Leslie Ann’s Comments (group member since Mar 24, 2016)

Leslie Ann’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

DQs, Day 5 Chapters 46-end

20. Between Henry, Martha, and Opaline, whose story was most compelling for you and why?

I like Opaline's story the most. Her story had so much happening in it to keep me interested.

21. Holy moley… Lyndon! I did NOT see that twist coming (ch 52), did you? What are your thoughts about his story?

How awful , for Opaline. Lyndon is a creep. He did this to his daughter!!!

22. What did you make of the relationship between Opaline and Martha? If you guessed, did you get it right?

I guess correctly but it took awhile. lol

23. What about Mme Bowden? Did you enjoy her resolution? If not, what other scenario would you have preferred for her?

Hmm, magic? Would of liked to seen more of this.

24. What did you make of the magical elements in the book?

Ok. I just wanted more of the bookshop…Greedy I guess


25. Is there anything that struck you about the plot, story, characters, etc that hasn’t been part of a discussion question over the 5 days?

No

DQ's Day 2: Chapters 13-22

5. In this section, we find out how Opaline ends up in Dublin. What do you think of Armand and her relationship/friendship with him? I feel there is something off about him but he does seem to want to honestly help her.

He does seem to be holding something back. I do hope Opaline is safe.

6. In many ways there are parallels with Opaline and Martha's stories. Both are running from abuse and from a life they do not want and both have ended up living in a basement apartment where the vanishing bookshop was located. Do you think these parallels will continue? Do you think this plays a part in Martha solving the mystery of the Lost Bookshop.
I am loving the parallels and believe that they will continue. I am sure we are heading for a convergence.

7. The old library in Italy! What a coincidence that a book that showed up in Martha's apartment, A Place Called Lost, is the same story of how Matthew's father built the building where his shop was! I just love how the author is building the connection from the past to the present. Do you have any guesses yet about what the connection or what happened to the Lost Bookshop? Have you read magical realism before? It's one of my favorite genres to read.
Yeah right, what a coincidence lol ;) Honestly, I don't know if the Lost Bookshop is lost per se, maybe only people who are really lost in the first place can find it?
I have read a few. The Night Circus is one of my favorite books. I need to read more!

8. "Were we all preconditioned to love certain things? A moment in childhood, lost to memory but indelibly marked on our souls?" This quote jumped out at me while I was reading and made me think. I don't know when I started reading or where my love for reading came from. My mom always says I was carrying a book around before I could walk! But I have no specific moment where I fell in love with reading just that I always have loved it. It made me think was there a moment that happened but I can't remember? Something so significant it created something in me? Or was I preconditioned to love reading? What do you think about this quote?

I don't think we are preconditioned to be interested in any one thing. It is a matter of choice and our choices change over the years.

9. I think Madam Bowden is going to prove to be a character with surprises. Could she be Opaline? Or a descendent? I think she knows about this vanishing bookshop and why it shows itself to certain people and not others.

I agree she knows something!!! I agree she is somehow related to Opaline.

DQ'S DAY 1 - CHAPTERS 1-12

1. Love the cover, love the blurb! I'm expecting big things from this novel. "The thing about books" she said "is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of."
Is this why you love to read or do you just enjoy good old fashioned escapism? Discuss.

I read for both reasons. My favorite books are ones that I can get lost in and that make me laugh and cry.

2. In the Prologue and the first two chapters we are introduced to the main protagonists, Opaline, Martha and Henry. First impressions of these characters and what differences and similarities to you notice about them?
I am a bit confused, haven’t really figured out who is who…

3. In a novel about books (and big bonus points to the author for Wuthering Heights being the first book mentioned) there seems to be a lot of novels names and famous authors mentioned in the early chapters. How many of these have you read and loved.. or hated!

I have read a little of all of these in college. It has been too long to remember. I must revisit some of these especially the Brontë sisters.

4. The novel is taking place in two time lines with Opaline in one and Martha and Henry in the other. How do you see the two timelines/storylines being linked and being a novel with a magical theme do you think the characters in the two timelines might actually meet?
Haven’t thought about that. It would be interesting is this occurred

Click on the cell to add the link. In the upper right hand corner is a +. Click on it and select link

Oh my goodness… I just discovered how to do a link on my ipad on the spread sheet!!! lol! I always could do it on my laptop, but I never seem to use that. I didn’t know I could do it on my ipad. LOL!!! What a igit!!!!

Amanda wrote: "Janine can you add what I think is Kennard's Story to your shelf (it was originally titled Kenned's story on the SS so may have the book wrong)

Leslie Ann, can you add Verity to your shelf?

Every..."
Done!

Lisa Unger …. Her i come : )

Finishing up a couple of z books….

So glad your feeling better, Suzanne! We are a great Team : )

Suzanne wrote: "Wow - we are going to rock Vuvuzela! Weirdly, I was lying down listening to a book and they said "I even heard a vuvuzela". It's a good sign!"

😂

Suzanne , so sorry. Hope you feel better soon. Dont worry about anything , it is just a game !!!!

VUVUZELA Oh no!

@Nanci we are having great weather in Colorado right now. Enjoy your grandson!

Baby pawprints! I love it. Hope your cold doesn’t last to long…

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?

Charlie seems like a good guy, and I do think his uncle is testing him.

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?

Yes. I always had people at work that were just work friends. It is less complicated when one gets a promotion and or fired.

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?
Loved it! Love Charlie and he is smarter than he looks. : )

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 just love the starkness of the book. I love the parts with Hera!

Suzanne wrote: "We really have been doing well! I love how everyone is so cooperative and does so much to help our team!

I'll update the spreadsheet when I get home tonight. It's always so fun seeing what everyon..."
❤️

I just finished Starter Villain too, loved it. Thanks Kari for the characters listed

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?

My Australian Shephard is as close to be sentient as a dog can be. She is too smart for her own good. She is 13 and quite deaf... hard to correct her . I keep verbally correcting her even though she can't hear. lol...

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?

Charlie is cool , similar to surfer duds.... hang ten! lol . I would not be so chill. Freak out!!!

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?
Belize.... love that country

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 think he might not actually die... we shall see

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?

I am a fan of Scalzi'books. I love the snark!~


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?

I don't think he is coasting, he is doing the best he can considering his circumstances. I don't relate but he is a loveable character.

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?

I am not a cat person (major allergies)so I have no idea what to name them

4. What would your reaction be if a rich, but estranged family member left you a huge inheritance?
Not likely to happen, but I would be shocked and skeptical.

Suzanne wrote: "I feel terrible - I really thought I was being careful so I have no idea how that missed being moved over! Ugh. I hope I didn't just make our team lose!"

Don’t feel bad. You are doing a terrific job. !!!