Annalisa’s Comments (group member since May 04, 2018)

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

Just finished Good Omens and posted questions. Can someone update the ss for me?

Day 3: Thursday and Friday

10: How do you think the baby mix up influenced how Adam turned out? Or was the mix up what was really supposed to happen in going with the theme of all actions and events being part of a divine plan?
I really don't know if the mix up was part of the divine plan but it does seem to have a positive affect on Adam.

11: Crowley and Aziraphale tried to shape the upbringing of the Anti Christ only to have the wrong kid. Do you think Adam would have discovered his powers earlier if they had been influencing him instead?
I really don't think he would have discovered them earlier. However, Crowley and Aziraphale probably would have seen evidence of them.

12: Do you think Anathema knew that Adam might have special abilities when she met him? Was that why she gave him the reading material?
She knows that he is different, but I don't think she realizes that he has special abilities. I think she gives him the reading material because he seems interested in it.

13: Like me, were you worried about what had happened to the 3rd baby? What did you think when you read the little size piece about Greasy?
I liked that it was added, in but I didn't really think it added anything to the story. I did wonder what happened to the third baby, but more in an off hand way.

14: There are some secondary characters that seem to have no real purpose in the book yet: Raven, Newt and Shadwell for example. Do you have any theories as to the parts they will play in stopping or helping the impending Armageddon?
I've seen the TV show, so I sort of know how they play in. However, for the life of me I can't rememeber who Raven is. I've only been half listening to the story though as it really isn't engaging me fully.

DQs day 4

15 – Many feel the second half of the book isn’t as strong as the first. Do you agree? Do you think it’s too condensed, or meanders too much?
I thought it meandered and there were too many additional characters. I didn’t really care for the first part of the novel, but the second half amplified what I didn’t like in the first have of the novel.

16 – How did you feel about the book now that you’ve finished it? Did it meet your expectations? If it was a re-read does it tally with your memory of the book?
I watched the TV show before reading the book and I felt rather ambivalent about it. The book has a lot more of the bits I disliked from the show. I was hoping the book would be better than the show but it didn’t work for me.

17 – How well did you think Pratchett and Gaiman managed to write together? Did you ever feel like you were reading two different authors, or did you find they blended well together?
I guess they worked well together. The book was generally cohesive, but I do wonder if part of why I didn’t like it was that it was mixed up a bit from two authors.

18 – Have you read any other works by either author? Do you think you are more or less likely to pick up any of their individual books in future?
I have read other books by both authors, and have liked a few and hated a few from both. I'm not really likely to pick up a book by one of them, but I keep having them recommended, so I imagine I will be reading them again.

Lexi, I’ll be finishing Good Omens in the next 2 hours. I’ll get DQs post then as well. I am on the app though so I won’t be able to get a link for that on the ss.

My Plain Jane is on my sled now. I should finish Unearthed this evening. I’ve got about 3 hours left on the audiobook of Good Omens so I’ll finish that up tomorrow.

The division of Good Omens is a bit strange. I finished Days 1-3 and thought good only 25% left but turns out I’m only 50% done. I’m realizing that these authors probably aren’t for me.

It looks like my book for z is not going to come in on time. I'm going to take it off the SS. If it comes in I'll try and get it in before the end of the week.

DQs Day 2: Wednesday

5. Aziraphale and Crowley discover that Warlock isn't the antichrist and are in search of the real antichrist; why do you think they didn't catch on to this earlier?
It seems like they didn’t anticipate a problem and therefore didn’t notice it. We see what we expect.

6. The manor is just a little different than when the babies were born (hehe). How do you like Mary Hodges changes? Is the portrayal of corporate retreats accurately reflected?
I have no idea about corporate retreats. However, I did think it was apt.

7. Aziraphale is excited to have the very rare book of prophecies in his hands and treats it with utmost care; does his love of books endear him to you more (well, his upgrade of Anathema's bike also made me smile at him)?
I don’t really think it changed my opinion of him much. I do find his obsession with rare books amusing.

8. War is on vacation; this scene is packed with nuances, but we get the sense of impending doom; what do you think the lords of hell add to the story, do you like it?
I’m rather ambivalent about the lords of hell. To be honest I don’t really care about them or much else in the story.

9. Keeping Cat's theme going, what is your favorite quote from this section?

“I don’t recognize this,”

“What is it?”

“It’s Tchaikovsky’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust’,” said Crowley, closing his eyes as they went through Slough. To while away the time as they crossed the sleeping Chilterns, they also listened to William Byrd’s “We Are the Champions” and Beethoven’s “I Want to Break Free.” Neither were as good as Vaughn William’s “Fat-Bottomed Girls.”
I liked the quote about Richard Nixon’s book of prophesies, not the American.

Day 4 - Who Knows? - Aid Ambiguous


16. Throughout the book Penn has used fairy tales to explore the issues in their lives. Did you enjoy this approach?

This was one of my favorite parts of the book.

17. All 4 boys admitted to telling Poppy's secret. Were you surprised by this? And how did you feel when it was later revealed how Poppy was outed?

I wasn't surprised at all that all of them admitted. They all love Poppy and feel bad.

18. Up to this point I really enjoyed the scenes with Mr. Tongo. What did you think of his guidance to Penn and Rosie? Do you believe that by sheltering Poppy they hindered her development?

I wasn't sure what to think. I kind of thought that sheltering her might be good, but maybe it was also bad.

19. On the one hand we have Penn enthusiastically researching vaginoplasty for Poppy's future, but on the other we have Rosie more along the lines of making decisions based on the present. Considering that Poppy is only 10 and taking into account the events leading up to this discussion, which side did you most agree with?

I think maybe Penn is getting ahead of himself, but I also think Rosie should listen to Penn. The middle would be good.

20. Unexpectedly Rosie decided to work at the clinic in Thailand and to take Claude/Poppy with her. Did you think this was the right thing to do for Claude/Poppy? For her family?

I don't know if it was the right thing or the family, but I do think Claude/Poppy needed a change for a time.

DQs Day 1: In the Beginning - Eleven Years Ago

1. What's prompted you to pick up the book (except BOM points!)? Is it a first time read, a reread, a rereread, because of the mini-series?
I’ve had a friend telling me I should listen to this for a while. I watched the mini-series and have to admit I wasn’t impressed.

2. I really enjoy the humour in the book, but am aware it's a very British sort of humour. Do you find it funny? Any stand out lines so far?
To be completely honest the book is more of a brain yeast than funny. I like it more so far than the mini series but it isn’t really wowing me.

3. In the very first section the angel and demon discuss whether the two actions they took in the Garden of Eden (tempting of the apple and giving up the sword) are actually actions for the opposite team: is it good for humanity to have knowledge? Do you have a view?
We would not have very much without some forms of knowledge. I’m not sure I view the actions they took as good or bad. So many things are more grey than black or white, and I think that is more what they were getting at.

4. The best part about this section, imo, is the frenemies relationship between Aziraphale & Crowley. Do you enjoy it? Do you have a favourite of the two?
I do like Crowley and Aziraphale, but I don’t know that this is as fleshed out as I would like. They are more than cardboard cutouts but they aren’t really defined yet. I like well developed characters and this is just not quite there yet.

I'm moving my unfinished book for this week to next week. I won't be able to finish it before the deadline.

I added a “z” book to the ss for next week. I really hope the hold at the library comes in.

Elen wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "I started Good Omens this morning, and it is an audiobook, so I’m not sure I’ll get to any classics for next week. I may try and read our team name book. It will depend on what hol..."

I did not expect that. That is a win.

I started Good Omens this morning, and it is an audiobook, so I’m not sure I’ll get to any classics for next week. I may try and read our team name book. It will depend on what holds I get this weekend.

I like the word two difficult letters. I’m not wild about the genre.

Looks like we have Azure and genre is Classic.

DQs Day 3 - Everyone Who? - Hedge Enemies

11. The description of them unpacking - pictures on wall first - is so true to me: pictures on the wall, books on shelves and the rest can wait. Do you unpack like that? More widely, did you enjoy the information about the family settling into the new neighbourhood?
I don't think I would unpack like that, but I'm really not sure what I would do. Maybe dishes first because having a good meal is really important to me.

12. Rosie is having difficulties settling into the new job, and the senior partner's slightly wonky (but oh-so-real) view about how flexible working actually functions. Do you enjoy that Frankel is bringing in adult life issues wider than just parenting a trans kid?
I did like that they story felt real and it wasn't just about the issues of parenting. There were a few times that the office politics really bothered me.

13. Roo.... poor Roo. What did you think about his video project when you first read about it? How did you feel by the end of the section? Any thoughts on how Roo's story will pan out?
I was a little surprised but Roo's video at first but by the end of the section I got it. I think Roo really gets the problem but doesn't know what to do in the face of his parents.

14. The last chapter has a discussion about gender pay equality, and Rosie realises that Poppy had no idea about this, and wonders if they have done her a disservice by sheltering her too much from equality issues. Do you agree? Do you think it's realistic that Poppy wouldn't know?
I do think that it is realist that 10 year old Poppy wouldn't know. I don't think that is sheltering your child. I don't know that I knew about gender inequality and pay differences until I was looking for a job.

15. I find the narrator's voice slightly odd: it veers from a high-level view down into intimate POV, and chucks in a whole load of Ominous Warnings of Impending Doom. Are you enjoying the writing style?
Since I'm listening to the audio, I don't think I'm getting the same feeling. I find that the narration is softened when you listen to a book. I did like the way the story shifts around. For me it made the story feel full and complete instead of partial.

DQs Day 2: Maybe to Rival Neighbor Princess

6.) The adults in this book have a wide range of reactions to Claude. You have the fun Mr. Tongo, the principle, Victoria Revels, Miss Appleton, the gun totting Nick, the horrible Cindy (who risks a kid's life like that!?!) and their reactions to Claude vary drastically. Thinking about these characters, I keep going back to the quote "At home Claude is loved no matter what. At school, sometimes it feels the opposite: you are not loved no matter what."
What do you think about this quote, is it true? What does the reactions of the older kids and adults versus the younger kids say about society?
We learn from those around us and take our cues. Kids will be open unless they learn otherwise. I liked how the most important question for one of the kids was about tights and if they were itchy.

7.) In this section we learn where the title comes from. Do you agree with Penn's statement?
I truthfully do not remember Penn's statement. However, I remember thinking, "oh there is the title, that fits."

8.) Claude chooses his new name, and as new names are wont to do, a new identity. Were you surprised at his choice? Do you think it was a good choice? Or a foreshadow of danger ahead?
I thought it was a good choice. I didn't see it as foreshadowing danger ahead.

9.) Do you agree with Rosie's decision to move the family? Do you think problems will crop up with Roo in their new home with how attached he was to life in WI?
The move was a hard choice, and I'm not sure it was the right one. However, it was clearly hardest for Roo and the parents were clearly most worried about Poppy.

10.) What are your thoughts are keeping Claude/Poppy's gender secret in their new home? How do you think the truth will come out? When it does, what do you think will happen to Poppy?
I thought, "oh, no. This will not be good." I understand why Poppy wants it to be a secret and it lets her get to know the kids and parents without any judgement. However, long term it wasn't possible.

I'm trying to figure out if I can finish one of the books I added to the SS for this week. I didn't get as far into it as I hoped this weekend. Guess it will probably work for next week though.

Oh, good question. I may need to check my books. If it is exact.

Day 1: Start - Halloween

1. Did you have any preconcieved ideas about this book before you started, what where they?
I didn't have any idea what the book was when I decided to pick it up. However, not to far into the book I remembered hearing about it on the radio or somewhere.

2. Rosie shares with us the continued pursuit of having a daughter and possibly having a version of her little sister Poppy in that daughter, what was your reaction to that?
I'm not sure why, but when that was shared I knew what was coming with Claude. I think it is sad, but at the same time things we want in childhood can be hard to let go of.

3. What do you think of Rosie and Penn's parenting style so far?
I'm amazed but them. They seem like they are doing the best they can and are really pretty happy as a family. In someways I think a lot of their style is that they are overwhelmed and just want to show their children they are loved.

4. I'm loving grandma, she doesn't even blink twice when Claude wants a bikini; what do you think would help Claude most, letting him wear bikini and dress in public or restricting him to only wear those at home?
He is a little kid, I say let him do what makes him most happy. Also, as the parent to the most you can to stand up for him.

5. It breaks my heart when Penn shows Rosie the drawings Claude has made of the family, where he is getting smaller with every drawing. What should they do?
I think I would be overwhelmed in this situation. They clearly need to be asking questions of Claude to see why and probably also seeking outside help. Claude is so smart it seems hard to picture him as a little kid but that is exactly what he is and they need to help him with his feelings.