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

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

DQs Set 1: Octavo - Higgins and the Bamboo

1. What do you think of the Pax Charter and how the founders and their ancestors interact with it both in relation to the planet itself and through the generations?
It seems kind of tacked on and not entirely addressed. They attempt to be peaceful but failed at that very, very early. I think the author wanted to deal more with the discoveries and the strange plants.

2. We are hopping through the generations. Do you like this approach, seeing the colony develop through time at the expense of getting to know the wider characters?

I like generation hoping in general and it can be a good way to show change over time esp in sci-fi but it usually requires a strong narrative voice and distinction between characters and I feel like we don’t always get that with this book.

3. Speaking of which: what do you think of the characters? Do you have a favourite so far?

I liked how each understand more and more about where they are but haven’t really felt attached to any in this section. I liked the next one best.

4. We've had a lot of violence and death. How does the control shown by the plant (poison, attacking thorns, addictive fruit!) compare to the control shown by the humans (control of information, intimation, sexual choice issues)?
I think some of my issue with the book so far but also maybe the entire point (I am not done yet) is that the plants (esp the bamboo) does not entirely feel like a different intelligent lifeform. It seems very “human” if you will in its sense of self and desires. I think the comparisons between the snow vines and the parents are purposeful showing how they really were unable to change their mindsets from Earth and how they limited their options to fit with their preconceived notion and thus fit with the snow vines.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I checked and he narrates the whole series - I wish I had known. He's really fantastic - his voices, just everything - so so good."

I started the first Narnia book today and it is ..."

In my library version, Patrick Stewart only narrates The Last Battle, much more limited.

Steven wrote: "Sophie, I know that UF book I posted has a Heirophant in it. Well, I recall one. It has been a few years since I read it."

The series has an Heirophant in it and the third one is out the year. I enjoy the series.

Thank you, my day works well for me

Melindam wrote: "Hands of the Emperor is not available on audio, but it sounds really right up my alley, so I will give it a try.

I can recommend The Goblin Emperor audiobook, I found the narrator to be really good."

Only note I would add is that it is self-published so if you can't read books with typos or the occasional grammar error, it may not be for you.

Laurie B wrote: "And there's a frustrating "let's not talk to each other about anything" trope in the second one. "

That would be one of if not my least favorite trope so yes, that's likely why I dropped it one star.

Eldarwen wrote: "Completed #10.


The Archived by Victoria Schwab
Date Read: 12th April
Rating: 3 stars

This took me forever to read. Once I sat down and actually ..."

I gave the first four stars and the second three if that helps at all. I think it annoyed me more. This is apparently a third that will eventually or not be published.

Also, Sammy, I consider The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue my by far least favorite book by V.E. Schwab. Have you read Vicious or A Darker Shade of Magic

I am in the 500+ pages is long group, yet every year I end up reading one of the giant ones, i.e Wandering Inn, the giant holiday romance collection, which was awful. Cat found my favorite read for the page numbers one with The Hands of the Emperor.

Yay, I was hoping for a maze since some of us are already running around in one like rats.

The Book of Cold Casesby Simone St. James

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect--a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases--a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

MPG Mythology

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

A way to survive.
A way to serve.
A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata--a mermaid--collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable--she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There's the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Sammy wrote: "Also Must Love Dogs. Again, not read it, but the movie was cute..."

Thank you, needs to be N-Z

Considering The Big Over Easy or The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Sammy wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I need a 2005 first page tags. The older years are hard."

The Jane Austen Book Club has 2005. Not read it, so can't tell you if it's any good, lol!"

I saw that one: also The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency since I need to go south.

I need a 2005 first page tags. The older years are hard.

I got two more older ones off my list. I liked The Underground Railroad (rounded up to a 4). Some of the narrative choices weren't my favorite (view spoiler)[ such as putting the Tuskegee experiment 100 years or so earlier and killing almost everyone off along the way (hide spoiler)] but overall, it had impact, though I wished for an ending with less suffering and more hope.

Station Eleven (3 stars) annoyed me. The virus would not work with that level of mortality and incubation period. It would have burned itself out way too fast. Also, the future was really white and Toronto isn’t. Anyway, some parts were neat, like the airport but other parts made no sense. I know people love it but it wasn't for me.

Sonia wrote: "@Lexi: that was made on purpose... I believe the words spoken to woo Kelly in to developing it were "moving walls maze"

*giggles*

Yep, I can't complain about a single thing the mods throw my way...."
I liked the moving walls and the transportation points. Though way too many classics in a row since they were MPG genre tasks only

I remember drawing them out for the previous maze and then having them change

Jessi wrote: "I agree with everyone about Illuminae!! It's fantastic... but yes.. Towers lol

@Sammy... I'm so not in the mood for Harry Potter though I have another challenge where I need to find the word wolfs..."

Paladin's Grace has wolfsbane but no twins. A fun, fast read though.

Melindam wrote: "Which just made me check whether there has been a Muse of medicine.

Apparently not (there has been a goddess of health, Hygieia), though there is a medication called "Muse" ... the next bit of in..."

I think Jenny is likely better than me at this, but I do agree to take the blame for the hedgehog book. I personally am over the dino island books and find new authors/stories more fun. I think there is likely all sort of Greek myth options out there.

Steven wrote: "Illuminae is fantastic! I've heard Raven Boys is great, but haven't gotten to it yet."

I also really like Illuminae and while Raven Boys did not quite work for me, I could see you (Sonia) liking it. Just note that the first book isn't a complete story but just leads to the next one.