Jessica’s Comments (group member since Apr 07, 2021)

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

DQ Day 1 - One to Four (p62)

1. What drew you to this BOM? Was it the fantastic reviews it’s been getting? Or the cute cover? Or something else?

It was one of THOSE super popular books. I didn't end up liking it as much, just because it was so overly happy and sappy

2. What do you think of the writing style so far? I didn’t expect it to be so funny. I laughed out loud a few times at the terrible office Linus works in and at the rude neighbour. I love the way she is so rude about Linus but then keeps trying to set him up with her grandson.

I did like the beginning parts but it falls off for me later in the book. I don't think I ever saw it as a comedy.
3. What do you think about Linus as the main character? So far, he seems to be quite frightened of the world. How do you think he will cope in the strange situation he has been put in?

Linus seems mediocre and okay with being average. However I relate to him because I have what would be his real life equivalent job. And I know how that impacts you.

4. I was surprised that one of the children on the island is supposed to be the Anti-Christ. Heart warming stories don’t tend to feature someone like that. What powers do you think he will have?

Can't answer this one! I've already read the book.

I'm sad the series is over now! That's always the downside of getting invested in a series you like. They unfortunately have to come to an end! :(

60+ hours of audio later...I finally finished the 100 point book lol

lol I KNEWWW team Vetinari had to be sitting on a mountain of books and points...smh

She would be a good one I didn't even think of!!!

I feel like it just always felt so out of place whenever she said it! It didn't seem to flow with the rest of the dialog

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.

Literally none unfortunately. I come from a small family that isn't close.

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?

I understand both sides. The FBIs job is to get the bad guys and find the cause. Which from the outside likely appears heartless. However I'm more likely to side with them due to my own line of work.

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 think Heather turns up dead because she was involved in drugs. Whoever did it may have an idea Daunis is involved in something. They may think Heather gave something away

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?

Honestly no, but I've always been terrible at analyzing stories deeply. I just like to read the story for what it is

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 read ahead.....so I can't answer this one now!

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?

I usually forget about those short opening scenes and honestly that was what happened with this one too. It's hard for me to store it away as relevant when the chapter is 45 seconds long.

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?

I was worried it was going to be her :(. It felt like there was some foreshadowing going on there. I was worried that it may have been drug related, which was what Daunis seemed to fear before as well.
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?

LOL. Definitely not an undercover agent posing as a senior highschool player. I'm not sure who would have seen that coming. I don't think I had any good guesses for what the secret was

9. If you were Daunis would you have agreed to be a confidential informant? I’m not sure I would be brave enough.

Maybe because it involves my best friend. I imagine that must be hard though, especially being only a child!

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 she's willing to really dig for the truth. It seems like Daunis is hiding many things herself and her family as well. I think there's a lot to be uncovered aside from just the main investigation.

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?

No and no. I did think the cover was pretty, but I'm not really a person that gets absorbed by covers (I listen to audio so a lot of the time I don't even notice the cover). I do think the narrator is doing a great job with the various languages and pronunciations!!!

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 was surprised by how many social issues were in the book. It felt like every chapter there was something new coming up. I'm hoping that these continue to be touched on well and aren't just in the book to be "trendy"

3) Characters. Any favorites so far? Does anyone else want to be adopted by Granny June, or is that just me?

Not yet but it's still early so it's hard to be attached at this point.

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?

Like I said above I think including the tribal language was a really unique touch. I'm listening to the audio, and the narrator is doing a great job with it.

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?

It's so true. Grief is always past and present. It's something that never truly leaves when we lose someone or something. You could use this statement towards the loss of anything really! It's a deep statement.

I had to take a break from Firekeepers Daughter but I'm back at it today. The vocabulary was irritating me. She says certain phrases SO many times that just feel so juvenile to me. The story would be getting good and then there would just be some really awkward, weird phrase that felt so out of place. Almost like the author was trying to hard to be a young adult/high school kid. (NOBODY says "oh hells no") and I wince everytime she says "secret squirrel" which has been at least 15 by now. The story itself is interesting though

ohhhh okay I see!

They told me I was okay to use my Cerulean Sea since I had read it during the challenge. Even though I read it in June

Lol....the team that passed us is all excited they're in first. and that they "robbed us" of it

Little do they know we have like 20 books stockpiled that just hasn't been updated yet. mwahahahah

DQ DAY 4 Part 3, II - Part 3, XII (p253)

14. Why do you think Addie puts herself through interactions like she had with Remi? It must be hard to see "lovers" grow old without you and not remember.

15. Do you like Addie or Henry more so far? Why? Are you finding their stories interesting?


16. So Addie is going to tell Henry the truth! How do you think this will go? Do you think he will still accept her or even believe her?

17. We're halfway through the story. Do you have any fun predictions or guesses about what will happen in the second half?

DQ Day 3 - Part 2, IV - Part 3, I (p 153)

10. In these parts the darkness comes and checks up on her a few times. What do you make of those conversations - what the darkness says and Adeline's reactions? Who or what do you think Luc is? Do you think something romantic could happen between Luc and Addie?

I definitely think something is going on with them! I'm not sure what the relationship is here but I feel like it's insinuated that they've been sexual.

11. Addie and Henry meet up for coffee which seems to go well. What do you think will come of this relationship? Will it last? Will it be fulfilling for the both of them?

I've read ahead...im hoping that this works out for them. I like both of their characters and want them to be happy

12. Will it be significant considering Henry could utter Addie's name? Would it be possible that Henry made a deal with Luc thus enabling Addie's and Henry's relationship? Do you think they have met or will meet in the story?

Definitely significant!!! Nobody else remembers her so this is a huge plot point. I'm willing to bet he made some deal. Maybe not the same as Addies but something.

13. If you had a lifetime to do as you pleased, what would you do? Where would you go and what would you see?

I would want to travel the world. I feel like I'd get bored eventually tho.

lol its this weird series about kids at a college training to be Super Heroes. and then some of the kids are what's called "Powereds", meaning they can't control their abilities. so those few kids went through this experimental treatment to become Supers and control their abilities and attend this college. It's a big taboo thing that they're attending the college though and it's hidden info that they're Powereds and yeah.

kinda just follows the four years of school and a whole bunch of stuff happens lol.

Oh thank goodness. The book im reading now is almost 2000 pages so I'm kinda sad we can only count it as 100 lol. But that's okay, it's the end of the series so I'm excited to read it regardless

DQ Day 2 - Part 1, XIV - Part 2, III (p129)

5. At about a fourth of the way through the book, how do you like Addie LaRue as a narrator/person?

I like her a lot but feel such pity for her. Her life is just so...sad. I would hate to live this way.

6. Are you more interested in Addie’s past or present life (or both)? Why?

Her past (so far). I was really intrigued to see how she managed to live and get by considering people would basically forget her right away. It was something I thought about almost immediately. How would she get a job or live anywhere? And it was interesting to see those things covered

7. How do you think she handled the start of her "curse"?

I think she handled it as best as she could. I can't imagine how traumatic it must be to have everyone you've ever known just completely forget your existence. I think she's doing the best she can to make her way in the world when nobody remembers her.

8. Addie seems to have serial one-night stands with the same person. Why do you think she does this, and do you have any concerns with the potential for manipulating the other party? (I am still thinking on this as a power imbalance).

This Part was hard for me. I don't know how she manages to do these over and over. I feel like it would be emotional torture to have that person never remember you. Maybe if it was different people..? I'm not sure.

9. In this section, we meet Henry. What is your initial reaction to Henry and his ability to remember her

Henry seems interesting so far. His own life seems sad in its own way, and how nobody seems to listen and understand what is going on with him. I'm excited to see where his story goes

So what happens when we finish our story? Can we keep reading books for points or are we just done:(

Thank you! I'm listening on this random app through my public library, and that seems to line up correctly.