Briana’s Comments (group member since Aug 15, 2018)

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

Pretty sure I'll be posting both Guards! Guards! and The House in the Cerulean Sea before the countdown hits zero. I'm shooting for the 2 hours before deadline you mentioned Aiswrya, but it might be right at the end of the countdown, depends on how my travel back from vacation goes.

DQs- Day 3

9. If you were confronted with Lord Mountjoy Quickfang Winterforth IV’s ominously rumbling tummy and the prospect of more dragon fire, how would you react?
I'd make like a tree and run. No room for discussion, self-preservation is far more important than beheading a bunch of swamp dragons.

10. If you witnessed a massive dragon being vanquished in one sword hit, would you entirely believe it or do you think you may hold suspicions on the “neatness”?
I would fall in the category of suspicious about the neatness of the dragons vanquishing. Especially if I already knew that dragons were prone to exploding.

11. This section cemented my love for Lady Sybil, with her no-nonsense stern reproach of the dragon. If she had maintained eye contact, do you think her approach would have worked?
I think she was a little off in her assessment that the dragon was descended from the swamp dragons so I'm doubtful that maintaining eye contact and using a firm voice would have gotten the dragon under control. From what we've seen of its thoughts so far it didn't seem to particularly enjoy being controlled.

12. Since the beginning of the book, has your opinion on Captain Vimes changed? If so, why?
It's definitely changed. I wasn't super enjoying his appearances at first, but since the dragon came and melted the Watch's headquarters he's gotten surprisingly sober and fairly competent at the job he's been given. Or at least has a rough sense of how to go about doing it without seeming like he has no clue which is nice from the beginning of the book.

DQs Day 3 ~ Eight - Ten (p195)

9. Linus completed his first report for the DICOMY; what did you make of it? Did you think he reported anything that he should have left out? How about future reports – how do you think they will compare to this one?
There was nothing that really stood out to me as being worth leaving out. Yes the children having their own time to follow their own pursuits might not sit well with DICOMY seeing as it is unsupervised but Linus has also stated that Arthur has a strange ability to know where the children are at all times so it shouldn't come off as the worst offense the Marsyas Orphanage could manage. As for future reports, I think Linus may begin to question more of his presence on the island, especially as he grows to know the children better.

10. Ms. Chapelwhite takes Linus on a hike through the forest to show him a raft that she wants reported but doesn’t want the children or Mr. Parnassus to know about. Linus was taken aback by the message sent on the raft. Did your opinion of Linus change when he suggested they send a message back? What did you think of his message?
I loved Linus' response to that message. His idea was just so very unexpected but also enjoyable. It was nice to see the cracks in his business persona. And yet still his message was so polite that it almost made it the moment hilarious.

11. Linus seems a bit smitten with Arthur. Do you sense there is a mutual attraction between the two? Do you think anything will take root and blossom?
I think there is definitely the start of a mutual attraction between Linus and Arthur. And it feels like there will definitely take root in some form by the end of the book.

12. That was quite the adventure that Lucy led. Were you surprised that Linus stepped up and began to join in on the story? What all did you learn about the children, about Linus, about Arthur and Zoe?
I wasn't too surprised because he has been showing signs of trying to understand and befriend the children rather than maintain his distant observer role. But the way he did it and how he just accepted that he would be participating and didn't fight against it that I enjoyed it. I learned that the children want to like Linus and are far more likely too after the adventure. And that Arthur and Zoe will do just about anything to make the children happy.

13. As this chapter wraps up, Zoe and Phee are talking with Linus listening. He can relate to Phee’s comment that she likes the trees better than she likes most people. Do you think Linus learned anything from the “lesson” that Zoe gave him through Phee’s growing the flower for Linus and her explanation of the trees and root system?
I think he learned that it isn't just listening but how you listen. You can listen to others all you like, but it doesn't mean that you're listening in a way that improves anything for either party.

DQs - Day 2

5. In this section, TP is shedding some light (or dark?) on the Patrician's character. What is your opinion about him? Would you prefer him to rule your country instead of the "real" politicians?(A question to DW Veterans: do you remember any other books where V's aversion to mime artists is mentioned or we are given an explanation why?)
As much as the Patrician hates the word dictator it's becoming more and more the word I associate with him. And I definitely wouldn't want him running my country. We have enough legal criminals without adding things like the Thieves or Assassin's Guilds.

6. What about Lady Sybil as the "heroine" or female MC of the book? She certainly seems to be the complete opposite of how "classical heroines" are represented in fantasy or other books. Have you met her counterpart / someone very like her in non-DW books or films? Would you get a pet dragon if you had the chance?
She's very hands on. Which I think is a good thing. It's a nice change from the heroine also doubling as the damsel a lot of the time. But she reminds me Aelin or Mercy Thomspon doing what needs doing and not waiting for someone else to do it for her.

7. If you are familiar with the detective fiction/mystery genre, do you think Guards! Guards! has been following a similar structure in its idiosyncratic way so far?
Yes but also no. I mean Ellucidated Brotherhood likely wouldn't have it's name revealed until the end if this were your standard mystery novel, nor would any of it's members have names after the title of Brother. But I like that they do that they have identities for us to recognize and just generally know these are the bad guys and there is no mystery about their motives. The Supreme Grandmaster wants to rule and he'll do what he can to make that happen.

8. Maybe it's too early to ask this question, but I am not a character to able to resist the temptation of it. Please forgive me.
So, any ideas, who which actors/actress would you choose as Lord Vetinari / Sam Vimes / Carrot / Lady Sybil. ...etc if you were a casting director?
I have no idea. I haven't even let myself get that far yet in terms of the characters I'm still getting used to them I think for the most part at this point even though the main problem has finally made itself a real problem for the citizens of Ankh-Morpork.

2 QUESTIONS. JULY 17. CHAPTERS 5-7

5. The book is set in an unknown city and then onto Marsyas Island. Country Unknown. Do you think it is set in an alternate universe to our own eg UK or USA or a completely fantasy location? Does it matter or make you think differently about the storyline either way?
I don't think it makes a difference to me where it's actually set in terms of country. Having a name for the island is enough because at least there is some sort if place name to ground the orphanage.

6. First impressions of the house and Linus' reaction to it? What is your own reaction to it and how it is described?
The house has character. I love the house. I love it’s turret and ivy covered walls. More houses should have fun like that built into their design. And I think Linus appreciated the house just as much as I did. It’s a beautiful house one that inspires a person to dream of what could be instead of what is.

7. In Chapter 6 we are introduced to a colourful array of children and the enigmatic Mr Arthur Parnassus. Who is your favourite child and ability so far and what special talents do you think will be revealed about Arthur?
I think I’m really enjoying Phee and Talia so far. Talia who really loves to experiment in order to care for her garden and Phee who is kind of the equivalent of you standard surly teenager and yet fun as the two kind of work together to plot things it feels like. I guess I’m kind of enjoying Sal’s ability to turn into a pomeranian. It’s adorable and I would like to pet him. I think Arthur is going to turn out to have a very strong gift of empathy at the very least. He seems to care a great deal for the children in his care.

8. At the first dinner welcome for Linus the reader is bombarded with a plethora of notable pearls of wisdom from Arthur Parnassus which made me realize the allegorical themes of this story.
"Sometimes our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that, learn from it we can become better people."
"Because even the bravest of us can still be afraid sometimes as long as we don't let our fear become all we know."
"There are things in this world that defy the imagination."
"He'd never be a bellhop because what Hotel would hire one such as him, people fear what they don't understand."

What point do you think the author is trying to make through the world and characters he has imagined and what do you think these quotes hint about the story moving forward?
I think the author is trying to make the point that understanding is important to a better world and that we can’t let our fear of what we don’t know stop us from learning so we can gain that understanding. And I think Linus learning about the children and Arthur is going to be a key part of how the story progresses as he is definitely afraid to varying degrees of each child in Arthur's care.

DQ Day 1 - One to Four (p62)

1. What drew you to this BOM? Was it the fantastic reviews it’s been getting? Or the cute cover? Or something else?
I actually play a monthly TBR game and watch a lot of booktube videos and most of the booktubers I follow have read this as well as a large chunk of their followers, so when I landed on the prompt of "A book everyone else has read but me" I knew this would be the perfect and it killed two birds with one stone, Tower Teams points and a TBR fill.

2. What do you think of the writing style so far? I didn’t expect it to be so funny. I laughed out loud a few times at the terrible office Linus works in and at the rude neighbour. I love the way she is so rude about Linus but then keeps trying to set him up with her grandson.
I think the writing is a little dry and I'm wondering if that's the result of listening to the audiobook. I may give the next section a go without the audio and see if that changes my opinion and if it does I may keep going without the narration. Sometimes narrators just aren't a good fit. But oh my his neighbor is ridiculous. She's so gruff and mean and Linus' first exchange with her just made me stop and pause wondering what just happened.

3. What do you think about Linus as the main character? So far, he seems to be quite frightened of the world. How do you think he will cope in the strange situation he has been put in?
He really does seem sort of frightened of the world, but I guess since he lives his days checking up on orphanages for magical children that makes a sort of sense. He never knows what he's going to walk into and maybe perhaps secretly worries that he might not make it out of his investigation at all. I do like how he tries to portray himself as a rule follower. As someone familiar with the Departments rules and regulations to try and make himself look better to Extremely Upper Management. As for coping on his latest assignment, I almost see him taking up smoking or something. Or completely throwing the rules and regs out the window. After all this is a found family story.

4. I was surprised that one of the children on the island is supposed to be the Anti-Christ. Heart warming stories don’t tend to feature someone like that. What powers do you think he will have?
This surprised me to. We have an Anti-Christ ho boy what are the other five children going to be like. And why hasn't Linus looked at their files so we can know. I want to know about all of the children not just this one. Though I'm expecting him to have all kinds of powers from telekinesis to mind control, reality warping. Just kind of dump every mutant from X-Men into one being that's what I'm picturing at least until we know better.

Completion Post
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
560 pages
7/29/21

1, 2, 3

DQs Day 1 (ends: "'That means you too, Sergeant' the captain added. 'Yessir.'" )

1. For the newbies: what did you expect before opening a police procedural written by Pterry? For re-readers, how does this sub-series line up in your order of preferences?
To be honest I didn't know it was police procedural. I didn't know anything about it at all so it's hard to have any expectations. I think for the most part I was just expecting more humor and fourth walling and I haven't really gotten too much of that yet.

2. The first person we meet in this story is Vimes, meet collapsing, drunker, into the gutter... What does this mean for the story? For newbies: how do you feel about Vimes?
I think Vimes needs a good kick in the pants. He needs to get himself together and I'm hoping he does as the book goes on.

3. The Brethren (and I loved the elaborate exchange of codes!) have a disussion of the Lost King trope. Do you think the Supreme Grand Master will be able to find Ankh-Morpork's Lost King???
I think he might find Ankh-Morpork's Lost King. But I also see him doing everything in his power to make himself indispensable to the King and abandoning his underlings in the Brethern, in an effort to control said Lost King. And barring being able to control him killing him and naming himself regent. That seems just as likely for this power-hungry character at this early stage.

4. Carrot is our route to discovering Ankh-Morpork. Do you find this an effective way to understanding the city and its issues?
It's definitely a different look to the city from the other books. But it lends itself well to giving us a more in depth look of the politics of Ankh-Morpork and I'm enjoying that aspect a great deal. Especially since Carrot's understanding of the laws of Ankh-Morpork is so very outdated and creates some very entertaining misunderstandings between him and the rest of the watch and the watch and their overseer's.

DQ Day 3 - Part 2, IV - Part 3, I (p 153)

10. In these parts the darkness comes and checks up on her a few times. What do you make of those conversations - what the darkness says and Adeline's reactions? Who or what do you think Luc is? Do you think something romantic could happen between Luc and Addie?
Luc is trying to get her to give up. Everything he says feels like it's intended to demoralize Addie, especially the anniversary dinner where they almost have a civil conversation. Addie's early reactions are very expected and oh when she realizes he's not coming that he's "forgotten" her on their sixth anniversay her reaction then is painful. To have the only thing in the world that remembers you intentionally that's painful. And Luc is just darkness personified it seems like at this point. And I do enjoy the tension between him and Addie. It's a lot of fun.

11. Addie and Henry meet up for coffee which seems to go well. What do you think will come of this relationship? Will it last? Will it be fulfilling for the both of them?
I don't know if anything will come of this relationship. Maybe after three hundred years she'll finally throw in the towel. Maybe Henry is a human version of Luc. Maybe for a month or two she'll get a taste of leaving some sort of mark again. but it seems like they're exaxctly what the other needs right now.

12. Will it be significant considering Henry could utter Addie's name? Would it be possible that Henry made a deal with Luc thus enabling Addie's and Henry's relationship? Do you think they have met or will meet in the story?
I'm thinking that Henry is Luc which is probably very outlandish and unlikely but it seems more likely right now than Henry having made a deal with Luc or having met him in the past. I'm not going to rule out a future meeting though if he isn't actually Luc.

13. If you had a lifetime to do as you pleased, what would you do? Where would you go and what would you see?
I would travel the world starting with Ireland and Barbados. There are so many things I want to see that can't be found where i am.

DQ Day 2 - Part 1, XIV - Part 2, III (p129)

5. At about a fourth of the way through the book, how do you like Addie LaRue as a narrator/person?
I think she's very succient. She doesn't seem to enjoy frivolous words she gets to the point in her narration even if she does prefer the finer things. She's also deeply aware of the differences in spaces, things that make them seem lived in versus empty. It's nice.

6. Are you more interested in Addie’s past or present life (or both)? Why?
I'm definitely more interested in the present part of her life than the past. Not that the past isn't interesting, I just think what she's getting up to now is more entertaining than her endless walking across France.

7. How do you think she handled the start of her "curse"?
All things considered, I think Addie's handled the beginnings of her curse fairly well. It's been awful and atrocious but she's doing the best she can to survive and at least she hasn't let it put her in a position to put an ed to her deal already.

8. Addie seems to have serial one-night stands with the same person. Why do you think she does this, and do you have any concerns with the potential for manipulating the other party? (I am still thinking on this as a power imbalance).
I think it affords her the illusion of connection even though they never remember her come morning. There are definitely issues in terms of power imbalance because over the course of those affairs she can come to know quite a bit about these people and use that to make herself more what they want or need the next night and the night after that.

9. In this section, we meet Henry. What is your initial reaction to Henry and his ability to remember her?
It made me happy. Though Addie doesn't seem to have connected the dots yet that he actually remembered her instead of just assumed he moved quick enough so that she never actually ended up out of sight to be erased fro his memories.

Mort by Terry Pratchett
320 pages
7/22/21

1
2
3

Day 3 Questions end: "Then Cutwell sighted carefully ... [spoiler removed]" (p151 / 58%)

Q11. Do you think Mort is physically changing? When it says, "The gargoyle looked up into his face and suddenly felt like a very frightened doorknocker indeed, Mort's eyes glowed like crucibles, his expression was a furnace, his voice held enough to melt iron. It didn't know what he could do, but felt that it would prefer not to find out." - it seems these may be actual physical manifestations. With the photo Mort sees soon after with the wizard Cutwell, do you think that was originally Death in the photo before a transformation?
It definitely seems like he is. There's a lot of commentary going on about him being more solid, more present as well so it seems like he's beginning to inhabit more of the world than he ever did before in a way that most people don't. As for the photo it's seeming likely that it could very well be Death before a transformation of some sort.

Q12. What do you think about the plot point where Keli is dead, but is not? Do you think this was a clever twist of the author or do you find it a confusing jumble? How will this affect the story and will Death find out what actually happened and react?
It wasn't really a twist though was it? Mort went home after and read her book and it was pretty clear that she was dead as far as the book was concerned. Even the reaction of her people to her presence made it clear that as far as the world and universe was concerned Princess Keli was dead. I find that point less confusing than the wave that's coming to Sto Lat to erase the messed up timeline. At this point I don't think Death can't not find out what happened. It seems like the sort of thing that he'd have to find out eventually and I think he'd definitely react especially after the lecture he gave Mort when he tried to save the King in the beginning of the book.

Q13. There suddenly seems to be sign that Death may be playing matchmaker of sorts with Mort and his 'daughter'. Are you surprised, and what do you think will happen with the relationship between him and Ysabel?
I think Death was always intending to play matchmaker between Mort and Ysabel from the beginning. He's always spoken quite highly of Ysabel to Mort from the beginning and asked him to be patient with her. It just wasn't very surprising and considering how unimpressed Ysabel is with Mort I don't see much happening there especially as long as Keli is around.

Q14. Do you think that before Mort was chosen by Death, that he was a normal boy? Do you think he must have some wizard properties buried or are his "abilities" gathered from being Death's apprentice? What do you think about Mort attracting death's attention - what is so special about him?
I think his penchant for thinking lended Mort with wizard potential if a wizard were to be in his part of the Disc and recognize him for what he was if Death hadn't scooped him up first. I think his mind is just so open and he wanted to have somewhere to belong so badly that it attracted Deaths attention very easily. Plus he was the only one who could see Death as he was.

Q15. Mort seems to be getting a bit homesick after his day off, and Death is changing his tune as well. What do you think about Death's new adventures to experience some human experiences, try to understand fun and how humans behave?
It feels like Death is just trying to find something that isn't just his job anymore. He's tired of being lonely and needs a break in the worst way from his job.

DQs Day 2 - start: "Five minutes later, Mort was lost"
end: "Sooner or later, everyone remembered the magic word (p98)


Q6 - Mort walked through the walls a few times but couldn't when he tried to get into the castle. Why do you think this happened?
I think it was to give him a way to remain safe. Getting into the castle had nothing to do with safety and everything to do with his wanting to get inside.

Q7- What do you think of Ingneous Cutwell's character?
Well he's certainly as greasy as he was when he was introduced in Equal Rites. He just feels very much like a snake oil salesman to me and looking for things that make him look better and give him status and less about helping people.

Q8 - The Abbot has been reincarnated 53 times. The concept of reincarnation is an interesting one. If you were to be born again what life would you choose?
I think I'd pick a life where everything was provided. To live high in society with power and privilege for a change. But maybe it isn't all it's cracked up to be either. It'd still be interesting to experience even if I wouldn't know the difference until I died again.

Q9 - Death sent Mort to reap three souls. In light of how he performed do you think Mort was ready for the job?
Goodness not in the slightest. Seeing Death reap souls once does not make him ready in the slightest to work solo. If anything he should have gone out a few more times, reaped a soul or two with Death at his side to coach him through it and then be allowed to go on his own.

Q10 - Mort found Ysabelle's handkerchief in the library. Why is she reading other people's life?
She has nothing else. She has no contact with anyone beyond Albert, Death, and Mort. I think it's her way to experience the world in general. Despite her attitude her reading the books makes me think of us readers, reading other people's lives to escape into other places.

DQ Day 1 - Part 1, I - Part 1, XIII (p67)

1. Other than BOM points what attracted you to this book? The rave reviews? The cover? The blurb?
The blurb, a girl who can live forever but no one who meets her will remember her? How could I pass up a book with that premise? I wanted to see how that would effect Addie the longer she lived.

2. Have you read any other books by V.E. Schwab/Victoria Schwab? If so, how does this book compare? If not, what do you think of the book so far?
I've read 4 other books by V.E. Schwab/Victoria Schwab. Her writing is a lot of fun, very scenic andI was not disappointed when I started thsi one. It has lived up to what I've come to expect from V.E. Schwab's writing so far and it's shaping up to this point. I can't wait to hear more of what the darkness whispers to her. And just how her many years have progressed and the lives she's touched without them every remembering her.

3. What are your thoughts on Addie and the bargain she made?
It was foolish. It reminds me a lot of a faerie bargain. If she'd taken her time and worded it carefully, she would have made out much better, but she was in such a rush to escape her marriage that she didn't pay attention to her words and that comes back to bite her something fiercely. But at the same time I can't blame her for it because she wanted freedom to see the world to be her own self and those are things that every person deserves.

4. Obviously, selling your soul is going too far but if you were able to get a wish granted what would it be?
I don't know what I would wish for. Clearly, an IOU would be out of the question since that seems to be a thing with anything that grants wishes so I might have to pass on that not because I don't want to use it but for lack of knowing what to wish for.

Checking in. Sorry I've been quiet since the start of the month. It's been super hot and humid where I am and my work doesn't believe that the A/C should be set lower than 75°F/24°C even when it's 101°F/38°C. I am on vacation though for the remainder of the challenge so hopefully I'll get through a bunch of books with no expectations on my time.

Completion Post

Book: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Pages: 466
Date Completed: 7/5/2021

Completion Post

Book: You Have a Match
Pages: 320
Date completed: 7/4/2021

Tasks:
21 - Romance MPG
67 - Abbey spends the summer at camp with the sister she didn't know she had
86 - river on the cover
119 - Abbey befriend two camp friends of her boyfriend
164 - YA MPG
180 - There is one girl and a body of water on the cover

Completion Post

Book: The Witching Vault
Pages: 262
Date Completed: 6/24/2021

Tasks:
There aren't any unfilled tasks this one works with but here's a list of filled ones it fits in case of shuffling.
4. 1st in the Accessory to Magic Series
32. Tabitha dies and possesses a necromancer to give the MC a message near the end
135. MPG Paranormal
136. MPG Witches
137. MPG Fantasy
224. only one person on the cover

Sorry, I didn't post this one sooner, I completely forgot about it.

Aiswrya wrote: "My Egypt book is like reading a history book and history was definitely my least favorite subject in school 😂

I’ll read another book in parallel to take a break from the monotony. I’ll do 56 go to..."

Shelter in Place was such a good read. I really enjoyed it when I read it. The audiobook was excellent.

Completion Post

Book:Firekeeper's Daughter
Pages: 496
Completed: 6/30/2021

Tasks:
8 - sun on cover
46 - Flames on cover
129 - Indigenous author list
164 - YA MPG
186 - author is POC
225 - 1st person POV

BOM
1, 2, 3