Caine, Rachel - Ink and Bone (The Great Library #1) - Informal Buddy Read; Start August 10, 2015 ; Revisit June 3, 2018

[Tina ❣]

Tentatively in - Team Tonks

[Dev]

hey, just bumping this as a reminder that we start tomorrow! i might not get started til later in the evening but i plan on getting at least a few chapters in

[[deleted user]]

I read chapter 1. (view spoiler)[ It’s interesting that in the beginning letter the king wants books copied and spread to daughter libraries so that more people can be educated (except women — boo!) but then when Jess is running the smuggled book it seems like books are outlawed. I’m looking forward to finding out what caused this change. And the guy who ate the pages — what a creepy dude!

Since Jess has an identical twin I wonder if them switching places will get them out of some pickle in the future. (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

i overestimated myself but i promise i will start in the morning lol

[Dev]

i also read the prologue and chapter 1, which doesn't sound like a lot but actually ends up being about a sixth of the overall book!

definitely an interesting beginning to the story and an interesting world so far, although i'll admit this book has been on my tbr so long that i had kind of forgotten what it was about and was a bit confused at first lol. i agree that it seems strange (view spoiler)[that the libraries were first set up to spread knowledge [obvious sexism aside] and now they are mostly there to restrict knowledge [and don't seem to have any problems with female members, so i guess everything flip flopped]. i also look forward to seeing how their mission got so flipped around (hide spoiler)]

i also wondered if she was perhaps trying to make some point about ebooks [what with the system the library uses vs the original copies that are illegal] but since this book is actually only a few years old and also seems to be available as an ebook i'm probably just reading too much into it at this point. [i'm always a big defensive of ebooks because it seems like so many people are still attacking them as being 'not real books']

anyway, definitely interesting so far and i'll try to get some more of it read tomorrow!

[Dev]

i read chapters 2 and 3 today. not really a lot happening at this point, although i am very interested in the new character that was introduce in chapter 3.

also i'm just ...really not sure who the 'good guys' are supposed to be in all of this? i mean obviously not the library because they confiscate information and tell people what to think. but also not the burners because they run around burning books. and then the people that eat them fall under that same category. like there does not actually seem [at this point] to be a group of people that is supporting free knowledge for everyone and i'm just like ??? where is all this going ??? i guess i'll see lol

[Deanna]

Just announcing formquidditch has been crazier than I expected. I'm wrapping up another buddy read tonight, and I'll get started tomorrow.

[Shannon]

Wait......I wanted to do this one!!!! Ok, but I'll have to joing after Quidditch.

[Dev]

[chapters 4-6]

haha apparently i should have waited for other people to start it, especially since i'm having trouble thinking of anything interesting to say about the plot so far. i think it's mostly because (view spoiler)[so far it's just like them competing to see who gets the spots in the class and i always find that kind of storyline so boring. i'm like when do we get to the good stuff! although things are starting to pick up some (hide spoiler)]

i found it interesting that the students from different countries (view spoiler)[have different reactions to the automatons, especially how the american student was like 'whats the big deal they're on every corner basically at home' but it makes many of the other students feel unsafe because to me this definitely echoed the ongoing gun control situation we are struggling with so much here and how many people here just think it's normal. (hide spoiler)]

maybe i should take a break for a few days and let other people catch up? i don't want to forget what's happening though lol

[[deleted user]]

Devann wrote: "i read chapters 2 and 3 today. not really a lot happening at this point, although i am very interested in the new character that was introduce in chapter 3.

also i'm just ...really not sure who th..."

I read through chapter 3 and I agree that Morgan seems interesting. (view spoiler)[ I wonder if she is the good guy that you’ve been looking for. That ephemera passage sounds like she’s hiding out from the Library authorities and that she has abilities she wants to keep hidden. I’m looking forward to seeing how her story plays out. (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

@Talia yeah i'm starting to think that (view spoiler)[maybe there is just a small group that contains the main characters who are the 'good guys' and not any bigger organization they are going to join (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

just read chapters 7-9 and again i'm having trouble coming up with talking points lol i am really liking the book and the world, i just find that i don't have a lot of running commentary on it. i am loving all the different layers of intrigue that are getting piled on though, it's all very like aaaah whose side is so and so really on.

[[deleted user]]

Quick note after chapter 4: (view spoiler)[ Wolfe tried to introduce a printing press! That’s why he was punished into teaching the postulates. Wow, that printing press idea keeps coming up and the Library keeps trying to suppress it. Goes to show you can’t stop progress even though they keep trying to. (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

@Talia haha i know (view spoiler)[i love how they were like 'oh my god why do these HERETICS keep trying to invent a printing press???' and i'm like mmmm maybe because it's a good idea??? you should listen to them after the 50th time lol (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Devann wrote: "[chapters 4-6]

haha apparently i should have waited for other people to start it, especially since i'm having trouble thinking of anything interesting to say about the plot so far. i think it's mo..."


Read through chapter 6.

@Devann The scenes of the classes were totally giving me a Hogwarts vibe!

(view spoiler)[ And now we’re getting to the good stuff with the postulates being sent to the war zone in Oxford. That traveling process again reminded me of the Harry Potter world and apparating (I think that’s the word). That process seemed terrifying! I might have chickened out. And Danton was a Burner spy!? Well he did know a lot about burners so I guess that’s not too shocking. (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

haha i was also getting a kind of hogwarts vibe but i wasn't sure if that was just because i've been rereading them lately or not but good point about (view spoiler)[the travelling being kind of similar. i would say maybe it's more like floo powder than apparating because they seem to need other people to help them along. although they said that under extreme circumstances people could be moved using tags so maybe that would be like apparating bc it's more dangerous and all. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

The Ephemera after chapter 7 (view spoiler)[ Darn, the Library is so corrupt! They killed the Obscurist Magnus, I’m sure. And the other obscurists are basically enslaved. Someone needs to take the Library down! (hide spoiler)]

[Dev]

chapter 10 through the end

i was going to save the final few chapters for tomorrow but i was becoming rather unsatisfied with how the story was playing out so i just wanted to know how the book ended lol

also i suddenly realized that it's kind of weird that they all speak english. i mean i guess it's probably just because the author speaks english and the fact that english has become such a prominent language in our world but you would think that it would be different in this world since the library has been controlling the progress of human history and it is based in egypt primarily, so how is it that english became the 'default' language in this world when things really should have probably developed much differently. i feel like it would be perfectly plausible for everyone to still be speaking latin and for the general world to still be based more along a roman empire type layout than for it to mirror our world so closely at this point in time.

anyway, back to the actual plot of the whole thing. i'm not really that satisfied with how things turned out at this point, but i am still interested enough to read the next book. mostly the characters just started to annoy me more as it went on. (view spoiler)[like how wolfe was so adamant that he couldn't do anything to save morgan because it would get him killed but then literally HOURS later he's rushing off ready to die to save thomas. like ...is it just because thomas reminds him more of himself? because i guess i could buy that but it's still pretty shitty. (hide spoiler)]

i don't know, i just thought the whole thing took kind of a weird turn somewhere along the way. also i feel like the summary is weirdly misleading. (view spoiler)[it mentions the whole thing with thomas building the press which isn't even brought up until the last few chapters of the book but the summary makes it sound like that is what the whole thing revolved around when it's really much more heavily focused on morgan through most of it (hide spoiler)]

anyway, looking forward to see more people's thoughts on this because it was a weird book for me.

[[deleted user]]

Devann wrote: "chapter 10 through the end

i was going to save the final few chapters for tomorrow but i was becoming rather unsatisfied with how the story was playing out so i just wanted to know how the book en..."


Good points about them speaking English — I hadn’t even thought about that! This is a reread for me but I can’t remember all the details about how it ends. Looking forward to finishing it up soon. I already own the second book, so hopefully that one will be even better.

[Vicki]

Chapters 1-5

I certainly don't have much to add to the posts above. I do want to say that reading this book reminds me of just how much books mean to me and to so many others as well as how so many people really don't care about books/reading at all.

There is definitely (view spoiler)[sexism in this book, but that isn't atypical of a "man's world" anyway, but every time I read that women shouldn't read or learn or be heard because they have nothing to say, it still angers me! (hide spoiler)]

I like how there are so may people from various countries and that even in a book such as this culture comes in to play.

I just retired from teaching in May 2017 and I hated it when the district would ban a book due to witchery (Harry Potter) or racism (Of Mice and Men) etc. and teachers would have to go before the school board and defend books of their choice to teach and prove why it was a good teaching tool. People make too much of out of some books.

So the idea of (view spoiler)[books being burned, eaten, demolished in any way, scares me to be honest because there are SO many different views on everything in life, including books. I can't believe some of the books that parents thought if a teacher used they were "teaching" witchcraft. (hide spoiler)]LOL

[[deleted user]]

Just finished the book. I will definitely be reading the next book as the story is only just beginning! I want to know (view spoiler)[ if Jess and Morgan are able to end the Library’s stranglehold on knowledge, if they end up a couple, if Wolfe survives, and what life will be like for Jess as a member of the High Garda. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

I finished through chapter 3 this morning.

Devann wrote: "i also read the prologue and chapter 1, which doesn't sound like a lot but actually ends up being about a sixth of the overall book!

definitely an interesting beginning to the story and an interes..."

The ebook idea is interesting. The biggest problem I see with the Library at this point is that very few people have access to the actual books. They only have access to the copies, which could very easily be altered, especially since the library seems to be judging the content and withholding books.

The author seems to support the concept of the Codex allowing ease of access to books (which seems comparable to our ebooks), while at the same time supporting the preservation and access to original books (to verify the accuracy of the copies). It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Devann wrote: "i read chapters 2 and 3 today. not really a lot happening at this point, although i am very interested in the new character that was introduce in chapter 3.

also i'm just ...really not sure who th..."

I don't see any good guys at this point either. If I had to imagine what the good guys look like, I would expect them to be working within the library for reform and maybe greater access to books beyond the current system. I assume it will become more clear over time.

[Deanna]

Devann wrote: "haha i was also getting a kind of hogwarts vibe but i wasn't sure if that was just because i've been rereading them lately or not but good point about [spoilers removed]"

I think I prefer the Harry Potter methods of travel. (view spoiler)[Floo powder seems so much safer than relying on someone you don't know who might just have orders to make sure you do not survive the trip. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Vicki wrote: "Chapters 1-5

I certainly don't have much to add to the posts above. I do want to say that reading this book reminds me of just how much books mean to me and to so many others as well as how so man..."

I agree. This book does an excellent job of making clear the importance of books in the real world as well as the importance of access to those books.

[Deanna]

Covered chapter 5 - 8 today.

Wow. There was a lot going on.

Jess - (view spoiler)[I am glad that he finally found a talent that he excels at. I'm sure being able to activate tags seems small to him, but the trip to Oxford also shows how important it is. I also think he was right to trade secrets with Morgan, and was relieved that Wolfe does not seem to care about his family's past. (hide spoiler)]

Morgan - (view spoiler)[The part about the obscurists is hard to believe. That they would take the most essential part of their system and turn them into prisoners and slaves seems poorly thought out. Although is they make the obscurists kill frequently perhaps they have no choice. I do wonder what exactly the collars are capable of, and I hope Morgan manages to get away. (hide spoiler)]

Wolfe - (view spoiler)[I loved the way the author shifted the perception of Wolfe from being a part of the library system to being a force for change within the library system. That the Library would use his students against him is reprehensible. That he was willing to go toe to toe with the Archivist on behalf of his students to advocate for their safety completely changed my perception of him. He is definitely a more complex character than I originally gave him credit for. (hide spoiler)]

[Deanna]

Talia wrote: "Just finished the book. I will definitely be reading the next book as the story is only just beginning! I want to know [spoilers removed]"

Yes! I have all the same questions as well. I'm so glad the next book im the series is already released.

[Deanna]

Finished!

Morgan - (view spoiler)[I wish there had been a way for Morgan to escape although I'm not sure how long she could have survived on the run. I am glad that her message at the end seems to indicate she has forgiven Jess. (hide spoiler)]

Wolfe - (view spoiler)[I have to wonder whether he sent Jess away to keep himself safe or if he actually did it to keep Jess from having to decide between spying or risking death. (hide spoiler)]

Jess - (view spoiler)[I have a feeling the Artifax is underestimating Jess. Now that he fully understands the problems with the library, he is a much bigger threat than when he first arrived. His love and Morgan and his friendship with Thomas only make him more dangerous. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Deanna wrote: "Covered chapter 5 - 8 today.

Wow. There was a lot going on.

Jess - [spoilers removed]

Morgan - [spoilers removed]

Wolfe - [spoilers removed]"

I had the same issue with credibility regarding (view spoiler)[the obscurists turning them into prisoners and slaves, but times would have been very different so hard to say. (hide spoiler)]

I do think that Morgan (view spoiler)[forgave Jess in the end. That's how I took it or maybe that's how I wanted to see it. (hide spoiler)]

I definitely think the Artifax (view spoiler)[underestimated Jess. (hide spoiler)]

Wolfe (view spoiler)[in my opinion he sent Jess away to keep himself safe. I don't think he really cares that much about Jess having to make a decision like that. (hide spoiler)]

I think this book was pretty good and I'd like to continue with book 2.

[Deanna]

Vicki wrote: "Deanna wrote: "Covered chapter 5 - 8 today.

Wow. There was a lot going on.

Jess - [spoilers removed]

Morgan - [spoilers removed]

Wolfe - [spoilers removed]"

I had the same issue with credibili..."

I've already put book 2 on hold. Would you be interested in another BR?

[[deleted user]]

Deanna wrote: "I've already put book 2 on hold. Would you be interested in another BR?"


I'd be up for doing a buddy read of book 2. I own a copy, so I can wait until whenever your hold comes in.

[Deanna]

Talia wrote: "Deanna wrote: "I've already put book 2 on hold. Would you be interested in another BR?"


I'd be up for doing a buddy read of book 2. I own a copy, so I can wait until whenever your hold comes in."

Would next week work? Starting on the 27th?

[[deleted user]]

Deanna wrote: "Talia wrote: "Deanna wrote: "I've already put book 2 on hold. Would you be interested in another BR?"


I'd be up for doing a buddy read of book 2. I own a copy, so I can wait until whenever your h..."

Yes, June 27 will work! I’ll go ask for a thread.

[Dev]

i might join in on that, although honestly i'm not sure if i enjoyed it enough to read the second one so soon lol

[Morgan]

So, I finally started this book and I've begun reading it. I got through the longest prologue ever (holy moly!) and I'm almost finished with Chapter 1.

But.... (view spoiler)[Am I the only one that feels like this book is a big snoozer? Like nothing even remotely exciting has happened yet and I'm not understanding the overall premise whatsoever. It just seems like a very dull, boring plot. I hate not finishing books, but if this doesn't pick up, at least a little, I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish it. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Morgan wrote: "So, I finally started this book and I've begun reading it. I got through the longest prologue ever (holy moly!) and I'm almost finished with Chapter 1.

But.... [spoilers removed]"

That prologue was unusually long. I was like wow, NOW we're getting to chapter 1?

[Ora]

This is a reread for me. I love this series. (view spoiler)[I think the author did a wonderful job with world building and showing how corrupt the Library is. I believe there were good intentions when the Library was created, however the is a reason why there is a saying "hell is paved with good intentions".
I think Jess is surprised when he realizes how the Library works and what is willing to be done to maintain the power. At least the rose colored glasses are removed even though he doesn't know yet the level of depravity the Library will go to keep their secrets. (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Ora wrote: "This is a reread for me. I love this series. I think the author did a wonderful job with world building and showing how corrupt the Library is. I believe there were good intentions when the Library..."

I liked the world building as well. It made me want to see what life is like in more cities around this world.

[Lexi]

Anyone still around? I may start this one.

[Lexi]

LB wrote: "Brittney wrote: "I wish there would have been a little bit more character development with the family but I guess there is a lot more reading to be done so that might change."

I agree here. Aside ..."

I'm about a third of the way through and glad that it looks like we will see more of Brenden as the twin's interactions are interesting.
(view spoiler)[ I like the world so far and what appears to be alchemy. I wonder where Jess and pain are going. (hide spoiler)]

[Lexi]

Morgan wrote: "So, I finally started this book and I've begun reading it. I got through the longest prologue ever (holy moly!) and I'm almost finished with Chapter 1.

But.... [spoilers removed]"

The general discussion before I got here seems to be the the book was not enjoyed or seemed slow. I really enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[ I really like Jess and Wolfe and Santi. I am interested to see where this goes in future books. I think Wolfe mostly wants to be left alone but still has a conscious for his students. (hide spoiler)]

[Ora]

Lexi wrote: "Morgan wrote: "So, I finally started this book and I've begun reading it. I got through the longest prologue ever (holy moly!) and I'm almost finished with Chapter 1.

But.... [spoilers removed]"

..."

I listened to the audio and absolutely loved this book and series. I'm not sure if Wolfe wants to be alone. (view spoiler)[Because of things from his past that you will learn about in the next book is why Wolfe is the way he is. I don't want to give away any spoilers. Hope you enjoy the next one!! (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

Lexi wrote: "LB wrote: "Brittney wrote: "I wish there would have been a little bit more character development with the family but I guess there is a lot more reading to be done so that might change."

I agree h..."

I liked that Jess had a twin. I was wondering if that would play some part in future books. Definitely want to see more of Brendan.

[[deleted user]]

Lexi wrote: "Morgan wrote: "So, I finally started this book and I've begun reading it. I got through the longest prologue ever (holy moly!) and I'm almost finished with Chapter 1.

But.... [spoilers removed]"

..."

I liked the book too. Right now I’m reading the last book that was just released this month. There is still at least one more book planned, so I’ll probably continue with the series to the end.

[[deleted user]]

I agree with Ora. I would definitely recommend continuing on to the next book!

[Lexi]

Talia wrote: "I agree with Ora. I would definitely recommend continuing on to the next book!"

I will, thanks