Louise’s Comments (group member since Aug 29, 2015)

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

Chris wrote: "
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Date complete: 10/15
Pages: 401

Sin: Greed - anything goes"

Top shelf on this is Contemporary

LaurLa wrote: "Ugh, why do I keep getting covers that aren't one color or another??? This one says blue to me when I glance at it but when I really look at it, it could be brown. Or just nothing :-(

[bookcover:M..."

Difficult not sure if it’s enough of either ☹️

I'll volunteer for Team Gluttony

Hannah wrote: "Does my personal % week to week matter, or is it just that the group in general doesn't go over 120% or below 80%? I noticed that since I finished a book this week my week 1 percentage was 160% and..."

it's a group total, as long as our group total is within the range.

My reading plan for this week:


Finish 448pgs + BOM
544pgs - Gluttony
386pgs - Sin Bingo Lust

Well done team. We finished the week with 38 books.

❀Tea❀ wrote: "Megan wrote: "
Book: Lock Every Door by Riley Sager
Date: 10/12
Pages: 371
Sins:
Gluttony - pink cover"

To me this is more pur..."

Posted for vanity, although the lettering is pink the actual background is purple.

Transatlantic Tragedy: A Cruise Ship Mystery by Hope Callaghan
Date Read: 10/13
Pages: 354

Sins:
Sloth - Blue Cover
Gluttony - More than 12 books in series.

Devann wrote: "i was also confused why many people kept referring it it as YA. i mean it's our adult book of the month and most of the characters are adults [or at least i thought they were] and it did not read l..."

I agree, it definitely does not read like a typical YA.

❀Tea❀ wrote: "Louise wrote: "Can we get a consensus on the following covers please, Color wise."

1. my book so I'm biased :P - depending how you see background. it's some grey-blue combination. I'm more incline..."

That was my feeling too, always helpful to get a second opinion though.

Day 3 - Chapter 14- 20

10. Thoughts on the deaths, did you care to lose these two or are you just waiting for the body count to increase?

It’s interesting to see the impact that these deaths will have on the story. It’s obvious they were well liked which is likely to have a greater impact than if a lesser character had been killed.

11. I like the electric toothbrush detail. What do you think of the room they found? Are there any details from the room that you think are going to be important later?

Like others here I am listening to this and some of the detail gets lost, however from what I could get I do believe they will return to this room.

12. The letter clearly has Gideon’s name in it (see below) but we get no comment from Gideon as the narrator on her reaction to this. What do you think of this as an author’s choice and what do you think the letter means?
" ut we all know the sad + trying realit
is that this will remain incomplete t
the last. He can’t fix my deficiencies her
ease give Gideon my congratulations, howev"

Not quite sure what to make of this, possibly relates to how Hideon ended on Ninth.

13. This quote feel like somewhat heavy handed foreshadowing , though I may be wrong.
“You’re all right. Gideon, Gideon … you’re so young. Don’t give yourself away. Do you know, it’s not worth it … none of this is worth it, at all. It’s cruel. It’s so cruel. You are so young—and vital—and alive. Gideon, you’re all right … remember this, and don’t let anyone do it to you ever again. I’m sorry. We take so much. I’m so sorry.”
She would remember each word later, loud and clear. It seems to imply this is Dulcinea’s voice and does this impact your opinion of her?

This is Dulcinea, not sure what to make of this. She definitely has an ulterior gameplan that we are yet to see.

Bonus Question: The skulls on top of the chapters belong to each house but I have been unable to find any pattern or meaning to their order. Anyone think there is a purpose or pattern? Did I miss something obvious?

I am listening to the audiobook so can’t really comment

DQ’s Day Two: October 7, 2019
Chapters 8-13

6. I think we all had a feeling (including Gideon) that Harrow wanted her ring - & of course, she got it. What do you think was her purpose of stealing the ring from Gideon?

Not sure of the importance of the ring, but I do feel that Harrow wants to ensure that Gideon knows that Harrow will always have the upper hand.

7. Gideon has never seen modern technologies such as a sink with running water, or a toilet. She didn’t even know the difference between night & day... nor had she ever had a hot beverage before. This, in itself, tells us more about the Ninth than we knew before, but could also leave room for speculation. Would you consider this book to be speculative fiction? If so, what are some of the different things you could speculate from this or other parts of the story?
Hadn’t come across the term speculative fiction before but as Gideon is from a poorer house there will be many things that she will not have come across but I’m sure we will know what these are when we come across them.

8. Somehow the Third twin knew Gideon was hiding in the stairwell eavesdropping, even though she couldn’t physically see her, & told her that isn’t the way to start things off. Will this encounter affect Gideon & the Twins in the future? Is it a sign of what’s to come?

This shows that not everyone is as they seem. Gideon will need to be careful and watch out for the others.

9. What do you think Dulcinea’s motive is when talking to Gideon? She seems to be the only one really “intrigued” by Gideon, to the point of wanting to be around her a lot. Is this just normal, friendly interest? Or is there something bigger at play here?

I think someone as old as Dulcinea knows that there is more to Gideon than meets the eye. I think she has a lot more to play in Gideon’s life.

Day 1: Chapters 1-7

1. I love the world building this author does for her universe. I find it helpful in epic fantasies when authors give a little narrative upfront about the main characters in the story and their interrelationships. The world is very grey where Gideon lives - even her porridge is grey. Her arrival in this house as a baby from a woman that fell into the world was very auspicious. Gideon attempted to run away when she was four, and tried 86 times to run away by the time she was 18. What were your initial impressions of this world?

It definitely comes across as a very depressing world.

2. Harrow tricked Gideon when she talked about her offer of freedom. Gideon seemed to have the upper hand, but then Harrow won the fight through her earlier planning and planting that day. What do you think that says about their relationship?

It looks like Harrow always knows Gideon’s weakness and will continue to get the upper hand through planning and making deals.

3. So Harrow wants Gideon to be her guardian as she travels to the other houses. Seems like a good opportunity to get off the Ninth, and become a Cohort. Gideon does take the position. Do you think that was a good choice for her?

I think it was the only choice for her, whether it was the right choice remains to be seen.

4. I liked when Gideon’s sword instructor said “anyone can learn to fight, not anyone can learn to think”. Do you think that Gideon needs to do more thinking than fighting?

Gideon definitely needs to think more as she tends to act first, which could be her downfall.

5. What do you think about the House of the First? The world seems like the exact opposite of the ninth in terms of light and sky, rather than everything grey. All the houses are there - do you think Gideon is going to get into trouble or save Harrow from trouble?
The difference in the houses is interesting and has the feel of the districts from The Hunger Games about them. It is inevitable that Gideon will get into trouble, just as saving Harrow from trouble is inevitable.

The Brigadier's Runaway Bride by Erica Ridley
Date Read: 10/12
Pages: 211
Sin: Gluttony - Pink Cover

❀Tea❀ wrote: "Amy "the book-bat" wrote: "Bookcover:
Title/ Author: [book:Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Cre..."

Thanks Tea, amended on spreadsheet

Less than 24 hours to go team. We are doing great.

Books pending are as follows:
Maddy 1/2
Megan 1
Tea 1
Louise 1/2

Can we get a consensus on the following covers please, Color wise.

1️⃣

2️⃣