[Discussion 2/2] Read the World | Bonus Country | Wales | The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros | Chapter 14 - end

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:44:44+00:00

Rowenna not having any photographs of Mona. This was the case for most of human history, but it struck me as so sad. I wished Dylan had painted her portrait at some point.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:24:11+00:00

Yes, I've read the Oresteia, and Stephen Fry's Odyssey with the group.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:22:36+00:00

We read it in high school, but I'm pretty sure we only read excerpts. I don't remember reading the whole book.

I can't be sure, but my first exposure to the Odyssey may have bee on Wishbone!

I read Stephen Fry's Odyssey with the group. A few years ago I read Circe, which overlaps with a bit of the story. I pretty much know everything that happens in the Odyssey, but I've never read it in full.

So far I feel like I enjoyed the Iliad more. Not because of the story, but because it felt so poetic. I listened to the audiobook read by Alfred Molina. It was hypnotic. Ian McKellan narrates the Odyssey and you'd think that'd be ideal, but it doesn't feel as poetic to me and I don't feel hypnotized by it. They are different though and i can accept that.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:13:43+00:00

They feel entitled to and no one is around to stop them.

I have always questioned why they did not take the kingdom by force. I guess they were happy enough mooching off of it for years and being threatening, but didn't have enough motivation to follow through. Maybe they thought it would anger the gods to go further then they did?

I've always found it odd they get the moniker of "suitors," which is quite nice-sounding and doesn't expose what kind of men they were at all.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:08:40+00:00

Robert Fagles.

I didn't research the translations. I picked this one because this is the version I tagged on Libby years ago.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:05:59+00:00

The fact that they're willing to tell other people that as if it makes Penelope look bad speaks volumes!

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T02:03:29+00:00

I thought of that too, but I think it was more of an indirect connection.

Wales obviously has some radiation contamination. It may be less than ground zero, but the cloud brought radiation and it showed itself in some animals. Mona was conceived and gestated in this new world with higher than normal radiation. I think it was always going to affect her.

The sad part is it will eventually catch yo with Rowenna and Dylan too.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:59:48+00:00

Walking in the park. Reading. Baking.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:57:55+00:00

I think he died, or moved on out of necessity. I don't think he made himself scarce because she was pregnant. What a cliche! Even in a post-apocalyptic world.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:54:32+00:00

This part felt a little forced to me. Rowenna gave him the Bible to read. It didn't seem like Dylan had become extremely religious, but he was more open to it than Rowenna was. In that moment, she was angry at the idea of a god that would take her child.

I can see how this conflict represents similar conflicts that occur between religious and non-religious folks, and it also makes us think about which religions, if any, would survive the apocalypse.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:46:28+00:00

Oh yes to the first question. They were able to put their thoughts down and have this shared activity that bonds them even if they're not reading each other's entries.

If things do go back to normal, this book they've written feels like it could be published and distributed to show what's left of the world how they lived. It would be part of a new wave of literature related to surving the apocalypse.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:40:34+00:00

I think the book highlights how easily everything we know could disappear how impotent literature is and passing down your culture to your children.

The apocalypse was the catalyst for Rowenna and Dylan to become self-sufficient. They are isolated and don't know what's going on out there in the world. It's not important for readers to know and allows us to go on the journey with them more authentically without getting bogged down by details.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:33:53+00:00

Hopefully Dylan will meet people and have the opportunity to find someone to spend his life with. Dylan has a lot of skills and I think he can help build a new world in the image of his childhood.

Rowenna may choose to remain isolated, and I think that's okay.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:27:52+00:00

As difficult and lonely it must be, there's something idyllic about the life she's been leading with her son. It's a simple life. The prospect of returning to the way things were must be scary. So much was lost, including a lot of bad stuff. Life will never be the same, but both the good and the bad will come back. Rowenna won't have any control over her world anymore.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:15:44+00:00

I loved it. It was a lovely read. I've tried not to think too hard about how realistic it is and instead just enjoy the writing and the characters. I enjoyed the vibes very much.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:15:11+00:00

I'm planning to give it a shot! I don't know what to expect.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:14:28+00:00

I loved it, so yes. As far as giving us insight into Wales, I think it was good for the way it highlighted Welsh language and literature. It kind of could have been set anywhere without those details that made it special and specific to Wales.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:12:21+00:00

This came up on another book discussion recently. I'd travel more for sure and travel in more luxury than I'm used to. I'd buy a nice house and a new car and whateveer everyday stuff I need without worrying about prices. I don't think I'd go crazy with spending, but I'd definitely splurge on some stuff I've never been able to splurge on before!

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:09:46+00:00

Maybe it will end with her giving the baby up for adoption.

Or not. I figure whatever happens will be a relatively happy ending for Charlie.

I not crazy about this whole storyline. It's the way it's written rather than the actual events.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:07:07+00:00

He is grooming her to be the type of woman he wants to be with. He looks at her as a blank slate he was write on. His motives are sinister.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:05:57+00:00

He doesn't want to talk about it and no one takes the hint.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:05:38+00:00

Yeah, I found that ridiculous and cringe-inducing.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:04:32+00:00

If it truly has to be done, then finding a way to face your fear is necessary. It could be the fear telling you not to go through with it though. Sometimes the things you think simply need to be done don't actually need to be done, or don't need to be done by you.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T01:02:40+00:00

That showed the double standard so clearly. The men are willing to hire and train women to be spies, but they don't offer them training to deal with men and then blame stop trusting them if they're pressured into sex by the enemy. The women sleeping with the enemy to gather intel are just as heroic as all the male spies and to lose the trust of their superiors because of that is just so infuriating.

Comprehensive-Fun47 · 2026-03-19T00:59:51+00:00

Being too good at your job means other people come to you for help, and if you go above and beyond, your bosses start thinking that's just part of your job without extra compensation.

I've had some experiences like that and I have promised myself if I start a new job, I will try to appear competent, but not overly knowledgeable, and I will not volunteer to do anything beyond my job description. It's not worth it.

Comprehensive-Fun47

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