Stacey’s Comments (group member since Oct 26, 2014)

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

Comments and Questions
December 2
Prologue - Chapter 2

1. Theories on the prologue? Who is Grace? (there seem to be a lot of "G" names in the family!)

I'm going with the majority that Grace is Gwyneth's mom. But I don't know who the "she" they left behind is--Gwyneth maybe?


2. So Leslie is Gwyneth's friend, Charlotte is her cousin, James is the ghost and Caroline and Nick are her siblings. Thoughts on the characters so far?

Love Leslie. Charlotte and her mom remind me of every other "chosen" one and their parents--condescending, entitled and not very nice. So we don't like them much. :) Love Aunt Maddy as well.

3. What do you think is with the man in black outside their house? Why is no-one concerned about him?

Can everyone else see him? Or is he like the ghosts that Gwyneth sees? I think he's there to keep an eye on Gwyneth.

4. Do you like the writing style / the humour and the little newspaper clippings or book excerpts before each chapter?

I'm enjoying the tone of the book, and the little excerpts at the beginning of the chapters are offering nice little tidbits towards how the Guardians work.

5. How annoying that Gwyneth hasn't worked out her symptoms! I wonder why her family haven't realised she has the gene?

It seems odd that she wouldn't at least wonder if there was a mistake and she's the traveler. Guess she'll have it figured out now!

Cynthia wrote: "W.T.H. happened to my post? Craziness!

Anyway, Stacey late December sounds great.

Mods, can we have an informal buddy read thread set up for December 23?

Thanks!"

Perfect! :)

Cynthia wrote: "RachelvlehcaR wrote: "Anyone interesting in reading The Collector by John Fowles?"

I'll read with you...."

I would like to do . How about sometime late December/early January?

Yeah for us! I have 3 BR/BOMs going right now so hopefully will finish all those this week. :)

Day 6 DQs Chapters 32-37, pp.353-412

39. Todd wakes up in Carbonel Downs, what are your first impressions with the town?

It seemed pretty nice, which means there is probably something dreadfully wrong with it.

40. Throughout the novel, gender roles seem to be at a forefront, what do you think about how gender roles play a part in Cabonel Downs? How do you think it relates to Farbranch and other settlements? What do you think the Author’s point is in making these distinctions? What implications do you think it will have for Todd and Viola going forward?

I think its an interesting way to show how different groups react to the same situation depending upon their point of view. You can see how each of these option and ways of handling the Noise issue would arise, and the reasoning behind them. Not agree, but understand.


41. Ben is back? Is this the author’s way of replacing the hole Manchee left for the rest of the story? How do you think he survived? How did he find them? What do you think of Carbonel Downs’ reaction to his presence? What do you think about the law that prevents Prentisstown residents from leaving?

I actually found his arrival kind of convenient, and not in a good way. I would have rather learned the truth from Viola reading than from Ben suddenly re-appearing. It doesn't surprise me that the towns had a law against the men of Prentisstown after what they did, although I think the killing of someone in front of children is a little extreme.

42. We finally understand what happened in Prentisstown and to all the women, what are your initial reactions to this revelation? How do you think it compares now to the other towns as asked in question 40? Do you think Cabonel Downs could go the same way since they seem to have a similar thought process when it comes to “keeping men’s thoughts private”

I wasn't really that surprised, I think the book had been hinting at that pretty heavily throughout. I don't think that Carbonel Downs would progress to this because although they don't particularly respect their women, they recognize that without them the town will die.

43. What do you think about the subtle religious undertones? We know a little bit more about Aaron and his gospel, and it seems just as twisted as he is, how was this able to escalate to the level it did with the ideologies the settlers had for New World?

I think he's just insane, so has twisted it to suit his purposes--although they still remain kind of unknown for me.

44. How cute are Viola and Todd? Their budding relationship has been enjoyable to read throughout the book. They have finally come to terms with their feelings for one another, what are your thoughts? Are you excited to see Viola read Todd’s Mother’s journal?

I finished Blood Magick as well and it was a BR. Will update the other thread. Will start The Darkest Touch this evening-- over 450 p. and another BR, but will be working this weekend, so not sure how far I will get.

I'm having so much fun with this challenge and I have really started to enjoy the BRs. Thanks for adding me to the team. :)

I finished last night. I like me a good Nora book, but I really think that she could have taken all three of these 300 page books, smashed a few things together, taken a few things out, and had a much more entertaining 500ish page book.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Finished last night. After all the build up, [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ When I was reading this, I actually thought my page count was off because I couldn't figure out how they were going to finish everything off in the pages left. And then they did. It DID seem like a whole lot of build up for a little pfft of a finale. (hide spoiler)]

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Just finished Chapter 11.

I like [spoilers removed]

I'm glad [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I thought that was kind of a strange turn around for Branna as well. She was terribly resistant to anything between them, then I feel like we missed a conversation she had with someone at the party, and all of the sudden she's ready to go. It had to happen at some point since it is a romance, but it seemed like we completely missed out on how she changed her mind. (hide spoiler)]

~Leslie~ wrote: "Glad to know she's much better. She has annoyed the crap out of me in past books!"

Ugh. Me too. She gets better after she and Fin decide to, umm, tempt the curse's results shall we say?

22. Prentisstown men are marching and kicking down door in Farbranch. Todd goes through the list of men he sees and notices Ben and Cillian aren’t there. He says, “If they ain’t there, then that means once and for all. And there’s yer lesson. There ain’t nothing good that don’t got real bad waiting to follow it.” Why do you think Ben and Cillian are absent from the group?

I think they are dead. I think the sherriff killed them trying to get to Todd.

23. Do you think it is wise of Todd and Viola to choose not to go into any other settlement other than Haven, in case the army follows them and destroys it like they did in Farbranch? Also put into consideration about Cillian’s letter are warning to Farbranch.

I'm torn on this. I understand why they are avoiding the towns to try to help prevent the army from destroying more towns, but they aren't accomplishing any "warning" of anyone by avoiding them all.

24. The book. As Viola reads the letter from Cillian in Todd’s mother’s book, “There are things you don’t know about our history, Todd, and I’m sorry for that but if you knew them you would be in great danger. The only chance you have of a welcome is yer innocence.” What mysteries do you think has happened in their history? Why would his innocence be his only chance? Do you think it has anything to do with no women/girls especially since there are women in other settlements?

I think that clearly something bad happened in Prentisstown which made all the other towns avoid association with them. The fact that Todd doesn't have any knowledge of what happened in his Noise, would hopefully let him fit in somewhere else that otherwise would not allow someone from the town to stay.

25. Also, in the letter from Cillian it states, “the wider world has to be warned, Todd. Prentisstown is on the move. The plan has been in the works for years, only waiting for the last boy in Prentisstown to become a man.” Do you still think the army is after Todd? Why doesn’t the wider world need to be warned?

I think they are in some ways. Certainly the Mayor's son and Aaron are.

26. Crickets that chirping “sex sex sex”, dogs that you can hear their thoughts and they can hear yours, giant cows saying “Here”, horses thinking “snake”. Do you think the Noise they hear is a universal language for anyone and everyone to understand?

I think its just the noise they make for everyone to hear.

27. We learn a little more about Aaron and his preaching of hellfire, damnanyshun, judgement, and end of the world? Why would he be preaching this is it’s a somewhat newish settlement?

It seems like there was a significant religious undertone in the whole group that settled this planet. I think Aaron has just corrupted it to use for his own purposes.

28. Do you think Viola is right when she says that Todd that he has an army after him who wants to make him a killer? That if they can make him a killer they can make anyone a killer?

I'm not sure I understood what she meant by this whole thing, to be honest.

29. Todd and Voila meet a Spackle. The Spackle is skinning a fish and very scared by Todd and the knife. Todd kills him with the knife. What are your thoughts about this scene?

So they do exist! :) I was uncomfortable with this scene as many others were. I'm still working out my feelings on this whole book, and this scene is part of that.

30. Aaron has re-appeared. He knocks out Voila (I assume with something like chloroform) and knocks out Todd but before knocking out Todd says, “I have no further use for you, boy.” Any thoughts to what happens next?

I'm sure he will be back eventually. Until someone kills him, he'll keep coming back. Like the Terminator.

Okay, it sounds like I didn't miss anything specific. I'll just wait and see how they work out the HEA. :)

About 2/3 through now, and Branna is much better. Will enjoy hearing what everyone else has to say.

I started a few days ago as I have another BR this weekend with a book I can't get till later in the week. About 1/3 or the way through. I was not a fan of Branna in the other books, but was hoping she would grow on me in this one. So far, not so much. Does anyone know WHY she and Fin can't be together? I get the curse thing, but did I miss that something terrible will happen? Or is it just cause Branna said so?

December 15th works for me. :)

Nichole wrote: "Chris, we need to recruit a buddy to read Before Jamaica Lane with us! Hmm..."

Chris and Nichole, when were you thinking of starting this? I'm interested, but I'm pretty crammed with BRs until mid December. So not sure if that helps or not....

I finished The Knife of Never Letting Go. I'm early, but have 3 BRs coming up this week, so wanted to get it done. I've updated the other sheet.

I'm going to go read some happy, pretty Nora Roberts now....

6. So the "quiet" was a girl. She's wearing clothes similar to Todd's but newer. So much newer, they look like a uniform. When I first read this part my immediate thought was that perhaps that was the big secret -- the women/girls hadn't all died, but instead might be sequestered somewhere else like a concentration camp? What were your initial thoughts about the girl & where she might have come from?

I think that she has come from somewhere else in the area where they have been a little more successful in handling the Noise so have been able to progress and improve their surroundings more.

7. How in the world did Aaron survive being drug off by a crocodile? His Noise is louder and crazier than everyone else's. I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't more to Aaron. Any thoughts on where Aaron might fit in? I don't think I believe he is truly dead. What do you think? Will we be seeing more of him in the future?

He's crazy for sure. Not sure if there is a little something else involved or not--seems like if he was just a normal man he would have been down. But now that he's come back, I think he's going to be a problem for a while.

8. Aaron referred to the girl as "The Holy Sacrament", "The Sign from God", and "The Path of the Saint". He also pictured the girl drinking wine and partaking of the host. These all seem to have significant Catholic undertones. What part do you think religion might play as the novel continues?

I think they probably used it as a way to justify whatever they did that Ben showed Todd before he told him to run away.

9. Aaron ultimately envisioned the girl being sacrificed. Could that be the big secret? Do you think that is what happened to all the women/girls?

It would not surprise me a bit if that is what truly happened. I can see the men blaming the women for not putting out the Noise and doing something to "fix" it.

10. The air ship, and the surrounding greenery, seem to be still smoking making it seem the crash just happened -- or at least not that long ago. They haven't gone that far from the outskirts of Prentisstown. You would think somebody saw or heard something. Could that be why Aaron was spending so much time in the swamp? Do you think the kids are in more danger than just people looking for Todd?

It certainly seemed like someone should have heard something as loud as a crash in a place that is basically a small country town.

11. The girl seems to not react like you would think she would if the dead couple were in fact her parents. Does anyone else think that there is going to be more to the girl's story? Something that's going to be revealed later -- a big prophecy perhaps, or somehow she's the pivotal point in some larger story?

I think she definitely has some major part to play in the story, but not sure how it will interact with Todd's story.

12. The descriptions of the Mayor and his circle in the first chapters were very reminiscent of societies usually portrayed in dystopian novels. Those novels however are usually set many years into that society -- after the society is fully formed, complete control, a supreme ruler -- this seems to be how you would imagine one of those societies would begin: burning books, outlawing school, etc. Do you think their break-off settlement could have been from a larger similar society?

I don't know. The presence of the girl would indicate would seem to indicate that there are women on the planet somewhere, so whatever happened to the women in Prentisstown, didn't happen everywhere. So I tend to lean toward this happening as an isolated incident.

13. There have been slight references to the world they inhabit that mark it as different from ours. Two moons. The cassor (bird like creatures). The Spackle. Have you noticed any other different traits?

I'm not entirely convinced that the Spackle haven't been made up to justify whatever happened to the women.

14. Manchee makes me think of Oberon from the Iron Druid Chronicles, although with a bit less vocabulary. While it might, on occasion, be fun to hear what an animal is thinking, I don't think I would want it to be constant influx. The girl at first didn't seem to be able to hear the Noise, she also hasn't spoken. Why do you think she hasn't tried to communicate in any way verbally with Todd?

I think she's probably just traumatized by the loss of her parents, the attack by Aaron and being on her own.

DQs for Part I - Chapters 1-6

1) The Book starts with introducing this concept of the Noise and Todd can hear his dog's thoughts. Todd does not seem to like his dog. How do you think this relationship might develop? Do you think Todd will grow to feel differently about his dog? Do you think the relationship might grow and change?
I think Todd is like any other person with a dog that just sometimes annoys. You love them, but there are some days that they just drive you crazy. And I think he feels like he was given some responsibility that he didn't really ask for.

2) We have learned that Todd is the only remaining boy in his town, everyone else has moved on to manhood, at 13 years old. There seems to be some secret initiation, secrets that the boys are kept from that are revealed when they become men. Why do you think this might be?
I think its something like Cynthia said--there's a big secret, and each boy needs to be a certain age to incorporate the secret and become part of the collective belief system. I have not idea what the secret is right now, but I think its pretty ugly.

3) Aaron was defenitely introduced as an ominous character from the jump. It was strange that he was in the marsh when Todd was and kind of popped up out of nowhere. What do you think Aaron was up to? Do you think he knew about the girl or the absence of noise?
I found it strange he was out there, and also that he reacted so violently to Todd. We are still being introduced to the world, but it seemed very strange that he went so quickly to hitting Todd.

4) I was getting a little concerned when Ben and Cillian were trying to get Todd the hell out of dodge and Todd was being so resistant. What were you feelings around this.
I was very anxious as I wanted Todd to LEAVE already! But I also can see as a young boy why he would be so resistant to suddenly being told that he needed to leave everything he knew behind and not ever come back. That's a tough sell in a 10 minute time frame.

5) I was wondering if women/girls don't hear the Noise and if that has something to do with why they are all gone. When Todd finds the absence of Noise he doesn't find a Spackle, (whatever that is?) but he finds a girl. Any speculation about this?
I think that they don't produce the noise, but not sure about the hearing of it. So far, I'm buying that the disease that caused the noise killed the women of the town, but not sure that's going to end up being accurate.

Cynthia wrote: "If you want to make it a series read, I'll join up to read .

The last novella is only $0.99. I'll wait t..."

I'm finished book 1, and would be interested in a series read.

If it comes in for me in the library, I'm in.