C’s Comments (group member since Dec 12, 2024)

C’s comments from the Hooked on Books group.

Char wrote: "I just finished this book
I think I didn't read the precis correctly and went into it expecting a bit more psychological thriller.. I just couldn't get into the mystery part of the book.. It wasn't..."

The time period was very interesting for (view spoiler)[child labor laws. We went from the Depression in the 30s where children did whatever they could to contribute to the household since some families didn't even have a breadwinner, into the early 40s with the war, so we had jobs, but the men were fighting so the women were working and children were still doing little or big bits to support the family or the war effort. It's very different from the modern concept today. Education existed then, but seemed less formal, like kids had more of an option to drop out and learn a trade. Mixed feelings on that, personally, since the idea of twelve years of schooling plus fourish years of college is mostly a modern construct. Yes, there were schoolhouses and colleges for centuries prior, but those were mostly for the intellectuals rather than for everyone, since a lot of people ended up in a hat we would consider blue collar jobs and higher education was seen as "pointless". Knowledge is power, but that attitude persists some today, especially with the burgeoning popularity of trade schools instead of colleges. (hide spoiler)]

Let's not talk about the creepy dolls. I don't do creepy dolls either. Or the creepy kid that did those things to the creepy dolls.

Prompt # / Name: 29: The Lyrebird
Book: The Golden Gate
Author: Amy Chua
Date Read: 7/17
Pages: 384
Task: Read a book with the word CAR or CAMERA found in the text.
How it Fits: pg 252 "Is it true that she was in the car"

Prompt Name / #: Thrillers #43
Book: The Golden Gate
Author: Amy Chua
Date Read: 7/17
Pages: 384
Task: Read a book with the word REVENGE found in the text.
How it Fits: pg 252 "Revenge is not condoned by our Savior."

And I finally figured out what the creativity column was for, so here's a really bad attempt at a haiku, based on this story:

The past lives inside
The truth will always come out
The past eats away

Finished the book. Posted a review but summary of thoughts is that once the book started slogging, it didn't really pick up again. I liked the flashbacks and the written statement by the grandmother. Those helped the story along, for sure.

The author's note is really good reference material. I liked the mix of real life events with the fiction, and how the author explained that. I was disappointed there wasn't a section on the Bainbridge family, whether they were based on a real family or complete fiction, so I'm guessing they were fiction, apart from the references called out.

I gave this three stars. I couldn't really find myself invested in the characters. (view spoiler)[The Bainbridge family as a whole was too "rich, spoiled brats" for me, from the grandmother all the way to the granddaughters. I was briefly sad for them over the loss of Iris, but Genevieve, Sadie, and Issy were just so far off the deep end. Roger was pathetic. Wilkinson was too much of a disgusting human being to gain empathy, even before everything he did came out. Doogan and Greening represented the corruption in government and legal systems that are still enough to raise blood pressure. Al was the modern reincarnation of a hardboiled detective, and I've never been fond of that morally grey caricature, but I did appreciate seeing his humanity as he tried and struggled with Miriam and had compassion on the Japanese elderly. So in the end my favorite character was probably Miriam, for her work ethic and can-do attitude, even though she was also making bad life choices. (hide spoiler)] The story also wasn't so gripping to bring the rating up, so it was a "just there" book for me.

Book: The Golden Gate
Task: do a Buddy Read
How it fits: buddy read for a team challenge

Completion Post
Team Sport: Handball
Book: Down Among the Sticks and Bones
Author: Seanan McGuire
Date Read: 7/17
Task: Read a book where the MC's occupation should come with protective equipment.
How it Fits: Jack is a lab assistant, and there should definitely be protective equipment to keep fluids away

Book: Down Among the Sticks and Bones
Task: the author shares one of your initials
How it fits: initial S is author first, my last

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Book: A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons
Task: more than 15 letters in the title
How it fits: 30 letters in the title

Oh! Isn't there a newish book called The Games Gods Play? Maybe we're looking for that book, or that genre? I think it's romantasy, but it might just be fantasy.

I thought it was swimming goggles...? But how that fits with everything else, no clue... Poseidon retelling?

Richard wrote: "C wrote: "Beth, Richard, I'll throw my hat in the ring to join you, if you have space. :)"

Great!"

Awesome!! 💖

Beth, Richard, I'll throw my hat in the ring to join you, if you have space. :)

I'll join, on Beth and Richard's team!

Up to page 98. It's been fast-paced so far, but is starting to get a little sloggy.

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "C wrote: "I just discovered how to get the reference image for the puzzles... :X Don't mind me, just sitting here on hard mode lol... 🤣"

I did, too. I was like, "Hm, what happens if I push this bu..."

I legit didn't want to lose my progress lol. 😂 That vase was hard without the image. I kinda liked not knowing what I was building, but dang it was hard lol.

Book: A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic
Task: set in your hemisphere's current season
How it fits: set in summer

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...