Chelsea’s Comments (group member since Jun 08, 2015)

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

Discussion Questions September 18
Chapters 27-30

29. What did you think of Percy's decision to not use the heart for himself?

30. Were you surprised when Helena stepped in front of Monty twice so that the Duke wouldn't shoot him?

31. Monty's father's past certainly explains why he's so tough on Monty- so that he won't make the same stupid mistakes, although that obviously doesn't excuse the abuse. Were you surprised to hear about the things he did? What would you do with that information in Monty's position?

32. What did you think of Helena's decision to burn the heart?

33. If you were Felicity, would you stay with the pirates/privateers and learn to be a surgeon, or would you return home?

34. What are your final impressions of the novel?

Discussion Questions September 17th Chapters 21-26 pages 349-412.

25. Gah, foiled again. I'm glad Percy and Monty are finally starting to talk about their feelings. Do you think they will get together eventually and stay together?
Yes, I'm so glad they were finally honest with each other! And I hope that they can be together, but like I said before, they can never publicly be a couple. I suppose the best they can hope for is for Monty to have an understanding/ignorant wife so they can be together on the side.

26. Yeah, pirates (sort of), I do love some piraty action. Do you like pirates? Do you have a favorite book/movie that features pirates? Do you like how they are portrayed in this book?
Well, I do love Pirates of the Caribbean, but I'm not sure I've ever actually encountered pirates in reading before. At least not in depth. So my idea of pirates is limited to what I see in movies like the Pirates series and Peter Pan, etc. And seeing as how these pirates are newbies, we're not actually seeing REAL pirate action, lol.

27. What do you think of the way the author handles issues like racism and homosexuality?
I like how open and direct it's dealt with. Monty obviously has white male privilege and he's finally learning it, which is good. And Felicity is trying to be more open-minded about homosexuality. So really, it's extremely progressive for that time period.

28. I love Scipio and the way he treats Monty. Monty is very insecure and he has some sort of PTSD. What do you think?
It seems like everyone has been very kind to Monty about his abusive past. Once Percy and Felicity realized how serious it was, they made sure to take care of him, and now Scipio sees that he's troubled and is kind as well. So it's nice that Monty has people to stick up for him finally.

Discussion Questions September 16th. Chapters 18-20 pages 265-346.

21. Mateu Robles isn't dead and we find out what is inside the puzzle box. Were you surprised by what Dante explained happened? Were Dante and Helena correct in keeping this a secret?
I first suspected that their father might be alive when they were talking about talking someone at the opera, so I thought maybe they were referencing talking to their father who had perhaps become estranged from them for whatever reason. But the story makes sense, although I don't understand why Robles buried his wife so far from where he lives because it makes it a lot harder to reach her quickly if he needs to. I do definitely understand why Dante and Helena were keeping it all a secret if many people have come over the years to steal their father's secrets.

22. Monty finds out the cipher to get the Lazarus key from Mateu Robles. Why didn't he tell it to Dante or his friends?
I think he feels both responsible to Mateu and selfish in regards to Percy's health. He knew that Mateu didn't want Helena to have the key and give it to the Duke and Monty wants to save Percy, so I understand why he kept it a secret.

23. Sneaky Monty getting the key out of the box while everyone is asleep. He is almost caught by Helena trying to seduce and then "kill" him. Do you think it's a good thing he didn't give her the key?
Oh, yes. She's only trying to free her father and doesn't really see/care about the long game. It could be really horrible for the Duke to get the stone and she should respect her father's wishes to keep it safe.

24. Off they go on their way to Italy and Venice. I'm looking forward to this next part, I hope the promised pirates come into play now. Is there anything you would like to happen? What has been your favorite part so far?
I'm mostly concerned that they get enough to eat and enough rest for Percy to stay healthy. Despite the fact that taking Mrs. Robles' heart would "kill" her, I think it's worth it to save Percy. She's basically dead anyway, Mateu isn't going to use it for anything, so why not help a good man? I know that in that time period, Monty and Percy can't publicly be a couple, but if Percy is healthy, Monty could find him a job or simply house him since he'll eventually take over his father's estate, so they could potentially be near to each other all their lives. I always hope for a happy ending:)

I can do questions for the first day.

Discussion Questions September 15th
Chapters 13-17, Pages 200-264

16. Dante and Helena are being very mysterious about the box and how it came to be "stolen". Thoughts?
I'm sure they know what's in it. And I'm guessing the Duke tried to buy it off them, etc., but was unable to convince them and so he stole it. Or maybe they sold it because they needed the money and now they regret it so they're grateful to have it back.

17. Monty and Felicity had a deep conversation on issues of attraction. Do you think she'll come over to his side of thinking or remain neutral in the middle?
It may simply be a matter of taking time to get used to it. Nobody changes fundamental opinions like that overnight, but they can be made to "see reason" with time and patience.

18. Oooo. What do you think a Lazarus Key does? Do you think they willingly parted ways with it?
Well, I'm definitely leaning towards the fact that it's probably not an actual key. Unless it's a key to another box that holds a "philosopher's stone" of sorts and they need the key to get into that box. But yeah, I'm wondering if their father was successful in creating a stone like that.

19. Do you think there's an attraction between Felicity and Dante?
She doesn't seem to be attracted to him and so far he seems to only have a boyish crush on her, so I doubt that it will lead anywhere.

20. What would you do next if you were on this adventure?
I would definitely keep investigating! Although it's hard to say where to go from here. Maybe keep following up on historical ties that could lead to the code to open the box, etc., like the Mary and Martha island lead.

Kelly wrote: "Didn't they mention something about the king being sick?"

Yes, but I assumed that was just an excuse because he didn't feel like going to the party. But you're right that it's something to keep in mind.

Discussion Questions September 14th
Chapters 8-12, Pages 127-199

11. Pascal the Apothecary is turning out to be quite the lucky find. Do you think he'll play into the story more heavily or just pass through on their journey?
His group is moving on, but since they travel a lot, he could easily pop up again. I def wouldn't mind if he and the old women came back since they're so interesting.

12. Wow, Percy is ill. Did you see it coming? How do you think it will change their relationship?
I don't think there was any way to guess he had epilepsy as we had never seen him fall ill in any way yet. I'm hoping that it will make Monty mature so he can find a way to help his friend.

13. Why do you think that the King had the box?
I would guess that it was stolen from the apothecary, although in that case I don't know why he would have left it out in the open unless he figured no one would know what it was. If it has a dangerous substance in it, perhaps he planned on using it on his enemies or using it for larger production of the substance. Perhaps the alchemist was against its use and refused to make more so the King had it stolen so they could find someone else to make more. But since it sounds like there's one item in the box, it would have to be something like a bezoar, aka not something in powder form.

14. What do you think is really in the box? Do you think there is a cure?
I think it would have to contain something both dangerous and rare for the men to come after them like that. I don't think they would be quite so upset over a panacea.

15. Monty finally used his skills for good! What is your opinion on what he decided to do with the note? Do you think it will come back to haunt him?
Yeah, it was nice to see his flirting skills count for something. They all already made the decision to ignore Lockwood and go to Spain, so it could come back to hurt them all but probly not Monty by himself.

Discussion Questions September 13th
Chapters 5-7, Pages 56-126

6. Did anything that happened at the ball surprise you?
I couldn't believe Monty was stupid enough to try to do stuff with the girl in the Duke's rooms. I mean, come on! It doesn't take a genius to see that that was idiotic. It makes me wonder if he subconsciously likes the attention and did it on purpose, even knowing the danger.

7. We now discover what Felicity is up to. Thoughts? Was it what you expected?
I was disappointed that it was just for a lecture. I was hoping she would be a member of some secret society or something.

8. It seems like he finally went too far at the party. Do you think this is the turning point for him to change his ways?
Yeah, I don't know how much more embarrassing it can get, so I hope he wises up now. I like that he's kinda carefree but I don't want him to be such an idiot. Although with the threat on their lives from the Duke's men, I think that's more likely to make him grow up then the party situation.

9. The trinket he picked up seems to be much more valuable than originally thought. What do you think it is?
Maybe instead of Felicity, the Duke is in a secret society! lol:) Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being something like proof of his dealing with the enemy or something else political.

10. Predictions for what happens next? Did Lockwood make it? Will they arrive in town safely?
I doubt that they're rid of Lockwood, but it would be convenient if they met up with him quickly and easily. I would assume that the bad guys would be expecting them to get back on the road and wait to ambush them again, if not in the road then in Marseilles.

Discussion questions 12 September, chapters 1-4

1. Our first meeting with Monty tells us a lot about him. What do you think of him based on the first 2 chapters? Do you like him?
I like him so far. He's funny but he's not perfect, which I appreciate. He's outwardly outgoing but inwardly shy and he's reckless, but he has a good heart.

2. Wow, Monty's father is giving him an ultimatum, behave on this trip or else. What do you think of this? Is it too late for an ultimatum like this? Do you feel sorry for Monty or did he get what he deserved?
I think the ultimatum is a bit too harsh. I understand that his father wants Monty to grow up, but putting such a tight leash on him during a year of traveling is going overboard. I thought part of the purpose was to get the last bit of his recklessness out before coming home rather than squashing it so severely. I hope that Monty can find a balance.

3. I like the relationship between Monty and Percy. It's more than friendship and I like the way Monty is with Percy. What do you think of them together? Will they become more than friends/brothers during the trip?
It's hard to say. It seems like they both have feelings for each other but are both too scared to admit it. Monty is scared that Percy doesn't like him that way and Percy is scared that it's all a game to Monty rather than something serious. I hope they get a chance to sort things out because it seems like they could be good together.

4. Felicity is not the good girl I thought she was, where do you think she is off to?
Well, if she was previously stoked about going off to school and is now resisting it, it makes me wonder if she found something worthwhile that she wants to do rather than going to school. But since we don't know anything else about her, I can't really guess what it is.

5. Lockwood doesn't seem very smart for letting Monty and Percy go like that. Do you think he is on to them and setting a trap.
I think he really thought they were being honest. He may be a bit gullible, but then again they have both been behaving well for what, 2-3 weeks now? So Lockwood has no reason to not trust them. But if he finds out where they really went, I'm sure he'll clamp down even tighter.

I can probly do questions for the 18th if you still need someone.

Comments & Questions
August 7

Chapters 16 - 22

11. The kids find themselves in a timeslip at the Lotus Hotel for 5 days, where there's tons of games, food, etc. Everything to keep kids happy. My daughter pointed out to me, it's been awhile for me and I'll admit I didn't catch it, that this is a reference to The Odyssey and the Lotus Eaters. (She actually said there are lots of references/similarities to The Odyssey so I might be in for yet another reread lol). Have you noticed any other references/similarities that I missed? To any other stories?
I never read the Odyssey in full and I'm not very familiar with Greek myths, so no:)

12. In addition to his control with and in water, Percy is the only one to break through the magic of the Lotus Hotel, he talks to the zebra......what do think it says about what else Percy may be capable of? His potential as a demi-god?
Well, he should theoretically be stronger than the other demi-gods since he's the son of a Big Three. And he should be able to do a watered-down version of anything his father can do.

13. Ares, Luke, and Kronos wind up being behind the thefts and the plot to start a war between Poseidon and Zeus. Were you surprised by any of these revelations or had you mostly figured it out? Zeus doesn't believe Kronos was ultimately behind everything. Do you think that's it or there's more to come?
Well, since I've seen the movie recently, I knew about Luke, but they totally changed the plot in regards to Ares and Kronos- they weren't in the movie at all! But I suspected it was Kronos pretty early on- not sure if I remembered it from reading the book six years ago or not. I didn't suspect Ares at first but it became obvious when Percy felt a weight in the backpack. I'm sure Kronos will come up again in the next books.

14. I'll admit, I gotta kick out of Percy calling Zeus & Hades "Uncle". He also finally meets Poseidon. Were you happy with their meeting? Disappointed? Would you have liked to see something else happen? At the end, Poseidon sends Percy the head of Medusa. Were you satisfied with the conclusion of Percy's mom story? Percy decides to go home rather than stay at Camp Half-Blood. Wise choice?
I was happy with their meeting, but I think it's silly that Poseidon can't "show him favor" just because he's his son- I think that's the best reason to show favor... Silly Olympian politics. I'm glad Percy is taking the chance to spend some quality time with his mom, but I think he'll encounter monsters pretty often.

15. What were your final thoughts? Did you like it? If it was a reread, did you change your mind? Any plans to continue the series? See the movie?
I liked it. It was quick and fun. I had previously only read through book 2 even though I liked it, so I'm hoping to finish out the series this time. Even though the movies are pretty different, I still like them.

Comments & Questions
August 4 & 5

Chapters 9 - 15

6. Chiron seems pretty sure that the lightening thief is Hades. Do you think it's really that simple? Any thoughts on who else it may be? Percy has already been assigned a Quest and met with the Oracle. You'd think he'd need at least a bit more training before he's sent off to the Underworld. What was your reaction to the Oracle? A friend will betray him, and he'll ultimately fail to save what matters most. Sounds pretty ominous.
Yeah, I'm surprised that Chiron is so sure- nothing is that straightforward in these types of stories! I don't remember if the movie veers from the book or not, but if it's the same, then I know who really took it and who the friend who betrays him is. But already the Ares thing wasn't in the movie and it's been ages since I first read this book. But yes, the training did feel a little rushed, although I think he was there for at least a week, maybe more. Because the deadline was a month away at the beginning and then about 10 days away when they start their quest, so maybe 2.5 weeks of training.

7. The trio isn't off to their best start. Battling all 3 Furies, destroying a bus, losing all their money and backpacks, followed by stumbling into Auntie M's. Were you surprised by who Auntie M turned out to be or had you figured it out? The statues everywhere reminded me of the White Witch's castle in the Narnia series, plus there was the fact that it was Percy's namesake, Perseus, who originally defeated Medusa in the myths. Percy mailing her head to Mt. Olympus was kind of funny. There isn't much lag-time in this novel, it's pretty much nonstop. Are you enjoying the pace? If is your first time reading, are you enjoying it?
There's a lot of destruction, but that's not surprising considering the high level of powers around. Again, I've seen the movie recently so I knew who Auntie M. was, and I'm not sure how quickly I would have guessed it- but probably faster than Percy! He was pretty slow on the draw! I'm definitely enjoying the pace- it's really nice to have an action book that doesn't drag!

8. Percy battles Echidna and a Chimera at the top of the Gateway Arch then dives into the river. The fact that water instantly heals him is turning out to be quite the helpful trick. He also gets a visit from a messenger in the river who implies his mother's fate may still be in question and gives him a message from his father. Do you think Poseidon is doing all he can to help Percy, or do you think he should be doing more?
Well, that's a tricky situation because I think Poseidon wants to help but is being closely watched by Zeus, so he can't do too much. I think he can give Percy little boosts when he's in water but not so much going out of his way to help him on land.

9. Ares buys them lunch and asks for a favor. Despite Percy's instant dislike of him, Ares actually came across as kind of reasonable, at least to me, during their conversation. Yet he sends them into what he knows has to be a trap to retrieve his shield, even though he's supposedly taken Poseidon's side. Any thoughts on what his motivation might have been? Just the fun of messing with them, or something more sinister?
It could have simply been selfish- he knew the trap was there, hence he didn't want to get caught himself, and he figured Percy would figure it out. Of course it's possible that he's playing both sides and wanted to hurt Percy, but not necessarily.

10. We are past the midway point. Predictions for what's next?
Again, no point in me making predictions:)

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "I have enjoyed how young he is because it means NO LOVE TRIANGLE which is so common in YA Fantasy books! :D"

Yes!!! I hate it when they throw in a romantic situation for the movie when it's totally unnecessary. That's definitely an advantage for his being so young in the book.

Comments and Questions
Aug 2
Chapters 1-8

1. Have you read anything by Riordan before? Why did you decide to join this read?
I read the first two of this series ages ago and I'm not sure why I never finished them. So I thought now was a good chance to restart the series since I remember liking it a lot. I haven't read any of Riordan's other works.

2. The movie doesn't have the greatest ratings and reviews online. Have you seen it?
Yes, several times, which made me forget that Percy is actually 12, not 15! I think the first movie did better than the 2nd and I liked them just fine, but I can see how they decided to stop making them. It's too bad, really.

3. Thoughts on Percy as a character? He's not really the typical hero!
I like that he's so ordinary! He has to really work to figure out what he's good at, just like everyone else. And he seems really humble but also willing to fight for what's right.

4. He doesn't really grieve for his mother as she is in the Underworld so "She's not gone". Do you think it is possible for her to return?
Well, I def think he's grieving- he's just also holding out hope that he can find her again. And as for her return, I can't remember how faithful the movie is to the book, but her fate is pretty clear in the movie lol.

5. "Like he's "Big Three" material,' Clarisse said as she pushed me towards one of the toilets." And Chiron announces Poseidon is his father at the end of this section. Any guesses as to what this means for Percy?
Like I've said, I'm vaguely familiar with the story already, so I kinda know what happens. But in general I think it means more respect from the other campers and more chances to go on quests since he should theoretically be stronger than the others, etc.

Questions and Comments: Boys & Hollywood

8. How much did you know about Anna Kendrick before you began reading this book? Did you learn anything surprising about her by reading it?
Just the basics of her quick rise to fame and her quick wit. I guess the most surprising part for me is how many films it actually took for her to become rich- it seems like she was living month-to-month a lot longer than I would have thought.

9. What did you think about her and the relationships she had with boys/men? Is it surprising to you to see that she had her ups and downs with guys while she was pursuing her acting career?
It just seems like she's trying to figure out what she wants, which is normal. And why would her relationships while having a career be surprising? Even actors have normal lives.

10. I thought her section about the fashion world was very interesting. I knew that most Hollywood stars don't pay for the clothes that they wear to award shows and such but it was interesting to me that before they become famous they are expected to wear a designer and pay for it. Anyone else have any thoughts about this?
Yeah, I heard Meryl Streep talk about that, how she wore her wedding dress to her first awards show because she couldn't afford another dress. It's pretty messed up that you're expected to pay for it when you don't have any money yet.

11. Speaking of money - who else was surprised that she was so broke for so long? She writes about making movies but still sleeping in the same bed - not because she didn't change as a person but because she didn't have the money to change.
I guess because her early films paid so little and if you only do two films a year, you have to make the money stretch for as long as possible. Like that line where she said being an actor can be terrifying because it really is one job at a time and you don't know when your next paycheck is going to come (unless you're one of the filthy rich A-list actors, obviously).

12. Did her stories about making movies change the picture you have about the glamorous Hollywood life? It didn't change much about my perception but I was a bit taken back by how they live during movie shootings.
I guess my main question about Hollywood now is- If everyone considers all the crazy traditions to be ridiculous, why keep doing them? Like, is there not a way to make awards shows less stressful? I suppose that's a naive question. It's hard to change the status quo. And yeah, for movie shootings, I always wondered how it really played out. And how often the actors can leave set to visit family. I guess it really depends on the film and where they're shooting.

13. In her book there is not a lot of name dropping - yet there is. I really enjoyed the way she wrote about other actors/actresses - she mentions them casually but in a positive way. I especially enjoyed reading about Zac Efron and George Clooney. :)
Yes, I really appreciate how she only mentions another actor by name when it's relevant. And she's not afraid to tease them rather than just put them up on a pedestal.

14. She writes about an encounter she had with a journalist - "Some part of everything I've said in the last six months has been a lie." is what she told him. Do you think this is a good representation of Hollywood? How much of what we hear in interviews is real and how much is them saying what they think needs to be heard/said?
I think that they do so many interviews that they all blur together. Most reporters ask the same questions, so they probably have a stock answer and repeat themselves, just like she said. I think an interview can only be "real" if the reporter is actually asking unusual questions, like the one she got in Japan at the end of her press tour.

15. Twilight. I forgot that she was in Twilight honestly. It wasn't really her breakout movie and it shows in the book. She was there but didn't experience the same craziness as the other cast did. Did you want to read more/less about her Twilight days?
I heard enough about it to satisfy my curiosity. It was definitely interesting to hear what it's like as a minor character on a huge set.

16. Award Shows. I think this is my favorite part of the book so far. She really brings to life the people in Hollywood and the fakeness of it all. The shows are all glitz and glam to us regular people ;) but in Hollywood it is all a show. This part really shows the truth behind Hollywood. Anyone else feel that way?
It definitely reveals a lot about the bs of the whole thing. I can't imagine how they can go through that so often and not go insane. Is the status quo so ingrained that no one questions it anymore?

Questions and Comments: My Double Life & Leaving the Nest

1. Were you expecting her story to begin with her first years? I wasn't, but seeing that she was a child-actor it makes some sense.
Yeah, I didn't know she was a child actor, so it makes sense. But then again, most people have at least a couple funny stories from childhood, so I certainly wasn't surprised to read childhood stuff.

2. Curious how she was so structured at such a young age. Her attempts to prove she was too short to have been the one writing the insults was priceless.
Well, it seems like she was structured because of the circumstances of acting- there was no way to not be structured and make it. And yeah, it's too bad her height didn't work out for her for once in that situation:)

3. It's a bit odd, she refers to herself as squared minded, and then her actions say otherwise... she went to raves, got stoned, went to LA at age 17 instead of college without a back-up plan. And still thinks herself a square. Weird? Or am I the only one seeing that as contradiction?
Totally! I was thinking- If you're mayor of Squaresville, I'm the Queen of Squarecountry. She may think she has the personality of a square, but she sure did a ton of non-square things! She's def a bit hypocritical in that way.

4. Okay.. and how is it possible to survive one year in LA without an income?
Yeah... She mentioned getting a big check from a failed pilot and subbing occasionally for a waitress friend, but otherwise doesn't mention how she paid for food and rent that whole time. I'm assuming the money came from really small roles in indie films?

5. I like to see her growth though. Seems like a balanced journey, don't you agree?
I like that she was willing to try anything and everything just to see if it fit her or not- most people aren't that brave. (Also more proof that she's not a square. Squares aren't brave.) You have to do and try a lot to find out who you really are, so she was able to grow and mature better than a lot of people, I'm sure.

6. How do you like her writing style? I'm loving it. It fits the image I have from Anna Kendricks.
I'm generally hearing her voice coming out pretty clear, although I kinda wish I was listening to the audio book. But then again I wouldn't get to see the pictures in an audio book.

7. The only problem of the story trying to be in chronological order? I need to wait to hear about her twilight participation. I have a personal relationship of love/hate with twilight, and for me, the Jessica from the movies was better (in terms of character personification not as in a better person) than the Jessica from the books, so I'm dying to get her insights. How about you? Any part you want to read more?
Hmm. I guess I'm interested to hear how she views herself currently, now that she's a well-known actress who certainly isn't a nobody anymore. I have loved her in all her recent roles, but it has annoyed me that she calls herself an outcast or a nobody- you're a freakin' A-list actress, girl! So I would like to try to see if she's genuinely humble or oblivious or an asshat. I hope it's the first.

Yeah, I'll try to catch up on reading tomorrow... but I'm really thinking I will barely have time to participate at all with some stuff that's going on this weekend, so you should probably count me out for questions. I'm not normally such a flake! Sorry!

I might have to back out of doing questions because of stuff going on this weekend. I'll see how far I get in reading tomorrow and let you know. Sorry for the inconvenience!

I should be able to join in and can do questions if needed.

Book Four questions

17. So...there was the scene where Roberta talked to the hen. Do you think that was a one time thing? Does this mean magic can run in the family? Did you think it was fitting for Roberta to be able to talk to the hen or out of place to fit the plot?
I thought it was very out of place. Roberta had never shown any tendency towards magic before. So either it's genetic and she has some base ability or the hen gave her the ability just that one time, which isn't very plausible. I thought it was a cute idea, but very out of character.

18. What did you think of Peregrine being the Caddy system? Did you see that coming?
I didn't necessarily see it coming, but I also wasn't surprised. We all guessed that Peregrine would come back in some big way and people love technology, so.

19. What did you think of the Unraveling? I was under the impression that it was like going through a fun house, but seriously messed with your brain to prevent people from wanting to procreate, therefore balancing science and nature once again. Did you interpret it differently?
Yeah, I guess so. It kinda just generally seemed more like hell to me, though. But that whole idea is just bizarre. Why would making humans extinct put nature into balance again? Why kill out the most intelligent species? It doesn't seem like a very smart way to cull the herd, if that's what they're trying to do. A plague or something would be more efficient for that without ending humanity altogether.

20. We get to a point when the TDS is revealed and science is out to kill all the magical people. Do you think this was the end of the world that Mr. Rose was talking about? Do you think this was caused by Laurence and Patricia or was it other factors (such as Milton)?
I guess if Milton's machine was turned on and the witches were warring with them, that could certainly be an end-of-the-world scenario that Rose was referring to. But something just between the two groups wouldn't necessarily be an apocalypse even though there would be innocent casualties. And Laurence and Patricia were definitely not the only factors. Milton and Isobel were huge players on the science side and there were several high witches/wizards fighting, too. I think that fight would have come about anyway without the two of them, just maybe not in that particular way.

21. We're at the last chapter of the book. Patricia, Laurence, and Peregrine are heading to the Parliament and we're finally going to find out the answer to the "Is a tree red?" riddle. Then the book slaps you in the face with "I don't know" as the answer and there is no reward or punishment for the answer. I had a difficult time accepting this. Were you satisfied with this answer?
NO. That was so stupid. That's not an answer. That's a non-answer. That's the author trying to be clever and then not being able to answer her own riddle. What a load of crap.

22. When I finished the book, I was left confused about whether the world was going to end or not. Did hooking up Peregrine to the Tree make things better? Or did the world already end and they're going to re-boot it? What do you think?
I was assuming that hooking Peregrine to the Tree would start the healing process and that magic and science could now co-exist. And that together they would find a way to heal the damage already done, etc. But it's true that it wasn't very clear.

23. Okay, I know a lot of us struggled through this book. What is one thing about the book that you liked or found interesting?
I liked the portrayal of witches as trying to keep a balance with nature and how each witch has a different ability. But that's probably the only totally positive thing I got out of this book...