Allison Ann’s Comments (group member since Oct 19, 2014)

Allison Ann’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Again....

NEW GOAL -- Read a book that was originally published before 1900.

I've been meaning to read - 1879 - so I can get to that soon.

Finished a book with a rope swing on the front so I'll brb with a new goal.

Kenéz, could you please add your last book to your Tower Team shelf when you get a chance. Thanks!

Hi all, glad everyone is reading. :) Thanks for reading some books for goals Donna, LaLine and Kari. I've been reading Christmas books hoping for one that will fit our last Christmas goal, but so far no luck. Eventually someone will ruin Christmas. ;)

46. Do you agree with Wednesday and Gaiman’s opinions on America? (Such as, just for example, that America is the only country that worries about what it is.) What do you think makes America unique? Did being an Englishman and outsider to America make Gaiman see America more or less clearly?

I think that despite its youth, America isn't so different from the older countries of Europe and Asia. At least not today, maybe when this book was written, but today the new gods of media, greed, wealth, TV, computer games, etc, etc, whatever are just as prevalent all over the world. I'm not an American, but as a Canadian I think I can understand the country better than most non-Americans. I don't really think Gaiman had much of a handle on the US, but I suspect most non-Americans would see the country in much the same way. Had he written British Gods, it could have been much the same book, just a lot less driving. ;)

Annika wrote: "Oh, it gets better, or worse depending on how you look at it. When I was travelling home for X-mas I has a layover in London. We landed on time (in London) and I looked out the window and they'd go..."

I'm just snooping through other threads and I had to stop in to comment about how funny this is. I'm from northern Canada, snow is my natural habitat and I have twice flown into warm places with a dusting of snow on the ground and twice convinced a terrified taxi driver to let me drive his cab home so he could escape the horrible evil snow and I could escape from the airport. :D

December 17 - Chapters 1-4


1. Did you have any thoughts/feelings before starting the book that have changed now that you've started it?

I had no expectations before reading this book. I'm not big on YA so I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I am so far.

2. Why do you think the Dragon takes a girl exactly every 10 years?

Arbitrary number ? No clue.

3. How are you liking Agnieszka?

I like her much more than I expected. She could have been the typical whiny heroine, but she has my favourite trait of bravery in spite of fear. And she's not an idiot which so many of these young females tend to be.

4. Were you surprised to learn she had magic?

Nope, there had to be a reason that the Dragon HAD to take her.

5. Are you looking forward to reading more?

Very much.


December 18 Chapter 5-8
Pages 62-123

1) Agnieszka finds herself back home to help when one of the villagers is infected by The Wood. How do you think the town felt that she came to their aid instead of The Dragon? There is barely any mention of a reaction from the town. If you were living there how would you have reacted?

I expect they were nervous and afraid. They were probably disappointed when they saw her, expecting the girl they knew to not be much else. Then when they saw her power, I expect they were afraid of how she had changed.

2) The Dragon should not have been able to recover from the sickness of The Wood. How do you think Agnieszka was able to save him? How do you think she knows the flow and pace of the spells when she has never seen them before? Why do these spells feel familiar to her?

I think Agnieszka has natural magic as opposed to the Dragon's learned magic.

3) The Dragon and Agnieszka seem to be working closer together. How do you feel about their relationship? Do you enjoy seeing The Dragon struggle to perform the same spells that Agnieszka seems to do easily? What do you think they were both feeling when they performed the rose spell together?

I'm not sure about this relationship, I don't feel a romantic vibe and wish they would remain friends, but I don't expect I'll be right. :)

4) How do you think Agnieszka is able to free Kasia from The Wood? Do you think Agnieszka was strong enough to defeat the hold The Wood had on Kasia or do you think The Wood let Kasia go on purpose?

I think she surprised the Wood with her abilities, but that it let Kasia go because she was already infected.

5) Do you think The Dragon will be able to help Agnieszka to save Kasia? If so, do you think Kasia will have any lasting effects of being trapped in The Wood?

I don't think they will be able to save her and I think Kasia will be infected with the evil of the Wood.

6) There is reference to this book as being a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Now that you are 8 chapters in do you feel this is a good reference for this book? Why or why not.

I never really liked Beauty and the Beast. If they go the romantic route I think I will enjoy this book less.

Finished the book today and I enjoyed it right to the end. I have to admit ignorance to most of the gods portrayed in this book - mythology was never really my thing. So perhaps I read more superficially than someone who spent the whole book trying to figure out who was who and what was what, but that certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment. In fact, maybe that increased it, I was just reading a story, not an in depth portrayal of America and the evils of the new. ;D

I was a bit surprised about how many people seem to have liked Laura, just because of her sacrifice at the end. I really didn't like her as a character - she clearly was the reason Shadow got involved in the crime that sent him to prison, and despite the fact that he didn't turn her in she couldn't even remain faithful to him while he was incarcerated, then while dead she hassled him to save her. "Sacrificing" herself to take out Loki was a good thing yes, but I don't think it redeemed her and I still didn't like her. I was glad that Shadow couldn't bring her back and her peace was more than she deserved.

I'd like to volunteer for DQ for team Raven.

DONNA -- Read a book that is in the "Best Arabic Books" Listopia List (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...).

DONNA -- Read a book where a character has an unusual sidekick.

LALINE -- Read a book that was originally published before 1900.

TARA -- Read a book where a character gives birth.

-- Read a book with rope on the cover.



25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

DAY 22 - Read a book where someone ruins or saves Christmas for 10 points!

Donna's has an apple on the cover.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book with rope on the cover.

Finished for the world domination goal.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book with more than 500, but less than 1000 goodreads reviews.
Used LaLine's

NEW GOAL -- Read a book where a character gives birth.

No births listed in goalless books, anyone?

That's a dumb goal. I don't have anything that works right now. I can think of a re-read that might work off-hand, but I'd have to find the book in my many many shelves. :)

NEW GOAL -- Read a book with the phrase "to all intents and purposes" in a book.
Used Donna's

NEW GOAL -- Read a book where the MC is passionate about sport.

ARIANE -- Read a book where someone desires world domination.

DONNA -- Read a book that is in the "Best Arabic Books" Listopia List (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...).

DONNA -- Read a book where a character has an unusual sidekick.

ALLISON -- Read a book with the phrase "Whole nine yards" in a book.

-- Read a book with a horse on the cover.

-- Read a book where the MC is passionate about sport.


25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

DAY 22 - Read a book where someone ruins or saves Christmas for 10 points!

DAY 25 - Read the 25th book on your to-read shelf ordered by date added for 10 points! -- LALINE

Updated to here.

Posted LaLine's picture frame book.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book where the page numbers add to 8 (i.e. 345 pages = 3+4+5 = 12).
Used Faith's

NEW GOAL -- Read a book shelved (listed on the first page of the "top shelves" of the book) as angsty - plurals and minor spelling variations are acceptable.
Used Danielle's

NEW GOAL -- Read a book with a blonde on the cover.
Used

NEW GOAL -- Read a book with a horse on the cover.

My 25th book is one that I have to read in order, so I definitely won't be doing that one. :) Today I finished one for December 23rd- I'm assuming someone dying on Christmas Eve is considered an important event. I also read the north-america shelf book. And I was super busy at work, so I consider this a successful day.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book where the title starts with the letter F.
Used Sarah-Jane's

NEW GOAL -- Read a book with the phrase "Whole nine yards" in a book.

I'm almost finished a book with this phrase.

ARIANE -- Read a book where someone desires world domination.

LALINE -- Read a book with a picture frame on the cover.

ALLISON -- 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.

DONNA -- Read a book that is in the "Best Arabic Books" Listopia List (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...).

-- Read a book where a character has an unusual sidekick


25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

DAY 22 - Read a book where someone ruins or saves Christmas for 10 points!

DAY 24 - Read a book where something important happens on "the night before christmas" for 10 points!

DAY 25 - Read the 25th book on your to-read shelf ordered by date added for 10 points!

NEW GOAL -- Read a book where a character has an unusual sidekick.