Apr 5, 2012

Masquerade Read Along Week 1

This is the first week of Masquerade Read-Along. It's the first one I am participating in and I have to say I am truly enjoying it. It's really fun answering questions and then reading other people answers too.

Every week we get to answer new questions and read more chapters of Masquerade. I loved this book and even though I read it a few months back, when I answer the questions I find myself remembering a whole lot from the book.

This Weeks Discussion Questions:

Week 1/ Chapters 1-8

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)

Hell yeah. Let me explain... Teenage girls, or even girls in their twenties feel disfigured every single day of their lifes and without having any great scars like Heven. It's easy to loose your confidence when you are not exactly as you want to be. And trust me you probably won't ever be. You just have to learn to accept and love yourself no matter what. I think an actual disfigurement would be hard for me in the beginning, but I wouldn't walk away from my friends as Heven did. And after time I would accept my scars and maybe even treasure them, cause every single scar on us tells a story and usually the bigger the scar the greatest the story.

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

I am not big on revenge. That being said I think that you only go after revenge when you still have feelings for someone. Kimber still loved Cole and it was ovbious that they would eventually get back together, no matter  what. So even though I hated the games she played I guess she needed to do it, cause she was in denial about her feeling and had to be able to say she did something to hurt him back. If she really didn't want to get back with him she would have done what I do. Ignore him and move on.

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?

I found myself doubting Kimber intentions and friendship a lot. She is only happy if she gets what she wants. If she was a true friend she would have seen it no matter what. My best friend always knows these kind of things like I do too. And I guess Heven didn't speak up cause she thought a hot guy like Sam would never go for her and it would only be embarasing, which is perfectly understandable, but if she thought that Kimber was really her best friend she wouldn't care about something like that. Oh... now I found myself doubting Heven friendship towards Kimber too. 

4. Masquerade is broken in four separate POV’s: Heven, Sam, The Hate and The Hope. Do you think having multiple POV’s adds depth to the story? Why or why not?

Yes. As simple as that. I think that the book wouldn't be the same without Sam's POV, I loved being in his mind and Hope and Hate added a mystery in the whole story. I really wanted to figured out what part they played.

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

Ok, this would be a big answer for me that peopla probably won't like. Here it goes. I am a firm believer that if you do gain something with help you don't deserve it. I never ask for help from anyone, doesn't matter if it's homework or depression or whatever. I believe that in order to find all the strength you need, you don't have to search for it to family, friends, religion or whatever else, I believe that if you look inside yourself (hard enough) it's there, everything you need. That being said it also bugs me when people around me give up and ask for help. Don't get me wrong I always help them, but I try to do it in a way that I would only help them solve whatever problem themshelves. The feeling that you are doing everything on your own, that you are standing on your own two feet and accomplish all you want and follow your dreams without fear and without help is the greatest. So no source of strength for me besides myself.

21 comments:

  1. Your first response is so true and very encouraging. Oh and I love your Anime images!

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  2. Definitely an interesting answer to Number 5...I was almost going to write a similar answer, complete with lyrics to "I stand alone" from Quest for Camelot but then I kind of looked at it as a "who would you vent to if you had a problem" and thats what I wrote about...Great answers and I really like your blog!

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  3. Hi Veronica!!!! You are a wonderful host and I loved your answers!!! I think your answer to number one was very insightful and so well said. I totally agree.
    I also enjoyed your answer to the final question. I think it is wonderful that you look inside for your inner strength, I try to do that as well. I admit though, sometimes I lean on my husband. lol. I definitely aspire to be more like you though, meaning ooking inside myself for everything that I might need and leaning on myself first and last.
    Very insightful answers. Great job!

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    1. Thank you so much. :) I was kind of wondering if I should write the last answer but then I thought that I'd love to see what everyone would think and the point of the read-along is to learn stuff about each other so I went ahead and wrote whatever I thought.

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  4. HI! Just some helpful advice! It might be a good choice for you to turn off your CAPTCHA because it keeps people from commenting on your posts! Here are some links to posts explaining why we hate it if you wanna check it out!

    http://www.alisoncanread.com/2012/03/captcha-how-to-eradicate-evil.html

    http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/11/14/the-10-point-case-against-captcha-use/

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    1. That was helpful. I didn't even know I had it. I hate those things. :P

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  5. I get what you mean about Heven and Kimber's friendship, you do wonder whether Kimber really has Heven's best interests at heart at times.

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  6. Yeah, I'd like to say that eventually I'd be okay with my scars, but I think it would take me a long time. I think that Heven did okay, even if it was hard to read. I wanted her to get over it, but then again, I wasn't the one having to live it. ;)

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  7. Veromica, I loved all your answers, especially the first one. I agree it is hard to accept yourself completely but the sooner you do the better. Your last answer was great too, I know what you mean dig down deep an take care of yourself, but you need someone to laugh with and I truly hope you have someone you can just giggle with and have fun.

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    1. Yeap, I have lots of friends and some of them are even closer to me than my own family. I never said that I am a loner, I am the exact opposite actually, I love being with people. :)

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  8. Even though I have a great family & support, I tend to be a one man show. I don't usually ask for help. Just do it!!! Good points on Kimber.

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  9. Anonymous4/05/2012

    You find it a sign of weakness to ask for help? I find it a sign of strength to know when you aren't the master of all and can humble yourself. We all have different strengths. Okay, well... I don't want to insult here, I just do not agree.
    I found myself frustrated with Kimber too. She is worse than a mean girl. She is a girl who is a cruddy friend.

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    1. Not really a sign of weakness, but sometimes I find myslef believing in others more than they do in themshelves, I am sure that someone can do something without having to ask me for help, but when people can get the easy way out they will. And don't worry no insult :)

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  10. Very interesting answers, they would be great to discuss more in depth. To say you don't deserve something if you gained it with help is a pretty big statement. I don't necessarily agree fully with what you said, but I do to a degree. I'm always fascinated in how other people view things though.

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  11. Oh gosh, Veronica, where have you been all of my life? I love all of your answers so much!! x) Especially that first one -- so straightforward, so awesome, so incredibly true! Nowadays there's so much pressure to look gorgeous every day, so it WOULD be hard to have those scars on her face like Heven. And I completely understand your last answer about being able to support yourself, even if you do have other people in your life. :)

    I'm glad that you loved this book already, Veronica -- I can't wait to finish it myself! ;)

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    1. Lol! Love your comment :) I honestly love to see what everyone has to say in this read-along, the question for each week are great.

      And yes I adore Masquerade, such a great book. I hope you do too. :)

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  12. Fantastic answers :) I need to find some of your insight into the world! Now you have pointed it out, I definitely agree with your answer about Kimber and Heven's friendship! Will have to keep an eye on that!

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    1. Glad I could share some of my...wisdom (???) XD

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  13. I think working for yourself is really admirable. I think sure, a disfigurement would be hard but I don't think you should let it ruin your life.

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  14. Hi, Veronica!

    Thank you so much for your comments on my own read-along post! Much appreciated!

    Your answers are very interesting. I also thought that #1 was very funny! It's true that teen girls actually feel as if they were disfigured sometimes. I guess going through this period in life can make us women feel VERY insecure. I totally would have acted like Heven, and maybe even worse....

    I SO agree with your take on revenge! You have to wonder why a person would want revenge on someone, if they no longer loved them. GREAT point!! Of course, it was more than obvious that Kimber was totally in love with Cole, and wanted him back. She wanted him to feel as hurt as she did when he kissed that girl. That still doesn't excuse her actions, though.

    As for answer #5, I can tell you that, on the one hand, I admire your strong self-esteem! On the other hand, I also have to point out that there are times and situations in life when you DO need someone to lean on. An example would be when going through a divorce. It happened to me. My own self-esteem plummeted. I had to seek out help. I simply HAD to.

    Well, thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

    Maria @ http://anightsdreamofbooks.blogspot.com/

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