Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Aug 13, 2015)

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

I did find "Haka" in a book, but it's the second book of a trilogy and looks like I'd need to read the first book to understand what's going on. Both are 370ish pages. So not ideal. I'll finish my current stuff and see where we are at.

Wow - some pretty challenging ones in there!

That's fine Erin - I'm glad you found one!
I just finished my BRONZE in title one
Next up to finish will be my Czech one (swapped with Judith's Iran book) in current itinerary and my Nepal one (also in current itenary)

Then I'll see what's needed and go from there!

For sure some of my books I've thought "don't want to go there"! Many of them were in the midst of wars at the times of my stories though. But I'd sure love to see Prague (current book).

Will do! Thanks so much for helping me clear my muddled mind. Now I can spend time reading instead of wallowing in indecision. :)

Great - thanks Judith! I'll maybe finish my level 2 Czech book, Since I'm partway done - that and my BRONZE in title (which also works for AZTEC in title). When those are done, if an X book hasn't been found, I'll take that one or AZTEC.
Note: And if you'd rather have me read an X book before the Czech book - that is fine too!

Oh, and if you captains have any suggestions/guidance about what you'd like me to read, just speak up!

Fantastic job, team!
I really have started to enjoy reading again during this challenge, which is great! But I think I'm going to be pushing against that reading max. Good problem to have, I think. I'm struggling a bit with "read longer books and don't worry about tasks" vs. "knock off some of the harder tasks." I'll try to find a good balance!
Biggest bonus is the whole "enjoying reading again" thing :)

Thanks for pushing that Finland book, Lexi!

I too wish he'd split it! Oh well - I suppose there's plenty of other books to read :)

I'd thought about reading Super Powereds: Year 4 for the challenge but it's almost 2000 pages, so lots of wasted pages :)

I noticed we have 2 Jordans (one of them is mine) in the itinerary after the current one. I could start/finish my Mrs. Pollifax book if you want to move it up to the current one. Just let me know. Finished Poisonwood Bible and am about 75% done with Into Thin Air.
If I wait on Mrs. Pollifax, I'll move on to Tale of Two Cities. Oh, and I'm really enjoying the BOM - about half done! I like it a LOT more than I thought I would.

I'll finish Poisonwood Bible and Into Thin Air in the next few days. Once those are done, I'll check and see if you want me to finish my Jordan book for the current itinerary.

Steven wrote: "Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Steven, I see you have Dungeon Crawler Carl on there. I have heard so many great things about that one, especially in audio. Plan to read it later but it likely wo..."

I've enjoyed Dungeon Crawler Carl too! Fun series!

DQ'S Day 3 Chapter 8 - Chapter 12

10. Mamoru is becoming more friends with Kwang Chul-Hee and seems to be rebelling more and finally has a fall out with his father. Do you think his father would have hit Mamoru again if Misaki wouldn't have accidentally interrupted?

I DO think the father would have continued to hit Mamoru. And it's sad because it was in the pretext of "teaching" but there was no teaching except how to be afraid and have no confidence. Boy I hate that man.

11. Are you understanding their powers and magic system more through these last few chapters and the fighting that has occurred. Which power would you want? I am kind of understanding it, but I've really only seen much of what ice would do, so I'd probably choose that. It seems quite versatile. However, I liked the brief description of illusion magic - that might be a good backup choice.


12. Misaki received a letter from her friend and told her to run and get out of town. With the Emperor keeping it a secret. Do you think anyone else knew war was coming? And why they are attacking such an isolated village?
I loved that Misaki took immediate action to protect her family instead of dithering - good for her. The men seen willfully ignorant, and I hate they won't listen to her - even about things where she knows WAY more than her. But I guess they are willfully ignorant about everything.
I'd guess the attacking force must respect the powers in Kaigan and want to be rid of them.

DQs Day 2
Chap 5 to 7

6. What do you think about the hierarchy of the villages and the Matsudos and Yukinos being the "rulers" of the mountain?
It makes sense, considering both the strong traditions and their magical skills. I do wonder how important they are considered by the country as a whole. I'm guessing not very.


7. We get to know the history of the relationship between the Matsuda family will play an important role later on in the story? If so, how?
It was good getting a better understanding of their family and the various roles. It sounds like the father-in-law was quite awful - poor Misaki.

8. In chapter 6, we find out that Misaki was a the real badass in her past. Was there anything that stuck out to you when getting to know her backstory? Something interesting, shocking, odd?
I loved reading about her, and her views on killing versus Robin's. I really hope we find out what happened to the group. I also liked Misaki's training - and it was neat to learn it started with her father. Sure a lot better than the family she married into!

9. The conversation between Misaki and Mamoru was heartwarming. Do you think we will see both of them side by side as warriors by the end of the book?
This was a super sweet part. I liked how Mamoru saw a whole new side of his mother and how he didn't act like his dad and dismiss her. I also really liked how Misaki finally SAW Mamoru. And the way she taught him was so skillful.

Thanks Erin! I've learned a lot about these countries while finding / reading the books. But things like the above are puzzling!

I finished my Dragon Prince audiobook and will listen to The Poisonwood Bible next. BUT - I'm not sure what country to put. I believe when our team read it earlier, we put it as Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)- and there is still room there. But a couple sources, like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poi... say it is in the Belgian Congo, which is Zaire, which is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Anyway - I guess there is room for either country, so put it where you'd like.

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to 4

1.) Had you heard of this book before it was nominated for/was selected to be a BOM this month? Or read other books by the author? Any expectations going in? I had never heard a thing about this book until it was nominated. I HOPED I would like it - I generally enjoy fantasy, so that's a plus :)

2.) How effective is the author at conveying the isolationist nature of Kaigen? And at the glimpses of what the rest of the world is really like? How do you think the Emperor has managed to do this so effectively? I think a lot of how the Emperor has managed is by all the teaching of the children by the adults. They've only learned the "party line", so of course take that as truth.

3.) Misaki is an interesting character with a lot of repressed or hidden depths I think. I like that one of the main characters in an epic fantasy is not a 20 something who just happens to master everything in 5 pages. What are you most curious about her at the moment. Also, shout out to her friends, who seem like real women-friends. Yay! First off, I agree about her friends - I like them a LOT. And I really want to know more about Misaki (and I think we will, given the precis). I'm curious about why in the world she married Tekure :). And I'm also really wondering what she can do as far as magic/fighting.

4.) Tekure (husband/father) has managed to make me hate him without even popping up on page yet. Go him. Do you think we'll get a scene where Misaki does her version of 'down with the patriarchy' before the end of the book? Oh boy I hope so - I don't like him either.

5.) What do you think of the magic system so far? It is interesting but I feel like we've just grazed the surface (makes sense since there is a lot of book left).

Thanks Lexie!

oh no! Cathy I'm so very sorry! That is a hard thing to deal with in every way!!