Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
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The Tainted Cup
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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett - August Adult / Non-Fiction BOM (starts 2 Aug)
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(last edited Jul 30, 2025 02:57AM)
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Date Chapters %age MPDQs
2 Aug 1 - 5 18% Lexi (Belem)
3 Aug 6 - 12 31% Teddie (ESB
4 Aug 13 - 20 50% Catherine (Burj)
5 Aug 21 - 25 60% Judy (OooA)
6 Aug 26 - 33 82% Preeti (Sky)
7 Aug 34 - 42 100% Melissa (Icono)
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Use consecutive numbering of the DQs for your days. So, for example, if Day One is posted as questions 1-4, Day Two should start at number 5 etc.
Don't worry too much about your questions: you aren't being tested on how clever your questions are!
Hints and tips:
- Is there a quote that jumped out at you? Use that in a question.
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- What about that plot twist?!
- Explore the writing style: is there an unusual structure being used? what's the tone of voice like? or the point of view?
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(last edited Jul 30, 2025 02:47AM)
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Lexi (Belem) nom
Cat (Liz)
Fiona (3P)
Preeti (Sky)
Aiswrya (Pisa backup)
Ashley (Pisa)
Ashley (Pisa) extra
Teddie (ESB)
Melissa (Icono)
Angie (ESB backup)
Amanda (Eiffel)
Judith (Belem backup)
Catherine (Burj)
Mel (3P backup)
Judy (OooA)
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(last edited Jul 30, 2025 02:48AM)
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There were 10 items in your list. Here they are in random order:
Teddie (ESB)
Catherine (Burj)
Judy (OooA)
Preeti (Sky)
Melissa (Icono)
Fiona (3P)
Ashley (Pisa) extra
Cat (Liz)
Amanda (Eiffel)
Ashley (Pisa)
Timestamp: 2025-07-30 09:48:05 UTC
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Yay, reread for me but greatly enjoy this book
Volunteering for Team Sky Tower!
Volunteering for Pisa.ETA: I’ll be backup, and have Ashley (below) be primary.
I'll Volunteer for Pisa!ETA: I'd like to use an extra entry
Volunteering for ESB please
Volunteering for Icono Tower
Volunteering as backup for ESB.
Volunteering for Eiffel Tower
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Catherine - Burj
Volunteering as backup for 3P
Volunteering for OoA! :)
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My day works for me - thanks!
That works for me. Thanks!
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5 1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
(view spoiler)
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
Have to be honest not my typical genre. I struggle following these types of stories. Did not know of the Hugo awards will have to check it out.
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
For someone that struggles to understand and follow fantasy worlds, I think the author has done a great job describing it.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I don't read horror! I have enough of a problem sleeping. first few chapters I didnt find it very scary.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
Yes, I always look at the maps in fantasy genre books. It helps to give me some perspective.
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5 1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I have read three of the 6, including this one. I plan to read 2 more and there is one I am not interested in. I usually follow each year to see who won and will often try to novel and novella winner if I have not already read it.
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
It has been fun on the reread to see how it is introduced and how it isn't a large info dump but gradually introduced. I also have seen some clues I missed on the first read as I didn't know the "solution" then to the mystery.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I really like What Moves the Dead and The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher, which has mild body horror. It is the type I am mostly likely to read of horror, where strange things are happening and can include some dismemberment.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
(view spoiler)
I am reading the ebook so I did look at the map this second time. It is a ring based map so very easy to read and it was fun to find the second book's location on the map.
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I do have high expectations because I keep seeing in so many Tower threads have already read it and enjoyed it. I hadn't heard of it until now :)
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
I get confused sometimes as so much is different so I'm still trying to wrap my mind around stuff.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I don't like body horror and to me this isn't fitting that actual sub-genre for horror fans.
It did remind me of the TV show Hannibal because there were some similar scenes, so that was morbidly fun.
Body horror under horror is not a sub-genre I read much so no favorites with that. To me this seems like a mystery type and almost made me think of the historical fantasy steampunk, although it's not quite that really. I am curious on the Leviathan stuff
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
Mine did and I noticed immediately! I think over years when challenges call for maps I always seem to notice if a book has one right away although I rarely pay much attention to them
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
Yess, I love whodunnits so I had high expectations to be entertained.
I don't really have much interactions with Hugo books but maybe this is my starting point!
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
The names, the different cantons and hierarchy all seem very interesting.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the only horror book I've read and it's body horror far exceeds this one.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
(view spoiler)
I love maps in books, I study them a bit before reading and enjoy guessing where the story will start.
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5 1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
Well my general expectation going in was that I would like it, since I am a fan of the author’s work! This will be my 9th or 10th book by RJB, and it’s one of three that I have on my kindle but hadn’t read yet (and the only NetGalley of the three… I am obviously super behind on NetGalley since this is no longer a new book, ugh). I don’t pay too much attention to book awards, but sometimes if I see a book has won Hugo or Nebula it does make me go “Hmm, could be interesting.” Perhaps I will pay more attention to that stuff in future.
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
I am enjoying the world building. It seems well paced: it’s not info-dumpy, but gives you what you need when you need it. Details are added for context. There’s a sense of history, and also a sense of menace.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I watch a lot of body horror films as opposed reading body horror books. I don’t tend to seek out the latter, but I have enjoyed on occasion and am trying to read more horror, overall. One thing I love about body horror, in films at least because that’s what I know more about, is that it often intersects with sex and gender issues, and that is interesting to me. That hasn’t been the case with this book so far, but that’s okay. It’s all good.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
Luckily my NetGalley version does have the map in the beginning (which is not always the case) and I looked at it before reading. I love maps in fantasy books. I can look at them for ages.
I might be the only one here doing this BOM but not doing Tower Teams, lol. I am just happy that the BOM gave me an extra incentive to finally read it.
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I had no expectations going in. All I knew is that it was in the science fiction section of the library. I thought it might be a little stogy because of the cover. (I am delighted that it is not stogy)
I should try to read the Hugo books. I occasionally read one when our science fiction book club at our local book store reads one.
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
I am loving this book. I love how (view spoiler) I love books that weave in science and the natural world.
It seems very similar to Earth except alterations that must have to do with the plot - grafts, suffusions, leviathans.. I really enjoy trying to understand the natural world as well as the "human?" one.
I am curious as to how they get around - walking I suppose - but how do they get at the leviathans?
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I enjoy books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic.
I love TKingfisher - there is body horror in their books.
I really liked The Spirit Bares Its Teeth - that was just fabulous. @Alysa - you might want to check that one out as it has gender as a theme.
I read The House of the Scorpion which has some body modifications / horror
The Hunger Games has some body modifications.
I guess I've read quite a few! I prefer it when the horror has a natural element to it rather than just human vs. human.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
(view spoiler)
I didn't look at the map until this question. I usually like maps in books.
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5 1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I’ve tried to read this book so many times in the past but have never made it past chapter 5. Let’s see if this time is any different! I don’t really look at awards. Historically, I’ve never really enjoyed books that have won awards. I’m a weirdo!
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
It’s harder to follow than a typical fantasy book, especially in an audiobook.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
Yeah that scene was icky! No, I usually avoid any gruesome books.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books?
Audio only! Thank you for posting the map :) I love maps in books! I frequently refer back to them through the story.
Day 2: Ch 6-125. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
Not a question - just a bonus:
This is the second BOM that has reminded me of Avatar: Ana blindfolds herself but the people around her tend to forget she can't see due to her acuity and presence, like when she asks Din a question and he nods his answer. Here’s a fun compilation of times when the earthbender Toph’s friends forget she is blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9vZE...
😀
Lexi wrote: " DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5 1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did yo..."
Do you recommend any of the three that you read over the others?
5. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
I've always wanted to sing well- I can carry a tune, but.... it would be fun to belt out a song and have it sound decent..lol
Worst? Maybe super smell
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
I'm not sure. I originally wrote about a game - but that was from the other book I was reading - good grief...
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
I don't think so. To some extent, it would be a relief to not be subjective and always have to rethink your experiences. It would be difficult to relate to others, but I don't think that subjectivity precludes wisdom of what to say and what not to say in a situation.
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
It seems that Din has dyslexia. He probably has all the skills, but just had a tough time reading. Ana and Din are so much fun to learn the story through.
Not a question - just a bonus:
This is the second BOM that has reminded me of Avatar: Ana blindfolds herself but the people around her tend to forget she can't see due to her acuity and presence, like when she asks Din a question and he nods his answer. Here’s a fun compilation of times when the earthbender Toph’s friends forget she is blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9vZE...
😀
I can't see the video :( but I bet it is good!
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I do not follow Hugo awards as much but it is good to know. I went in completely blind with no knowledge of what to expect.
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
So far my thoughts on the world building is WOW this is a psy-fi mystery, ok lets go! But also holy crap that's scary that plants can take over a body and destroy so completely.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I dont specifically look for body horror reads but have read a couple this year at least I think they are.
and
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
I have the audio but got the library book as well so I was able to see the map. I don't feel that map is that useful yet but it is interesting to see that the farthest section away from the sea is the best to be.
Day 2: Ch 6-12
5. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
I would love to be able to know how to do things such as jobs, skills, hobbies, etc. I think the skill of reading minds would not be very enjoyable.
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
Perhaps the bones they use are actually leviathians?
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
Absolutely and makes me appreciate I have memories.
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
I think Din was able to get a memory which helped him pass the tests but that is not cheating in my book. I do like Din and Ana relationship. She is so honest and blunt and he is so by the rules.
Not a question - just a bonus:
This is the second BOM that has reminded me of Avatar: Ana blindfolds herself but the people around her tend to forget she can't see due to her acuity and presence, like when she asks Din a question and he nods his answer. Here’s a fun compilation of times when the earthbender Toph’s friends forget she is blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9vZE..
DQ 3 Part III Chapters 13-20
9. Were on the move now and hearing more of the environment. Are you able to imagine the world and How do you feel about the mix of genres - fantasy, sci-fi, mystery?
10. Were seeing Ana showcasing her skills and abilities more and seeing Ana and Din interact even more. Have your thoughts changed about them and what secrets do you think Ana and Din is hiding from one another if any?
11. Knowing this is book one and we probably wont get much how are you imagining the Leviathans so far? What is your closest comparison to what they may be/look like?
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5 1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
I’ve heard good things about this book so I’m not surprised it’s up for the Hugo, but I don’t really follow any awards ever. The Hugo is usually more of a sign that a book is actually good than a lot of the other awards I think…
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
I think it’s doing a really good job. Sometimes in fantasy books I’m confused for ages and ages about what the world is actually like and how some of the things we’re presented connect, but I think this has done a good job at that and after about 3 chapters I felt settled in the world.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
To be honest, I hate it. The murder itself was fine-ish here, but the body mods are really, really not good for me to read about.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
I tried to look at it but it was too small on my Kindle - I was going to see how I got on with the story before I actually felt like consulting the map, and I saw this question after chapter 3 so that’s when I looked at it. It clarified some things to me but didn’t feel super essential (yet). I do like maps in books but I think the book should stand for itself - the map should be a nice added bonus and not fully essential to understanding the story. Also I find in some books the distances described in the text don’t match up with what’s on the map… concretely thinking of A Day of Fallen Night here, where some trips took a day and looked the same distance on the map as trips that took two weeks.
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
This is my first book by RJB and he's been on my TBR for some time: not any particular book of his, but more in a way that I should finally read something by him as he seems to be a beloved author of GR Friends. On the other hand I did not have any particular expectations besides hoping that I would end up enjoying this particular book.
No, I don't realy follow book prize winners of any genres, so my bookchoices are not based on that. 😊
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
I like it so far, to me the world seems a bit of a mixture of the ancient Roman and Chinese empires and it is quite promising. I'm looking forward to learning more about it.
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I avoid horror of any kind, it's one of the genres that is simply not for me.
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
Yes, my version has a map and I always look at maps before starting reading and also go back to consult them while reading - just as I'm doing it with this book. And I do like maps to be included in my books whether they are history- or fantasy-world related.
Day 2: Ch 6-125. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
I do like the idea of a perfect memory actually but I already have a pretty good memory so I don’t know if I’d need it… I don’t know if I have a good answer to this one.
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
I keep thinking about Pacific Rim here so it made complete sense to me that the leviathans are growing bigger here, and that you can study and use the carcasses…
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
Hmmm I don’t think so. In these sorts of conversations I always think of this really in-depth discussion I had in a lit class back in undergrad where we read Neuromancer. We spent a lot of time debating what makes you human and at which point are you a cyborg, especially as so many people have artificial hips or knees these days, and aren’t contact lenses also a form of enhancement, and all of that. So I don’t think humanity can be defined along these lines, especially as among humans there is such huge variety and no such thing as “normal” exists.
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
I think Ana likes him more than she lets on - but I also wonder to what degree she’s counting on his loyalty at this point, and to what extent that informs her now being a little nicer to him than she’s been before (when he made the tea for example, she was really nice about it after being decidedly mean the last time we had a scene where he’d made tea. And then also the “he is good” thing). They clearly can’t really trust anyone else they have to work with now, and Ana is clearly also a controversial figure in society, so having his loyalty is something she understands she needs. I don’t think Din cheated – we don’t know what kind of test it was but it’s quite clear that his main limitation is his dyslexia which is why it makes sense that he’d suck in a written test, but maybe this format suited him better. If it was a also a written test, maybe there was a chance he’d heard the questions somewhere before and that’s how he was able to answer them better.
Not a question - just a bonus:
This is the second BOM that has reminded me of Avatar: Ana blindfolds herself but the people around her tend to forget she can't see due to her acuity and presence, like when she asks Din a question and he nods his answer. Here’s a fun compilation of times when the earthbender Toph’s friends forget she is blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9vZE...
😀
I hadn’t really thought of Avatar so far but you’re so right! I’ve mostly been thinking about the similarities between this and Pacific Rim – these big monsters coming from the sea, there being a wall, it being called a breach…
DQs Day 2: Chapter 6-125. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
Hmmm.
I guess if I could loose my fear of heights and flying and throwing up on a seajourney, that would be great😂, though they are not very "active" skills as such. Maybe to be able to learn 10 new languages or more would be nice. :)
As for abilities I don't want ... I don't know, will need to think about it some more.
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
It could be external forces, I guess, though unlikely. Maybe someone wants to grab power from the inside, or it's the law of give and take/balance? The more people take from dead leviathans somehow gets back to the living?
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
It certainly places as incredibly heavy burden on him.
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
Either someone helped him or Ana new to give him different kinds of tests that he could pass without the drawback of dyslexia??
Day 2: Ch 6-125. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
Would love to have the ability to have better memory... especially for reading. Sometimes I finish a book and a few days later I struggle to remember what it is about!.
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
I think that it has caused him to have a significant burden
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
I think the duo together. Don't think he cheated but had some help.
9. Were on the move now and hearing more of the environment. Are you able to imagine the world and How do you feel about the mix of genres - fantasy, sci-fi, mystery?Got to admit. I struggle with all of these genres. I have such a hard time understanding and envisioning this world.
10. Were seeing Ana showcasing her skills and abilities more and seeing Ana and Din interact even more. Have your thoughts changed about them and what secrets do you think Ana and Din is hiding from one another if any?
I think how they interact but I feel both of them know more than they are letting on.
11. Knowing this is book one and we probably wont get much how are you imagining the Leviathans so far? What is your closest comparison to what they may be/look like?
I don't read much in this genre so nothing comes to mind as a comparison
DQs Day 2: Chapter 6 - 125. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?
Having had random conversations on this topic before, I immediately know my answer to the first part: I would want my augmented skill/ability to be facility with languages (which I think was one of the ones mentioned in this book, which was neat).
Not as sure about the worst. If we were talking super powers, I would definitely not want the ability to read minds. But that’s not what we’re exactly talking about. I really don’t know. In the context of this book, the perfect-memory thing sounds like it has some nasty side effects over time, so perhaps that. I have quite a good memory in real life, though not eidetic, and I can actually already relate to some of the negative emotional issues it can bring (though there are positives too).
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?
Only the most obvious ones, which means I am probably very wrong.
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?
No, this doesn’t rob Din of anything, and I disagree with the notion that having a perfect objective memory undermines subjectivity. First of all, objectivity and subjectivity are not mutually exclusive. One can have objectively perfect recall and still apply subjective perspective and interpretation. One can still associate different emotions to a memory, and so on. One person can have a fuzzy memory and insist that it is the whole truth of what occurred, while another can have a perfect memory but not be in posession of all relèvent context or facts. These two people may argue, and both of them could be equally right and/or equally wrong. What makes someone like Din different isn’t ultimately that he has perfect recall, it’s that everyone else fully relies on Din’s recall as a source of objective truth.
8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?
I am enjoying their relationship! And I don’t think Din cheated, but also have no real sense of what else is going on.
Alysa wrote: "First of all, objectivity and subjectivity are not mutually exclusive. One can have objectively perfect recall and still apply subjective perspective and interpretation. One can still associate different emotions to a memory, and so on. One person can have a fuzzy memory and insist that it is the whole truth of what occurred, while another can have a perfect memory but not be in posession of all relèvent context or facts. These two people may argue, and both of them could be equally right and/or equally wrong. What makes someone like Din different isn’t ultimately that he has perfect recall, it’s that everyone else fully relies on Din’s recall as a source of objective truth."Well said. Maybe "human" wasn't the best word to choose, but I'm always fascinated by the stories people tell about themselves to themselves, or their version of an experience - and how in many cases those stories are quite different from my take on the experience. Like, they shade their memories, I shade mine -- and the stories we tell ourselves are those little building blocks that comprise the life we look back on.
DQ 3 Part III Chapters 13-20
9. We’re on the move now and hearing more of the environment. Are you able to imagine the world and How do you feel about the mix of genres - fantasy, sci-fi, mystery?
I’m never able to imagine the world so that’s not the book’s fault. Maybe it’s because of all the talk about plants and fernpaper, but in my head it’s a pretty green place. I think this book is a great example for why SFF is often lumped together as one genre – really hard to see where one ends and the other begins! I don’t care for mysteries so I really do need them to be embedded in some other sort of genre plot, so this is a good fit for me.
10. We’re seeing Ana showcasing her skills and abilities more and seeing Ana and Din interact even more. Have your thoughts changed about them and what secrets do you think Ana and Din is hiding from one another if any?
Ana very obviously isn’t telling Din how she ended up “exiled” to this job when she’s clearly seen a lot and knows a lot of high-ranking people, suggesting that she used to be higher up in the Empire’s pecking order. Din meanwhile is obviously hiding his dyslexia and some other things – some of them I’m not even sure he was aware of himself, like the lockpicking or how he’s turned out to be a shockingly good fighter even though he mostly only studied theory and had very little training.
11. Knowing this is book one and we probably wont get much how are you imagining the Leviathans so far? What is your closest comparison to what they may be/look like?
Maybe it’s because of Moby-Dick, but to me they’re like a mix between a whale and a kaiju from Pacific Rim.
DQs Day 4: Chapters 21-25 12. At the start of this section, Din is experiencing some type of battle shock after the fight, and Strovi helps him deal with the situation. He’s quite gentle and especially after their drinks earlier with the whole “we’re too formal” thing, do you think he’s (romantically) interested in Din? Or what else could be going on there? Do you trust him or do you think he’s spying on them, especially as it’s revealed he’s gentry?
13. Din’s engraving skills seem to be a bit different to what is usual, based on the reactions of everyone else to his fighting skills, and also the lockpicking before that. I wonder how that interacts with his dyslexia, and also how it’s connected to his performance on the exams… what do you think?
14. One of the things I always find interesting about fantasy is figuring out what technology exists and what doesn’t. Aristan and Suberek were quite obviously killed by gunshot wounds, yet neither Din nor the rest of the investigation team seem to recognize that, so guns aren’t a well-known weapon in this world – however, Ana seemed to have an inkling… something the might of the Empire is hiding from us? What do you make of this? Is types of technology also something you pay special attention to in fantasy?
15. Speaking of technology – I’ve also been thinking about its relation to social class and especially fertility in this world. We have Strovi, who’s gentry which is why he doesn’t have any augmentations, as they impact fertility, and then we have Fayazi Haza who’s so heavily modified there doesn’t seem to be anything “natural” left about her, surely leaving her infertile (but maybe this doesn’t matter when you’re part of the Haza clan. Or maybe they found a way around that.) And then there’s people like Din who seem to undergo these transformations as a way of improving their situation in life (not that we know much about his or other regular people’s backgrounds – but him sending almost all his earnings back to his family does suggest a significant degree of poverty), where it seems like nobody considers infertility a negative impact… I’m not sure I have a concrete question here, so: thoughts?
16. It seems very neat that Jolgalgan, from the Oypat canton, would be the one behind this plot and all of these murders. Do you think it was actually her, or do you think there’ll be a big twist? If it was her after all, what do you think she knows?
DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -51) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
- not any specific expectations. I had heard generally good things about this from friends who had read it and knew it was a mystery plot. I did know it was a Hugo nominee. I don't try and read them though, my interaction with the award is I just like to see who's nominated and wins but that's it
2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
- The graft system in the book is interesting and I think will likely intersect with the mystery plot in an interesting way
3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
- No, I don't really read body horror books much at all
4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
- I adore maps in books. I almost view them as a personal requirement for fantasy books because I get actively annoyed when a fantasy book doesn't have one especially if they move locations at all or talk about other locations. The visual of the map really helps me internalize the world building and politics of the story
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Gideon the Ninth (other topics)The Pisces (other topics)
Wilder Girls (other topics)
The Sword of Kaigen (other topics)
Maeve Fly (other topics)
More...
In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.
Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears--quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.
Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.
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nominator: Lexi
official page count: 410 pages