Sana’s Comments (group member since Oct 27, 2017)

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

Posted Mort DQs
DQs for Day 2

DQs Day 2 - start: "Five minutes later, Mort was lost"
end: "Sooner or later, everyone remembered the magic word (p98)


Q6 - Mort walked through the walls a few times but couldn't when he tried to get into the castle. Why do you think this happened?

Q7- What do you think of Ingneous Cutwell's character?

Q8 - The Abbot has been reincarnated 53 times. The concept of reincarnation is an interesting one. If you were to be born again what life would you choose?

Q9 - Death sent Mort to reap three souls. In light of how he performed do you think Mort was ready for the job?

Q10 - Mort found Ysabelle's handkerchief in the library. Why is she reading other people's life?

Participating in all DQs of June 2021 BOM The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

I think we can cover #200 with July BOM Guards! Guards!

I'm halfway through #207 The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter and nearly done with #241. I've a book sitting on my shelf for quite a while now and it has camera on cover. Will read that next. And going to start Monstrumologist series. That will cover one of the Y.

Volunteering as backup for Ridcully.

Amy the book-bat wrote: "❀Tea❀ wrote: "I'll go after one of Ys for spell-out. We need couple of them :)"

I have a Y book that I can read as well"

I'm going to start Rick Yancy's The Monstrumologist series. Can use that too.

Shelby wrote: "Sana - Can you give me a reason for Twelve Sharp & MC: is Inept? I'd love to use it there. :)"


Stephanie Plum has been a bond enforcer for two years and she can't even shoot a gun nor does she try to learn. She hasn't improved nor does she try to change her tactics. Whatever success she has is by pure luck (which I'm getting really fed up of but I'm still going to read the next one, lol) . She make multiple attempts at arresting a skip. Either she forgot to bring her gun or forgot to charge her stun gun, slipped on garbage and got kidnapped. Half the time she doesn't know what she's doing.

Discussion Questions - Day 4:

16. What were your thoughts on the interview Nora did? Did she handle it well? What do you make of her thoughts on life in this interview compared to the speech she gave as a champion swimmer?

Well, she tried to improvise as much as she can for she knew nothing about her life as a rock star mainly talking about her experiences of being in different lives.

17. Nora tries for a simpler life working at animal shelter. Did you see this as a life for Nora at all during the book? Do you think she will incorporate this into her chosen life? If not, what will she take from this life if anything at all?
Because of her mental illnesses Nora is much better suited for a simpler life. We already have proof of her not being able to take pressure by dropping out of the band or swimming. A high profile life just doesn't suit her. She needs to have a simple and easy life with uncomplicated aims. And to always look towards the bright side. She's a pessimist and need to change her view of life. And this is the lesson she should take and incorporate in her root life.

18. In 'The Many Lives of Nora Seed', we are given a large summary of all the other lives she tried. Did any stand out to you? Did you think any of these lives would have suited her? Do any relate to what you would want to experience or have thought about experiencing? I was amused by the life where she only ate toasts and like hearing about her lives abroad. Though was a bit concerned with all the lives she chokes on something.
Nora tends to find negatives in everything. Until she changes her outlook on life nothing will suit her.

19. The life with Ash was the one I was waiting for when reading. What do you make of it so far and what do you think will happen? I thought she would stay in this one and was intrigued about the family life she had built.
That was the best life for Nora where she not only have a sweet child and loving husband but also an approachable aim of writing a book about Henry David Thoreau, something she enjoys.

20. What are your thoughts of Mrs Elm as her guide? Do you think she does a good job or could do something better? What advice would you give if you were in her position?
I think Mrs. Elm's a very wise person and did a good job at handling Nora.

DQs Day 3: The Tree That Is Our Life - Wild and Free (59%)

11. Regarding the system error, that occurred when Nora tried to return to the library after that speech. Do you think Nora could have trouble returning to the library from one of the next lives that she visits?
If she start questioning her existence she might get more trouble getting back to the library.

12. But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. (p. 151) Do you think Nora is going to "find the meaning of life", "be happy forever in a parallel life", or "will want to die and leave the library forever"?
Up until now Nora can't seem to find the right balance that would make her lead a contented life. She will either want to die or go back to her root life.

13. Are you surprised about Nora meeting Hugo, another Slider, as he calls people like them in the in-between?
No, I was thinking if there were more people like Nora.

14. For Nora it's a library, for Hugo it's a video store. What do you imagine would your variant of the in-between be? (And obviously you are not allowed to say library now, because I'm guessing most of us would go with that answer. Be creative and let me know what else you would feel comfortable with.)
That would be my grandfather's house. I spend my childhood there and I have an emotional attachment to it because of all the lovely memories.

15. We finally get to see Nora's life as a rock star. In what direction do you think this will go? Is it going to be the life Nora is happiest with and stays the longest/forever? Or do you think that she's going to leave it rather soon again?
Again, fame and fortune brings more pressure and limelight tends to add to the depression. The pressure of living for the masses and not for yourself and to keep up that certain Rock persona could be too much for Nora to handle and she might breakdown worsening her mental illness.

DQs Day 2: The Penultimate Update - Peppermint Tea (39%)

6. Were you surprised that Nora's second choice was related to her cat? What did you think of the outcome?
No I wasn't. She needed to know that what ever she did she couldn't change the outcome.

7. How did the reality of Nora's Australia line up with what you imagined it would be like?
I had a feeling Nora would not be happy living in Australia because it was her friend's dream, not hers.

8. What did you think about the similarities between Nora's life in Australia versus her original life?
It's the same depressed and unsatisfied life she is leading.

9. On the surface, Nora's life with a swimming career seems to be the most successful so far. Do you think the positives will outweigh the negatives this time around?
I don't know. She seems to be happy but fame and success has it's own pressure and I'm not sure Nora is strong enough to handle it.

10. Any predictions for how Nora's speech will go in the next chapter?
She will try to bluff through it.

by Matt Haig
Pages: 304 (default, BOM)

DQ Links:
DQs Day 1
DQs Day 2
DQs Day 3
DQs Day 4

DQs - Day 1

1. Were you planning to read this book before it became a BOM? If so, what drew you to it?
Yes, it was recommended to me and on my tbr but I was not going to read it anytime soon.

2. What do you think of Matt Haig’s writing style (and those short chapters!) and how he has set the story up so far?
Short chapters are easy to read. I'm okay with Haig's writing style.

3. What are your thoughts on Nora? Are you attached to her yet?
Nora has issues with mental illness and I do relate to her having chronic depressing and suicidal thoughts myself.

4. If you were somehow able to, would you want to see all of the different outcomes that could have played out in your own life? Or would you rather just leave things as they are without ever knowing?
No, I'm better off not knowing.

5. What did you think about Nora’s first glimpse at a road not taken? Were you surprised by which book she chose to open first or by how quickly it disappointed her?
If I was her I too would have chosen to find out how things between her and Dan would have been. Everyone wants to be loved by someone in their life and Nora needed to know if Dan was the one for her. It was sad to see that it she wouldn't have been happy with him.

You see, doing one thing differently is very often the same as doing everything differently.

Just finished The Godfather and it was Awesome! I love the movie, Coppola's depiction was spot on but the book gives so much more background. It has become my new favorite :)

Tea Time Challenge, 2021

Shelby wrote: "Sana - Can you give me a little more reasoning for "The Lost Hero" and MC is good at running? :)"

MCs are on a 4 day quest to save Hera fighting and running from different mythical monsters- Cyclops, giants, storm spirits and evil wind gods/ goddess while travelling from Long Island to Quebec, Chicago, Omaha, Oakland, Sonoma Valley.

Updated post #15
Challenge completed

Completed all DQs for Equal Rites. Message #210.

DQS - Day 4

13. Simon was kept very much a mystery character throughout the book. What is your opinion of him? How will he be able to support Esk in the future (or will he)?
Simon at first seemed like an unremarkable lad but turned out to be a genius who can cause great chaos.
I think it will be the other way round. Esk seems more like taking care of him.

14. The meeting between Granny and the Archchancellor and their actions afterwards are a pivotal part of the book. What were your impressions?
The way Granny met Archchancellor was epic! And I loved the outcome of that fight. They both needed to put their biased views away.

15. With duality of witchcraft vs. wizardry being one of the main themes, what do you think about the ending? Was it satisfyingly concluded?
As I've said before both systems of magic can exist and work together to help each other. I found it quite satisfying that in the end it did worked out and both of them ended respecting each other. I would love to read about Granny teaching in the University. That would be one hell of an entertaining book.

16. How did you rate the book?
If you are new to Terry Pratchett, do you consider checking out more of his books (NOT just because of BOM points :)?
If you are familiar with his books/a fan - any changes in your earlier impressions/opinion?
I rated 4.5, rounded up to 5 Stars. I've read the first two Discworld books and Good Omens by Pratchett and and joyed them. I will definitely read the rest of the Discworld. In the first books I felt Pratchett was trying too hard for hilarity but it ended up as silly and cartoonish. In Equal Rites the writing is more smart and the plot more gelled together.

BONUS: Any favourite scenes? :)
The fight between Granny and Archchancellor was my favorite!

DQs - Day 3

9 . What do you think on the creatures from the dungeon dimensions? Do you find them creepy?
I'm not particularly visual so didn't find them that creepy.
Though we don't know much about them I do find them creepy.


10. I enjoyed the Esk’s thoughts about being both witch and wizard and wanting to defend the one to the other. Do you sympathize with this view (more in general than in specific regards to magic fields)?
I can see wanting to get both sides to an agreement and to work together.
I do sympathize and both witches and wizards can coexist and work together if they can bypass gender discrimination. I do hate when people put gender specification on certain things.

11. Why do you think Esk’s magic did not work?
She hasn't learnt to consciously use her magic yet. So far has all been instinctive.
She hasn't developed conscious use of magic. Esk herself said that magic worked better when she wasn't thinking about it. She overdid herself when she concentrated too hard in front of the wizards and failed to do magic

12. Esk is supposed to be precocious but also nine years old. Do you think she acts in a way you could see a nine year old acting?
This is a closer representation than a lot I've seen, but I find most children in books a little off.
Esk do sound more mature than a nearly nine year old. I kept forgetting her age because of how she sounds in the book and I found this problem with quite a few books.


As a member of Team Ook, the bonus question is: Is not the librarian wonderful and would you want to be turned back in his place?
The librarian is a wonderful character and I understand why he doesn't want to be
All librarians are cool no matter what shape, size and species. I personally, would want to be turned back into human.