9.07.2011

Waterfall Wednesdays #2


It's Wednesday again! And that means another installment of Waterfall Wednesdays. I. Am. So. Excited. I am absolutely loving this book, and it's also a lot of fun not only answering the questions but also seeing what everyone else has to say! So, without further ado:

Waterfall by Lisa T Bergren
Discussion 2: Chapters 7-11
Today's Questions hosted by The Unread Reader

1. Gabi's search for her sister is made increasingly difficult by the fight for territory between Castello Forelli and Castello Paratore. At this point, do you think the rivalry is warranted? Why or why not?
I think there's something more going on than appears at first glance. If this is really just about a disputed patch of land, I don't think there'd be quite the same ferocity as is displayed. Then too, Gabi notes that Marcello almost seems to enjoy the midnight encounter with the Paratore knights -- and yet, he also seems hesitant in application of violence and is very careful about protecting all those around him. So I can't help but feel like there's definitely something else going on.

2. Gabi aids Fortino by having his sickroom cleaned out and using steam to loosen the phlegm inside his lungs so he could breathe better. Have you ever found yourself in a situation that required you to rely on home remedies to aid yourself or another? What are some of your favorite home remedies?
Um, yes. Definitely use home remedies, haha...I've used steam before when I've had bronchitis really, really bad (but I took the liberty of steaming up the whole bathroom instead of just 'tenting' it). Also use honey and lemon juice for bad coughs. Peppermint and raspberry hot teas are amazing for stomach aches, sinus congestion, and sore throats. (Also: frozen yogurt. Absolute miracle food for sore throats and swollen glands. But I'm pretty sure that doesn't qualify as "old-fashioned home remedy"...) One that did not work for me: the application of crushed garlic and honey to a rash (which turned out to be an allergic reaction to latex) -- I ended up with a horribly painful, and huge, blister that left a scar you can still see traces of. Not a good idea. Definitely recommend sticking to honey & lemon juice and tasty hot teas! 

3. Marcello and his men don't hide their surprise when they learn that Gabi is skilled with a sword. What did you think of this development? Has your initial impression of Gabi changed? Do you have any secret skills?
I think Gabi is more medieval than she cares to admit. She loves the whole knighthood and battle-idea, and can hold her own with a sword (though I have a feeling she'd rather have a lighter one). I thought Gabi was pretty kick-ass before, and that is definitely still present, but she's also starting to show some awareness and recognition that she really is in a different time. And it really isn't the safest of places at times, so she might want to listen a little closer when the good guys - like Marcello, Luca and Fortini - tell her things.
Secret skillz...I can give you just about any random Dewey Decimal location; am a passionate lover of football (thus having my own skilled-with-a-sword moments when guys are around to hear me talk/watch); and I'm a rabbit whisperer.

4. "Our lips were so close, I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin." Gabi and Marcello's feelings for one another are beginning to stir. What do you think of Marcello as a romantic interest thus far? What do you think of his intended?
Ahem. I am in love with Marcello as a romantic interest. I appreciate his struggle between reconciling his duty - and apparent actual understanding - to Lady Rossi/Romana, while also manfully admitting that maybe, just maybe, there's more to life. As in, you know, Gabi. I think Marcello is one of those quintessential "Knight in Shining Armor"-types, who also happens to be a real, honest-to-goodness man. Er, as real as a fictional character can be. As for Romana - I like her better now than I did in the first section. She's fleshed out more, and she's also not reminding me quite so much of catty girls I've known. 

5. Marcello and Luca take turns teaching Gabi the dances of Toscana. Would you have liked to attend a ball like the one Gabi was practicing for? Do you like to dance? Do you know any cool dance moves? Extra (not really) points if you YouTube yourself dancing and share the video. Come on, it will be fun! :)
First: No dancing video. Sorry.
I love to dance, even though I get the opportunity rarely. I have particular expertise in certain mountain square dances, but my not-so-secret wish is to take ballroom dance lessons. I adore waltzes, like, really, really love waltzes. And I'd like to learn the other beautiful ballroom dances well enough to begin improvising within their structure and context. So yes, I would totally and entirely jump at the chance to attend a ball like Gabi's practicing for. Especially if I can be taught the new dances by Luca and Marcello...I'd agree to learn just about any dance move with Marcello as my teacher. Just sayin'...

It's been another wonderful week, and I'm off to see what everyone else has to say!

16 comments:

  1. Your a freaking rabbit whisperer and a mountain square dancer!!!?????

    Girl you've got some mad secret skills!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have not tried frozen yogurt but my mom always used to give us all natural frozen fruit juice when we had a sore throat. I also believe that tea is a miracle worker. Whenever I don't feel well I make a cup of chamomile tea and the smell of it just perks me up.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree that Gabi is definitely enjoying a bit of the power trip of sword weilding....guess you do need that adrenaline rush though to get you through!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm starting to think of more home remedies that I use the more posts I read. :)

    I like Marcello more for his struggle between duty and what he could have with Gabi.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh dear! That allergic reaction sounds like a horrible experience! (Not to self: don't try it!)

    Yes, I agree. Gabi seemed to just fit right into the medieval era! Like she was born for it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Frozen yogurt for sore throats? I'll definitely keep that in mind next time I've got one!

    And I agree, it would be such fun to learn ballroom dances :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awwwwwwwwww Rebecca. I love the Rabbit Whisperer factoid about you. And how cool must it be to know how to mountain square dance. I'm not even sure what that is so I'm gonna have to youtube it. LOL

    You are skilled in many ways. The Dewey Decimal system still taunts me to this day. But I have had a mad craving to master it ever since watching the movie Party Girl. Have you ever watched it? Funny stuff.

    Thanks for the tips on the home remedies. Believe me, I know what it's like to be scarred for life by one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Doesn't anyone ever "tent" themselves with a pot of steaming water filled with herbs? Everyone seems set on steaming the bathroom. Personally, I've never heard about anyone doing that (except in this fairytale I read to my little sister once, where an old lady killed a queen by locking her in a steaming bathroom), but yeah, I don't think it's a very good idea. I always use a towel when I need to.
    I liked reading your answers! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rabbit whisperer, huh? Seriously, that I have to see. *giggles* I'd like to be a horse whisperer. Not because I actually have any horses, but because it would be an awesome skill. As would being a baby whisperer. Maybe I could calm my children, *wink wink*. I would LOVE to learn ballroom! It's always been a dream of mine. And, I totally agree with you. If Marcello and Luca are my teachers, I'd learn anything. Even the hokey pokey. ;D

    Jen
    In the Closet With a Bibliophile

    ReplyDelete
  10. A rabbit whisperer??? that is the coolest skill I have ever heard of.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm in agreement with everyone else, "Rabbit Whisperer" sounds totally awesome! As far as Dewey goes I can put them away by number which seems to be a skill that I could not teach to people when I worked in the library. I can also tell you what number the graphic novels are under and the drawing books. Oh, and also the poetry books. But that is about the extent of my memorization of Dewey. Great answers!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Marcello is a GOOD man! Many girls in books always go for he bad boys, but not Gabi :)

    One of these days I will learn how to really dance...not just shake my butt, lol.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So...umm...when you whisper to rabbits what do they do? My younger daughter was just begging for a lil black bunny. We're a one-pet family and already have a dog so I had to kill that dream. Maybe she'll grow up to be a rabbit whisperer too. :-) Glad you're falling for Marcello--you need the Team Marcello button on your next WW post, if you're still feeling the same. xoxo LTB

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would love to take ballroom dancing too! If only I could get hubby to do it with me....

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fantastic answers! Peppermint is one of my favourite remedies for a sore stomach. I noticed none of us were game for a dancing video!

    ReplyDelete
  16. re: Rabbit Whisperer -- It's much more fun than my other title of "Rabbit Wrangler", LOL! You'd be amazed at how hard it is to hold on to a rabbit who does NOT want to be caught. Thankfully the "Whisperer" part comes in handing for calming down a fussy bunny ;o) She's a handful, haha...but also a major snuggler (and still thinks she's the size of my fist, instead of as long as my leg, LOL!) :o)

    Mountain square dances are fun - my favorites being "O Johnny O" and "Balsam Grove Turkey Stomp", although the Virginia Reel is a classic :o)

    ReplyDelete