ClaireB’s Comments (group member since Jul 06, 2014)

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

DQs Day 5

19. What did you think about Ariadne's reaction when Phaedra confides in her regarding Hippolytus ? And Hippolytus' answer to Phaedra when she expresses her feelings to him ? Did you suspect it wasn't romantic love?

I think Ariadne was right, Phaedra was completely blinded by her own feelings. And yes, I think I suspected it.

20. Ariadne and Theseus finally meet each other again after all these years. Was their reunion scene satisfactorily enough for you ?

Not really, no. Unfortunately.

21. We learn more about Dionysus: his worshippers and blood rites, his obsession with his status as an Olympian god, and his interaction with his brother, Perseus. Did your opinion about him change after those scenes ? Were you expecting his relationship with Ariadne to change like that ?

Absolutely. I mean I had been surprised to see how much of a positive light he got at the beginning, and I have to admit I bought it at first. But the whole thing with his status and the sacrifices were just too much.
No I didn't expect it to get so.

22. What do you think about the way Phaedra's and Ariadne's stories ended ? Does it give enough closure or is there something you wish ended differently ?

To be honest the ending left me a bit dissatisfied. But I guess with a book like that you can't change the myth too much, so I don't know what Jennifer Saint could have done differently.

23. Did you enjoy the book ? If you had any expectations, did the book meet them ? Will you be reading more by this author ? She recently published another Greek mythology retelling: Elektra

I enjoyed it. It's not as good as Circe was, but it was enjoyable.
Yes, and I already read Elektra.

DQs Day 2

5. Have you heard of Theseus before? What do you think of his backstory, does it compare with other well-known Greek heroes like Hercules and Achilles? Do you think it fits his humble and collected demeanor in the previous chapter?

Yes I have. I don't think he can compare to the other two heroes no. But I think his demeanor fits quite well so far.

6. I don’t know about you, but “insta-love” stories royally annoy me. Ariadne spends a significant part of these chapters reveling in her undying and world-changing love and devotion to someone she just met. Do you think this is realistic, or just a cheap plot ploy from the author?

Can we really blame the author for that. It is part of the myth after all, no?
Personally I can enjoy an insta-love story when it well done. But there needs to be the right meet cute, the right circumstances, and I buy it better when there's a supernatural element linked to it. But when it's badly done it's really hell, I agree. In this case it didn't bother me much because I kinda knew already that it would happen.

7. Why do you think Theseus left Ariadne on the island with no heads up whatsoever? How do you feel about her thoughts and actions, as she processes this new reality?

I don't know. I think it's cowardice and selfishness mostly. He didn't really love her.
It was really sad.

8. During the "great escape", Phaedra is left behind - do you think it was by accident, or purposefully (and if so, why)? Do you think it was wise of her to return to the Palace?

It could have been purposeful. The Greeks would tell you it's fate.

9. A common theme in Greek mythology is the linear progression of Fate - from Hubris (thinking and acting as if one is a God), to Atis (blindness of one’s puny nature, leading the mortal to commit an unforgivable or insulting act), to Nemesis (the anger and revenge of the Gods), and finally Tisis (the mortal’s punishment). Where have you noticed this process so far? Where do you think Nemesis will strike next?

I think you can already see it with Ariadne's father. He was taken by hubris, then didn't want to sacrifice the cow so he ended up punished, leading to anger at the minotaure and ultimately using it to spread terror.

DQs Day 1

1. Excited about the book, or just here for the points? Were you familiar with the myths behind the story before starting this book?

I was actually excited about this book. I love greek myths, and Circe is one of my favourite books. It made me want to explore more retellings;
Yes, I was familiar with the myth :)

2. "Let me tell you a story..." I don't know about you, but I love opening lines like that. Do you have a favourite opening line? Have you ever bought a book on the strength of the opening line alone? (I have!)

I love it too. It sets me in the mood for storytelling immediately.
I can't say for sure that it happened to me before. Or at least nothing memorable that I would remember now.

3. Asterion: The early years. I bet no-one was fooled by the few paragraphs of almost sweet baby and toddler descriptions: This was always going to end with a monster in a maze of course.
But do you think it served well as a way to establish Ariadne's character?

I would say so. It showed her compassion to the beast, and even if it's clear that the child would become a monster you have to wonder how it would have evolved had Ariadne's dad not been there.

4. What do you think of the writing so far? There's a lot of description and narration and very little dialogue, which tries in with the idea that Ariadne is telling the story to the reader. It allows for a lot more depth and detail than more dialogue-heavy storytelling does. Is that a style you enjoy, or do you prefer the faster pace of a book that is more about character interaction?

I usually like it better when it's more dialogue heavy. But I appreciate the atmosphere it creates.

That reminds me, I still haven't answered DQs for Ariadne. I'll do that immediately. It'd be a shame to waste those points.

Romance

Lucy wrote: "I've read a couple of their books (and enjoyed them) but everything I've heard about Book Lovers say that it's not going to be my cup of tea."

that's too bad :(

Sammy wrote: "Me? No, none at all. I'm not a romance reader at all, but it has the word book in the title, so it's getting read (not that I haven't been bitten by that particular strategy before, but I never lea..."

I see. lol

Anyone in our team who has read Emily Henry?

Sammy wrote: "The discussion thread for the BOM of is open for DQ volunteers.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Have you already read something by Emily Henry? Because I'd be interested, but from what I heard I'm not sure 100% that her books are for me. I've heard a lot of good things, but also a lot of mixed things too. So I'm not sure...

Eldarwen wrote: "Claire wrote: "I’ve made some progress in today. Would you say it works well for the “ball” prompt as well?

Tomorrow I will concentrate more on [book:Daughter of the M..."

Sounds glamourous ! :)
I like it !

I’ve made some progress in today. Would you say it works well for the “ball” prompt as well?

Tomorrow I will concentrate more on Daughter of the Moon Goddess so we can validate our sun/moon pairing

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Beth wrote: "Claire wrote: "I have a suggestion for a first pair for Erato (Erato wants to feel the love and the romance. She’s quite traditional so polyamory isn’t her thing. Instead she’d like 10..."

Sounds good to me ! :)

I have a suggestion for a first pair for Erato (Erato wants to feel the love and the romance. She’s quite traditional so polyamory isn’t her thing. Instead she’d like 10 pairs of books. How you create your pairs is up to you, but creativity is to be applauded.) I'm currently reading Daughter of the Moon Goddess. It'd be nice to have a book with the word "Sun" in the title to make a Moon/Sun pair.
What do you think? I'm sure there are plenty of interesting books with Sun in the title.

OK great. I'll mark on the spreadsheet that it has been on my shelves for years

For this new mini, it's the finishing date that counts right? The starting date doesn't matte right?
Because I'm planning to finish Moby Dick at some point, and that is definitely a veteran on my shalves. I had it for at least 7 years, if not more

Sammy wrote: "We can read another 167 books (168 included Beth's book she just finished), and we will need 166 of them to fully complete the mini!

so choose your books wisely ;)"

😯 I need to go read the rules of this mini to make sure I don't waste a read

City of Bones mentions mermaids:
P 115: "She turned again as they passed a champagne fountain: an enormous silver dish, the centerpiece a mermaid with a jar pouring sparkling wine down her bare back."

Doesn't have scenes on a boat? Synopsis says the guy is a fisherman

Tone's Never Seduce a Scot has a deaf character

Claire wrote: "I haven't put it on the spreadsheet yet, but my MM romance still fit for 3 of them.
Fake It 'til You Make Out, by Isla Olsen
2) features twisn
3) author's last name starts with O
5..."

On the spreadsheet now :)

I haven't put it on the spreadsheet yet, but my MM romance still fit for 3 of them.
Fake It 'til You Make Out, by Isla Olsen
2) features twisn
3) author's last name starts with O
5) mention of the Olympics and World Cup