Cass☀️’s Comments (group member since May 09, 2014)

Cass☀️’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I finished The Great Divide and I’m going to update sheet now. I started The Hunger Games. I’m going to try to make the deadline.

@Ashley I will definitely be finishing The Great Divide tonight and then I’m debating rereading the 1st Hunger Games tomorrow. I’ll let you know if I’m done tonight after I finish the Great Divide!

I finished Homegoing. I’ll add more detail to the spreadsheet later. ☺️ I started the Panama book now too.

I finished Circe this morning and started Homegoing. I should finish it by tomorrow morning. I will update when I have!

I should finish Circe before I head to bed tonight. The other two are shorter so I should be able to get them done by Tuesday evening!

I should be set on my 3 books: The Great Divide, Circe, and Homegoing. I have a retirement party today, but after that I’m spending my weekend reading!

I just finished "Starling House" and have posted responses to DQs for Days 1-4. I will complete Day 5 when those are posted tomorrow.

I am going to get started on my mini challenge books now. I am hoping to finish "Circe", "The Great Divide" and "Homegoing" over the next few days.

Cass - District 6
DQs Day 4
Chapters 20-26

16. I love Bev’s line ‘ How in hell is anybody supposed to help if you won’t ask?’ Are there any characters who don't need to hear this? Did it resonate with you?

I also loved this line! I would say that most characters in this novel need to hear that! I would also like to add that most people and characters in most texts need to hear it! I would definitely say it resonates with me!

17. Opal and Jasper finally reveal their secrets and talk. Were you surprised that they are both Graverly’s? How do you feel about the outcome regarding schools?

I was not surprised, this was definitely a route that I could see happening. The 'how' we got there was different than I was predicting which was interesting.

18. Elizabeth Baine seems to have an amazing connections and pull. Who do you think she works for? How do you think she figured out what the right leverage was?

I was taken back by how she directed the police officers and sheriff as well as her methods of drugging during interrogations. I don't think the Gravely's have the pull or connections needed so I do believe she was working for a different entity as well. Assisting the Gravely's could have been a means to the end of the other employer's desires to control Starling House. By 'the right leverage' I assumed she learned of Arthur's affections for Opal. I don't think that was very difficult to figure out after their phone call where Arthur threatened her if she went anywhere near Opal again.

19. So much happened in these chapters, yet I really don’t feel like I learned much. How do you feel about the pacing/storyline?

I actually enjoyed the pacing and storyline of this piece. I will say that I was struggling the first section. After I got through day 1's reading it was smooth sailing!

20. We learn that being a warden is a choice, although the house asks very vulnerable people. Do you think that the other wardens understood the price? How does Opal fit – she chose, but she isn’t a warden at this point.

I do not believe that the other wardens understood the price. I believe the house asks vulnerable people because it knows they need something to believe in and this gives them that sense of purpose or role. Loneliness can consume an individual and we see that these individuals have thrown themselves into this role of "warden" simply to escape their own loneliness.

Bonus cat question: Which name do you prefer – Baast or Hellcat?

I prefer Hellcat personally, but I did look into "Baast". I am less familiar with Egyptian mythology. So, I do find it interesting that one of it's titles is Goddess of Women's Secrets. Considering how important secrets were to this piece it seems to be reinforcing that idea.

Cass - District 6
DQs Day 3
Chapters 14-19

11. Starling House reminded me up to a point with some vibes of Beauty and the Beast, although lesser now as the story progresses. Is the book reminding you of any other stories you have read before?

I had this same thought! There are several commonalities with Starling House’s personality, the dynamic between Opal and Arthur, Opals dynamic with Jasper, Opal’s strong personality and love of reading(this might be stretch 😂). There are obvious commonalities with ACOTAR due to these, but another it has me thinking about is “The Haunting of Hill House”. I don’t know if it’s just because of the Starling House’s personality or how both holes are taunting and twisting the psyche’s of the characters present.

12. Ch 14-19 have answered a lot of questions about Opal, the house, Arthur, the history of the place and what's going on. Has anything revealed in this section been surprising to you? Does the explanation so far of everything that has happened ring true?

I don’t think I would say anything was surprising. I don’t want to say it was predictable, but it was rational. I feel like the explanation so far has been done well. I’m not disappointed or confused which is appreciated. I know others have commented on the ages but I guess I missed that detail or maybe I was just oblivious to the math.

13. Jasper and Opal are clearly close, although he is sometimes moody and surly. He seems resentful at times of Opal going out so far on a limb to take care of him and get him out of Eden. What do you think of the character now that he has more fleshed-out scenes and more has been revealed about him and their relationship?

I think they are birds of a feather. Opal ran so Jasper could walk. I think as he’s grown older he’s realized all that Opal has done to provide for him. Which as he’s gotten older he’s resented her lying and lack of communication. He also might resent himself because he knows that she’s sacrificed a lot to provide for him. I feel like we see this dynamic in most situation where an older sibling obtains guardianship of their younger sibling.

14. Arthur and Opal have heated a few things up. Do you think they fit each other well with these developments?

Personally, I could have done without the romantic/love aspect. I think Opal and Arthur both could be probably motivated just by their potential friendship or their morals. The ‘heat’ wasn’t necessary.

15. There is humor in the book that is overshadowed by genuinely creepy horror like tales, What do you think about Underland "beasts" revealed so far?

I find them fascinating and we know so little. I keep imagining beings with super long limbs and seemingly made of shadows or smoke. I also find the advice to “befriend” interesting, because if monsters are metaphorical representations of fear. Is the advice not simply that one must face their fears to conquer their demons?

Cass - District 6
DQs Day 2
Ch. 8-13

6) The narration is using dual POVs: 1st person for Opal, 3rd person for Arthur. Does it work for you? Do you think this suits the story?

I actually really enjoyed this and I don’t typically enjoy multiple perspectives or narrators! I typically get really attached to one and then condemn any others! 😅 Take TOG for example, I love Celaena but I don’t like Manon(I know blasphemous!) I think the reason I liked it because I felt close to Opal and distance to Arthur. It exaggerated the magical realism as well as reinforced the gothic atmosphere surrounding Arthur.

7) Opal goes to the Library to find out more about Starling House and finds her mother's phone number among the Gravely family's documents. What implications can it have? Do you think it could be a hint about Opal's parentage?

I think that the connection or connections between Opal and the Starling House keeps being hinted at for a reason. I definitely do think there is some history between Opal through her mother to the Gravelys or Starling House which then connects to the Gravelys. It’s a web of mystery and we keep adding new twists and turns with each tidbit of information. The more I learn about Opals mother the more I wish we got to hear more of her story. I don’t think we’ve gotten any information on Opal’s father, what if her father is one of the Gravely boys?

8) After Bev's story about the relationship between Eleanor Starling and the Gravely brothers, we get a totally different perspective from what Nathaniel Boone went through. What do you think about the Gravely family and their "hold" over the town of Eden? What do you think Nathaniel may have discovered in the dark?

I think growing up in a small town, I saw a lot of the stereotypical “big names in small town” dynamic. I find their hold to be filled with self-interest and greed; thus far haven’t heard anything resembling a redeemable quality. They obviously wanted power and nothing or no one was more important than power. I don’t know what Nathaniel might have discovered but I do strongly believe it adds to our clues about what is going on at Starling House.

9) Finally we learn some more about about Arthur's role (warden) and his connection to the House. What do you think about their "relationship"? What is your opinion about Starling House as a sentient being? Could it be good or evil?

I am so intrigued by this ‘relationship’! The term “warden” makes me think of ‘game warden’ or ‘prison warden’ so if I follow that line of thinking it makes me believe that the relationship is a power dynamic where Arthur is attempting to maintain control. The question is … control of what?

I love that Starling House is a sentient being! It could be good or evil, it has the potential to be either and it is to soon to make an assertion. If we were it would be an assumption, and if reading hasn’t taught you that assuming is never worthwhile then I don’t know what you’ve been reading!

10) On "characters not communicating"
In Chapter 12 we find out that Opal has not told Jasper about the fact that she arranged for him to go to a different school and she actually managed to put together the fee for the 1st year already. Opal doesn't tell his brother about her working in Starling House and she doesn't tell Arthur about her spying on the House for Elizabeth Baine and getting more and more demands.
What do you think of all this?

I think that so much of this story relies on secrets and lack of communication pushing the plot forward or developing characters. You could go the route of thinking about the book thematically, we are learning that our major characters suffer from loneliness and grief, so maybe the secrets and lack of communication are meant to exacerbate those ideas to communicate to the audience that if you don’t ask for help or reach out to others you’ll be forced to wallow in your own loneliness and grief.

Cass - District 6
DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to 7

1.) Have you read other books by Alix E Harrow? Was this on your tbr list before it was a BOM selection? Any expectations going in?

I have not read any other books by Alix E. Harrow before, but I had snagged “Starling House” and “The Once and Future Witches” based on recommendations as well as “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” from browsing my local book store. All have been on my TBR some longer than others. I had no expectations other than being told they were fantastic by someone I trust the opinion of.

2.) Did you read the footnotes as you went along? Find them helpful? Annoying?

To be honest. I didn’t read them at first and then I read one which caused me to then go back and reread them. It’s definitely an interesting stylistic choice. I avoided them at first because I assumed it had to do with the inspiration of the story not the story itself. I didn’t want to be taken out of the abstract fictional world for real world facts. My mistake, and definitely not typical of me to assume. I should know better by now!

3.) The discussion of E. Starling's book being too scary for children reminded me of some interviews with M.Sendalk when the Where the Wild Things movie came out several years ago about books, etc that scare children (when children are the target audience). His response was basically children should be scared sometimes and there's nothing wrong with that. And has further said, it's better to have a book full of fears than one pretending there's nothing to be afraid of. What are your thoughts on this topic?

I agree with M. Sendalk, wholeheartedly, as the expression of emotion in children in safe environments should be encouraged. I see forms of entertainment like literature and film to be opportunities for discussion and reflection by families. Monsters are metaphors for fears of the society at the time of conception. If something is scary, why is it scary? What might it represent? How can we teach our children to respond to fear in healthy productive and decisive manner? These are all questions we should be asking.

4.) What are your thoughts so far on Eden and Starling House? Has the author done a good job so far of creating an atmosphere and setting for a good gothic story?

I'm fascinated with Starling House. I love when settings are like another character because they are described with attention to detail as well as given personality. I think Harrow is doing a wonderful job with this so far creating an atmosphere and setting for a gothic story.

5.) Any favorites so far in our motley cast of characters? Opal, Arthur, Jasper, Bev, and Starling House.

I think it’s too soon for me to pick favorites but I look forward to hopefully learning more about them. I’ll eventually have a favorite but it sometimes takes me longer to become attached to a character.

Good Morning!

So sorry that I have not been around, it is the end of the school year and students are coming out of the woodwork to turn things in. I should be able to read more starting hopefully tomorrow! Hope everyone is doing well!

Maybe it was the lighting in my library when I was looking lol! I will add homegoing to the spreadsheet.

Ashley wrote: "Cass☀️ wrote: "I wanted the covers to post. I was trying to figure out how to do that!"

under the search bar there is a bullet item list

Search for a book to add a reference
add: link cover

clic..."

Aha! Thank you!

I wanted the covers to post. I was trying to figure out how to do that!

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Cass☀️ wrote: "With the “book with an orange cover” would it work if orange is the most prominent color? Or would it work if it had any orange at all?"

Has to be 50% orange."

Would any of these work?
When in Rome Anita de Monte Laughs Last Olive Kitteridge Yaa Gyasi Bestselling 2 Books Set - Homegoing; Transcendent Kingdom

With the “book with an orange cover” would it work if orange is the most prominent color? Or would it work if it had any orange at all?

I have never volunteered for DQs before and I am very excited, but when do we know if we have been selected to write DQs and our sections we are responsible for typically?

Ashley wrote: "@Brittany! (and everyone!) Do you mind giving some additional context on your resource choices? For example, if you are mentioning a gun, where is the gun found in the book? Etc...

Thank you."

I tried so very hard to keep track of page numbers of things in "The Serpent and the Wings of Night”, but then I got into the book and stopped after the first 130 pages.

I finished "The Serpent and the Wings of Night" also...

I finished “Those We Drown” and “The Rom-commers”. I’m starting “The Serpent and the Wings of Night”. Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! ☺️