Gillian’s Comments (group member since Jun 02, 2016)

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

Yes I thought is was really good :)

Book/Author: The Anubis Gates Tim Powers
Date Finished: 10/05/17
Page Number: Audio
BOM/DQ: No
Total Points: ?

Book/Author: Under a Graveyard Sky John Ringo
Date Finished: 09/05/17
Page Number: Audio
BOM/DQ: No
Total Points: ?

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Sherlock Holmesღ♥ღ wrote: "Gillian wrote: "Book/Author:The Circle Dave Eggers
Date Finished: May 5, 2017
Page Number: Audio ??
BOM/DQ: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"
Just participated sorry I should have removed the DQ thanks Stephanie :)

Book/Author:The Circle Dave Eggers
Date Finished: May 5, 2017
Page Number: Audio ??
BOM/DQ: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Total Points: 20 + ??= ??

Discussion Questions for May 6
(Start - Book II; Ends - "when I got back tonight. We can try it.")

1. Mae is now fully transparent. I found it hard to believe that anyone would care what one ordinary person was doing 24/7, even if she works at arguably the most important company in the world. What do you think is the appeal? Do you believe that full transparency would help bring an end to crime as we know it?

I can understand in this early stage there is a lot of people watching but it's a lot like big brother. I don't know about other counties but it has not been on TV for a very long time here. In time the numbers will drop dramatically. If you could some how guarantee a large audience then its possible it could help in crime situations but never bring an end to crime. Humans are smart soon someone will find away around it.

2. "THINK COMPLETION". "COMPLETE THE CIRCLE". "THE CIRCLE MUST BE WHOLE". All thoroughly creepy slogans, yet most everyone seems to be pushing for that goal. What do you think will happen when the circle is complete? With as pervasive as this company is, do you think it's too late to even try and stop that from happening?

Its never too late!!!! If the circle ever completes it would not be unlike the book 1984. The Circle would have control of all our lives. We would not need political parties anymore. In saying that I should not have said we as this is one country so that makes me wonder how would other countries react to this. The sheep countries would follow suit but the others may see it as an opportunity to attack.

3. Kalden calls Mae and sounds very concerned. He starts to warn her about Completion and telling her that it would be a very bad thing if it were to happen... and she hangs up on him. Do you think that Mae is fully within the Circle's grasp? Or do you think she hung up before the audio kicked back in and Kalden could be exposed, even if it was just his voice? Do you think he can convince her to help him?

At this stage I think Mae is so full of her own self importance that she is blind to anything else.

4. So not everyone is drinking the Kool-aid. Mae's parents and Mercer are both, in varying degrees, resisting having their whole lives wrapped in the Circle. Mercer has gone completely off grid. Do you think they'll be able to hold out against all this advancement? Or do you think, as Mae does, that they'll cave in eventually?

Humans can be very strong willed you will never convince them all to accept this blindly.

5. In this section, they introduce the concept of YouthRank, a system to academically rank every student in America and, eventually, the world. Of course, this information would be available to anyone. It's touted as a way to get an idea about your child's chances at going to a good college and is even incorporated with TruYouth, the child tracking system developed by Francis. Do you think this would be a good idea or a bad idea?

BAD BAD BAD you can not pigeon hole a child's potential to learn not everyone develops at the same rate. A lot also depends on who is teaching them and what may happen if put under extreme pressure. If we think the suicide rate is high now in teenagers imagine how high it would be if this was brought in.

6. Annie and Mae seem to be on equal footing, now, and Annie does not seem pleased. Do you think Mae's new position within the company will further affect their friendship? Mae says that they are peers now but Annie can't accept that. What do you think Mae is going to do to make Annie accept her?

I think Mae feels she is more of a big sister/friend to Annie wanting to give her advise but this probably won't go down well with Annie as she is not prepared for the role reversal yet if ever.

Discussion Questions ( Set 3) for May 5~ ~Laura
Start - "And then his hands were ..." 196-294
Ends - "...would be going transparent immediately"

1. What are your thoughts about Mae, Francis and the video? Do you think The Circle will see the video? Is Mae through with Francis now that he has hit the strike two mark?

The Circle see's everything you can be that in time that will come back to haunt her. Why she has not completely severed ties with Francis is beyond me.

2. Congresswoman Santos goes transparent. Nothing is private or secret. every conversation, every meeting, every part of your day will be broadcast . What are your thoughts on our elected leaders going transparent. Yay or nay?
Nay every body needs some for of privacy going transparent is just going to far.

3. Mae and Mercer are involved in another arguement. There are always two sides to an arguement. Whose arguement bears more weight? Are you more partial to Mercer or Mae's side?

Mercer for sure Mae does no listen to anything he says she just steam rolls right over his wishes.

4. Anyone else find it extremely ironic that Mae gets caught stealing a kayak by one of Marion's cameras, which we find out is a SeeChange camera from Mae's workplace? As a result of Mae's actions she is reprimanded at work and forced to be transparent. What do you think about what just happened?

For some one in the industry she is in preaching about everyone being accountable for their actions she made one hell of a mistake.

Discussion Questions for 5.03.17
Start -"Hi. I'm Gina. Dan said..." 97-195
Ends-.."The line of it, how it bends in like some kind of bow"

1. What are your first impressions of Gina? How do you feel about her session with Mae? This session really bothered me. I wasn't sure if they actually wanted Mae to work, or post on social media all day. "For a company that thrives on order and efficiency, the Circle also seems to endorse—require, even—loose and extravagant socializing. What do these two seemingly opposite values say about what working for them entails? How does Mae’s value set evolve to accommodate these expectations?" (http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guid...)

I can't say I like Gina at this stage. As far as the work goes it seems very demanding then to expect them to constantly be on social media promoting products etc. On top of this they need to constantly compete against each other I would expect they must go through a lot of staff the burn out rate must be huge. They don't have time for a real life anymore, I can't imagine there would be any married people working for The Circle.


2. Mae gets pulled into Dan's office for failing to RSVP to Alister's event. What do you think about this conflict between Mae, Alistar and how Dan mediated? [The whole time I was reading this section I was thinking to myself "Are you kidding me? What a baby!"] Do you think The Circlers are forcing new employees to participate in events by singling them out when they don't attend?

If you have to attend every invitation you are sent when do you get time to experience the things you like to do like sport, books, movies, family etc. Can you imagine if everyone behaved like that when you get 1 person not attending your event. Seriously get a life Alister.

3. Mae and Mercer get into an argument regarding their communication. Mae cannot even sit and listen to what Mercer is saying because he "talks so slow". Mercer is frustrated with Mae because she gets all her information from social media instead of speaking directly to him. "Every time I see or hear from you, it's through this filter. You send me inks, you quote someone talking about me, you say you saw a picture of me on someone's wall...It's always a third-party assault. Even when I'm talking to you face to face you're telling me what some stranger thinks of me. It becomes like we're never along. Every time I see you, there's a hundred other people in the room. You're always looking at me through a hundred other people's eyes." How do you think social media has affected the way we communicate with others? How has technology changed our relationships (the quality of our relationships) with other human beings?

Its gotten to the stage where no one talks anymore its a tweets and text. The sound of a loved ones voice is such a beautiful thing todays generation do not know what they are missing.


4. Mae enjoys kayaking and stops at Marion's kayak rental business on her way home from her parents. She seems very at peace when she's paddling in the bay. When and where do you find solitude? What types of technology are you comfortable invading that space? Josiah and Denise find out May kayaks but doesn't document anything and are appalled. They are even further disgusted when they find out Mae uses a paper pamphlet. They even go as far as questioning her self-esteem. [I found it ironic that they questioned her self-esteem and in turn she felt even worse about herself. "Goddamnit, Mae, give a shit! Be a person of some value to the world."]Are we now expected to document everything we do instead of being in the moment? Is our self worth now dependent on what we "share" with the rest of the world?
One of the most tranquil things is the water just to sit and watch the waves in peace and quiet gives you time to sort out your thoughts. Why would anyone want to ruin it by documenting everything.

5. How do you feel about the medical bracelet the circlers are required to wear? "To Heal We Must Know. To Know We Must Share" is posted in the clinic, do you agree with this motto? Would you wear one of those monitoring bracelets? (I feel like it's a double edge sword.) How much privacy would you be willing to give up for those amazing health care benefits?

This is a tough one the benefits are certainly great heath wise but its all the other stuff it would enable them to do which worries me.

6. Mae spots Kalden at the circus event. What do you think of their relationship? I find it odd that Mae cannot find any information on Kalden, given all the resources she has access to. Why do you think Mae is not more zealous on her pursuit of Kalden? Kalden seems to be very secretive. He avoids personal questions, Mae cannot get in touch with him, what do you think he is hiding?
Is Kalden the recluse Ty one of the three wise men he has had almost not input in the book so far.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS SET 1

1. ALTHOUGH THIS BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 2013 I WAS AMAZED WITH THE OPENING PAGES DESCRIBING THE CIRCLE'S CAMPUS IN LIGHT OF NEWS REPORTS THIS WEEK OF THE OPENING OF APPLE'S AMAZING NEW HEADQUARTERS! WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS BOOK AND HOW MUCH OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE REAL LIFE TECH WORLD DO YOU THINK WILL INFLUENCE THE PLOT LINE OF THE STORY?
I was unaware of Apple's new head quarters.
Not having any knowledge of what this book is about I have not expectations. I must admit I did not even read the introductory at the start of this thread so the book will be a total surprise for me :)

2. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS MAE AND ANNIE? DO YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS NOT AN EQUITABLE ONE AND HOW DO YOU THINK IT MAY CHANGE AS THE STORY PROGRESSES?
My impression of their relationship is that the like is one sided I feel Annie does not really like Mae. Annie seems very fake.

3. DO YOU LIKE THE CONTINUING FORMAT OF THE NOVEL AND THE LACK OF DEFINED CHAPTERS? WHY TO YOU THINK DAVE EGGERS HAS WRITTEN THE BOOK THIS WAY?
As I am reading it on audio this has no impact at all.

4. MAE AND FRANK? WHAT DO YOU THINK FRANK'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE STORY LINE WILL BE? DO YOU SEE ANY RELATIONSHIP EVOLVING BETWEEN THEM?
Its far to early to tell but if I had to guess they may become friend but I doubt Mae will fall in love with him.

5. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR AND IF SOMETHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS ARE TWO SAYINGS THAT IMMEDIATELY SPRING TO MIND WHEN READING THIS BOOK. AT THIS EARLY STAGE WHERE ARE YOU IMAGINING THE STORY IS HEADING?
This place is way to good to be true there is bound to be something bad underling that we will find out about.

6. DOES THIS BOOK REMIND YOU OF ANY OTHERS YOU HAVE READ OR ARE YOU FINDING THE STORY FRESH AND ORIGINAL?
1984 by George Orwell

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Sherlock Holmesღ♥ღ wrote: "Maddy wrote: "Gillian wrote: "Maddy wrote: "Is the countdown international or adjusted to continents?
Just wondering since some teams have started and I still have to wait. Impatient, I know."
How..."
:( I waited till today to read The Circle didn't know we could start it early.

Maddy wrote: "Is the countdown international or adjusted to continents?
Just wondering since some teams have started and I still have to wait. Impatient, I know."
How did some teams start early ai have had to wait on the clock and it the 5th here already?

request sent

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Sherlock Holmesღ♥ღ wrote: "You should continue, Sabastian's (Book 3) and Bowens's (Book 4) are really really good and the series only gets better and better."

Just bought on your recommendation hope it will fit in with this competition.

Shantavia wrote: "What are you Currently reading? Do you love it, hate it, or feel bluh about it so far?
The Raven boys - It's going okay, so my feelings are somewhere in the middle

What is your Favourite Color?
Pu..."

I hope we are stuck on the same deserted island as I love all 3 of your books

@Coreen I loved Guardians of the Galaxy and am looking forward to seeing the new one.
Red Rising was a really good book I loved the whole series.

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Sherlock Holmesღ♥ღ wrote: "Gillian wrote: "What are you Currently reading? Do you love it, hate it, or feel bluh about it so far? I just finished Fuzzy Nation and loved it.

What is your Favourite Colour? Purp..."

I have read the first 2 books only as I was disappointed in the 2nd book but I have most of them just waiting for me to read them.

What are you Currently reading? Do you love it, hate it, or feel bluh about it so far? I just finished Fuzzy Nation and loved it.

What is your Favourite Colour? Purple

What are your favourite TV shows? I don't have time to watch much TV an old favourite would be Charmed.

What is your favourite movie/s? Terminator / Star Wars

Do you have any pets? What are they? No

What's your preference: ebook or hardback/paperback? Audio as if not for them I would hardly ever get a book read.

Who is your all time favourite Author? Its hard to pick just one but I do like Kresley Cole

If you where stuck on a deserted island, what 3 books would you have with you?

Who is your favourtie actor/s? Robin Williams and Hugh Jackman.

KaZaam wrote: "DQ - discussion questions"

Thanks so now my next question is how can you make them if you haven't read the book yet?

What are DQs?

I'm glad they are making another one do you know when its due out?