Stacey’s Comments (group member since Oct 31, 2019)

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

DQs Day 1 Chapter 1-8

1. Is this your first Emily Henry book or have you read others by her? If not your first, what has been your favorite book of hers, so far? If your first, has she been on your radar before or is this a BOM/Games thing you're reading for?
No, I've read 2 others and enjoyed them. This isn't a genre I read tons of and hadn't realized it at first. I'm reading for points, but also because I needed a fun book to break up my horror/thriller reads.

2. What do you think so far of the story and the writing?
For some reason I didn't think I'd like this and almost didn't pick it up. I'm really enjoying it so far.

3. What would you do if you found yourself in the same shoes as Miles and Daphne and were invited to an ex's wedding?!?
Well, I definitely wouldn't go. Especially that soon, but I do think their response is what I'd want to do initially (but wouldn't). I'd be more mad at that then they are.

4. I love Emily Henry's characters. I always find myself laughing throughout her books. Are you enjoying the characters so far in this one? Anyone in particular an early favorite?
Yes, I do love the characters so far. Ashleigh is up there too.

5. Any early predictions for how this will turn out? Do you think Peter's call to Daphne is an indication of jealousy? Do you agree with Ashleigh when she said "If Peter was going to break your heart now, he would’ve done it eventually." and "He's a lunch swapper, and whether it was the rusty metal Batman lunch box or a Cars 2 zip-up one that's filled with mold, at some point, he was going to trade in the sack lunch." (I love that metaphor!!)

I mean, Miles and Daphne are definitely going to end up together, and Daphne is going to stay because she ends up with her own life and friends. Not sure what will go on with Peter and Petra, but don't really care. And yes, I loved the metaphor. It did make me laugh.

Tammie wrote: "
I finished my first MINI bound book...wow...this book.
I don't think I've ever read such a good book where I basically hated the MC all the way through. Interesting..."

Tammie and Stephie - I am so glad you liked this. It was one of my rare DNFs. I started but just couldn't continue. At some point I may have to figure out why so many people liked this book.

I didn't catch that we could start the books before. I just finished reading my current book, I'll find something that works and start soon.

Tammie,

I think Yellowface is in the wrong spot, it should be cover color correct?

I can take yellow text on cover, or I can find something else.

M wrote: "I can do set in China (50%+) if this one works

My book club is reading The Three-Body Problem "

I hope you enjoy this! I did. I actually like the next 2 in the series more than this one but still good. Definitely in China.

Day 8 : Ch 59-End
36. What did you make of the ‘Rapunzel’ story that Livira wrote and about the messages she intends?

37. The Skeer show up in a story early on (The Insectoid Who Came to Tea by Celcha Arthran), but become real here. What is your reaction to the Skeer (and how were they kept from people's knowledge)?

38. Time works differently in the library. At one point Livira states that she hasn’t written the first page of her book yet, but she needs to in order to make this part make sense. What do you make of the ability to move through time, even as a ghost? How does this fit into your idea of things being fated versus based on consequences of choices?

39. We learn about what happens with Malar, Livira and the assistants. How does this change your understanding of the story?

40. This is the first book in a series and it leaves off with 3 of the characters moving off together to fight and find. Does it still feel like a complete ending or a cliffhanger? Will you read the 2nd book?

Bonus: Anything else you feel is important to note? I felt like these chapters were so full that it was hard to only ask 5 questions.

DQs Day 7 Chapters 50 - 58

31. Livira realises that the boy in the city that Evar and she visited was looking right at her. Arpix reminds her of the things she had told him, firstly, that Evar had said that the assistants could see ghosts as well, and secondly, about the two sets of children’s footprints that led from pools of assistant blood. By the end of this section, we have been given an explanation for all of this. What were your first thoughts when you read this bit and was it proved correct?
I'm going to be honest, I've had a bit of trouble keeping up with some of the more nuanced parts. Things aren't always lining up as I expected but they are all in keeping with the main theme that's been continuing to develop since the beginning.

32. “The library is many things from many angles. Both blessing and curse. A razor blade given to a baby; a rope thrown to a drowning man.”
Do you think this statement of Yute’s makes sense? What came to your mind when you read this?
I agree with the many things and many angles. At first the baby seems odd, but I think he is talking about how everyone is scrambling to make bigger, better weapons. The weapons are the blades and the people (humans and sabbers) are the babies.

33. We have been given a whole of information in this section that casts all the previous sections in a new light. Have you changed any of your opinions from earlier in the book? What do think is going to happen next?
I am very curious. I am hoping it is more complex then it could be. Livira won't be able to go back, but now she and Evar can age together. Their relationship and how they've gotten to know each other will spark the start of the two groups beginning talks and healing.

34. ”It’s always the books you don’t have that call to you, you know that. Not the ones already on your shelf. They can wait.”
As somebody who has an incredibly large ever-growing TBR list, I find this statement applies to me perfectly. What do you think about it?
Yes! I always look for new despite my stack. I'll add something (or buy something) then decide I'm not quite in the mood.

35. (view spoiler) Why is nobody willing to believe it and what do think you think he meant by that last bit?
It's hard to change the way you've been trained to think. Everything they have been given supports this. I'm not sure what to make about the last bit other than it was a misunderstanding of sorts that started things off.


Bonus: My mind kept going back to books like Fahrenheit 451 and The Book Thief while reading this book with the discussions about the control of information. Did you find yourself also being reminded of any other books / movies etc? What were they and what was it that brought them to mind?
I didn't think of anything right away, but I do agree with your thoughts (well, for the one book, haven't read the other). I think that limiting information and putting misinformation out is a great way wreak havoc.

Day 6 Chapters 42 - 49

25. Lavira gets tired of searching for the Exchange and books that aren't in the library and realizes they must be held by the head librarian. She breaks in and steals a book, The Forest Between, and in the process she meets the 5th helper, Volente, a large dog. Were you surprised that the dog let her take the book?
Not really. The guardians of the library seem to be there to protect the library and not the people.

>b>26. Arpix is an ally to Lavira in her search for the Raven and the Exchange. He also helps her open the book. Out of all the companions from the initial table who would you have expected to be her confidant and companion?
I'm not surprised; of course he didn't know that she stole the book at this point.

7. Lavira learns that opening a portal is done with the White's blood in a circle. This matches with what Evar read and tried to do for years with his blood. Volente helps Arpix and Lavira find the Raven and the Raven's name so that they can get back into the chamber that is closed to them and access the fallen Assistants blood to open a portal. It feels like the Library is helping Lavira. Do you have a theory for why that is?
The library seems to have a purpose, protecting the books and possibly ending the cycles. I think that they will help those who are eager enough to do what works toward these goals.

28. Lavira and Evar meet again. Again Evar doesn't recognize her as for him only a few days have passed but years have passed for her. They go into a portal and focus on it being a time of peace. When they arrive there are hundreds of Assistance and they are walking away from two portals. Leaving the portals are two small sets of footprints. Who do you think they belong to?
I thought it was interesting that this is what they got when they didn't want to see fighting. Could the footprints be theirs? Probably not, but curious.

29. Question contains spoilers: (view spoiler)
I don't know why I didn't see this. It fits perfectly with what the author is trying to say about prejudices.

30. Lavira returns to her world and Arpix has spent his time in the Exchange asking and collecting the books that they have been unable to find in the Library. Lavira is wounded and devastated. Do you think her opinion on the library and history will have her reconsider Yute's offer to try and stop the war now?
I do think she will reconsider, but I think she has a bit more soul searching to do first. She is close, but not quite ready at this point.

Day 5 ~ Chapters 35 - 41

20. “Everything we see is seen through the lens of our expectations. Our prejudice provides a broad brush, imagination sprinkles detail, some of which may actually be there.” - Illusion by Copper Davidfield
This epigraph at the start of one of the chapters, stopped me for two reasons. One was due to whom it was credited. What do you make of this work/person? Did you have any thoughts or “lightbulbs” when reading this epigraph? How do you think it relates to the story or does it?
I thought it was interesting how it is linked to our history but not right. I keep thinking that clearly the Sabbers are more than just monsters and are quite intelligent but their prejudices keep them from seeing it.

21. Livira finds a way to get through the portals again and she and Evar have a bit more time together. This time they explore some of the pools/portals and are have different reactions to where they go. Did this give you any more ideas on what the portals are for or why the two of them can use them at times?
I love that they figured out the time aspect. So curious. Could the library be one big history book that they can enter?

22. Yute took Meelan and Livira before the king, all along to appoint Livira as junior librarian. (She had the complete wrong idea until he made the announcement to the king!) This was met with complete disapproval by the king and others. Yute was able to persuade the king to accept the appointment with prejudice. What do you think Yute’s ultimate goal is by this action or by his recruitment of Livira, even?
I think that he understands the Sabbers are more than what we they are told and is hoping Livira, as an outsider, will help him. If they continue down that path it seems like mutual destruction is inevitable. If they can talk and come up with some sort of understanding maybe both can live side by side (even if not easily/happily)

23. This section is full of time jumps. That twice we are told that 3 years have passed in Livira’s world and we know that she is “striding toward her twentieth year”. Then boom she is a fully fledged Librarian, when it seems just a few chapters earlier that the king and his followers were going to try to remove her as junior librarian. What are your thoughts on Livira now that she has aged and is developing her opinion of her world?
It has been hard since we don't get to know much about how she's changed. I still like her and I like that she has her own mind and own prejudices.

24. Since we are a little over half way through the book now, has your opinion of the story changed? Are you liking it more or less than you were before? Any predictions on what will happen in the story?
I'm still interested and still confused. I hope that it will resolve in ways I can appreciate. I also hope it won't get too preachy on its main ideas that the author wants to get across (I think I see what it will be). I also wonder if Livira is the girl Evar is looking for, just the older version of herself. She ages yet he hasn't been. Maybe that will change at some point.

Day 4 - Chapters 26 - 34

15. We get to see what happened to Clovis before she went into the Mechanism. We already had a pretty good sense of what happened. Why do you think the author included this scene?
It's clear that the Sabber's play a big role in what is happening as does the 'war'. It is clear that things are repeating just not sure if it is magical type of repeats or history repeating itself.

16. Speaking of authors, did you notice the quote at the start of Chapter 28 is from one of Lawrence's books? He chose it just as Livira tells Arpix that Yute suggested they read and write fiction. Arpix is shocked and wonders what would be the point. What do you think society would be like without any creative writing?
I'm reading a great non-fiction book right now, but I can't get into it the same way as I do fiction. I also think that fiction gives us great insights and ways to talk about and deal with current issues in creative ways. You can learn a lot about a society by the fiction it writes. I also think that the fiction in this book may hide lots of truths.

17. What did you make of how the Assistant and Soldier appeared in Clovis' past? They know about the lost children in the Mechanism and can see Evar. Are they controlling this world? And are they friends or foe?
They are part of the library and I suspect that is why they can see him and the time they are in. I don't think they are controlling all of the world but that they can manipulate parts of it (like doors and pool entries). Other than that, I'm waiting to find out.

18. Livira once again jumps in to save lives without hesitating. And Malar thinks this is Algar's second attempt to kill Livira. Do you think she is really being targeted? Why is she so dangerous to the status quo?
Yes, I think she is being targeted. if there is a prophecy or things repeating I suspect that someone like her is mentioned. She's stubborn and foolish in some respects brave and smart in others. She learned about using wet cloths, for instance, which likely saved them all.

19. Why do you think Evar and Livira have such different experiences of the Exchange and even within the portals?
They come from different places/times but other than that... who knows. Interesting though.

Day 3 - Chapters 17-25

11. We learn a lot more about the library in this section, for example that new head librarians create new systems to secure their power and make themselves indispensable. I know we have a few librarians in this group… how do you feel about that? 😅 If you’re not a librarian –what would you do if the library you use just changed systems whenever it felt like it?
Not a librarian, but sounds insane! Also sounds necessary - or something else like it for political reasons (and survival).

12. We also finally had our stories converging, albeit briefly. Livira and Evar were exploring new places in consecutive chapters, both of them marking their origin/path (Livira with books, Evar with a knife) and then their journeys culminate in them meeting in what Livira identifies as an “in-between place”. Were you expecting them to meet so soon? What was your impression of their brief time together – and why did the meeting end so abruptly?
This was crazy and interesting! I'm curious, I was guessing to separate timelines. Now I'm wondering about multiverses. Someone let her through and wants her to see/learn something but then changed their minds. Maybe they were worried or scared? So hard to guess while knowing so little about what the library is, how it works, or who started it. My original ideas were upended here.

13. In her time in the library, Livira acquired a companion in the raven: is he an ally or guide? Or something sinister? Do you think it’s actually “just” a (magical) animal or maybe even a character we know already?
I think he is mostly an ally but definitely cares about the books. No idea what else to think at this point.

14. I can’t help but constantly think of the Book of the Ancestor as I’m reading this – the young girl protagonist who’s an outsider, the school setting, navigating friendships and political machinations while also learning about whatever type of magic there is… Have you read anything else by Mark Lawrence?

This is my first Mark Lawrence book so I can't compare.

DQs Day 2 Chapters 8 - 16

6. How are you enjoying the book so far? How's the pacing for you?
It was a bit confusing at first, but I'm starting to get it. I'm looking forward to seeing how these two storylines come together.

7. What are your favorite characters, situations, quotes so far?
Livira for sure. Still figuring out some of them.

8. What are your fondest memories of a library?
We used to go all the time. I just enjoy finding fun things, and the smell of books.

9. Library as prison... does that ring true for you?
The library is a happy place for me, but anywhere can become a prison in the right circumstances, like not being able to leave.

10. If you could have one natural ability relating to books (view spoiler), what would it be?
Well, being able to read all languages would be nice. I'd be happy with being able to retain information better when reading at faster paces.

I’ll read it. Give me a bit to add to spreadsheet.

I can read I Only Read Murder if that works and no one else has something. Not sure if that is any easier though.

DAY 1 CHAPTERS 1-7

1. Ahhh.. The Library! ..My happy place. And what a beautifully intriguing cover! How often do you visit your local library and have you visited any famous libraries around the world. Do share!
I don't go in person much anymore. I need to. I loved going to the Library of Congress, down near the children's area. The smell of books....

2. The first chapters describe a barren wasteland with an equally hopeless type of existence for Livira and her people. But straight away we establish that there is something special about Livira as she rises above her surroundings and the life she seems destined for. But circumstances change... your first impressions of Livira and how she influences her new destiny.
Livira seems strong and resilient but maybe a bit too headstrong. She sometimes acts before she thinks.

3. The chapter headings.. how do they fit into the tale? Do you find them interesting as a guide or somewhat cryptic at this stage of the story?
I'm listening. My chapters just titles Evar or Livira at this point. What am I missing out on?

4. Enter Evar in Chapter 4 and the scene changes from the barren Dust to the mysterious and atmospheric library and its Mechanism. A lot of information to absorb about how it all works and the role of Evar and his "family". Does the author do a good job in getting across what the library is and does? Is it good, evil or omnipotent?
I don't feel like I have enough information to answer this yet. We know some but I feel like there is a lot missing.

5. "Evar, don't turn the page. I'm in The Exchange. Find me at the Bottom" .
Who wrote this sentence and what is its purpose at this point in the novel? What impact do you think it will have in the story moving forward?
I think it will be a huge part of the plot. No idea who. Only guess right now would be Livira but that isn't really an informed guess.

Tammie wrote: "Sounds good

Stacey I’m sorry for the veto on your book…I hope you weren’t offended by this.

I’ll get this reported to D12"

No offended, just busy. I'll see if I can help with something else.

What do you think about Trouble & Triumph?

I'd read it.

I found a book called Ice and Blood. Not sure I want to read it but it would be fun for the train.

Just finished one I didn't expect to. Hope it isn't too late.

Thanks for the clarification! I get it now.