Insiyah’s Comments (group member since Apr 12, 2022)

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

Insiyah's BOM Participation Tracking:
September 2024: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Day 4 (Chapters 36-end)

16. In this section, we get to see Roman propose to Iris and even get to see their wedding, which was accompanied by some beautiful words of being allowed to have joy during the darkest times. What were your thoughts on this?
It was a sweet wedding. I like that they kept it short but made it happen, because scraps of happiness in the midst of war are the most precious of all.

17. Marisol and Keegan get reunited at last! Even if it is under dire circumstances of needing the town to Evacuate. Don’t you think that it is quite beautiful?
There's something to be said for reunions under tense circumstances; it made it all the more poignant.

18. We finally meet Forest in the last chapters of the book when he finds Iris and tries to lead her away to safety and ignores her when she says she needed to get Roman, who was her husband. Did this change the way you were thinking about Forest?
Forest became a very weird character going from Iris's memories to (basically) a kidnapper. I didn't particularly like the turn of events there.

19. In the epilogue, we see Dacre’s perspective. He finds Roman with only a minute and thirteen seconds left to his life. Then, he realizes he is a correspondent and then decides to recruit him to his side before the book ends. Does this make you want to read Ruthless Vows as fast as possible in order to see what happens? Or do you want to take your time and digest Divine Rivals first
I didn't think there was much to digest, though I did head to Ruthless Vows immediately, so let's see how it goes.

Day 3 - Chapters 25 - 35

11. There has been a lot of talk about music, music being banned, the part of the myth regarding Enva’s harp and now Attie telling Iris about her father being a musician who taught her to play the violin. Do you think this has any special significance?
Well, Enva's magic is from her music, so... I'm reading it as a man seeing something that has a strong relationship with a powerful woman and doing everything he can to suppress it, as men have for so long.

12. Iris has referred to Roman’s full name using a different word each time to replace his middle name, for eg., Roman Cheeky Kitt, Roman Churlish Kitt, Cantankerous, Conceited etc. She has also read all of his writings, public as well as some private ones so should have been able to identify his writing style. Were you also surprised by her not having been able to figure out Carver’s true identity for so long?
Yes, I have been. The hints are there, but she just doesn't put them together which is a little infuriating.

13. When Iris asks Lieutenant Lark why his platoon is called The Sycamore Platoon, he replies that it is a long story, one he will share with her “when the time’s right.” What did you think of the story that he told her and the situation in which he told it to her?
It really didn't end up being too long a story, though the circumstances of his relaying it were sad. But I do think the scene was well done in how Iris tried to bring some comfort Lark and distract him and the other soldiers from the pain and horrors of war for a few minutes.

14. The second Roman asked for the synonyms, I knew that was going to be the way Iris figured out Carver’s identity. What is your opinion of how the uncloaking occurred? Also, what do you think about the way their relationship has been moving along?
Part of me wants to whack Roman on the head. Synonyms, really?

15. Attie and Marisol have not had much “page” presence as I would have liked. And Forest has yet to make an appearance even though 3/4th of the book is almost finished. What do you think of the treatment of the secondary characteristics? Also, what is your opinion of the pacing of the book?
Attie deserves far more character development and space. Her time at the front is not even touched on, which was maddening.

Day 2 -- Chapters 13-24

6. In this section we find out that the typewriters themselves are the magical link that allows our two main characters to communicate. What mundane item in your life would you want to make magical and what would it do?
Imagine an enchanted bookshelf that would give you any book you wanted...

7. We meet some new characters in this section like Attie and Marisol. Do you have a favorite character yet? If so, who?
I love how spunky Attie is!

8. Iris says that she dislikes her name because people always associated it with an eyeball. What are your feelings on your name?
I have a pretty intense relationship with it because my name wasn't Insiyah at birth. I was given this name by an extremely important person and I cried in sheer happiness.

9. At this point Roman has yet to reveal his true identity to Iris and instead goes by the nickname Dell gave him, Carver. Why do you think Roman is still holding out? What do you think will happen when Iris finally learns the truth?
The longer you avoid admitting to something, the worse it gets to reveal it. I think Roman just got caught up in that.

10. The last chapter we read in this section is called "Dangerous Instruments" and it refers to musical instruments being banned because of their ties with Enva. What hobby of yours would you feel most stung by its banning? Would you still sneak and do it anyway even if it meant imprisonment or death?
Reading. It's my literal lifeline, and I would definitely sneak around with it because I refuse to give it up for anything.

Day 1 (Prologue -chapter 12)

1. The first scene is Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt exchanging words at work. Did you get the feeling they were Rivals? And how does their Boss Zeb play into it?
Not rivals so much as unfriendly coworkers. I felt like Iris was trying too hard to convince herself she hated Kitt and ignored all the other things she subconsciously noticed.

2. What did you think of the enchanted shop that knew what you could afford by pushing those items to the front?
On the one hand it makes grocery shopping so much easier, but on the other hand it has the potential to be very embarrassing if someone sees you who you don't want to have information about your finances. Also, the logistics of it - would a card work as opposed to cash? What about credit cards, which isn't really money that belongs to you? Now I'm curious.

3. Roman's home provides everything he wants &/or needs, how cool is that. Roman Kitt is getting Iris letters that she wrote to Forest, and he told her he was unable to return the letters. Do you believe this?
The home that gives you everything you want/need - it would be brilliant! The way I could design my room (bookshelves to the ceiling!)

4. Do you think that Roman shared the story about his sister, Dell because Iris did not know who she was getting letters from or for another reason?
I think he feels guilty knowing that she doesn't know who he is while he knows who she is.

5. Why do you think Enva went below with Dacre after he killed so many to find her?
Maybe because she thought it would be the only way to stop him? Based on what we're seeing in the current timeline, it doesn't seem like she thought it would be forever, so...

I volunteer for DQs for Team Clean Pet Cage

I volunteer as tribute!

The very, very bizarre thing is that I came onto this thread searching for a new team challenge, and then 4 hours later the new challenge was posted. Thanks, mods!!!

Task:
Direction: South

S: Julius Caesar (ALN: Shakespeare)
K: The Kite Runner (AFN: Khaled)
I: The Will of the Many (ALN: Islington)
P: The Poetry of John Keats

Task: Read a book with a pet rabbit
Direction: South

C: Clap When You Land
A: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
N: What You Are Looking For Is in the Library (C: Natsumi)
T: A Gentleman in Moscow (ALN: Towles)

Task: Read a book with a pet hamster
Direction: North

C: Catching Fire
A: Appointment in Samarra
N: Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder (AFN: Nassim)
T: The Count of Monte Cristo

Great job, everyone!

I just added The Silver Linings Playbook. It has a blue sky - do you think it will work for related to district? Something along the lines of "blue skies can be seen clearly above fields"

I can read Appointment in Samarra by John O'Hara for the remaining O in Arena Hazards

I just finished The Adventures of Amina al Sirafi - it's fits FISH in title

I have a No. 1 in series, and if no one else is reading for Japan, I can finish that one as well

Janeylou wrote: "Insiyah wrote: "Is anyone else having trpuble with GR? I suddenly can't see any of the edition information, page counts, ISBNs, and i cant even change the edition right now!"

Yes, i am bloody nuis..."

Agreed!

Okay, managed to change the edition by deleting my shelved and directly adding in my edition that i read. Can someone add in the page count to the sheet for me?

Is anyone else having trpuble with GR? I suddenly can't see any of the edition information, page counts, ISBNs, and i cant even change the edition right now!

Day 8 : Ch 59-End
36. What did you make of the ‘Rapunzel’ story that Livira wrote and about the messages she intends?

- That life doesn't always have a happy ending. Morbid but true (also, accurate to the real fairytales not the Disney-fied version).

37. The Skeer show up in a story early on (The Insectoid Who Came to Tea by Celcha Arthran), but become real here. What is your reaction to the Skeer (and how were they kept from people's knowledge)?

- When two people are so busy with each other that they become oblivious to the outside world...

38. Time works differently in the library. At one point Livira states that she hasn’t written the first page of her book yet, but she needs to in order to make this part make sense. What do you make of the ability to move through time, even as a ghost? How does this fit into your idea of things being fated versus based on consequences of choices?

- I actually love time travel and the butterfly effect, so this made perfect sense to me.

39. We learn about what happens with Malar, Livira and the assistants. How does this change your understanding of the story?

- It adds a depth to the Soldier's protectiveness of 'Her' early on.

40. This is the first book in a series and it leaves off with 3 of the characters moving off together to fight and find. Does it still feel like a complete ending or a cliffhanger? Will you read the 2nd book?

- Not likely, no. I'm just not that invested.

Bonus: Anything else you feel is important to note? I felt like these chapters were so full that it was hard to only ask 5 questions.

DQs Day 7

Chapters 50 - 58

31. Livira realises that the boy in the city that Evar and she visited was looking right at her. Arpix reminds her of the things she had told him, firstly, that Evar had said that the assistants could see ghosts as well, and secondly, about the two sets of children’s footprints that led from pools of assistant blood. By the end of this section, we have been given an explanation for all of this. What were your first thoughts when you read this bit and was it proved correct?

- Honestly, still a little confused about how it was all supposed to work. That said, I wasn't invested enough to really parse through it.

32. “The library is many things from many angles. Both blessing and curse. A razor blade given to a baby; a rope thrown to a drowning man.”
Do you think this statement of Yute’s makes sense? What came to your mind when you read this?

- Yes, I do agree. Libraries are powerful because of all the knowledge they have tat their disposal. And of course, all the books, all the worlds to get lost in!

33. We have been given a whole of information in this section that casts all the previous sections in a new light. Have you changed any of your opinions from earlier in the book? What do think is going to happen next?

- Spoilers because I already finished the book.

34. ”It’s always the books you don’t have that call to you, you know that. Not the ones already on your shelf. They can wait.”
As somebody who has an incredibly large ever-growing TBR list, I find this statement applies to me perfectly. What do you think about it?

- I completely agree. I'm literally doing challenges to read what's on my bookshelf because at least they're getting read that way!

35. Why is nobody willing to believe it and what do think you think he meant by that last bit?

- I'm guessing this comes in the next book.

Bonus: My mind kept going back to books like Fahrenheit 451 and The Book Thief while reading this book with the discussions about the control of information. Did you find yourself also being reminded of any other books / movies etc? What were they and what was it that brought them to mind?

My mind actually went in the direction of information overload.