Trinia’s Comments (group member since Mar 29, 2015)

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

Ninth House
Day 3 DQs: Chapters 9 - 13

9. Well, these chapters definitely get exciting! Alex is attacked by a gluma, which seems like a Gray on steroids. She later recalls that they are messengers sometime used by the houses. Book & Snake are the ones that can "create" these messengers, but that doesn't necessarily mean they were behind the attack. Who do you think is trying to have Alex killed? Do you think it's because of her investigation or for some other sinister purpose?
I'm not sure who exactly is after Alex, definitely another house. I'm not sure I'm understanding enough of the story to decide at this point.

10. "But one thought returned again and again as he tossed and turned, fell in and out of dreams, morning light beginning its slow bleed through the high tower window: Alex Stern was not what she seemed."
We know that Alex is special because she can see Grays without the assistance of potions, but Darlington knows this, as well. What do you think that thought means? Is there something more to Alex that makes her "not what she seemed"? Why do you think she can see Grays in the first place?
Alex is obviously our heroine in this story, albeit a grimy one. She has to be special to see those Grays, the question "why" I think won't be revealed to us until the end. Why do I think? No clue and just because. lol

11. A lot has been happening to the Lethe House Dante and Virgil: Darlington gets purposely drugged at the Manuscript party, he subsequently goes missing, and now someone is trying to off Alex. Do you think that these incidents are connected? Do you think someone has it out for not only Alex, but Lethe House in general? Any other theories about what might be happening?
I definitely think another house is trying to eliminate the Lethe, no one is to be trusted. No theories at this time....

12. After reading the chapter about Darlington's past, my immediate thought was, "Does Sandow do all of his recruiting in the hospital?" Do you think that he preys on vulnerable kids? Why would he do so when there are thousands of freshman at Yale they could recruit to be Dante?
That's a good point. Yet, I wonder about the whole application process. Some kids must have been recruited because they were that ideal student, with great grades and community service, etc... Maybe we will learn a common thread in the next few chapters.

Day 2 - Chapters 5-8

5. In chapter 5, we meet Professor Marguerite Belbalm who Alex has a meeting with. What do you make of their meeting? Why is she proving help for Alex? Do you think she's just being a helpful teacher or that she has a sinister reason, like wanting to use Alex for something? How do you think this will influence Alex's behaviours and choices in the book?
I think she is part of the whole society and wants to use Alex for something. I think she may actually be helpful... but we shall see.

6. Whilst Alex is looking at the crime scene of Tara 'on the other side of the intersection', she has a sense of familiarity and then remembers Helllie and Len struggling in the apartment. Len asks her to let them out. What do think happened in that situation and why did she remember it? I feel like it is something important to the story. Do you think this memory will lead to a large reveal or is it just a small and not so important memory?
It seemed to me like a flashback of her personal memory, just a glimpse to fill us in on her history a bit.

7. In chapter 7 we get a glimpse into Alex's past and what she had to go through to deal with the ghosts. I honestly wasn't expecting us to find out about her past until past halfway mark. She mentions a lot of issues she had to deal with like no one believeing her, kids making fun of her and ostracising her, her parents, that awful bathroom scene, her illicit drug abuse... Why do you think the Lethe society didn't reach out and help her through all that if they were watching her?
What a terrible childhood, I'm sure if she admitted any of that to an adult they would have had her locked away. I think the Lethe are all about themselves and couldn't be bothered with Alex until she showed them some sort of benefit. pretty brutal....

8. I'm interested in what you guys think of the writing style so far. We have a chapter written in the present tense with Alex and a snippit of passages from books. Then we get Darlington's POV in the past. Are you in favour of this? What do you think of the snippits and are you paying much attention to what they say?
I think the writing is ok... I do like that she wrote about Darlington's history as well, guessing it will help us make heads and tails of this story.. Though, I do sometimes forget if I'm in the past or present (a product of audiobook listening)

I agree! It’s definitely picking up 😁 and I’m finally keeping the houses straight 😜

The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Day 1 Questions

*** To my fellow Audiobook Listeners - I recommend you download the sample ebook version as well. There is a map of Yale and of course the spelling of names and places is helpful.

1. Our book starts out with a Prologue that leaves me understandably a bit lost and confused but wanting more, giving us minimal clues to our forthcoming story.
How do you feel about Prologues? Do you ever go back and Re-read them after you finish the book?

2. The setting of our story is the prestigious Ivy League school of Yale. The history runs deep and gives a gothic and dark feel to the book. Why else do you think the author may have chosen Yale as the setting?

3. In Chapter 1 our Main Character, Alex Stern, is running late for the Prognostication. By definition Prognostication is the action of foretelling or prophesying future events. I'm curious as to what the Bonesmen final goal is by performing these ceremonies. Although it is still early in the book are there any guesses as to what the Bonesmen are seeking? Are they after glory ? Time travel? Immortality?

4. The Grays ! I love ghost stories and cannot wait to learn more about the Grays. Alex not only has the ability to see the Grays but is also able to see them in color. This is important and seems to be a key feature that got her this opportunity at the school. Darlington appears to be jealous of this ability of Alex because he needs to take an elixir at a great risk to do the same. How do you see the relationship between Alex and Darlington? Will they become friends, enemies or lovers?

Yup, groupies and book addicts 😜😉

Hi Emily! I’m going to be posting Day 1’s questions in a little bit. You will see other groupies replies and can see the format we use. You basically just answer the questions posted each day.
Have fun!

I agree Vicki, it’s a fun way to finish out the challenge🥰

I agree, too many other colors to say Green.

Book: The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Date Read: 11/30
Pages: 176
Sin: Sloth
Criteria - blue cover

I’ll join as a Book Worm 😁📚 ~ now List Lover
Completed : 15/11


1. Book: Ninth House
by Leigh Bardugo
Date Read: 12/6
Rating: 3 Stars

2. Book : Nothing to See Here
by Kevin Wilson
Date Read: 12/7
Rating: 5 Stars

3. Book: Normal People
By Sally Rooney
Date Read: 12/17
Rating: 3 Stars

4. Book: Mostly Dead Things
by Kristen Arnett
Date Read: 1/10
Rating: 4 Stars

5. Book: The Need
by Helen Phillips
Date Read: 1/25
Rating: 3.5 Stars

6. Book: Trust Exercise
by Susan Choi
Date Read: 1/28
Rating: 2 Stars

7. Book: In the Dream House
by Carmen Maria Machado
Date Read: 2/7/20
Rating: 4 Stars

8. Book: Queenie
by Candice Carty-Williams
Date Read: 3/25/2020
Rating: 3.5 Stars

9. Book: All This Could Be Yours
by Jami Attenberg
Date Read: 4/9/20
Rating: 3 Stars

10. Book: The Nickel Boys
by Colson Whitehead
Date Read: 4/30/20
Rating: 3 Stars

11. Book: Underland
by Robert Macfarlane
Date Read: 5/26/20
Rating: 3 Stars

12. Book: The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett
Date Read: 6/3/20
Rating: 4 Stars

13. The Starless Sea
by Erin Morgenstern
Date Read: 8/7/20
Rating: 4 Stars

14. The Chain
by Adrian McKinty
Date Read: 10/01/20
Rating: 5 Stars

15. Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
by Ronan Farrow
Date Read: 10/11/20
Rating: 3 Stars





Already Read:

Recursion ~ Read 7/3/19


The Farm ~ Read 8/7/19


Miracle Creek~ Read 6/4/19

I have a 15 but won’t have a chance to get it started and finished in time ☹️

Great job Rebecca!
Happy Thanksgiving to all in US 🦃🧡💛💚

Rebecca I’m finished with my 13 😊

Book: The End by Lemony Snicket
Date Read: 11/27
Pages 368
Sin: Gluttony mini
Criteria: 13th in the series A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Ok! I’ve got about an hour left, I’ll post as soon as I finish.

And if you don’t finish tonight, I can finish tomorrow. 😊

No worries Carmen, it will be tonight for my #13

I’m good with my Date 😁

I agree, definitely Green. Yes for me

No problem, I’ll keep watching 😉