City of Bones ~ Discussion

So I wanted to review this book, City of Bones, which I gobbled up by the way, but I decided to do something a little different and a little more fun. I found a list of discussion questions (intended for book clubs, of which I am not a part ~ no time), and they really get me thinking about the nitty gritty of the book.

Here we go :)

· When Clary learns that Magnus Bane had erased her supernatural memories, she says that she had always felt like there was something wrong with her. How much of this is because she didn’t know her history, and how much is caused—as Magnus says—by the simple fact that she’s a teenager? Does she belong in the Shadowhunter world?


Being a teenager sucks. You're still growing into yourself, figuring out who you are. Personally, I never felt that I belonged either, but I'm not sure many of us did. Sometimes you feel lost, like you don't know which way to turn and sometimes it's hard to choose right over wrong because emotions and hormones are even more strung out than at any other point in our lives. I think in Clary's case, it could have been a little bit of both. She's got a double whammy with not only being at that ripe age in between child and adult, but she finds out that most of her life was based on a lie. How's that for an emotional upheaval?

· How much of what mundanes see in this world is a glamour, constructed by those with magical powers? Why do these glamours exist? How do things change for Clary once she can see through them?


From what I've read, it seems there are glamours around every corner, shadowing not only buildings but every other 'person' you come across. People are happy in their ignorance ~ like the old cliche saying, "Ignorance is bliss," and, truth be told, they probably couldn't handle anything outside their realm of possibility. When Clary begins to see through them, she feels like she's seeing a whole new world, when in reality, as Jace so kindly put, it's the same place; it never changed ~ it's her that is changing.

· Where did Nephilim, witches and warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and faeries come from? Do their origins justify the roles they play and the rivalries between them?

Let's see if I can remember all this... I know vampire are a result of some kind of disease in humans.. witches and warlocks are part demon? Nephilim are a result of the Mortal Cup ~ the blood of angels. Werewolves and faeries, I'm drawing a blank. I know faeries are supposed to be nasty little buggers though, best avoided. The Nephilim seem to consider themselves at the top of the 'social' ladder, being the paranormal world's 'police force.' The rivalry between the vampires and werewolves ~ well it just seemed that it was something that was always so, (maybe I missed something, but...) there didn't seem to be a solid explanation.... faeries seemed to be mentioned randomly here and there... yeah, I suck at answering this question...

· Why did Valentine rebel against the Clave in the first place? What does he hope to accomplish by stealing the Mortal Instruments and fighting the Clave now? Whose best interests does he have in mind?


Valentine was a little overzealous. He believed that because the Shadowhunters were in place to protect the world and its people that all Downworlders needed to be exterminated. The Accords kept an uneasy peace between the Nephilim and Downworlders, and Valentine was forbidden to break this peace. He hopes by stealing the Mortal Instruments to create an army of Shadowhunters (the only way they can be made without being born into it) to accomplish his 'cleansing.' He thinks he has the world's best interest in mind, but really he's just a selfish, egotistical villain with a black void for a heart. His hate and anger turned his 'good intentions' into something more sinister.

· At one point, Jace says he doesn’t believe in God (City of Bones, p. 256). Do you think this is true? Can someone be a Shadowhunter and not believe in God?


I think Jace says a lot of things he doesn't mean. I don't think he really knows what he believes in this respect. He's got the blood of angels, so as a Shadowhunter, I think it would be difficult not to believe in God. Then again, Jace hasn't exactly experienced a normal childhood or life, so I'm not really sure if he truly means it or not.

· What is it about the Silent Brothers that is so disturbing to Clary and the others? Do you think the Silent Brothers play up this aura of creepiness? 


The Silent Brothers are the most dangerous, most powerful Shadowhunters. But their name suits them, making their self-mutilation all the more creepy. Their black hoods, sewn lips, and scarred faces are bad enough, but when you can't hear them moving up behind you? Creepy... I'm taking 'play up' to mean that they try to be creepier than they are to scare the wits out of the people around them ~ I don't think they do this. I think they are completely themselves, and that is creepy enough.

· Why was Jace, who rarely felt fear, so afraid when he was imprisoned in the Silent City?


The Silent Brothers do not fight physical battles, something in which Jace can handle himself. When it comes to getting into people's heads, altering their perception, stealing their memories, the Silent Brothers are pros. Jace is afraid of something he can't fight with his fists and fast feet.

· Shadowhunters are charged with protecting mundanes, but they seem to have very little respect for those they serve. Why do you think their feelings for normal humans are so complicated? Why do they continue to serve mundanes if they don’t like them?


This is a question Clary has brought up before... I think they see mundanes as 'ignorant', maybe even 'helpless.' Mundanes can't see the world for how it really is, and I'd think that would be frustrating having to protect people from things they don't even know exist. It's even against the law to marry a mundane as a Shadowhunter, and if this is a decision you make, you are exiled, as if mundanes carry a nasty plague or something that shouldn't be passed on. I think the history of protecting them goes back so far, that it is just a part of tradition to protect them. It's the law, and it's what they were born to do. Without that purpose, who would they be?

· Discuss the character of Hodge. Why did he betray his young charges? Was he just self-serving and bad, or did he do some good with his life? Was he right to fear Valentine more than the Clave?
Oh Hodge, you disappoint me. Hodge was afraid and he couldn't cope with his punishment. I think he was both self-serving and good, an odd combination, but there it is. He helped and guided his young charges but at the same time left a mess for them to clean up. I don't think he was right to fear Valentine ~ he should have stood up and fought for those who trusted and respected him. Now he is just a coward that left feelings of confusion in those who looked up to him.



Done! What do you think? Anything to add?

Happy Reading Everyone :)


~ Keely ~