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

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

I read two yesterday (all caught up now). Both were 4 stars.
Somehow I missed that I had never read . It was a bit hard for me to get into it at the start, but I loved it by the ending. I have no idea why I missed it for 4 years when I have read every other one of her books, including #4, within a month of their release.

The other was , which has a few giant plot holes, but I thought the discussion of history and racism was really well done.

I’m glad I got to both of them.

Tina wrote: " - 4.5 stars

So why didn't I rate this a five star? Because the first half was so slow building that it took ages to get going. Then at the halfway mark,..."

I want to get that one too this year. Glad it picks up after a bit

One more done but I also added one. I still have one more planned this month so hopefully it is better than 3 stars.
#2 for Feb - by Elizabeth Lim - 3 stars

Added-

#3 -

I was hoping for more after the first one. This one was more standard fantasy with confusing worldbuilding and a bland romance.

Only need one more book to catch up so not too far behind.

Very excited to discuss this one, I'm in.

I read my only one coming out in Feb, Sisters of the Forsaken Stars, and sadly, it was only average (3 stars).
Now, to work on my much ignored backlist. I have plans for 2 others at minimum this month.

DQ Set 4 Feb 5th
Chapters 25 to end

13. How did you enjoy the book? How was the pacing and how the story was told?
It did pick up for me after about 40% so not too bad. However, I found Molly characterization really inconsistent that she knew enough to clean up after a crime but not enough to know she was cleaning up evidence after a crime.

14. Did the romance with Juan surprise you? Thoughts on it?
I found it all a bit much and sudden. Also, he seemed a bit of a caricature, which was almost condescending in places.

15. How did you like the ending and parallels with the pillows and the actual murderer? Did anyone guess it?
I thought it would have been a better book if she did it but oh well. I think it was too out of nowhere with no clues. It wasn’t one of those mysteries where you can see the trial only when you look back. Also, shouldn’t the police have known the ex-wife’s alibi and that the daughter was about to be disinherited. Also, Molly really did not like the daughter because of Giselle so the whole thing seemed odd to me.

16. Finally, thoughts on Molly’s development as a character? Most guessed she was an unreliable narrator, but do you think it realistic that she knew the murder and the nuance there but not the drugs?
As I said and wrote the questions, it seemed a bit far for me to believe that she did not know what was going on. I knew she knew more but what we are supposed to believe she did and did not know by the end of the book was a bit much.

NBRC BOM Participation Point

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: wrote the DQs - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: this post

DQ Set 3 Feb 4th
Chapters 13 to 24

9) There seems to be a subtle parallel between drugs causing issues for Molly's parents and now herself. Do you think the author had an intent behind this, if so what? Or just a convenient coincidence? Do you think we will ever know who Molly's father is? Her Gran seemed to know but never said. Do you think Mr. Presten knows?

Does not seem that connected to me. One is upper class and selling and her mother just seems to have been addicted and in poverty. Drugs always seem like a bit of an easy explanation in books to me.

10) Calling Rodney for help? Poor Molly!! Was anyone surprise what Rodney did with the information she gave to him? Do you think Mr. Snow is involved?

I have finished the book by now (needed to write my own questions) but not at all surprised, it was clear he was up to no good and drugs or prostitutes are the usual options for a hotel.

11) Does Molly's arrest make you think about how venerable certain members of society are to the criminal justice system? Discuss.

Yes, except that everyone seems so incompetent that it is hard to see this a real commentary and not just dramatic tension.

12) The setup. Did you enjoy this? Was anyone surprised that Rodney and Giselle were doing the horizontal tango? What did you think of Molly's call to Giselle, do you believe what Giselle said?

I was a little surprised as Rodney is such a cad and I expected Giselle to have better options to cheat with, but proximity is useful. I finished but figured she would run as suggested since that is what she wanted anyways.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I think she is paying $1,800 in rent monthly. That's for a two bedroom. Most people spend about 1/3 of their pay on groceries so she could be making >$30,000 USD and still be not makin..."

The author is Canadian and lives in Toronto, which makes sense with the Detroit comment but not much better. According to Google, average rent for a 1-bedroom in Toronto is $1,800 and she has a below average 2-bedroom.

DQ Set 4 Feb 5th
Chapters 25 to end

13. How did you enjoy the book? How was the pacing and how the story was told?

14. Did the romance with Juan surprise you? Thoughts on it?

15. How did you like the ending and parallels with the pillows and the actual murderer? Did anyone guess it?

16. Finally, thoughts on Molly’s development as a character? Most guessed she was an unreliable narrator, but do you think it realistic that she knew the murder and the nuance there but not the drugs?

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Oh a side note - I’m confused with how penniless she is.
I know Wilbur stole their savings, but her apartment seems to be in a bit of a dodgy building and she still can’t afford th..."

I think she is paying $1,800 in rent monthly. That's for a two bedroom. Most people spend about 1/3 of their pay on groceries so she could be making >$30,000 USD and still be not making ends meet. Google says average pay is only $22,000.

DQ Prologue - Chapter 5

1. I found the prologue to be thought provoking. Tipping customs seem to vary from place to place, country to country. When you stay at a hotel, do you clean up your room before checking out or do you leave it messy? Do you give consideration to items you're leaving behind (receipts, notes, etc)? Do you leave a tip for the housekeeping staff?

I tend to stay at Motel 6 by the side of the highway types, so I tend not to tip but this makes me think about it. I always clean before I leave. I once snuck a tiny turtle into a hotel (he needed daily hand feeding) and I always wondered if the cleaning service noticed him hiding on the top shelf.

2. On pg. 18 (of the hardcover edition), Molly discovers the body of Mr. Black. After she calls the front desk she looks up into a mirror. "On the wall in front of me was a gilt-framed mirror, reflecting not only my terrified face back at me but everything I'd failed to notice before." What do you think Molly means when she says everything she failed to notice before?

She mentions later thinks like the purse and money and what was missing so I assume this.

3. The reader learns that Molly is a little different. She struggles in social situations and often takes things said to her in a very literal fashion. It also seems she lives by a strict code of morality and cleanliness instilled in her by her Gran. Were you caught off guard when Molly has a run in with Cheryl and begins to fantasize about the things she'd like to do to Cheryl - spray bleach in her face, strangle her with a bathrobe tie, push her off the balcony? Could Molly have a dark side?

I wasn’t sure, but the author needed to give her more depth than just a doormat and letting people walk on her.

4. Are you enjoying the book so far? Any predictions as to Mr. Black's killer?

Somewhat. I am really tired this week so no predictions. I am still a little unsure on how Molly is being shown and would be interested in reading reviews from others when I finish from the neurodiverse community.

Cat wrote: "Lexi wrote: "Not reading the next one in the series..."

Not even if it is a Yellow 5 or 7 for UNO? ;-P"

I don't think the next two have yellow covers so I'm safe

#2 for the year:

In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker - 3 stars

I liked the start but the rest was more than a bit of a mess. Time travel book that just wants to be a historical romance but ends in tragedy that you don't care about anymore b/c all the characters are naive or cads. Not reading the next one in the series.

I got three done in Jan and up to 76% so progress

Feb NetGalley Challenge

Beginning of month
Books on shelf: 36
Feedback ratio: 76%

Past Publication:
2018-2019:

2020:

2021:


Upcoming:
Feb:
2022:

Review #3 and another only 3 stars.

It really failed at worldbuilding and making any sense in such a way that frustrated me. I almost gave it 2 stars.

Sammy wrote: "Lexi wrote: "Sammy wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Not seen many Austen movies, come to think of it.. hm."

Please tell me you've seen

"

Sammy, I needed you earlier on Team Pemberley. I suggested people..."

Sammy, thank you, and I agree with you on Darcy, but I wanted to give people options. Some of them were not even born in 1995.

Sammy wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Not seen many Austen movies, come to think of it.. hm."

Please tell me you've seen

"

Sammy, I needed you earlier on Team Pemberley. I suggested people could post their favorite Darcy, and no one took me up on it.

I'm switching mine:

Blue-Skinned Gods by S.J. Sindu

From the award-winning author of Marriage of a Thousand Lies comes a brilliantly written, globe-spanning novel about identity, faith, family, and sexuality.

In Tamil Nadu, India, a boy is born with blue skin. His father sets up an ashram, and the family makes a living off of the pilgrims who seek the child’s blessings and miracles, believing young Kalki to be the tenth human incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu. In Kalki’s tenth year, he is confronted with three trials that will test his power and prove his divine status and, his father tells him, spread his fame worldwide. While he seems to pass them, Kalki begins to question his divinity.

Over the next decade, his family unravels, and every relationship he relied on—father, mother, aunt, uncle, cousin—starts falling apart. Traveling from India to the underground rock scene of New York City, Blue-Skinned Gods explores ethnic, gender, and sexual identities, and spans continents and faiths, in an expansive and heartfelt look at the need for belief in our globally interconnected world.

Sammy wrote: "Our local Little Free Library is great, my go-to place for dropping off books I don't want to keep. Unfortunately it does get vandalised a lot though :("

That's sad. There are a few in the parks here that aren't great, but there is one at a church and someone's house that seem to be active and not damaged, so I use those. When I lived in Somerville, MA, there was over 20 that I would pass on my walks so down a bit to just 2 now.