Apoorv ’s Comments (group member since Mar 26, 2014)

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

Kade has this bankable quality that just makes him someone you would want to befriend. Plus the fact, that he unabashedly talks about Fairyland, unicorns, works with clothes while still talking about (view spoiler)[having dibs at asking Nancy out first, since he met her first (hide spoiler)] is just very adorable.

... or so I think, I haven't finished the book yet. :P

Team Gilderoy Lockhart
Part 1 - Chapters 1 -3

OMG! This book is sort of making me very happy (so far, at least). I absolutely LOVE when the MCs are not the caricatures or versions of the typical, conventional, run-of-the-mill boys and girls, and so far nothing is textbook.

Ofcourse the world Seanan is creating is very intriguing, but I have loads of questions about the how's, what's, and why's of things. Nancy (view spoiler)[ seems reticent at best right now, and so Sumi's contrasting nature is slightly jarring to me. I would have liked a more common thread between the two, than just two polar opposite's getting together and eventually (maybe) becoming best friends. That would be typical in my book. But, let's see how Seanan executes the tale. (hide spoiler)]

I am even more intrigued about Eleanor. What is her story?

.. and Kade!! I have a feeling, I am going to fall in love with this guy. ^_^

Dragana wrote: " do have the perfect book for banishing clothes LOL."

Dayum! Read it, Dragana, just so that we can see the cover mentioned a few times across threads! ;) :P

Team Gilderoy Lockhart
Chapters 16 - 20 - FINAL

So, I did finish this two days ago, and never really got around to talk about my final thoughts. Honestly, there isn't a whole lot to talk about - certainly not in terms of the positives.

The book meandered for 384 pages with hardly anything happening along the way, that made me want to sit back and gasp at. I was thoroughly intrigued by the concept, but the execution fell flat for me, almost from the get go! This was my first Kendare Blake, so I don't necessarily want to trash her for her work here, but it most certainly was half-baked even after having such a brilliant subject to play with.

Most of the issues that I had with the book, have been echoed by many of you, which unfortunately gives a majoritively bad rep to the book. But some questions for all of you, who have probably enjoyed Ms. Blake or Greek mythology in general previously:

- Do you agree as to why the teams were (view spoiler)[Apollo/Athena/Hermes/Cassandra vs Poseidon/Hera/Aphrodite? (hide spoiler)] Who do you think will win in the rest of the books, just purely on their powers?
- Which God did you (view spoiler)[miss from the action and why? (hide spoiler)]
- Did you agree to the way the Gods behaved? If not, whose behaviour seemed out of character?

May
Completion Post

Book Read: Antigoddess | Kendare Blake
Date Completed: 19-May-2018
Pages: 384
Buddy Read: Discussion Post (First of others)
Points: 40+40 = 80
Challenge Shelf updated

-------------------------------------------------------
Spells:

A: Title A
B: Author B
C: Character C - Cassandra Weaver
D: Character D - Demeter
H: Character H - Hera
I: Character I - Isabella
K: Author K
M: Character M - Meridan
O: Character O - Odysseus
P: Character P - Poseidon
S: Character S - Selene
T: Character T - Travis Kearns
W: Character W - Weaver, Cassandra

-------------------------------------------------
Classes:

Arithmacy: Page Length Category - 351-500
Care of Magical Creatures: Book Cover - The cover has a feather, so we can claim that our magical creature has feathers.
Charm: Levitation Charm - Feather on the cover
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Dark Art/Defense - Loads of Greek Gods mentioned throughout the story
Divination: Prophecy/Vision - Cassandra has prophecies about the upcoming events throughout the book
Transfiguration: Book Cover - Anything can be turned into a feather or a leaf or water, all on the cover.

Team Gilderoy Lockhart
Chapters 11 - 15

What's sad is I almost forgot a whole lot of what happened in these chapters already. Goes to show that the book is not really holding up to its mark or my attention.

I can flat out say that (view spoiler)[ the Athena-Hermes-Odysseus storyline is far more interesting than the Cassandra-Apollo one, and given that the narrative really will be triggered because of Cassandra's power/abilities (?), it sort of feels counter-intuitive that her story does hold any meat. (hide spoiler)]

Having said that, I do like that (view spoiler)[the two teams FINALLY meet. But boy, what a fizzle fest that was! I had totally imagined there to be fireworks or at least struggle that would raise eyebrows and make my nerves tinkle... but it was just meh! (hide spoiler)]

Now, that maaaaaaybe because I grew up on Indian Mythology which is extremely bombastic and potentially over-the-top in terms of the wars and fights and all sorts of crazy things flying out of the Gods' arms/eyes/heads. It may read weird, but boy, is it a load of fun!! Plus, I am still in the Avengers: Infinity War haze, so there Thor and the other 'so-called' Gods have shown a lot of flare in that. It probably is incorrect for me to judge and compare this to any of that, but I certainly expect more show-stopping narrative, than just a on-the-run, lets-hide, lets-swoon-seeing-a-sexy-God saga!

P.S. I ABSOLUTELY loved the scene where Hermes and Odysseus are slouching in a motel room watching Spartacus on the television. :P :P

Oh hold on! Do the classes need to be completed in a certain order? Year-wise?

Aye aye, captain!
Let's get that class completed! Wohoo! :D

Melissa wrote: "What about this little change:

Gabriel thought that only those who carry a Black Heart within them would feel justified in using A Darker Shade of Magic to control the beasts.."

Oh, I love it! Any mention of the Shades of Magic series makes me happy. And this fits in so well. Thank you, Melissa!

P.S. We should totally write a fantasy dystopia book. :P :P

Alison wrote: "I've been thinking about the History of Magic class and wondering if it might be an easy one to knock off based on the books we have so far. There must be enough or nearly enough read to fill the 7..."

Giving it a try:
Back in the olden times, when Consorting With Dragons was a norm, Gabriel considered it as being Down Among the Sticks and Bones and having a Black Heart. Gabriel wanted to be different but all he had left with him, was his grandmother's magical old clock. The Secret of the Old Clock was that it helped keep Gabriel's Promise to his grandmother, that in his big black world, he would make Every Heart a Doorway, while quietly and secretly Holding Up the Universe.

Team Gilderoy Lockhart
Chapters 6 - 10

Whoa! A whole lot happened in the last 5 chapters. Honestly, for a moment, if I forget that these are Gods, all that is happening reminds me of Glass Sword and King's Cage, in parts where one team is trying to find the other to avenge/revenge/fight for something. So, so far literally the only redeeming factor has been that these characters are not regular folks, but actually Gods - else, it is a pretty run of the mill story.

(view spoiler)[I loved the entry of Hera and found it extremely funny that she used a modern day bomb to blow Athena-Hermes-Odysseus' cover. Although, as Deanna pointed out earlier, who planted the explosives? Seems a little too coincidental, as does a lot of other things now that I think of it. (hide spoiler)]

Also, (view spoiler)[ were Odysseus and Athena a pair, according to the Greek Mythology? It seems like there is going to be something kindling there. Oooo, Gods romancing like teenagers!!! I am going to need a minute to process that. :P (hide spoiler)]

Honestly, half way through, and so far it is a 3-star read for me. I like that the action is picking up (sort of what I imagine to be the main theme given it is a God war), but, I hope that things start happening more frequently and the narrative shapes up more significantly for me to go beyond that rating.

Having said that, I am trying to Google-teach myself about Greek Mythology and all the Gods briefly on the side, and it certainly helps understanding the various motives and more so the relations, but I am pretty sure I'm missing out of a few plotlines.

MelanieJoy wrote: "haha Apoorv how many libraries are you registered at?"

I have accounts in 4 online libraries, and 1 physical one. I do hope to add in the New York Public Library since they do an out-of-state library account for a minimal yearly fee. And it is a giant library, so I hope they'd have a lot to offer.

LOL! I went a little crazy and reserved every book that I wanted to read from the BR and BOM list, just so that we can bank as many additional points as we can.

I remember from my previous TTs that by the end of it, the teams at the top are purely so because they have bucket loads of BR points. Hoping we can be one of those, this time!

MelanieJoy wrote: "I'm reading as a buddy read and it's awesome and hilarious! Anyone of you should join while it's still going on!"

I plan on joining in! Waiting on my book from the library!

Tina wrote: "They are Gods. They’ve been alive for so long, I don’t think they’d speak as they do.."

This is interesting. The way they are conversing, in a rather casual colloquial way is what is catching the most attention in my books, so far. It's sort of cool to see Gods talking like teenagers would. :P :P

Vicki wrote: "Edith Hamilton is good. :) Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes"

This is perfect! Thanks, Vicki!
I most certainly know what my next reading binge is going to surround around. :)

Alison wrote: "I can check but instinctively I would say no. Universe is more a collection of celestial objects. I think they mean sun, moon, star, planet etc"

Got it! Sort of what I thought.
You do not need to check with the mods, if that would penalize us any points. I am cool as long as you guys [captains] agree/disagree on one thing.

Quick Question
Can the term universe be considered as a celestial object?

I am definitely reading Leah on the Offbeat, but I am on hold from the library, so let's see if I get it in time to volunteer to be able to write DQs.

Christina wrote: "I started for a buddy read and I'm already in love with the world it's set in and can't wait to find out more about it + all the characters!!"


I am desperately waiting to get this book from my library. I am on hold on all my library accounts, and it is driving me craaaaazy! :P