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Post by ubiquitous on May 1, 2009 11:51:37 GMT 10
Tortall Bookclub: Month TwoAbout bookclub: Bookclub is a chance for members to reread the books at the same time as other members, and then discuss them. Please keep all general discussions in this thread, however feel free to make new threads on any issues that warrant their own thread. Our book for May is: In the Hand of the Goddess Blurb: Still disguised as a boy, Alanna becomes a squire to none other than the prince of the realm. Prince Jonathan is not only Alanna's liege lord, but her best friend - and one of the few who knows the secret of her true identity. But when a mysterious sorcerer threatens the prince's life, it will take all of Alanna's skill, strength and power to protect him - even at the risk of revealing who she really is... So read, discuss... 
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Post by boosette on May 2, 2009 0:36:01 GMT 10
"What's up?"  |
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Post by Katty on May 2, 2009 0:48:31 GMT 10
How come they never mention on the covers that Alanna and Jon start boinking? I mean, he's listed as her friend and leige lord? |
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Post by boosette on May 2, 2009 0:53:05 GMT 10
Because boinking is rated PG-13?
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Post by ubiquitous on May 2, 2009 0:56:51 GMT 10
How come they never mention on the covers that Alanna and Jon start boinking? I mean, he's listed as her friend and leige lord? It's implied. |
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Post by Katty on May 2, 2009 1:01:01 GMT 10
.... where, Isha? Unless "it will take all of Alanna's skill, strength and power to protect him" includes being his snugglebunny at night? |
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opalgirl
Sergeant
I also answer to Val.
Posts: 1,574
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Post by opalgirl on May 2, 2009 1:02:40 GMT 10
How come they never mention on the covers that Alanna and Jon start boinking? I mean, he's listed as her friend and leige lord? Because it's a spoiler? Also, it kinda sorta passes as a plot point. Sort of. |
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Post by ubiquitous on May 2, 2009 1:04:13 GMT 10
That works. Or alternately: He's her liege lord + he knows she's a girl = taking advantage of the situation |
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Post by Verasque on May 2, 2009 1:41:50 GMT 10
Who knows what those two got up to being unsupervised and all. Poor Faithful  He would of learned all his wordly lessons from being witness to all their... conversations. This is my favourite book. I look over all the flaws in this book just because Alanna finally gets some two of my favourite characters finally get together (though it won't last long, and I do love George too), and Alanna finally gets her shield. Seeing her in action in terms of fighting was nice too. There are too many things I like in this book. Oh! And Faithful too. Delia.. Roger.. gaah, too much. |
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Post by Katty on May 2, 2009 2:36:14 GMT 10
I dislike this book for obvious reasons.
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Post by boosette on May 2, 2009 2:45:40 GMT 10
SPOILER: HE COMES BACK.
Duke Roger: Like Jesus, in a way.
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Post by Rosie on May 2, 2009 2:57:22 GMT 10
I dislike this book for obvious reasons. Don't worry, Kat  Daine shows up in later books, promise! |
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Post by Lisa on May 2, 2009 6:37:23 GMT 10
Oh, Rosie - you're so evil.
I love rereading this book because I fall in love with Jon again each time - it's a strong sort of nostalgia, I guess. But this one was my favorite for so long that it's always fun to reread.
Plus it features the Great Squire Swap! How could I not love it?
I'm still confuzzled by Tusaine's polygamy. Tusain will always have Spanish overtones (pre-El Cid Spain, I mean) to me, with its pleasure gardens and many wives...
BTW - whoever changed my caption (Rosie? Kat?) - you're DEAD to me. And not dead-but-coming-back-messiercooler a la Roger.
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Post by boosette on May 2, 2009 6:39:19 GMT 10
That's definitely interesting! I got Spanish overtones from the new quasi-canon about Maren - brighter colors, spicier foods, etc - but the polygamy does seem a little Spanish as well. (Maybe Maren is Basque?)
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Post by Rosie on May 2, 2009 8:12:37 GMT 10
Oh, Rosie - you're so evil. I love rereading this book because I fall in love with Jon again each time - it's a strong sort of nostalgia, I guess. But this one was my favorite for so long that it's always fun to reread. Plus it features the Great Squire Swap! How could I not love it? I'm still confuzzled by Tusaine's polygamy. Tusain will always have Spanish overtones (pre-El Cid Spain, I mean) to me, with its pleasure gardens and many wives... BTW - whoever changed my caption (Rosie? Kat?) - you're DEAD to me. And not dead-but-coming-back- messiercooler a la Roger. I wish I were rereading this book now! Squire swapping is my favourite part of it. Wasn't me! I thoroughly approved of the Maura love. |
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Post by Anaroriel on May 2, 2009 8:16:19 GMT 10
The back of my book says that "[...] But Prince Jonathan is much more to Alanna; he is her ally, her best friend, and one of the few who knows that she's really a girl."
I think that gives sufficient foreshadowing of boinking.
But my book seems to be special: Alanna appears to be wearing a very short brown skirt. Which could be considered more evidence of potential boinking.
I'm still not sure why a girl masquerading as a boy is wearing a skirt. Unless that was a common practice for squires?
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anilaurel
Queen's Rider
Posts: 505
Gender: Other
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Post by anilaurel on May 2, 2009 8:29:04 GMT 10
They did have weird clothes in the old days. I wouldn't be caught dead in tights and a shirt.
I never really liked Jon, he seemed egotistical to me. I read the Immortals series ahead of time so I know it would end up AG, just not how.
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Post by Anaroriel on May 2, 2009 8:38:37 GMT 10
I like Jon. He may be a egotistical jerk, but he's a lovable egotistical jerk. ^^
Another reason to love Tammy: she decided against the cliched "Main character marries the prince and lives happily ever after with him". So kudos for her.
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Post by ubiquitous on May 2, 2009 9:49:13 GMT 10
I liked Jon in this one too. ^.^ Not so much in WWRLAM, but that's another story. |
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Post by Katty on May 2, 2009 10:52:20 GMT 10
Hmm, I love Jon in this book. Especially the Tusaine war bits  Jon's not really a *jerk* until Wwrlam. It was definitely Rosie |
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Post by boosette on May 2, 2009 11:08:15 GMT 10
Just clueless and good-intentioned, like a lot of guys his age |
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Post by Katty on May 2, 2009 11:27:04 GMT 10
He was also very Prince Charming-esque... I like A/J while they're still young, and there's no real pressure or responsibility. Them breaking up in Wwrlam was a GOOD thing though.
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Post by Verasque on May 2, 2009 12:03:41 GMT 10
I agree. The fight in WWRLAM was needed. I liked the Tusaine War bits too. Great representation of the dynamics of their relationship in future. And there's great material for Roger/Delia/Jon/Alanna/Alex there if you cook up something substantial enough. And Gary finds out about Alanna's secret - that was another great part of the book. Like finally. |
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Post by Anaroriel on May 2, 2009 12:21:42 GMT 10
I'm going to be all girly and say that my favorite scenes are the ones with Mistress Cooper when Alanna's having fun dressing and learning how to be a girl. ^^ I love it because it's cute and it's also lovely that Alanna's developing both of her "sides". She's so boyish up to that point, and I think it's adorable that she is curious about and willing to be feminine too.
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Post by ubiquitous on May 2, 2009 20:05:25 GMT 10
I liked that too, and it's something we didn't see too much in Kel, which kinda bugs me.
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Post by pineappleyness on May 2, 2009 22:31:37 GMT 10
I really love that bit too. One of my favourite parts in the whole book is when George and Jon arrive at Eleni's house and Alanna's in a dress and gets all embarrassed when they stare.
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Post by Lisa on May 3, 2009 1:02:19 GMT 10
I love how Myles says Jon reminds him of the old king, when Jon's planning on rescuing Alanna. It always strikes me as interesting because the more I got to know of King Jasson's conquering ways, the less complimentary I saw that comment. ^_^;;
I can't wait to discuss WWRLAM so I can argue why Jon is NOT a complete jerk. :/
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Mirage
Probationer Page
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Post by Mirage on May 3, 2009 1:36:16 GMT 10
The first ultra-important totally VIP statement of mine: must we call it boinking? Now that that's been taken care of... I think I loved all of the scenes mentioned above ^^" I just love the first half of the quartet- and every time I reread, watching them grow up just gives me more warm fuzzies. I like seeing Jon when he was younger more, when he had all the qualities that a future king should have (including a certain amount of confidence and arrogance). It's just that as he grows up some qualities...present themselves in a stronger way, which is probably necessary to be a good king, but doesn't do much for me regarding character-love. Eep, I'm moving into the later books now -forcibly pulls self back--- The scene with Gary in the forest was hilarious, and I adore all mentions of bad Delia-related poetry. I really really want to see the bad Delia-related poetry... |
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Post by Anaroriel on May 3, 2009 6:50:16 GMT 10
Agreed! I think I love the teenager/growing up books for each quartlet. In the Hand of the Goddess is my favorite, Squire is my favorite, and Emperor Mage and Immortals Realms are my favorites.
Granted the later books are cool, but I like the uncertainty and trying to figure personal identity, and just the learning and growing together.
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Mirage
Probationer Page
Ari-
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Post by Mirage on May 5, 2009 10:31:32 GMT 10
So I was just reading the book, and it suddenly jumps out at me that Alanna is always wearing the Goddess' coal and her pregnancy charm. Now I get that she never takes her shirt off, and the coal could probably be explained as some weird manly necklace -- but her days are spent moving, jumping and turning around...and how on earth would she have explained a pregnancy charm??
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He would of learned all his wordly lessons from being witness to all their... conversations. 
Daine shows up in later books, promise!
Jon's not really a *jerk* until Wwrlam.
