hero everyone had been waiting for! Interesting pairing though. Do you think we're ever going to see Errol again? Maybe accompanied by some offspring?

I suspected something like Errol defeating the big dragon, and was waiting for it, but I was not expecting them to hook up! So funny! Dunno if we'll see those two crazy dragons again but considering how many Discworld books there are and how many callbacks and interconnections, I would not be surprised.
I was kind of annoyed by how the humans reacted when they realized the big dragon was female, though. Some odd, misplaced chivalric-type sexism going on there.

19. Lady Ramkin is a force to be reckoned with! Defies the city dressed in nothing but a nightshirt... Vimes is quite right in thinking that society won't know what hit it. Has your opinion of the lady changed perhaps? The first mention of her was to call her "mental" and then she was about to be sacrificed to the dragon, a dragon she then defends. Do you think she really is mental or just a woman who is very sure about what is right and wrong?

I liked her from the start, and liked her even more as the book went on. She's great, and absolutely not mental! Just a little eccentric, to go along with her having such a strong personality and moral code.

20. Overall, was it an ending you expected? Did you enjoy the book? Was there a favourite scene or quote maybe?

The ending was pretty much what I expected, with the exception of there being no explicit mention made that Carrot is probably the hereditary heir to the old monarchy. (I think Lord Vetinari is the only one who strongly suspects.)
I enjoyed the book. It had a lot of great scenes and quotes -- can't pick one! In the last section, I especially enjoyed the scene after the explosion, where Nobby and Colon think Carrot is still in the water. Hold my helmet. Hah!
I do still think that for me these earlier Discworld books are best taken in small doses, in a way that doesn't seem to be the case with later Pratchett books that have a different balance of humor and seriousness. This was my first time reading Guards! Guards! though, and perhaps I'll like it better after a second time, like what happened with Mort. Time will tell! It's pretty likely, because this set of characters was so great!

DQs Day 4 (ends: "That's 'cos we're intelligent.")

13. Nobby, Colon, Vimes, Carrot – they all sure do have their charms. Who’s your favorite member of the City Watch and why?

They do all have their charms, huh! Can’t decide between Carrot and Vimes. One is so naive and the other so cynical, but both have their heart in the right place. Carrot seems a more unique character though, what with the dwarvish upbringing and such.

14. Carrot – I’ve been really enjoying his letters to his mother, especially the PS. Is he ever going to return to the dwarves and reunite with Minty? How would you see that going down?

Those letters are great. His take on things is so earnest. He’d probably go back to visit but never live with the dwarves again, and it doesn’t seem like his love for Minty was really reciprocated, so I wouldn’t see that reunion going especially well. She probably married someone else.

15. Will Colon, Nobby and Carrot succeed with their plan? Do they even have a plan? Or is a hero going to show up to save the day after all?

They don’t seem to have a real plan, and whatever they do, something or someone is bound to come along and change things midstream. The Librarian, perhaps?

16. There’s quite a few things going on that could be tied up (or not) by the end of the book. Other than a potential solution to the dragon problem, what else do you expect from the ending?

Hmmmm… Vimes will officially be on the Watch again. Vimes will ask Lady Sybil out (or she’ll ask him). Carrot will be promoted. The Patrician will be back in charge. Some other secret order will hatch a different stupid plan to take power in Ankh.

Sounds good! Having two days per section gives us more breathing room, for sure. I will most likely not start reading the book until 2 Aug, so now I don't need to worry overmuch if I can't put up the first set of DQs until 3 Aug. 😆

I have finished a whole bunch on my ancient TBRs recently (thank you, TT8)!!!



Two of them (Extraction and Hidden) were pretty bad, but all the rest were quite good!

This brings me to 26/30... So, coming along nicely :D

Stacey wrote: "I'm not sure I can fit in another, probably a quick one but not positive. There are at least 2 books on the list that have been read.

I read The Galaxy, and the Ground Within wich is tied for #19. It was used for Jackonary. I know at least 1 person read Equal Rites, it is #28"

We'll leave it to Tina, but most likely the best thing to do would be to move The Galaxy, and the Ground Within from Jackonary to Task #18.
We've still got more than enough unassigned books to replace it in the Jackonary.

Nevermind! Website wasn't refreshing for some reason.
@Tina, I'm glad you were able to pull in Jessi's books.
I'm worried about her. It's not like her to be so distant from GR unless something bad is going on. :/
*sends good vibes*

DQs Day 3 (ends: "Ah, thought Vimes. Jolly good. He slumped forward.")

9. If you were confronted with Lord Mountjoy Quickfang Winterforth IV’s ominously rumbling tummy and the prospect of more dragon fire, how would you react?
Not sure I would have stuck around as long as the mob leader did!

I'd probably be frozen like a deer in the headlights!

10. If you witnessed a massive dragon being vanquished in one sword hit, would you entirely believe it or do you think you may hold suspicions on the “neatness”? I think I would wonder about the lack of dragon lumps.

The lack of dragon lumps and mess would be an issue for me. Super suspicious, as is the whole "rando with a sword just happens to show up at the right moment" thing.

11. This section cemented my love for Lady Sybil, with her no-nonsense stern reproach of the dragon. If she had maintained eye contact, do you think her approach would have worked?

I don't think maintaining eye-contact would have worked, no, because this huge dragon is just not like the little ones that Lady Sybil is used to. I guess it's possible for a human to build a relationship to a large dragon in this story-world, but not so quickly as that.

12. Since the beginning of the book, has your opinion on Captain Vimes changed? If so, why?

At the beginning I thought he was going to be a drunken loser, but he's really turned things around. Deep down he's got that detective spidey sense and he's gotten a little surer of himself about letting it out.

Has anybody seen Jessi lately?

It looks like may need somebody else to cover Task #18 (book from the "From Against Discrimination" Listopia) if she's unable. I know she was sick a while back :(

I didn't get to read anything other than Guards! Guards! this weekend, so I'm on track to finish all my remaining claims, but no more...

Do we know DQ breakdowns yet?

Tina ❣ wrote: "Alysa wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "There's 26 books left for Jackonary and about 26 books that we have read that I haven't popped in yet."

So there's a set, limited number of books we can use in Jackano..."

Ah, okay, phew. I was confusing set limit to Jackanory/Tasks/BINGO with their being a set limit to the total # of books we can read for TT. Which there is not. Yay.
😜

DQs Day 2 (ends: "And awoke to the sound of a mob.")

5. In this section, TP is shedding some light (or dark?) on the Patrician's character. What is your opinion about him? Would you prefer him to rule your country instead of the "real" politicians?(A question to DW Veterans: do you remember any other books where V's aversion to mime artists is mentioned or we are given an explanation why?)

Clever, but ethically challenged. In that sense, not so different from many politicians in real life. I would not prefer him to lead my country, generally, but might prefer him to certain specific politicians, depending.

6. What about Lady Sybil as the "heroine" or female MC of the book? She certainly seems to be the complete opposite of how "classical heroines" are represented in fantasy or other books. Have you met her counterpart / someone very like her in non-DW books or films? Would you get a pet dragon if you had the chance?

She's awesome, and definitely rather different! She reminds me a little bit of the female scholar/noble in K.M. McKinley's Gates of the World series (ugh, cannot remember her name!), though those are quite dark high fantasy books.
If I were to get a pet at all, and had the option of a small dragon, I might consider it.

7. If you are familiar with the detective fiction/mystery genre, do you think Guards! Guards! has been following a similar structure in its idiosyncratic way so far?

I do, in its way! There's something weird and illegal afoot, there's various players with various bits of knowledge… There's Vimes on the case, and the other Watch members doing their thang. I am quite enjoying the way it's put together so far.

8. Maybe it's too early to ask this question, but I am not a character to able to resist the temptation of it. Please forgive me.
So, any ideas, who which actors/actress would you choose as Lord Vetinari / Sam Vimes / Carrot / Lady Sybil. ...etc if you were a casting director?

Oh dear I am terrible with this sort of thing. Chris Evans for Carrot, because as Captain America he'd be playing more or less to type.
Lord Vetinari... John Hannah.
Lady Sybil… Helena Bonham Carter (not very inspired choice, I suppose).
Sam Vimes… maybe Michael Harney? ETA: nope, make that Idris Elba.

Christina T wrote: "90% of my books are audio. Which page count do I use again?"

Default edition :)

Tina ❣ wrote: "There's 26 books left for Jackonary and about 26 books that we have read that I haven't popped in yet."

So there's a set, limited number of books we can use in Jackanory???
I thought it was unlimited for some reason.

If we end up with more books than we are allowed to use, I assume you would exclude the shortest ones, yes? So we can maximize points from longer ones...

Completion Post




On spreadsheet

DQs Day 1 (ends: "'That means you too, Sergeant' the captain added. 'Yessir.'")

1. For the newbies: what did you expect before opening a police procedural written by Pterry? For re-readers, how does this sub-series line up in your order of preferences?

Haven't read the City Watch subseries before! I had no expectations beyond my limited knowledge of Ankh-Morpork from other Discworld books, but I like fantasy-world-based procedurals, so I knew it would be good.

2. The first person we meet in this story is Vimes, meet collapsing, drunker, into the gutter... What does this mean for the story? For newbies: how do you feel about Vimes?

It's a pretty good introduction. Certainly sets the tone! Vimes is pathetic.

3. The Brethren (and I loved the elaborate exchange of codes!) have a disussion of the Lost King trope. Do you think the Supreme Grand Master will be able to find Ankh-Morpork's Lost King???

I don't think the Supreme Grand Master will see his plans work out the way he wants. Something's bound to go terribly wrong with the magic and/or the dragons. The story also has not connected the Brethren to Carrot or the Watch yet, and that's obviously got to happen sooner or later.

4. Carrot is our route to discovering Ankh-Morpork. Do you find this an effective way to understanding the city and its issues?

It's effective, in that other people have to explain things to him, or in how we can infer things based on other people's responses to him, and misunderstandings (e.g. being at Rosie Palm's every night, etc. LOL) . It's also really funny when Carrot writes home and we get into his head.
I'm glad the entire book isn't from Carrot's POV though. It wouldn't be as effective. He's such a Dudley Do-Right, it would be a bit dull.

Okay, I'm down for "Elf Archer" then!

I finished last night. I'll be finishing 2 more books today, and I'll get started on my remaining claims over the weekend. Depending how it goes, I can probably squeeze another (as-yet-unchosen) book before TT ends. Especially if I take a day off work next week, hehehe...

Is anyone reading for “elf archer” on bingo?
I have something I can read next week, but there are different (and longer, so more points!) books that I would prefer to read instead if “elf archer” is covered…

DQ Day 5 - Chapters 15-16

18. Is it DICOMY that is using Linus? Or is Charles Werner personally involved because of his history with Arthur? He is the only one responding to the reports Linus sends. Do you think he is jealous of what seems to be happening between Arthur and Linus?

It definitely seems like Charles is personally involved in this whole thing. Maybe DICOMY as a whole legit wants to know what's going on on the island, but Charles is abusing his position. Defintely a conflict of interest, whether extra-nefarious or not. And based on the letter, he sure seems jealous and petty!

19. The secret is out…Arthur is a phoenix. Wonderful power or a curse? Why would DICOMY want him to keep it a secret from the children?

Super awesome! I actually called it in my head a bit before it was revealed. I don't really understand why he was sworn to keep it secret from the children, other than just the idea of DICOMY never having assigned a magical creature as an orphan "master" before. But how would the kids know that? And do they not want the kids to grow up thinking that any magical creature could ever hold any position of authority? Things that make ya go Hmmmm.

20. Theodore shows Linus his hoard, what did you think of it? What does it represent to you?

That was nice. Theodore is just such a sweetie. The "little things" sentiment is nice.

21. Linus is nearing the end of his stay. Do you think he will go home after everything that happened in the village? Will there be repercussions from DICOMY?

Realistically, he must go home. Even if he ends up wanting to change jobs or become an activist or something, he would still need to go back to settle arrangements. I don't see there being immediate repercussions for DICOMY (however much they may deserve some) because they're too big a part of too large an engine of power. But the book is strong on the idea of starting small and changing a few minds at a time.

DQ Day 4 - Chapters 11-14

14. Did you enjoy the visit to town? What are your thoughts on Helen? Does she seem like a real character or too convenient?

The visit to town was super entertaining. Maybe one of the best sections of the book! The record store, the bellhop… Helen. I liked Helen, though it did seem too convenient, when she shows up for the second time, that she happens to be mayor.

15. Why do you think that Sal trusted Linus to move his desk?

Sal was so wary of Linus from the get-go, so including Linus in anything having to do with Sal’s personal space would be a big deal. I’ve been impressed with how Linus speaks to Sal, so not surprised that his words about the desk coming into the larger room space would have an impact.

16. Lucy has a nightmare in this section. Did this make him seem more powerful or more like child? How do you think Linus handled the situation?

More like a child, I think, for all that his dreams have real-world power. And the way that Linus reacted seems to indicate that he thought so too.

17. What do you think of the use of the word home, as a theme for this book? It has been used by Linus, Zoe and by Extremely Upper Management?

Well, I thought it was going to be more of a “found families” thing, which it is, but there is also a sense of home as a specific physical place, and how feelings get bound up in that. I appreciate this sentiment.