Welcome to Day 3 of the Clockwork Prince Read Along. You can follow the entire read-a-long and find each of the day's posts here. Remember there's no right or wrong way to participate. Your comments can be as long or a short as you'd like them to be. You can answer one or each of the questions asked, it's totally up to you, BUT, in order to be entered into the CP giveaway (which you also had to sign up to win), you do need to be actively participating in the read-a-long.
Today's discussion is about: Chapter 2
- What do you make of Jessamine's comment, "Shadowhunters. As if I'd want to marry one of them." Given the fact she is one, I always found this comment to sound as though she thinks she's not one, and that she's better than them. Would you agree or do you think her comment is justified?
- I loved seeing that Charlotte came out of she shell a bit more in this chapter. Do you think Charlotte has what it takes to keep her position at the Institute?
- I love Tessa, Jem and Will in this chapter. Their conversation about Mortmain was entertaining. I do love how Will always seems to throw some sort of phobia or disease. What do you love the most about the relationship Will, Jem and Tessa have?
Please DO NOT POST SPOILERS. There's some fans who are joining the read-a-long who are reading Clockwork Prince for the first time.
Posts
Jessamine is a self-loathing Nephilim, for sure. I don't think of it as she doesn't think of herself as one but rather that she just wishes she weren't, she wishes she were "normal." The slacking on training, disinterest in her peers, unwillingness to participate in all that much, etc. is just her only way to pretend she has no care in the world beside going dress shopping and finding a husband. But she could do some serious damage in a fight if she had to. It is in her blood, after all.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte absolutely has what it takes to lead the Institute, just maybe not in the way everyone expects a leader to be. Think about successful managers in business (I am geeking out a bit here, sorry, bear with me a moment!): they gain the trust and loyalty of those who report to them. When we feel that way about our managers, it inspires us to work better and to help that manager to succeed by our accomplishments. Jessamine aside, the Shadowhunters of the London Institute as well as the mundane staff all have Charlotte's back, so to speak. They respect her and trust her and they want her to remain in position. So they are all willing to work hard toward that goal and assist her in any way possible. They are a team, a family. So where someone else might be a little stronger in the typical sense, Charlotte is a strong leader because she isn't alone.
Jessamine doesn't enjoy the world of shadowhunters and its obvious she doesn't one to be one. She'd probably do anything just to be away from it all.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte has a very firm role in the institute, and is a definite leader. Her being on edge in this chapter also confirms how much she doesn't want to leave her role.
As for Will and Jem I love their talks- epecially Will with all “Is this a game? We just blurt out whatever word comes next to mind? In that case mine is ‘genuphobia’. It means an unreasonable fear of knees.” Also, can I just mention Henry. Seriously, what is he even doing?:L
Lol, Henry reminds me of my husband sometimes!
DeleteI think Jessamine thinks she's better than most people. She wants to be the princess in the pretty clothes and not fighting evil clad in all leather.
ReplyDeleteAs for Charlotte I believe in her 100%. She is going to fight with all she's got and she's got some amazing people to help her. I think she will get to keep her position but she'd going to be difficult. I know she can do it.
I'm a little hesitant of the whole love triangle the seems to be approaching with Tessa, Jem and Will. I love the tension between Will and Tessa and how Jem always seems to diffuse it, but I think their story may take a couple of turns I'm not ready for.
* I think that for Jessamine, in the time period they are in, females aren't supposed to be warriors or fighters and she doesn't like that she is a Shadow Hunter. I think she just doesn't want to be one and she's angry that she doesn't have a choice. She wants to be a regular girl who marries a regular man. (rich one of course so she can still shop and do what she likes)
ReplyDelete*I think that Charlotte is a great person to run the institute. She is a good leader. I think that it's a lot of pressure for anyone and she handles it well.
*I really love the relationship between Will, Jem, and Tessa too. Jem knows how to handle Will, but I like that Tessa isn't afraid to say what she's thinking either. Will is just very entertaining and I really love his humor.
To me, it's not that Jessamine thinks she isn't a Shadowhunter, it's just that she's never wanted to be one, and she's never embraced anything about being one either. All she's ever wanted, I think, based on this comment, is to just be normal, and if she marries a Shadowhunter then she'll be stuck being what she despises. I honestly think Charlotte is doing a wonderful job at being head of the Institute; she's firm but loving, and she does what she has to when she has to do it. Sure she makes mistakes, but who doesn't? There is no one in this world, Mundane or Nephilim, who is perfect. Will, Jem, and Tessa's relationship is something to marvel at. Jem and Will are Parabatai, but Tessa has somehow become part of that bond, despite how Will might act towards her at times.
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people like her, but I really hate Jessamine. She's selfish and arrogant and... I'm curious why she hates the Shadowhunters so much. I know there are the fights, and the training etc. and she wants to be a lady but I think there must be a bigger reason.
ReplyDeleteAs for Charlotte I really love her! She's tough and I think she is perfect for the head of the Institute. And I must say I love her with Henry. How she knows his crazy stuff.
And I totally agree with you. I love Will and Jem and Tessa in this chapter. They're very funny. And Jem is funny, as well. That comment about the sun and then Will's answer... They know each other very well but what they don't know is the other's feelings.
Mercédesz Mihóczy
mihoczym@freemail.hu
To me, Jessamine seems very full of herself. She thinks she's above everyone else, and she could never marry a man that that she thinks is above her.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Charlotte and I have great faith in her that she will be able to keep her position with everyone's help.
My favorite thing about Jem, Will, and Tessa's relationship is their dialogue. They all seem so confortorable around each other, and their conversations are hilarious!
Marie O.
I dont really like jessamine's toward the shadow hunters but i think the reader should be able to understand her and her motives. she had always wanted to be normal and live a normal life. she doesn't want to be a shadowhunter which is why she doesn't want to get married. if she marries another shadowhunter then she is basically stuck in their world. She is waiting for an opportunity where she will be able to live a life she has always wanted. She is also like someone else said living in a time where women were supposed to stay have babies and have a family. I know that sometimes her actions causes us to dont like her, but when she does fight she surprises us with her power. She can be a stron
ReplyDeleteg stubborn girl.
As for Charlotte she is someone who is capable of running the institute. i completely believe in her.She is strong, independent, and carring. she represents us females because we can do anything we set our minds too. we are as good as any men. Go Charlotte!
I have to say that i love both Jem and Will. they are both so different in appearance and character but yet so willingly to protect and give their lives for each other. I think that a love triangle can be foreseen because of their relationship with Tessa bur that they are all connected to each other with love. whether it be friend love or true love. They all care for each other.
Sorry about the misspellings but i was typing this in my phone at the gym while i was running.
DeleteJessamine is a complex character. Her family left the Clave and despised it so naturally she would too, even after they died. It also probably didn’t help that none of her Shadowhunter relatives were willing to take her in after her parents died. That would upset anyone. Jessamine doesn’t want the life of danger and battle because her parents didn't want that for her; she wants to do what normal society expects of her—to get married to a good man and have children. In her mind, Jessamine wants a better life for herself that being a Shadowhunter could never give her. So of course, why would she marry one? And did anyone else think it was weird she was cross-dressing at the end of this chapter? That’s very out of character for her. I can only imagine what she’s getting into now.
ReplyDeleteI think Charlotte is trying so hard to prove herself and I don’t understand why. It might have something to do with her father from the way she talked about him in the first chapter. As long as she doesn’t overdo it, spread herself too thin, or succumb under stress I think she’ll do fine. Charlotte has a lot pinned against her, with Benedict and the others breathing down her neck, but at least she has the loyalty of her charges and servants. At least this way she doesn’t have to bear the weight of the Institute on her own. Even if Henry is too deep in inventions and mechanics to always help her out. But he always comes through for her in the end.
I love the dynamic between Will and Jem! Those two have great humor and play off one another so well. Jem definitely has the more serious side between the two of them which makes Will seem that much more hilarious. As for Tessa, this slowly developing love triangle is starting to make me queasy. The more I see of it, the more Jem reminds me of Jacob, which puts Will in with Edward. The way Tessa describes being with Jem, how he counters the affects Will has on her, screams out Jacob Black. And things didn’t exactly end well for Jacob—at least he didn’t get Bella in the end. So I wonder if the same will happen to poor Jem? From how Sophie describes it in the chapter, Tessa doesn’t return the admiration and love that Jem obviously feels for her. But who knows? Maybe Tessa will see a good man when she sees one and tell Will to take a hike. Come on Jem, bring one in for Team Jacob and everyone else stuck in the friend zone!
Now, what on earth is going on with Will and this Pyxis curse? Anybody think that the curse has to do with love? Maybe that Will must watch the one he loves die? It would explain a lot, like why he was so distraught when he thought Tessa had died in Clockwork Angel. I’m dying to know for certain what this curse is and which demon cast it (Remember: I’m a first time reader of Clockwork Prince). And I still love Uncle Maggie, can’t wait to see more of him later.
Poor Sophie with her unrequited love, it’s so sad. I felt so bad for her, watching Jem make goo-goo eyes at Tessa, listening to him laugh at her jokes. I wonder again if this is going to eventually put a strain on Tessa and Sophie’s relationship. I also think that Sophie isn’t the only one who’s noticed the budding romance. I think Jessamine has an idea of what’s going on between Jem, Tessa, and Will. Who knows what Jessamine will do with that information?
Mortamin’s watch—the initials J.T.S carved on the back of it…I can’t help but wonder now if the mysterious J.T.S was a Shadowhunter. At first I thought it was a loved one, but now with reparations in my head, I wonder if this J.T.S was a Shadowhunter who did something to Mortmain in the past. It would explain why Mortmain knows of Downworld and Nephilim, and why he hates the Shadowhunters so much. For all I know J.T.S could be a Shandowhunter AND a love one, making the whole situation extra personal. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to revealing the identity of J.T.S…anyone know of any Shadowhunter surnames that start with “s”?
Hi Jasmine,
DeleteI was curious, is this your first time reading The Clockwork Prince?
This is my 4th, but all your questions remind me of the first time I read it :) Sometimes I wish I could delete a book from my memory so I can read it for the first time over and over hahaha!
Nevermind! I just re-read your post where you state you are reading it for the first time!
DeleteI love your insights, and how you are picking up on everything, me who I know this book left and right and have analyzed every bit of it and drawn every genealogy tree that could be drawn have picked up a lot of details over the past 2 years, but you are picking up a lot of different things I'm sure I missed the first time I read it, and asking really good questions!
I really enjoyed your post :)
Will make it funny with his obsession of diseases. i love how much he quotes from books.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter is a great example of Cassie's writing and the reason I love her books so much. Although she can be dark and heartbreaking, she can also write the most funny LOL scenes of banter between her characters. I loved even hearing Jem out in a funny comment or two "and the sun will rise in the east" and how you see Henry call Jem darling. But all in all it shows Will Tessa & Jem working as a team and how the 3 of them just fit together so well as friends.
ReplyDeleteI love that about Cassie MisEmm, I mean here you are suffering for Will trying to find this demon to get this curse off him and yet she finds the way to inject some humor into the whole thing, I have loved Will's cynicism from the very beginning and of course Magnus's wit ... I too feel Jem has that sarcastic persona in him, he is a good kinda soul but he can use sarcasm real well! lol
DeleteI dont think I have ever doubted that Jessamine is a shadowhunter, I mean she was pretty clear when she was explaining to Tessa how much she despised the whole shadownhunter world and how she dreamed of a normal life where she could be a normal girl, marry and hold parties and take care of her house, children and husband.
ReplyDeleteI dont necessarily think that Jessie is an evil girl, I think she is sheltered from reality by her parents as far as I understand based on what we know from Clockwork Angel, and when they died she had to face the cold hard facts and real life.
I think Charlotte is perfect for the position in the institute, she is stern but kind and I get that feeling from her that she an honest person, someone you can trust.
Will and Jem, well what's not to love about them? I love the dynamics of their relationship, I love the fact that Jem can always see past the facade of Will's meanness and what I love the most is that even when he doesnt let much of himself be seen you can still see Will's fondness for him.
My favorite part of Chapter 2 is the part between Magnus and Will... I love the interaction between them, it could be because if I hav a crush on someone on these series it is on both of them! LOL
I think the whole scene of Magnus bringing the demon and Will talking to it was hilarious and at the same time sad because you can feel both the disappointment in Magnus and Will. In Will because obviously he very much wants to get rid of this curse and Magnus because he very much wants to help him.
I love that Magnus is straight forward and doesnt beat around the bush and had absolutely no problem letting Will know that he is can tell that he is in love with Tessa, even when Will tries to keep his feelings in check, Magnus can see right through him.
I wonder, I have always wondered what made Will go to Magnus that rainy night, what was it that drove him to trust him with helping him with his dilemma.
I think it's interesting also that we find out how Sophie feels about Jem and how she realizes (because she knows him so well) how he feels about Tessa even before anyone else, even Will.
I was cracking up over the "little demon" and Will. Magnus is just awesome.
DeleteSophie is an interesting character. Still naive in a lot of ways like Tessa and still insightful.
;) Shelley
I think Jessamine really doesn't want to have anything to do with being a Shadowhunter. Even if she's born as one, she's longing for "normalcy" Shadowhunters unfortunately will never have. She doesn't necessarily despise shadowhunters but the thought of it - the fighting, risking your life to rid the world of demons - that's what she's not up for. But personally for me, I think Jessie would make a very good nephilim - she has guts and attitude.
ReplyDeleteI really have high hopes for Charlotte. She'd make a very good head of the institute. She has a good heart and she's very good with people. She also does the best she can. I love seeing her coming out of her shell.. more strongly and more fierce.
Jem, Tessa and Will.. can I just say they're the three best [book] people I know?? Their relationship is not something you see in most people. I think most would be jealous with what they have..
Jem and Will's relationship especially. They're brothers not bonded by blood but what they have is the genuine love one would see in people who'd willingly die for each other.
Their conversation in this chapter was really entertaining. Will just has this natural way of making you laugh at very unexpected and uncalled-for times. Love Will!
*Jessamine is a total pain in the butt. She honestly must think she is better than her Shadowhunter counterparts. I keep hoping that an explanation will come explaining why she is the way she is. Something must have happened in her past apart from the death of her parents to make her hate the Shadowhunters so much.
ReplyDelete*I believe in Charlotte. She is a fighter not only on the outside but the inside as well. I feel like she will always get the short end of the stick being a female in a male dominant world. Lucky for us times have changed but not then. Things were very different then. I have a feeling she will overcome and show everyone that she is able to do her job. Those Fairchild women are fighters.
*Will, Jem, and Tessa's banter is very entertaining. I love the way they bring out the best in each other. Will is funny alone but adding Jem and Tessa makes him that much more funny. Its amazing that Cassie can write these amazingly heart breaking scenes for her characters and yet still capture the lighter side of life as well.
When I have read the Mortal Instruments I thought that I want to see a character who is a shadowhunter but she/he hate it. Than I 'met' with Jessie. I don't like her. I think there is a bigger reason why she hates the shadowhunters.
ReplyDeleteI love Charlott. She is passionate and I like this. She has to be the head of the Institute.
Jem and Will are briliant. When Tessa be with them, they are so alive. The time stops. Jem and Will's friendship is one of the bests.
I don't like or dislike Jessamine. Her displeasure with being a Shadowhunter is obvious but for me she seems to also want something more than normal. I'm curious to see what she's up to.
ReplyDeleteI think Charlotte is more than capable and I was happy to see her stand up for herself.
I love Jem more by the minute. The banter between he and Will is so entertaining and their unspoken conversations how they unsettle the others.
I'm having problems commenting on the site so I'll leave at that for now and just add that I'm loving being back in this world again. So much to remember and yet so much more to discover.
Jessamine doesn't enjoy the world of shadowhunters and she doesn't one to be one of them. She says that she wants to be a Lady. I think it is not true. I am sure that she has got a bigger reason for it. But what is it?
ReplyDeleteI really love Charlotte. She'd make a very good head of the institute. She is a leader and a figther. Don't forget it she is a Fairchild woman!
I think Jessamine just really hates Shadowhunters, though it's still a mystery to me why. I think Jessamine likes knowing things that will never change--mundanes. Mundanes are like a pillar of dull and boring that won't really change. Or Jessamine fears death if she ever really picked up a weapon and started killing demons like every other Shadowhunter out there. I don't think her comment is justified. I mean, yes, her parents left the Clave for a reason and now she has to be a part of it, but Shadowhunters are never the same. It's like how mundanes are never the same either. Her parents probably met Shadowhunters that were terrible to them and now they hate Shadowhunters because of them. They probably even taught Jessamine about the Shadowhunters and might have exasperated on how Shadowhunters really are.
ReplyDeleteYes, but I think she needs someone to help her once in a while. She's a strong character, but people need other people to lean on in their times of need.
I love that they all have a strong bond. Will and Jem because of their being Parabatai, Will and Tessa because of their love, and Jem and Tessa because of their love too. Will and Jem may not see the same side, but they really do care about each other. Will's curse may try making him despise Tessa, but it won't work because Will knows that he loves Tessa. Jem, oh so clearly, loves and adores Tessa. Tessa loves Will, but I think she's starting to love Jem too.
shipmalec@yahoo.com
Jessamine ~ this is my 3rd or 4th time reading CP, and I still don't like her any better than the first time I read it- LOL! I think its her haughtiness, and that she thinks she is deserving of a 'normal' life.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte ~ love her! She already has the deck stacked against her being a female in charge, in that time period, but she handles it with kindness and grace.
Will, Jem & Tessa ~ their benign interactions are just hysterical to read. When they just banter back & forth I truly do laugh-out-loud.
I think that Jessie doesn't consider herself to be a Shadowhunter. She doesn't want to fight and would rather find a husband who takes care of her. I can understand that she doesn't like Shadowhunters/doesn't want to be one because of what happened to her parents.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte was great, I sometimes feel bad for her because she is still so young and has to run the Institute without Henry's help. Henry is lovely but I wish he would pay more attention.
Any conversation between Tessa, Will and Jem has entertaining elements, I have that but I also liked Sophie watching Tessa and Jem alone.
Magnus is awesome as always :) I'm glad that Cassie decided to have him in TID as well.
Cathrin L.
ReplyDeleteI think Jessamine thinks she's better than everyone, especially Shadowhunters. She is a good Shadowhunter and when the time came for her to take action and defend herself or others, there's no doubt she is a good fighter. The way she is, you can tell she doesn't like the life of a Shadowhunter, fighting, training, etc. She knows she pretty and doesnt think a woman should fight, she just wants to be a princess and be treated like one. She probably has a questionable history that makes her not like being a Shadowhunter. Her history is a bit of a mystery.
Charlotte is a strong woman. The institute is running well. There's no question about Charlotte's ability. Probably because her position at the institute is being questioned/watched that she is faced with the ultimatum to step it up and prove it. Prove that she can lead, that she got what it takes or hand over the institute. Charlotte has her husband, Will, Jem, Tessa, everyone at the institute that supports her in every way possible. Now, I can't say the same about Jessamine, she seems to have her own agenda.
The relationship between Will, Jem and Tessa seems so natural and full of fun. Everyone seems to get along fine. Jem is always the so patient, clear-headed gentleman. As for Will, he's just Will, handsome, smart mouth/ sarcastic. Its like he keeps everyone at arms reach besides Jem. Tessa, always impressed with Jem and his kindness. Though she tries to hide, she's always somehow affected by Will and his ways. Though Will can sometimes be Will, Jem is always supportive of him.
I don't think that Jessamine thinks she is superior. she just want to be normal. she is envy of ordinary human beings. I don't really like her, but I can relate to her.
ReplyDelete(Tal Rejwan)
Jessamine's character reminds me of the limited choices Victorian women had regardless of class or station. If she had been a mundane born a generation later she would have been a suffragette, I think! ;P
ReplyDeleteCharlotte does have what it takes to keep the institute. She's clever and willful.
I do like the conversation between Tess, Jem, and Will about Mortmain. They truly know how to bounce ideas off of one another and problem-solve, but sometimes I find it a bit disconcerting about how Jem and WIll can read each other's mind.