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

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

Pumpkin Spiced Omega by Susi Hawke
Date Read: 7/15
Pages: 194

Day 1
Day 2
Day 5


Rocky Mountain Retreat by Vivian Arend
Date Read: 7/15
Pages: 158

Task
30 - #8 Six Pack Ranch

Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters
Date Read: 7/13
Pages: 360


Kill Fee by Barbara Paul
Date Read: 7/14
Pages: 256


Queen Bee by Jane Fallon
Date Read: 7/15
Pages: 400


Dead Daughters by Tim Meyer
Date Read: 7/15
Pages: 316

Yasmine wrote: "Louise wrote: "
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman
Date Read: 7/8
Pages: 473

[bookcover:Talking With Psychopaths and Savages: Beyond E..."

Really enjoyed it, I didn't think I would as I'm not a fan of Space Opera.

UPDATE

We are currently in first place with just over two weeks to go.

BOM points still available - 20pt for 3 days discussion comments


Firekeeper's Daughter ends 7/16
Mort ends 7/22
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue ends 7/31
Pumpkin Spiced Omega ends 7/31
The House in the Cerulean Sea ends 7/31
Guards! Guards! ends 7/31

Tasks
5 - camera on cover - Jammin Jenny
30 - #8 in series - Louise
60 - sausage on cover
62 - MC is a funeral director/undertaker
165 - Rodent on cover - Audrey
228 - Rabbit on cover - Carrie
243 - fossil / skeleton on cover - Jammin Jenny

Bingo
A5 - Hat with feathers
G2 - Golem - Carrie

Jackanory
We will post the prompts in a day or two. We will need to come up with a story of upto 500words

Cilla wrote: "Completion Post
Book: The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Date Read: July 8, 2021
Pages: 218
BOM/Participation: NA
BOM/Writing DQs: NA



Please add to your TT Shelf
:)

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman
Date Read: 7/8
Pages: 473


Talking With Psychopaths and Savages: Beyond Evil by Christopher Berry-Dee
Date Read: 7/9
Pages: 288


The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
Date Read: 7/9
Pages: 560

DQ Questions Day 8
DQ Day 1
DQ Day 2
DQ Day 3


Mort by Terry Pratchett
Date Read: 7/10
Pages: 320
DQ Day 1
DQ Day 2
Day 3


Every Last Cuckoo by Kate Maloy
Date Read: 7/11
Pages: 277


Between You and Me by Lisa Hall
Date Read: 7/12
Pages: 337

Day 7: Part 5, IX - Part 6, VI (p447)

28. Addie has taken Luc’s words “Ideas are wilder than memories” and become a muse for renowned artists and goes to visit “her” paintings. Why do you think she does this Would you visit art knowing that you inspired the work.

29. We learn a lot in this section about the relationship between Luc and Addie, where they seem to be reliant on each other. What are your thoughts on this?

30. On their night out Addie seems to have an brief emotional breakdown when Toby sings the song that they created. Why does Addie react so much to this?

31. Addie and Henry declare their love for each other. In light of Henry’s curse and Addie’s relationship with Luc, is this true love or is it a dream that they wish to be true?

32. It would seem Henry’s curse has a time limit. How long did Luc give him? What effect will this have on Addie?

Day 6 ~ Part 4, XIII - Part 5, VIII (p382)

23. Henry wanted to be loved; he wanted to be whatever they wanted; he wants to be enough. He gave up a lot to get what he wanted. Why do you think he is rejecting the offers of love? Why does he want to know why they love him?

Because he knows it’s not real, they are in love with what they perceive not him. This is telling in the reasons they give for loving him

24. How does the jumping back and forth between times work for you? Can you easily tell when Addie is telling a story from her past or do you get lost just for a minute in where she is and with whom?

I’ve read quite a few books recently like this and easily flip between the two time lines

25. When Addie is with Luc she tries to pretend that she is good with her circumstances. His taunts about how disappointed Estelle would have been with her making a deal, pushes Addie to the brink and she slaps him. Luc retaliates with pain and suffering and still she refuses to give in and tells him to “Go to Hell.” Who will break first? Do you think Luc treats Addie differently than the other people he has made deals with? Why or why not?

I do think Addie will break first, he treats her differently as he wants her to give him her soul willingly. But I do think he finds her strong willed nature entertaining

26. Henry loathes repeating things; he wants everything to be something new for both himself and Addie. Why do you think this is so important to him?

Normally when things are repeated we know what to expect and there is sometimes an element of boredom to it, in Henry’s case doing the same things tarnishes the first experience as anyone he is with will love it, no matter what. Doing new things keeps it fresh and real for him

27. Luc words to Addie long ago – “Ideas are wilder than memories” – comes back to her and she thinks she should have seen it then as a clue or a key that she could use. She sees that she can leave her mark on the world when Matteo shows her his sketch. Do you think anything will come of this? Do you think she will find a way to use “ideas” to her advantage?

Not sure, possibly if she sets her mind to it

DQ Day 5 Part 3, XIII to Part 4, XII

18. We learn more about Henry. What do you make of his "broken heart"? What about the way the author described it?
I thought it was a good way to describe a sensitive person


19. Now we know why Henry isn't affected by Addie's curse. Did Luc make a mistake like Addie thinks?
I don’t think so, I think it’s planned. Henry’s is a lifetime, whilst Addie’s is until she doesn’t want her soul anymore. I think losing Henry could be what “breaks” her

20. What do you make of Henry's "curse" where everyone loves/admires him? Is this the kind of love Henry is after? Do you think the same happens as with Addie, that when they don't see him anymore they are out of love with him?
This is definitely not what Henry wanted and it takes Vanessa’s obsession for him to realize this. I do think the saying “out of sight, out of mind” fits here

21. We have a few side characters, any favorites among them or one you might want to get to know better?

Not really

22. A small interlude in where Addie and Henry visit The Artfact. And Addie still gets surprised after 300 years. Do you have a favorite museum or art you like to go see?

The natural history museum in London

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." - it seems these may be actual physical manifestations. With the photo Mort sees soon after with the wizard Cutwell, do you think that was originally Death in the photo before a transformation?

I think what Mort has seen and experienced is changing Mort, he just hasn’t realised yet

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?

I think this is a clever plot twist and shows Mort that meddling doesn’t benefit anyone, Death will find out and use it a lesson for Mort

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?

I think Death doesn’t want Ysabel to be lonely and Mort is his answer to that.

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?

I think Mort is a normal boy and by being the only boy there when Death arrived meant there was no other choice.

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 think Death is trying to recreate human behavior but doesn’t know how to.

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
Date Read: 7/6
Pages: 432

DQs Day 2 - start: "Five minutes later, Mort was lost"
end: "Sooner or later, everyone remembered the magic word (p98)


Q6 - Mort walked through the walls a few times but couldn't when he tried to get into the castle. Why do you think this happened?
He was consciously trying to walk through the wall, I think it only works instinctively

Q7- What do you think of Ingneous Cutwell's character?
I like him, he tickles me

Q8 - The Abbot has been reincarnated 53 times. The concept of reincarnation is an interesting one. If you were to be born again what life would you choose?
A dog or a cat

Q9 - Death sent Mort to reap three souls. In light of how he performed do you think Mort was ready for the job?
No, he should have been supervised on his first go out

Q10 - Mort found Ysabelle's handkerchief in the library. Why is she reading other people's life?
I think she is feeling lonely and it’s her only connection to the outside world, or she’s reading her family’s lives

DQ DAY 4 Part 3, II - Part 3, XII (p253)

14. Why do you think Addie puts herself through interactions like she had with Remi? It must be hard to see "lovers" grow old without you and not remember.

She wants to feel a part of something real in the hope that they will remember her

15. Do you like Addie or Henry more so far? Why? Are you finding their stories interesting?
I like them both, they are each interesting in their own way

16. So Addie is going to tell Henry the truth! How do you think this will go? Do you think he will still accept her or even believe her?
I know the answer to this as I read past this bit

17. We're halfway through the story. Do you have any fun predictions or guesses about what will happen in the second half?
I really couldn’t say,

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Audrey Jane wrote: "
Book: Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Date Read: 4th of July
Pages: 336

Tasks:
206. TA - "morris dancer" / "morris..."

Audio is 7hrs 55mins, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wintersmith-...

Pecan Pies and Dead Guys by Angie Fox
Date Read: 7/4
Pages: 331

Bingo
D4 - Frankie wears a trilby hat, hat on cover


The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
Date Read: 7/5
Pages: 212

Bingo
D5 - Elephant on cover, which ride on the back of the Great A'Tuin

DQ Day 3 - Part 2, IV - Part 3, I (p 153)

10. In these parts the darkness comes and checks up on her a few times. What do you make of those conversations - what the darkness says and Adeline's reactions? Who or what do you think Luc is? Do you think something romantic could happen between Luc and Addie?

Luc is the devil, and he like to push Addie’s buttons. But she is learning to push back. They may have a fling at some point, who knows

11. Addie and Henry meet up for coffee which seems to go well. What do you think will come of this relationship? Will it last? Will it be fulfilling for the both of them?

There is something there, especially with regards to the curse. Maybe he is the Henry of her past life which is why he can remember her

12. Will it be significant considering Henry could utter Addie's name? Would it be possible that Henry made a deal with Luc thus enabling Addie's and Henry's relationship? Do you think they have met or will meet in the story?
See above

13. If you had a lifetime to do as you pleased, what would you do? Where would you go and what would you see?
I would travel the world