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

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

DQs Day 5 chapters 32 - end

19. I was excited that Louise and Mark were going to contact Aunt Gail. I liked meeting Barb. I was surprised that they could not really help, and suddenly, we were back where we started, in the creepy house with the puppets. Why do you think Barb and Aunt Gail were in the story?
My best guess was comic relief and even if they did demons and this is a ghost, it made no sense that they didn’t come back to the house and all. One of those circles might have helped keep the ghost from hopping to CA.


20. I found the horror of Poppy’s plight with Pupkin to be the most concerning. Did you find the horror in this book effective? Which parts creeped you out the most?
I saw it coming because it was the logical next step. I tend to find this author’s set up more creepy than the reveal and execution.

21. Gary Hendrix is also known for his humor. I laughed out loud when the puppets got together to form a golem. What parts (if any) did you find humorous?
I didn’t find it that funny. I do like the idea of the squirrel nativity and Barb and the extended family were more fun.

22. I was shaking my head when Louise gave her daughter her stuffed animals. I would want no part of that house to be a part of my daughter’s life! How did you feel about that part?
I think the fact they were hiding meant that they were good but still a bit too active for me. Time to start anew.

23. How do you feel about the ending?
It was kind of a let down. It felt like it ended rather quickly. Also, for horror, this book had a low body count.

BOM Tracking
Day 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5 - here

DQs Set 2: Chapters 8 - 15

6. Were you expecting those wills? Why do you think both parents were so unfair on the kids?
Eh, something was going to have to get both siblings in the house for the plot to work with the puppets. It really indicates that the parents aren’t communicating much with each other. Also, how does this work with joint accounts etc?

7. Yikes! killer stuffed squirrels! The first violent haunting here, was it effective?
I think T. Kingfisher does better with haunted taxidermy. This made me want to go reread her book again. I kind of like bad taxidermy. My family sent my uncle a taxidermized rabbit in an easter bonnet as a gag gift one year. (Gag gifts are a long-standing tradition between my dad and my uncle).

8. Despite the various creepy things that Louise has experienced, she's refusing to let her aunt exorcise the house. Would you still be hanging onto rational reasons over accepting family help?
I am all for exorcising things/rooms etc. with bubbles. Placebo effect and resetting mental points of view

9. We've had more insight into the childhood of Mark and Louise. Does this change your opinion of either of them?
I have finished reading the book. It does give it more nuance, but I never really cared that much of any of the characters. Everyone in this book could use a good therapist.

That is an impressive set

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to Ch 7

1.) What are your first impressions of the family and of Louise and Mark? How pivotal do you think their relationship (or lack thereof) will play in the story.
Aside: I plan to steal and use the phrase "Terminal Assholism" in future. Thank you Hendrix!
I also thought the relationship was going to drive the story and got annoyed at them pretty quickly. Mark is going across as a jerk but Louise is not much better. The whole thing is a mess.

2.) The book is organized into sections following the 5 stages of grief. Does this impact your expectations of the book at all?
I kind of ignored that part as I read. I have finished since the library wanted the book back and I think the stages were a little forced.

3.) Okay. Life size dolls named after her children. Weird, creepy? Would you be excited to have them as part of your inheritance?
Creepy. I don’t have anyone in my family who collects dolls and mind the children’s toys, I find them creepy.

4.) Have you ever experienced a family post-death squabble/fight like the one Louise and Mark had in front of the junk clean out guys?
I’ve seen them happen to others but not dealt with personally.

5.) Did anyone else google Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers? If so, were you surprised to find they were a real organization? Has anyone interacted with them before or a similar organization for other religious beliefs?
I did not google it and since they are real, I’m pretty sure they would not be happy to be in this book. I know there are groups that do Christian puppet shows, but I think I have missed them in life. My church growing up was more of the youths do a skit than puppet show type.

I grew up reading Tamora Pierce so finally got around to Tempests and Slaughter (***). I was more sad than anything as it wasn't that good and I think as this point, there aren't going to be any more. As a prequel it had the problem of wanting to include things that aren't learned by the MC until later books. I decided to listen to some of them again though so that is fine.

Mine is back as well:

Delilah Green Doesn't Care by Ashley Herring Blake

A clever and steamy queer romantic comedy about taking chances and accepting love—with all its complications—from the author of Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail .

Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls—nothing is there for her but memories of a lonely childhood where she was little more than a burden to her cold and distant stepfamily. Her life is in New York, with her photography career finally gaining steam and her bed never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her.

When Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding with a guilt trip and a five-figure check, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze in and out, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that maybe there’s some fun (and a little retribution) to be had in Bright Falls, after all.

Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter mostly on her own while dealing with her unreliable ex and running a bookstore, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise…at first. Though they’ve known each other for years, they don’t really know each other—so Claire is unsettled when Delilah figures out exactly what buttons to push. When they’re forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations—including a plot to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé—Claire isn’t sure she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Even worse, she’s starting to think she doesn’t want to...

One of my all time favorite novella series, the first three novellas:


Penric's Progress by Lois McMaster Bujold

MYSTERY AND MAGIC FROM A LEGENDARY MASTER

Footloose nobleman Penric journeys from young lord to sorcerer and scholar in the Bastard’s Order—and solves mysteries along the way.

Penric’s Demon: On the way to his betrothal, young Lord Penric happens upon a riding accident and stops to help. But the victim is a Temple divine, servant to the five gods of this world. Her avowed god is The Bastard, “master of all disasters out of season.” As she lies dying, she passes her strange powers to Penric—and changes the course of his life forever.

Penric and the Shaman: Now a divine of the Bastard’s Order as well as a sorcerer and scholar, Penric must accompany a Locator of the Father’s Order assigned to capture a runaway shaman charged with the murder of his best friend.

Penric’s Fox: When Penric—sorcerer, scholar, and divine in the Bastard’s Order—travels to Easthome, the capital of the Weald, he once again finds himself embroiled in a mystery. The body of a sorceress has been found in the woods, and it is up to Penric and his friends, Shaman Inglis and Locator Oswyl, to unravel a mystery mixing magic, murder, and the strange realities of Temple demons.

November BOM Updates

We got second for both polls, but both books for November look good. I am posting the titles for you all early, in case like me you need to get in line at a library, as they both seem to be popular books right now. I'll post the link to volunteer for DQS when it is posted closer to November.

Non-Theme:
Theme:

I didn't have the time to update at the end of last month but I have made it past 50% so getting closer

Hi all, I am back in the US after a very long couple of flights so I started off with three books read. I won't get quite so much read when I am not stuck on a plane for 15 hours. How is everyone else's first books going?

I’m phone only right now but Judith or Michael should be able to get it for you today

Tineye is not always to be trusted. It sometimes marks dark colors as black. I’m good with that being green.

Hi all, My name is Lexi (she/her/hers). I live in Atlanta, and I work in global health and parasitology. I enjoy reading fantasy and sci-fi, and been enjoying mysteries recently. I have co-captained before with Judith, and really enjoy Wheel. I’m currently in central Africa for work and will be flying home a few hours after the challenge starts. I’m always open to book suggestions especially fluffy ones for a long flight.

Also, just a reminder that all books must be started after wheel starts, so you have over a week to finish anything you already started.

Please feel free to ask any question now and throughout.

Backup for Judith in case real life happens

This one too

Also mine

Mine

Sophie wrote: "Have requested my library gets the T. Kingfisher option and can't find squirrel options (or porcupine/beaver/capybara which I thought would be a good twist)."

If you want it as an ebook, joining Ursula Vernon's Patreon, which I think is not limited to the US, gets you acess to any of her self-published ebooks and the money goes straight to the author. This includes all World of the White Rat books.

New overly specific literary monster, these still make me happy...

The Other Mother (Coraline)
100-150
Buttons on cover
Tagged "creepy" (5 or more times)
Read a book from: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... (Series sub ok)
Door important to plot

If it makes you feel any better, I was originally going to go with "anaerobe" in text but that was way to hard to find