Bobbi ’s Comments (group member since Mar 10, 2016)

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

DQs Day 3 - 17 June Chapters 7 - 8, 26%

10) We find out more about Frank Dunning. He is portrayed as a smooth talker and good looking. Do you find this stereotypical of someone who will go on to murder most of his family? It always seems to be someone no one suspects. Jake's opinion of him obviously isn't very good. Do you think Jake would feel differently if he didn't know what Frank was going to do?
Family annihilators seem completely normal, possibly charismatic, until they don't and by then it's too late (See Chris Watts for a real example). I'm pretty sure that if Jake didn't know what Frank was about to do, he'd feel differently.


11) Jake plans how he is going to stop Frank. Would your thought process have been the same as Jake's? How would you plan to change the event?
There's a lot of unknowns, but if it were me, I would assume that if I stalled long enough that he missed the time he was supposed to have killed his family, he would chicken out. I'd perhaps mess with his car by stealing the spark plugs or something so he couldn't possibly get there in time, thus changing history.


12) There is something off about Derry. The place itself feels weird and the people act strange. Would you stay somewhere where you don't feel welcome? Would you investigate more into what was going on?
Nah, I'm good. I would be there as long as it took me to complete my business and move on. That could be my clown phobia talking, however.


13) Well, stopping Frank didn't go to plan but he did get stopped. What do you think the consequences of changing the event will be in the present, if any? Do you think he will go back and try again? If so, what do you think he will do differently?
I'd like to think he changed Harry's life for the better. I think he'll do it again, if only because any changes he made will reset when he goes back to save JFK.

Awesome. I'll log it on the SS now so I don't forget.

Lexi wrote: "Can anyone with a kindle search their library for the word Wolverine in text. I really don't want to use one of the over 600-page books. If you post the book here even if you have already read it a..."

Is the plural accepted? I'll be finishing a book today that has wolverines and is only 396 pages

Day 2 DQs Chapter 4 - 6 or 18%

#5. How did you feel when you read Harry Dunning's essay? What would you have done if you had the power to enact change in the past?
I can't imagine the trauma Harry Dunning had/has from that night. It hurts my heart. I would absolutely try to change that event if I could.

#6. Money is a big deal in any timeline. Would you be able to acclimate to the past in terms of financial transactions as well as Jake? Do you think Jake acclimated TOO quickly?
It would definitely be hard to acclimate. $.19 a gallon for gas?! I don't know that he acclimated too but certainly quicker than I would.

#7. Fashion is also an issue in the past. Do you think Jake is having an easier time of it because he is a man? What would be the most challenging fashion change for you to get used to? Is there something you would love to be able to wear?
It's definitely easier for Jake as a men. I think the undergarments would be the worst part to get used to. They are... something else. I would love to wear the dresses that were popular at that time. I adore vintage fashion!

#8. There are a lot of interesting nods to older Advertising terms and slogans that King uses to help the reader recognize the timeline change of the past. Which one stood out to you the most and why?
I don't know why, but the women singing the name of the radio station stood out to me the most.

#9. If you have read any past King novels, some of these chapters have a lot of connections to early books about Derry, Maine, and surrounding locations. Did you find any Easter eggs from previous stories? If you haven't read earlier King novels, what about Derry seemed to stand out as unique to you?
It! It! It! 🎈 The first half of that book takes place in 1958 in Derry, Maine, Beverley Marsh, and Richie Tozier from It. Haven was also name dropped (The Colorado Kid).

Day 1 DQs: ch1- 3

1) I have only read a few of Stephen King's books. Is this your first book by the author or are you quite familiar with his storytelling?
Stephen King is actually one of my favorites. I've read a great majority of his books.

2) What do you think about the character Jake so far? Would you have gone along with what Al wanted and took the initial step back into the past, or would you have not humoured him and tried to get him help?
I feel for Jake. He has very little going for him. I'm a rather skeptical person so I'm not sure I would have humored him. It's... a lot to take in.

3) I am not sure how I would feel if I just stepped back into the past the way Jake and Al have, but I am really curious about how the time travelling works in this story. It seemed that Jake was somewhat calm about it. How do you think you would feel if it was you?
Calm would not be my reaction. I've read too much time travel fiction. I'd be afraid of touching anything lest I change the future (kind of like Jake's root beer and Carolyn Poolen).

4) I think it is clear that Jake is going to pick up Al's mission to try and stop the JFK assassination. Would you choose to continue Al's mission? Also how much do you know of the history surrounding this event?
I don't know. There's a ripple effect that would be impossible to determine. Maybe things would get better or maybe they would get worse. That's a lot of pressure.

I know basically what everyone knows. Dallas, Oswald, convertible. I know how military bases reacted (my grandfather was stationed in the Azores on a USAF base). I've never really looked into it, but I've heard the conspiracy theories.

Would this include books we *want* to defenestrate? I have a couple of those 😅

Ph.D completed in msg 251. If only I could finish my real one that quick!

Discussion Question Tracking:
DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5
Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9
DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14
DQ Day 4: Chapters 15 - 18
DQs Day 5: Chapters 19 - 23
DQs Day 6 Chapters 24 - epilogue

DQs Day 6 Chapters 24 - epilogue

23. Nisreen and Nahri have a very heated discussion after Nahri accidentilly killed a Geziri cleric. Nisreen believes that Nahri needs to be more thoughtful of her people and what she represents and wants to push her to become a bigger symbol to their tribe. Do you believe Nahri is too selfish or too close to "collaboration" with the Qahtanis and should have kept greater distance and shown more loyalty to her people?
This is all new to Nahri. She didn't even believe in djinn until she accidentally summoned Dara. While yes, she needs to play the political game a bit, I know I wasn't the most savvy person at 20, and I didn't suddenly find out I wasn't human. I think she's doing her best considering her current circumstances.

24. Ali clearly showed some magical connection with water, even before the Marid possessed him, that might come from his mother's side of the family. What are your thoughts on this hidden ability?
I think Ali's powers come, at least partially, from his Ayaanle side, but I think there's definitely more to it.

25. What are your thoughts on the King's actions, e.g. exiling Ali. He seems to not want to order him killed, even though he knows the exile will bring about his death either way. Why could he not forgive Ali too and spin a tale in his favour like he did for Nahri?
I think he sees Ali as more of a threat than he does Nahri. Ali has a soft spot for the shafit, and has grown enough as an individual that he will argue to Ghasson's face when he believes him to be wrong. Nahri can, theoretically, be brought to heel by a marriage to the emir and a well placed threat to someone she cares about... for now.

26. What an epilogue! Jamshid has a hidden identity, what do you think this means? I think Nahri is not the last of her race.

27. What a cliffhanger! Nisreen says Manizeh can do anything (even bringing Dara back), clearly meaning she's still alive. Do you think she is somewhere out there or was she maybe even referring to Nahri herself?
I'm leaning towards Nahri being Manizeh. It would explain why Nisreen is pushing her so hard when she knows nothing of healing, and maybe why Kaveh seemed drawn to watching her work. She wouldn't be the only character in the book who didn't know what happened to them after all.

Bonus: Will you continue reading this series or do you think you'll stop with this trilogy now? I personally will go hunt down the next two books immediately
If you had asked me that two days ago, my answer would be completely different. I will probably read at least the next book. Those final chapters were something.

DQs Day 5: Chapters 19 - 23

9. In this section there appears to be a love triangle developing. Was this what you expected. Where do you see this going?
I expected it because it's a Young Adult book and they're called tropes for a reason.

10. Dara lets Nahri know about the King’s marriage plans for her. He lets her know that they can’t be together. Are his reasons valid or should Nahri put up more of a fight?
Nahri needs to make it clear what she wants. She has agency and if Dara not being able to father children is not a deal breaker, then there it is.

11. Ali and Nahri both have a hidden agenda and are using their “friendship” to achieve that. Do you think they are aware of each other’s objective?
I think they are aware that the other has a hidden agenda, but I don't think they've figured it out yet.

12. We learn that Ali has a separate agenda that the King is not aware of? Where do you see this heading?
I don't really know. Ali is about as exciting to read about for me as it would be to watch paint dry.

Judith wrote: "Used some banked books and Lexi is already working on the Malaysia task.

Newest open task:
Solve for X - Read a book with an ordinal number in the title (e.g. The 5th Wave, Second Foundation)

we..."

I have Zero Hour. It's only 273 pages. I can probably finish it by tomorrow.

Fixed!

I added for a blue cover, but I didn't see a spot open, just fyi for our captains. I know we can do unlimited rainbow towers.

Jax wrote: "Two New Chipmunk Tasks:

X marks the spot - Read a book with a map in it

Our BOM would work for this one.

DQ Day 4: Chapters 15 - 18

14. Nahri meets the king of Daevabad for the first time but doesn't seem to have a lot of further interactions with him. What do you think the king's plan is truly? He offers her everything but doesn't ask for much in return - yes, he revealed to Ali that he wants to marry her to Muntadhir, but is that really all?
The first thing that popped into my head, especially after he said she had no "companions" to his knowledge was that maybe he thinks she may be his daughter.

15. Prince Ali, fabulous he.. Were you surprised at this further development in Ali's character? The extreme hatred he displays towards Nahri? For some reason, whenever I read the passages from his point of view, I feel he comes across more like a brat rather than a hate-filled person, yet that seems to be what he shows most often when Nahri is around. He now feels he is a murderer, which, granted, he now is. He also realises that his father has been testing and playing him, and will now use him to his own ends. Do you think the poor boy will finally start growing up?
I absolutely think this is the point that we will finally see growth in Ali. He harbors old grudges, like his sister and mother, against Nahri's mother, but I think he may start to see his parents, especially his father, are not so infallible.

16. What do you think will be the outcome of Dara's quest in the middle of the desert with a future king and a contingent of warriors, who may or may not be hell-bent on killing the Afshin? Are they going to find the ifrit before their journey comes to an end?
I think they may find their answers, if the ifrit are actually telling the truth about being sent by Nahri's mother. I don't think the story the king and his wassir told Dara and Nahri is even half the truth.

17. Nahri's first patient! And what a patient that was! Did this first true test of her skills - towards someone she does not know or care about - live up to your expectations?
I think so. She's new to her powers and is only learning so not understanding how important her intentions actually are is a mistake I think anyone could easily make.

18. Any predictions on who Nahri's father might be? I have to admit, I thought it was the king himself. But would he really want to marry his daughter to his son? Hm. What do you think?
I do think her father is the king and while it gives me the ick, I can absolutely see him placing power and uniting the tribes of Daeva/Djinn above something like the two being half-siblings. Besides, maybe that is normal in Daevabad.

Nonfiction can definitely be a bit of a stretch for challenges. I've always found that the easiest way to use them outside of spelling something out is when a task says "Read a book where a character...", I'll use the real people in the book to fulfill it and then add an explanation that it's nonfiction. Some groups allow it. Others don't, so always check with the moderators first.

Links to my City of Brass DQs:
DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5
Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9
DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?
I think this says there's hope for Ali. The city's upper echelon cares only for their own and see the shafit as lesser. Ali seems to be a little more open minded.

10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?
I like these two together, but sadly, I have a feeling she'll end up with Ali.

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?
I think once he has a chance to make changes in some way, he'll do what he can to make life easier for the shafit.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?
With the way Dara was so rude to the other djinn that offered help, I think it's possible that the reaction has to do with her being Nahid.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?
Muntadhir gave Ali the perfect reason to do nothing because, after all, Muntadhir in the emir and the one with power (I don't like Ali. Does it show?). I'm sure Dara will somehow discover the tomb and his relic and when he does, I'm sure it won't be pleasant for the al Quatanis.

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?
I'd put myself at a 7 on the confusion scale. I've actually started taking notes!

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?
Everything I knew about Suleiman came from the Orlando Bloom movie Kingdom of Heaven (definite 10/10). I think it's a nice touchstone to include him in the story.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?
I love Dara. It gives him depth, and explains quite a few things regarding how he first felt about Nahri.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?
I think he's probably a bad king. He definitely looks down on the Shafit even though they are forced to live among the daeva/djinn.

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5

1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?
I haven't read a book with this particular setting and I don't know much about the conflict. I may have to look into it though.

2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?
I wish I had the power to heal. It would mean more than I can even put into words if I could have spared my mom the last 3 years of pain/chemo. I hate watching her suffer.

3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?
It's slow going for me, but I'm starting to get into the rhythm of things.


4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?
Dara is my favorite so far, followed closely by Nahri. I don't think I have read enough about Ali to feel any intrigue yet.