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

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

I am reading First Frost currently and one of the characters goes to High School in that.. I just need to read a little further to confirm her main role in the story.

Update
!! New Goal !!

Read a book Where MC is going to high school/college

Tamika, are they good different or bad different ? Coz in A&D, Cameroon was portrayed very childish.. Julian was sexy though. So if Cameroon is any different (hopefully matured) in Warrior's Cross, I'd prefer that portrayal.

.. and I completely agree to you about Ms. Urban's development of Zane. As I mentioned, I found Zane not as strong a character in A&D as I did in the first four books. Just purely IMHO.

Ummmm.. you know that you dont have to lure me into reading this series.. now after that thought in my mind, I have to excuse myself from my desk and take a walk in the cold to calm my nerves down !
Damn you, Sonia ! :P

I havent read Warrior's Cross (now that I think, I should have before starting this) but I am already tired of Cameroon. Its like dealing with a 10-year-old. I love Julian though. I even imagined Julian-Ty-Zane together, if you know what I mean ! ;)

Sonia wrote: "oh honey... best two books of the series are stars & stripes and touch & geaux.
Believe me, there is no Zane under-developed issues on those. No sir.
Although I kinda wanted to murder him in some of the scenes of T&G. Which I need to re-read. Soon. ."

I am sure, Sonia (and I cant wait to read them), but dont you think in Armed & Dangerous, Zane was essentially a side-kick to Ty (and I have no qualms with that either, Fish & Chips was all Ty but even there you felt Zane's presence everywhere), even Julian and Cameroon seemed to have a more fuller character in Book 5.

.. and I am still at about 60%, probably in the last leg of their road-trip.. so maybe it all changes towards the end. But, these were just my first thoughts.

Or its also possible that I have gone crazy.. I tend to have bouts of insanity at times.. LOL ! :P

Hmmm.. its interesting to know that Madeleine Urban retired from writing in the middle of a series. From what I have read, they knew from the beginning that Cut&Run was a 9-book story.

To Be Honest, I do feel Zane is under-developed in Armed & Dangerous, which is Abigail's first solo book in the series.. and I think Madeleine used to write Zane's parts.. never thought, I'd miss Ms. Urban.

Ty-Zane experts, what was the reason (if there was one) that Abigail Roux and Madeleine Urban split after Book 4 ?

Was the split only for this series or was Book 4 the last book they ever wrote together ?

*just curious*

I would love to work with my Mom and/or Dad.. all three of us are workaholics and I am sure we'd hardly give anyone a chance to question the other.. LOL ! That'd be fun.. more competition ! :P

So, I filled in some of our completed books over the last two days in the Draft of the January Mini Challenge, and this is what we have got :

Letters to be Completed - Corresponding Books in Progress

H - NEEDS TO BE FILLED
I - Ducky | I Character OR Mary | I Author
I - Steven | I Character
U - Steven | U Author
U - Apoorv | U Title
X - Apoorv | X Character

The only book that hasnt found a home yet is Tamika's latest read, The Dirt on Ninth Grave.
Tamika, does the book have any character that fulfills any of the above letters ?

Its been a tiring weekend so far.. started school for my second Masters, so had to travel from Detroit, Michigan to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the orientation and the class and then fly back.. plus the class seemed more intimidating than I thought it would.

This is the first time I am working full time and taking full-fledged classes at school.. so I am going to be slammed, it seems.
But its fun, nevertheless.

It started snowing here in Ann Arbor (the first time since I moved here in November last year, which is such a surprise for Michigan), so no outside work for me and moreover before things start getting crazy tomorrow onward.. I am going to relax and finish the books that I started.

I forgot to take my Kindle with me (grrrr!), so couldn't continue on Armed & Dangerous (for the Letter X) and Uprooted (for the Letter U) on my trip.. but had the Hardcover of First Frost in my bag, and I am already hooked on it.

Lets see what letters that yields me and we can squeeze that in, if need be. :)

Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥ wrote: "I've been recommended You as well, trying to see if my boo will read it with me.
..."


Boo, Lobster !
You guys are so cute ! <3

What do the others call their boo's ? :P

Ashley Marie wrote: "I also have Lola and the Boy Next Door for the near future, which could work for neighbors if no one gets to it first"

Its sitting on my bed-side desk as well... lets read this together ! :)

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "That series looks good to me too. It starts with Cinder right?"

Yes, Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Fairest (optional) and Winter

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "I'll look for a U book then. I would look for X but I think I saw someone say they had that one."

I am reading an U and X, so one of each is covered for the moment from my side.
We'd need to focus on I's !

Discussion Questions
Chapter 1-4

1. Did you have any thoughts/feelings before starting the book that have changed now that you've started it?
I had no clue about the book, since High Fantasy is not something I have delved much into. So, I literally picked up the book since it was the BOM here and that would mean more points for the TT4 challenge. Unfortunately, I was expecting an obvious sort of story with the meek, weak young girl being chosen by the evil burgly dragon (and BTW, I hate that dragon is actually a man with magic) and then she turns powerful as he makes her realize her powers. It is exactly turning out to be the same thing so far and I am not excited apart from the obvious curiosity of what will happen next.

2. Why do you think the Dragon takes a girl exactly every 10 years?
Seems like some curse that is cast up on him or some sort of repentence which expects him to impart his knowledge over to young girls.

3. How are you liking Agnieszka?
I am very neutral about her. As expected, she is the goofy, messy young girl who is lost and knows nothing but has a certain kindness about her that is charming. I am glad she is run-of-the-mill but nothing exceptional about her has struck me yet.

4. Were you surprised to learn she had magic?
Not at all. Its a Fantasy Young Adult book with a story revolving around her.. she having unexplored magical powers is the obvious crux of it all.

5. Are you looking forward to reading more?
I hate giving up on books and I am desperately hoping for something out-of-the-box to happen.. so purely for that, I will continue on.

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Discussion Questions - II
Chapters 5-8

6. Agnieszka finds herself back home to help when one of the villagers is infected by The Wood. How do you think the town felt that she came to their aid instead of The Dragon? There is barely any mention of a reaction from the town. If you were living there how would you have reacted?
This is like a Catch-22 for the villagers. One, they, I am sure, are super-shocked to see her back so early. Two, she can do magic ! I mean, WTH ?! I hoped to read some reaction from atleast someone and felt that things happened fairly conveniently in the story but then maybe the villagers were in dire straits and would have taken any help that came their way.

7. The Dragon should not have been able to recover from the sickness of The Wood. How do you think Agnieszka was able to save him? How do you think she knows the flow and pace of the spells when she has never seen them before? Why do these spells feel familiar to her?
It definitely is true that she always had magical powers. Its just that they got channelized when she came in touch with The Dragon. His are more knowledge oriented, her more instinctive.

8. The Dragon and Agnieszka seem to be working closer to together. How do you feel about their relationship? Do you enjoy seeing The Dragon struggle to perform the same spells that Agnieszka seems to do easily? What do you think they were both feeling when they performed the rose spell together?
Its one of thoise cases, where the pupil surpasses the teacher and the teacher is amazed herself looking at that. I would have wanted to see a more rivalling or atleast a more colliding relationship, but this is heading towards a romantic allience and I get jittery with that though. So, I wont be surprised if their magics gel well with each other as the story progresses.

9. How do you think Agnieszka is able to free Kasia from The Wood? Do you think Agnieszka was strong enough to defeat the hold The Wood had on Kasia or do you think The Wood let Kasia go on purpose?
It was more of a unexpected attack kind of thing. The Wood didnt let Kasia go on purpose but it wasnt ready to face something like this. OR maybe The Wood was just playing with Agnieszka and letting her feel overconfident about her powers.

10. Do you think The Dragon will be able to help Agnieszka to save Kasia? If so, do you think Kasia will have any lasting effects of being trapped in The Wood?
Sure. They are the MCs, they will do no wrong.. but Kasia will be scarred (or so I dearly hope).

11. There is reference to this book as being a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Now that you are 8 chapters in do you feel this is a good reference for this book? Why or why not.
I havent read the story of The Beauty and the Beast or I dont remember all the intricate details for me to compare.. but from what I am understanding it is.

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Discussion Questions - III
Chapter 9-13

12. The Summoning is a truth spell. Were you surprised to find out that both Agnieszka and Kasia had secret hatred and jealousy towards each other? That doesn't seem to be normal feelings between two best friends.

13. Agnieszka and the Dragon work another spell together, but this time things get pretty romantic, even ending in a kiss! Do you think it's their magic alone that's making them attracted to one another? Will they end up together in the end?
Pshaw ! Ofcourse, that is the whole reason why all we are taking all this trouble. .

14. Is it a good idea to go into the Wood to find Queen Hanna? What do you think 20 years of being corrupted in the Wood has done to the Queen (if she's even alive)? Would you be willing to play the hero and go into the Wood to find her?
Its sure not a good idea.. but I believe it has to be done. The Queen will be scarred, anyone will be after 20 years of exile in such a dreadful place. If I have no obligations tying me down and if I have magical powers, I will surely go.

15. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but it seems as if every time Agnieszka is thinking, the Dragon always answers her. Do you think he is able to read her mind/thoughts?
I havent noticed it, but I am not surprised reading this.

16. The Dragon doesn't seem to be as cruel and violent as everyone believes him to be... so where do you think the nickname "The Dragon" came from?
You know, unless they have a read good story to back this name up, I am going to be pissed. I came into this assuming to read about actual Dragons, so this better be good. LOL.

Sonia wrote: "Sush,,, we need THREE U's... what do you mean you can't claim anything? there is an U in uprooted.
..."

If only I was talking about claiming letters, Sonia.. if only..
*sigh*

[image error]

EDIT : STUPID STUPID Work computer.. doesnt even let me post a picture of me crying... gaaaaah !

Sonia wrote: "Apoorv wrote: "YAAAAAAAAY !
Ty & Zane time.. I sooooooooooooo needed that, especially after the first quarter of Uprooted dragging me."

hey hey... Uprooted has a precious letter, a..."

But its Ty and Zane.
.. and those can be the only ones I can claim my hold on after greedy Steven here wants to gobble up everyone ! :P

YAAAAAAAAY !
Ty & Zane time.. I sooooooooooooo needed that, especially after the first quarter of Uprooted dragging me.

Steven wrote: "It'll probably get mega-booMed by Sonia... along with a picture of Matt Bomer :D"

*that moment when people's name explains your physical state after you hear their name* (close enough)
^_^