Audrey Jane’s Comments (group member since May 27, 2014)

Audrey Jane’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I'm also joining the party of course :) Signed up and ready to board!

I will join the discussion and I'm up for writing a set of DQs :)

Christina wrote: "Yes, of course. I'm ultimately most looking forward to Vasya's and Morozko's remaining parts in the overall story arc, both together and separate, and their exploration of the world and Vasya's continuing magical education."

Yes, I do hope we will see more of Morozko in the next book as well.

Regarding the parental sacrifices; this made me think, I felt that Vasya's father blamed his daughter for his wife's death/sacrifice (especially in the beginning), it's poetic that in the end he did the same for their daughter.

DQ's 17th of March : chapters 19 - 28

13. Dunya waited a long time before giving the necklace to Vasya. Do you think she should have given it sooner? Would it have made any difference?
I felt that Dunya was delaying the inevitable. Getting Morozko involved couldn't possible worsen the situation. I wonder what the talisman can do, it wasn't explained in the book.

14. About father Konstantin, in the end he lives and Anna dies. Do you like the way Vasya handled Konstantin?
I felt bad for Anna and the person she became. I liked how Morozko helped Vasya dealing with Konstantin. I wonder if in the end Konstantin regretted his actions.

15. What do you think about the attitude of Morozko/Frost demon towards Vasya during the last chapters? How do you think he sees her?
It's a mystery to me too. I think he's more like a teacher and Vasya his protégée. She might learn more about magic from him and further develop her skills.

16. Do you think that the book has a satisfying ending? Were you expecting something similar?
I liked it but I'm curious for more, there's definitely no wrap up and there's room for other storylines. I wonder if the village will keep up the old traditions.

17. Now that you've finished the book, what do you think about the title? Does it fit? Any opinions about the nightingale story in the book?
Thank you Poonam, it makes sense now.

18. I liked the way the magic system works in the book. One of my favourite scenes was when Morozko explained how magic worked to Vasya. Do you have a favourite passage or quote?
More precisely I found the explanation Morozko gave Vasya about the straw becoming a brush poetic and it made sense.
Besides that, I enjoyed reading everything that happened in Morozko's fir tree house.

19. Are you planning to read the sequel? And if yes, what/which character are you most looking forward to in the next book?
Yes, I'm looking forward to the sequel. I would like to know what became of Sasha, Olya and Alyosha (will he remain in the village after everything he has been through).

DQ's 17th of March : chapters 19 - 28

13. Dunya waited a long time before giving the necklace/talisman to Vasya. Do you think she should have given it sooner? Would it have made any difference?

14. About father Konstantin, in the end he lives and Anna dies. Do you like the way Vasya handled Konstantin?

15. What do you think about the attitude of Morozko/Frost demon towards Vasya during the last chapters? How do you think he sees her?

16. Do you think that the book has a satisfying ending? Were you expecting something similar?

17. Now that you've finished the book, what do you think about the title? Does it fit? Any opinions about the nightingale story?

18. I liked the way the magic system works in the book. One of my favourite scenes was when Morozko explained how magic worked to Vasya. Do you have a favourite passage or quote?

19. Are you planning to read the sequel? And if yes, what/which character are you most looking forward to in the next book?

@Alysa: Concerning Konstantin, true, thanks for pointing that out.

I've noticed that the book does not judge its characters, I appreciate it when authors let situations speak for themselves.

I will post the last set of questions shortly!

If there aren't any volunteers I wouldn't mind writing the last set of questions and post it tomorrow :)

DQs Chapters 8-18

6. Are you content with Vasya's development so far? Do you see a romance waiting for her in the future?
I like her strong and independent personality and the way she doesn't conform. At this point she doesn't need any romance yet, I think it's a breath of fresh air that she explores herself and the world first. If she does have a romance I hope it's with someone who respects her.

7. What do you think of Anna now? Can you forgive her actions seeing that she only wanted to get rid of her demons? I completely agree with Johanna here. It was a bit strange to see her shift from the meek/innocent girl to the mean and bitter stepmother. I was curious in the beginning because I thought meeting Vasilisa would do her good and could learn her how to handle those demons. Vasilisa could have shown her they are not harmful.

8. How do you like Father Konstantin? Do you think he has a bigger role to play yet?
I don't particularly care for his self-righteous attitude towards the people of the village. He's ruling by fear and imposing his beliefs instead of letting people chose what they want to belief. Also he sees himself as God more often than a simple messenger. But I do think like Christina that he has a main story arc, and I think he will liaise with the Frost king's enemy/brother.

9. Clearly, Vasya still has to find her place in the world as she doesn't fit any conventional role. How do you imagine her place to be like? Same as Johanna and Christina said. I imagine her as a carefree girl living in the forest away from the village people and keeping up the old traditions. Magic might survive because of her. She might be the embodiment of balance between old and new traditions.

10. Who or what could be the ominous Bear, the winter king's enemy?
I think he is the winter king's brother, the one-eyed stranger at the beginning of the story, who can most likely shapeshift into a bear (?).

11. Do you think the winter king with his talisman really only wants to help Vasya in her fight against the Bear?
I think it's the other way around, the winter king needs Vasya's help to defeat his brother. Vasya is the only one in the human world that has the understanding (thanks to her grandmother) to understand him and the old ways.

12. What could be the book's message concerning the juxtaposition of Christian beliefs and the local spirits?
It reminds me of a course at university about the christianization of western Europe. In the end they had to assimilate pagan's beliefs in the Christendom in order to succeed. For example Christmas is actually Yule (yuletide) or winter solstice. And the idea of the Christmas tree and so one is the pagan tradition of hanging fruits and nuts in the trees as offerings to the gods (for a good harvest etc). I think something similar is happening in the book. The people need to find a balance between both beliefs.

Lol, I was kind of hoping that you were planning behind the scenes, well played ;-)

Yes yes yes! Thank you Mods! I've been scrutinizing each newsletter for this ;) The anticipation is already kicking in!

No worries, thank you for the update Mods :) !

Concerning question 2 and 3:
The one-eyed beggar sleeping under the oak tree is referred to by the stranger as Medved. I went to check in the glossary at the end of the book but there wasn't any information about him. I think the man with the white horse is the Frost king.
I agree Johanna, I also think the man is Frost and looking for Vasya, because maybe she is related to someone he knew?

4. I'm most eager to read more about Anna and her demons and how it will go for her once she moves into the family of Piotr Vladimirovich. Sasha is pretty interesting as well.

Can't wait to resume my reading after work :)

DQs 12th of March : chapters 1 - 7

1. Why do you think it's so important for Marina that her second daughter, Vasilisa, should be like her mother (referred to as the 'swan maiden' in the book)?

2. Any ideas who the sleeping beggar and stranger are in chapter 3, when Vasya is lost in the woods? In that same chapter the stranger on the white horse says "He is getting stronger", to what is he referring?

3. Who/what do you think the man with the white horse (spotted at the market in Moscow and then at the Grand Prince's feast) is looking for? And why?

4. At this point in the story which character do you find the most interesting?

5. Is it your first time reading a book about Russian folklore/fairytales? Do you have any recommendations?

I've read the first 7 chapters and would like to do the first set of questions.

Since the chapter split isn't up yet, I took the liberty to do the chapter breakdown (based on this edition of the book ).

There're 28 chapters (328 pages) - 7 chapters per day spread over four days:

12th of March : chapters 1 to 7 --> Audrey Jane
13th of March : chapters 8 to 14 --> TBD
14th of March *Break day*
15th of March : chapters 15 to 21 --> TBD
16th of March : chapters 22 to 28 (end) --> TBD

Volunteers DQs: Johanna, Audrey Jane

Please let me know if that's ok for you or if I need to add/change something :-)

I will post my questions shortly! Btw I'm liking this book already ;)

Great Poonam! I'm starting this book today :)

@ Jocelin: Glad to read that Jocelin. I love when that happens.

The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Lib Wright, a young English nurse, arrives in an impoverished Irish village on a strange mission. Eleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell is said to have eaten nothing for months but appears to be thriving miraculously. With tourists thronging to see the child, and the press sowing doubt, the baffled community looks to an outsider to bring the facts to lights. Lib's job is simple: to watch the girl and uncover the truth.

An educated sceptic, trained by the legendary Florence Nightingale and repelled by what she sees as ignorance and superstition, Lib expects to expose the fast as a hoax right away. But as she gets to know the girl, over the long days they spend together, Lib becomes more and more unsure. Is Anna a fraud, or a 'living wonder'? Or is something more sinister unfolding right before Lib's eyes, a tragedy in which she herself is playing a part?

Wake of Vultures by Lila Bowen

A rich, dark fantasy of destiny, death, and the supernatural world hiding beneath the surface.

Nettie Lonesome lives in a land of hard people and hard ground dusted with sand. She's a half-breed who dresses like a boy, raised by folks who don't call her a slave but use her like one. She knows of nothing else. That is, until the day a stranger attacks her. When nothing, not even a sickle to the eye can stop him, Nettie stabs him through the heart with a chunk of wood, and he turns into black sand.

And just like that, Nettie can see.

But her newfound sight is a blessing and a curse. Even if she doesn't understand what's under her own skin, she can sense what everyone else is hiding -- at least physically. The world is full of evil, and now she knows the source of all the sand in the desert. Haunted by the spirits, Nettie has no choice but to set out on a quest that might lead to her true kin... if the monsters along the way don't kill her first.

I'm curious for this one, I will join the discussion and I'm up for doing DQs. On a sidenote, that cover is absolutely lovely.

50 States Challenge
Duration: 6th of February 2016 - 6th of February 2018
Progress : 6/50
Level reached: TBD



⚜ Done ⚜

California - Love and Gravity - 29/06
Alaska - Midnight Come Again - 10/05
Florida - In the Light of the Garden - 12/02
Texas - One Fell Sweep - 08/03
New York - Discount Armageddon - 29/07
Massachusetts - The Saturday Evening Girls Club: A Novel - 06/08
Pennsylvania - Dr. Mütter's Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine



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The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Lib Wright, a young English nurse, arrives in an impoverished Irish village on a strange mission. Eleven-year-old Anna O'Donnell is said to have eaten nothing for months but appears to be thriving miraculously. With tourists thronging to see the child, and the press sowing doubt, the baffled community looks to an outsider to bring the facts to lights. Lib's job is simple: to watch the girl and uncover the truth.

An educated sceptic, trained by the legendary Florence Nightingale and repelled by what she sees as ignorance and superstition, Lib expects to expose the fast as a hoax right away. But as she gets to know the girl, over the long days they spend together, Lib becomes more and more unsure. Is Anna a fraud, or a 'living wonder'? Or is something more sinister unfolding right before Lib's eyes, a tragedy in which she herself is playing a part?

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn’t mind—she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse’s fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.

After Vasilisa’s mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa’s new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.

And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa’s stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.

As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed—this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse’s most frightening tales.