Mari’s Comments (group member since Dec 13, 2015)

Mari’s comments from the read with Marines group.

I LOVE Karou and Zuzanna. I love that she's fierce in her own right, which is wonderful for a side female character. The way that friendship anchors Karou is touching, and while she makes brief appearances in this book, they are memorable. Friendship and family are so very important in this series that is ultimately about this forbidden love? And I think that makes the love story portion of it so much better. Because it recognizes that you can have the fire, electricity, pouty lips, etc, but that's not ALL there is. Karou has friendships, family, interest, talents, hobbies... She's a fully fleshed out female character! Imagine that!

I'm actually done now with the book. It FLEW by for me, even with listening to most of it. I don't know if it's familiarity with the story or what. I'm curious if anyone else has anything to say about the pace of the story? Because I feel like it just flies.

Yep, definitely enjoying the audiobook more now! Just took some settling, but now I'm like flying through it. I'm half done and I have to say that I agree with Wendy: Taylor makes me like things I don't normally like in other people's writing. Like I just read a whole paragraph on some smoldering eyes and I'm like yep, give it to me.

I really love Karou's multifaceted...ness. She's got a fierceness and a loyalty but Taylor doesn't shy away from showing us her soggier, sappier, broken bits. She does want love and approval and she's often lonely and they are emotions that are super relatable, even for those of us who were raised in secret by peoplebeasts... *cough*

Wendy wrote: "I listened to a sample of the audio book a while back and it didn't grab me, but I think I'm going to give it another try because I really want to participate in this and I think it's the only way ..."

Stephanie wrote: "I tried the audiobook a few months ago, but the narrator sounded too um? perky? for how I imagine Karou to speak/think. So I might try it again if it gets better. That's generally how I prefer to r..."

Started this last night and I went for the audiobook! I'm enjoying it okay so far, though she's doing a thing with Brimstone's voice I am NOT a fan of. She hasn't met Akiva yet so I'm cringing imagining what's going to happen there, but it is helping me get reading down and she has a pleasant voice overall.

I *love* the introduction to this story. I'm one of those readers who loves when authors gives us bits and pieces of the world and trusts us to suss out the rest. Laini never defines in one of those clunky, "a chimera is a..." ways. Plus, the introduction to Karou is wonderful.

Happy reading everyone!

Added you both!

And I'll be starting this tonight. Anyone planning on listening to the audiobook?

Hello, friends! I will be rereading Daughter of Smoke and Bone in August and I hope that you can join me!

This is a very casual and relaxed buddy read. There is no reading schedule. Get to it when you can and come on over to discuss as you can over the next few weeks.

Please start every post with the chapter or page number through which you have read, that way people know if it's safe to read your comment without fear of spoilers.

If you have any questions, let me know!

I first read this story in 2012 and reread it last year. I love Laini Taylor's musical and poetic prose, though I think it's make it or break it for people with this book. I'm looking forward to rereading again, this time with the full story in view, and to hone in on the details.

If you want to Tweet while you read: #DOSABalong
If you are interested in in a Voxer chat, let me know!
Also, if you make videos, I would love to discuss ideas about some kind of community review video. Everyone give their 2 minute review, maybe, and make a collab? Thoughts?

I hope you guys enjoy!

Happy reading!
x

Of course, I'm all, let me do a buddy read and my brain is "IDK, you don't want to read ever again." Which is to say that it's been a slow reading month for me. However, I did finally start this and I read through the first 10 chapters!

Chapter 1-10

- I think part of the reason I found this slow to begin with is that Ferrante throws you right in. And there is this whole complicated cast of characters-- husbands, wives, children, schoolmates, neighbors. It can seem like work to keep up with them and it was for me at first. Being back here on reread, it's so much smoother since I already know who everyone is.

- I'm so struck by what Elena is telling us about her childhood in these small stories. They seem disjointed at first-- a doll, a school competition, boys throwing rocks, a woman cheating, etc. They are all talking about a poverty cycle, about education, about all these problems that Elena faced as a child and right away we see how she responds to them differently than Lila.

- I love the bit about how children have a hard time processing a "before" and in general, how it's difficult for them to understand time before them. Or even to think about anything except the very here and now. It seems like such a true statement to me. It reminds me of looking at pictures of my young parents and having my mind blown that they ever were young or ever existed in a life before they were my parents.

- I always pulled more toward Elena than Lila in the whole story and I see now where that started. From the moment Lila sent the doll into the cellar I was like OH NO, GIRL. lol

That's all I got for now! I hope to cover a big chunk of this over the weekend. :)

Wendy wrote: "Hello, joining this because I have heard such great things about this book and I love a good buddy read. Right now I'm listening to the audio book while waiting for a physical copy to come in at th..."

I'm so happy! I listened to the audiobook in parts the first go around and I thought it was so well-done. I'm going to listen to all of it this time around and I'm really excited about it. I think Ferrante's writing and the whole narrative structure of this story really lends itself well to being read aloud.

A lot of people who struggle with the book at first (myself included) seem to mostly feel disconnected from the childhood portion and start to invest during adolescence. I'm so happy to hear you note the brilliance of this first part in painting the cycle that pulls at those born into poverty and how the teacher represents the hope for more.

Hello, friends! Welcome back! As things got busy last year, my buddy reading efforts fell by the wayside, but I'd love to start this up again.

This is a very casual and relaxed buddy read. There is no reading schedule. Get to it when you can and come on over to discuss as you can. I have this set up as a single forum, but if it gets too confusing or if you all prefer, I can separate the forum by chapters!

For now, please start every post with the chapter or page number through which you have read, that way people know if it's safe to read without fear of spoilers.

If you have any questions, let me know!

I first read this story in January of 2016 and went on to read the whole quartet. I love it. I will admit that the book was a little difficult to get into at first, but after a certain point, I INHALED the rest. And as the series (and book) goes on, it's clear how much Ferrante was laying down at the beginning of this story.

I can't wait to discuss this with everyone!
Happy reading!
x

I've been slacking on reading in general, so the group's been quiet but I want to make sure to keep up with it, because I've had so much fun in the past. So, here we go:

Read through page 46

- More than anything, I've just been highlighting small moments or things that stand out to me since this is a reread and I know where the story is headed. Honestly, I'm reading with a pit in my stomach because of how emotional it made me first time around. So, that's cool.

- Marilyn is describing how Lydia just suddenly learning to walk and I thought it was a nice, if not subtle, way to preview Lydia's character. Other kids toddle around. Lydia was suddenly standing right behind her mother.

- There is also an early scene where the kids get stopped in a grocery store and asked if they are Chinese and the strange comments on their eye shape. I think most nonwhites, POC or immigrants can relate to something like this or the whole idea of strangers thinking they own some part of your identity, whether that's touching your hair or slanting their eyes at you.

-Marilyn was the character I think I most struggled with the first time around so I'm trying to keep my mind open when it comes to her to see if I can feel or identify with her more this time.

That's it!

Hello, friends! I will be rereading Everything I Never Told You in July and hope some of you will join me!

This is a very casual and relaxed buddy read. There is no reading schedule. Get to it when you can and come on over to discuss as you can, all through the month of July.

Please start every post with the chapter or page number through which you have read, that way people know if it's safe to read your comment without fear of spoilers.

If you have any questions, let me know!

I first read this story in February of 2015 and I can still remember all of the complicated feelings this story caused in me. I'm really curious to revisit a little more carefully and soberly to see how well it holds up. I'm also kind of accepting, though, that I'm just going to be a ball of feelings again...

I hope you guys enjoy!

Happy reading!
x

Nicole wrote: "OTHER THOUGHTS:

- MA COSTA. I wish the story had more Ma Costa. I just got to page 140 last night, and all I could think was, "This woman is clearly epic and we see so little of her." I hope the B..."

Ma Costa is wonderful, and it's so satisfying when you find out her further connection to Lyra. YOU GO, MA COSTA.

Also, I think what makes Lyra difficult for some to connect to in the beginning is what makes her so excellent on reread: she's just such a kid! Especially at the beginning of the story, which makes her arc and the things she has to go through so heartbreaking. She's just a kid.

My moment of flaily maternal feels was (I think I mentioned) when she's telling John Faa her whole story and it literally just all comes spilling out and it's the most truth she's told so far. There is something so innocent and adorable about her finally feeling safe enough to babble on in that way.

Maybe I'll teach my future, hypothetical children to call it The Roarer, for my own personal amusement.

Okay, I'm halfway through so spoilers to page 205:

I know that during my first read, I fell in love with Lyra slowly. At the start of the story she's just kind of a regular child? A little rambunctious and a bit bratty and her move away from that happens so slowly that it wasn't until I finished the book that I thought, "huh. I DO like her."

During this reread I'm seeing more clearly the way she worked her way into my heart.

1. I love that she's flawed and I LOVE that her flaw is being excellent at lying. Isn't that great?

2. Lyra is so much a survivor and I think we see a different side of that lying nature in more of a adaptive form? Like she spends time with the Gyptians at their camp and she's suddenly talking like them, doing their work and otherwise blending in. Then they are on the ship and after a bout of sea sickness, we see that Lyra is up, learning the literal ropes and within a week she's basically a pirate. She has this whole conversation about how she never wants her daemon to settle and I can imagine that the idea of being ONE THING is very far fetched to this little girl.

3. She jumps up so quickly to do what she thinks is right. I've just left off on the part where she wants to ride a bear into a city to see about a ghost because she feels like it's important and the right thing to do. Bless.

Other than that, we've been introduced to two of by favorite characters, Iorek and Lee. They haven't done too much yet, but just having them on my pages is a blessing.

That's it for now!

Happy reading!

x

Okay, I'm at 32% now which is page 121, but I wanted to update you BECAUSE, I found the part where it started to take off for me and I think that would be a handy thing for some people struggling with the slow beginning:

- The story starts to come together and pick up speed when Lyra joins Coulter, around page 100. That seems like a lot of pages, and it is, but they are 100 children's fantasy pages so even though it's slow, you can still really get through them really quickly.

- The "problem" I found with the beginning is that it lays a bunch of stuff out that will all be super important later, but either you don't have enough information to understand it, you don't get how it's all going to tie together or you don't know why you should care, even about Lyra, who is just a little kid and kind of just there...? At least she was for me up until about the time I mentioned and further on when she's with the Gyptians. There is a part where someone asks her for the story of what's happened to her and she just tells it so quickly, fully and enthusiastically that I fell in love with this little girl so found of stories and lies and even the truth when it is as fantastical as what happens to her.

- This is also about the time when you really get a picture of the relationship between human and daemon, AND THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT THE SERIES.

**SPOILERS**
- Knowing the future makes all of Lyra's opening interactions with Asriel and Coulter all the more interesting. And knowing all the stuff (...heartbreak...) that's to come makes me have lots of feeling for this early version of Lyra.

I hope you guys are making it through okay if you've already started! I've been listening to the audiobook and it's been such a good experience!

Happy reading!

x

Olivia wrote: "I reread the whole trilogy back in December and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the audiobooks--they're full-cast narrated by the author. Though I will say that they are based on the American versions, which mo..."

Thank you! Listening to Pride and Prejudice for the first time went so well last month that I considered listening to this as well. Wonderful to know it's worth it. :)

Claudia wrote: "let's see if I can finally make it through this book...."

Let me know if you need me to step in with encouragement or gifs or e-high fives. ;)

Hello, friends! I will be rereading The Golden Compass in May and hope some of you will join me!

This is a very casual and relaxed buddy read. There is no reading schedule. Get to it when you can and come on over to discuss as you can.

Please start every post with the chapter or page number through which you have read, that way people know if it's safe to read without fear of spoilers.

If you have any questions, let me know!

I first read this story in 2012 on the recommendation of my best friend. This is her favorite series. I think that my own love for it has only grown, even after just reading through it a single time. I love the characters and this first book is definitely my favorite.

I hope you guys enjoy!

Happy reading!
x

I actually watched the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice a couple of weekends back and I think I appreciated it more than I ever have. I still prefer the BBC version because it is so much more faithful to the source material, because it can be. A feature film can't really compete with a mini-series. That said, I think there are a few things 2005 does so, so well:

- It's casting of Jane is 100000% better and I love the Bingleys as well. Casting in general was well done, though I give an edge to BBC's Lizzy and Darcy, probably just out of loyalty and nostalgia.

- For having to cut so many corners, 2005 does a really great job at capturing the essence of characters and interactions. It adds a bit more humanity to things, if that makes sense. I'm thinking specifically of Jane and Lizzy under the covers, talking about the ball where Jane met Bingley and the adorable little freak-out she does. I think I also prefer the way Mr. Bennett teases Mrs. Bennett here, but there is generally more love between them than is usually portrayed. I love seeing things like Bingley proposing to Jane and her reaction. This is where the freedoms and licenses succeed for me.

Plus, I really love the score.

Just wanted to share that! Between listening to Rosamund Pike for the first time and this, I found even more things to love about Pride and Prejudice this time around.

I have a few days left in April. I might be able to squeeze in the mini-series too!

Ian wrote: "i just finished the book :)

i never read anything of jane austen and it wasn't on my tbr list. but because it was the book of this month i picked it up. and i'm glad i did.

i really enjoyed it.
..."

Thank you so much for reading with us! I'm so happy you enjoyed your first Austen and I would definitely recommend rereading. You get a lot out of the text with repetition, especially since you become more familiar with the language Austen uses.

Excellent point about Lizzy at the end. I think the book is a lot about accepting people for who they are, but maybe also learning to live in a way that constitutes your own happiness. I'm pretty sure it says at the end that Jane moves further away afrom Longbourne as well, later on. The girls love their family, but the mom is especially imposing. It's probably how they can deal with her best, keeping her a certain distance away. ;)

Wendy wrote: "Just finished chapter 20. Thoughts so far:

1. Narration is amazing on the audio book. Pike does a wonderful job with all of the many voices.
2. The writing is crisp and...dry, I guess, is the wor..."

I love Jane and her characterization Perhaps because I'm more prone to thinking bad of people's actions, I really appreciate her trying to be the voice of reason. Plus, it makes her silent heartbreak all the more feelsy for me.

One thing I'm always interested in with P&P adaptations is how they'll portray Mrs. Bennet. She's sometimes well-meaning but dimwitted and other times more... mean-spirited? Or like willfully obtuse. She mostly frustrates me for Lizzy's benefit and also specifically during the whole Lydia drama, where she kind of refuses to acknowledge the truth of the situation.

Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying your read and I hope it picked up for you!

Sabrina wrote: "I'm through about chapter 20 right now. First of all, Rosamund Pike does killer voices. Also, I'm really enjoying it, maybe even more than I anticipated.

I had somehow forgotten the narrative pers..."

I was JUST talking to my co-worker about this because she wast talking about her preferences between first person, third person limited and third person omniscient. Somewhere in the conversation I mentioned Pride and Prejudice because in my head, the story is told in Lizzy's voice and from Lizzy's POV, but that's not quite accurate! It IS more complex than that and much of the humor that I attribute to Lizzy herself is actually found in the omniscient narrator's voice, commenting on society, the rules, the norms, the practices or the characters themselves.

Man, I love this book.