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

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

DQs set 2: Chapters 8-15

5. Were you surprised by [(hide spoiler)]? If not, what tipped you off? I definitely wasn't expecting that!

I was surprised and horrified. But I guess this behaviour has been seen throughout human history. It was gut wrenching.

6. What do you think of Sophia's character? Do you think she cares for Hiram, or was just using him? Think she'll show up again later in the story?

I hope they find each other again. I think she does care but has been so used it is hard to trust.

7. So many questions about the Underground! Did you suspect [hide spoiler)]of being involved?

No i didn’t and I was actually a bit annoyed that they out him through that whole pit and hunt thing. I’m still not convinced that their reasoning was something I would accept if I was Hiram.

8. It seems like Hiram is already experiencing some internal conflicts with the way the Undergound conducts their business. What do you think of the Underground so far? How does it differ from what you thought it might be at the beginning, or from what you've learned or read about the underground railroad?

I don’t know a whole lot about it, but it is interesting so far. When you are trying to fight bad with bad… do you also become a bad person? I’m enjoying the ethical questions

9. Corinne refers to the power Hiram has to see/travel into other places and times as Conduction. How do you think this power works?

This is an interesting component of the book! I like magical realism and I’m sure it will become more important as the story continues.

10. Throughout the book, proper nouns like Quality, Tasked, Low, and Underground are used instead of terms like enslaved, slavers, etc. Why do you think Coates uses these words instead of the usual terms? Does it change your experience of the novel?

I found this interesting too and when I tried google it did talk about the task system of slavery. Were these words actually used or has Coates just used them in the story? I assumed the former but maybe I’m wrong.
It doesn’t change my experience of the novel but did go to the slaves distancing themselves from what was happening to them.

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

In 1936, tucked deep into the woods of Troublesome Creek, KY, lives blue-skinned 19-year-old Cussy Carter, the last living female of the rare Blue People ancestry.

The lonely young Appalachian woman joins the historical Pack Horse Library Project of Kentucky and becomes a librarian, riding across slippery creek beds and up treacherous mountains on her faithful mule to deliver books and other reading material to the impoverished hill people of Eastern Kentucky.

Along her dangerous route, Cussy, known to the mountain folk as Bluet, confronts those suspicious of her damselfly-blue skin and the government's new book program. She befriends hardscrabble and complex fellow Kentuckians, and is fiercely determined to bring comfort and joy, instill literacy, and give to those who have nothing, a bookly respite, a fleeting retreat to faraway lands.

Karen's BOM Tracking

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/...

Lily wrote: "Is anyone else planning on continuing into Seasonal Fears? I have a little bit left before I'm done with Middlegame but am going to jump right in when I finish"

I am, but not straight away. I have a bunch of books from the library I need to get to first!

DQs: Book IV to End of the Book

16. How do you feel about the ending? Does it feel satisfying?
Made me happy! I really needed Dodger and Rodger to 'win' this one

17. What do you think that Roger two most meaningful relationships outside Dodger being staged (parents, girlfriend of 7 years)?
it is pretty awful. As much as he was a 'created' person, they also have impacted on him by having this fake life

18. I find it interesting with books that cover a long time if the tone of the age of the characters fits for the whole book. Do you think Rodger and Dodger seem like 30 by the end of the book?
I didn't!! I was thinking early-mid 20s

19. If you could live in a place that is no more, where would you live?
I agree with Judith. As a woman it is so hard to think of a time in history worth living in :o In terms of a place that is no more... I'm not sure actually. I think that our memories can be rosy so I wouldn't want to go back and find it completely different to what I thought. haha

And apologies for only just posting now - I thought I had already!

DQs Set 1: chapters 1-7

1. Hiram has several unique points: his memory, his ability to get people to talk to him, his position in the Lockless house as a recognised son of Walker. Do you like him as a character? Does he feel real / an authentic person?
I do like him, and I quite like how they have introduced his special 'talents' and how he has aged through this section.
In terms of authenticity....I do find the subject matter tricky as I am not American and haven't studied the history so I am both drawn into the story and horrified by it. I can only assume that is is close to a real/authentic person for the time and how they must have felt

2. I was surprised how quickly Maynard got written out of the story. I think I thought there was going to be more brotherly tensions! What do you think about Maynard, and of the changed attitudes towards him after he died?
omg I agree! I actually missed that he died and had to go back to the paperback to work it out (I was baking a potato bake and listening to the audio at the time!). I love the changed attitudes - this is something that we see so often, right?!

3. The writing is very evocative of the land (and river), with lots of attention given to the soil and the ways it feels different depending on the fertility. Are you enjoying this descriptive approach to evoke the time and place?
I struggled at first, but I'm into it now and quite liking it actually

4. Georgie seems to think that Hiram has it pretty good, and is trying to discourage him from running away. To what extent do you agree with Georgie's viewpoint (the risks associated with running away and being caught and losing his privileged position far outweigh the discomforts of being enslaved)? Do you think the different ways of being enslaved, and learning to live with it if possible, are well described?

It is hard for me to say if they are well described (see #1!) but I like how we are given these two views. It is easy from the outside to say that of course he should run, but Georgie is older and is trying to provide him with his experience and view. There is no right answer to what Hiram should do. I think once you have that fire to go, it would be impossible to not listen to it

Cat wrote: "The audio is possibly easier - stops those long paragraphs of description being a slog! (I've been switching between the two, and on balance prefer the audio)"

I was on audio and switched to the paperback :o
Getting back to audio now and I am finding it easier. I think the start was just so out of nowhere I had trouble getting into it on audio

Eldarwen wrote: "All depends on how much reading time I'm going to get over the course of the next few days as it will be somewhat limited over the weekend. In that case, DQs would most definitely be late."

I'm struggling getting into this! If no-one minds, I'll use mod powers to create a break day in between and then that should help E and I to get to our days :o

Sammy wrote: "Tricia wrote: "Spill the story! How did he traumatize Cary Elwes??"

It was a little over a decade ago, and my friend and I were both members of a costuming organisation that usually gets invited t..."

Love this :)

Picked up the book this morning so I can do the breakdown and some DQs

Book IV Complicate-Cost


11. It's good that each book has its own time travel rules. These rules with the random scars has me confused. There are no alternate timelines? Or are there?

I took it as all one timeline, but they are going back and forth on it

12. Sounds like everyone had a nice Thanksgiving (once they got it right). Have you done a Thanksgiving with friends?

We don’t celebrate it in australia but I think it would be a nice holiday to have!

13. How important is biological relation? If you found a new relation through 23 and Me or one of the other DNA sites, would they become family?

I don’t think so. We are often “stuck” with family whereas we choose friends. It doesn’t mean that family isn’t important but a biological connection doesn’t automatically create family for me.

14. How much alike do two people look that it hurts?

I wondered about this. It is hard with twins that aren’t identical sometimes as your brain knows something is going on but can’t quite “compute” which I think it where the hurting comes in!

15. Erin is Leigh's, so of course she is an assassin. Did you see this coming? Do you have any sympathy for Erin?

Wow she is an interesting one. My favourite character I think. I wouldn’t say I have sympathy but I like the spectrum of “evil” we are given with her, Reed and Leigh and how that makes us think

yay!

Got one done! yay!

I've been putting it off forever as was never in the mood, but made myself get into it as it was published so long ago and all the case studies date very quickly

Judith wrote: "Well, not good that your internet was out, that’s annoying.
Glad you are back up and running"

I'm not yet - just at work,... haha

Hopefully it will be fixed when I get home!! :o

Judith wrote: "Oh good, I was getting a complex that my questions were so bad everyone abandoned the discussion 😂"

LOL

Judith wrote: "This author tends to have satisfying conclusions to her books and I'll just trust in her...."

Agreed! I don't have high levels of anxiety about Reed and Leigh, which I otherwise would, because I'm confident they will be dealt with :o

Sorry for my delay in responding. I've had internet out for two days :o

DQs Day 2
Book II Home Again to Reset

6.) This section had a lot of Roger and Dodger breaking off contact and coming back together again for varied reasons. Have you ever broken off contact with someone for years only to come back together as friends? Anyone one you wish you could reconnect with?
I have one friend who I have known for over 20 years and we just kind of flit in and out, seeing eachother sometimes not for months or years at a time but then coming back together.
There is no-one I particularly wish I still had contact with, but plenty of people I wonder what they are up to and wouldn't say no to a coffee if I ran into them :)

7.) Color seems to be an important theme in the book. As descriptors of people, places, things happening. Even as the balance between bright, colorful Dodger and colorblind bland Roger. Is this device helpful to you as you read the story?
Yes it is, and for me it just goes to the "two halves" idea

8.) Theories as to why it's so important for Roger and Dodger to be separate? Also, I find it interesting that their initials are R&D which is common shorthand for Research & Development considering they are basically Reed's experiments.
Oh nice pick up with R&D!
I assumed the seperation was part of the experiment to see what would happen if not together, but there could be more to it

9.) I thought Dodgers metaphor about prodigy kids being circus freaks/performers an apt one with adults and peers viewing them differently. Adults being amazed and peers ridiculing. Do you think it was an accurate description?
Yes I agree. It was one of the many interesting observations on human behaviour

10.) Halfway through the book. Anything you are hoping gets explained/revealed in the second half? Any character you hope gets a comeuppance?
Well the baddies are pretty bad! haha. Would like to see them gone. I'm not sure what the future holds for R&D at this point. They are human, but also constructs. It feels like they need a guide


Bonus: Hand of Glory makes an appearance. Creepy!! Darren's hand? gross, but not all that surprised I suppose after reading some of the Wayward Children series. Thoughts?
Totally gross and as part of the cover must be important to the story

Melindam wrote: " may be the first dnf of the year for me.

Started listening to it this morning and it is not bad per se (the cast is good, I think), but it just does not hold my..."

I had it as a potential for January but also wasn’t in the mood. Maybe just too much happening over the last few years to want to read about an apocalypse!? 😆

Yes you should 😆🥳🤣