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

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

That's so annoying when that happens!

I'm on the latter part of my journey back home. I've done that thing again where I have several books on the go. I'm planning to finish one of the audiobooks on the plane and I'm trying to plow through The Four Winds but I keep getting too sleepy to read much in one go. I'm determined to finish it before the 16th so we can get the BOM bonus thing.

I had an offer for kindle unlimited for free for a few months and it has The Night Shift BOM so I will be able to read both of this months BOMs, although one might go into next month.

DQs Day 1: Chapters Prologue - Seven (18%)

1.) Did you like the opening to the story? Did it draw you in and help set the stage? Are you familiar with this part of US History (Dust Bowl)?
I enjoyed the opening of the story. I know a bit about US History from this time period, but not really the area as much.

2.) What are your thoughts on Elsa's family and early home life? What do you think the long term impacts of this environment are? How do you think that affected her initial choices involving Rafe?
I felt sorry for Elsa. Her family defined her by an illness she had as a child and made her seem weak. I think she seized the opportunity to be with anyone she could. Was it reckless? Yes, but at the same time, I don't really blame her. To be told most of your life that you are unattractive and not good enough and then have someone actually notice you and seem interested, of course you are going to jump at that opportunity.

3.) The Martinelli family seems a different type of family compared to the Wolcott's. Do you agree? What do you think of the relationship that develops between Rose and Elsa especially?
I'm glad the Martinelli family were more willing to accept Elsa and the situation. I understand Rose's initial resentment as she wanted so much more for her son, but Elsa was able to prove she could learn to be useful and that really helped Rose accept her.

4.) Loreda. Oh the wisdom of 12 year olds. What do you think of her POV, does it add to the story? Do you think at some point she'll clue in and appreciate her mother?
Sometimes it is nice to get a different POV and in this case it works. It gives us the viewpoint from a child who doesn't really remember things being any different. I think she will appreciate her mother more eventually.

5.) Does the author do a good job describing the transition of the land and life from the post WWI boon to Dust Bowl bust for both Elsa's family and the town as a whole?
The time skip was a large one so us readers are left with lots of questions. But in terms of the environment, I think the author has done well to show the transition from the boom to bust.

I started The Old Curiosity Shop today. It's over 500 pages, but so far not many food items mentioned. I have enough to cover the slots however nothing really exciting yet.

I've struggled with reading the past couple of days. I've been very tired in general and I've been sorting out some stuff. I go back home to the UK on Tuesday which should be great for reading as it's another long day of travel. I have been trying to find a job back home and I've got a few interviews lined up so hopefully I will get something soon. Most of the jobs I applied for are part time so it shouldn't affect my reading much. One or two was full time so there may be some impact on my reading if I get one of those. I'll let you guys know if I actually get anything, but until then I will read as much as I can!

310 pages
295 pages
867 pages
218 pages
671 pages
432 pages
360 pages
486 pages
40 pages
32 pages
40 pages
96 pages
26 pages
352 pages

Current Total: 1,474,461

I'm still not sure if I've done the child distraction thing right.

I've not read either BOMs before but I've got The House on Needless Street on reserve, but it won't be available until the 21st. I'm trying to work my way through The Four Winds as we can still use it this round if it is finished within a month of the start date.
Hopefully we will have enough meals to actually use our BOMs swap things this round.

Erm, I may have also started a couple more meals. But if we get them all finished soon, we'd be up to 14 meals, which sounds really good to me considering we are only on day 3.

I found Tuna in one of mine! I'll add to the spreadsheet in a bit

It's not normally served as a sandwich. More like a deconstructed sandwich I guess. But I have seen sandwich versions. A ploughman's is usually served as a lunch. I guess it's a British thing. If you took away the cheese and replaced it with some sort of meat, I'd be all over it :P

After looking it up, we could add ham, onion, egg, any salad-y item (lettuce, tomato, cucumber) or even apple.

It's sounding like it could be some sort of cheese ploughman's sandwich so onion would fit in well. Maybe some lettuce if we find any.
I am talking as someone who doesn't like cheese so I'm only going off of what I've seen on menus. Would ham work? Make it a cheese and ham ploughman's sandwich? If we find it of course.

I saw cheese in my book so I could replace yours and then we only need to find bread somewhere and we'd be back where we were if there is a mistake with the spreadsheet formula.

This is true, but I need to get better at using the ones I have already :P

I will try and get my book done today, if not it will be tomorrow. My boyfriend and I are on different sleep patterns at the moment where he doesn't come to bed until several hours after I go to bed. Which is actually working out well because it means I get to read before I go to sleep and then I have several hours before he wakes up to get some reading done.

I found potatoes in the book I'm reading now so I'll add them :)

So, my question about the remaining customers was answered. They leave upset we didn't feed them. So it looks like it doesnt matter who gets fed as long as we use up all the meals. I believe only two teams managed to get more than 160 meals which means we are definitely not the only ones who didn't feed all their customers.

That is kind of what I do. Or add the words at the end if it is a shorter book. Before I was using small bits of paper to write down what I found and I was worried about losing the papers. I went a brought I notebook (even though I have many somewhere but they are all in boxes waiting to be unpacked when I get home) so I'm not as worried about losing the words anymore.

Not to worry Melissa, these things happen.

I think we did really well considering we are 2 members less than we expected and most of us were busier than we anticipated.

I should be able to read more this round, both in terms of the length and amount of books. I'll try and stick to books that are around the 500 page for maximum words/letters, but may do a few shorter ones.

So, it looks like we aren't going to be able to feed everyone. I've filled in some of our customers. Because of our ranking it sounds like we will get more pensioners at the end of next round so I used up those, although I'm not sure what happens to the "still hungry" people. I thought they just hang around, but maybe they just leave hungry. I have asked the question in the questions thread.

If it is the case that they hang around, maybe we want to keep an even spread of the other groups waiting? If they just leave hungry then I guess it doesn't really matter who we feed as all our food will be gone.

What happens to the "still hungry" people? Do they stay and get added to the next lot of customers or do they leave hungry?

Day 5 - Jess - epilogue

17. The wrapping up of this was very hectic, with bonus tear-gas fueled bathroom sex! Was the ending satisfactory to you?
It was an ending. I've read better, I've read worse. It was all very hectic.

18. Jess blackmails Sophie into helping out the sex-trafficked girls. What did you think of this plot line?
It seemed like something Jess would do.

19. Any changes in your view of the characters over the course of the book?
Not really. I can't say that I liked any of them from the beginning.

20. Finally, do you think the inversion of the normal view of Paris as the city of love was effective here?
The setting in Paris didn't really seem that important apart from causing language barriers to add to confusion.

DQ Day 5- Nick - Mimi

13. There is a lot going on in this section with many twists. First we head to Amsterdam and the Ben/Nick encounter was this expected. What are your thoughts on how Ben treated Nick when he moved into the apartment?
It wasn't the surprising, but Ben seemed to just be using Nick for the apartment.

14. Ben and Sophie embark on illicit rendezvous courting danger, while Mimi is on an obsessive mission to seduce Ben. Where do you see this ending?
It definitely is not going to end well.

15. Jess and Theo succeed in gaining entry to the exclusive club owned by Jacques but are thrown out when they attempt to access the locked room, with one of the dancers being fearful when she spots them down there. Ideas on what is behind the door?
Something very illegal. Maybe somewhere where such illegal transactions may take place.

16. We learn a lot about Mimi’s heritage and her connection to the Concierge. Do you think she’s aware of the connection?
I don't think Mimi knows.

DQs Day 3 - Mimi - Sophie
9. Now, we know they are one big (not so) happy family. What do you think of the family dynamics? Do you think it is odd to live in an apartment in someone else’s house? This also means that anyone could have a key.
The family dynamic is very weird. No one seems to really like each other yet they still live together.

10. We have learned about the father and his view on sex/chastity with two of his children (“becoming a man” and his daughter’s outfit). How do these two scenes reflect on the family and character development?
His views are very old-fashioned and controlling. It makes sense why Mimi is so reserved.

11. Ben seems to have been investigating the family business. What do you think is really going on and is represented by the “wine” transactions? I think there is one obvious choice, but I will wait for others to comment.
Ben's digging got him into trouble. There are hints of sex trafficking going on.

12. Finally, do you have a favorite character so far? Do you think the characters have developed much or are they still mostly defined relationally?
None of them leap out at me to be a favourite.