City of Bones (Summary and Discussion)

[LaKeshia, The Librarian]

Summary:
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother?

And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.


Answer as many or as few questions as you like.  Discussion will revolve around how many people enter the discussion.  Just come in and discuss whether you liked the book or didn’t.  There are no wrong answers and everyone has their own opinion which we can respect.  Now, just come in and talk!!!

In General
1. What did everyone think?  Rate it on a scale of 1-10.
2. Did you like the book?  If so, why?  
3. If you didn't like the book, what were your reasons? 
 
The Characters
1. Were you able to identify with any of the characters?  
2. What stood out about each character?
3. Who was your favorite character?
4. Who was your least favorite character?
 
The Scenes
1.What was your favorite part in the book?
2.What was your least favorite part?


Discussion: (Plot is present!!!)
Clary’s mother made the decision to keep Clary away from the world of the Shadowhunters. Do you agree with the decision? Why or why not?

When Clary learns that Magnus Bane had erased her supernatural memories, she says that she had always felt like there was something wrong with her. How much of this is because she didn't know her history, and how much is caused—as Magnus says—by the simple fact that she's a teenager? Does she belong in the Shadowhunter world?

How would you feel, if like Clary, you discovered you were secretly a part of the Nephilim/Downworlders and saw that many of the things you grew up believing weren't true? That even the world as you knew it was a mere illusion to the real thing?

At one point, Jace says he doesn't believe in God (City of Bones, p. 256). Do you think this is true? Can someone be a Shadowhunter and not believe in God? Does this statement, coming from a character that is believed to be part angel, evoke any deeper thought about the relationship of angels and said "God" in the story or do you feel god is non-existent as a whole throughout the book?

Shadowhunters are charged with protecting mundanes, but they seem to have very little respect for those they serve. Why do you think their feelings for normal humans are so complicated? Why do they continue to serve mundanes if they don't like them? If you were a Shadowhunter would you fight for this reason or have ulterior motives such as Valentine's ideas to rid the earth of all Downworlders in a purification of sorts?

There is very rich mythology of angels, Nephilim, demons, vampires, and other creatures present in the book. How do you feel they differ from other books you have read? Do you find these depictions of the creatures more engaging or do they lack key attributes of how they have been depicted through the years?

This book is the first in a trilogy. What characters would you like to see more of in Book 2? What storylines do you think will be explored in the following books?

Clary discovers she has a brother and a father, but she also has people in her life that already fill those roles for her. Discuss the differences between family relationships through blood and through choice.

If you have read other books by this author,how do you feel this one compares? Do you prefer these characters to those in her Infernal Devices Series?


Can't wait for responses!! :D

[Morgan]

I can't remember many things that happened in City of Bones because it's been over a half a year since I read it. But I think my favourite part was when Clary and Jace were visiting Madame Dorothea and Madame Dorothea tells Jace "If you were half as funny as you thought you were you'd be twice aas funny as you really are." I laughed so hard.
I think my least favourite part was when Clary found out that Jace was her brother. It just... it's a bit disturbing. That's the only way I can think of putting it.
I both agree and disagree with Jocelyn's decision. In the one hand she was trying to keep Clary safe . I mean, what parent wants their child to grow up fighting demons and most likely die before the age of 40? But, Clary had a right to know her heritage. It really wasn't her mother's decision to make. Clary had a right to choose what she wanted for herself.
Clary is a shadowhunter. Her father was a shadowhunter. Her mother was a shadowhunter. She is a shadowhunter by birth. Therefore she is naturally a part of the supernatural world. Hunting, fighting, and killinh demons is in her blood. Sure, some of what Clary's feeling may just be normal teenager stuff but a vast majority of it is because she's not fully human.
I would be terrified if I found out I was a shadowhunter. But I would alsonbe thrilled. I've always wanted to be a character in a fantasy novel. It would be... beyond comprehension. It would bbe the best thing ever.
In this particular story I find God completely irrelevant. Shadowhunters don't have to believe in God to be shadowhunters; they're born Nephilim. Really, angels are seen more as a paranormal being than a divine entity in this book.
Shadowhunters don't exactly work for mundanes. They keep their world safe from demons. If the world is overrun by demons then eveyone dies; the shadowhunters, the mundanes, the downworlders and they fey. So it's kind of a: "by helping ourselves, coincidentaly we're helping these people" thing. Plus shadowhunters are half mundane.
Every author who choses to write about the fey, or angels, or vampires or werewolves has their own unique "species" or "brand" of what they've chosen to write about. Everyone's interpretation is different and that's what makes it interesting.
There arw currently five books in The Mortal Instruments series and counting. I think it ended nicely at the end of book three but I do like the way some of the relationships have progressed. It is getting a but complicated though.
I believe you have a certain amount of responsibility to those related to you by blood but those you love are more important. The ones you care about most likely care about you in return so in a way that's more like a family than any disfuntional blood bond could ever be.
I actually liked The Infernal Devices more. I liked the characters better; though Magnus has a better sense of humour in The Mortal Instruments. For one thing I find history more interesting than modern day and I, personally, feel that the characters are more like-able. The Infernal Devices made me laugh more often--especially Will.