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

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

DQ Set 2: Chapters 5 - Days Past, Paris 1900

6. Following the daylight attack, and the greenhouse scene, it's clear that there's a tension between the older generation and the younger. Will even makes the point that it's just like what he experienced as a young man, but doesn't seem able to fix the problem. What do you think about the politics of the Shadowhunters that we've seen so far? Does this strand work for you?
I think it's a good continuation of what we have seen in Cassandra Clare's other books. I find it all very interesting

7. We see development in some of the characters over these chapters (Alistair becomes a bit more interesting in the final flashback; Cordelia comes out of her shell), but there are still a lot of unfleshed characters there (imo). Do you think the author can make all these characters "real"? Which character do you most want to find out more about? or just hang out with ;-P
I don't think Cassandra Clare will have any problems with that. If there's one thing I love about Clare's books it's her characters. They are all so dear to me. And I expect once I'm done with this book I'll love these characters just as much. I already like Anna and Matthew a lot. And Cordelia and Lucie are growing on me.

8. We find out more about Grace and James - have your opinions of this relationship changed during this section? Do you want to venture any predictions? James does his shadow walking thing a couple of times here. Is Jem right - is this a skill he should master or is it a dangerous curse?
I maintain what I said about Grace. There's something really fishy about it all.
And of course Jem is right. If there's any ability that can be turned into an advantage instead of a burden, you should train it.

9. The last section sheds some light on Alistair's hidden (or developing) personality - moving him from the simple bully from school to (maybe) someone more interesting. Do you have any thoughts on how Alistair will be important to the story?
Cassandra Clare has a knack of making what at first seem like antagonistic characters in the most interesting ones, or even very endearing ones. Look at Alec from City of Bones, he was so annoying. Now he's one of the most popular characters in the whole shadowhunter franchise.

Sammy wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ wrote: "Sammy wrote: "Jenny wrote: "If you all haven't read yet, it is today's daily deal on Audible, at least in the US. Brilliant book."

It's a..."

I agree with you on the 2nd person perspective. It is horrendous. I hate it. I HATE it. I just hate how it somehow involves you in the story, how it wants you to feel like you are one of the characters. I'm happy looking at it all from afar. I never asked to be involved, thanks. I just feel yucky when they do that. Eeeeew. (sorry, I'm very passionate about my hate of 2nd person) This is often why I don't like short stories collections as well. You can bet there will be one or two in 2nd person. I guess it's because it's easier to do in short form, and authors use short story to experiment with writing. The only book in which I didn't hate it was You, because there you are meant to feel yucky, I guess.
Still I will give it try. Just for the sake of being able to say I did. The series won 3 hugo awards. I want to understand why.

Sammy wrote: "Jenny wrote: "If you all haven't read yet, it is today's daily deal on Audible, at least in the US. Brilliant book."

It's a different one in the UK. But aft..."

I heard both amazing and bad things about Jemisin. Overall she seem to be a great author, but apparently her writing is difficult to get into. I've also heard her plots were a bit vague. I really want to try her someday, but I'm scared.

Sonia wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ wrote: "Sonia wrote: "I think I have it sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read for at least 10 years.

Since I had to move my desk around to work from work, I now have direct view of..."

we wouldn't dare ;) I trust you, Sonia

Sammy wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ wrote: "And now Sammy nominated another book I really want to read... well. This will be interesting"

On the upside, there's a high chance a book you want to read will get picked, lol."

Can't argue with that ;)

Sonia wrote: "I think I have it sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read for at least 10 years.

Since I had to move my desk around to work from work, I now have direct view of my bookshelf, and it is there......"

If it wins, I'm sure you can rely on my or another member of our team to take note of the ingredients for you.

My copy is in a box under my bed (when you have limited space on your shelves you have to make choices...). I keep forgetting about it. lol

And now Sammy nominated another book I really want to read... well. This will be interesting

Jenny, I approve of your BOM nomination. Hamnet sounds like a really interesting read !!

Sonia, Labyrinth is a good pick as well. It's been on my tbr FOREVER!

It will be hard to vote this round.

Wakenhyrst by Michelle Paver

1906: A large manor house, Wake's End, sits on the edge of a bleak Fen, just outside the town of Wakenhyrst. It is the home of Edmund Stearn and his family – a historian, scholar and land-owner, he's an upstanding member of the local community. But all is not well at Wake's End. Edmund dominates his family tyrannically, in particular daughter Maud. When Maud's mother dies in childbirth and she's left alone with her strict, disciplinarian father, Maud's isolation drives her to her father's study, where she happens upon his diary.

During a walk through the local church yard, Edmund spots an eye in the undergrowth. His terror is only briefly abated when he discovers its actually a painting, a 'doom', taken from the church. It's horrifying in its depiction of hell, and Edmund wants nothing more to do with it despite his historical significance. But the doom keeps returning to his mind. The stench of the Fen permeates the house, even with the windows closed. And when he lies awake at night, he hears a scratching sound – like claws on the wooden floor...

Wakenhyrst is a terrifying ghost story, an atmospheric slice of gothic, a brilliant exploration of the boundaries between the real and the supernatural, and a descent into the mind of a psychopath.

Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar

If the night sky holds many secrets, it holds Sheetal Mistry's secret the closest. A secret that explains why her hair is the silver of starlight, or why some nights the stars call Sheetal by name.

Stars like her mother, who returned to her place in the constellation Pushya years ago. Since that day, Sheetal has been forced to hide.

But as her seventeenth birthday draws near, the pull from the sky is growing stronger. So strong that Sheetal loses control, and a flare of starfire burns her human father—an injury only a full star's blood can heal.

Sheetal has no choice but to answer the starsong and ascend to the sky. But her celestial family has summoned her for a reason: to act as their human champion in a competition to decide the next ruling house of heavens.

Desperate to save her father, Sheetal agrees. But nothing could have prepared Sheetal to face the stars' dark history—or the forces that are working to shut the gate between the realms for good.

quick philosophical question; do we consider pancakes desert? or are they just considered breakfast food?
Here, in Belgium, it can just be anything: breakfast, lunch, desert, afternoon snack, supper.

And yes, probably that too.

Well, that's obviously someone who can appreciate good food :)
Me approve 👍

I just finished Queen of Air and Darkness. It was great. I loved it. Now I'm scared of what Cassandra Clare is planning for the next books in the (contemporary?) shadowhunter world. That epilogue!

How do we go about writing down all the potential ingredients. Do we use the planning spreadsheets? Do we use a thread in the lusties united group? Because I've got a lot here.

Also, I just realised I didn't create a shelf for this challenge. Do you think it's necessary? should I make one?

Sammy wrote: "I'm off to go finish my book in bed, but before I do...

"

I'm usually not one for salad, but if he serves it I'll have to ask for seconds 😍

Sammy wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ wrote: "If we have something like "chocolate-brown" in the text, can we count chocolate as a potential ingredient?"

Karen said it's about finding the word, context doesn't matter, so I'..."

I know context doesn't count. It's more the fact that it's part of a hypenated word that has me wondering if it counts

If we have something like "chocolate-brown" in the text, can we count chocolate as a potential ingredient?

This is exactly why I'm not planning to read many audiobooks for this challenge. I'm too afraid I'll miss out of the good ingredients.

Sammy wrote: "I managed to find 81 different ingredients in the first 250 pages of A Discovery of Witches so far, most of them multiple times. Including a vinegar. It's insane how much eating they..."

that's good to know. I might give it a try during this challenge. Not sure if it will be during this round. But if you can just save this list of ingredients that'd be great.
As fun as this challenge is, having to take note of every ingredient I find pulls me out of the story and make me read very slowly compared to my usual pace.

Judith wrote: "Steven, I wrote down all the food from the picnic scene. No worries there."

I wrote them down as well. :)

Judith wrote: "I think my problem with her love triangles is the shear number of them in any given book. And I feel that she’s a better writer than that. The don’t mind a good love triangle, but I’m not sure a bo..."

I agree it's getting to be a bit much at this point. And I had a hard time as well tracking all the characters. Hopefully, it will get better as we make progress through the book.