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

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

Thank you, everyone. You all were a great team and one of the easiest team's to captain that I have ever been on.

We came in a very solid third and second most BOM points of any team. Congratulations and happy holidays, everyone

I just did as well so going to move books around and then check us in.

Sophie wrote: "That's a big drop off. Tough to plan for that change and accept it when you just see the numbers."

It has made it hard to plan for challenges and such that I am reading 40% less and I keep overplanning books for a week.

We have a final countdown: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

We will also take any books over 270 pages that are finished before then and will move books around.

Sophie wrote: "Excellent! At least I'm not the only one!"

I read 100 less book this year than the last three years (or 35,000-40,000 fewer pages). This is likely the new normal so adjusting accordingly.

Sophie wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Sophie wrote: "I'm in. Lacking ambition so starting with 1 a month."

haha. Love the honesty :)"

This year was such a bust that I've lowered my expectations a lot!"
Me too, I am going for 1/3 of what I planned last year.

DQs Day 1: Chapters 1 – Chapter 9

1. Did you go into this book with any expectations? Have you read any previous books by this author (Sorcery of Thorns was a BOM)?

I also enjoyed Sorcery of Thorns and I like this one too so far but they are different. No romance, which is fine with me. Also, this does remind me of Grey Sister and that series (which I have not finished) with fighting nuns. I think there are others too recently.

2. This has been described as a medieval Venom (which means nothing to me but is a recent movie). How do view the relationship between Artemisia and the revenant?

I like that they gave the revenant no human memories so it can be its own thing without any humanity per se. Has anyone read the Penric and Desdemona series? There the demon is very human, and it is an interesting comparison. (Also, if you have no, go do it immediately. It is one of the best series I know that deals with faith in a completely non-derivative religious system and does it well. It is also just a very kind series.)

3. This section ends with the first big battle and escape. Who do you think is pulling the string from within the city and why?

I've also read ahead. (I somehow got in my head that my section ended at 11). But, I think that are main antagonist may not be running the show as much as there are other powers at work but I’m willing to read and see. This is a series after all.

4. Finally, the MC seems to be presented as neurodiverse in her avoidance of people and eye contact, but it seems to be implied that this results from the trauma of her childhood being possessed. How do you think this is handled, and do you think there are any concerns with equating the two? (No right answer, I’m not sure on my thoughts on this either).

I was more concerned as I noted with linking atypical behavior and demon possession, as there are historical precedents of this being used in harmful ways but glad no one else thought of this.

Cat, my concern wasn't as much trauma as equating it with possession by the dead, but I am glad that others were not reading it that way.

DQs Day 1: Chapters 1 – Chapter 9

1. Did you go into this book with any expectations? Have you read any previous books by this author (Sorcery of Thorns was a BOM)?

2. This has been described as a medieval Venom (which means nothing to me but is a recent movie). How do view the relationship between Artemisia and the revenant?

3. This section ends with the first big battle and escape. Who do you think is pulling the string from within the city and why?

4. Finally, the MC seems to be presented as neurodiverse in her avoidance of people and eye contact, but it seems to be implied that this results from the trauma of her childhood being possessed. How do you think this is handled, and do you think there are any concerns with aquating the two? (No right answer, I’m not sure on my thoughts on this either).


Note: My version did not have a prologue, so if yours did, please share as the chapter breakdown indicates there may be one

I'm back again. I failed in 2021 but hopefully better in 2022

TBR Pile Jan 1, 2022: 542 (9 more than last year)
July 1, 2022-TBR pile - 491
Total (49/45)

Books on TBR since 2016 (oldest year) 15/15:
1. Walk on Earth a Stranger - 1/22-****
2. In the Garden of Iden-2/3-***
3. The Cutting Season-2/22-****
4. Captain Blood - 3/3-****
5. City of Miracles - 3/12-****
6. The House of Shattered Wings - 6/18-****
7. A Criminal Magic - 7/5-***
8. Native Son - 8/19-***
9. The Palace of Glass - 9/10-***
10. The Queen of Blood - 10/9-***
11. Revenger - 10/26-****
12. Stiletto-11/9-****
13. The Floating Islands - 11/5-***
14. The Witch's Boy-11/4-***
15. Planetfall-11/16-***

Books on list since 2017-2019 33/30:
1. Unravel the Dusk-2/18-***
2. Record of a Spaceborn Few-2/22-****
3. Holy Sister - 3/11-***
4. Station Eleven - 4/2-***
5. The Underground Railroad - 4/8-****
6. Semiosis - 4/20-****
7. The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly - 5/18-***
8. The City of Brass - 5/21-****
9. The Serpent King - 5/20-**
10. Lovecraft Country - 5/28-****
11. The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley - 5/30-***
12. Rosewater - 6/15-****
13. Far From the Madding Crowd-6/29-***
14. Spiderlight - 7/5-****
15. Flesh and Spirit - 7/10-****
16.When the Sky Fell on Splendor-7/31-***
17. Ninth House - 7/28-****
18. Rise of Empire - 8/15-***
19. Sadie - 8/22-****
20. Moloka'i-8/29-***
21.Spinning Silver - 9/8-*****
22. Malice-9/12-***
23. Scream All Night - 9/16-***
24. The Great Alone - 9/21-***
25. The Long Flight Home - 9/28-***
26. The Ninth Rain-10/16-***
27. Dragon Pearl-10/19-****
28. The Dime-11/13-***
29. Discount Armageddon-11/27-****
30. The Call-11/27-***
31. The Outside-11/20-***
32. The Someday Birds-12/5-****
33. The Mere Wife-12/9-***
34. Who Is Vera Kelly? - 12/31-***

We need one more tag as well but otherwise doing really well on them and have all the green books done or in progress

Sadly, not that I know of anymore. You can look at the lists for books you want to read or just search the pages
Example:
Smart: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

The two big ones I want to read are The Way of Kings and The Brothers Karamazov

Hi everyone,

We have a little over a week left. I just moved our first full word to the official SS (thank you, Sana for our first X).
On the SS, we have all the X's, Q's and U's claimed so really good job. We need 6 more I's and then all the other letters. I am reading a green word in title book and the Dec BOM (thank you, Lisa and Susan) covered green cover and green item on cover.

We still need a green text on cover book.

We could also use 1-2 more books tagged: childrens, smart, idealistic, or naive.

DQs: Day 4 Chapter 31-44
15. Once again, Evelyn is manipulating everyone around her to further her fame and fortune. This time, however, she has a willing participant who wants the same thing she does and knowingly agrees to the “pretend marriage”. How do you feel about this marriage? Evelyn is still lying to everyone, but her husband is in on the lie. Does that make it different?

This seemed very straightforward and not an issue as both parties knew the set up and were not harming each other.

16. Eveyln and Rex play out their fake marriage until it no longer works. Mostly because Rex is “doing what he does” and decides he is in love with someone. The plan Eveyln comes up with to keep both of them in the spotlight may be the most elaborate yet. BUT the plan that Harry comes up with while they are laying the framework for Evelyn and Rex’s divorce seems like the most likely to succeed of everything we’re seen so far. Did you see this coming? Were you surprised that it was Harry’s idea?

I am kind of surprised they did not try this earlier as it seems like this could have solved all the drama from the get-go. Harry seems to do better at managing his public and private persona.

17. When Harry and Evelyn decide it is time to become a real family and have a baby, it is a community discussion between all four parties to see if everyone is agreeable. Celia agrees and says if it is what Eveyln wants she will find a way to be okay with it. Do you think Celia really was being honest? Do you think she will really accept Harry and Evelyn having a baby?

I've finished the book, but I wasn’t that fond of Celia’s communication style throughout.

18. The party the foursome had for Harry’s birthday seems like the most real thing that has happened in the book. What was your impression of this family picnic in the park?

This was nice and somewhat sad as it showed what they could have had if society allowed and if they could ever figure out communication.

I just read it in May so I'd rather not read it again (but I might) but On the Edge by Ilona Andrews is an I and has 1 tag of naive.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is tagged three times as smart

DQs: Day 3 Chapter 21-30

10. Don is the one who ask for a divorce. What do you think of the requirements he put on the settlement?

11. Do you think Monique’s negotiation with her boss and Evelyn were realistic? Do you think she is growing as a person from the interview process?

12. What is your first impression of Max? Does that change throughout the session?

13. What do you think of the Evelyn and Mick plan and her reasons’ for carrying it out?

14. What do you think of Celia reaction? Does it seem realistic to you that she didn’t think they would sleep together?

Discussion questions day 2

6. How do you think Evelyn handled her relationship with the abusive Don?

I think this is a complex topic and one that entire books have been written around. Here is treated somewhat superficially but The MC feels societal pressure and judgement. She does what she thinks is best for her career but also loves Don.

7. How believable do you feel the progression of the friendship to romance between Evelyn and Celia is, especially bearing in mind the time period?

It felt rushed but this whole books felt a bit rushed to me. I also knew what was coming since that aspect of the book has been so publicized so there is also that.

8. Do you think the author got the old Hollywood vibe right?

It borrows heavily from some real actresses lives so in that way yes but otherwise, not that much to me. Lots of other places with money and men in control where beauty is rewarded.

9. What do you think of Evelyn’s plan to fake a miscarriage in order to gain sympathy instead of getting bad press? How does it make you feel about her character?

I felt bad for her on this since it was so expected of her, and she was also concerned on being abused. It was just a bad situation all around.

DQs: Day 1 Chapter 1-8

1. Chapter 1 starts with a news clipping and ends with a blog post and chat. What do you think of this nontraditional style? Were you surprised that it didn't continue through the next 7 chapters?
I liked the tone and information that the blog posts provided. This part is kind of shallow so it fits. It does come back again between sections.

2. Monique Grant is a little known writer. Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography for a reason. Any thoughts to why? Is is just her style? Age? Or do you think it is ore personal? I finished but knew there was a reason and guessed it had to do with her dad as the only possible connection (worked on movie sets).

3. Evelyn's quote "The world doesn't give you things, you take things" really struck me. How does this phrase resonate with you?
This leads to a level of entitledness which makes me uneasy and people who think that everything is for the taking and ignore the effect money has on letting you take.

4. Evelyn learned early on about how to use her looks and sex to get what she wanted. She seems to see it as taking what she wanted and doesn't regret her life decisions. Especially in the back drop of the Me too movement, how do you feel about Evelyn and her decisions so far?
Well, her first marriage was pretty close to statutory rape (potentially legally, I would have to check the Romeo and Juliet laws). It is still highly predatory especially with the focus on her being underage and makes me uncomfortable.

5. Do you like the back and forth between Monique/now and Evelyn's back story?
It helps break up the pacing but I wish both stories weren’t so shallow.

Sophie wrote: "My son has a 39degree temp so currently on childcare duty which is going to limit my reading for the next couple of days."

I'm sorry, Sophie. I hope he feels better soon.