Alysa’s Comments (group member since Jun 27, 2015)

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

Finished The Sun Down Motel, updated on the BOM tab as well as the main planning tab :)

Challenge complete!
#12

Day 4 DQs - 64%-82% (ends "she plunged the knife back down")

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?
I did wonder, after we learned that Simon had been missing since 1982 up until just before they found his body in his car, whether Viv had killed him and run away, or perhaps if they had killed each other in a final confrontation, though the latter would have involved either being in a hidden place, or having help. If Viv had killed him and run away, it would explain a lot (including why she left all her stuff and potentially what happened to Helen's blackmail money) though it would not completely explain, to my mind, why she didn't just stay and claim self defense. I guess she didn't think she would be missed, least of all by anyone in her family. Based on the whole thing with the barn pictures, I am also assuming that Marnie helped hide Simon's body, which would explain why Marnie has been so evasive.

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?
Broadly speaking, these sorts of warnings don't do anyone any good. It's like victim blaming, or telling women never to go out anywhere at all because Big Bad Dangerous World of Men. I mean, it does pay to be cautious when there is an actual known serial murderer afoot and you might fit the victim profile, but that was not the situation in Fell as far as anyone besides Viv was concerned. I can also see why Tracy's parents and school did not take a random, anonymous, open-ended warning seriously, so I don't blame them for not acting. Hindsight is 20/20.

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?
Apart from the supernatural, this book is more suspense/thriller than horror, though of course I have always recognized that there are no clear lines between those things when it comes to genre in books or other media. Depending on how one defines horror, there are a number of scenes I could point to. Perhaps the scene where Viv, Nick, and Heather find Simon's body in the barn? It hits so many horror notes!

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?
It was self-defense at that point, really. Simon knew that Viv knew he was a serial killer, and would never have let her live. Was she right in her actions up to that point though? Following him around? I'd say that she was justified in her actions, in that the police would not help. One can debate the moral rectitude of vigilantism, but in this (fictional) case it was posited as the only way out.

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?
It is likely that Viv ran away with Helen's blackmail money and started a new life under an assumed name. I think Marnie helped with Simon's body, and Alma knows at least enough to have helped with a police cover-up (e.g. misplacing the phone records). I think Carly will find out what happened, and eventually find her living Aunt Viv, who will be like, "Wow, I didn't know my family would ever care about me!" If this is indeed how the book ends, I will be 50% happy, and 50% annoyed.

Day 3 DQs - 42%-64% (ends "'I'll take it' she said.")

13. Thoughts on Viv telling Mrs. White that her husband cheats on her. Do you think this is what gets her into trouble?
Seemed like it was just added for random color. If it ends up being what led to Viv's disappearance, that would be an interesting twist. Like, if it turns out that for all Viv's interest in linking those earlier murders together, her own was the unrelated result of one of the Whites being mad at her or something! I don't think I would like it if that's the case though. It seems too... out of left field, to the point where I'd be waaaay disappointed in the whole book.

14. We have another encounter with the angry man ( this makes at least 3) Who is he? Why is he important to the story?
Does this refer to Henry, the smoking man??? The ghost who calls Viv a bitch? Well we know he died in the office, some months after the boy drowned in the motel pool... Beyond that we don't yet know his significance. No idea why he cursed at Viv, if it was even Viv specifically that his anger was directed at.

15. Which story line (Carly or Viv's ) are you enjoying more? Why?
I like both equally. Both have good atmosphere, interesting interactions, and effective amateur investigations!

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?
No idea but I'm assuming that she didn't get a chance to use it. Or she had it on her when she disappeared, but since she was never found, neither was the knife. Also, we now know that there was something hinky with the police investigation, e.g. checking phone records... so maybe there was some sort of big evidence cover-up. We'll see!

Day 2 DQs - 21% to 42% (ends "'Can we look at your pictures now?'")

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?
I'd like to think I'd stick around and investigate, but in all likelihood I would be out of there super fast, only coming back -- in daylight and with some other people -- just to get my stuff.

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?
I would not listen in. I am a believer in privacy and ethics! I can see why she was tempted though, since she was so bored at night and one could argue that the people didn't seem real to her, but like characters in some weird TV drama apart from her. As for Viv overhearing something that results in her disappearance, I guess that is possible.

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?
Seems like they are connected, yes. Or at least some of them. The police stance seems lazy to me, even for (or especially for?) a time before modern tech.

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?
So bizarre. In the Viv 1982 sections it just seems like laziness and apathy, but in the Carly 2017 sections it seems like there is more fear mixed in there. After all, the 2017 owner -- son of the 1982 owner, must have experienced decades of creepiness.

10.) Any thoughts on the candy machine? It keeps popping up in both timelines. Maybe nothing, but in this type of story, who knows.
HAUNTED CANDY MACHINE! LOL. I think it's partly the electronics always being icky because ghosts, and partly because of some bad stuff that may have happened in that Amenities room.

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?
I liked the introduction of both characters (as well as another appearance by Alma Trent). No idea why Marnie would be hiding her Viv memories from Carly, but I am intrigued. Callum... I have not decided yet. I'm leaning towards local nice boy helper dude, but one never knows.

I remember reading somewhere a while ago that it's okay to use The Sun Down Motel for the task "Set in a Hotel" -- yes? Motel/Hotel/Inn are being treated as equivalent here?

I have finally show up for this partay! Usually I like to read through other people's comments but I'm coming in blind this time, so I can avoid spoilers :D

Day 1 DQs: 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?

I grew up mainly in the Catskills region of upstate New York, so I can actually relate somewhat to the book. I can't recall actually sleeping in a motel like the Sun Down but I knew kids whose families owned or operated motels/hotels in the 1980s, when things in the area were well on their way to being run-down. My father (a musician) sometimes played gigs in the hotels. I would sometimes hang out in these places on weekends, after being invited to come use the pool or whatever, and it could be pretty creepy sometimes when the places were largely empty. But creepy more in the way of The Shining than of the Sun Down!

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."

Well, in some ways the early 1980s were a more innocent time in terms of younger people's odd jobs. I mean, obviously bad stuff happened all the time; but people were more naive about it, or at least more in denial! I think Viv was really trying to prove -- if only to herself -- that she could be a strong, independent woman. This is an admirable goal, though... maybe she should have just gone to NYC after all...

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

GHOSTS? Dunno enough yet. I guess there could be, like, live invisible people messing with her, but I don't think it's that kind of book, lol.

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?

She is probably dead, though I guess it's still possible that she just fled or was taken, and has a new life somewhere. Maybe it's like The Watcher in the Woods and she was trapped in another dimension or something. But again, probably not that kind of book!

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?

I like the dual timeline. I think it's working pretty well here. Viv and Carly seem extremely similar so far, though Carly is perhaps a little more worldly. Which makes sense, given they are both products of their times.

Laura wrote: "If any one is interested for Round 3, at least the first Harry Potter is tagged Freedom, and has a Q character."

HP #s 2, 4, and 7 (at least!) are tagged Winter:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

I've been reading #4 (Goblet of Fire) since Wheel started but without a known finish date because I'm reading it out loud to my daughter.
I saw the tag when researching for Round 2, but knew it would not be finished in time. Now I'm hoping extra hard that it'll be finished during Round 3!
Should be doable. Currently have 2/3 finished and it's been almost 4 weeks, so the last 3rd could conceivably be finished within 2 more weeks... :D

Finished and updated my last Round 2 book.
(It was slated for G, but if needed it also works for L, D, and I.)

Laura wrote: "Alysa, your page count has been added."

Great, thanks!

BTW, I'm almost done with my last book for this Round. Will definitely finish today.
After that, I won't be able to finish anything extra by the countdown, so I'll get a jump on my first Round 3 book instead.

Cat wrote: "Alysa wrote: "Does anyone know if Spinning Silver has any character names that would work for BARBEQUE?
It's tagged Winter, but if I can't make it fit the spell-out, I can't read it..."

Oh, nice! Thanks Cat!

Laura wrote: "I don't see any names in any of the reviews that fit."

Yeah, I checked that too. Maybe I'll ask around in Terminus thread in case someone else can think of a character...

Does anyone know if Spinning Silver has any character names that would work for BARBEQUE?
It's tagged Winter, but if I can't make it fit the spell-out, I can't read it for Round 3... :/

@Captains - can you ask a librarian in Captains Group to add a page count for the following Kindle book?:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

It's 240 pages according to Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

Laura wrote: "Yes, those are the same tags as this round!"

Dammit, I closed most of my browser tabs of stuff that would work, since it was kind of implied that we would not get the same set of tags twice, like, as part of not getting the same *word* twice.

Good thing I remember some of those books and I haven't purged browser history recently, but argh... :/

Finished #s 17 and 18:


Shivaree was a pretty good read if you like Southern Gothic horror (which I do). That's kind of this author's thing.

Poison Study was entertaining but I think my expectations were too high.

I am back and have finished 2 books, including 1 tagged.
I am going to log and update now :D

FYI team, I'll be finishing another book later tonight, which I can log in the morning, but then I will be mostly offline for a few days.
Will keep on reading and be able to log another book (or two) by the time I get back on Monday night :D

There's a Space Opera in my Rec post! :D



And the sequel comes out this summer, so if you read and like the first one, there is that to look forward to as well!

I don't read many thrillers either -- they usually tend to piss me off in some way -- but sometimes find myself attracted when certain locations are involved, and in particular Upstate New York where I spent most of my childhood, and some of my family still lives. I'm all "Let's see if it's realistic!" :D