Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Waterfall Wednesdays Week 3



Waterfall Wednesday is being hosted by Joy and Serena at Edgy Inspirational Romance this week. To participate answer the questions for chapters 12-17 then link up to their blog to share with everyone else.

Discussion Questions:
1.       In Siena, on her way to the ball at Palazzo Pubblico, Gabi likened her experience to being on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, the goal being "to see and be seen." If you were a peasant, watching from the crowd, what would you be thinking as this procession passed by?
I am not easily starstruck and since I am short I probably wouldn’t be able to see the procession because of all of the tall people in front of me! BUT if I did see the procession I would probably be critiquing what each lady wore(just like on the red carpet) and getting my eyes full of some gorgeous eye-candy men!

2.       Though quite nervous about dancing at the ball, Gabi discovers a strange feeling of connection to the time, the people, and the society through the unified beauty of the dance. Have you ever been in a position where you felt out of your element, but, in one, pinpointed moment, became a part of or connected to something bigger than your fear?
Crowds always always make me feel out of my element. Again, I am going to harp on the me being short thing, but really because I am so short I feel claustrophobic in a crowd. I tend to avoid them whenever possible. One moment I always remember was when I was way younger(teens) and attending a Basic Youths conference. The last day of the conference we sang acapella( so yes, I know I am spelling this wrong because spell checker is telling me so. But you should see what they are suggesting, scapula or canella! And when I spelled it acapello they suggested that I meant Acapulco! Just had to share that!), hearing all of us lifting our voices singing Amazing Grace with no musical accompaniment was so awesome that I had goose pimples all over just being a part of such a massive praise to our Savior!

3.       The kiss. Oh, the kiss. When Marcello finally kisses Gabi, he believes the experience to be proof that they are meant to be together. What did you think about his assumption? Were you surprised at Gabi's reaction to it? Have you ever experienced a kiss that seemed to be prophetic in a similar (or opposite!) way?
Well I certainly hope that the kiss was prophetic and they are meant to be together! But a kiss does not a lifetime make! I have only kissed 2 guys in my entire life. The first was when I was 16 and by the time I broke up with him his kisses no longer made my heart pulse or my knees weak. The next man I kissed was my husband! So I know I am old fashioned, but the man who’s kisses made me weak in the knees when I was 19 still to this day is quite capable of producing the same effect!

4.       Many go through their teen years with a subdued sense of immortality. Do you think Gabi has a sense of this teen feeling? And did you think Gabi's converse observation, "Sometimes death came hunting and there was no way to cut it off at the pass." was informed more by the experience of losing her father, her self-admitted closet hypochondria, or the forced maturation of being transported to a different time? How does this observation show Gabi's growth as a character?
Holy crow Serena! You are killing me here! Taxing my brain! Teens do have a sense of immortality, but I don’t think they hold the market on that thinking. I know a lot of adults that feel the same way. I don’t know that Gabi had that feeling, I just think she didn’t even think about it, she wanted to find her sister and was going to do it no matter what the cost or the danger. As for her observation on death I think it had to do more with losing her father than anything else. But it could also be having to grow up real quick when she found herself in the middle of a bloody battle in the 14th Century! I don’t know, my problem with reading a story is that I take it at face value and don’t look for more deeper meanings, it taxes my poor brain too much!

5. In the span of a few moments, Gabi goes from sword-wielding teen beauty to man-killing warrior. Did you think her realization of the finality of death -- and her justification for its necessity -- was realistic? And, in her slippers, could you have done the same?

I think it seemed very realistic. When faced with protecting someone she loved she had to face the reality of killing or being killed. I know that if I was faced with having to protect my family I would come out fighting and hope that I would be the one left standing after all of the dust settled!

Only 2 weeks left of Waterfall Wednesdays! It's not to late to join in the fun! I've enjoyed hopping around reading everyone's responses to the questions.

30 comments:

  1. Ya. I don't think she was having a great debate about death. I think she is probably a fairly impulsive person (or just 21st century) + want for Marcello & her sister = instant bravery.

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  2. You're not alone in old-fashionedness :o) (Spellchecker doesn't like that one either, it suggested "fashionably", haha)

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  3. Ohhh you sound like a romantic Julie- I love it!!

    And being short (im 5'3) does have its ups and downs..I always seem to get stuck behind the really tall guy at the movies....grrrrrr...or the the tall lady with a big bird hat at church!!!!

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  4. Loved your answers! Though I have one question left: just how short are you?! lol

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  5. I agree if I was faced with having to protect my family I would come out fighting too, I think it's a natural lioness type reaction.

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  6. Amy, Great observation, I believe Gaby is impulsive too.

    Rebecca, :)

    Tina: I am a romantic! I want all my books to end with the Happily Ever After. I'm not satisfied if they don't. And isn't it the truth? It never fails, if I sit in the front someone taller will sit in front of me, if I sit in the back someone taller will sit in front of me. I can't win in that area. I always thought if I were tall I would want to make sure that I was not blocking people's line of sight. I need to bring a booster seat to the movies and to church with me! haha! But then I would have the problem of my legs dangling and that would really stink!

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  7. Melissa: bwahaha! I'm 4' 10"

    Lesley: I call it the momma bear coming out in me. Nobody better come between me, my kids or my family. Momma bear comes out and the fur is going to fly!

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  8. These questions were deep weren't they!? I just stared at my blank computer screen for a while with absolutely nothing intelligent to say:) I like to think I would be the one left standing after the dust settled if I was in a position like Gabi's too, but I don't think I'm quite as scrappy as I'm sincerely hoping I would be.

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  9. Jenny: Yup, deep questions. I too stared at them and thought WHAT? I think we would all surprise ourselves if put in a situation like Gabi. I know I have surprised myself many a time when it comes to being an advocate for my children.

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  10. To be honest I'm a semi-tall person (I can hit 6ft. in heels!) I'd probably be more like Gabi in the 14th century...Getting weird looks for my height. I'm feeling for Gabi getting gyped out of the good clothing! Think about it, if you were in the 14th century you'd probably be considered taller. No need to jump in the crowd you'd have easy viewing...and access to all the latest fashions ;)

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  11. Oh wow Julie! I've love to meet the kind of guy that kisses you like it's the first time every time, even years later! So glad you found that! :)

    And a shortie too, but I don't think we'd have a problem. Seems like a lot of people were short in that time. We'd blend right in.

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  12. Sara(thelibrarianreads): WOW! I always wanted to reach at least 5'! But yeah, I guess they grew them shorter back then huh?

    Missie: Yup, 26 years later he's still the man for me! Since clothing was made by hand too I guess we wouldn't have problems with fittings huh? Everything now is usually too long for me. Capri's look like highwater pants on me! LOL!

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  13. I'm short too so I'd be jumping to see or trying to push my way to the front.

    I love that comment about "a kiss doesn't make a lifetime." That is so incredibly wise and true!

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  14. Awww, thanks Lisa! Every now and then a wise thought comes into this brain of mine! haha

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  15. I didn't even think about me being at a height disadvantage!!!

    I just googled, it's "a capella" ...I had NO idea! I thought it was one word as well! But it's still telling me "capella" is spelled wrong, oh well!

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  16. Hey thanks Jacinda! I knew it was the word I wanted, but no clue how to spell it. I didn't even think to google it...haha

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  17. Julie, LMAO! "...I am short I probably wouldn’t be able to see the procession because of all of the tall people in front of me!" *giggles*

    Also, it's good to hear of a man who can still make his woman weak-kneed! I don't do prophetic kisses or soul mates, by my hubby still does okay. *wink wink* And, I giggled loudly at your acapella search!

    Jen
    In the Closet With a Bibliophile

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  18. LOL, I'm glad you answered Melissa's question b/c I was left wondering the same thing! :) I'm short too (5'2").

    Great answers!

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  19. Jen, awww, I think the person that you marry becomes your soul mate. He also becomes Mr. Right. I laughed when I wrote that about being short, I speak truth! It is a rare thing for me to be able to see over someone standing in front of me. LOL!

    Joy, I've seen a lot of fellow shorties on here! My youngest is 5'2" and my oldest is shorter than I am! It didn't help that the man of my dreams is only 5'4"! Our children were doomed! I always wanted to reach 5', I always thought if I reach 5' I could stop growing and be happy. But since that didn't happen I now am working on being 5' wide! Kidding, but it does seem that my height and weight aren't matching up here!

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  20. Thanks for taking part again, Julie. Excellent answers to some challenging questions. And even though I have a foot on you, I get claustrophobic in crowds too...Must. Have. Breathing. Space.

    See you next week! I hope, I hope...

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  21. Thanks so much Lisa for visiting each week! I will definitely be here next week! And yes, that personal space is so important isn't it? Breathing room is NICE!

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  22. I loved your answers, especially to number 4! I read for pleasure too and don't really think that deeply about the book I'm reading. I had to dig deep on these questions!! But I'm short too so I'm with you on the claustrophobia! Thanks for sharing the spelling woes I was laughing b/c it is so funny when spell check doesn't recognize the word you are trying to spell!

    Heather

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  23. Julie - I'm with you, these questions taxed my brain this round. I think you presented really good answers to some very tough questions.

    My daughter doesn't like crowds either, which is a big disadvantage. As the world grows it very difficult to avoid them.

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  24. Heather: Seriously! I will talk to someone who has read the same book as I did and they get so much "deeper" meaning out of it...wonder what is up with that? If we think spell-check is bad have you seen what predictive texting does on a cell phone? I won't even use it! ha!

    Gina: Thanks! I live in the country so have some space to be able to avoid crowds :) When I am forced into a crowded situation I usually try to find a little space just for me to stand in. LOL!

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  25. Awesome answers! I agree that you can tell a lot from a kiss :)

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  26. Nic: hmmm, I wouldn't know as I have only kissed two guys in my life. I don't think I could tell anything about either of their characters by their kissing techniques though. LOL! It's the long haul that matters, that lasts a life time.

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  27. Girl I am short too so Im with you I would be totally checking out the girls dresses and looking for hotties if and only if I could see. Im not sure how tall you are but im 5ft 3. Also me and my husband met when we where 17 and to this day his kisses make me forget the world around me, now im not saying those quick pecks but the ones that aren't totaly make my heart race,and my knees go weak :)
    Great answers girl!

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  28. Laura, I'm 4'10" so a bit shorter than you. Quick pecks are for short good-bye's! When hubby means business, yup, weak knees! LOL!

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  29. Love your answer -- and I especially love that you put so much effort into spelling! (I'm a spelling freak) Sorry I made your brain hurt on that one question -- it was a little involved ;-(

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  30. haha Serena, you just made me have to think deeper thoughts. It's good to exercise the brain cells now and then! Thanks for visiting and hosting WW this week!

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