Lexi’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2016)

Lexi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I just went through and deleted a bunch of YA books and generic fantasy books with nothing unique about them. I keep having to admit to myself that older YA books just feel really dated to me. I deleted 50 books and am very happy with my slightly shorter list.

Eldarwen wrote: "I've had a bit of a difficult time getting into this book but am now finally moving along fairly nicely.

One thing though that made me groan.... Do not throw the name of a specific horse breed in ..."

I love draft horses. I got to work with a very preggers Percheron when I was in vet school. There are companies that offer drafts for bridal carriages including Clydesdales, but usually it is just for the photos. I assume that is what confused the author. If we are being picky, putting a wild rabbit in a cage and carrying it by wagon for three days will give you a dead rabbit long before you need to kill it. Rabbits can die just from being handled from the fear (capture myopathy).

DQs Day 1 Chapter 1 to 9

1) What interested you about this book? Was it on your TBR list before it was a BOM?
I think I might have nominated it but I have been wanting to read it for some time. Sadly, it was not what I accepted.

2) The list of rules seems reminiscent of restrictions placed on women (especially those above the servant class) in the past and even today. The power given to the head of household and the ability to forfeit reminds me of when men could just dump "troublesome" women into mental institutions and walk away. What are your thoughts on this and is it an effective means of setting the scene for the story?
It was a good setting at first but it felt kind of heavy handed as it continued. Maybe, I was just not in the right mood for the book. There are more subtle and stronger ways to do this than to have the characters stand around discussing it all the time.

3) "Happiness is a bonus, Sophia. You're not entitled to it, and the sooner you accept that, the easier your life will be." "And if I don't want an easy life?" What are your thoughts on this exchange between Sophia and her mother? Do you think Sophia is being naive? Her mother too accepting of the status quo?
I think we are supposed to support Sophia but I found her somewhat dislikeable and the whole books somewhat naive.

4) Favorite characters so far? Ones you don't like?
Luke, again, done now but I felt he was heavily underutilized and just thrown in so there was a gay man.

5) Any thoughts on what may happen next? What do you think is happening to all those disappearing forfeits?
I am done now but it was obvious from the start what the king was doing but it is a standard fairy tale trope.

Skipping ahead to Day 4

Day 4 – Chapter 30 to Finish

11. How did everyone enjoy the book, especially the ending? Did you find it fulfilling or rushed?

12. Did the story go the way you predicted? Did anything surprise you?

13. This story had a very clear message on misogyny. Did you like how it was handled? Was I the only one who thought there was going to be more of a comment on racism in traditional fairytales?

14. This wasn’t my favorite fairytale retelling, but I like them in general. Do you like fairytale retelling and do you have a favorite?

Eldarwen wrote: "Oh thanks for mentioning Aliette de Bodard! I need to put The House of Shattered Wings on my list for next year. It's been waiting for too long!"

I physically own The House of Shattered Wings . It is high on my need to read list for next year.

Only 4 more to go for the year, I finished #56 As I Lay Dying yesterday. I try to read one Faulkner a year so I am up to The Sound and the Fury for next year.

Cleaning out my TBR 24/90
As of 1/1/2021, I have 86 from 2016 that need to be read or go, and 40 that I physically own that I want to read before I move hopefully this summer. I am going for a fairly high goal. I have 533 on my TBR list overall (which is 70 lower than this time last year so making progress).

11/40 Added in 2016
1. Scaramouch - 2/16/21-****
2. The Sunlight Pilgrims - 2/23-**
3. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man-2/22-***
4. Ascension - 3/19-***
5. Radiance -4/15 - ****
6. Vessel - 4/17-***
7. Journey to the Center of the Earth - 4/17-***
8. Fool - 5/29-***
9. The Plague - 8/18 - ****
10. The Spirit Rebellion - 9/26-***
11. The Killing Moon - 11/5-***

7/30 Books I Own - 7/7 given away
1. The Silent Patient - 1/13-***
2. Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks-1/30-****
3. Spoiler Alert - 2/15-***
4. The Bone Season - 3/19-***
5. Educated - 4/26-****
6. The Night Tiger - 8/27-***
7. Foundryside - 10/14-****


6/20 Books from 2017-2018 (59 on TBR from 2017 and 76 from 2018)
1. Conspiracy of Ravens - 1/11-***
2. There There - 1/17-****
3. Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang -2/19-***
4. Old Man's War - 8/12-****
5. Lirael - 11/9-****
6. Under the Pendulum Sun-12/18-**

Especially lemon and vinegar, it is going to take some time to untrain my reading.

I read my second oldest one, We Are the Ants, and it was good but has every possible content warning. Glad I read it but needed very fluffy book after it. I now only have 5 more for the year.

I ask in YA and then put the Malaysian book for adult, oh well.


Descendant of the Crane by Joan He

Tyrants cut out hearts. Rulers sacrifice their own.

Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, but when her beloved father is murdered, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of an unstable kingdom. Determined to find her father’s killer, Hesina does something desperate: she engages the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death... because in Yan, magic was outlawed centuries ago.

Using the information illicitly provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust even her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of her kingdom at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high?

In this shimmering Chinese-inspired fantasy, debut author Joan He introduces a determined and vulnerable young heroine struggling to do right in a world brimming with deception.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

A sweeping historical novel about a dancehall girl and an orphan boy whose fates entangle over an old Chinese superstition about men who turn into tigers.

When 11-year-old Ren's master dies, he makes one last request of his Chinese houseboy: that Ren find his severed finger, lost years ago in an accident, and reunite it with his body. Ren has 49 days, or else his master's soul will roam the earth, unable to rest in peace.

Ji Lin always wanted to be a doctor, but as a girl in 1930s Malaysia, apprentice dressmaker is a more suitable occupation. Secretly, though, Ji Lin also moonlights as a dancehall girl to help pay off her beloved mother's Mahjong debts. One night, Ji Lin's dance partner leaves her with a gruesome souvenir: a severed finger. Convinced the finger is bad luck, Ji Lin enlists the help of her erstwhile stepbrother to return it to its rightful owner.

As the 49 days tick down, and a prowling tiger wreaks havoc on the town, Ji Lin and Ren's lives intertwine in ways they could never have imagined. Propulsive and lushly written, The Night Tiger explores colonialism and independence, ancient superstition and modern ambition, sibling rivalry and first love. Braided through with Chinese folklore and a tantalizing mystery, this novel is a page-turner of the highest order.

Can we extend this to Lunar New Year as it is celebrated across Asia (and worldwide), such as Malaysia, and not just in China?

It has been 48 hours so everyone should be done with their SS so we officially got 3rd. Good job everyone that was a tough challenge with all the words to find.

We got 260 customers and fed 228 of them. Every meal was used. Good job, everyone.

Thank you

I was aiming for 240 meals so I think we may still be short a few but still really well done at the end with so much coffee.

Day 3: Chapters 16 - end

11. I enjoyed Julian's choices for his Last Day - picking for himself and also to push Yads a bit too ;-) Would you want to know if you had 24 hours left? How would you spend them?
I second Judith with that I'd want to spend it with my family, in a non-COVID time period when we could be together safely. I miss my family.

12. Did you guess at the ending (both the villain and for Yads, Julian & Maritza)? Was it satisfying to you?
I saw it coming but liked the character development more than the plot, which was a little predictable.

13. Yads' father gives a rousing speech about inclusion, though a word of warning was included! What do you think overall of the message of acceptance, as shown by the different characters? Julian in particular accepted Yads instantly, but seemed frustrated that Yads was less accepting of his own truth.
That was one of my favorite part of the books was showing what true acceptance looked like and how easy it was to internalize what others think.

14. Did you enjoy this book? Any particular element that made it for you?
I enjoyed the world building, the setting, and the characters. The plot itself was a bit flat.

Everything is logged. Good job everyone, nicely done getting everything in at the end.

Anyone around for a last min page number? Can someone please add the page number to White Chocolate Winter? It is 78 pages on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/White-Chocolat...

Thank you

Just under an hour to go