Nada’s Comments (group member since Jan 01, 2020)

Nada’s comments from the #ClassicsCommunity 2021 Reading Challenge group.

Guys Kate Howe and Marissa from Blatantly bookish are hosting a readalong for A Tree Grows In Brooklyn in May (It also fits nicely with Katie's (Books & Things) 1900-1950 readathon).
Just thought I'd let you know in case you'd like to switch May & September's books :)

Miriam wrote: "A question to all the group: when you start a book and you don't like it, do you stop reading it or do you have to finish it at any rate?
Personally, I quit."

I used to force myself to finish it but now I just put it down. Life's too short to waste on a book you don't like, especially considering how many books are out there begging to be read

Shannon { Library Girl Reading } wrote: "Okay so its time to discuss The Circular Staircase

Rachel gave me spunky Miss Marple vibes did you feel the same way?

Mary Roberts Rhinehart was described as America's Queen of My..."

1- Not really, she strikes me as a no-nonsense serious lady, something akin to the matriarchs you find in Victorian literature. Also, she seems the type to strongly disapprove of gossip, unlike dear Miss Marple who we all know loves tittle tattle

2- It doesn't nearly measure up to Agatha Christie's books. The breaking in / chase parts were atmospheric and fun enough to read about but I found the resolution to be very weak and underwhelming. Christie's resolutions, even when you've guessed the culprit, are always exciting and everything is neatly woven in.

3- I guessed about Armstrong Sr. not being dead about midway through, but not the rest.

4- Not in the foreseeable future




I hope you and your mom are doing better Shannon <3

Gia wrote: "@Miriam and @Nada
I thought "ear-dogs" was a very cute and creative way to say it! :) I knew exactly what you meant, so no need for any embarrassment. It's all good!"

That's so sweet of you 🤗

Miriam wrote: "I realized just know that I wrote ear-dogs instead of dog ears...
This is embarrassing."

I just realized that I blindly copied you without stopping to think about it...
Double Embarrassing xD

Shannon wrote: "This month we return to mysteries and will discuss The Circular Staircase. I'm excited to read this cozy mystery and can't wait to discuss it with you guys!

We will open spoiler f..."

My picks are:

May: 1
June: 6
July: 8

So far the vote for May and July has been unanimous and June is the dividing pick. I'm excited to see which one ends up winning!

Shannon wrote: "I'm so excited to discuss From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler with you guys. This book was hands down a favorite of mine when I was little. Then when I was watching Das..."

I'm very excited to read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler ! Haven't read it before. I ordered it from BD about a week ago since the delivery restrictions here are starting to ease up. Fingers crossed it arrives on time

My picks for June & July are 2 & 5 respectively.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day :D

I prefer paperbacks to e-books but resort to the latter when I don't have easy access to the former. The local selection isn't nearly as diverse as I need it to be and ordering books online was a pain in the behind before the pandemic let alone after. So for the majority of classics or books which are significantly cheaper in digital form, I use e-books.

Never eardogs! :P They physically pain me 😂 Always a bookmark or whatever is handy to use in its stead

Shannon wrote: "Neele wrote: "Shannon wrote: "Neele wrote: "I just finished the book. A bit late, but nevertheless.
I really liked it, not only because the story is really good and there is a nice twist, but I al..."

100% Agree with every word said

Hi Guys! Sorry I'm late for this. I hope you're all having a wonderful day :D

1- This was my second time reading this book and I quite enjoyed it in both rounds. It ticked most of my what-I-like-about-early/mid-20th-century-american-lit boxes. Regarding the short stories included at the end of my edition, I didn't care much for the first two, but found the third very sweet and heartwarming

2- I think it was the perfect length to achieve what it set out to do

3- When I originally read it, yes, it was my first by Capote but I've since then also read In Cold Blood and loved it!

4- I think I watched the movie a long time ago but I'm not sure if I did 😅 I'll have to make time to see it again (if I have watched it, that is) before giving proper judgement


I hope your mom is doing better Shannon

Shannon wrote: "Nada wrote: "I was thinking about rereading the first two books in the series before moving on to the third only today! So this came just in time :D"

It's such a great series!!! I want to read the..."
I absolutely adored the ones I've read so far! I'm not sure how successful I'll be at keeping up with the schedule, considering that I have Adam Bede to contend with as well. But I'll try my best :D

I appreciated this book much more the second time around. Even more so after reading Sally Beauman's afterward about how the author's life and inner struggles were reflected in the story. I'm now quite intrigued to read more about Du Maurier!

1) I think it's some sort of masochist mental disorder. She's emotionally trapped and doesn't even realize it. The age and experience gap create a huge power dynamic in Maxim's favor and I think that's exactly what he counted on when courting and later proposing to her. Rebecca was of his own age group, fierce and very cunning, he could never hope to control her as most men wished to control their wives back in those days (I think that trait was even more prominent in him, he loved being the dominating master). The heroine was the exact opposite of her predecessor: younger, naïve and very malleable and so a very easy prey. I also took into account her own lack of self worth and sense of invisibility, the latter of which was sharply highlighted after her marriage. He showed her some attention and made her feel less invisible and it was only natural for her to desperately latch onto that after being neglected following the loss of her family by the likes of Mrs. Van Hopper and the hotel staff...etc. By the time the truth's revealed she's fallen way down the manipulation and toxicity pit she can't find a way out and probably doesn't even know that she needs one. She fears the disruption and chaos that would result if Maxim is held accountable for his actions (which he absolutely should've been, you're definitely not in the minority there Shannon. Rebecca's abhorrent character and her wish to die DO NOT erase the fact that her husband is a cold blooded sociopathic murderer). Also, her mind, in its state of disorder, creates some sort of illusionary shield that hides the real facts and focuses only on the thing she has been fixating on for the past months.

2) Since this was a reread I knew Mrs. Danvers' real motive. I'm almost sure I felt that there was something off about her "friendly" advice during my first read but I don't remember my exact impression.

3) I don't really know. I still can't fully figure him out. I think he found an easy prey and took his shot with her. However, he might've not rushed into it had she been a permanent resident in Monte instead of suddenly having to rush off to New York. He was forced to act quicker than he had planned, if he had planned to act at all. I also still can't understand how he came to marry Rebecca to begin with. Their arrangement took place after they were married and he already felt fishy about her so what brought the whole engagement on in the first place?

4) I WAS! BOTH TIMES! And to be honest I was really impressed by her and how she expertly manipulated him into giving her the swift painless death she desired and making a murderer of him (one final long revenge) all in one go. I still find her repulsive as a person but you gotta give it to her, she knew what she was doing.
I was so grossed out by the cousin thing. I thought the family tie was just a cover up but turns out it wasn't. YIKES

5) Nope. Don't plan to either. I don't know much about Armie Hammer but he gets on my nerves for some reason. I do plan on watching the 1940 movie though, so if anyone's seen that, please tell me what you think of it.

I was thinking about rereading the first two books in the series before moving on to the third only today! So this came just in time :D

I'm in :D

The Enchanted April for the month of April LOVE IT!!

I really want to reread Rebecca so I hope that you'll keep it.

Like Gia said, a massive thank you Shannon for all that you do :D

I can't pick one from A-D so you have my vote on anyone you end up choosing out of them.

As for the other E-H, I'll vote F but I'd love to reread E, so either of them works for me :D

I'm in :D

I vote A Pippi Longstocking and D From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Hi guys sorry I'm late. Had a crappy couple of reading months but finally getting back on track.

I was first introduced to Narnia in elementary school by my Art teacher with whom my classmates and I watched The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe movie. I remember burrowing The Magician's Nephew out of my school library but for some reason I never got round to reading it then. It was so cool getting all the background stories of book two from this one. I can't wait to carry on with the series

1: Honestly, it left me wanting more. I felt that we didn't get enough. But maybe that'll change in the coming books

2: The one the stood out the most to me was the Noah's ark reference. There was something else but I can't seem to remember it

3: I think it could stand on its own, especially if the Easter eggs planted for the next book in the last chapter were left out

4: I would like to continue through the rest of the series. They're easy reads and not much of a time commitment so why not?

P.S. Did anyone else beside me laugh at the scene where the animals thought Uncle Andrew to be a plant? I thought it was hilarious xD

Shannon wrote: "Elizaveta wrote: "Hi! Does anyone else want to join to buddy read of Rebecca?
I suggest that we read "Rebecca" from the 1st of November, and maybe we should set a timetable with dates for discussi..."

I totally forgot that we're picking it up in January 🤦‍♀️ Silly me 😂 I guess that settles matters for me then 👍