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

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

Hey ! I'm also joining in for Team Hermione.
After loving Every Hearts a Doorway so much I can't pass up the opportunity of reading the second book !

Silje wrote: "Gotten through all the way to chapter 15 today. Is it just me or is it hard to see the characters as 13 year olds? They feel more like 16 at least...

When reading about the train ride [spoilers re..."

I agree with your reading of Lupin. He's also one of my favorite characters (and I have so many in this series, siriusly !) (view spoiler)[ He's an awesome teacher, making the classes both fun and educating. I just wish he would play a bigger role in Harry's life later on in the books. (hide spoiler)]

About divinations, (view spoiler)[ I never considered it that way ! maybe you're right and she really has a gift (well except for the prophecy aspect, which is obvious) but just doesn't know how to interpret them correctly. Also, she loves to be dramatic. So the problem maybe is that she feels the correct interpretation is too boring to be true ! lol
And for instance, she predicted something would happen the day one of the students (is it lavender? I'm not sure anymore) receives the news that her rabbit died. Maybe she indeed saw something, but again her dramatic side took over and the wording she used actually discredit her predictions...
MAYBE lol (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 8

(view spoiler)[I've always related to Hermione. I feel like we have a lot in common. For instance, in this chapter she's trying to persuade other students, using her logic, that Trelwaney's predictions make no sense. I can clearly see myself do the same thing in that situation.
Any Avatar, the Air Bender fans here? This particular passage also reminds me of an episode in which they arrive in a village in which all the decisions are made based on the prediction of a clairvoyant of sort, and Sokka is doing everything he can to show it's just a scam! (hide spoiler)]

Devann wrote: "to anyone who is reading this for the first time, did you figure out who the murderer was before it was revealed? i don't think i had any idea who it was the first time but now when i reread it it ..."

I figured it out, but only after (view spoiler)[ the discussion around the hot coco. Jack was telling how sometimes her master once asked her to get perfect parts of dogs to create the perfect dog. I knew it couldn't be Jack so it had to be the person who knew this about her, i.e. her sister. So I was fairly sure it was Jill, but I didn't understand why until it was revealed. (hide spoiler)]

Devann wrote: "there's actually a short story she did - I think it was probably what inspired her to do this series - where a girl is using a door like in this series and she is getting too big to fit as she gets older. it's called Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage and it's short but fun. "

Great ! I'm going to read it right away !
Thanks !!!

Christina wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Chapters 1-2

I began reading this with absolutely no idea what the book was about...none! The first few pages really grabbed my attention, especially when Kate [spoile..."

I find it refreshing to have a different kind of vampire for once.

Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[When asked wether I prefer vampires or weres/shifters stories my aswer is always were/shifters. There's always something about pack community that fascinated me. I feel like this book is no exception to that. :)
I'm already very interested by Curran. I can't wait to learn more about his background. I feel like there's an interesting story there.

Also, I think it's the first time I see a cat-weres or anything close to it, who are born animal. It's very intreresting. I wonder how far the differences go between werecats and cat-weres. Obviously, I assume cat-weres are more feral, more instictual mayby, than the others. (hide spoiler)]

Histoire du Canada: Des origines à nos jours
by Jean-Michel Lacroix

Date read: 18/05/18
Pages: 476
BOM/BR? no
Characters: / (non-fiction)

Joy wrote: "Icebreakers
1. Favorite member of the Night Court inner circle
2. Favorite character outside of the Night Court inner circle
3. Favorite book of the series."

1) Rhys is my absolute favorite! but he's just so high above the others;) after him, it's between Amren and Cassius for me.

2) Lucian, I love him :)

3) The second. I feel like this will be a popular answer.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Christina wrote: "before I look through any more posts, I have to finish this off:

Chapter 6 to end"

I agree about the ending. (view spoiler)[ I really expected Nancy to be stuck in our world, at least for a while. They insisted so much on the low probabilities of going back that I thought it would never happen. But I'm happy for her. It was clear that she would never have been happy otherwise. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5-7

(view spoiler)[Arthur warning Harry not to look after Sirius seems to me counterproductive. He only sparked Harry's curiosity... He shouldn't have said anything if he really wanted Harry to stay away.

Also, appointing Hagrid as Care for Magical Creature's professor must be one of Dumbledore's worst ideas. it's just bound to be a desaster. The book he selected for his class is already a danger for his students. Shouldn't Dumbledore moniter Hagrid's classes, at least the first year. Doesn't Dumbledore have anything to say about the program?

We meet Sir Cadogan. He's so funny! haha. I love that portrait. Did you know he was originally added to the movie? if you are curious you can find the deleted scenes on youtube. he's so funny. Too bad they cut him off.

Another character I find extremely funny is Mrs Trelawney. When I was younger I could not stand her, but not I just find her hilarious !

Lastly, I once read a fanfiction in which the Weasley's aren't such a great family and Molly had actually fed a love potion to Arthur in order to marry him. I never really understood where the writer got this idea. But I finally understand! I don't know why it escaped me all the previous times I read the book, but Molly, at the beginning of the fifth chapter, is telling Hermione and Ginny stories of when she was younger and brewing a love potion. Do you think it's possible she used it ? Personally, I find it a bit hard to imagine. But what if? (hide spoiler)]

Devann wrote: "@Claire to me even the nonsense worlds have a lot of logic because like ...there ARE still rules and idk it makes sense to me but i guess maybe not to someone like nancy. but you see more of that i..."

I can't wait to see that !

Steven wrote: "Looks like you both enjoyed Seanan's first Wayward Children! Such a cool series!"

It was just awesome! I'm so glad there was a buddy read for it, otherwise I feel like it would have stayed on my tbr for a long time. I wasn't exactly in a hurry to read it.

Nikki wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "I have the same problem with the VA series. I read the first one twice, but have failed to continue in the series. And it's not that I didn't like it. I loved ..."

Good luck !!!

Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children #1)
by Seanan McGuire

Date read: 05/17/18
Pages: 173
BOM/BR? YES Link to thread
Characters: Nancy, Jack, Kade, Eleanor, Lorely, Sumi, Christopher, Angela

Devann wrote: "and i'm not really sure what kind of a world i would want to go into. a lot of the separations that are used in this series are very rigid, like a place will either be very bleak or very colorful, ..."

While I find all the worlds she describes fascinating, I don't know if I'd like to go in any of them. lol. Especially not in a nonsensical world. They sound really interesting. But I don't think my sanity would survive. I like logic. haha

Lauri wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Still having a blast! Just finished An Ice Cold Grave which could go for an I....

I wish this challenge was one of the 6 month lon..."

The relationship between Harper and Tolliver didn't creep me out because I was actually warned it would happen. So instead of feeling creeped out I was actually excited it finally happened ! lol. It's not like they are blood-related. it's fine ;)

I've also read the Sookie Stackhouse books. I really loved the first few books. I read the whole series, but I think I shouldn't have binge read them. I was a little fed up by it at the time. I did a Sookie overdose! lol. Otherwise, I really like the series. And its tv adaptation too.

I have a fun little question for you all !

There are many kinds of doors described in the books: it goes from an actual door to mirrors like in Alice in Wonderland. What kind of door are you most likely to go through?

Personally, I think a portal I'm most likely to fall into, and I don't think it was mentioned in this novella, would be if it was in a book; like actually being absorbed into the book.

Elen wrote: "Christina, We definitely should ask for the thread for book #2.
But which day, maybe Saturday or Sunday, so everyone could catch up, who wants :)
Thoughts?


(Maybe you didn't see my previous post)"

I definitely want to read book 2 now ! The sooner the better ;)

Devann wrote: "i wasn't going to reread this buuuuut it's so short and seanan is so amazing. anyway i got up to the end of chapter 4 today. and i just absolutely love this world, it's pure genius because she has ..."

I agree on everything you say. This book convinced me of the genius of Seanan McGuire. It's truly fascinating how she analysed and described each of the worlds, whilst not passing any judgement on them. Every world is amazing in its own way. Like an underworld where you wouldn't expect to like, she was able to make us understand why and how Nancy was able to feel at home there. I love the way she classifies them too; nonsensical vs high-logical. Amazingly well done.

Whilst reading it I couldn't help but think about all the portal fantasy I've read and watched. Particularly I thought of The Magicians TV show. And I kept comparing the worlds described with the ones in these books/tv-shows.