Emma (M)’s Comments (group member since Dec 02, 2014)

Emma (M)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Welcome back V :D

K~Terror wrote: "I added one to the read thread for a book I finished today. There is only one edition in GR and there are no page numbers so I added a link to the 233 pages Amazon says this book has in the kindle ..."

I've fixed it up :)

K~Terror wrote: "Emma - You rock!!!!

Just saw you out there volunteering for DQ's across the board ~
Woo Hoo!!!"

Happy to do them if no one lse is interested. It's a way for me to numb up my points contribution :)

Volunteering to write DQs for team Return of the Jedi

volunteering to write DQs for team Return of the Jedi

I would like to volunteer for DQs, team Return of the Jedi

#21. Up to this point in the book we have seen many references to smell and taste and ingredients of both wine and food, what significance do you think this has on the book? Who do you think the mystery ingredient provider may be?. I think food was incredibly important to the Count in his former life and it is why so much emphasis is put on it in the book. Being in the hotel, there probably also isn't a lot else for him to be passionate about. I think the mystery ingredient provider was Anna.

#22. The Count may be exiled, but he has no shortage of funds and it doesn't seem to come solely from his coin stash, why do you think that his money was not impounded by the court when he was placed into exile? What impact would that have had on the story? Do you think he is paying for the room he stays in?
I have wondered this myself, about if he pays for the room and also why his money wasn't impounded. I really have no idea why he still has access to his funds.

#23. What are your thoughts on Nina leaving Sofia with the Count? Would this be the way you would deal with the situation if faced with the same? If you were in a similar position, given the story thus far, would you feel as if you knew Sasha enough to do the same?
I think she was a bit presumptuous in asking the Count to do that for her and I'm not sure if I would handle it the same way. But, I'm guessing she felt desperate and also though that the Count was a great companion for her when she was younger and that her daughter could be entrusted to him. Plus, its not like he was going anywhere.

#24. What are your thoughts on the "thimble" game? What do you think is says about Sofia, and what does it show us about the Count?.
She obviously has her mother's mind and can think laterally. It also showed that the Count underestimated how smart a girl of her age may be.

#25. Do you think the count has after had to look after anyone else in his life or has he only ever been looked after? Do you think that the Count is changing more now than ever before in his life? What might be some indications that make you think the way you do?

#26. What do you think are the ramifications of Sofia's presence? Do you think that we will see Nina again? .
I think we will see Nina again, but I think in the meantime Sofia will have a huge impact on the Count and he will get very attached to her.

#27. Do you think anything will happen to the count for going to the hospital? Why do you think that Osip helped him?

14. The Count meets an Englishman in the bar and tells him what happened to his sister. What did you think of the story and were you surprised he told it to a stranger in a bar? Do you think he's right to feel responsible and do you think it is influencing his actions and behaviour?
I don't think he is right to feel responsible, as how could he have predicted the response of the other man, but I can understand why he would responsible for it. I'm sure it haunts him still.

15. On the night he decides to end things he involves himself in the discussion in the bar then hesitates at the edge of the roof. Do you think he would really have stepped off if he hadn't been interrupted? Why do you think he changed his mind after tasting the honey?
I can't imagine the Count actually taking the step and feel like he just needed some sign to not do it. Thankfully this was provided to him by tasting the honey.

16. "when you exile a man into his own country, there is no beginning anew" Do you agree that for a man like the Count his confinement to the hotel is a greater punishment than if he'd been exiled to another country? Would this be the case for everyone as the book suggests? It seemed like the Prince didn't suffer so much being subject to the Minus Six.
I think it is a worse fate as at least in another country he would be able to live life to its full. His movements and life are so restricted being confined to the environs of the hotel only.

17. I really like Nina as a character and loved the relationship between her and the Count so was surprised when she met him as an adult and was so cold towards him. Why do you think this was? Do you think they'll be reunited and become close again or are they heading in different directions?
I think she is just so pragmatic that she has lost the ability to really behave in an emotional way. Also, I think that she was probably at that age where someone the age of the Count is not so interesting as what he once was. Hopefully once she gets older she will be able to appreciate him again.

18. Anna's fortunes changed dramatically. What did you think about how she dealt with it? Do you believe she has changed? What about her relationship with the Count? Were you surprised? Do you think it is serious and will last or are they just using each other?
I think she dealt with it well as she learnt from what happened and would never take any good fortune for granted again. I wasn't surprised at all that they have become lovers, it sort of seemed inevitable after her reaction of his 'slight' the first time. I think they are both using each other but that it will last for quite some time as they suit each other's purposes and are quite fond of each other.

19. The Count is working as head waiter in the restaurant and seems to have formed a real friendship with Andrey and Emile. What are your thoughts on Andrey and Emile and why do you think they get on so well? I absolutely loved the scene with Triumvirate and the bouillabaisse but was a bit confused as to why it was such a secret. Why was it so important to them and why did it cause such a strong emotional reaction?
I love the relationship between the three and think that Emile is fabulous, I just wish he was given more scenes. I think the three of them miss the old ways and can reminisce about the golden days. I think in a time when ingredients may be hard to come by and so much effort was put into procuring them, it would spark and emotional reaction, especially if it was a beloved dish from their past.

20. What were your feelings on the meeting between the Count and Osip Ivanovich Glebnikov? He wants the Count to meet with him regularly to help him learn about the English and the French languages and cultures. Why do you think this is and why the Count? Do you think the Count will gain anything from this or is he heading for trouble?

7. A Gentleman in Moscow references a lot of famous Russian literature (War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov, Anna Karenina, etc.) and famous Russian authors (Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, etc.). Have you read any Russian literature/any of the books the author cites? How is this novel similar or different to these works?
I have read about half of Anna Karenina, but never got around to finishing it. Its on my list of books to read when I get a chance as I didn't mind the writing. I would love to read more Russian literature but they are time intensive with being so long, so I have to wait to get the time to devote to them.

8. The Count met a large cast of colorful characters in this section. Which encounter, vignette, or flashback was your favorite? Which one struck you the most?
I really liked when the Count, Emile and Andrey were stealing ingredients for the soup.

9. What do you think of Anna Urbanova? Do you think she will reappear in the story later?

10. The Count believes Anna has cast a sort of spell on him that is turning him more ghost-like. Is there evidence to support this? The Count vividly describes friendship in the last chapter of this section, Anonymity (on page 134). By his description, do you think the Count has any remaining friends?

I think people were so used to him that he was almost like a piece of the furniture, so he probably felt a bit ignored. However, besides the one chapter, this feeling didn't seem to be lasting.

11. The wine cellar seems to be a turning point in the Count’s perspective on his imprisonment. What did you think of his description of the wines? What are your thoughts on the Bishop? Do you think that he really orchestrated this change out of spite, or was it higher officials that brought this to pass?

I don't think it was necessarily out of spite, I just think he is covering up for his own incompetence and lack of knowledge by making it unnecessary to understand wine.

12. The narrator has a couple of lively footnotes in these chapters. Do you think the narrative voice is the Count, or someone else? How are the narrator and the Count similar or different? Do you think the Count is as happy or vivacious as the narrator seems to be? I think the narrator is the providing the footnotes, and I get the impression that he really likes the count and that is reflected in his account of the Count's life;

The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest
230 pages
Read: 21 May
Rated: 4 stars

Wow, I just looked at the spreadsheet and we are third!

240 pages
Read: 20 May
3 stars

Damn, missed out on questions for the last BOM of the month :(

Is anyone planning on putting their name down for dq's on next month's BOMs? I'm just checking as I won't put my name down for a book that someone else has a preference for (since only one member per team can do each book) as I don't care which one I do DQs for.

Great news Lauren, congratulations!!

You don't have to answer every question to get points and it doesn't matter if you are not answering them on the day they are submitted. Just answer them when you get a chance as it shouldn't be a stressful process, enjoy the book I say.

Tori wrote: "Emma wrote: "Who else is reading A Gentleman in Moscow? I am so in love with this book, it's just gorgeous, what an unexpected gem."

oh my gosh its lush!

i've just finished the B..."

Oh no, that sounds so painful! I'm not fond of hardbacks as I find them hard to read, even without arthritis. They are just so clunky

Who else is reading A Gentleman in Moscow? I am so in love with this book, it's just gorgeous, what an unexpected gem.

Shelby wrote: "I wish I could stay with the slow reading pace of everyone else. I'm really enjoying this book. So much more so than I expected to. I don't read a lot of General Fiction and yet I am loving the cul..."

i am loving this much more than I anticipated too. The writing is just gorgeous and I absolutely love the Count's analysis of things he sees and hear's. Nina is a wonderful character too, and is turning into a great companion to the Count, opening his eyes to things he hasn't noticed before.

Holy crap, I nominated a book for each of the three BOMs for June, and all my my nominations got voted in!! I have never had one of nominations voted in so it's a huge shock that all three got picked up. Yay!!!