Elinor’s Comments (group member since Apr 06, 2022)

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

Sounds heavenly Sammy - enjoy!

I loved it too, it was my first!

I've started reading The Violin Conspiracy - it's gripping right from the start - unfortunately, I'm preparing to move houses and not finding much time to read... I am doing my best, but this is deffo one of those times when real life gets in the way!

Elinor's Tracking Post:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

Final Day DQs:

17. Charlie definitely came a long way towards leaning into the supervillain vibe before it was cruelly snatched away again. How about you? How would you decorate your supervillain lair?

I'd say minimalist BUT I'd have lots of cheery works of art :).

18. How did you feel about the ending? Right? Too convoluted? Predictable? Needs more cowbell?

I think it's great that Charlie gets back to his 'normal life' - with a dream come true. Perhaps slightly predictable as the story grew to a close, but I like that it ends so well for him.

19. If this was your first Scalzi, will you go back for more? If not your first, where would you rank this one compared to others you read?

It's my first and yes, I'll go back for more (and follow the advice given in earlier posts - cheers again for that!).

20. And finally... Cats. Do you have any? Are you under the delusion you own them, rather than the other way around? If you don't have cats, is that because you're wise to the fact they they are indeed evil supervillains intent on taking over the world, or some more mundane reason?

I got my first cat when I was 13 yo and she was about 6 months old. She'd been stuck in a tree and taken in by a neighbour who couldn't keep her (already owned two cats who weren't warming to her), so we took her in temporarily, for many years. She literally stole my heart - I loved her to bits. We were always aware she was the one deciding to keep us as humans and not the other way around :).

I totally agree they would take over the world if they could, lol.

DQs Day 4: Ch 18 to 23

13) Well we now know what happens to Jacobs. No shark death for him! Were you surprised about how all that went down? Do you think all of those men (Dobrev, etc) are dead?

I think they are, but where is all this going? This part is really fun despite (or because of?) all the destruction and snarky banter! I wonder what's next...

14) "Humans do a good job of making outcasts." Do you agree with this statement?

Sadly, yes. It seems to be a specialty.
I'll also say, on a brighter note, that I always feel there is more good in the world than bad so there are always opposing forces trying to make things right ☯.

15) Was everyone else as entertained as I was by the first Zoom call? There are times I'd love to do stuff like that at work.

Oh yes, I loved that first Zoom call too and it would be such a buzz to do the same IRL! Slamming a door would work just fine too 🤭.

16) What did you think of Charlie's response to the attach on Jenny's Bay? Settling in to his super villain role?

Yes, Charlie is even cooler under pressure! Go Charlie :).

Cat wrote: "yeah, cancer's not a pretty death in anyway. Going to assume that that was a lie"

💯

DQs: Day 3 ~ Chapters 12 – 17

9. It seems like the whole book is a test of Charlie’s character. Hera’s conversation with Charlie is one example. Charlie suddenly asks if Hera and Persephone like him. She says they were sent to watch him, but they like him because Charlie chose to take them in and treated them well. Do you think the book is portraying a series of tests from his uncle? What do you think it means?

I'm not sure - it does feel like he's on some sort of assessment - perhaps to see whether he's good enough to take over the business. Not sure that the cats were truly a test, that feels more like it's between him and them?

10. “Business is business. It’s different from respect and friendship.” What did you think of this statement? Do you agree with it or do you think these things can’t be separated?

I agree with this statement. I wouldn't be the same at work as in an informal setting, even with close friends. Also, I find it important to maintain some level of separation - I guess I feel business decisions need to be rational and friendships are much more emotional for me, so the two don't mix well. However I would stress that respect is important in business too imo!

11. Charlie was quick to pick up clues on the Lombardy Convocation members. What did you think of his assessment? Did it change your opinion of him?

I originally thought he was in over his head but it turns out he had me fooled too! Go Charlie!

12. There has been a lot of great banter in the book so far. I have to say I think both parts with the dolphins were my favorites. What has been your favorite line/quote, or your favorite part of the book so far?

I've been enjoying the banter too - I think my fave character is Morrison. She feels to me like she is the.worst and her presence is still rather a mystery to me. I know I'm in the minority here but the dolphins have not been working particularly well for me - I wonder what they're really about.

DQs: Day 2, Chap 7 - 11

5. We learn Hera and Persephone are both sentient cats. My cats love lying next to me and staring at my computer screen (when they’re not stomping all over my keyboard), so I can picture a cat using a computer vividly. What mischief would your pets come up with if they were sentient? Even if you don’t have pets, what mayhem do you think could happen?

I would imagine all sorts - online transactions for toys, or huge orders for very smelly treats. They would probably drive us out of our own home if I'm honest =D.

Also, my dog Timmy would probably get us on vacation some place where dogs are allowed to roam freely!

When I had cats, they would regularly type up random stuff on my keyboard to comical effect - I rather enjoyed the interference. I like the way this is built into the story with sentient cats pretending to be your average Joe.

@Angie, haha, so true - cats would rule the world if they could!

6. Charlie seems to be surprisingly chill about going along with everything happening, from sentient animals to attempts on his life to being whisked away to the Caribbean. Does that make sense to you, with how his life was before the book started? How would you react if you found out your uncle was a supervillain?

It doesn't entirely make sense but that's the genre too: it would be weird if everything were logical. To be fair, as Sammy and others pointed out, Charlie doesn't have much to lose, so I can see why he'd choose to enjoy the ride. I would run for the hills myself.

7. Although travelling there was a bit of a hassle, St. Genevieve sounds like a pretty sweet place to be. Where would your ideal villain (sorry, process disruptor) lair be set?

Probably off the Maldives (or Mauritius, or Sri Lanka, or ...). I've never been to either but I can picture myself there now, sipping a delicious fresh fruit mocktail in the warm (but neither hot nor dangerous!) sun.

8. We got a list of more or less exciting options including sharks, so: what is Charlie going to decide? How is Jacobs going to “die”? Or might his death end up being a real one after all?

I'm not sure Charlie has it in him to actually get anyone killed tbh. It will take away from his character if he does.

Bonus question: The (soon to be striking) dolphins have, uhm, quite the vocabulary. Any favorite insults? Do you want to give coming up with some creative insults a shot yourself?

Lol, not really. But they are a creative lot for sure.
@Mel, loved your response about polite hungarian insults - wouldn't mind an example.

kat (wanderfulbooks) wrote: "Thank goodness it’s normal letters 😂"

Lol. 100%!!

Nice! Those letters sound easier than Vuvuzela :-)!

My copy of The violin conspirary also has an instrument on it.

That second cover definitely looks a murky shade of something... reminds of me of the Thames.

Cheers Sammy - we are doing so well, can't believe we've already read more than during round 1 :).

Enjoy Scotland & here's hoping we've all avoided the worst of storm Ciaran.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 6

1. I'm so excited to be reading another John Scalzi book with you all. He has quickly become one of my "always read" authors. Is this your first Scalzi book? What are your expectations?

This is my first Scalzi - so I have no expectations aside from how much everyone else seems to want to read this one ASAP :).

2. What are your first impressions of Charlie? Do you think he is using his sad life events as an excuse to coast through life easier as his siblings and attorney seem to imply? Do you relate to him so far?

My first impression is that he's an ordinary guy living and ordinary life, with a great sense of humour.

3. “When people name cats, they usually do it in one of three categories: food, physical characteristics or mythology,” Morrison explained. What do you think Mathilda imagines Charlie's choice of "the goddess route" says about him? What sort of name would you choose and what do you think that could tell someone about you?

That's a good question. I'm not sure what she thinks it says about him: perhaps simply that he's had an education or that he's more literary than math oriented? Actually, I'm clueless - I've often used physical characteristics in the past but my dog's called Timmy and I've no idea what that says about me. Can't wait to read everyone else's answer to this one.

4. What would your reaction be if a rich, but estranged family member left you a huge inheritance?

First: surprise; then: a wiff of toxic suspicion; finally: gratitude.
Though, suspicious is definitely the right attitude here - there'd be no story otherwise (plus, you know, the house thing).

I found Under the Whispering Door good too but it made me feel really sad too!

About my « E » book, just want to give a heads up that I doubt I’ll finish it by Sat evening. I’m really enjoying it but still sleeping a lot after that nasty bug I caught!

Yay!! 🙂

Sorry to hear that Navi :(

Jenny wrote: "Elinor wrote: "@Jenny, and it came out *just* before wheels 🤦‍♀️. Just wondering, as I’d never read him before and it sounds like you’re a big fan: are all his books written with the same kind of h..."

Jenny wrote: "Elinor wrote: "@Jenny, and it came out *just* before wheels 🤦‍♀️. Just wondering, as I’d never read him before and it sounds like you’re a big fan: are all his books written with the same kind of h..."

Thank you so much Jenny :-). John Scalzi sounds incredibly versatile!

Soz I’ve been AWOL. I’ve caught a bug. 🤧
But definitely still in. Hoping to finish Harry Potter tomorrow and probs start on The Echo Chamber - I’ve just received a copy and do so enjoy reading John Boyne, though this is going to be dark 📵🙅‍♀️🙊🤭.

Nominating:



A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

(The cover rocks, am I right?)

"Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o' joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose. Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, strong cups of coffee - and, now, a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff - thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her--and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that the trouble at her daughter's new school, plus and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and, well, the forecast looks anything but sunny. But even clouds have their silver linings. This one's got Levi, Sunshine's sexy, almost-old-flame, and a fiery-hot US Marshall. With temperatures rising everywhere she turns, Del Sol's normally cool-minded sheriff is finding herself knee-deep in drama and danger. Can Sunshine face the call of duty - and find the kidnapper who's terrorizing her beloved hometown - without falling head over high heels in love . . . or worse?"

Welcome Keri 🙂

Yay, for Tier 2 - we can give the Teir 1 teams a run for the money 🤭 - once we add the extra green covers and locations - have we got our first 10 now or are we still one short?

Also, yippee for having 6 volunteers for the Starter Villain BOM - we're going to get soo many points for this one 🙂. And also we get to keep our two extra tokens until the next BOM (for which we may need them both, we'll see).

Volunteering as backup - Team Country.