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

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

Brigia wrote: "I've just finished We Were Liars, a book that has won several literary awards. Would one of those qualify for task #68? I'm not completely sure what would be considered a "major" li..."
For me a major literary award is one that has significance internationally that is recognised by both readers and non-readers alike, e.g Booker, Pullitzer, Hugo.

Unfortunately although this book has won a number of awards, they are regional awards and wouldn't count in this case.

Rachel wrote: "@Louise What did you think of ?"

I've got quite a lot going on in RL at the moment so ths was the perfect anecdote. I loved the paranormal element to this suspense novel. I listened to it on audio which I find works better for suspense novels. I'm definitely going to read her other novel

@Sunny don't forget to add your book to your shelf when you link your DQ's

:)

Day 5 Questions - 83% - end

22. At the beginning of this section Viv is kind of freaking out over what she did. She starts to call the police, then changes her mind. Then she hears a car pull up and footsteps coming toward where she is. What would you do in this situation?

I would probably panic and then go into logical detached mode. That’s generally my reaction and process in times of extreme stress.

23. When Viv and Marnie are taking care of Simon Hess, another car pulls up and it's Alma. Did you anticipate her reaction to what was going on? Why or why not?

A little, Alma was in a difficult place knowing that Simon couldn’t be traced to any of the murders, DNA evidence wasn’t available then, and I think that she was after some sort of redemption for failing to protect Tracy.

24. Carly is being followed by Callum McCray (sp?) and loses him by pulling into Alma's driveway. Why does Alma cringe or flinch when she hears Callum's name?

I can only think that she knows who Callum actually is and what he is actually after.

25. One of my favorite scenes was near the end when a ghost in a suit comes in to the motel lobby to check in. Carly doesn't want to touch the ghost so she snatches a key from the case and passes it over the counter. The ghost says "Oh good 209. My old home." I got the shakes just hearing it. Did you anticipate that ghost making an appearance?

No I didn’t but it was the catalyst to laying the ghosts at the Sun Down to rest.

26. Carly figures out what Viv did and gets to meet her aunt. Were you happy with the end of the story? If not, what would you have liked to see?

I think the ending was well written, tying up of loose ends and ultimately showing trilling another will ultimately catch up to you.

Day 4: 64% - 82%

17. Some of the major and minor questions developed throughout the story have been answered in this section: why young, pretty Helen was meeting with average Robert (Helen and her husband had planned to blackmail Robert); the connection of the girls' murders and their murderer (Simon Hess targetted women who were lonely); and why the murders had stopped after Viv had vanished (Simon was stabbed by Viv so he couldn't hurt any more girls). Did you see any of this coming? What clues gave it away?

Admittedly I didn’t see this, I figured Simon was dead but not why. I think the whole Robert/Helen scenario was there only to give added suspense to the last part of the book.

18. Both Viv in 1982 and Carly in 2017 mentioned that Tracey might have been alive had her parents kept her in the house. This echoes the warnings that Fell parents have been giving their daughters: don't go jogging or don't work nights. What do you think of such advice? What else could Tracey, her parents, and her school have done to keep her safe from a predator?

I think there may have been an invulnerability complex going on however having said that they should have taken more notice of the warnings. Had they of done that and given Tracy the tools and knowledge to protect herself she may have still been alive.

19. "The Sun Down Motel" has been tagged by 336 users as "Horror." What has been the most horrific scene for you so far? Is it a supernatural one or one connected to the murders?

I wouldn’t of classed this as horror but the most suspenseful moment was the scene between Robert and Viv.

20. At the end of the last chapter set in 2017 in this section, Carly claims her aunt may have done something wrong (alluding to the stabbing of Simon). What do you think of Viv's actions? Do you think she was right or wrong, justified or unjustified in her actions?
This is a difficult one, killing another person is wrong but in this instance I do think it was justified, if Viv hadn’t taken the action she did Simon would have killed her.

21. With only 18% of the book left to go, what do you think will happen? Do you have an idea of what happened to Viv after she stabbed Simon? Do you think Marnie and Alma know what truly happened to Viv? Do you think Carly will find out what happened to Viv?
Already finished this so cannot answer.

Finished The Sun Down Motel this morning just need to complete my DQs, Nearly finished It's in His Kiss and have a couple of U’s to finish tomorrow.

We have completed one complete SpellOut and have 3 partials.

@Rina there is no definite consensus on the Omnibus but I’d be happy to use it as one book as it’s read in it’s entirety which I think is a general rule in other NBRC challenges.

@Celia in this instance we would allow The Demon King as I cannot find a reference anywhere of him being known as anything else. However we would more than likely use it for an E or L.

How is everyone doing with their reading, it is very quiet in here?

Day 3 - July 4- 42%-64%- (edited to correct percentages)

13. Thoughts on Viv telling Mrs. White that her husband cheats on her. Do you think this is what gets her into trouble?
I don’t think it was her place to tell Mrs White of her husband’s infidelity. I don’t this lands her in trouble.

14. We have another encounter with the angry man ( this makes at least 3) Who is he? Why is he important to the story?
The desk clerk maybe?

15. Which story line (Carly or Viv's ) are you enjoying more? Why?
I definitely prefer Viv’s she’s more vested in solving the murders.

16. The ending of this section just raises more questions for me. If Viv buys a knife, didn't she get a chance to use it?
Where is the knife? Was it mentioned in the police reports? What do you think

Why would they know of it?

DQs Day 2
21% to 42%

6.) This section opens with some spooky stuff going on. If you saw literal ghosts in the creepy place you worked, would you split right away? Would you of left with sketchy-past Nick? Would you go back to work or think the overnight creep factor was making you see things that weren't really there?

No I wouldn’t, when I was a student I rented a house with 2 resident ghosts, A young child and an old guy. I used to rent one of the smaller upstairs rooms and one night I was awoken by a voice in my ear calling my name. I woke up and there was no one there, I asked my friend who was also renting a room if she had heard anything or called out to me and she hadn’t I later found out that a young girl had died in the room I was in. Another time a friend was visiting to do study notes and I left her in the dining room downstairs while I nipped to the shop to get milk. When I came back she was as white as a sheet. I’d never told her the house was haunted, she described an old guy walking out of the park or and going upstairs. Going by her description our landlord believes it may have been his Grandfather as the house originally belonged to him.

7.) Viv listens to guests' phone conversations. There is the saying 'people who eavesdrop are seldom happy with what they hear'. Or something close to that anyway. Do you think she may over hear something that results in her disappearance? Would you listen in if you were Viv?

Possibly, I think everyone would have a natural inclination to listen in particular on night shift when the hours can seem long and tedious.

8.) There really have been several deaths of young women in Fell, especially factoring in the size of the town. Do you think they are all connected? Connected to Viv's disappearance? Do you buy into the police stance of no connection between any of them?
I’ve nearly finished but my thoughts at this point were you don’t get that many deaths or disappearances without there being a connection.

9.) What do you think of the complete laxness of management and staff at The Sun Down Motel? Anyone else wonder how the heck that place is still open? And more importantly, why?
It reminds me a bit of the pub industry in the UK where the same sort of thing happens time and again. You get some pubs that tick over with the management doing the best minimum needed, whereas others actively run it into the ground so as to get government aid.

10.) Any thoughts on the candy machine? It keeps popping up in both timelines. Maybe nothing, but in this type of story, who knows.
Not sure about the significance of this other than it seems to be a focal point.

11.) Marnie and Callum are interesting additions to the character line-up, thoughts? Did you think it was strange that Marnie won't talk with Carly? Callum local nice boy-helper dude or creeper?

Marnie has moved on from the past and doesn’t want Carly dredging it up. Not sure about Callum, I think he knows more than he’s letting on.

Day 1 DQ's: 0-21% (ends "he opened the door.")

1. The Sundown Motel...what a perfect name for a motel! Have you ever stayed at a motel before...something like the Sundown? What was the name of the motel...Any interesting experiences come of that?
Motels aren’t really a thing in the UK, it’s more guest houses and B&B’s. We did have an interesting stay in a B&B many years ago, we had booked a week self-catering in a lodge in Devon and wanted to extend our stay in the area for a couple of days. We were directed to a B&B in a quaint little village run by “mad maggie". When we got there we paid for two nights in an old stone cottage, with sloping floors. Later that night we found out why this sweet old lady was known as “mad Maggie” In the early hours of the morning we heard what could only be described as wailing, my OH went to investigate to find her “singing" and trying to cook breakfast for us not only drunk but practically naked. She told my OH it was her birthday so she wanted to cook a full English. When we finally got up the next morning skipping breakfast we spoke to the locals in the pub who told us that Maggie has a “birthday” every time she has guests. Needless to say we didn’t stay a second night and made our excuses and left.

2. Viv is young and working alone. I don't think I would tolerate my daughter doing anything of the sort. What were you thinking from the 1st few pages? Viv comments..."Being with people was easy, but being alone was hard. Especially along in the dark. The person who could be truly alone, in the company of no one but oneself and one's own thought--that person was stronger than anyone else. More ready. More prepared."

I myself don’t have a problem with being alone or the dark but I do know a lot of people that do and not just women!

3. What do you think the significance of the door to number 103 banging open/shut is?
Something bad happened there.

4. So far Carly's mom's reaction to seeing the newspaper clipping..."Vivian is dead" has really bothered me. What's your take? Have you already solved the case? Is Vivian dead?

I would have thought she was dead.

5. What did you think about the dual timeline between Viv and Carly? In what ways are Viv and Carly very similar? How are they different?

Viv and Carly are both very strong willed independent women trying to find their way in the world

Volunteering for Gulliver

Volunteering for Gulliver

Double check Rina, but I think Claire's right.

Keely wrote: "Just to give you all an update, I finished one of my books earlier and I'm on track to finish 2 or maybe 3 by the end of the week.

I've had a lot going on the past couple of weeks so I fell behin..."
Not a problem Keely, every book helps 😊

Shelby wrote: "So can I just say I was a little giddy last night when I started My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry and realized that not only is it an amazing, fabulous, wonderful boo..."

Love it when that happens

Christina wrote: "I've already seen this and of course my day works :)"

Wonderful, they’ve put a 12-hour caveat in this round and only allowing substitutions from the team if they’d already volunteered, so I was just a little nervous.

Celia wrote: "Sorry if I'm being annoying with all the questions, what about a character who is only called "the Demon King?" Can that be used?"

It really depends on the book and the context. Are you currently reading it for this round. You can always post a link to the book and we can check into it.

BOM QUESTION Setters
MPDQs
16 July Chapters 1-6 Eldarwen (Shannara)
17 July Chapters 7-14 Christina (Gulliver)
18 July Chapters 15-18 Tina (Motor)
19 July Chapters 19 - end Shannon (Oz)

Christina let us know if your day suits. Chris And Rina are backups on this if needed.

Celia wrote: "Sounds good. One of my books (probably nothing for this round but to keep in mind) has a character who calls his grandmother "Patti" which is the Tamil word for "grandmother" and she is a significa..."

The consensus on this is that titles such as Grandma, Sister, uncle can’t be used.

Celia wrote: "How significant does a character have to be to count? For instance, if they are a "speaking character" because they have one line in the story, does that count at all?"

Sadly no, they have to be integral to the story.