Stacey’s Comments (group member since Oct 31, 2019)

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

We want to have the least # of letters overlapping, correct? (sorry missed the last one).

I can read Master of the Forest, with TER overlapping. Did I do this correctly?

Tammie wrote: "@Stacey...we were drawn for DQs on The Book that Wouldn't Burn...I'd love for your to write them if you can."

Happy to, I did volunteer. This must be a long book for so many days!

M - let me know if you can't finish. I have a short 3.2 that I could read.

Tammie wrote: "📕📕📕📕📕📕📕📕📕BOM Update📕📕📕📕📕📕📕📕📕
Votes are final for the next backroom BOM


A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by..."

Glad you volunteered. I considered, but I didn't love the first one and don't know if I care to read this one. I tried to volunteer a different book, but unfortunately to many people liked this one.

Do the .5 books need to be between our #s? I have another 0.5 that I could read, but not sure if it would count. I might have a 1.5 but need to double check.

Michael - hope it isn't anything too serious that has taken up your mental bandwidth! Glad that things should be improving.

I can easily find books for any of the remaining genres.

I'm not a big planner and tend to pick open spots as I go. I do have a book - 0.5 that I could read if needed. It's short and fun.

Volunteering from District 4.

Volunteering for District 4.

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel

A woman’s ambitions clash with familial expectations in a captivating novel about generational secrets and self-discovery by the bestselling author of The Candid Life of Meena Dave.

Raised by her mother and grandmother and tutored in the healing wonders of spices, Tulsi Gupta is expected to carry on the ancestral tradition from her family’s Salem spice shop. Restless and reluctant, Tulsi yearns to follow her own path—destiny has other plans.

When Tulsi finds a letter written by her grandmother, addressed and never sent, that speaks of a long-ago betrayal, she decides to unravel the mystery as a distraction. But Tulsi stumbles into much more than she bargained for. With each new discovery, she learns there’s much more to her mother and grandmother than their expertise in the remedial aromas of coriander and cloves. When an attractive neighbor begins renovating the shuttered deli next door, Tulsi finds the courage to break her routine and chase the unexpected.

As Tulsi digs into the past and secrets come to light, she’s determined to heal old family wounds and find her true purpose—and maybe even love—every step of the way.

I'm back and have updated the spreadsheet. Tring to catch up, but it looks like we are all good for the battle. Let me know if you need anything!

Finished Britt Marie’s was here. Should be on the spreadsheet.

Looks like I’m missing some fun! Finished Horns. It was o. The spreadsheet.

Finished the day of the Minotaur. Not sure if I added it to the spreadsheet and can’t figure out how to link in the app. It’s on my shelf.

140 pgs, has horn on cover.

Orange and black cover, poison (wolfs bane) used. Shelter- ‘fort is my house’ pg44.

Sorry I’m not more help right now! Barcelona was amazing and we are now on the ship. I haven’t been reading much, but expect to tomorrow. I’m not a big planner unless I have to, like for this trip. Working on horns now.

Finished the Island and updated all. Heading out soon. May be able to get a book with horns on it, but no promises.

I recently started The Island, which is set in Crete. If you like historical fiction, you might enjoy it. It is mostly story about Crete when it was a leper colony. It is told from perspective of one family, and one woman who is learning her family history. So far it is really interesting.

I leave on Sunday for my 2 week trip. I added this one to the mini since I know I can finish it and let you know before the round ends. I'm adding a few more books, but not looking for slots in the mini, just in case they need to move to round 2. I will do my best on updating you for round 1 but may wait to add the rest when I return. I have a few busy days and a few cruise days where I plan on sleeping and reading.

DQs Day 5
Chapters 27 - Epilogue

21. Wow what a ride! What were your initial thoughts and feelings after finishing the book?

I have really mixed feelings. I liked the book more than I thought I might, but by the end the author added too much to it. The main story was compelling, but there were too many side stories that took away from building the core.

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 don't know that I learned more, but I felt like it was a fun way of sifting through stories. It is a nice reminder that the stories we hear are often not the whole truth.

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.
I think it is easier to believe the bad than the good. I thought it was a fun twist, although I'm not sure I buy how one persons bad dreams could affect an entire town and call to wardens further away.

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?
The theme I got out of it was to talk to the people in your life who are important to you.

25. Would you recommend this book? Explain.
Not sure. It was an enjoyable read but not pulled together enough for me to really recommend.

Melissa wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Would the word 'horns' work?
"

No, it has to be an actual horn on the cover (not the word). However that pitchfork would make an awesome weapon!"

Boo. I thought they liked creativity? I will probably read it anyway!

Would the word 'horns' work?