Jenny’s Comments (group member since Mar 04, 2019)

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

Since Oct. 1, 2018 I have read the following:
1. Sorcery of Thorns
2. The Printed Letter Bookshop
3. The Storied Life of AJ Fikry
4. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (close call on this one)
5. Every Trick in the Book
6. The Thirteenth Tale
7. Sword and Pen
8. The Book of Life
9. 84, Charing Cross Road
10. Murder at the Library of Congress
11. How to Find Love in a Bookshop
12. Reading People
13. On Writing
14. The Diary of a Bookseller
-------- 1st 3 quarters of 2019 above, last quarter of 2018 below
15. The Mortal Word
16. Book Girl
17. Smoke and Iron
18. I'd Rather Be Reading
19. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore

So I'm Book Bound....but have a few more on my TBR cart so who knows...

1. Smart
2. Bossy (just ask my brother)
3. Loyal
4. Bibliophile
5. Dog-mom
Bonus: Traveler

Set 3- Chapters 18-24

11. Easy question to start with. Who doesn't want Nathaniel's five story library with the skylight and the moving ladders? Do you have a perfect library in your head, or in your real life?

I have a home library...not as grand as my dream, but my ceilings aren't high enough to warrant a library ladders and the room isn't big enough for more shelves!

12. What do you think sorcerers do for a living? Nathaniel is practicing illusions for a dance. Is he being paid for it? We have been deposited in this world without a lot of backstory, so stuff like this makes me wonder.

I think I have always assumed sorcery was the job. In Nathaniel's case, he's a noble (or so I think) so perhaps has wealth related to that.

13. Do you like the fact that Katrien was brought back into the story, and how it happened? Would you play with a scrying mirror?

I like Katrien and would like to see even more of her so I'm glad she's back. I might use a scrying mirror, but with caution - magic always seems to carry a price.....

14. What do you think of Prendergast? Any ideas yet on how he could help Elizabeth?

I don't have much of an opinion on him at this point.

15. Be honest. Did you at all think that Elizabeth's differences could be attributed to her growing up in the library? Do you think that is the right explanation?

Not all of them...seems like there must be some aptitude, likely genetic...otherwise, why all the secrecy about where she came from.

16. Where do you see the relationship between Nathanial and Elizabeth going?

Seems like a classic enemies to friends to something more situation to me (which is a favorite of mine, I'm a romantic)

Set 2: Chapters 10 - 17

7) We have some reveals here: the Big Bad (or is he?) Chancellor Ashcroft and his desire to destroy the library, for reasons.... How do you like the Chancellor and his motivation and actions?
A: Ashcroft gives me the creeps! Perhaps a case of power corrupting the powerful?

8) We meet more demons, Lorelei and Mr Hob, and start to see differences in how they are and interact. Do you like this aspect of the magic system?
A: I like the idea that not all demons are the same...people are different, why wouldn't demons be different. But the idea of a hierarchy amongst demons is an old one so I didn't find it particularly surprising here.

9) Elisabeth demonstrates her unusualness again, in avoiding being completely sucked under Lorelei's control and then in escaping from Ashcroft's magic. Has your opinion of Elisabeth changed over this section?
A: By this point, my opinion started to change...perhaps she's not the brat she first appeared

10) How do you feel about the pacing of the book? Is there anything you'd like to see more of? Less of?
A: I think the book is pretty well-paced....I have now finished it and while I don't want to include any spoilers, I will say the pace picks up (as it should).

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 through 9

1) What attracted you to this BOM discussion? Have you read other books by this author? What do you think of the cover (those with the physical book, check out the eyeball on the back)? Have you ever bought a physical book because the cover was that pretty and it needed to sit on your shelves at home (please share said cover)?
A: I actually picked up this book a couple of months ago and so was excited to see it as a BOTM here and waited until now to read it (but warning, because I will be travelling starting this weekend, I'm planning to finish by Friday so am well past Ch. 9 at this point). I do like the cover (though I did not notice the eye on the back until you pointed it out). I enjoy high fantasy with strong female leads and this seems to fit that description.

2) What do you think of the world building so far? With sorcerers, warrior librarians, and grimoires that can interact, talk, hate other grimoires, or even turn into a Malefict. What fun!

A: I love books that involve libraries and books...and especially when they have a new take on them...I find the concept of a book (albeit a grimoire and not just any book) verbalizing and even turning into a creature when damaged, etc. I find it a really clever device so far.

3) Have any thoughts on Elisabeth's lineage given her affinity for grimoires and her reaction to seeing magic for the first time? Why do you think The Director kept her as a baby? If it's a known fact that the Libraries don't take orphans until age 13, why do you think her family dropped Elisabeth at there and not an actual orphanage?

A: Having read past Ch. 9, I know a bit more about this...but there are still plenty of unanswered questions...I do find it very interesting that the Director chose to raise Elisabeth in the library and have wondered why...I suspect the Director either knows or suspects something about Elisabeth that we do not, but we'll see...

4) What are your initial thoughts on the characters of Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas? Like? Hate? Too early to call?

A: I love Nathaniel...Elisabeth, well, too early to tell by Ch. 9, and Silas is a conundrum!

5) After Elisbeth gets to the city, it's clear the library is very sheltered, closed off, and honestly closed minded to the rest of the country. Did you find this odd? Why do you think they are so shut off from the rest of society?

A: I can understand why the libraries are isolated (the danger of the grimoires), but I admit I'm a bit stymied as to why the libraries are teaching such biased views (to me, all libraries should be places of enlightenment - I know that's not always the case and clearly not here, but it's the ideal in my mind). I also wonder if perhaps Elisabeth, being raised in the library by people who are not exactly childcare providers, is more sheltered and thus more biased than the average librarian...

6) When Nathaniel went to drop off Elisabeth, I think it is clear there was a trap set up to kill her. Do you think people want her dead so she'll take the fall for the incident? Did Elisabeth surprise you during the fight with the fiends?

A: I don't want to say too much here...but I was a bit surprised by how ably Elisabeth defends herself...I got the impression she had not yet trained with the sword...seems there is some innate talent here....

DQs day 4

15 – Many feel the second half of the book isn’t as strong as the first. Do you agree? Do you think it’s too condensed, or meanders too much?
The 2nd half does feel a bit different, perhaps it's the pace? But I wouldn't say it's not as strong. It does meander a bit but there are a lot of moving parts so I suppose that's the nature of the beast.

16 – How did you feel about the book now that you’ve finished it? Did it meet your expectations? If it was a re-read does it tally with your memory of the book?
LOVED IT...this was my first read and I had watched the mini series already so knew a bit going in (and had the visuals for the characters). Definitely met, perhaps even exceeded, my expectations.

17 – How well did you think Pratchett and Gaiman managed to write together? Did you ever feel like you were reading two different authors, or did you find they blended well together?
I wouldn't have known it was written was by 2 different authors based solely on the writing...I think it blended seamlessly. Of course, it helps that Pratchett and Gaiman clearly think a lot alike and have (or I suppose this should be past tense as Sir Terry died a few years ago) complimentary writing styles.

18 – Have you read any other works by either author? Do you think you are more or less likely to pick up any of their individual books in future?
I read some Pratchett many years ago and have just recently begun reading Gaiman (starting with A View from the Cheap Seats, some of his nonfiction work). I actually planned to read Good Omens because of Gaiman (and this "challenge" came along at just the right time). I do plan on reading more Gaiman but I don't think Good Omens influenced that - I may go back and reread Pratchett as well (I was a teen last I read any of his work).

Thanks all! I've enjoyed the discussion questions and look forward to reading another book with you sometime.

Day 3: Thursday and Friday

10: How do you think the baby mix up influenced how Adam turned out? Or was the mix up what was really supposed to happen in going with the theme of all actions and events being part of a divine plan?
I think Adam having a "normal" upbringing (not interfered with by either side directly) is perfect - was it a "mistake" or divine plan, well, I suppose that depends on your thoughts on predestination...personally, I'm not a huge believer in predestination so I'd go more with an unexpected decision path (not exactly a "mistake") in accordance with free will.

11: Crowley and Aziraphale tried to shape the upbringing of the Anti Christ only to have the wrong kid. Do you think Adam would have discovered his powers earlier if they had been influencing him instead?
Probably.

12: Do you think Anathema knew that Adam might have special abilities when she met him? Was that why she gave him the reading material?
I've wondered this as well...I'm inclined to think she did NOT know at first, but as we can't be sure what Agnes left for her about Adam as a person, who really knows. She may have just shared the reading material to share an interest...or as a test of some sort.

13: Like me, were you worried about what had happened to the 3rd baby? What did you think when you read the little size piece about Greasy?
Truthfully, I sort of assumed an unsavory end for the baby (the nuns were Satanists after all) - of course that doesn't mean I don't prefer the idea he was placed for adoption. I like the idea of competitively raising tropical fish, so quirky!

14: There are some secondary characters that seem to have no real purpose in the book yet: Raven, Newt and Shadwell for example. Do you have any theories as to the parts they will play in stopping or helping the impending Armageddon?
Since I watched the mini series, I already know so I'm not going to say more on this question (no spoilers please). I realize the book could be different, but probably not in the essentials.

DQs Day 2: Wednesday

5. Aziraphale and Crowley discover that Warlock isn't the antichrist and are in search of the real antichrist; why do you think they didn't catch on to this earlier?
Because I think they were focused on trying to counter or even "one-up" each other in influencing the child rather than on the child himself.

6. The manor is just a little different than when the babies were born (hehe). How do you like Mary Hodges changes? Is the portrayal of corporate retreats accurately reflected?
I think the change from a Satanic nun-run hospital to a corporate retreat is clever. I also find the idea of team-building corporate retreats to often be a bit "over-the-top" so this portrayal just took it to the next level - making it more absurd and humerous.

7. Aziraphale is excited to have the very rare book of prophecies in his hands and treats it with utmost care; does his love of books endear him to you more (well, his upgrade of Anathema's bike also made me smile at him)?
Oh yes, any bibliophile is more endearing...and Aziraphale is so endearing to begin with that it's just icing on the cake.

8. War is on vacation; this scene is packed with nuances, but we get the sense of impending doom; what do you think the lords of hell add to the story, do you like it?
I'm not entirely sure why the 4 Horsemen are included...except they do figure prominently in the biblical version of Armageddon so I don't suppose you could have Armageddon without them. I do like that War is a female character.

9. Keeping Cat's theme going, what is your favorite quote from this section?
When Crowley was thinking about how humans do things worse than demons dreamed and "then shout 'The Devil Made Me Do It' and get the sympathy of the court when the whole point was that the Devil hard ever made anyone do anything. He didn't have to." I find the whole idea that mankind is worse than the Devil or demons quite the hypothesis....but I'm not sure if I agree or not.
Also "But Heaven has the best choreographers." and "It's Tchaikovsky's 'Another One Bites the Dust,'" {all of the Queen references are perhaps more amusing as I just went to see Queen with Adam Lambert in concert last week}

Lau Maia wrote: "DQs Day 1: In the Beginning - Eleven Years Ago

Lau Maia, if I hadn't already seen the Good Omens mini series I would probably also see Crowley as from Supernatural (he's pretty great), but having seen the mini series, I just hear and see David Tennant as Crowley and it makes me smile/chuckle all the more.

DQs Day 1: In the Beginning - Eleven Years Ago

1. What's prompted you to pick up the book (except BOM points!)? Is it a first time read, a reread, a rereread, because of the mini-series? This is a first time read for me. I chose to participate because it's been on my TR for a while (before the mini-series, which I have watched & loved). I'm a new Neil Gaiman fan so that prompted my interest originally.

2. I really enjoy the humour in the book, but am aware it's a very British sort of humour. Do you find it funny? Any stand out lines so far? I enjoy Brit humour and am definitely finding this funny. Having already seen the mini-series, I also hear David Tennant's voice for Crowley (and Michael Sheen for Aziraphale) which just adds to my amusement.

3. In the very first section the angel and demon discuss whether the two actions they took in the Garden of Eden (tempting of the apple and giving up the sword) are actually actions for the opposite team: is it good for humanity to have knowledge? Do you have a view? I have a friend who often says "what's bad is good and what's good is bad" - something I find applies to many things in life...in the end, I'm a big fan of free will (and yes, I am a Christian) so I'm not sure either action is good or bad.

4. The best part about this section, imo, is the frenemies relationship between Aziraphale & Crowley. Do you enjoy it? Do you have a favourite of the two? I absolutely love the relationship between the two...while I certainly empathize with Aziraphale's bibliophile tendencies, I love Crowley (though that is partially influenced by my "crush" on David Tennant I suspect), his "wicked" sense of humor (humour) is fabulous.