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

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

Kate,

You have Babel down for two monsters. I think it should stay with page number as cold and author in TROUT are easier. Are you ok with that?

I noticed we finished another one, so I rolled for another Urban Legend and we got:

Fur-bearing trout
100 to 175 pages
Setting is somewhere cold (your interpretation)
White cover (>50%)
Someone writes a letter/email
Author name starts with letter in TROUT

Judith wrote: "My hold for Chain of Thorns came in, so if we spin another 800+ monster, I'm on it!"

Judith, you got your wish. We finished Bloody Mary and I rolled Sasquatch.
Tasks:
800+ pages
feet on cover
Brown cover (>50%)
Double letter in title (like Foot)
Tagged Indigenous at least 5 times

#5 -

Comedy of manners with very light fantasy. it just got to be too much of a soap opera mess by the end and the vindictive female cousin was overdone and inconsistently characterized.

And no more Cactus Cat, we got Bunyip which is my other favorite by picture so off to a good start and some fun tasks

Bunyip
200 to 299 pages
Seal or dog on cover
Read a book with a ecological message/ theme (your interpretation)
Takes place in a rural area
Letter Y in title

BOM Tracking
Day 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Judith wrote: "I've read this author's Veronica Speedwell series and it's just better with the character and plot development. And that was just missing in a lot of ways from this story."

This is the year that I either read that book or remove it from my want to read list. It has been there since 2016.

Dqs
6 March chapters 33-end

17. This whole book I was conflicted as the main characters are professional killers that have killed over and over again for 40 years. I don’t buy the whole “but we only kill bad people” thing as a reason to therefore not be a bad person yourself. So I struggled to connect with the characters and care if they were successful. Were you able to just go with the flow?
I gave it action flow logic but even then, they seemed ok killing guards and security professionals of whom it was unclear if they knew what the boss was doing. Either way, bad people is hard to say after a few clear examples. Also, very white in its execution and cast.

18. The whole Museum concept is also a bit interesting. Do you believe that an organisation like that can work for “good”?
Nope, also even the early part seemed a bit broad strokes because they said from the person who shined Hitler’s shoes or something like that. They are not killing ever servant, or person marginally involved, or they would have killed a lot more people. Also, see my comment above on saying it was preventative and not just vindictive.

19. Taverner came back but then left abruptly again. Do you think he and Billie will find each other and retire together?
Maybe, do I care, no

20. Thoughts on the whole “mystery” and how it got resolved? Any surprises?
Didn’t care enough to guess. I wish Naomi was more active. The body count seems a bit high since everyone is supposed to be very well trained and we did not lose a single main character but hey, action movie logic.

21. How would you sum up the book? (Did Sammy’s BOM curse strike again or has it been broken? 😆)
I gave it three, but I could have told you that would be the rating by the end of the first chapter. I only read it as a BOM as I am trying to participate when I can. I was willing to give it action film logic but even then, I should be able to tell the characters apart and the stereotypes were lazy.

I claimed and then DNF'd a book for "MC gets drunk/tipsy" if anyone else has one.

That might be for the best. I’m going to give it one more try then giving up.

DQs Day 3: Chapters 13 - 21

9. So, the meet with Sweeney went about as well as expected. But... What's up with Helen?
I’ve finished the book but kind of expected they were setting Helen a will she won’t she show up when needed situation at the end.

10. We have a flashback to Taverner and Billie meeting. Do you believe in that sort of lust at first sight ? Are we going to meet him again?
Lust, yes. Otherwise, I assume there would be fewer one-night stands. Beats me, not my thing. I assumed it was the one that got away kind of trope.

11. They have finally got a handle on what's going on (or have they?) and are heading to the UK to do some proper planning of vengeance. Are they going to succeed? Will the Museum still be standing afterwards?
The whole plan and structure of the Museum seems a bit poorly thought out. Who is doing what is unclear, and there would need to be way more office staff.

12. I enjoyed the chat about how squeamish men are over Wimmin's Troubles, and Minka's taking advantage of that to create a communication app. In general are you enjoying the feminist bits? (See also the speech in chap 19 "Guilt is our birthright...")
I think yes and no on it being overblown. Certain men are fine, esp if brought up with sisters/single mums or just made to deal with it. However, it may have been referring to the security/ex-military community specifically and that might be right.

DQs: Day 2 , Chap 7-12

5. What did you think about all the escape plan/journey? The fires, the sailing, all the different plane rides, a road trip and finally a car ditch. Overkill? Or not enough?
I also thought more people would have a Plan B and a comparisons or arguing over the number of Plan Bs could have been funny.

6. After talking about the museum structure they decide to call Sweeney. Do you think they can trust him? After all, he says they were supposed to be dead. And asking him to come to their hiding city/place.. is that wise?
I thought it was too easy but will say no more.

7. What can possibly be the reason for termination? After all, Sweeney got retired. And he was partnered with one of the museum big honchos. If it was about knowing too much, he would be a target too, right?
I wasn’t entirely happy with the explanation but glad there was some of one.

8. What did you think about Constance strategy back in the past? Having Billy to get angry enough that she let herself find her talent... And how on earth could she possibly have guessed it was hand to hand combat?
Also, fighting to go with the story and let things happen. This did not bother me too much since she punched the cop that got her first arrested.

Found internet so back to answer questions. I finished the book as a side note.
Day 1 DQs
1. This book uses a lot of flashback so far. How do you like them for introducing the characters and backgrounds?

I usually don't like them as much because you already know how things will happen. It is also why I don't tend to read prequels.

2. Do you have a favorite character so far? Am I the only one who can’t tell them apart?

I wrote this question and clearly cannot tell them apart. Still struggling at the end of the book.

3. What do you think of the setting and have you ever been on a cruise (large or small)?

I have never been on a cruise, but I want to see every National Park and there are a few that are much easier, even cheaper, by cruise but mostly it seems like a good place to get Norovirus.

4. What do you think about the structure of the Museum so far? Do you think they actually hold up to these ideals? Either when the women started or in the current day?

I think it made sense retributively but think as the book progress that the preemptively holds no water. At one point, the say they kill a arms dealer and stop a war, but the warlord would just go to someone else.

I forgot to download stardust thief so I read a India book instead

Sounds good. I can get an India one and plan to read The Stardust Thief on the plane tomorrow. Yes, I have set myself up with a long high fantasy book again. I clearly will never learn.

We also seem to be disinclined to read Russia books.

DQs: Day 1 , Chap 1-6

1. This book uses a lot of flashback so far. How do you like them for introducing the characters and backgrounds?

2. Do you have a favorite character so far? Am I the only one who can’t tell them apart?

3. What do you think of the setting and have you ever been on a cruise (large or small)?

4. What do you think about the structure of the Museum so far? Do you think they actually hold up to these ideals? Either when the women started or in the current day?

We finished Lernaean Hydra, but I was holding off spinning for a new one until the new wheel is up or I can spin an Asian monster. Thoughts?

Judith wrote: "In other news about my (not so) Tiny Tyrant. at his 5 yr check up he's just over 50 inches tall and weighed in at 52 pounds. Though after tonight, that might be down to 51.

He's going to be the si..."

Hope, (not so) Tiny Tyrant feels better soon. Also, my sister and I used to hide food from my brother growing up. He is now 6' 4" and was always eating growing up. By age 3, people thought he was 5.

Judith wrote: "Lexi,

Do you have a favorite Monster from the Urban Legend list? I'm going to make that public soon and need an image for the post.

I have one for Drop Bear from TT but it's not a favorite of mine."

Here are two I like: Bunyip or Cactus Cat