Thursday, April 26, 2012

MASQUERADE Read-Along: Fourth and Final Week's Discussion 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 still join in,
although the read-along ends
this week.
The giveaway winners
will be announced by Cambria
on May 3rd, so be sure
to visit her blog on that date!

 
For this fourth and last round
of questions, 
the hosting blog is




Week 4: Chapters 24-31
Final Discussion Questions



1. Heven develops a new “supernatural power”. She remarks that it isn’t that exciting of a power. Is this a power you would like to have?  If not, what kind of supernatural power would you like to have?

Oh, I think it's definitely an exciting power!  As for having it myself, I'm not quite sure... This power could be quite useful, because then you'd know when someone was lying to you, or really being sincere.  On the other hand, it could also be very overwhelming.  At some point, I think I would want to lock myself up in a room for a while, just so I could get a break from the sensory assault.

As for what supernatural power I would like to have, I think it would be the power to teleport anywhere in the world.  This would be sort of like "beaming over", as characters did on "Star Trek", but without a transporter.  It would be so convenient!  I'd be able to visit any city in the world!  No more transportation hassles! 

2. Which character do you think makes the biggest internal change throughout the course of this book?  Is there a situation in your life that you can reflect back on as an experience that changed your life for the better?

Heven, of course!  She goes from being someone who is totally afraid of facing people, wanting to hide all the time, to someone who is courageous and increasingly self-confident.  At the beginning of the novel, she has allowed her scars to define her as a person.  Toward the end of the novel, even before they've disappeared, even before she's acquired this supernatural power, she's already begun to blossom into a very different person.

As for a situation in my life that changed it for the better, the first one that comes to mind is the day I decided to start a book blog!  I had never thought of doing such a thing before, but a co-worker encouraged me to do it.  I'm so glad I followed her advice!!  I've enjoyed every minute of the time I've spent blogging!  I've learned quite a few fascinating "techy" things (although I'm by no means an expert!), met some very nice people along the way, participated in giveaways (winning several books!), hosted my own, and now, I'm a member of this awesome read-along!  So heck, yeah, becoming a book blogger has definitely made my life much better!!

3. Who is your favorite character and why?

I have two favorite characters: Heven and Sam.  (Naturally!)

I like Heven because I can relate to some of her insecurity.  I wasn't exactly a member of 'the in group' when I was in high school.  I've always been a bit on the shy side, and felt very awkward around boys at the time.  Also, I didn't get a chance to date until I turned 18, because my parents were very strict.  Add to that the fact that I usually had my nose in a book... you get the picture.

As for Sam, he's so gorgeous, so adorable, so...everything!  He's my ideal boyfriend, rivaling Edward Cullen of The Twilight Saga!  After all the horrible experiences he's gone through, he can still smile, and be a decent 'human' being.  He's so sweet to Heven, so willing to give even his own life so that she can live... Heven finds a little bit of Paradise in his arms, because he's romantic, he supports and encourages her, and is completely devoted to her!  She doesn't have to worry that he'll be a jerk, nor does she have to wonder whether he's cheating on her.  Sam is every girl's ideal boyfriend, who will eventually become every woman's ideal husband!!  I love Sam!!!!!


4. When the book ends the reader has an idea of what the next book will involve. Do you think the book ended in the appropriate place?

Yes, I think it did.  There's an upcoming trip, and a secret mission, so the reader is left wanting to continue to see if this mission will be successful.  Of course, there will be danger at every turn, so that means plenty of conflict.  The idea of a quest has always intrigued readers (including me!), and Cambria has hooked us with the anticipation of this journey, which will bring new challenges to our hero and heroine! 

5. Do you have any predictions for the next book in the series, Charade?

Well, I believe that Heven's relationship with her mother will come to a crisis point.  Heven may very well be forced to choose between her mother and Sam.  I also think that Gran will side with Heven, defend her, and perhaps even hide her or help her escape somewhere with Sam. 

I'm also expecting a lot of twists and turns as Heven and Sam go on this quest, this mission they've promised to complete.  I'm sure Logan, Sam's brother, will be playing a pivotal role in this second novel, as well.  Maybe others of Sam's kind will join them.  They'll most likely encounter those who will try to stop them from carrying out their mission, too. 

In short, I think we're in for a wild and very addictive ride!  I can hardly wait!! 

6. Did you enjoy participating in this read-along?  Will you join in future read-alongs?

A great big "Yes!!" to both questions!  I've enjoyed this tremendously!  It was fun going to different blogs to compare answers with other participants.  I do regret not having the time to visit every single blog, but, now that this event is over, I plan to go back to the first week's questions, and visit those blogs I didn't get to the first time around.  I'll be doing this with the other three weeks' questions, as well.

I am definitely going to join in any future read-alongs I might come across!  If any of you who participated in this one hear of any new ones, please do let me know!  I'll also do a Google search to see if there are any good ones going on, or about to start.  If there are, I'll inform the rest of you guys!  

Of course, I'm sure that Cambria will want to have another read-along for Charade, the next novel in this series.  So I'm eagerly looking forward to that!!  In fact, this will help me feel less sad about the end of the current read-along. 

I'd like to thank Cambria Hebert for writing Masquerade, coming up with the idea of this read-along, and participating in it right along with her readers!!  It's not every writer who does something like this!  I'd also like to thank the wonderful read-along hosts for their part in giving us readers such a great experience!

See you at the next read-along!! 





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!







8 comments:

  1. Good point about the sensory assault. I would be a little concerned that reading aura's would cause me to treat people differently. While I can see why it would come in handy for Heven, considering the things that she may be encountering, but I would hate to think that I would walk around treating people differently based on whether they are good or bad. It would be a rare "bad" person that would make a turn around without the kindness of someone at some point.
    Interesting how blogging has made you a better person. I am so grateful for the people who I have met and I love talking about books. I think that there are times when I feel selfish though, since I give it a lot of time that I could be giving in a more meaningful way. I love blogging so much though, so I have made a promise to find balance. I know have certain times for checking/replying to email, responding to comments and commenting. I have also started to schedule my posts ahead of time, so they get written in the day when my husband is at work and I have enough of them scheduled that I can skip a few days for family time if the opportunity arises.
    Confession: I can relate to some of Heven's insecurities too, although there are few people who know that about me. It still drives me crazy in a character though. Pretty hypocritical, huh? I am sure there is some big psychological reason for that, right? TeHeHe
    Great answers, Maria.

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    Replies
    1. Hey, Steph! Oh, you've made a great point yourself! You're absolutely right - knowing how someone really feels about you would make you treat them differently. For me, that would mean avoiding unpleasant and/or hypocritical people as much as possible. I wouldn't try to be unkind to them, though. Well, not conciously, anyway. But who knows? I might just slip up sometimes...

      Yes, blogging has certainly been a great experience for me! Now I can't live without it! It's become a very important part of my life, just like reading!! Like you, I have trouble getting my posts done, because of the time factor. So I think I'm going to try to do the same you're doing -- schedule and write my posts ahead of time.

      Hey, I don't think you're being hypocritical when you see insecurities in a character, while having them yourself! It's just that being confronted with these insecurities makes you a tad uncomfortable. Besides, I think you'd like the character to get over them because you're living through that character while you're in the book. That's understandable, I think.

      Thank you so much for the compliment, and for such great comments!!

      I sure hope we can participate in future read-alongs together!! : )

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  2. I loved the read-along too. Can't wait to find another one.
    I loved your predictions for Charade. I have a bad feeling that Heven's Gran is going to die, I don't know why bad usually that happens in books. i hope I'm wrong.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Veronica! Yes, this was a FABULOUS idea!! I'm glad you liked my predictions for "Charade". And I sure hope Gran doesn't die! Heven needs all the support she can get!

      Thanks for your terrific questions for this final week of the read-along!! Thanks for your great comment, as well!! : )

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  3. Again, love your detailed answers. The starting the book blog as a life changing experience is brilliant. Yes, it has opened up a whole new world right. I agree with the teleporting it would be terrific not to have to deal with the airport. Sam is ideal isn't he, I had forgotten how noble and kind he was. I am not even going to try and predict Charade, Cambria threw too many suprises at me. I expect though that things will come to a head with Kimber. As far as future read alongs I have two upcoming ones listed on my blog. One for June and I am hosting one in again in August, I truly hope you will be along and keep in touch between now and then! Thanks for being a part of this read along, Maria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Heidi!

      Oh, thank you so much for the compliments! You know, once I start writing, things come to mind, and one leads to another...I just love the process!!

      Glad you agree with teleporting! Lol. Things would so much easier...

      Sam is definitely WONDERFUL. Well, he's thr product of a woman's imagination, and we women KNOW what we want in a man!!

      As for what will happen in "Charade", I think I just guessed about as well as anyone possibly could. Interesting that you think things will come to a head with Kimber. I must confess I had forgotten all about her!

      I'm going to check out the read-alongs on your blog. and of course I'll stay in touch between now and then! Absolutely!!!

      You've very welcome for my part in the read-along, and thank YOU for yours!!

      Thanks as well for such lovely comments!! : )

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  4. What wonderful answers! You always put a lot of thought into your answers and it shows. I am so glad you enjoyed the read along, I have enjoyed it too. A read along for Charade is definitely a possbility!! that would be fun wouldn't it? Blogging is definitely a good thing and its really fun so i can see why you would say it changed your life for the better.
    Sam certainly is everything that you say he is (at least in my opinion, lol) and I a shocked you would put him up there with Edward Cullen! LOL. I know how much you love Edward!
    Your predicitons for Charade were fun to read, and I hope that you enjoy it as much as you did Masquerade.
    Thank you for reading the book and joining in so enthusiastically!
    This was fun and I enjoyed reading everyone's answers every week. I can hardly beleive next week is the final post for the month!! But at least we have saturday and the live interview!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Cambria!

      Thank you so much for complimenting my answers!! I greatly appreciate that! Yes, I did put a lot of thought into them, because the questions asked were so interesting!

      Oh, this read-along was just FANTASTIC!! I really enjoyed it! I sure hope you decide to have another one for "Charade", because I'm definitely interested!! You know, if I hadn't started blogging when I did, I would probably have missed this read-along! So glad I didn't! Blogging is a tremendously rewarding experience for me, and, at this point, wild horses couldn't tear me away from it!! Lol.

      Yes, now I LOVE Sam as much as Edward!! They're both so WONDERFUL!!! Both of them share a fierce devotion for their girlfriends, and never mistreat them. They also respect them, and that's rare nowadays...

      Glad you liked my predictions for "Charade". But I know you'll probably surprise all of us with that book, which I do hope you create a read-along for!!

      You're very welcome for my participation in this FAB read-along, as well as for reading "Masquerade"! I LOVED it, and my review will be up soon!!

      See you this Saturday, and thanks for the AWESOME comments!! : )

      Delete

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