Update on the Challenge #1

So, we're three month away from the end of the We want YOU to read French Authors Challenge.
Some of you did a really good job so far!

As you may remember, the aim was (and still is) to read some French books (not necessarily in French) to discover a bit more about France and its authors

But enough, let's report your progress!

Jeremy - Goal: 1 book (Antoine de St-Exupéry level)

-The Little Prince

=> 1 book so far

Julia - Goal: 3 books (Alexandre Dumas level)

-

=> 0 book so far

Patty - Goal: 3 books (Alexandre Dumas level)

-Une gourmandise

=> 1 book so far

Emma - Goal: 5 to 10 books (Albert Camus/Jules Verne level)

-The Adventures of Hergé

-Le Dieu du carnage

-Du côté de chez Swann

-An Accident in August

-Le Grand Meaulnes

=> 5 books so far

Charlotte - Goal: 10 books (Jules Verne level)

-Une Forme de vie

-Cahier d'un retour au pays natal

-Sierra Brulante

=> 3 books so far

Ismé - Goal: 10 books (Jules Verne level)

-

=> 0 book so far

Cheri - Goal: 20 books (Victor Hugo level)

-

=> 0 book so far

Great job to Emma and Jeremy who have already succeded, and are willing to go further!
And to Betty and Charlotte who are on the right track!
Good luck and good reads to the others if they're still in the game!
If I've missed some of your readings, go put your links in the Mister Linky's Magical Box!

For those willing to, you still can enter the Challenge for the last three months!
But anyway there will be another edition of it, starting on September 1st! Plus, we linked our own reviews in the list-of-some-books-you-can-pick-for-the-Challenge so you can learn a little bit more about those books we talked about!

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Red Seas Under Red Skies read along [last part]

In case you haven't followed the first part of this read along on The Lies of Locke Lamora, let me tell you, you missed something.
But it's not too late! (well, now it kinda is)
Here we are again, reading and answering questions about the second part of this awesome series, Red Seas Under Red Skies.
Care to join?
All the details are on the Little Red Reviewer blog, so take a book and join the fun!

Gosh, it's really the end now. I don't even know why I'm bothered about it because I know that the next book is coming soon, and I'll throw myself at it as soon as it's out like the shameless fangirl I am, but still. The read along was so much fun, and I loved re-reading and discussing the story with everyone, and discovering all the little things I would have never thought of without you. Thanks!!!



1. Oh my god, such a lot going on I thought the showdown between the Poison Orchid and the Sovereign was brilliantly written and they were holding their own until Utgar and his nasty device turned up. Well a lot of you had kind of predicted it, and I suppose we’d been let off too easy so far in terms of deaths of well-liked characters – but come on, did you expect something like that? And how on earth will Jean ever recover?
I'm one of those who knew that the minute Ezri and Jean were head over heels in love, one of them would have to go. How, when... I certainly hadn't predicted that she would bloody burn alive to save the ship. Fucking devotion!! I know, the ship (and the crew) totally deserved to be saved, and sending Drakasha to do it would have been really cruel for her kids, but Ezri was still so young :( *sob*
I don't know if Jean will recover, grief is something that fades away without ever disappearing, so I think part of him will always remain torn by the lost of his loved one. I wonder if he'll ever let himself fall in love after that... as if we needed a second Locke, really!


2. The deceit, the betrayal, first Rodanov and then Colvard. Even now I’m not entirely sure I understand Colvard – Rodanov was never keen on the oath but Colvard seemed okay with it all and yet in this final deceit she was more devious than Rodanov – what do you think was her motive?
I think they are pirates, and even though they pretend to get along, in the end everyone thinks of themselves first. If it had been Rodanov asking for what Drakasha asked, Colvard would have probably behaved the same way and suggested to get rid of him behind his back. Some people are like that... yay for trust issues!


3. Merrain – such a puzzle, no real answer, the mysterious tattoo, the determination to kill everyone to keep her identity and that of her master a secret. Does anybody have any ideas where she’s from and what she’s up to exactly and who the hell is she working for??
Hum, Karthain? I don't think they do women (or do they?). Maybe something to do with where Sabetha is? I kinda remember that the Lillies had tattoos, or was I dreaming? She could be in one of those guilds that do the same as the Gentlemen Bastards in their youth, disguise themselves to infiltrate a powerful organisation and get away when it becomes dangerous. I don't know if she's clearly against them or just trying to dissuade them from coming after her...


4. Finally we get to the point of the GB’s latest scheme, all that elaborate planning for two years, fancy chairs, gambling, dust covered cards, abseiling lessons – all for one gigantic bluff. I loved the diversionary tactic here but having finally reached the end of the story and, more to the point, the end result – do you think the GB’s are as clever as they think they are?
I think this was the shittiest EVER result they could have gotten, I mean, what the hell?! Mr Lynch, leave them be, for christ sake!!
Back to the question, it's tough to assess how clever they think they are, when you think of it they did run the plan very well, they anticipated quite many things and managed to get away safely without killing anyone unnecessarily, so just for that they deserve an A. The fact that Requin had fakes... how could they know if no one does, not even Selendri? And according to the buyer it's not a common practice there, so really, that was just bad luck.
Or should I say... relentless persecution?


5. I must admit that I liked Requin and Selendri – particularly at the end – I don’t think Requin will go after Locke and Jean, he was even sort of cool and composed about it all, in fact he came across as a bit pleased with himself because he had the last laugh. Plenty of good characters this time which did you enjoy reading most about this time?
Yes, that bastard, he indeed got the last laugh. At least he's fair enough not to go after them, that would really have been too much!
I love a lot of the characters in these books, so it's really hard to pick one. Locke was the big star in the first one, and now it's more Jean's turn, but the people gravitating around them all had their charm and their defaults, so I can't choose.


6. Finally, a triple barrel question, I know I shouldn’t ask this BUT, on reflection do you have a favourite between LoLL or RSURS?? And why? Are you going to pick up Republic of Thieves? And, where do you think Lynch will take us to next??
Hum, don't know, but maybe RSURS was a bit better because more focused on less characters, and less flashbacks, so easier to follow and get enthralled by it. First one was still awesome, though, but you feel more like it's a first book, and now that we know all we need to (well, almost), we can focus on more detailed stories.
As I said before, I'll throw myself at Republic of Thieves the minutes it comes out. Can't wait to meet them again!
Regarding the next adventures... with the prologue about Sabetha, I'm expecting to see her joining the gang again, and discover what happened between her and Locke and how he will react around her. And I'm also expecting vicious bondsmage throwing challenges at them, and some sneaky attacks from Regal, because hey, kittens, that's how they are.


So sad to end this read-along, but looking forward to the next one! Check the other reviews from the Little Red Reviewer and see you... someday, I hope!

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Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair

Title: The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next, book 1)
Author: Jasper Fforde
Pub. year: 2001
Pages: 373
Editor: Hodder & Stoughton

Summary: There is another 1985, somewhere in the could-have-been, where the Crimean war still rages, dodos are regenerated in home-cloning kits and everyone is deeply disappointed by the ending of 'Jane Eyre'. In this world there are no jet-liners or computers, but there are policemen who can travel across time, a Welsh republic, a great interest in all things literary - and a woman called Thursday Next.

I'm sure a lot of you heard about Jasper Fforde before, probably for the very good reason that this guy is a genius.



I mean, he wrote this world which looks very much like ours, except for.. a lot of things! I mean, there's a police for crime against books, dodos are back, there's wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff involved, ...
It's like a giant cauldron in which he put a little bit of investigation, a spoon of SF, some book-related shenanigans, a bit of timetravel, some reflexions about wars and its point, and other awesome and surprising stuff, and then the series came out of it.

We discover Thursday Next, 30-something woman, who's working for the LiteraTec department of the SpecOps, which supposedly is a tranquil kind of job, but which appears not to be quite what it's supposed to be, for her ; her father who can't stay more than 10mn in the same place and jumps back and forward in time to hide (and have fun, let's be honest) ; Acheron Hades, the big bad guy, who enjoys being a villain just for the sake of it ; Mycroft Next who doesn't seem to realise that some of his inventions can be really dangerous and that some people are willing to do anything to aquire them ; Jack Schitt (another one with a funny name) who's a little bit megalomaniac and thinks he owns the world.. Well, let's say that these colorful characters are clearly responsible for most of the fun & rythm in this story.

At the end, I was almost willing to reread Jane Eyre, though I didn't enjoyed it very much the first time (I couldn't even remember most of the story, if it weren't for Thursday summary), and to read Martin Chuzzlewit (by Charles Dickens) and Richard III (I don't need much convincing to read Shakespeare books, though).

There were some disappointing points at first, but after thinking about it, I realised it was perfect this way. So in the end, I enjoyed this book very much and I can't wait to read the next ones.

Actually, it's really hard to talk about this book because it contains so many things that I cannot really put words on them, so maybe the easiest way for you to know what is exactly this book, is by reading it. Give it a go, you'll see, it's awesome!


Quotes:
" I said to him when he rebuilt the muscles in my arm, 'Do you think I'll be able to play the violin?' and he said: 'Of course!' and then I said: 'That's good, I couldn't before!' "
p.195

" 'They'd never get here in time. It's easy. A lobotomised monkey could do it.'
'And where are we going to find a lobotomised monkey at this time of night?'
'You're being windy, Bowden.' "
p.273

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Red Seas Under Red Skies read along [fourth part]

In case you haven't followed the first part of this read along on The Lies of Locke Lamora, let me tell you, you missed something.
But it's not too late!
Here we are again, reading and answering questions about the second part of this awesome series, Red Seas Under Red Skies.
Care to join?
All the details are on the Little Red Reviewer blog, so take a book and join the fun!

'You have... you have such hoops as I have never seen in any cask on any ship, such shiny and well-fit hoops—'

Jean's best pick-up line ever.




Hey, it's our usual Saturday Sunday meeting, folks! I am sad to say, this is already the before-last part, and while I've never really managed to be on time at all during this read along, re-reading this awesome book is still very awesome, and I'm happy to have reached this far. The Big Bad Ass Full Of Surprises end is coming quite near, but not quite there either... that was some quality pirate time we got this week, ahoy! (isn't that totally cliché ?)


1. I was much relieved when Jean and Locke made up, which started with Locke's gesture of a cup full of honesty with Cpt. Drakasha. Do you think that was hard for Locke? Or was he using this bit of honesty like any other weapon in his arsenal to get what he wants in the end?
I think the guy can be occasionally sincere when needed and it really seems like his fight with Jean affected him, and he realized that the pirates where really their people and that he couldn't just betray them to save his ass. It's probably as hard as it is a relief to finally come clear (or clearer) to Drakasha, and actually try to organize something together instead of going being her back. Plus, I don't think he would have managed alone.


2. The Parlor Passage: We still don't know Locke's true name, but whatever was in that mist does. What do you think it is?
I love the ghostly-misty parts, it's the kind of atmosphere I'm really fond of and it was great to see all those tough guys being scared shitless of something they couldn't see. I don't know what is was exactly, maybe just some swamp mist, potent rotting hypnotic flowers and a bit of a collective wild imagination, or maybe some old goddess of the sea is lurking around, waiting for poor souls to drown in her clutches. Don't care, love it!


3. There was an interesting section of the book that started about where Locke assisted Drakasha in selling the Red Messenger; he put on the persona of Leocanto Kosta and used the alias Tavras Callas and then Drakasha was still thinking of him as Ravelle..... Did using all those various aliases in such a short amount of time have your mind spinning a little? Do you think Lynch did this on purpose to give the reader a sense of Locke's mind?
It was ok during the selling of the boat, because it didn't really matter what name was used, it was quite easy to know that Locke was being himself (finally getting some con action!) and there was no real confusion. The tough part for me is when they go back to the boat, and Jean calls Locke Ravelle, but Drakasha calls him Kosta (and I'm always doubting which one is Kosta or De Ferra), and Ezri calls Jean Jean except when there is people and it's Jerome, and I'm like, who the hell is talking with who?! But it's quite fun, at least you get your brains working a little.


4. That was a sweet little kiss between Cpt. Zamira and Cpt. Jaffrim at the end of the Captains' Council. Do you think they have some history, or is it just innocent flirting that's been going on for some time?
I kinda missed the kiss, or it just didn't stick... well, I don't know, but Drakasha is old enough to have had fun with many lads, so why not him?


5. Jean and Ezri. Cue dove-cooing and little winged hearts with sparkles. Do you think Jean will stay with the Poison Orchid or that Ezri will leave her ship to pal around with Jean and Locke?
Ezri would grab the little winged hearts and stuff them up your arse to see you fart sparkles, if she heard that !!
I don't think Jean would be comfy staying on a ship but Ezri wouldn't be comfy on ground. They would have to find a compromise, and hey, everyone knows Jean would have to bow in the end. But you know Lynch; I don't think the compromise will be their biggest problem at the moment, it'll be more the staying alive...


6. What is Utgar up to? What are his motivations?
For me, he's just one of those guys that want money and power (like the fake Locke with Requin) and he's just looking for less competition and a better position. Maybe they had some arguments with Drakasha too... but anyway, I hate his guts. First, I don't like treason, and especially not for something as petty as money, and second, I just want to hang him to rot in Port Prodigal before they sail again. You'll soon see why. (teasers, they are bad. Sorry!)


7. So last week we hashed over that Merrain killed some of Stragos's guards on Windward Rock. But when Jean and Locke visit him, he doesn't mention it. What is up with that?
Well, Stragos knows, so I'm thinking they're together on that, or maybe he just forgot about it (not likely), or maybe he has something in reserve for them later on... who knows what bullshit this sneaky woman could have told him?


8. This week's section left us where the book began - Jean pointing a crossbow at Locke's throat. Do you think Jean knows who sent these crossbowers? Is he on their side? Is it a clever ploy to get him and Locke out of this predicament? Did you find it excruciatingly hard to stop here?
I haven't mentioned it before but I didn't like the start. I never really enjoyed those teasers, especially if they are several pages long and exactly the same as later on in the story. Lynch, you don't need that to keep us interested, you know! And at the beginning, I totally though that Jean was ganging up on him. Now that we have the full story, I think he's on Locke side and it's just a scheme to trick their opponent. But why the hell is Locke so freaked out?


So few pages remaining, urg! It's not really excruciating to stop here, it just is to stop! And even more to know that the next book is not ready yet! Check the other reviews from the Little Red Reviewer and see you next week for the end *sob*.

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