Bernadette’s Comments (group member since May 28, 2020)

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

Elinor wrote: "Bernadette wrote: "Hey team - I'm going to ask you not to check the "used for mini" box on the SS. It's our way of tracking what we've put on the mini on the main SS. Thanks🙂

What would help a who..."

Elinor, pick them randomly based on what you think works for now and we can always move things around as we get closer to the end.

Follow-up - it will work!🙂😀

Elinor wrote: "Just finished Malibu Rising - really enjoyed it! - and added it in the song quote category - hoping fictional songs are accepted(?)"

Good question about the fictional lyrics - asked in the captain's chat.

Megan, it looks like you completed your Battleship book - can you add it to the team tracking SS - please?

Day 3

41% 5:00 PM
59% 10:00 PM

9. The Riva house on the beach and Nina's husband's place on a cliff are described several times in the book as the most important settings. Do you find the houses and Malibu as appealing places?
What would your own dreamplace be like? And where would it be?

While I do not like to sit on the beach in the sun for long periods of time, I do find them appealing. My dreamplace - hmmm - maybe mountain lake.

10. As we are moving forward in the story, the siblings characters may be getting fleshed out a bit more. What do you think of Nina? Does it seem like she's following in her mother's footsteps in her choices?

Nina finds out in hindsight that she is following her mother's footsteps.

11. Connecting to the previous question about Nina: while TJR is handing out information concerning her husband and their marriage rather sparingly, how do you see Nina's choice and their relationship? Any impressions on what Brandon is like?

Brandon is an idiot.

12. What do you think about the relationship between Jay and Hud? How do you think Jay will react when he learns about Hud's betrayal especially as he seems to have found a real love interest?

They were brought up as "twins" but I think Jay is more in charge.

DAY 2 - 1959 "It was last December 1959"
41% 1981 "...in her arms, on her back."

5. 1959 - "It was last December, 1959" -
It sounds like a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song...Wow! What an explosive chapter. Your reaction? Mick was characterised as a sleezy womaniser, it was always going to happen or I didn't see that coming! And June's reaction? Sensitive woman with a huge heart or a doormat for putting up with what she suspected?

Not really surprised it happened - but marrying him a second time? Did she think he was going change?

6. "He gave no thought to the idea that he might break his children like someone had broken him". "You're drunk and you're killing yourself with this stuff." Discuss Mick and June's parenting styles and how they have affected the siblings as children and adults.

Mick has no style - he does not parent. June parented well until the drinking got in the way.

7. The title of the book is Malibu Rising and the author gives the reader a sense of the beach culture both in the past and the present time lines. What does it bring to the story and would it be as effective in another setting?

It doesn't seem like a beach culture to me other than the happen to surf.

8. Already with the first set of questions there are varying opinions by the group about both Taylor Jenkins Reid as an author and how it compares to her other work. I loved Daisy Jones and the Six but I am finding this one as bit like Days of our Lives... but the author is skillful enough to make it into a page turner. Where do you sit, engaging tale well written or too much drama and as we are half way through do you see this ending in triumph or tragedy for the Riva siblings?

I gave it four stars the first time I read it. Will not disclose further.

Ashley wrote: "I put "Until Next Time" on the muses tab for Clio/S2, but it could potentially be used for a story if we want to switch it as we get that together."

I agree - should we put it in comedy or tragedy for now?

Rokkan wrote: "Finished a book that I think might work as part of the tragedy but there is coding in that part of the spreadsheet that I didn't want to risk breaking. So have put in on the main tracking sheet and..."

I added it - thanks

DQs Day 1: Prologue - 11:00AM

1. Both Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo have been BOMs in this group before. Have you read these books (or others) by Taylor Jenkins Reid too or is Malibu Rising your first book by the author? What are your expectations going in?

Daisy Jones was one of my favorite books - the audiobook was amazing. Seven Husbands was also good. This is a re-read for me for this book.

2. We have been introduced to quite a lot of MCs and their different POVs in the first 20% of the book. Do you prefer one character/POV over the others or is it still too early to tell?

I'm ok with this method. Not hard to follow.

3. The writing has quite a contemporary feel to it, especially the 1983 timeline, which makes it easy to forget the book is actually set in the past. What's your opinion on the writing and the back and forth between the two timelines so far, and how does it compare to other TJR books you've read (if any)?

Similar style. The time 1983 timeline is when I was getting out of college so it's familiar to me.

4. "The story of June and Mick Riva seemed like a tragedy to their oldest child, Nina. It felt like a comedy of errors to their first son, Jay. It was an origin story for their second son, Hud. And a mystery to the baby of the family, Kit. To Mick himself it was just a chapter of his memoir."
We don't really know how June and Mick's marriage post kids 1 + 2 went (and ended) yet, but from what we've learned about each of the siblings and their (love) lives so far, how do you think their parents' story has affected them after reading the quote above?

I've read the book before - so I know!

The August & last BOM for the challenge is Book Lovers . I just requested from my library and there is short hold so I should get it on time. I wanted to let the rest of you library borrowers know so you have time to get it.

Melissa, can or should team members volunteer to write DQ's? It's not for me, I don't think like the DQ writers🤣😂

Hey team - I'm going to ask you not to check the "used for mini" box on the SS. It's our way of tracking what we've put on the mini on the main SS. Thanks🙂

What would help a whole lot would be if you actually made an entry on the "Inspired by Muses" tab - from Melissa's message #1214:

"We are going to ask everyone to please put your completed book in the new Mini tab on the tracking spreadsheet and explain why they fit to make it easier for us captains. It doesn't have to be fancy, no link is needed. Just the name of the book, the date finished, who read it, and how it fits will work."

Ashley wrote: "Update: Not much reading accomplished this weekend, my husband decided he didn't need his Achilles tendon attached.. haha, we spent yesterday at the ER. Fun, but no reading was accomplished.

Curre..."

Yikes! Hope he's feeling better.

Paris wrote: "Just about to finish my battleship book!

Also, can someone remind me when the deadline for reading & answering Ariadne DQs is?

I cant remember if it has to be within a certain time frame or if ..."

Paris, you have until July 31st.

Rokkan wrote: "For the read a book a team member has read thing, can we read different versions? I have a paperback of My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry - also known as [book:My Gran..."

Different version is fine.

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "Is the monsters mini over?

I just finished Undiscovered & it Fits the Chimera T242 as it's set in Egypt"

No more monsters!

One more Agamemnon team member needed for next Battle.

Alysa, Ashley or Alaina if you want it, claim it! If you two of you want one, I'll back out, but I'm committed for coming of age, FYI.

Kimber~☆♡Love of Books♡☆ wrote: "GM!
I have to admit this TT Challenge this year is a bit confusing for me. Alot going on. Im happy u all know whats going on.
Ive been reading All the Light We Cannot See
And
[book..."

I'm with you Kimber. Last year was my first TT and I don't remember there being so MANY minis.

Melissa wrote: "Bernadette wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Kimber~☆♡Love of Books♡☆ wrote: "Finished "

Kimber - can you fix the read dates for this one? Unless you really did start this..."

I'll do it tomorrow.

Genres needed for Round 3 of the Trojans War are posted in the Battlechat thread. For those that have not had a chance to contribute yet, take a look and stake your claim. Book will need to be finished by next Friday. It can be a book you are already reading

Paris
Elinor
Paula
Snezana
Tara
Holly

You have first dibs if you are interested since you have read for this yet. See message #420 in the Battlechat thread and then post if you are interested.

Melissa wrote: "Kimber~☆♡Love of Books♡☆ wrote: "Finished "

Kimber - can you fix the read dates for this one? Unless you really did start this in March, then we aren't able to u..."

Melissa - I don't see on the SS's. We have to Kimber's. Did you add it?

Melissa wrote: "Also to clarify on the Mini: Read a book read by a team member during the challenge.

The book has to have been read by another team member before this mini began. So anything read from the start o..."

You can find a complete list here...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

or here are everyone's shelves...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...