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

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

I've been wanting to add The Familiar to our BOM tracking but there isn't a drop down tab. Can we get that added :D

Yes ma’am! Sorry about that.
I started an 8 in series book and should finish tomorrow . I’ll add that one as well

Day 1 DQ’s
1- Although Valentia feels shame in her actions to confront Luzia and her magic she still threatens her to use it at her dinner party. What were your thoughts and do you feel bad for Valentia and her desperation?
I suppose I feel a little bad for her, but in general Valentia made her choices and now has to live with them, confronting Luzia is a cowards way of dealing with her social priviledge."
2-Valentia did not want Luzia to leave the house and gave her extra chores. Why do you think Valentia did not want Luzia to leave the house?
I think she realizes that she needs her and needs to contain her and her magic in the house. If she leaves maybe she will not return.
3-How did using music and song to make Luzia magic work make you feel or think of.
I think it was a good way to make her relax and not over focus on how to use her magic, just to make it natural.
4- Don Victor(De Paredes) shows up at Casa Ordobos to make sure Luzia has a room with and even hints at having her join him if not. Why do you think having Luzia in her own room benefits either of them?
I'm not sure why is cares so much, obviously for Luzia she will finally have a bed to sleep in

Finished and still find this one exciting! I love the first book but found this one so much more creative. Lots of time in the beginning spent on how awful the new situation is and planning a wedding but soon once the candidates are back in action against previous winners, what!?! Suzanne Collins you are devious.
I love the clock idea of torture. But have to admit towards the end I start to get bored with the discussion of District 13 and all of the politics. I dread The Mockingjay because it seems to get so ugly (uglier?) so quickly.
Still love the series and must finish with the 3rd book.

Not yet, but I will work on them tomorrow! I started The Familiar and completely forgot

I can find a book to fit from the shelter list. Just running around this weekend and will take me a little bit. When do we have to have the book finished?

Melissa for our “door” books, does that mean we just read a book off of one of the other teams books that they used for a shelter task?

Good luck Trisha! 🙏🏼

DQ's Day 5 -
Chapters 27 - Epilogue


Chapters 27 - Epilogue
Cat-District 7

21. Wow what a ride! What were your initial thoughts and feelings after finishing the book? I was glad it was finished. I do feel the wrap up was quite rushed.
I really enjoyed this one, more than I expected because everyone complained about Opal's maturity in prior reviews. So it surprised me that I wasn't annoyed by her . so many YA's get annoying

22. An integral part to the book is the way the story of Starling House is told through many different viewpoints, with truth and lies and rumors and heresay and opinions often woven together. Did you find that you learned more about Starling House through each story? Did this type of story building and layering work for you? Why or why not?I was ok with the story building because in the end it was all revealed. However it makes me want to go back with what I know now to compare each story.
I enjoyed when the author told the story in full. The other POV's were helpful but it was hard to pick and choose different stories.

23. In the ending battles, the MCs were fighting beasts of nightmares and of their own making, inside dreams. Do think it's hard for good dreams to win out against nightmares? Explain your thoughts. It's easier to think that the light always wins but it really depends on the strength of the person. I suppose it would be up to you or the person if they could transform the nightmare.
yeah, not sure about this one... nightmares are bad no matter what....

24. A major theme in the book is wants and needs, and how they seemingly twist into each other if you want hard enough. In this theme exploration, what was the message you got from the author, and did it resonate with you? I actually perceived that wants are unnecessary and needs are most important. Also needs should be so small that they don't intertwine with wants.
tough question... I think wants and needs are intertwined but I wouldn't discount the importance of wants... I think if you want something bad enough, it becomes a need.

25. Would you recommend this book? Explain. I would recommend the Audio as I felt that made the book more fun to read
YES! I also listened to the book and found it helped to keep the story flowing. I feel it was a well done story, with a twist/retelling on Alice in Wonderland.

DQs Day 2 - Chapters 8 - 13

6) The narration is using dual POVs: 1st person for Opal, 3rd person for Arthur. Does it work for you? Do you think this suits the story?
I like it feel like it is moving the story along faster than if it was only Opal learning about Starling house.

7) Opal goes to the Library to find out more about Starling House and finds her mother's phone number among the Gravely family's documents. What implications can it have? Do you think it could be a hint about Opal's parentage?
Definitely! makes me suspicious of mama

8) After Bev's story about the relationship between Eleanor Starling and the Gravely brothers, we get a totally different perspective from what Nathaniel Boone went through. What do you think about the Gravely family and their "hold" over the town of Eden? What do you think Nathaniel may have discovered in the dark?
I am thinking the story of the Underworld is based on a lot of bizarre and fantastical truths.

9) Finally we learn some more about about Arthur's role (warden) and his connection to the House. What do you think about their "relationship"? What is your opinion about Starling House as a sentient being? Could it be good or evil?
I feel for poor Arthur, I think he is trapped in the house and no matter what he must live there. It sounds exhausting, fighting non stop. I can't decide about the house yet. I'm leaning towards the house being good but is built on evil.

10) On "characters not communicating"
In Chapter 12 we find out that Opal has not told Jasper about the fact that she arranged for him to go to a different school and she actually managed to put together the fee for the 1st year already. Opal doesn't tell his brother about her working in Starling House and she doesn't tell Arthur about her spying on the House for Elizabeth Baine and getting more and more demands.
What do you think of all this?
It is frustrating that they are keeping so many secrets and lies from each other! stupidly immature.

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to 7

1.) Have you read other books by Alix E Harrow? Was this on your tbr list before it was a BOM selection? Any expectations going in?
I have! I've read (gorgeous cover!) ~ 4 stars and the retellings ~ I enjoyed them rating them 3 stars
I did have this one on my list, but I have thousands so it was a nice surprise when I found I own it. (Yeah, I have a shopping problem)

2.) Did you read the footnotes as you went along? Find them helpful? Annoying?
I'm listening and find the footnotes helpful, not annoying at all. It was a bit weird the first time one was read but I quickly caught on.

3.) The discussion of E.Starling's book being too scary for children reminded me of some interviews with M.Sendalk when the Where the Wild Things movie came out several years ago about books, etc that scare children (when children are the target audience). His response was basically children should be scared sometimes and there's nothing wrong with that. And has further said, it's better to have a book full of fears than one pretending there's nothing to be afraid of. What are your thoughts on this topic?
Interesting topic! First off my love of reading was brought on my Stephen King , so which way do you think I pick? LOL, I loved scary books and movies as a kid. I was taught at a young age of what was real and what was fiction. Not all kids should be exposed to scary stuff but I had a loving stable home, so that was a good foundation.

4.) What are your thoughts so far on Eden and Starling House? Has the author done a good job so far of creating an atmosphere and setting for a good gothic story?
Ooh, I think she and her brother somehow belong there... it's creepy but so was the Adams family... lol

5.) Any favorites so far in our motley cast of characters? Opal, Arthur, Jasper, Bev, and Starling House.
I like Bev's no nonsense way of talking to Opal. Opal, is ok.. she's our MC so I'm partial to her because she her financial situation. Arthur is likable in a weird way, but if I saw him in RL I would probably run screaming. And Jasper seems ok, a bit weak and needy tho.

I have

For the second air raid book would their letters be “aid” or “ery”? Ery would be so hard 😕

😅 whew

I’ll go look as well, when does it have to be finished by? (Sorry, I’ve blanked out on this part of the challenge)

Yes 🙌🏼 nice surprise ☺️

Finished my Crete book ,
That was just the cutest little treat of a romance, with a touch of mystery! Love when those books pop out of nowhere!

Melissa wrote: "@Nick - perfect thanks! I'll let District 7 know.

@ Trinia - Hopefully, it's a better read!"

So far so good! yes, a cute romance vs technothriller >>> YES PLEASE! LOL

QUICK CHANGE OF PLANS!!! My Minotaurs book suddenly is set in Italy instead of CRETE. I've found a hopefully better book anyway and will finish in time by tonight.

I should be able to finish in time, I’ll add it to the SS. By Friday night right? If so then definitely