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

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

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.

Jenny wrote: "The Griffin is no more and we are being attacked by the Loup-Garou. Whatever that is..."

As you probably can guess from the prompts, it a French werewolf.

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Hi Lexi, any chance that you could throw together some questions..."

Just did. Spreadsheets are always more fun.

Sonia, hope you feel better as well

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?

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?

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?

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?

Bonus: How does the sense of place effect this book? Most seems to be outside time or place but with references to real places (Seattle, London).

Cat wrote: "I don't know, but I am that rare breed: a Brit who does drink tea by the gallon!

Loved the tea monk! Must get to Crown Shy soon
Have you read the TeaDragon comics? They're cute too!"

Yes, every single TeaDragon comic. I love them and the most recent one does a lovely job with grief. I live off tea all winter and am the reason my office has a kettle next to the coffeepot.

Alysa wrote: "I get annoyed when the fantasy adventure I thought I was reading suddenly turns into, like, surprise!Christian propaganda."

Going from a different direction, I get annoyed when medieval fantasy can only write "Catholics in funny hats" (i.e. changing a few minor details but not bothering to make a new religion to go with the utterly new location and magic). Authors I think that do well at new religions is Lois McMaster Bujold, who I mentioned above, and Kingfisher's World of the White Rat, starting with Swordheart. I love the White Rat's priests and how utterly different the religious bad guys are.

Cat wrote: "Also, I dislike tea, so there's that too....!"

How do you not like tea? This makes me sad. I still aspire to be a Tea Monk from A Psalm for the Wild-Built.

I read one of my oldest from 2016 - it had a yellow cover in the e-book version so there you go. It was 3 stars with an immature, male teenage protagonist, so I am not continuing the series.

#6

DQ Set 2: Chapters 10 – 16

As a overall general note, I am not sure this is a book that rereads well. Klune’s first one did, but this one isn’t as much fun for me on the second round. Also, unlike Sea this is a true romance in there isn’t much of a plot outside of their relationship.

5. We are seeing different ways that death can be experienced, the dead and how they deal with that change, Mei and Hugo and also the "outside" players of Nancy and Desdemona. Why do you think Desdemona, and her exploitation of the grieving or credulous was included?
I think her point of view and taking advantage of people grieving is very credulous. I found the way she was described and her physicality off-putting. It is a way you sometimes see male authors describe “predatory” females. In general, Klune does not seem to write women as well as his men and there are very few of them in his books, excluding children. This book seemed more toward over the top characteristics that feel unrealistic with Desdemona and Harvey.

6. We see Wallace get to grips with "unexpecting" and being able to interact with physical items (reportedly) super quick. Do you think this is intended to give a deeper insight into Wallace? And if so, what?
I think it is supposed to show acceptance and fitting in to this new place in life.

7. Hugo is amazeballs at guessing tea for dead people. What tea flavours do you think you would have? as an aside, Hugo must suffer from being this studly handsome creature that all sorts of weirdos fall into insta-lust with inability to take no for an answer. Does this sex-god bit of Hugo work for you? what is it adding to the story?
I find it weird and think that people flirt with Hugo as a motivation is a cheap plot device. I did not like either of the two interactions the first time I read and less so now. It allows the author to avoid issues that might cause people to actually be harassed by government officials while only giving them lip-service, especially homophobia and racism.

8. Alan arrives and manages to wreak all sorts of havoc as he deals with his trauma. Do you find his reaction to Harvey understandable or a plot-device stretching credibility?

I think Alan’s response is valid but because Harvey is treated like a walking cliché/caricature that the whole interaction feels like a farce. People will connect trauma to people who look like it – often fed by biases such as class or race again. Also, why does the health inspector afford suits the same as the high-powered lawyer. Class is really odd in this book.