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

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

I don't know if anyone else has had problems but goodreads was down for a while yesterday. I didn't check on a computer but the app didn't work.

I did a rough count and if we can get all of the books to fit somewhere we have about 71 books to finish Spells and Classes.

I know I'm way behind in reading this. I tried, but it was a dense start and I wasn't in the mood at the time. I've finally finished level 1 and it is starting to pick up now. I'm actually looking forward to continuing to read the story.

(view spoiler)[I'm really liking the added action now that the first gate has been cleared. It was very slow before that happened. I'm a bit shocked and not shocked by IOI blowing up the trailer where Wade sort of lives. That was just horrible, and there won't be any repercussions for them either. Now that Wade has moved and is really committing to the OASIS and finding the egg it feels like a more interesting story. Also, the bus trip gave me more of a feel for the "outside" world and why the OASIS is so important. (hide spoiler)]

If it picks up there is a really good chance I will finish it. The opening was/is slow and I've been struggling to set aside the time for it.

The prologue is so good. Actually I found all of it good. Also, easy to read.

I've got to finish Ready Player One by Saturday and I'm not sure if I can do it. It is not a book I can read quickly. Do you remember if it picked up after part one?

I'm here from team Severus Snape. It looks like I will get the book from the library in time to join.

Comments and Questions
16&17 June
Chapters 1-8

1. The opening line of this book had me really sit up and take notice! Did it hit you in the face too? What's your favourite opening line from a novel?
I like the opening of This Census-Taker, and I'm sure there are others but I don't remember them right now. "A boy rand down a hill path screaming. The boy was I. He held his hands up and out in front of him as if he'd dipped them in paint and was coming to make a picture, to press them down to paper, but all there was on him was dirt. There was no blood on his palms."

2. The Author's Note at the front says to skip it and return only if you need it. So.. I skipped it. (I'm not big on spoilers). How about you? Did you skip it, or read it?
I skipped it. I don't think I will need to go back and read it but I know it is there if I decide I need it.

3. How are you finding the style? Do you like the flashbacks into Nona's past?
In this case I think the flashbacks are short enough that they don't take away from the current action. I think they fit and I'm enjoying the writing style. It is really easy for me to read.

4. Raymel Tacsis is "surrounded by Academy men sweating to keep him from death". Would you want people to try and save you like this, given the risks?
I like my life so I guess I might want to be saved. However, I also would want to be me still so I really don't know if I would want them to try and safe me or not. I guess I don't know enough about it to really make a decision one way or another.

5. What do you think of the world building? I'm finding it quite intriguing. And I love the names of the Sisters (flint, apple, wheel!). What name would you give yourself?
I feel like I'm still getting a feel for the world. I like it, but I'm unsure if it is our world in the future or a different world completely. The names really are great. I think I would want to be Cosmos because the flowers are my favorite color and I like the added benefit of having it mean the universe.

6. Initial thoughts - are you enjoying the book so far? Any favourite characters?
I was worried about not liking this book because of the mixed reviews. I'm really enjoying it and find the story easy to connect with. I really like Nona and my initial reaction is that I like most of the characters at the convent. It will be interesting to see how they are developed.

Paula wrote: "Ok, I'm really behind, I'm on page 44, but [spoilers removed]

I too expected to see Kady and Ezra in this book, but as I read Illuminae so long ago, is good to see I don't need to remember EVERYTH..."

Oh boy for page 44 (view spoiler)[The cow and what they did to Lucy is kind of freaking me out. (hide spoiler)]I've not had a lot of time to read but I admit that this is part of the reason I've been slow to continue.

Good night, Eldarwen.

Red Sister is good so far. I'm hoping to have some good reading time tonight for it and catch up with it. Then I need to read Ready Play One. I agree to many BRs. I noticed a few new books today and I can't get them from the library yet so I was saved from joining.

So we could pick book titles that don't fit either classes or spells and use those for history of magic. Do we have any?

For history of magic does the page number matter? For some of the classes seem like more points for more pages but not all.

Thanks, but I don't think cheering is necessary. Let's save it for the quiddich team. They will need it.

I really don't need another distraction. I need to actually finish up at least one of the 5 books I'm reading before I start two more this weekend. Library due dates will be some motivation I'm hoping. I ran out of renewals on three of the books I'm currently reading so got to finish them.

I get what you mean about similarities with other books. I kept think it was exactly like another book but set on Mars. I went back and read my review and I was wrong in thinking it grabbed me immediately. I didn't care for the opening and it was only after Eo event that I really started liking it.

I checked again this morning and now they have 3 copies of A Reaper at the Gates at my library. I placed a hold. Since they are still processing the book I'm not sure when I will get it. I doubt I'll be able to join by the 28th but hopefully in early July. I'm sure there will still be a few people joining then since some are reading from the start of the series.

Cathy M. wrote: "Finished last night -

(view spoiler)[I really enjoyed this book! I loved Maggie, her family, her community. I've mostly lived in big cities so living in a small town like that seems so charming!

Maggie's mom -... (hide spoiler)]"

I agree with what you said about (view spoiler)[wanting to know more about Malone. He still felt like a mystery at the end. I liked the ending and I really enjoyed the book. It would have been nice to see more of him. I've been reading a lot of books where you switch between the male and female perspective and I think that might have helped with our feeling like we didn't know him. However, I do think part of the resolution is know that he is going to try and share more with Maggie and he wants to share with her. (hide spoiler)]

Laura wrote: "Chapter 19

[spoilers removed]"

It's always always (view spoiler)[ the dog dying that gets me crying in books. Your not the only one who was crying. from reading other spoilers it looks like we were all in good company. (hide spoiler)]

SandyL wrote: "Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "ch 2

[spoilers removed]"

Yep - a bizarre date! I'm not happy with Father Tim! [spoilers removed]"

I felt the same way as you did.

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "ch 2

[spoilers removed]"

I agree the dates were maybe my favorite part. So funny.