Final Thoughts

[PB684]

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ponie wrote:

I have learned by participating in this FL with TPBODD that there are 2 ways to read a book.

1. For pleasure....goes like this:

oh look a dog...cute! lalalalala...

arrogant professor...most are! lalalalala...

calls mother by first name...some do!  lalalalala...

house unoccupied for 20 years...water runs, tomatoes in garden...OK! lalalalala...

blue meteor...starry night! lalalala...

burn mark on door...vandals!  lalalalala...

boyfriend becomes sick...bummer!  boo hoo! lalalalala...  etc etc etc

2. For B&N online book club...goes like this:

a dog...Hmmmmm...not a cat but a dog...could this be a familiar?...a dog as a familiar?  hmmm...and have we seen a dog before...hmmmm...could there be a connection with that dog in the Interlude? hmmmmm...how did he know where the house was??? hmmm....has he been here before?.....hmmmmmm...is he protecting Connie? hmmm....

an arrogant professor...hmmmm...with serpentine eyes...hmmmmm...what did he mean by what he said???...hmmmm...what could he be up to???....hmmmmm  Could he be needing Connie's research for his own advancement?  WHAT? hmmmm.....Is he Connie's father?  WHAT? hmmmm.....

hmmmm...calls mom Grace...what's that about?...what might be going on with Connie that would have her doing that or is Grace requiring that?...hmmmmm....let's give some thought to their relationship....Grace's motives...hmmmmm

tomatoes in the garden?  WHAT????  How could that be????  This is New England...what was the date again?  June?  Tomotoes?  ready for the picking???  hmmmm....could that really be?  What's going on here???  water runs after 20 years of non use?  WHAT????  let's think on that for a minute or two!!  Is there something going on here??? hmmmmm....

burn mark on door...hmmmm....who did it? WHAT? not vandals?  WHAT? could have been her mother as a protection?  WHAT?  Chilton, as a warning?  WHAT? the Wicca woman from the store?  WHAT? hmmmmm....you mean it wasn't just vandals?...what did Grace mean when she said blue???? hmmm...is there a connection?  what meteor??? hmmm...

boyfriend sick...how is that connected???  WHAT?  HOW?  hmmmmmm....age old curse? WHAT????  hmmmm....what's his part in all of this? ...how is he different from Connie? hmmm....

Connie could be pregnant!!!  WHAT? hmmmm...what would that mean?  HOW would that change things? hmmmm....can they beat the curse???? hmmmm.....how?....

The much belabored point is (until this FL) I wouldn't even think to ask questions, dig deeper, think any farther than what's there on the surface....Just reading a book, lalalalalala, but missing sooooo much.

The bottomline here...I will never read a book the same again!

I thank all of you for your comments, questions, ponderings, insights, responses that caused me to begin to ask questions, dig deeper, think about what I was reading (and what I believed and how I came to those beliefs).

Reading TPBODD and participating in this FL has changed me and caused me to look at what I think and the way I think about things I thought I was so sure of, so right about (tho sadly, I hadn't even really given it any thought!).  It has forced me to look at and question things I have taken for granted to be the way I knew them to be; had been told that they were.  I am now considering what  I  think about certain things not just what I have been told (or sold). I am looking at why I think and believe the way I do; how I came to such "knowings".  I am making decisions based on (further) investigation and study and conversation with people holding different views than mine.  After this, rather, because of this FL experience, I will know better why I think the way I do; how I am coming to the decisions right for me.  Those decisions, choices and determinations will be mine - not someone elses - or that of an institution.

A heartfelt thanks to you all.  I have so enjoyed interacting with each and everyone of you and look forward to continuing the journey with the next B&N FL ARC and many of you.

---

ponie,

I LOVED this post...soooo creative and funny but you've hit the nail right on the head! That's what makes this FL book club so great. I, too, feel that I got much more out of the book because of all the discussion right here on these boards. It really forces you to give everything a second (and sometimes third) look and I love it when someone has a theory that I didn't think of and I think "AHA!!!"

Hope to see you on the next FL...can't wait for the announcement!

PB684

[ponie]

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PB684 wrote:

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ponie wrote:

I have learned by participating in this FL with TPBODD that there are 2 ways to read a book.

1. For pleasure....goes like this:

oh look a dog...cute! lalalalala...

arrogant professor...most are! lalalalala...

calls mother by first name...some do!  lalalalala...

house unoccupied for 20 years...water runs, tomatoes in garden...OK! lalalalala...

blue meteor...starry night! lalalala...

burn mark on door...vandals!  lalalalala...

boyfriend becomes sick...bummer!  boo hoo! lalalalala...  etc etc etc

2. For B&N online book club...goes like this:

a dog...Hmmmmm...not a cat but a dog...could this be a familiar?...a dog as a familiar?  hmmm...and have we seen a dog before...hmmmm...could there be a connection with that dog in the Interlude? hmmmmm...how did he know where the house was??? hmmm....has he been here before?.....hmmmmmm...is he protecting Connie? hmmm....

an arrogant professor...hmmmm...with serpentine eyes...hmmmmm...what did he mean by what he said???...hmmmm...what could he be up to???....hmmmmm  Could he be needing Connie's research for his own advancement?  WHAT? hmmmm.....Is he Connie's father?  WHAT? hmmmm.....

hmmmm...calls mom Grace...what's that about?...what might be going on with Connie that would have her doing that or is Grace requiring that?...hmmmmm....let's give some thought to their relationship....Grace's motives...hmmmmm

tomatoes in the garden?  WHAT????  How could that be????  This is New England...what was the date again?  June?  Tomotoes?  ready for the picking???  hmmmm....could that really be?  What's going on here???  water runs after 20 years of non use?  WHAT????  let's think on that for a minute or two!!  Is there something going on here??? hmmmmm....

burn mark on door...hmmmm....who did it? WHAT? not vandals?  WHAT? could have been her mother as a protection?  WHAT?  Chilton, as a warning?  WHAT? the Wicca woman from the store?  WHAT? hmmmmm....you mean it wasn't just vandals?...what did Grace mean when she said blue???? hmmm...is there a connection?  what meteor??? hmmm...

boyfriend sick...how is that connected???  WHAT?  HOW?  hmmmmmm....age old curse? WHAT????  hmmmm....what's his part in all of this? ...how is he different from Connie? hmmm....

Connie could be pregnant!!!  WHAT? hmmmm...what would that mean?  HOW would that change things? hmmmm....can they beat the curse???? hmmmm.....how?....

The much belabored point is (until this FL) I wouldn't even think to ask questions, dig deeper, think any farther than what's there on the surface....Just reading a book, lalalalalala, but missing sooooo much.

The bottomline here...I will never read a book the same again!

I thank all of you for your comments, questions, ponderings, insights, responses that caused me to begin to ask questions, dig deeper, think about what I was reading (and what I believed and how I came to those beliefs).

Reading TPBODD and participating in this FL has changed me and caused me to look at what I think and the way I think about things I thought I was so sure of, so right about (tho sadly, I hadn't even really given it any thought!).  It has forced me to look at and question things I have taken for granted to be the way I knew them to be; had been told that they were.  I am now considering what  I  think about certain things not just what I have been told (or sold). I am looking at why I think and believe the way I do; how I came to such "knowings".  I am making decisions based on (further) investigation and study and conversation with people holding different views than mine.  After this, rather, because of this FL experience, I will know better why I think the way I do; how I am coming to the decisions right for me.  Those decisions, choices and determinations will be mine - not someone elses - or that of an institution.

A heartfelt thanks to you all.  I have so enjoyed interacting with each and everyone of you and look forward to continuing the journey with the next B&N FL ARC and many of you.

---

ponie,

I LOVED this post...soooo creative and funny but you've hit the nail right on the head! That's what makes this FL book club so great. I, too, feel that I got much more out of the book because of all the discussion right here on these boards. It really forces you to give everything a second (and sometimes third) look and I love it when someone has a theory that I didn't think of and I think "AHA!!!"

Hope to see you on the next FL...can't wait for the announcement!

PB684

---

PB684...thanks!  It has been a stretching experience.  Generated a lot of conversation in my family.  I mean to tell you, when I am having to take a look at some long held beliefs that might not be based in truth, well, you can be darn sure I'm going to have my (grown) kids and any one else close to me take a look at that possibility in their lives and ways of thinking as well!!!

I too am waiting not too patiently for the next FL announcement.  This kind of book club fits into my lifestyle and sleeping habits (night owl that I have become).  I am in 2 face to face book clubs as well and we get good conversation going (in the 1.5 hours we have)

but not like this online adventure!!!!

[floreader]

Excellent post!  This book club has also caused me to think more about what I was reading.

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ponie wrote:

I have learned by participating in this FL with TPBODD that there are 2 ways to read a book.

1. For pleasure....goes like this:

oh look a dog...cute! lalalalala...

arrogant professor...most are! lalalalala...

calls mother by first name...some do!  lalalalala...

house unoccupied for 20 years...water runs, tomatoes in garden...OK! lalalalala...

blue meteor...starry night! lalalala...

burn mark on door...vandals!  lalalalala...

boyfriend becomes sick...bummer!  boo hoo! lalalalala...  etc etc etc

2. For B&N online book club...goes like this:

a dog...Hmmmmm...not a cat but a dog...could this be a familiar?...a dog as a familiar?  hmmm...and have we seen a dog before...hmmmm...could there be a connection with that dog in the Interlude? hmmmmm...how did he know where the house was??? hmmm....has he been here before?.....hmmmmmm...is he protecting Connie? hmmm....

an arrogant professor...hmmmm...with serpentine eyes...hmmmmm...what did he mean by what he said???...hmmmm...what could he be up to???....hmmmmm  Could he be needing Connie's research for his own advancement?  WHAT? hmmmm.....Is he Connie's father?  WHAT? hmmmm.....

hmmmm...calls mom Grace...what's that about?...what might be going on with Connie that would have her doing that or is Grace requiring that?...hmmmmm....let's give some thought to their relationship....Grace's motives...hmmmmm

tomatoes in the garden?  WHAT????  How could that be????  This is New England...what was the date again?  June?  Tomotoes?  ready for the picking???  hmmmm....could that really be?  What's going on here???  water runs after 20 years of non use?  WHAT????  let's think on that for a minute or two!!  Is there something going on here??? hmmmmm....

burn mark on door...hmmmm....who did it? WHAT? not vandals?  WHAT? could have been her mother as a protection?  WHAT?  Chilton, as a warning?  WHAT? the Wicca woman from the store?  WHAT? hmmmmm....you mean it wasn't just vandals?...what did Grace mean when she said blue???? hmmm...is there a connection?  what meteor??? hmmm...

boyfriend sick...how is that connected???  WHAT?  HOW?  hmmmmmm....age old curse? WHAT????  hmmmm....what's his part in all of this? ...how is he different from Connie? hmmm....

Connie could be pregnant!!!  WHAT? hmmmm...what would that mean?  HOW would that change things? hmmmm....can they beat the curse???? hmmmm.....how?....

The much belabored point is (until this FL) I wouldn't even think to ask questions, dig deeper, think any farther than what's there on the surface....Just reading a book, lalalalalala, but missing sooooo much.

The bottomline here...I will never read a book the same again!

I thank all of you for your comments, questions, ponderings, insights, responses that caused me to begin to ask questions, dig deeper, think about what I was reading (and what I believed and how I came to those beliefs).

Reading TPBODD and participating in this FL has changed me and caused me to look at what I think and the way I think about things I thought I was so sure of, so right about (tho sadly, I hadn't even really given it any thought!).  It has forced me to look at and question things I have taken for granted to be the way I knew them to be; had been told that they were.  I am now considering what  I  think about certain things not just what I have been told (or sold). I am looking at why I think and believe the way I do; how I came to such "knowings".  I am making decisions based on (further) investigation and study and conversation with people holding different views than mine.  After this, rather, because of this FL experience, I will know better why I think the way I do; how I am coming to the decisions right for me.  Those decisions, choices and determinations will be mine - not someone elses - or that of an institution.

A heartfelt thanks to you all.  I have so enjoyed interacting with each and everyone of you and look forward to continuing the journey with the next B&N FL ARC and many of you.

---

[jennaml]

 This idea for the book clubs is so great, and im kind of surprised at how good the books have been that are chosen.  I think that the whole book club board idea in general is really great and allows people to get ideas of what else might be good reading. keep it up!

[dg]

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get into the discussion boards before.  I really enjoyed this book.  It was definitely one of my favorite first look books.  My thanks to the author for sharing this wonderful book.

[fifenhorn]

I enjoyed this book immensely...quite different from the last First Look book. While I found some of it predictable, I really enjoyed the twist at the end. I didn't expect Chilton to be involved in Sam's illness at ALL!  This was a well written book, and I enjoyed the perspectives of both the "here and now" and the "back when"...it gave better insight to the theme of the book by allowing us to see how Deliverance and Mercy lived, while casting glimpses of the connections yet to come.

[ponkle]

I was very excited to start this book since it sounded like the perfect story. Although I liked the plot line I found the book to be too wordy. I felt where one adjective would be fine 3 were used. I find myself to be more of an adverb person, more action than flowers. Adjectives must be used for description so we can see the story or person or place but sometimes the use of too many just makes my mind wander. Sorry I didn't really enjoy the book.

[spaced57]

This book was so well written.  I'm really hoping that Katherine Howe will write another soon!

I loved the history involved in this novel.

I stayed up most nights reading, it had me so absorbed.

I felt I was actually there watching these characters. I can see this become a movie.

The Salem witch trials were a part of our history and the fact that Katherine Howe is related

to one is great.  I would enjoy knowing that I can go back and read about a relative so far

back and get a sense that this person existed, there name actually forever written in history that will never be forgotten. 

The two dogs that seem to come and go was a clever idea. I now believe after going back and reading over some areas, that this both dogs are one of the same.

The fact that she never knew she had powers until coming to grandmother's house was an interesting one.  I would have thought that someone who held such powers would have felt something throughout and wonder what it was.  I found her mother distant, detached but if she's a witch presence wasn't necessary.  Especially if she was able to put the symbol of protection on her door without actually being there.

I have recommended this book to my friends and family.

I bought one for my mom.

Thank You katherine Howe for a wonderful book and I get to keep it forever!!

[spaced57]

This book was so well written.  I'm really hoping that Katherine Howe will write another soon!

I enjoyed reading the history involved in this novel. I love the name Deliverance Dane.

How cool is that having the idea of putting a mysterious key with an unusual name rolled up in a piece of paper, just waiting to be found in a very old bible. Was it found by accident or fate?

I stayed up most nights reading, it had me so absorbed.

I felt I was actually there watching these characters. I can see this become a movie.

The Salem witch trials were a part of our history and the fact that Katherine Howe is related

to one is great.  I would enjoy knowing that I can go back and read about a relative so far

back and get a sense that this person existed, knowing they suffered such emotional turmoil and fear of being accused of being a witch and the consequences this would bring to them and their family. Having their name actually forever written in history that will never be forgotten must give you a special feeling. 

The two dogs that seem to come and go was a clever idea. I now believe after going back and reading over some areas, that both dogs are one of the same.

The fact that she never knew she had powers until coming to grandmother's house was an interesting one.  I would have thought that someone who held such powers would have felt something throughout their life and wonder what it was.  I found her mother distant and detached but if she's a witch, perhaps physical presence wasn't necessary.  Especially if she was able to put the symbol of protection on grandmother's door without actually being there.

I've recommended this book to my friends and family.

I bought one for my mom.

Thank You Katherine Howe for a wonderful book and I get to keep it forever!!

KEEP WRITING!

[dj5775]

Thanks for a great read! This was my first time being a part of first look and what a great book to start with! Wonderfully written and easy to follow, very descriptive, and full of history. I'll be keeping my eyes open for more from Katherine.

[EZPiecesToo]

I really liked this book.  I loved how it jumped from one time to the next.  I feel like both time periods were covered enough that I felt like I understood what was going on and could feel how the people felt.  I really really enjoyed the interludes.  I identified more with Deliverance.  A stong woman who always put her family first.  What a woman!  I liked that I had to retain things in the back of my mind so that everything would fit together at the end.  Like a puzzle I had to fit together all in my head.  Great job!  Great book!

[dmt14]

This was a great book, that I enjoyed reading from the beginning to the end. The development of characters left me feeling like I knew these people. I like history especially the period of time during the witch trials. We as a family visited Salem a few years ago and the way the streets and shops were written about brought me right back to those places.

The development of the plot from the beginning in Chilton's office to the end in Connie's Grana's house was brilliant. I was surprised by the ending and it left me wondering how I didn't see it for myself.

I would recommend this book to anyone especially anyone who enjoys early American history. The connection that Katherine Howe has to this history becomes a blessing to those who are lucky enough to read this book. Thank you Ms. Howe for the chance to read this great book and I can't wait until I can read your next one.

[pen21]

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dmt14 wrote:

This was a great book, that I enjoyed reading from the beginning to the end. The development of characters left me feeling like I knew these people. I like history especially the period of time during the witch trials. We as a family visited Salem a few years ago and the way the streets and shops were written about brought me right back to those places.

The development of the plot from the beginning in Chilton's office to the end in Connie's Grana's house was brilliant. I was surprised by the ending and it left me wondering how I didn't see it for myself.

I would recommend this book to anyone especially anyone who enjoys early American history. The connection that Katherine Howe has to this history becomes a blessing to those who are lucky enough to read this book. Thank you Ms. Howe for the chance to read this great book and I can't wait until I can read your next one.

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The American History is what attracted me to sign up for this First Look book.

It is good to read posts from you and others that consider history mixed in the plot as an added bonus. I felt the author used history within her story line very well.

pen21

[maude40]

I have read all the FL books and have enjoyed them all, some more than others, but I have found there is always something worth while about every book I've read. The FL books get you out of your comfort zone where reading is concerned. It's good to branch out. Katherine Howe's book was one of the best of the books I've read. I can't wait to read her next novel. Yvonne