Thursday, April 5, 2012

MASQUERADE Read-Along:First Week's Questions



This is an interesting, fun event,
hosted by the blogs shown above!
To participate, just click on
the button in my sidebar, which will
take you to Cambria's blog,
where you can get all the rules.
You can join in anytime!!

 
For this first round of questions, 
the hosting blog is




Week 1: Chapters 1 - 8 Discussion Questions

1.) If you were disfigured like Heven (by some sort of accident), do you think you would have reacted the same way as her (loss of self-confidence, hiding yourself, etc.)?

This is a very traumatic situation.  I can certainly empathize with Heven!  I honestly think that my own reaction would have been even stronger than hers.  I would probably have needed some therapy, and months away from school, before being able to handle such a thing.  I feel so bad for poor Heven!  

Once I returned to school, I would definitely have tried to be as invisible as possible.  I don't know if I'd have been able to even look at a boy, let alone allow one to look at me...

2.) Do you think that Kimber's plan for revenge against Cole (for kissing another girl) is a good idea?

Well, I can certainly understand Kimber's feelings.   I've been cheated on, but it happened while I was married to my first husband; in Kimber's case, she's only dating Cole, although they do have an exclusive relationship.  My reaction?  Separation, and ultimately, divorce. Kimber thought that Cole had enough feelings for her that her little 'revenge' would work.  However, such things do have a tendency to backfire.  You have to weigh the risks and possible consequences, and most of the time, doing something like this is simply not worth it.  If a guy is a repeat cheater (as I found out mine was!), then the best solution is to break up or divorce, as the case may be.  Why try to hold on to someone who's not willing to respect you?  

Kimber took a huge risk!  Guys are not very forgiving in this area.  I really think she should have told Cole that she needed a break from him for a while (without involving another guy in the process), and made sure to stick to that.  I think that would really have made him reconsider his idiotic action, as well as the lame excuse he gave for it!

She should also have taken Sam's feelings into account.  She was using him!  No one, whether male or female, enjoys being used and manipulated.

3.) In the beginning chapters, Heven is very drawn to Sam, but won't admit it due to her own insecurities.  Kimber begins to 'date' Sam.  Do you think that Heven should have spoken up?  Do you think Kimber should have seen Heven's real feelings?

Yes, Heven should have spoken up, but it's entirely understandable that she didn't.  I would have done the very same thing.  As for Kimber, she should definitely have noticed that Heven felt attracted to Sam.  She's supposed to be Heven's best friend, after all!  The reason she didn't is that she was too wrapped  up in her little drama with Cole.  This is a normal human tendency -- when you're going through a difficult situation yourself, it's hard to see someone else's pain.  I think that maybe she should have been a little more perceptive and sensitive, but then again, she couldn't see past her own pain.  

4.) Masquerade is broken up into four separate POVs: Heven, Sam, The Hate, and The Hope.   Do you think that having multiple points of view adds depth to the story?  Why or why not?

Well, that really depends on how well the author can carry this off.  In this case, I think that Cambria did a great job!  Besides, this story needs this type of writing technique.  If we just had Heven's POV, we would be missing out on far too many clues.  

I love the contrast of Heven/Sam, as well as The Hate/The Hope.   Each of their viewpoints offer different takes on what's going on.

So yes, I do think doing this kind of thing adds depth to a novel.  Again, it depends on the plot, and how well the author handles the technique.  Cambria uses it to create suspense, as well as give further insights into the plot.  Kudos to her!!

5.) A great source of strength for Heven is her grandmother.  What do you think yours is/would be?

If I were in this situation, my greatest source of strength would most likely be God, although I imagine that, in the beginning, I'd be very bitter and furious at Him for allowing such a thing to happen to me.  In time, though, I'd make peace with Him, and lean on Him in order to make it through each day.  Of course, I'd also lean on loved ones -- my husband and family, as well as one or two good friends.


Since this is a blog hop, be sure to visit 
the other participating blogs
to see how they answered.
Also, I'd love to get your comments
on my own answers!




 

15 comments:

  1. What wonderful answers!!! I really enjoyed your insight to the multiple POV's. I agree there was a great deal of contrast to the different POV's and I think it works well in this book.

    What a horrible thing to be cheated on!!! I wouldn't have blamed you for wanting some revenge but you know I think revenge tends to hurt the person who is inflicting it more so really just walking away is probably a better idea.

    I think your answer to the last question, is very insightful and faithful as well. What a great response and I think that God is a great strength to look toward!

    Thank you for being part of the Read Along.

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    Replies
    1. Hey, Cambria!

      Thank you!! I'm so glad I decided to sign up for this read-along!! It's my first time, too.

      I congratulate you on how well you've handled the four POVs! They really add interest and suspense to the plot, and, as I stated in my answer to question 4, they also provide some clues as to what's going on.

      Well, I did walk away without taking revenge, but I'll be honest with you -- I STILL have a lot of anger inside... I haven't forgiven him. So I do need to work on that...

      Glad you like my answer to question 5! I sometimes get mad at God because of all the evil that He apparently allows to go on in the world, but without Him, life simply has no meaning, I think. So, even though we don't have the answer(s) to the problem of evil, I believe we still need to seek Him for peace and comfort!

      You're very welcome!! I'm very happy to be a part of this fascinating event!!

      Thank you so much for your wonderful comments!!
      God bless you!!! : )

      Delete
  2. I agree with you about Kimber and Cole...Guys HATE when girls play games with them. I know first hand (I live with 5 of them) that when girls start to play games, that's the guy's cue to end things...Messing with anyone's head isn't cool and tends to make things go crazy!

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Andra!

      Wow!! You have 5 brothers? You sure know about male psychology, then!! Lol. Yes, playing games causes more problems that it solves. It's not very nice to mess with someone's head the way Kimber did. She sure wasn't being very mature! But you know, I also found out, further on in the story, that she's not as nice as she appears to be...

      Thanks for the great comment!! : )

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  3. I agree about Kimber using Sam. As she hadn't made him aware of the fact that she was using him to make Cole jealous, Sam could have gotten really hurt if he had actually been interested in Kimber. Ultimately they were both using one another to get to other people, but that still doesn't make it right!

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    Replies
    1. Of course that doesn't make it right. It's very sad that this type of thing goes on all the time, too... It's all based on pure selfishness! People want what, and who, they want, and they use any means to get it or them, without regard to how they may be hurting others.

      What Cole did was totally thoughtless, but Kimber's use of manipulation was not right at all.

      Thanks for the great comment!! : )

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  4. I love your answer for number 5! It's so true. It seems it never really is just one person and sometimes I end up angry for longer than I should. :)

    (also, you may want to consider turning off your CAPTCHA. A lot of people won't comment on sites that have it. http://www.alisoncanread.com/2012/03/captcha-how-to-eradicate-evil.html)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thank you! I do believe that we can be mad at God at times, but ultimately, He's the one who truly does give meaning to our lives.

      As for being angry longer than one should, it's not easy to let go of that anger, but I know that the person holding on to it ends up hurting themselves. That doesn't make it any easier to let go of, though...

      You know, I hadn't realized that having the CAPTCHA could possibly be stopping people from commenting on my blog! You're right! I've turned it off, so I hope to be getting more comments now. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, and for giving me Alison's link, which I've already read!

      Lastly, thanks for such a terrific comment!! : )

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  5. Hello again, so glad you are along for the read along, Some great answers. Sounds you took the high road and skipped revenge and kicked his cheating butt to the curb, kudos to you. Sounds you got the better end of it since you have a new husband who treats you better. I know I don't blame Heven either, I think most people would react the same.

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    Replies
    1. Hey, there! Well, even before I found out about the cheating, he wasn't being nice to me in so many ways...then the cheating was the final straw. It wasn't easy, but I did separate from him, and was finally able to go through with the divorce. My parents never liked, him, but you know, children never do listen to their parents....And I DO have a wonderful new husband!!

      I know...I feel so bad for Heven...

      Thanks for welcoming me to the read-along, as well as for this wonderful comment!! I'm happy to be participating, too!! : )

      Delete
  6. I think most people operate in the ME hemisphere. Even good people get caught up in their little worlds & dramas.

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  7. I agree that the success of multiple POV's depends on the authors ability to make their voices unique. I especially like the POV's that are more mysterious. It is pretty cool that the reader isn't really sure who they are and how they come into play until the end.
    I don't think that Heven had the best chance to know to turn to God. Her mother has a twisted sense of religion and doesn't teach love and compassion.
    Great insightful answers.

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  8. Totally agree with your 2nd answer. If she wanted to be done with him truly she should have just broken up with him, but she obviously just wanted him back so she choose this stupid plan of hers.

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  9. You are so right. And it does come down to respect. If he truly respected Kimber, not only as his girlfriend, but as a woman in general, he would not have done that. I understand being young and making mistakes, so I'm giving a pass for Cole only this time. lol

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  10. I'm sorry to hear that about your husband :( But I agree. You either deal with it or move on! (Sounds like you choose the better option!) But Kimber is a teenager and from her POV that seemed best - although it made me want to scream!!

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