Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

DQs Day 4
Ch 21 to end

15.) And now a gender swap. Honestly, I laughed out loud at “If we guys knew what we girls thought about our junk, we’d be far less impressed with ourselves”. Would you want to swap genders for a day?

16.) I found Shusterman’s discussion about the complexity of abusers insightful and fairly on point based on what I saw happen to a friend. Why are we so willing to look past the obvious at so many types of domestic abuse? Do you think the “it’s a family matter, stay out of it” mentality is starting to change?

17.) Did you find the conclusion satisfying? Did you enjoy the book?

18.) I saw in the afterward that the book was picked up by Netflix. Would you watch the show?

Day 3
Chapters 14-20

11. Is it necessary to encounter racism, sexism, or any other -ism firsthand in order to believe it exists? Or to understand what it looks like?
No I don't think so, not to believe it's there or to be able to recognize it when you see it. I'm sure it helps in understanding the ramifications and especially those that aren't immediately apparent. Experience is often the best teacher. But firsthand isn't the only way to learn or understand social problems/injustices.

12. Ash has been told he needs to view a better life in order to fix his universe. Why is he not able to find that? What is it that keeps him discovering worse universes than his own?
Maybe because his head has been stuck up his own butt? I feel like in his initial universe he was willfully ignoring problems because it would inconvenience his life in some way. So the shifts keep taking him to extreme universes until why and how these problems are problems sinks into his brain.

13. Ash was told the worst thing a human can be told that they are the center of the universe. As a premise for this story, can you see that being true? In general, do you see that as a truth?
Yes, for this story I think it allows him to see the problems in a different way and that they are in fact problems. Maybe also that it's a slippery slope, that one change (say the Brown v. Board of Education decision) creates and entirely different world to live in.
I think in real life being the center of the universe would give someone a really warped sense of self.

14. Are common wisdoms useless? Are they wrong or misleading more often than they are true? Is Ash viewing the world in a cynical way or a realistic way?
I don't think common wisdoms are useless but I don't think they are always true or remain true over time. Wisdom shouldn't be confused with facts. It can be a useful perspective or something to consider but it's not the be and end all of a situation.
I think Ash might be doing a bit of both. My knee jerk reaction to the last question was he's viewing the world like a teenager. A blend of cynicism, realism, and righteousness that only youth seem to be able to pull off.

Just knocked out the Sirens. Spun the Asian monster wheel for something completely different.

Ningyo
Read a book between 200 and 299 pages (inclusive)
FISH (letters, can be out of order) in title
MC over 50
Storm important to plot
Tagged war (>10 times)

DQs Day 2 Ch 7 to 13

6.) "Cruelty must have come from holding hands with racism." What do you think about this statement? Do you think there is some truth to it?
I think the social acceptance of some cruelty or other such type of behavior makes similar behavior more acceptable as well. Where do you draw the line? I think on many levels it's something society seems to be struggling with right now.

7.) Ash makes a quest to find Leo in this reality. Would you of had the courage to do this as Ash? If you were Leo would you of talked to him? Believed him?
I might of been able to find him but I likely would of chickened out about actually talking with him. I won't rule out random stalking of him at the grocery store. I'm half surprised Leo gave Ash the time of day let alone believed him.

8.) Is it just me or is the whole Edwards thing just plain weird? And random, did it help the narrative or your understanding of what's going on with Ash?
It threw me at first but it has settled in a bit and I think did help some things along.

9.) So far the majority of the focus has been on race with a smidge of gender issues. Now sexual orientation has been dumped on top. It's providing an interesting angle, but is Shusterman trying to include too many social issues? Is that his point?
Shusterman is throwing a lot in the pot and I'm thinking he might be including too much. But I guess I'll have to see how it lands at the end.

10.) Okay. The end of this section produced an interesting thought experiment. A world where only 10% of the population was attracted to the opposite sex. What do you imagine that world to be like?
A world like this would be really interesting. With kids potentially being a valuable luxury good. Fertility treatments, from personal experience, are expensive and not for the faint of heart. But I'm not sure that would hold true if 90% of the population needed it. And I wonder if a cottage industry would pop up where 2 different same sex couples would make agreements to have children together to skirt random sperm or egg donations.
{sorry my economist is showing}

Also I put a hold on Crocodile on the Sandbank for Persian task. But if someone gets to it first, by all means take it.

The hold shouldn't be a long one.

FYI - I just put up the Asian Monster wheel so for replacements we can use either.

DQs Day 2 Ch 7 to 13

6.) "Cruelty must have come from holding hands with racism." What do you think about this statement? Do you think there is some truth to it?

7.) Ash makes a quest to find Leo in this reality. Would you of had the courage to do this as Ash? If you were Leo would you of talked to him? Believed him?

8.) Is it just me or is the whole Edwards thing just plain weird? And random, did it help the narrative or your understanding of what's going on with Ash?

9.) So far the majority of the focus has been on race with a smidge of gender issues. Now sexual orientation has been dumped on top. It's providing an interesting angle, but is Shusterman trying to include too many social issues? Is that his point?

10.) Okay. The end of this section produced an interesting thought experiment. A world where only 10% of the population was attracted to the opposite sex. What do you imagine that world to be like?

I'm not much of a American football fan either. We are not a sports watching household in general so it didn't register with me as an error.

But this seems like an easy fact check that should of been caught by someone during editing.

DQ - Day 1
Chapters 1 - 6


1. Is this your first Neal Shusterman book? If yes, how are you finding the experience? If it isn't the first one, does the writing style meet your expectations of the author?
No, I've read the Arc of the Scythe series, Challenger Deep, and The Dry which he co-authored with his son. Yes and no. I'm finding this just a bit confusing, though I think we are supposed to be confused because Ash is confused too. It's very readable though which I find is typical of his books.

2. I admit to not having read the synopsis posted here on GR on the book's page, but just the smaller tidbit on the back of the paperback, which was less detailed. And I'm so curious, and often raising my eyebrows! Is the story what you were expecting, going into the book?
I was for some reason expecting him to be jumping bodies (like the show Quantum Leap or something). Not being himself in different realities. Though in hindsight it makes it easier for him to pull off blending in if he's at least himself.

3. Ash makes a few very interesting points about perspectives, perceptions and in general, one's place in the world. Considering the changes from his original reality to the one where he is more privileged, would you say his place in the world, and indeed his life, has improved with this shift or no?
I guess it depends on what you mean by improved. I much prefer his relationship with Hunter in the privileged reality and while money doesn't solve all your problems it can certainly help. But being a drug dealer? Makes him seem like he was a douchey person who didn't appreciate what he had and just wanted more and thinking he's entitled to it.

4. What to you make of Ash's various friendships? Especially the one with Leo, his best friend since they were very young. Friends since they could play ball together basically, and yet, Ash admits to not really wanting to see things from Leo's point of view when it would mean that he would constantly be angry. What does that make you think about the relationship they have to each other?
It's complicated I think, but then most real relationships are. I understand not wanting to be angry all the time, that's exhausting. But I also don't agree with trying to explain away the guard at the gate. I would of offered to file a complaint with the company or just filed the complaint anyway. That's just not okay. I think Ash needs to grow up some and Leo knows it. But if he doesn't soon I'm not sure their friendship will (or should) last. And going to a rally doesn't fix things if you don't try to really understand why the rally is necessary and what the real point of it is.

5. What do you think this latest reality shift is going to bring for Ash?
Maybe clue him in for real about racial issues and that having POC that are your friends/ at your lunch table isn't enough.
I'm guessing it's going to be an eye opening experience. Curious to see where Leo and Angela fit in to the newest reality.

Kate wrote: "Here are the prompts:
Read a book between 100-125 pages (inclusive)
Features a feast or banquet
Contains a chase (car chase, foot chase, etc)
Character is royalty
Features a thief

I just started ..."

Oompf. I've read this . . but it's been a bit. Definitely one of the better CoHo books I've read. Probably because it's not angsty YA drama romance.

Verity definitely snoops but I can't remember if she actually steals something.

And I would accept a lavish dinner party as a feast since that's the modern day equivalent. There may or not be one of those. . .

Sorry it's just been too long!

I finished Magic Rises late last night which takes out Mares of Diomedes.

If someone wants to spin for a new one they can. Otherwise I can a bit later this morning.

Nope, it’s all good. I’m using Magic Rises for fire anyway, but you got double duty with both of your books so, yay

Lol, never mind about that, Angie’s got it covered

I think Magic Rises might also have a poisoning but can’t remember

A desert is actually a type of plain so it works. It’s not prairie (what most people picture when you say plain) but it’s a plain.

It came up during TT and we allowed it so you can certainly use it now

The Chimera has been defeated!

New Monster: Mare of Diomedes.

Tasks on the spreadsheet. I started that children's pirate themed book and grabbed the rope/ship tasks for Siren.

Middle game is available on KU for those who have it

No idea, this happens a lot.

E and I can split it up, don’t read it if you aren’t that interested

Anyone interested in reading Game Changer?

We only have 2 volunteers right now for DQ writing.

It’s a no on spaceship. The task is tied to the monster so it needs to involve water