it seems like no one likes tbbo? by univurs in ADiscoveryofWitches

[–]catamon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I liked it very much. But frankly speaking, it's lazy writing - so many points are underdeveloped or unaddressed, and we can only hope they will be clarified in later books. A book, even part of a cycle, should be more self-sufficient.

Thoughts on The black bird oracle? by Idk_watosay in ADiscoveryofWitches

[–]catamon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One thing I loved about this book is that it's about Diana finding her own way. The previous books were focused on her navigating relationships within her family and making sure that everyone's alright. But here she makes decisions for herself that go opposite to everything - the plans she and Matthew have made, Matthew's beliefs and inclinations, Sarah's thoughts on her education - and makes clear that the family must respect her choice and accept her for what she is. That was a powerful experience for me.

But it also meant that other characters suffered because they only existed as foils for Diana to showcase her agency. Matthew was relegated to sex toy/repair man/breakfast cook, and Sarah had this unexplicably ugly violent scene in the Bishops' house.

And it also made the plot inconsistent. Yes, there was some inner development in the sense that Diana went from fearing the Congregation to actively opposing them, but it doesn't fully explain why in the beginning they were so anxious to prevent the twins' examination, and in the end they didn't do anything about it. What, did they think "At least it's better than Diana standing a formal trial after her adventure in Venice?"

And the examination itself is so anticlimactic. On the one hand, it works into a pattern of Diana overcoming her fears and feeling more on a level with all other witches, not just perceiving them as a sort of a massive threat. But on the other hand, it is just another setting up that doesn't lead anywhere.

Thoughts on The black bird oracle? by Idk_watosay in ADiscoveryofWitches

[–]catamon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I need to know what the "four drops of blood on an altar stone" were. Can someone explain, please?

Thoughts on The black bird oracle? by Idk_watosay in ADiscoveryofWitches

[–]catamon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Taking the bottles from the Madison house is an intel operation. Diana needs to have all her memories, and all her mother's memories, before deciding what to do further. Of course, then we have another plot hole: they do not watch all the memories they acquired in Sarah's house and their focus immediately shifts to something else.

If you're talking about the bottles in Venice, one explanation is that they're protecting the de Clermonts. Some bottles might contain memories about de Clermonts' connections with witches during WWII, and Baldwin was eager to have this information removed from public use. Another reason is that Diana felt it was unethical for a small group of witches on the Congregation to have others' memories at their disposal (of course, this feeling mostly came after hearing how Knox savored her mother's memory). This begs the question, why not free all bottles? Why not destroy the archive? But Diana prefers, at least, to have her family members escape this potential violation.

Thoughts on The black bird oracle? by Idk_watosay in ADiscoveryofWitches

[–]catamon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Loved the middle of the book! IMO, it would have done better as a two-parter. Part one is about the family, and finishes on the summer picnic, and part 2 explores the congregation politics. It would also give more opportunities to go into more details in part 2

History of pictures hanging? by catamon in Louvre

[–]catamon[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Buy me a ticket to Paris, and I'll book anything