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

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

Anyone planning on reading The Spellshop for BOM points has until Dec 2 and all other BOM run until the end of the challenge.

Day 2: Chapters 5-7

6. Poirot is concerned because Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee and calls back to when he tasted all the coffees, but it’s never expanded upon. We later find out that the poison was likely administered in coffee and that it has a bitter taste that coffee could mask. Do you have any theories as to why Poirot put such importance on “Cynthia does not take sugar”?
This is a reread for me but it indicated that something was wrong if all had sugar.

7. Witnesses have testified to overhearing an argument between Mr & Mrs Ingelthorp the day she was murdered — but Mr Ingelthorp claims they are mistaken. Do you believe he is truly the one who was having the argument, or do you have any other suspicions? Poirot certainly thinks he is innocent and claims to be able disprove the other claim (about him buying the poison) — does that sway you at all?
This is a reread for me.

8. Most people seem to believe Mr Inglethorp is guilty (ESPECIALLY Evie), while Lawrence seems to believe the death came by natural causes, and Mr. Inglethorp doesn’t seem to have any theories at all except to believe it was murder but never pointing fingers at a suspect. I have to admit, I expected more finger-pointing from this group! Have any characters’ reactions so far stood out as peculiar to you?
Lawrence’s reaction did seem the oddest as he had a background in medicine before he dropped off. Inglehorp seems to be purposedly making his life difficult at this point but this is a reread.

9. One of my favorite things about mysteries is trying to figure out what happened before it’s revealed. Are you trying to solve the murder, or would you prefer to be surprised by the eventual reveal? Do you feel like you’re usually good at solving the mysteries, or do they evade you?
I usually read for fun and if I guess then often that means to me that it wasn’t very well done but I do like if there is a way to figure it out and not just luck overheard something or out of nowhere at the end.

General reminder that the task Water: word in title contains and H and 2 Os needs to be in a single word so school, or hook etc.

Very impressive

Judith finished off two monsters so I spun 2 Discworld ones:

The Hiver
500 to 650
Person wearing a cloak or cape on the cover
MPG Travel
word BOREDOM in text
features a powerful character (your interpretation)

Vorbis, the Exquisitor
200-299
An X or Q in the title
word TORTOISE in text
tagged Gods at least 5x
there is character development in the plot (your interpretation)

DQ Day 1
Chapters 1 - 4


1. The first few chapters set the scene for this (first) instalment of Hercule Poirot. What do you make of the various characters we are introduced to? Especially "Alfred dearest" whom everybody seems to dislike. Do you agree with Mrs Howard that they're all only interested in the money? Do you agree with Hastings that they're all somewhat suspicious?

This was a reread for me so I don't remember if I had issues following the first time or not. I isn't quite one of AC's house party books but you get all the suspects in one place at first.

2. A murder has occurred! Anyone want to venture a guess at this stage as to who has done it? And was it really death by poison? Or is Dr. Bauerstein's expertise in the matter and the fact that Mrs. Inglethorp suffered from severe convulsions in front of practically the entire household merely a red herring?

This is a reread for me so no guessing.

3. There was an argument the day before the murder between the late Mrs. Inglethorp and an unknown person, potentially Mr. Inglethorp. What might this have been about?

Again, a reread so I will not guess

4. What might Mrs. Inglethorp not have wanted to show Mary Cavendish that resulted in the latter feeling somewhat peeved?

Again, a reread so I will not guess

5. Are you enjoying the narrative so far? I assume I don't have to ask if this is your first Christie book? It seems like most everyone has read at least one of her books, or has seen an episode or two of the tv adaptations.

I've read quite a bit. I ended up with a lot of Christie's books when I was overseas for a year and have a fondness from them as I really had nothing else for a few months while I figured out how to get ebooks. This is a reread and not my favorite but pretty impressive if you consider that it sets the model for so many books after it.

I'm in for DQs Team Traffic Jam with an extra entry as well.

My last book is done for this round

Thank you

We can spin for two new monsters again

For anyone who does audiobooks, Xe Sands narrates a bunch of different books for an X.

If it my U, I’ll be done today

Back up for Judith. Team traffic and an extra entry please. I cannot do either of the first two days as I will be on an 18 hour flight.

Back up for Team Traffic for Judith and an extra entry. Thank you

I cleared two monsters if someone has time to spin new ones.

I am reading my U as well

Melanie wrote: "I bought a copy of The Spellshop today while I was at Target getting Halloween candy so I'm ready to go when November 2nd gets here."

I hope you enjoy it. I really liked it.

Hi all,

I also wanted to remind everyone of a new rule this round, which is personal book caps. These maximum are personal and not for the team. If you forgot what you signed up for, the number and the maximum you can read each round is listed on the member tab here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

If you think you are going to cross your personal maximum, may I suggest that very long books are your friend. Otherwise, if needed, I can add an overflow book tab for extra books. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Happy Saturday everyone,

Michelle, can you add a date read to The Kite Runner on your wheel shelf, please?

Trinia, can you add Golden Girl to you wheel shelf, please?

Thank you both

DQs Day 3: Then - Then 58%
first line "Marcus changes completely..."
last line "...serious chat about your future"

11. "The sound of teeth against a spoon when someone's eating soup, insects that scuttle, people who don't listen, RATS, and when uncle Terry says 'WOMEN!'" - what a random list of pet peeves (Are they even pet peeves? Rats?? And uncle Terry 'all on his own'???),,, What are some of yours?
People who talk on the phone in tents or don’t use earphones after 10 PM at night. People are trying sleep and we are all less than 2 feet from each other.

12. Dylan's (and Marcus') trip through Europe has become much more than just that, ending up in Asia, trying to figure out what to do with his life when he's already been handed it all on a silver platter. His dad is a douche and clearly wants to dictate Dylan's life while Dylan just keeps running away from his problems. Lucky he has all this money (his dad's I would assume) to just throw away. Can you relate to him in any way? Do you feel bad for him?
The backpacking round Asia thing is such privileged and I have delt with some of them when working abroad and really, “finding oneself” is such a cliché. I did Fulbright one year to teach English abroad because I wanted to travel and I knew I needed a way to pay for it and that is still quite a privilege that I could take that opportunity as I was not supporting family.

13. "Nowadays we date, we shop around. If we really like someone we spend more time with them. Then we move in with them a few years down the line. Then, maybe, if we've lost the will to live or whatever it is that compells people to settle down we marry them. We don't rearrange our lives because of a good shag."

"Addie, she's not right for you (...) Stop that! Don't you see what you're doing? You're turning her into something she's not. You don't understand her. She's not your beautiful muse, Dylan. She's messy and dark. And raw. She's a disaster waiting to happen. She's got power. And she doesn't even know it yet you know. She's like,,, she's untapped. (...) She's not right for you. Okay?"

Did Marcus already know something we didn't at this point? Did something happen between Marcus and Addie back in France? And then the way Marcus took care of Dylan after getting too high, in the bathroom.... Do you think he (not so?) secretely has feelings for Dylan? Or is he just jealous?
Marcus is getting set up as being possessive as friend but crossing over into the (Thankfully mostly done/older) stereotype of the possessive gay friend that tries to ruin the straight MC romance. I don’t think the author will take it all the way there, but it is certainly implied.

14. Rodney thinking Deb has drowned in the river and actually LOOKING FOR A BODY IN THE WATER!!! had me laugh out loud to be honest, but only because of how frickin ridiculous this book is. Definitely expected something more cutesie and wholesome for some reason. Being almost two thirds into the book now, how do you feel about it so far? Is it meeting your expectations?
I hate everyone. Really, Rodney was amusing but now creepy, and I am over him. I don’t think the author has ever been on a long road trip and really, this book needs to be done.