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

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

And this one

Also mine

BOOKS OF THE MONTH

MAY
starts 2 May - Discussion thread

starts 16 May - Discussion thread

Backroom BOM - MUST BE 18+ and join a seperate group. These are generally read for being explicit and terrible. It is book 3 but there has been no plot up to this point really and someone will likely provide a summary.
starts 10 May - Discussion thread

JUNE
Polls for the June BOM's close 7th May
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...

1. June Adult Fiction / Non Fiction book Book details here
2. Themed BOM for June Book details - The theme for June is "Longest"

DQs Day 2
Ch 11 to 17

5.) Do you like it when Ernest blatantly foreshadows events like 'no one's phone battery runs out of battery until page 280' or whatever? Does that make you want to read faster to get to that part? Or if you are reading the ebook version, do you click on the links (Cat mentioned this was an option, I'm reading a physical book so I didn't realize that was a thing)? Also, did you enjoy the recap chapter?
No spoilers so I have not clicked on anything. Also, I am having the audio slower than I sometimes do, since I am mostly listening while driving versus walking. It is fun though to get the notes and to see as well when it comes back around again.

6.) Wow. Fun family times. Erin and Michael are now an item (gross). Why do you think Lucy is there? She clearly still loves Michael, why would she do that to herself? If you were the ex and had no kids together, would you go to family functions/events like this (funerals aside)?
I think Lucy thinks there is still hope for the relationship and is delusional on this point. I would not go to such functions as that seems odd.

7.) Ern and Audrey had an interesting discussion about killing versus being a killer. What are your thoughts on this? Did Audrey have a point about Michael or is she just being a mother rationalizing her son's behavior/wishful thinking?
It is interesting, but I think given the information we have at that point, Audrey comes across as a renationalizing and making excuses for her son.

8.) Why do you think Sofia needs the money? Do you think she'll get her $50K?
My guess would be blackmail or a mistake that needs money to fix but not lawyer’s fees as her father would be free.

9.) Any guesses as to why Michael said Ern was his lawyer? And to Sofia's question, what's in the truck?
I thought to have a private conversation with Ern about the truck and what happened that night.

Day 1 DQ: Prologue - 10

1. Have you heard about the ten rules of mysteries before? What do you think about them and how do think starting with them frames this book?
I've heard of them, but some of them surprised me and I could think of places where Christie broke them. I like them as a start as they set the stage for a slightly quirky narrator.

2. Our narrator is aware of being a narrator and directly addresses the reader. What do you think of this as an author’s choice? Are you listening to or reading this book, and do you think this style is better suited to one or the other?
I don’t tend to listen to books unless it is a reread but this one has worked well so far. I enjoy the narrator and the style. I am glad it seems to work well for reading too.

3. We are starting to learn the secrets of the characters and know of two of them who have killed people so far. What do you think of the family and history? Any favorites?
I like Ern and the direct address. I assume in a book like this that everyone is hiding something.

4. Finally, if this is not a reread, who do you think killed the current dead person and do you think it is related to the money or the serial killer? Also, where was his wife and brother?
At this point, I am at 60% so my guess is the post above.

Bonus: Am I the only who had to look up where in Australia there was enough snow to need chains? How does a setting of Australia or the specific part of Australia affect your expectations?
Well, I wrote this, so I did look it up. I am still suspicious of this much snow in Australia. I was in Melbourne in June to July, and it was cold, miserable and icy rain. But I guess this is the mountains.

I'll go back and answer the questions, but I am just around 60% and does anyone else think this is a retelling of Mouse Trap (or highly inspired by)? I'll put my thoughts under a spoiler.

(view spoiler)[
1. Snowstorm but not enough that other cops should have shown up
2. Whole blood on sleeve thing – don’t get blood from a frozen body
3. Sketchy incompetent cop who is too incompetent to not be in purpose
4. History with children being hurt – maybe one of the children not dead?
(hide spoiler)]

Day 1 DQ: Prologue - 10

1. Have you heard about the ten rules of mysteries before? What do you think about them and how do think starting with them frames this book?

2. Our narrator is aware of being a narrator and directly addresses the reader. What do you think of this as an author’s choice? Are you listening to or reading this book, and do you think this style is better suited to one or the other?

3. We are starting to learn the secrets of the characters and know of two of them who have killed people so far. What do you think of the family and history? Any favorites?

4. Finally, if this is not a reread, who do you think killed the current dead person and do you think it is related to the money or the serial killer? Also, where was his wife and brother?

Bonus: Am I the only who had to look up where in Australia there was enough snow to need chains? How does a setting of Australia or the specific part of Australia affect your expectations?

While we wait and people need a small book, The Album of Dr. Moreau is a really fun retelling. (Jenny also gave it 5 stars if you need a second vote).

In for DQs as a joint nominator.

Cat, Under the Whispering Door went down one star. Also, not a good audio either.

I will read this and not do an audio since I am very picky on audios.

I'm in for DQs as well.

Great, thank you

Thoughts on counting a book for takes place in Russia if it takes place in an alternate history universe where Russia owns CA? Russia actually owned parts of N CA in the 1800s.

Judith wrote: "It doesn't look like we have any Greek monsters and have 2 Urban Legends. So at least one Greek. And then either another Greek or Asian?"

I got us one Greek and one Asian monster.

Scylla and Ahool

Great, Judith's book worked for that task, so we need two new monsters. Any preference on Greek, Asian or Urban Legends?

I started the audio today when driving and it works very well on audio.

Sonia wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I but I think Jenny and I were mostly new so no one knew better yet."

Truer words never been spoken.

I think that Jenny and Judith together are like a tsunami that sweeps over any ob..."

I have never been on a team with Sammy I don't think.

I’m fine with that or other tags that apply to specific groups such as First Nation.

DQs Day 3: Chap 17 - End

1. How do you feel about the manager’s decision for Wallace at the end of the book? Does it change how you see the overall character arc for Wallace?

It seemed like an obvious conclusion. Otherwise, this would be much more bittersweet and not a romance. I tend to be more forgiving on endings for romance since the genre has such established conventions.
2. We seem to mention that overall message of this book more than some others. Do you think a book like this needs to have a message?

I agree that the author set this one up as message based using Hugo and the manager as a mouthpiece. There are ways to do this kind of message with less talking but I did not mind it from Hugo but the manager seemed kind of preachy.

3. Desdemona is shown more sympathetically in this part. How does this compare to her portrayal earlier? Do you think Wallace made the right choice with how to address Nancy?

I think she was more realistically obnoxious and seemed at least aware of Nancy as a person. Still obnoxious but less of a caricature. I think it worked within the framework of the narrative and seems to have helped her move on.

4. We learn more about what the manager does and does not know. How this affect your view of what he does? Why do you think the choice of a deer and stag were made for his form?

I think deer was supposed to be primal and wild but otherwise not sure. I liked that he was unsure as I think afterlife books work better if they don’ try for definite.

Bonus: How does the sense of place affect this book? Most seems to be outside time or place but with references to real places (Seattle, London)
The book kept calling it the city and while it was clearly American, there was a sense of being outside time and space, so I did not like the mentions of real places. Economically, this tea shop should not be able to support three adults in a tiny town but since they also never appear to make real food or buy groceries, it seemed to be outside the scope of this book.

Links:
1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
3 - here

I don't think they will ever let Jenny, Judith, and me on the same team again but I think Jenny and I were mostly new so no one knew better yet.

Judith wrote: "The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff



Geeta's no-good husband disappeared five years ago. She didn't kill him, but everyone t..."

If Judith's books wins, I would put a content warning on it for TTs. It has an on page sexual assault and discussions of child abuse.

I'm good with moon as well and I have a silver text I can get too this week.