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

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

DQs Day 1: (end: "'I want' he said firmly 'a very fast horse.'"19% / Page 52)

1. Mort is nothing if not determined. He refuses to give up on being a “prentice” until the last stoke of midnight. Then at the very last second, Death arrives for him. Do you think Mort was quick to take the apprenticeship perhaps from feeling humiliated at the days events or was it something that truly intrigued him? Would you have been willing to work for Death?
We saw Mort was unusual from the first, which is why he was even there. I thought he took it because he didn't want to go home a failure, plus, maybe because he's odd, it didn't scare him.

2. Death has a sarcastic tone during this first section. What do you think of his fawning over Mort to ensure he gets new clothes and food and Death eating with him like a regular guy? Is he up to something sinister or does he just want to make Mort comfortable?
Death is odd, and KIND of understands being human but also has a way different perspective. I think he was taking care of Mort because as his new master, that's what he needs to do.

3. Mort may be a bit gangly and lost in his own head at times, but he seems to have a lot of compassion. Upon realizing that he was talking to Death, he asked him to spare his Dad. Later he tries to intervene and warn the King that he was about to be killed and finally on that same trip he wanted to tell the King’s daughter not to trust the Duke. What did you think of all that? Are these normal reactions to someone who is the apprentice to Death? Do you think it will continue as Mort sees more and more of Death’s duty?
I think Mort will gain a lot more understanding that dying is inevitable. Right now he's having the normal human reactions.

4. What is up with the constant utterance of “Mort” every time someone calls our MC anything other than Mort or Mortimer after arriving at Death’s House and meeting Yasbell? Is there some significance to this or is it just rather annoying?! Lol! It's just like someone in any job who has a name they strongly preferred. I'm always too scared to correct :)

5. Mort, surprisingly, asked Death for an afternoon off. I think our dear Mort is growing up! He explains to Death that he wants to meet people for more than a few minutes. When he arrives in his own time and finds out where he is, he asks if he is near Sto Lat. He seems to have a plan when he says he wants a very fast horse. What do you think he intends? Will it work out like he plans?
I think he still wants to help the princess. I very much doubt his plan will work.

Thanks for checking on it! I have lots of books with dogs - so I can definitely do one if that task isn't filled before I get to it :)

Note I'm typing this as our three dogs wrestle at my feet. That puppy is sure lucky the mastiff is nice (she's currently hanging from his loose neck skin)...

So question: For the task 2 dogs on the cover does it have to be exactly two? Or can it be more?

Wow nice job - that's a lot of pages!

And yes - such bad luck with the BOM questioners. I'm not buying a lottery ticket anytime soon :)

I am back from my Dad's house - it was nice visiting with family. I got a couple books read that I put in the spreadsheet - mostly just read on the drive there and back so I have lots more I need to get done! But I finished the dress Jackanory and the dragon on cover. I think the suitcase on cover and sheep on cover books will be next (reading/audio).

Hugs. Wow thats a lot of difficult craziness. Given what you had to do to the cat I'd say he was amazingly good

I hope work improves Claire - it's hard enough to have to work when it's not stressful!

I will have my phone only for the next 4 days - and I HOPE to have reading time, but we are doing a big extended family thing so we'll see how that goes.

Firekeeper's Daughter was audio (finished it) so I was looking for another audiobook and decided to do because those are peaceful stories and I noticed it has a several sheep on the cover!

I'm so loving seeing the excitement!

DQs Day 3 Chapters 16 - 23

11. Gramma Pearl shared many wonderful legacy stories with Daunis. I loved the reference Daunis makes regarding the storm and the thunderbirds bringing loved ones from the other world to check on them. As a result, Daunis has happy memories about storms versus being afraid and she consistently refers to Gramma Pearl when deciding what to do. Do you have any advice, stories or traditions passed down from family that you often think about? Something that you would share with your legacy...if so, share if you are comfortable. I think I probably have more legacy than I even realize, and I hope I pass some things along. This is not legacy, but a simple example of grandmothers: When I was young my grandma used to paint my fingernails. The whole time she always told me how beautiful my hands were. Now, I'm objectively positive my hands are nothing special but pretty much my whole life I thought "wow I have nice hands."

12. "The FBI is interested in learning what caused the group hallucination. I want to know if the kids are okay." Daunis obviously thinks the FBI isn't investigating for the right reasons. I observe all the time that young people have a different view on things than more experienced/older people. Who's right? What do we learn from situations such as this? Other thoughts? They both have their priorities but seems like we can just learn from each other.

13. Heather is clearly not liked amongst the girls at the beach party...why do you think Heather approaches Daunis about buying drugs? Do you think this has something to do with why she turns up dead, washed up at Duck Island? I don't know if the approach has anything to do with it, but Heather was clearly living dangerously and being used. Poor girl.

14. In chapter 20, Jamie asks Daunis about the meaning of 'Firekeeper's Daughter'. It's her job to lift up the sun every day. What do you think about this explanation? Do you find additional meaning in this as it relates to Daunis and her role in the plot of this story? I loved that definition because Daunis clearly has a big effect on those around her - kind of like lifting the sun. I also like the consistency - you don't really get a day off - just have to keep on lifting.

15. Daunis finds Heather during her mushroom sleuthing on Duck Island. During her thinking she has an 'ah-ha' moment regarding her Uncle's journals. When she goes to look for them, she's quick to assume that they don't exist because of the connection to the FBI and the confidentiality required...do you think she's right...thoughts? I ended up reading ahead so probably shouldn't answer this one. I have to say though that I love how smart and competent Daunis is.

DQs Day 2 Chapters 9 to 15

6. I thought that the opening scene with Daunis and the gun would show up again towards the end of the book. That’s usually what happens when authors use this kind of device. Were you surprised that it happens not even a quarter of the way in?

7. We knew there would be a murder but we’re you surprised that it was Lily who was killed? Did you suspect something bad would happen between her and Travis?
Answering both #6 and #7: I read some reviews before I decided to read this book, and I saw what was going to happen - boo for unmarked spoilers in reviews. So I wasn't surprised. But I was super sad because I'd come to really like Lily.

8. The synopsis also hinted that Jamie was not all he seemed. I thought he would be something to do with the murder but not that he would be an undercover agent. What did you think it was that Jamie was hiding? I didn't guess the undercover cop part. I really wasn't sure - I thought maybe the synopsis meant he had hidden depths, or just maybe his ancestry.

9. If you were Daunis would you have agreed to be a confidential informant? I’m not sure I would be brave enough. I probably would have because I'd want to right what was done to my best friend. And I would probably be too stupid to immediately think about the risks.

10. Being a confidential informant seems to be very complicated with Daunis being expected to really investigate what is happening rather than just let them know if she comes across anything suspicious. How well do you think Daunis will be able to do this as it’s her own community and perhaps members of her own family that she will be investigating?
I think Daunis is really smart, so she'll probably be effective. Plus she understands the community well. I was indeed surprised at how much they wanted her to do.

Lol yes - the thrill of finding books that fit is a thing!

Now I'm back to preparing math classes - boo!

Score! I found a suitcase on the cover of a book on my to-read (soon) list. . I didn't notice it just looking on the list, but she's carrying a suitcase in her right hand.
Anyway, I have a couple first, but I'll get to it this week or next.

Two things:
Will work for dress in Jackanory? I feel like with her flashing her leg like she's hitchhiking, it kind of goes with the story.

2) Just a comment - I'm really enjoying Firekeepers Daughter (the BOM). I tend to dislike YA, but this is a good one. It reminds me a bit of , which I loved. So yay! I thought I was just reading it for the points, but now I'm reading it for the story :)

DQs Day 1 Chapters 1 to 8

1) Was this book on your TBR before it was announced as a BOM and were you hypnotized by the beautiful cover art? Were you familiar with Ojibwe culture prior to reading this book?
I had never heard of this book, but I agree the cover is lovely - I really like it. With the name of the book and the cover, I was somehow expecting Fantasy, and although I love fantasy, I like this book just as it is. I'd never heard of the Oibwe culture before, but I've lived close to a few different reservations, so some things were slightly familiar.

2) Several social issues have been touched on so far including racism (including within race (skin tone) and within families for biracial children), enrolled v. descendant tribe membership, substance abuse, illegitimacy, and mental health. Does the author seem to be pulling this off so far or does it seem like too much to have it work for the story? I think all of those are issues, and it doesn't feel like to much to me. I am learning and thinking - which is one of the things that makes me love to read.

3) Characters. Any favorites so far? Does anyone else want to be adopted by Granny June, or is that just me? I feel like the characters are a strong point. I too like Granny June. I also like Daunis and her aunt.

4) The author weaves tribal culture into the story and makes it an important aspect of Daunis's life. Including having her work in the tribal language into her interactions with the kids. Language is such an important part of culture, loosing a language means more than just a loss of vocabulary words. Are you enjoying this aspect of the story? Yes - I love the language incorporation.

5) The quote "when someone dies everything becomes past tense, except for the grief. Grief stays in the present." really hit home. How did you react to this statement, did is resonate with you as well? Yes for sure - that is a great quote (and true). I think grief can change with time, but it doesn't really go away.

Doh - I forgot all about UU! The Librarian should throw a banana peel at me.

Oh awesome! That particular prompt was harder than I had guessed!

Great - thank you!

I did find one with a hippo on the cover that I can read - but probably not til next month if nobody has done one. I think I'm addicted to finding books that fit tasks. =P

Steven wrote: "You guys are doing great while I sit here slumping LOL!"

You are living! And said above, that's what teams are for :)

Oh I'm for sure going to read soon, which is a wine glass on the cover (fancy) but it's broken (not fancy). So close!

For set at a university, I could read Doomsday Book if it counts. If it doesn't, I'd rather not read it right now.

I don't want to read one of the many Hockey team, etc. books that seems set at university - they just aren't up my alley.

I'm reading one for #44 Dragon on cover
# 231 MPG Race
# 71 MPG Fairytales

Another I could easily do is the dress for Jackanory. I have netgalley books that fit.

Other than that - I have a bunch of netgalley books I need to read that don't seem to fit anything! Darn it!

Wow what a contrast! I greatly enjoyed some of the discussion comments in the backroom, so I guess that was my favorite part!