Karen ⊰✿’s Comments (group member since Sep 23, 2012)

Karen ⊰✿’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Cat wrote: "very aware that the end of the month is coming, and Karen will be producing her List of Fame and Shame, so I'm buckling down!
.."

baahahaha

I was actually just checking out if I was above or below the line and what I need to do for next month to stay above it. lol!

Sammy wrote: "I'm reading along because Sonia told me to. I apologise in advance for the fact that I have a kind of reverse Midas touch when it comes to BOMs. If I'm reading it, the best you can hope for is that..."

haha
I'm optimistic this one will turn it around ;)

Start of Month
Total audiobooks to read: 7
Audiobooks in monthly category to read: 1

Books in category:

FINISHED


End of Month
Total audiobooks read this year:
Audiobooks in monthly category read:

MY MONTHLY RECOMMENDATION (and why):

I'm in! I'll be back to update

Thanks 🙏

Good to see you are still going, E!

Christina wrote: "I actually listened to it on audio and didn't mind it too much! At times I just forgot who of the brothers was actually talking or even present in a scene lol. For the puzzles I would have preferred to have a physical or at least an e-copy. Would have made it easier to actually focus and think on them a bit more..."

haha yes the brothers all kind of morphed into each other on audio

Christina wrote: "oh and I completely forgot since it's "books that have been on your tbr for longer than a year" I can cross off #3 as well! It definitely did not disappoi..."

Ah. I read that a few weeks ago and found it so tedious. I don't think the audio narration helped :o
Great cover though

Christina wrote: "#1 (finally)

The writing was repetitive at times and yes, it's definitely YA. Something bugged me about it but I still can't figure out what it was exac..."

I finally got to that for my closet too! I think the idea that Sloane up and leaves like that without a trace made it difficult for me to begin with. But it was written almost 10 years ago and I suppose teenagers may not have been on social media as much - it wasn't as ubiqitous then? Once I let myself get past that I actually enjoyed the writing. And I gave it some slack being YA haha

Ah yes, Cat I forgot about that bit.
Although she “owned” him, the father needed help and she felt it necessary to oblige to keep her cover

Amanda wrote: "1I was also a little confused about Corinne's purpose in sending Hiram back in the first place - sounds like she knew his father would die, and that he was leaving the estate to her, so why bring Hiram back just to be a slave there for a while longer? I know he brought her some intel on the state of things, but it just didn't seem to change much...."

Part of her character was not really considering feelings - the cause was always more important. I thought she considered the intel would be worthwhile.
As you say, there was that very slight but important distinction about what they were fighting for

Karen's posts

day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

day 3:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 4:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Ok, I'll bite!
I can get it on audible with a lovely red cover. Nothing at the library, though. So I'd prefer DQs for day 1 or the last day seeing I'll be on audio only (or maybe I'll get the kindle version and audiosync it... hmmmm)

Cat wrote: "The magical elements at least get around the long "hiding out, running away" sections you'd have to have otherwise, and keep the focus on the family / loyalty issues that he's exploring..."

Good point. That may have been tedious

Eldarwen wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Chapters 26-end"

Thank you, Karen! :-)
It would take me another couple of days at least to get to the end of the book. This way nobody has to wait around for me.

I am enjoying it..."

No worries! And yay - glad you’re enjoying it.
It grew on me too

Kate S wrote: "I think this is always a risk. While fantasy can turn off readers, it also introduces a difficult topic to people who may not read realistic fiction. I had this same conversation with my mom after we had both read The Underground Railroad. It seems that using magical realism is not ideal for people who want to read books that face the situation more head on, but allows people who may want a different approach to also encounter these stories..."

Yes, true. I actually quite like magical realism, but I would have personally preferred this book without it. I felt he did such a great job with the characters and the stories of different slaves that (to me) it took away from the historical aspect. But I also appreciate why it was included. Will be interesting to see what he does with any future fiction books

Chapters 26-end

16. I was trying to imagine myself being Hiram and going back to his father and pretending to be a slave. It must have been so difficult. Do you think you would be able to do it?

17. I really liked how he wrote Corinne Quinn. Acknowledging she was a huge help and trying to do her best, but still took a 'white saviour' role at times. I like that the author showed complexities like this. What are your thoughts?

18. When he told Thena about Kessiah I didn't expect that reaction, but I found it real and raw. How about you?

19. I did not see that ending coming, but I really liked it. I especially loved the way Hi and Sophia made their own family. You?

20. The authors note was so short, I was hoping for more! Will you seek out more on the Still's, and/or more of the authors work?

@Kate
I really liked the comparisons to war also and that was a great line.

I'm not sure how I feel about the magical realism part. I suppose he is trying to explain a really complicated thing (how so many people were able to get out of the south) in a different way using the mysticism of African stories. In some ways I feel the book could have been more powerful and appealed to more people without it.
(My aunt saw the book last night, read the blurb and immediately went "eh fantasy")!

Haha
Oh no E

If you need me to do the last day DQ I can. I actually ended up really enjoying this!

Chapters 16-25

11. There is a continual theme of family. Families being broken and separated ; children being born to women who probably didn’t ask for that attention from the “master” but then the child is held against them or as leverage ; families being created through shared trauma or grief. Are you able to relate to the theme - what are your thoughts on it?

12. The author is a journalist with a history of writing about “cultural, social, and political issues, particularly regarding African Americans and white supremacy.” (Wikipedia). Why do you think he has chosen to include a magical realism component to this book? Would it be more powerful if the underground weren’t using conductions?

13. Bland’s failed mission showed how dangerous their work is and it made me wonder if I would do the same in Hiram’s position. Would you continue with the Underground or try for a different life?

14. I found the description of conductions fascinating and loved the end of chapter 25 on the audiobook with Harriet and her brothers chanting. Have you ever experienced anything like this?

15. Predictions for the end? (I’m 50/50 on if Hiram is able to free Sophia or dies trying. I feel like both are possible)