Alyana ’s Comments (group member since Feb 14, 2021)

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

DQs Day 4:

15. What do you think about Dionysus' encounter with Hades, the god of the Underworld?
▶ It seems odd to me because the way Hades just freed Dionysus' mother was just too easy? But I think he has like a hidden agenda for that.

16. It seems like Ariadne loves her life in Naxos, what do you think of her relationship with Dionysus?
▶ I think so too. Being left there by Theseus on purpose did her something good. Not until Phaedra came back to her life and everything changed.

17. Ariadne is horrified by the bloody rites she witnesses between Dionysus, the maenads, and the resurrected goat. In attempting to understand the maenads’ participation, she reflects: “The ritual gave fearful shape to the anger and the grief that had driven so many of them here in the first place; they screamed and danced in their blood-soaked frenzy by night so that they could live serenely in the sunlight.” Does this explanation make sense to you?
▶ If I was Ariadne, I would be horrified too. One main reason, I'm scared of blood. Lol. In all honesty, I think this is the only way Dionysus and the maenads know on how they can express their emotions especially when they are angry.

18. Were you more drawn to Ariadne’s or Phaedra’s chapters? Why do you think the author chose to include both of their perspectives?
▶ I would choose both because as a reader, I like to know the both sides of the story and how it was delivered to the readers.

Christina wrote: "We need takers for the following tasks:

MPG Classics
bird on cover
all letters of ZEUS (Elena's reading one I think)
100-125 pages

(although if your book fits more tasks of one monster pls also l..."

My book Malorie has small birds on the cover, but it has some tasks that fit for the other monster. Whichever works better.

Thanks Christina, and yes I will answer another set of questions later tonight or tomorrow.. I just feel exhausted today..

Leslie Ann wrote: "Alyana wrote: "Leslie Ann wrote: "Finished a couple of books, got food poisoning so I haven’t been able to update. I will try to update today."

Oh no Leslie! How are you feeling now?"

Stomach not..."

I hope you'll feel better soon.. 🙏

Leslie Ann wrote: "Finished a couple of books, got food poisoning so I haven’t been able to update. I will try to update today."

Oh no Leslie! How are you feeling now?

Suzanne wrote: "Christina, our spreadsheets seem ok! That's so frustrating to be without internet on your laptop when you should have it!!

Alyana, I specifically come on here before bed to say how great your ques..."

Thank you Suzanne, I tend to overthink those questions that they maybe not that good or whatever. It's my first time writing DQs.

DQs Day 4:

15. What do you think about Dionysus' encounter with Hades, the god of the Underworld?

16. It seems like Ariadne loves her life in Naxos, what do you think of her relationship with Dionysus?

17. Ariadne is horrified by the bloody rites she witnesses between Dionysus, the maenads, and the resurrected goat. In attempting to understand the maenads’ participation, she reflects: “The ritual gave fearful shape to the anger and the grief that had driven so many of them here in the first place; they screamed and danced in their blood-soaked frenzy by night so that they could live serenely in the sunlight.” Does this explanation make sense to you?

18. Were you more drawn to Ariadne’s or Phaedra’s chapters? Why do you think the author chose to include both of their perspectives?


*some of these questions are inspired from the DQs that I have found online.

I just finished writing the DQs for tomorrow. Can I post it now or do I need to wait until tomorrow? I wanted to post it now bc I will be at work tomorrow and I might not have the time to post it.

DQs Day 2

1. Have you heard of Theseus before? What do you think of his backstory, does it compare with other well-known Greek heroes like Hercules and Achilles? Do you think it fits his humble and collected demeanor in the previous chapter?
▶ I have never heard of Theseus before until I read some about Ariadne. I think I can compare him with Achilles personality wise.

6. I don’t know about you, but “insta-love” stories royally annoy me. Ariadne spends a significant part of these chapters reveling in her undying and world-changing love and devotion to someone she just met. Do you think this is realistic, or just a cheap plot ploy from the author?
▶ I don't think she loves him, maybe more of a crush. She has mentioned that she wasn't around with men growing up so probably that's her way to justify her actions and to escape the marriage her father arranged for her.

7. Why do you think Theseus left Ariadne on the island with no heads up whatsoever? How do you feel about her thoughts and actions, as she processes this new reality?
▶ I think Theseus left Ariadne on the island because he thought she is more of a liability than of help. He might've thought of that when Ariadne was arguing with him about Phaedra not with them in their ship. I was a little disappointed with Ariadne because it seems like she already gave up that easily, probably one reason is she grew up sheltered and was not prepared in situations like that. But still, she could've at least make an effort to do so.

8. During the "great escape", Phaedra is left behind - do you think it was by accident, or purposefully (and if so, why)? Do you think it was wise of her to return to the Palace?
▶ I think Phaedra was purposely left behind by Theseus. He intentionally gave her false directions and I don't think she had any choice but to return to the palace.

9. A common theme in Greek mythology is the linear progression of Fate - from Hubris (thinking and acting as if one is a God), to Atis (blindness of one’s puny nature, leading the mortal to commit an unforgivable or insulting act), to Nemesis (the anger and revenge of the Gods), and finally Tisis (the mortal’s punishment). Where have you noticed this process so far? Where do you think Nemesis will strike next?
▶ It is definitely there for Ariadne and Theseus. I'm not sure yet what will happen next.

Suzanne wrote: "You did and it immediately got snapped up and used for one of the monsters for the MPG war. I just checked on the main team sheet and it's there. So nope - you aren't dreaming!"

Oh haha thanks Suzanne! 😁

I finished a book earlier, Bring Down the Stars but I cannot find it on our tracking ss anymore. I'm pretty sure I entered it today, unless I'm in a sort of a dream? lol

DQs Day 1

1. Excited about the book, or just here for the points? Were you familiar with the myths behind the story before starting this book?
▶ Honestly, I'm just here for the points. Back in high school, I was really into Greek mythology so when I saw this book for the BOM, I told myself, why not give it a try. I was not familiar with Ariadne at all but when I started the book, that's where I googled her and found some interesting things about her myth.

2. "Let me tell you a story..." I don't know about you, but I love opening lines like that. Do you have a favourite opening line? Have you ever bought a book on the strength of the opening line alone? (I have!)
▶ Hmmm.. I don't think I have a favorite opening line.

3. Asterion: The early years. I bet no-one was fooled by the few paragraphs of almost sweet baby and toddler descriptions: This was always going to end with a monster in a maze of course.
But do you think it served well as a way to establish Ariadne's character?
▶ I think the descriptions have really established Ariadne and the other characters in this book.

4. What do you think of the writing so far? There's a lot of description and narration and very little dialogue, which tries in with the idea that Ariadne is telling the story to the reader. It allows for a lot more depth and detail than more dialogue-heavy storytelling does. Is that a style you enjoy, or do you prefer the faster pace of a book that is more about character interaction?
▶ I like the writing style so far, it makes it more interesting for the reader to keep going on and I hope it stays that way.

Suzanne wrote: "New Monsters
Chimera



The Chimera has been spotted on your lands causing destruction everywhere it goes. Hard to kill and known to have multiple personality disorder, be prepared for chaos.

To v..."

Ariadne matches with 1,2,3 and 5.

Christina wrote: "I looked up the reason for Charanya's book and got us a new monster - Chimera. Luckily Elena's The Song of Achilles works for 4 of the prompts,

so all we need now is MPG War.

And I grabbed the K..."

I have a book to finish by tomorrow that can match MPG War but I haven't checked that book for the other prompts yet.

Thank you for the info Christina.. This will be my first time to write DQs. Any tips? I'm nervous!

Suzanne wrote: "Great - thanks Alyana. That sounds like a good book. Especially since it really happened."

Thank you Suzanne. I should've explained it better on the sheet.

Suzanne wrote: "Alyana I'm so glad you said a little more for me. I think maybe we can use it. We can say instead of "set in small towns" for the reason, something like "set in the outlying districts of a town (th..."

It was set in the 1930s. The women are going around town to distribute books by riding horses. The books are coming from the city (Chicago). Their town is surrounded by rivers and creeks.

Suzanne wrote: "I don't think we can use The Giver of Stars for takes place in the suburbs, because suburbs are defined as an outlying district of a city, and a small town is not that. I'm looking now at alternati..."

Oops sorry.. Because the way they described their town sounds like really suburbs. They have horses as mode of transportation? 🙈

I'm almost done with The Giver of stars and it fits 3 prompts for empusa.

Christina wrote: "Alyana I'm so sorry to hear covid got you! At this point I feel like it's more common to have had it than not, though. (That's at least what it's like in Austria...) Hope you're feeling better soon..."

Yes, I think so too.. We are now at the stage where we will all get this covid. The symptoms are mild now but more contagious.