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

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

DQ Day 2 - Part 1, XIV - Part 2, III (p129)

5. At about a fourth of the way through the book, how do you like Addie LaRue as a narrator/person?
6. Are you more interested in Addie’s past or present life (or both)? Why?
7. How do you think she handled the start of her "curse"?
8. Addie seems to have serial one-night stands with the same person. Why do you think she does this, and do you have any concerns with the potential for manipulating the other party? (I am still thinking on this as a power imbalance).
9. In this section, we meet Henry. What is your initial reaction to Henry and his ability to remember her?

Welcome to July Update
(Also, how are we half way done with 2021?)

Update:
Tasks
- 7 left to complete – 6 of which are claimed
- All claimed but “Book Set in South Africa”
Bingo
- 1 left to complete and 1 claimed
- Great job
Jackanory
- 17 left to complete and 4 claimed
- 13 still unclaimed
- 1 for protagonist
- 2 for antagonist,
- 5 for cameo – what is Murderbot doing and the party -- Need a leaves early book here and a watches TV book
- 2 for protagonist reacts
- 1 for secondaries up to (romance and hanging out by pool)
- 2 for protagonist overcome obstacles

DQs Day 3 Chapters 16 - 23

11. Gramma Pearl shared many wonderful legacy stories with Daunis. I loved the reference Daunis makes regarding the storm and the thunderbirds bringing loved ones from the other world to check on them. As a result, Daunis has happy memories about storms versus being afraid and she consistently refers to Gramma Pearl when deciding what to do. Do you have any advice, stories or traditions passed down from family that you often think about? Something that you would share with your legacy...if so, share if you are comfortable.
My family has stories often of the women trying to make thinks work after the men have died. Some about feeding bears marshmallows (Spoiler: not a great ides), but not really traditions.


12. "The FBI is interested in learning what caused the group hallucination. I want to know if the kids are okay." Daunis obviously thinks the FBI isn't investigating for the right reasons. I observe all the time that young people have a different view on things than more experienced/older people. Who's right? What do we learn from situations such as this? Other thoughts?
I think this isn’t as much an age issue as a government versus private citizen issue. I tend to be wary of the government’s big picture in these cases as that can often hurt the person who is supposed to be helping them.


13. Heather is clearly not liked amongst the girls at the beach party...why do you think Heather approaches Daunis about buying drugs? Do you think this has something to do with why she turns up dead, washed up at Duck Island?
She was being friendly in the way she knew and she, clearly.

14. In chapter 20, Jamie asks Daunis about the meaning of 'Firekeeper's Daughter'. It's her job to lift up the sun every day. What do you think about this explanation? Do you find additional meaning in this as it relates to Daunis and her role in the plot of this story?
I think the lack of a name is important and Daunis decision to give her a name. To claim identity to someone who is only defined in her role and use to others. I think there is a reason it is the title.

15. Daunis finds Heather during her mushroom sleuthing on Duck Island. During her thinking she has an 'ah-ha' moment regarding her Uncle's journals. When she goes to look for them, she's quick to assume that they don't exist because of the connection to the FBI and the confidentiality required...do you think she's right...thoughts?
I think they are out there somewhere and will show up later in the book.

Day 2

6. I thought that the opening scene with Daunis and the gun would show up again towards the end of the book. That’s usually what happens when authors use this kind of device. Were you surprised that it happens not even a quarter of the way in?

I was a bit, but I liked it early as I am not always fond of looming foreshadowing and knowing what will happen. I like surprises.

7. We knew there would be a murder but we’re you surprised that it was Lily who was killed? Did you suspect something bad would happen between her and Travis?
Travis was clearly a major issue. I was expecting assault and not murder. I was sad to lose Lilly so early.

8. The synopsis also hinted that Jamie was not all he seemed. I thought he would be something to do with the murder but not that he would be an undercover agent. What did you think it was that Jamie was hiding?
I guessed he was undercover or hiding as he was just too competent and fit too perfectly into the existing dynamics.

9. If you were Daunis would you have agreed to be a confidential informant? I’m not sure I would be brave enough.
I would want to talk to my mum first. I don’t like her being so isolated on this with her age and with her grieving so much for Lilly and her uncle. She is at a huge risk and meth dealers don’t mess around. (I don’t believe the group hallucination story as a side note already).

10. Being a confidential informant seems to be very complicated with Daunis being expected to really investigate what is happening rather than just let them know if she comes across anything suspicious. How well do you think Daunis will be able to do this as it’s her own community and perhaps members of her own family that she will be investigating?
I don’t like it at all. She needs to be able to talk to an adult outside of the investigation but without this, we would not have a plot.

Joyce wrote: "Its always weird to me when the temperatures are higher in the north than in South Florida. As an ex-NYer I don't remember anything closing for hot weather.

Have a great wedding Redshirt."

As Redshirt mentioned, the NW area just do not have the infrastructure for that type of heat. 108 is very real. I have worked in it in Texas and India, and it is rough. I have a friend who works as a vet and the number of heat stroke cases she treated and many she lost was heartbreaking. I lived in Boston with no AC, which is normal in older houses there, and the house would get over 85 degrees. Most of the NW area also has no AC.

Also, thank you, Joyce. I need to start it next so glad you are enjoying it.

Joyce, you never signed up in the BOM thread to volunteer to post questions, so I got it covered (Judith was my backup). No worries, my library copy is here too. I hope you enjoy the book.

Just a reminder if anyone is still planning on reading and answering BOM questions for The Midnight Library, you have until July 2 to answer them.

Redshirt, I hope you have a lovely week with family and congrats on getting married. Do not worry about checking in here at all.

Also, hope you all are staying cool in Washington and glad you have AC.

DQ - Day 5
Start: Albert sat on his narrow bed..."


21. Wow, Albert has got quite the temper on him! The way he goes about ordering the wizards around and wanting to change the current ways of the Unseen University. Do you think the changes would have worked the way he intended, had he stayed? What do you think happened to Albert's staff though? Also, one has to commend the owners of the Drum though to have passed down a debt for generations.
I think the staff may join the library or maybe the statue in the basement. I think the University might have gone in a very different direction but I don’t see the Libraian putting up with it so who knows.

22. Mort and Ysabell go on an adventure, and the changes in Mort seem to take root completely though Ysabell manages to snap him out of it. Somewhere down the line, the two of them have fallen in love. Did you expect this to happen? Do you think they are a good fit?
Eh, always felt rushed to me. They are both so young.

23. For someone who doesn't actually feel emotions, DEATH seems a bit put out with Mort, and it culminates in a fight between DEATH and Mort. Would DEATH have killed Mort? Or was he always planning to turn the hourglass around and have the boy start over?
Hard to deal with DEATH and I think DEATH feels emotions more than he says he does. They may be strange and someone out of place at time but still there. I think DEATH may have wanted Mort to win but would not have killed him.

24. What did you make of the ending? Was it a satisfying solution to the problem of a reality slightly out of whack? Mort tells DEATH that he has certainly learnt a lot while working as his apprentice. What do you think the most important lesson might have been?
It always feels a bit rushed with the sudden wedding. They both are 16 even if Mort got to be Death for a bit and Ysabell was 16 for 35 years.

25. Don't you just adore DEATH? *grin* Which was your favourite character or appearance in this book, and why?
DEATH, by far but a good shout out to the Librarian and his role was also fun.


26. Did you enjoy this book? If you've read the previous month's BOM, Equal Rites, does it compare? Or not?
I like this one much better than ER though in both, TP still has better developed female characters. This one has much more continuity with the rest of the series and DEATH is one of my favorite characters.

DQs Day 4
start: "The night shed its early casualties"
end: "'Now - are we going?'" (p200 / 76%)

16. Death trying to get drunk in the Mended Drum ! I felt for him during that scene. Do you think there's a way for Death to be human ? Assuming he wasn't human before like Mort ?
It says that DEATH was never human and he keeps trying to understand and that is part of what I like most about the character. He will never be human but it is a balance.

17. It seems Mort is not realizing he's changing and slowly becoming the 'grim reaper'. Even his behaviour is changing. People are noticing that "he's becoming more real. Nearly as real as Death". Is it possible that anyone can assume to role of 'Death' ? For example, as weird as it sounds, could Mort eventually reap Death's soul ?
I think they replace each other. Again, not sure on anyone but as DEATH moves out of the role, there is a void, which the universe starts to fill.

18. "What is it called when you feel warm and content and wish things would stay that way?" (has to be read in capital letters ;)) Death finally finds a job that suits him and brings him happiness. Did you expect he would be offered that kind of job ?

19. Has your opinion about Ysabell changed in the meantime?
I think TP is trying with her to make her a rounded character and one of my favorite quotes with her is about not helping with the nodes.

20. So it turns out Alberto Malich succeeded in postponing his death for more than 2000 years and knows exactly how long he's going to live: 91 days, 3 hours, and 5 minutes. Do you think he will move on and live what remains of his life in this book? If you had the option, would you want to know how much is left in your 'lifetime' ?
No and No. Also, I have read this book before.

Day 3 Questions end: "Then Cutwell sighted carefully ... [spoiler removed]" (p151 / 58%)

Q11. Do you think Mort is physically changing? When it says, "The gargoyle looked up into his face and suddenly felt like a very frightened doorknocker indeed, Mort's eyes glowed like crucibles, his expression was a furnace, his voice held enough enough to melt iron. It didn't know what he could do, but felt that it would prefer not to find out." – This is a reread for me so I know how it turns out but he is clearly becoming more like DEATH.

Q12. What do you think about the plot point where Keli is dead, but is not? Do you think this was a clever twist of the author or do you find it a confusing jumble? How will this affect the story and will Death find out what actually happened and react?
Again, this is a reread as it is for many people. I think it is really clear what is going on.

Q13. There suddenly seems to be sign that Death may be playing matchmaker of sorts with Mort and his 'daughter'. Are you surprised, and what do you think will happen with the relationship between him and Ysabel?
That always felt a bit rushed to me. Especially compared to later books, TP wasn’t as good at writing young women in this book as compared to Tiffany.

Q14. Do you think that before Mort was chosen by Death, that he was a normal boy? Do you think he must have some wizard properties buried or are his "abilities" gathered from being Death's apprentice? What do you think about Mort attracting death's attention - what is so special about him?
DEATH is very different than wizard. It isn’t magic but the ability to be real. I think it was that he did not fit in and could adapt and DEATH has a soft spot for those that don’t belong.

Q15. Mort seems to be getting a bit homesick after his day off, and Death is changing his tune as well. What do you think about Death's new adventures to experience some human experiences, try to understand fun and how humans behave?
I love DEATH at parties and on break. Reaper Man is my favorite DEATH book. (even though many people prefer Hogfather or Soul Music).

I'm good for both but thank you

Truitt, I moved your books over from your shelf that we could use (not a reread within 6 months).

Also, wonderful job, everyone. We are within 155 of being back in 2nd, good job everyone.

All BINGO spots are claimed if Snowtulip finds a Scottish one.

Qs Day 1 Chapters 1 to 8

1) Was this book on your TBR before it was announced as a BOM and were you hypnotized by the beautiful cover art? Were you familiar with Ojibwe culture prior to reading this book?

I have some familiarity form other authors but not a lot and I had been planning to read it and put it off when Judith recommended it for the BOM so I could read it now.

2) Several social issues have been touched on so far including racism (including within race (skin tone) and within families for biracial children), enrolled v. descendant tribe membership, substance abuse, illegitimacy, and mental health. Does the author seem to be pulling this off so far or does it seem like too much to have it work for the story?

Since it is all lived daily by the MC and her community, it all seems true to life and necessary to include.

3) Characters. Any favorites so far? Does anyone else want to be adopted by Granny June, or is that just me?
I agree on Granny June and Daunis. Jamie raised some questions for me that were legitimized in this section.

4) The author weaves tribal culture into the story and makes it an important aspect of Daunis's life. Including having her work in the tribal language into her interactions with the kids. Language is such an important part of culture, loosing a language means more than just a loss of vocabulary words. Are you enjoying this aspect of the story?

Yes, and I am reading it but I could see how this could be a very good audio. Language shapes how people see the world.

5) The quote "when someone dies everything becomes past tense, except for the grief. Grief stays in the present." really hit home. How did you react to this statement, did is resonate with you as well?

I enjoyed this quote too.

DQs Day 5

21. Even though Nora loved her life with Ash and Molly she still returned to the library. Were you surprised that she didn’t stay? Did you want her to stay in that life?
I am glad that she returned to her root life. This was to learn and go forwards. Kind of like the Christmas Carol. I am glad that this ended up the moral and the whole premise kind of annoyed me for most of the book.

22. When Nora reconnects with her brother Joe she finds out that the reason he had been avoiding her was nothing to do with her decision not to continue with the band. I think that Nora’s experiences in her other lives helped her to accept that this was the truth. Her old self was so wrapped up in thoughts that she was responsible for other people’s happiness I feel she may have thought he was just trying to be kind due to her suicide attempt. What are your thoughts?

I think everyone has their issues and communication is clearly one of them and potentially failure to recognize mental health issues in multiple family members.

23. Were you happy with the ending? Where would you like Nora’s story to go next?
It was bit too tidy and Saturday morning special with a nice lesson attached for the viewers.

24. Nora got to experience so many lives and possibilities - different careers, different relationships and the chance to live in places all over the world. If you were able to experience another life what would you want to experience?
I wouldn’t mind shadowing different careers but the no knowledge thing is a major no-go for me so I’m good.

25. Did you enjoy the book? Was there anything in the story that resonated with your own life? Is there a message you will take away with you?
It was a little heavy handed for me and I did not really connect.

Bonus: While reading the story certain parts reminded me of films and TV shows I’ve enjoyed. Films like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Sliding Doors’ or tv shows like ‘Sliders’ and ‘Quantum Leap’. Are there any films, shows or books that you were reminded of?
Christmas Carol for me.

BOM Day 2 Day 2

6. Were you surprised that Nora's second choice was related to her cat? What did you think of the outcome?
I wasn’t surprised. A recent pet death hits hard. The outcome was not my favorite. The author likely meant HCM and not RCM as RCM is usually a non-congenital middle age issue is cats, say around age 10. HCM cats often die young around 3-4. Also, regardless of the cat’s heart issues, having an outdoor cat in that busy of street is irresponsible in most cases.

7. How did the reality of Nora's Australia line up with what you imagined it would be like?
I thought that was a bit extreme and the tendency to bump everyone off seems a bit much and that fighting or feeling left out seems much more realistic al be it more subtle.

8. What did you think about the similarities between Nora's life in Australia versus her original life?
She only changed location and then removed the one person she was connected to so no surprise that it falls back to her default state.

9. On the surface, Nora's life with a swimming career seems to be the most successful so far. Do you think the positives will outweigh the negatives this time around?
We are too early in the book for her to stay. Also, the moral of this book should be that you cannot live a life she has not prepared for because this whole drop you in with no skills or memories is a mess.

10. Any predictions for how Nora's speech will go in the next chapter?
I have already read the next chapter but it being a mess was completely expected.

BOM Day 1

1. Were you planning to read this book before it became a BOM? If so, what drew you to it?
No, I had a sense it was really not my kind of book and so far that is proving very correct.

2. What do you think of Matt Haig’s writing style (and those short chapters!) and how he has set the story up so far?
I think it is all very superficial. I do not connect with any of the characters at all. I was worried about reading it since everyone said the depression section was rough and I have read books with anxious or depressed and really felt connected to the character enough that I had to take a break but this book is not that.

3. What are your thoughts on Nora? Are you attached to her yet?
Nope, I wish we got more show and less tell.

4. If you were somehow able to, would you want to see all of the different outcomes that could have played out in your own life? Or would you rather just leave things as they are without ever knowing?
I think I am good with where things are now especially considering how unprepared she is for everything.

5. What did you think about Nora’s first glimpse at a road not taken? Were you surprised by which book she chose to open first or by how quickly it disappointed her?
I think it was the most immediate choice and it was really awkward as she had not married him so the gap in years was substantial. The whole idea comes across as rather pointless to me as she never knows what is going on.

ALL tasks are claimed. Good job everyone

The remaining unclaimed BINGO are:

B8 "crivens!" - a surprise, Scottish
E4 Free Space! - Got book for Free
F2 octagon / mirror - mirror on the cover, reflection of some kind on the cover
H6 theatrical masks – MC is an actor/works in the theater, goes to a play

Took a bit but I figured out where I think it would be fun for our story to go. I have worked with what we mostly read and there are a few very specific ideas we might need to go find.

Our MC is an older women (think 70+/Miss. Marple) who is also a detective. She is very competent. Any book where someone is competent or good at detecting can be used here. I also need one with an older women as a detective if anyone wants to read Miss Marple.

First, a lot of us seem to enjoy romance books so all the secondary characters are romance heroes at a house party. I can use both MM and FM romance books here so no worries there.

Our antagonist is not so competent. He is hiding as a guest at the house party. More romance books work great here. Also, power hungry or greedy characters can go here.


I tried to make the story more normal but that failed. Our antagonist’s goal is to summon the Elder Gods (i.e., Cthulhu). He fails though as a storm happens and he gets hit in the head with a tree causing memory loss. I need a book with Elder Gods (I can read one if no one else is planning one) and a book with a tree on the cover.

DEATH is still getting a puppy. We need things like go on a walk, feed an animal. It does not have to be puppy specific.

There is a twist which I will leave as a surprise for now. I do need an unreliable narrator is someone has one. Feel free to ask questions on specifics or suggest changes. I am slightly making it up as I go.

Updated for BINGO. These are not the only choices you could pick but are just to get everyone started.

B1 Rincewind Scream - Horror, book that makes you scream
B2 Eagle - Eagle or MC works for US gov/military
B7 bag of coffee beans - coffee in story
B8 "crivens!" - a surprise, Scottish
C1 "oook!" - 3 'O's, book cover/story with an ape
C4 "anthill inside" - logo Computer, ants important to story
E4 Free Space! - Got book for Free
F1 bee - insect' on cover, 'bees' in story, yellow-black cover
F2 octagon / mirror - mirror on the cover, reflection of some kind on the cover
G1 cabbage - vegetarian in story, 'cabbage' in text, gardening
H2 black rooster - rooster in the story, black bird on cover, Maman Brigitte
H6 theatrical masks – MC is an actor/works in the theater, goes to a play

(some of these ideas were stolen from Team Moist)