Keely’s Comments (group member since Aug 30, 2013)

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

I have reached my goal with book #50 being a short free kindle book. Hot Connection. It was okay.

I will probably finish at least a couple more from my TBR, but being so close to the end of the year, I'm not going to increase my goal.

I was also successfully making my TBR go down, but then I found a load of books on Audible Plus that I hadn't added to my list. I'm hoping to get some of those read by the end of the year so hopefully it will go back down. At least it is currently lower than at the start of the year.

352 pages
224 pages
350 pages
187 pages
294 pages
552 pages
414 pages
160 pages
320 pages

Current Total: 1,735,022

Are we trying to get the Gardening Mini complete so we can get it again? I found a brown cover book that I can prioritise and get done before the end of this round.

DQs Day 3: Then - Then 58%
first line "Marcus changes completely..."
last line "...serious chat about your future"

11. "The sound of teeth against a spoon when someone's eating soup, insects that scuttle, people who don't listen, RATS, and when uncle Terry says 'WOMEN!'" - what a random list of pet peeves (Are they even pet peeves? Rats?? And uncle Terry 'all on his own'???),,, What are some of yours?
People who listen to their music through their phone instead of earphones. It's okay if it's a party or something where people want it to happen, but it happened a few times at work when the overhead music wasn't working and would annoy me so much. The sound quality is terrible and they would listen to it loud enough that I then couldn't listen to my own stuff (usually audiobook) with my earphones. I have more, but that is the main one I can think of right now.

12. Dylan's (and Marcus') trip through Europe has become much more than just that, ending up in Asia, trying to figure out what to do with his life when he's already been handed it all on a silver platter. His dad is a douche and clearly wants to dictate Dylan's life while Dylan just keeps running away from his problems. Lucky he has all this money (his dad's I would assume) to just throw away. Can you relate to him in any way? Do you feel bad for him?
I get not being thrilled about someone trying to force you to do something they want you to do for a living. But he would be better spending the time finding something he wants to do and then proving to his dad that he can do that instead.

13. "Nowadays we date, we shop around. If we really like someone we spend more time with them. Then we move in with them a few years down the line. Then, maybe, if we've lost the will to live or whatever it is that compells people to settle down we marry them. We don't rearrange our lives because of a good shag."

"Addie, she's not right for you (...) Stop that! Don't you see what you're doing? You're turning her into something she's not. You don't understand her. She's not your beautiful muse, Dylan. She's messy and dark. And raw. She's a disaster waiting to happen. She's got power. And she doesn't even know it yet you know. She's like,,, she's untapped. (...) She's not right for you. Okay?"

Did Marcus already know something we didn't at this point? Did something happen between Marcus and Addie back in France? And then the way Marcus took care of Dylan after getting too high, in the bathroom.... Do you think he (not so?) secretely has feelings for Dylan? Or is he just jealous?
I really didn't understand that at all. All I took from it is that he has big feelings for Dylan. If not, that's some serious jealousy or something.

14. Rodney thinking Deb has drowned in the river and actually LOOKING FOR A BODY IN THE WATER!!! had me laugh out loud to be honest, but only because of how frickin ridiculous this book is. Definitely expected something more cutesie and wholesome for some reason. Being almost two thirds into the book now, how do you feel about it so far? Is it meeting your expectations?
Why would he just go in the water like that? Unless he saw something. I was expecting more actual road trip. Not 80% backstory and snippets of road trip. I know we need the details about how the characters know each other, but there are other ways to do it.

DQs - Day 2 - 17 Oct
Then - Now 38%
first line "Can't the girl find..."
last line "shitshow of a strategy"

6. The author goes for the switching POVs and timelines method. How do you like these in general? And do you think it is a good fit for this book?
I don't mind the changing of pov's but the changing of timeline is a little confusing. It's making it seem like the actual car trip is irrelevant.

7. We get to meet some more characters along the way in the "THEN" section: Dylan's uncle Terry, his brother, the mysterious Grace and other friends whose dynamics to Dylan and Marcus should shed some more light on their characters and motivation. But do they? Do you feel like you are getting to know them better? Or understand them? (Or care?)
I'm still not sure I actually care. But getting more characters did seem to help develop the main characters more.

8. What do you think about Dylan's and Addie's past relationship in France? Do you like it/find it convincing? What about their sudden meeting in the present and the insta-lust after all the emotional baggage they seem to be dragging with them?
I know flings happen. Even if they got back together, I'm not sure they would last after the lust dies down again.

9. I'm not really sure I'd call this book a "romance" though it certainly offers the trope of second-chance. Do you have any favourite romantic trope(s) or one that you especially dislike?
I tend to try and stay away from books that are purely romance. They often are so predicable. I really dislike love triangle, especially where one (usually the female) is so oblivious to it.

10. Any guesses what part Rodney may play in the plot or do you think he's just some kind of "filler" character?
I feel like he will do something, eventually.

DQs Day 1
Now - Now last line "...reach out and touch her."

1.) Is this your first book by O'Leary? Only reading for points and that lovely 'O' letter for Wheel-a-thon or was it already on your tbr list?
This is my first book by this author. I probably wouldn't have picked it up any time soon if it wasn't for Wheel.

2.) Road trips. Love them, hate them? If you've gone on a road trip before what are some must have for the journey?
I've never really been on a road trip. It's usually just me alone in the car singing along to my playlist like I'm performing a concert or something. And these journeys are not often long.

3.) Deb's comment about never having a baby obviously proved untrue. Do we think the baby daddy is going to make an appearance in the story? Or do you think it's a no name person who isn't relevant to the book?
I don't think he will.

4.) The flagrant unconcern about money by half the characters is a bit gross. Do you think that's at the root of Dylan and Addie's split? Or do you think it's the mysterious Grace? Marcus especially seems to not know the whole breakup story. Any guesses to why Dylan didn't seem to tell him the truth?
I dislike people who take money for granted. I'm sure the mystery to Dylan and Addie's split will come out sooner or later.

5.) Initial impressions of the cast of characters?
I'm still not sure about any of them yet. They all have characteristics that are already getting on my nerves.

I just went through the locations lists and added ones I had on my TBR. I won't be able to read all the books this round now on the spreadsheet as there are too many for my cap. One book is on hold and says it could take 2 weeks so I may not get it this round anyway.

I will prioritise my reads by the difficulty of task they will cover.

Cat - unfortunately the book didn't fit either of the tasks I wanted it to fit. Sadly, no one was murdered in the office and the final evidence came from elsewhere. I can look again later if it worked for any of the other admin tasks.

Preeti - yes, if I could be backup that would be great. Knowing my luck if I got a day, it would be around the days that my boyfriend is off work and would probably keep distracting me if I tried to read.

I'm reading my green book now and it is pretty office-y. I found coffee table in it so if someone gets murdered in the office or a clue for the murder is found in paperwork, we might want to swap it to one of those tasks. I can always find another green cover.

I've just reserved The Secret History and it says about 4 weeks wait, so I probably won't get it in time to help with writing questions, but I will have it in time to participate.

It's looking like I will have to use an audible credit for The Spellshop, but I intend to read that one as well.

I would prefer to be a backup, but if no one else volunteers then I will do it for Roof Repairs.

Welcome Paula!

I have this for a green cover. It's pretty short so I could get through it quickly.

My boyfriend has been off work the past couple of days so reading has not really happened. I will be able to catch up over the next couple of days.

Cat wrote: "Fig is an excellent find! any lobster or vinegar to go with it? #everhopeful"

I'm afraid not. I did look :(

The Road Trip has fig in it along with several other food items.

I started a short book while struggling to sleep. I'm finishing it up now!

I am trying to get Cress done (my last book on the list) but I keep getting distracted. I might swap it for a shorter book that can hold my attention better. I really would like to complete at least one more book this round.

I got into my bad habit of starting several books and not finishing any of them. I finished one today already and I'm working on getting another two done by the end of the day too. I hope to get another one finished tomorrow as well which will almost bring me to my cap.

A lot of my books haven't been particularly big in points, but considering my... challenging... start to the round, I am proud with the amount I have/will read this round.

I've also had to give myself a talking to about getting too excited for books for round 2. That's why I've only allowed myself to claim one good book so far. The other on the round 2 spreadsheet was one I had hoped to finish this round, but it's not going to happen so I moved it over.