Wall of Lives

Use this forum to discuss the September Book of the Month "Apollo's Raven" by Linnea Tanner.
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Jsovermyer
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Wall of Lives

Post by Jsovermyer »

What did you think of the idea of the Wall of Lives where people's lives are seen as threads? Do you think Catrin could change the future by pulling on a thread?
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Post by jjmainor »

Whoever she ends up with, there will be no secrets her husband can keep from her when she can just go to his lifethread and see what he's up to when they're apart. :D
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Post by kelsiemaxwell »

The wall of lives brings to mind the three fates of Greek mythology. The sisters determined the length of one’s life. Clotho spun the thread, Lachesis measured it and Atropos cut the thread. Mystically, Catrin could have altered and/or extended a life.
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Post by Theresa Moffitt »

I thought this was a creative idea and given the supernatural aspects of the book it fell into the fantasy of it all. It was interesting to see her try to change fate by pulling a string
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Post by CBCollinsReview »

I thought this was an interesting concept, and enjoyed watching Catrin attempt to change the fate of various characters. While the overall concept of the wall of lives was creative, I thought the name was a little unimaginative. It did, however, put an interesting twist on the mythical elements presented in the book.
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Post by sarahmarlowe »

I think the wall is fascinating. It presents so many possibilities for the stories ahead. I think she probably does have the power literally to "pull strings" to have things changed. Knowing her character, though, I am not sure if she will.
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Post by LikoLovesBooks »

Jsovermyer wrote: 11 Oct 2018, 20:54 What did you think of the idea of the Wall of Lives where people's lives are seen as threads? Do you think Catrin could change the future by pulling on a thread?
It reminded me a lot of Susan Dennard's Truthwitch. There is a girl in there who is a threadwitch and she can see the lives of others as threads, how they intertwine with other threads and what color they are are...It was cool to see that concept in Apollo's Raven but after seeing it done better in another book I as a little underwhelmed.
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Post by Linnea Tanner »

I appreciate everyone's comments on the Wall of Lives, as it is inspired by the three Fates from Greek Mythology, as mentioned above.
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Post by Sweetp120 »

kelsiemaxwell wrote: 08 Nov 2018, 13:51 The wall of lives brings to mind the three fates of Greek mythology. The sisters determined the length of one’s life. Clotho spun the thread, Lachesis measured it and Atropos cut the thread. Mystically, Catrin could have altered and/or extended a life.
I kind of agree with this thought as the threads of life would represent the Roman/Greek part of the mythology and the wall and spirit animals the Celtic/Druid aspect.
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Post by rubinelli »

I thought it was an interesting concept but I wish that the author expanded on it more. The whole magic system though it sounds awesome, was always very vague. The Wall of Lives sounded so cool and an interesting interpretation of Catrin's powers. Although, I do wish that there were some solid rules in place.
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Post by winecellarlibrary »

kelsiemaxwell wrote: 08 Nov 2018, 13:51 The wall of lives brings to mind the three fates of Greek mythology. The sisters determined the length of one’s life. Clotho spun the thread, Lachesis measured it and Atropos cut the thread. Mystically, Catrin could have altered and/or extended a life.
That's a fantastic connection! I would not be surprised if the author drew her inspiration from this mythology.
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
-Emily Dickinson
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Post by winecellarlibrary »

I really enjoyed the fact that even though Catrin can manipulate the threads, she could not simply prevent Marcellus from dying. Each time she tried to change the future, she realized he would still die. Although she has this gift of magic, she is no god.
There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
-Emily Dickinson
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Post by kelsiemaxwell »

winecellarlibrary wrote: 03 Dec 2019, 10:26
kelsiemaxwell wrote: 08 Nov 2018, 13:51 The wall of lives brings to mind the three fates of Greek mythology. The sisters determined the length of one’s life. Clotho spun the thread, Lachesis measured it and Atropos cut the thread. Mystically, Catrin could have altered and/or extended a life.
That's a fantastic connection! I would not be surprised if the author drew her inspiration from this mythology.
I agree. That was my first thought.
“...a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones
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Post by Linnea Tanner »

In response to the above comments, I was inspired by the Fates in Greek Mythology but combined it with the concept of the Celtic Otherworld in which the Wall of Lives serves as a transitional barrier between the physical and spiritual worlds. In the Curse of Clansmen and Kings series, Catrin has god-like powers to alter someone's fate to die, but this change impacts how the other life-threads will re-weave into each other and thus alter the future in unpredictable ways. Thus, it is a power that can have unforeseen consequences.
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Post by Julie-p »

I liked this imagery a lot when I read it. It reminded me of Greek Mythology. I don't think that pulling on that thread would alter the future, but the actions she or other characters take.
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