Karen D’s Comments (group member since Aug 25, 2015)

Karen D’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Sandy wrote: "Karen wrote: "Finished , which has 688 pages, adds up to 22!"

Karen, how did you like this? I'm about 30% done."

It was really hard to read. If you're 30% in, then you've definitely read enough of the language to get a sense of the style. It gets easier as it goes along, since you're more used to it, but it's tough. But it's also hard to read just because it's soooooo dark. All these horrible things are happening, and it's so matter-of-fact.

About halfway through I really wasn't sure I wanted to finish it, and I was kind of confused about what the point was. But it does get better, and while things are necessarily neatly tied up at the end, it's at least interesting to see how everything develops after a couple decades.

I'm glad I read it, it's very different from other things I've read recently. But it's not a book you can just pick up and lightly read. I hope you're enjoying it!

10 Point goals:
-Read a book where presents are exchanged or that has presents on the cover for 10 points! ( Dec 23)
-Read a book where someone ruins or saves Christmas for 10 points (Dec 22)
- Read a book where a holiday meal is prepared or eaten for 10 points!(Dec21)
- Read a book with hot chocolate on the cover for 10 points! (Dec 20)
- Read a book with Coal on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 19)
- Read a book where the title has a Song Title from one of the lists below for 10 points! (Dec 18 )
*Wikipedia's List Of Christmas Carols
The Top 20 Christmas Songs You Never Get Sick Of
The 50 Best Christmas songs: Bells continue to ring for the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' *
-Read a book where Christmas is spent on the beach or under real warm weather for 10 points! (Dec 17)
- Read a book that has snowflakes or snow falling on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 14)
- Read a book that has elves, reindeer or a sleigh on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 12)


Other goals
*New* Sort your "to read" shelf by 'date added' and read a book that is number 251 or higher on your list (the first column before the book cover image)
*New*Read a book where the edition you are reading was published on the 6th of a month
*New* Read a book where MCs are best friends
- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as north-america - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a cemetery on the cover

Finished , which has 688 pages, adds up to 22!

Elizabeth wrote: "I just finished this one:

It doesn't currently work for any of our goals, though."

Nice! I'm sure it'll come up for something soon!

Takes place mostly in Jamaica, but also partially in NYC and Miami
Characters: (there are a ton, there's literally a 4page list of characters in the beginning) main ones are:
Josey, Alex, Nina/Kim/Dorcas/Millicent, Luis
Gang violence, drugs, lots of really horrible things, this a depressing book....

And just realized the pages add up to 22! Yay!

10 Point goals:
-Read a book where presents are exchanged or that has presents on the cover for 10 points! ( Dec 23)
-Read a book where someone ruins or saves Christmas for 10 points (Dec 22)
- Read a book where a holiday meal is prepared or eaten for 10 points!(Dec21)
- Read a book with hot chocolate on the cover for 10 points! (Dec 20)
- Read a book with Coal on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 19)
- Read a book where the title has a Song Title from one of the lists below for 10 points! (Dec 18 )
*Wikipedia's List Of Christmas Carols
The Top 20 Christmas Songs You Never Get Sick Of
The 50 Best Christmas songs: Bells continue to ring for the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' *
-Read a book where Christmas is spent on the beach or under real warm weather for 10 points! (Dec 17)
- Read a book that has snowflakes or snow falling on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 14)
- Read a book that has elves, reindeer or a sleigh on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 12)


Other goals
*New*Read a book where the edition you are reading was published on the 6th of a month
*New* Read a book where MCs are best friends
- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as north-america - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a cemetery on the cover
-Read a book where the page numbers add to 22 (i.e. 345 pages = 3+4+5 = 12)

for the new goal

10 Point goals:
-Read a book where presents are exchanged or that has presents on the cover for 10 points! ( Dec 23)
-Read a book where someone ruins or saves Christmas for 10 points (Dec 22)
- Read a book where a holiday meal is prepared or eaten for 10 points!(Dec21)
- Read a book with hot chocolate on the cover for 10 points! (Dec 20)
- Read a book with Coal on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 19)
- Read a book where the title has a Song Title from one of the lists below for 10 points! (Dec 18 )
*Wikipedia's List Of Christmas Carols
The Top 20 Christmas Songs You Never Get Sick Of
The 50 Best Christmas songs: Bells continue to ring for the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' *
-Read a book where Christmas is spent on the beach or under real warm weather for 10 points! (Dec 17)
- Read a book that has snowflakes or snow falling on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 14)
- Read a book that has elves, reindeer or a sleigh on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 12)


Other goals
*New*Read a book where the edition you are reading was published on the 6th of a month
*New* Read a book with the word magic, sorcery, enchant or divine (plurals are acceptable) in the title
- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as north-america - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a cemetery on the cover
-Read a book where the page numbers add to 22 (i.e. 345 pages = 3+4+5 = 12)

Great!

Finished 12/22
BOM participation

Characters :Agnieszka, Kasia, Dragon (Sarkan)
32 chapters
Magic

Dec. 21 Discussion Questions
Chapters 18-23



24. The book has been set so far in Agnieszka's village, the Tower, the Wood, and now the Court. Which setting has been your favorite to read about? Why?
So far the Tower, but that's probably a gimme since that's the most we've seen of Agnieszka when she's been happy. (obviously she was happy in her village, but we only saw her such a short time there)


25. Agnieszka has really been struggling with the etiquette required at court, and with trying to get her point across about sending an army to fight the Wood. Would she have fared better with the Dragon by her side, or would he have made it worse? Should she have joined up with the Falcon, like he wanted her to?
She probably would have fared worse, it sounds like the Dragon didn't have too many friends at court and probably also wouldn't have cared what people thought about him. I'm curious how things will develop with the Falcon, if all her suspicions turn out to be founded.


26. Alosha made a great point: Why don't the people living in the Valley simply pack up and leave? Do you think there is something in the river or air that lures them to stay? Or is it more of a case of them not wanting to leave where they were born and have lived for generations?
That's certainly what it sounds like, that the Wood is keeping them there. And the explanation for why the Dragon's girls have no desire to go back makes a lot of sense.

27. What do you think is behind Queen Hanna's surprising recovery? Is she actually cured, or is the Wood still somehow controlling her?
No, that was too sudden and perfect. She was probably seconds away from being sentenced to death. Something else is going on, although the explanation with the book is really confusing me.

28. How do you think the title of the book fits in with what has happened so far?
It's interesting, I hadn't really thought much about it, but it does fit. Agnieszka is constantly being uprooted from her life as she's getting used to it, first in the village, and then from the Tower.

Ashley wrote: "What exactly does that mean?"

It probably mostly refers to non-fiction, or fiction books that are based on something true that gives you greater perspective into an event or person.

10 Point goals:
- Read a book with hot chocolate on the cover for 10 points! (Dec 20)
- Read a book with Coal on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 19)
- Read a book where the title has a Song Title from one of the lists below for 10 points! (Dec 18 )
*Wikipedia's List Of Christmas Carols
The Top 20 Christmas Songs You Never Get Sick Of
The 50 Best Christmas songs: Bells continue to ring for the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' *
-Read a book where Christmas is spent on the beach or under real warm weather for 10 points! (Dec 17)
- Read a book that has snowflakes or snow falling on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 14)
- Read a book that has elves, reindeer or a sleigh on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 12)


Other goals
*New* Read a book that appeals to your mind ; where you learn something new
- Read a book with a month name in the title (January-December)
- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as north-america - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a cemetery on the cover
-Read a book where the page numbers add to 22 (i.e. 345 pages = 3+4+5 = 12)

First one on our goalless tab works -

10 Point goals:
- Read a book with hot chocolate on the cover for 10 points! (Dec 20)
- Read a book with Coal on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 19)
- Read a book where the title has a Song Title from one of the lists below for 10 points! (Dec 18 )
*Wikipedia's List Of Christmas Carols
The Top 20 Christmas Songs You Never Get Sick Of
The 50 Best Christmas songs: Bells continue to ring for the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' *
-Read a book where Christmas is spent on the beach or under real warm weather for 10 points! (Dec 17)
- Read a book that has snowflakes or snow falling on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 14)
- Read a book that has elves, reindeer or a sleigh on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 12)


Other goals
*New* Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as adult - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a month name in the title (January-December)
- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as north-america - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a cemetery on the cover
-Read a book where the page numbers add to 22 (i.e. 345 pages = 3+4+5 = 12)

has purple text

10 Point goals:
- Read a book with hot chocolate on the cover for 10 points! (Dec 20)
- Read a book with Coal on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 19)
- Read a book where the title has a Song Title from one of the lists below for 10 points! (Dec 18 )
*Wikipedia's List Of Christmas Carols
The Top 20 Christmas Songs You Never Get Sick Of
The 50 Best Christmas songs: Bells continue to ring for the Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' *
-Read a book where Christmas is spent on the beach or under real warm weather for 10 points! (Dec 17)
- Read a book that has snowflakes or snow falling on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 14)
- Read a book that has elves, reindeer or a sleigh on the cover or in title for 10 points! (Dec 12)


Other goals
*New* Read a book with purple text on the cover
- Read a book with a month name in the title (January-December)
- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as north-america - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable
- Read a book with a cemetery on the cover
-Read a book where the page numbers add to 22 (i.e. 345 pages = 3+4+5 = 12)

Kme_17 wrote: " would work for Read a book where a character can see or feel ghosts (Odd Thomas, the intrepid fry cook who sees the dead and tries to help them)"

Absolutely. I haven't read this specific book, but I LOVE the Odd Thomas series, so as long as it didn't change dramatically this should definitely count!

Discussion Questions Dec-20
Chapters 14-17 Pages 187-239

18. They don't seem to have much of a plan going into the wood. I was surprised that they even managed to find the Queen, much less that quickly. What are your thoughts on their preparations and planning?
yeah, that was my thought too! A bit too convenient, oh well I guess those things happen in YA. I think in terms of planning it was very naive, but there wasn't much the Dragon or Agnieszka could do to change that, so it makes sense, with the Prince and the Falcon in charge, that it wouldn't have been very well thought out.

19. Kasia seems to be turning into quite the hero. Do you think this was who she always was or did the wood change her to be like this?
I was actually curious why Kasia was going on that expedition. She didn't really have a lot to contribute without being a soldier or a wizard, and it seemed very risky bringing her back into the Wood after she just escaped it. But I think how she acted speaks to how she was raised, always having to be the brave one, the risk-taker, she was well-prepared for this sort of adventure.

20. What are your thoughts on the rescue of the Queen? Was it worth losing 28 men? Do you think she will recover?
I don't understand how she wasn't corrupted at all after 20 years, I hope this gets explained further. Or maybe it's that there's so little left of who she used to be that there's nothing left to corrupt?

21. They made it to the city and the townspeople seem to rejoice but the King does not. Why do you think he doesn't seem pleased with things? It made me think that he might have had something to do with the Queens situation.
I imagine the King has moved on, after 20 years of believing his wife is gone for good. It must be hard to accept such a dramatic change in events, and especially seeing that she is not who she used to be, woudl be very hard for him.

22. Do you think Agnieszka will be recognized? What do you think her animal name will get to be? They all seem to be predator animals but she's a healer so maybe it will be different.
They've all been flying creatures so far, so I'm going to guess...the Hawk. She's proven that she's really tough and won't let anyone tell her what to do, including the Dragon!

23. We're halfway through now. Any predictions for the rest of the book?
I really don't know....I expect Kasia will survive and Agnieszka and the Dragon will end up together, but maybe will have to eventually be apart to serve their duties? No matter what, I'm enjoying this more than I expected to and can't wait to read on!

@kelly

Love him, that's exactly who I'm going to picture the rest of the book! :)