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

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

I do think it is red enough, actually, but based on your description it would also work for the Man square.
Right now Allison has "The Chestnut Man" in there, but people can duke it out based on what other squares come up as being a potential place for your books (or anyone else's) as you are reading...

Worst case scenario, I guess either the Jordan book or the Chestnut Man would be moved to Color Cover.

DQs Day 7: Chapters 114-End

31. When Genz started to torture Rosa, it made me think back to the other murders. It started off with 1 hand, then 2 hands, then 2 hands and a foot. What do you think the significance was of cutting of the victims' hands and feet? It didn't appear that he did the same to his prior victims so why the escalation?

Because the details in this book make no sense? For a real answer though, one could posit that he was just working his way up to Rosa, his "ultimate" victim.

32. On that same note, now knowing that the girl was not Thulin in the first chapter, do you still believe the same or have another theory on why Thulin reacted the way she did when she saw the chestnut man at the first crime scene? Was there a valid reason which was not explored, or was it more for dramatic effect?

Just dramatic effect. Unless perhaps Thulin had at some point encountered old crime scene photos -- some of the same ones that Linus Bekker had seen -- and her subconscious made a connection that the book never explored.

33. Some of us guessed earlier on but we now know what happened to Kristine. Why do you think Genz kept her alive this entire time? And after what was done to her, why do you think Astrid went along with this plan? Was she of sound mind?

Genz doesn't hurt children, only adults who have victimized children (plus Rosa, because reasons). Astrid was not of sound mind, and was easily manipulated by her brother, whom she trusts deeply.

34. I thought the plot was wrapped up nicely in the end but that last chapter with Linus Bekker was a little ominous. What do you think he will do next? Do you think he'll take over where the Chestnut Man left off?

Not unless he escalates to killing, which he has not done yet that we know of. It would be a smarter choice for future books to have him hacking in the background and just using his smarts to mess with the cops.

35. With how lengthy this book was, did it keep your attention throughout? Did it end as you expected? How did you rate it?

It kept my attention, but I only gave it 2 stars. I thought there were way too many loose threads, red herrings that made zero sense upon examination, and soooo much sexism. Seriously, if this is the kind of thriller that mainstream and thriller-genre fans readers tend to enjoy, no wonder the world still suffers from so much unconscious, internalized misogyny. I cannot even begin to list the instances of sexism in this book, some overt and some not.

36. I read that not only is Netflix adapting this novel into a series, but that the author is writing a follow-up novel. Are you interested in reading more by this author? Interested in reading more in this world/series?

Not really, no. Re the Netflix series... Well, I used to watch quite a lot of Police Procedural / Thriller type TV shows and movies, but grew less and less tolerant of sexist tropes there too.
Re future books... Since this book held my interest (like, the way Twilight held my interest -- compelling in a certain way and got the job done) and it's nice to read outside of one's preferred genres once in a while, I would probably read the author's next book if it were a BOM, but not on my own.

BTW, Team Ira, we are in the lead again by a margin that's more or less equal to the difference between our BOM points and the 2nd-place team's BOM points.
So let's keep it up! Glad we seem to have more surprise!BOM readers too!!! I hope we get selected for DQs again, but even if we don't at least we have a nice cushy margin there :D

Greedy old miser?
Yes!

Cat, are you implying that the Frosty Pants are... BROWN?

Not sure why, but I think "adjusting his FROSTY PANTS to try and hide his excitement" (from Wrath) is my favorite line of all the stories. LOL.

Oh haha, I had not even noticed that!

There's a thread for stories linked in the Week 5 check in.
Says everything we need to do.

2 whole stories and 1 partial, not bad Team Ira!!!

Nice! I can post that, if you wanna finish logging some books between spreadsheets?

ETA: you are too fast for me. did it already ;D

Allison is a genius.
I have not even read the book but IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW.

Allison Ann wrote: "Okay! My last books are on the spreadsheet. My explanation of is here and I'm done for the week."

Great! We will get that posted asap.

3rd (partial) story:

The Interstellar Super Explorer went to the planet Artemis because he had heard he could find some Little Women there. Sure enough, he found them, but upon seeing the first ones, he declared, "On The Other Side of the Coin, I think I'm in the mood for some cows instead. Moo."

(joke comes from Mr. Darcy BR ;D)

Here's what I came up with for 2nd story:

The beautiful and Delicious Anna Karenina, went out for a walk with her friend the Stray Whitney, My Love of many years past. They decided to go to The Land of Painted Caves, where they could Eat, Pray, Love, and partake of all manner of entertainments, including costume glamour photo shoots. Anna Karenina wore a jacket of Bone Tree bark, and Whitney wore The Knife of Never Letting Go on a strap across her chest. "We look like American Gods," commented Anna. "We look like Sisters First!" replied Whitney. Unfortunately, Anna's jacket fell apart and the muddle of colors started to resemble Fifty Shades of Mr. Darcy. When people saw the photos, they wondered whether Anna and Whitney had been rather Touched by the Sun. In the head.

@Allison -- did you post your "explanation" of Interstellar super explorer?

@Jessi -- I think we still need a post of your BR evidence links for Fifty Shades of Mr Darcy: A Parody too. :)

Story Update!

Basically Kerri's but rewritten to account for some books that got switched around to maximize point value, as new things came rolling in:

"Once upon a time, the delicately Marked Mr. Darcy and the heavily Inked Princess Bride -- two friends who had bonded over their mutual interest in body modification -- fell in love, and decided to get married. They traveled to the Wolf Hall, were their wedding feast was to be held. They chose to Feed their guests with local delicacies and dazzle them by donning their favorite treasures. Mr Darcy wore a Crown of Coral and Pearl while the princess bride wore a dress made of Dark Matter. Unfortunately, the dark matter was not as stable as she had thought, and it leaked out into the world. "Everything has turned Fifty Shades!," Mr. Darcy cried as he looked at the horrible, grey world. "Perhaps we should ask the wise oracle Anna Karenina, for advice," suggested the princess bride, who felt a tad bit guilty. They visited Anna Karenina, who told them they must travel to The Land of Painted Caves and collect all the colors that had been lost from the world. Mr. Darcy and the princess bride left that very day. Their quest too many years, but finally they succeeded and the world was once again filled with color. Everyone in the world said that Sense and Sensibility had been restored."

Ready for submission?

If someone else can try to create a 2nd story with the books in the "Story 2" (and Story 3) area of the spreadsheet, PLEASE PLEASE DO! Use books in any order; does not have to be in the order currently sitting in there.

I can take a crack at it, but as you can see from mine and Kerri's first attempts at Story 1, mine may not be as good. And we are running out of time!

Good morning (for most of us) Team Ira!

@M : can you please shelve Dark Matter for TT and add a read date?

Rebecca wrote: "Alysa wrote: "@Rebecca -- any books this week?
*bats eyelashes*"

Yes, just finished right this moment at 1158 pgs and [bookcover:Sisters First: Sto..."

Oh wow, that is great Rebecca!

(Alysa: still faffing around on GR...)

Ugh I need to go finish Inked instead of faffing around on Goodreads and with spreadsheets. Especially if I want to get a decent amount of sleep tonight.
But it is not very good! And if I am gonna read more tonight I would rather be reading one of my other books!
What’s a girl to do? 😵
Eh, probably just finish in the morning. There’s only like 4 chapters left, lol.

Cover is definitely blue enough, wren!

As to Glittering vs Glittery, I assume you are referring to the Avarice Bingo? If so, then I say it counts. We are allowed to be creative, and to me, “Glittering sounds like glittery” and “if something is glittering, it is glittery” are both excellent and true statements :D

@Rebecca -- any books this week?
*bats eyelashes*