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

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

Completion Post
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
Pages: 518
Date: 7/12
Rating: 5

Letters, all characters
S: Sissix Seshkethet
K: Kizzy Shao
A: Ashby Santoso
Y: Yoshi

Task: 106, space ship on cover


On a side note, my copy of Dear Martin came in, so I'll be able to join the BOM disscussion when it starts. I loved the Hate U Give and am afraid I'll be comparing them based on the info I read but I'll give it a try.

Completion Post
The Last House Guest
Pages: 336
Date: 7/9

Letters"
M: (a)Megan Miranda
S: (c) Sadie Loman
A: (c) Avery Greer
C: (c) Ben Collins

Task: Body of Water on book cover

I definitely seem to read more thriller/mystery than horror. If you like the BOM then The Broken Girls is by the same author. Loved them both.

Oh, and I should add The Boy on the Bridge. It is the second after The Girl With All the Gifts. I liked The Boy better. They aren't sequential so you don't need to read the first one to understand it but the ending will make more sense if you do.

Eni wrote: "Sorry. I'll try to get better at checking in. My little one finished "school", so i no longer turn the computer on everyday. And i lost the habbit of checking in on GR on my phone because i haven't..."

Have you read Full Throttle? I really liked this collection of short stories. The Chestnut Man was also a favorite; its more thriller than horror but its a thin line. Two others that were good were Violet and The Broken Girls

Completion Post
Book: Dragonfly
Date: 7/7
Pages: 563 (default edition)
Rating: 4

Letters:
M: (a) Leila Meacham
S: (c) Sam Barton
A or R: (c) Alistair Renault
C: (c) Chris Brandt
K: (c) Konrad March
N: (narrator) Neil Dickson

Task: 83, Read a book that takes place in Mainland Europe. Takes place in Paris, France

22. At the beginning of this section Viv is kind of freaking out over what she did. She starts to call the police, then changes her mind. Then she hears a car pull up and footsteps coming toward where she is. What would you do in this situation?
I can't imagine being in this situation. I think she assumes it is Alma and isn't sure how her friend will react.

23. When Viv and Marnie are taking care of Simon Hess, another car pulls up and it's Alma. Did you anticipate her reaction to what was going on? Why or why not?
It was clear earlier that Alma was involved. Originally I wondered if she was involved with covering up but by that point I wasn't surprised at her decision.


24. Carly is being followed by Callum McCray (sp?) and loses him by pulling into Alma's driveway. Why does Alma cringe or flinch when she hears Callum's name?
Well, he is a reminder of Simon and what both he and they did. The author also seems to imply that Callum is known to her, and not in a good way.

25. One of my favorite scenes was near the end when a ghost in a suit comes in to the motel lobby to check in. Carly doesn't want to touch the ghost so she snatches a key from the case and passes it over the counter. The ghost says "Oh good 209. My old home." I got the shakes just hearing it. Did you anticipate that ghost making an appearance?
Well, there are lots of them here. I expected a ghost, not sure I expected Simons.

26. Carly figures out what Viv did and gets to meet her aunt. Were you happy with the end of the story? If not, what would you have liked to see?
Overall yes. Maybe it seemed a bit too happy? But Viv ends up in jail battling a second round of cancer so maybe not too happy. I'm glad we got to know. It was nice to see that neither Carly or Viv were really alone. Not sure how I feel about Carly staying there, it's a bit morbid. Of course the way the town is described I'm not sure why anyone stays there.

Completion Post
Book: The Sun Down Motel
Finished: 7/6
Pages: 327

Letters:
S: title
C: (c) Carly Kirk
A: Alma
M: Marnie
N: Nick

Task: 7: Two timelines, 1982 and 2017
BOM: BOMDQday1 BOMDQday2 BOM DQ day3 BOMDQday4

Will answer todays as well once posted but figured this was enough.

17. Some of the major and minor questions developed throughout the story have been answered in this section: why young, pretty Helen was meeting with average Robert (Helen and her husband had planned to blackmail Robert); the connection of the girls' murders and their murderer (Simon Hess targetted women who were lonely); and why the murders had stopped after Viv had vanished (Simon was stabbed by Viv so he couldn't hurt any more girls). Did you see any of this coming? What clues gave it away?
I never would have guessed about Helen. Interesting twist. I definitely saw Viv stabbing Simon when she bought the knife. Not sure how it would end, but knew that something happened. I agree with a previous person, I wasn't convinced that Simon would have left Viv in the car. I was guessing Simon, especially since the murders seemed to stop around that time too. I don't really worry about motivation/connection. Simon had to justify it somehow.

18. Both Viv in 1982 and Carly in 2017 mentioned that Tracey might have been alive had her parents kept her in the house. This echoes the warnings that Fell parents have been giving their daughters: don't go jogging or don't work nights. What do you think of such advice? What else could Tracey, her parents, and her school have done to keep her safe from a predator?
This is a bit simplistic. It wasn't a short amount of time and I think we all fall into 'it won't happen to me' mentality. I also believe, that if someone really wants to find you alone they will. This advice is very similar to what we tell girls who go off in college. Don't go out alone. I understand it but I truly hate that it is all put on the girls to protect themselves rather than on others to help find and stop the killer. To put things in place to help keep them safe.

19. "The Sun Down Motel" has been tagged by 336 users as "Horror." What has been the most horrific scene for you so far? Is it a supernatural one or one connected to the murders?
The most horrific scene so far (to me) was learning that Simon kept going back to 'see' Betty and to relive the past.


20. At the end of the last chapter set in 2017 in this section, Carly claims her aunt may have done something wrong (alluding to the stabbing of Simon). What do you think of Viv's actions? Do you think she was right or wrong, justified or unjustified in her actions?
This is really hard. No one was looking or would listen to Viv. She was able to find info that the cops should have. I think the stabbing itself was self defense but I'm not sure it would have been needed if she hadn't decided to confront him.

21. With only 18% of the book left to go, what do you think will happen? Do you have an idea of what happened to Viv after she stabbed Simon? Do you think Marnie and Alma know what truly happened to Viv? Do you think Carly will find out what happened to Viv?
I am really curious. So much has happened and I feel like to could be wrapped up now (or maybe it was shortly after the 82% point). So I am really interested to see the remaining twists. I hope Viv got away and is still alive but I am not convinced. I think Marnie and Alma do know and Carly will likely find out most if not all. Viv talked so many times about what she would say/do as a ghost haunting the hotel that I would be surprised if she wasn't although right now it seems as if that won't be the case.

Completion Post
Book: Hurricane Season
Finished: 7/5
Pages: 224

Letters:
Y: (c) Yesenia
M: (a) Fernanda Melchor
S: (translator): Sophie Hughes
N: (c) Norma
T: (c) Tina
C: (c) Chabela

Task: 22 Black cover

13. Thoughts on Viv telling Mrs. White that her husband cheats on her. Do you think this is what gets her into trouble?
I am not sure why she chose to tell or why then. I can definitely see this playing a role

14. We have another encounter with the angry man ( this makes at least 3) Who is he? Why is he important to the story?
Maybe I missed the angry man. Was it in both timelines or just 1? I know we learned about the smoking man, is that the same? Because I definitely feel like I have a slightly better handle on this one.

15. Which story line (Carly or Viv's ) are you enjoying more? Why?
Such a hard question. Not sure I can say that I like one more than the other. I think I can relate more to Carly. It takes place in more recent times and I understand how she gets so invested in the killings. I'm not sure why Viv got so hung up on it all.

16. The ending of this section just raises more questions for me. If Viv buys a knife, didn't she get a chance to use it?
Where is the knife? Was it mentioned in the police reports? What do you think?
How do you know she didn't use it? The killings did stop around that time. Maybe there is more than one person involved. Maybe she ran away and is in hiding. Probably not. It could have been turned against her as well.

6.) This section opens with some spooky stuff going on. If you saw literal ghosts in the creepy place you worked, would you split right away? Would you of left with sketchy-past Nick? Would you go back to work or think the overnight creep factor was making you see things that weren't really there?
Well, Carly definitely likes Nick. If I was interested in a guy and he didn't seem to live up to the sketchy stories I might have left with him when I was her age. I'm not sure of the ghost thing, I think it depends on how real it felt and if I felt threatened or not.

7.) Viv listens to guests' phone conversations. There is the saying 'people who eavesdrop are seldom happy with what they hear'. Or something close to that anyway. Do you think she may over hear something that results in her disappearance? Would you listen in if you were Viv?
I do believe she will get in trouble for this. Not sure how that will play out though. I would try not to listen but I am sure I would, especially since there is nothing else to do there.

8.) There really have been several deaths of young women in Fell, especially factoring in the size of the town. Do you think they are all connected? Connected to Viv's disappearance? Do you buy into the police stance of no connection between any of them?
I am not sure if they all are, but as is mentioned (I think in this part), it might be scarier to think of multiple murderers rather than 1. I can't imagine that there are that many girls that go missing or die to have none of them connected.

9.) What do you think of the complete laxness of management and staff at The Sun Down Motel? Anyone else wonder how the heck that place is still open? And more importantly, why?
That place is strange. They must be on a road and at a point where truckers stop. The owner clearly doesn't care about it.

10.) Any thoughts on the candy machine? It keeps popping up in both timelines. Maybe nothing, but in this type of story, who knows.
This seems to be related to the lights in a way. It also seems like that is related in some way to the ghosts.

11.) Marnie and Callum are interesting additions to the character line-up, thoughts? Did you think it was strange that Marnie won't talk with Carly? Callum local nice boy-helper dude or creeper
Marnie is all into self preservation. Having grown up there I think she is scared. She may also be scared to see someone trying to go down the same path that Viv did. Not sure about Callum. I definitely think that one of the other characters has to be a creeper in some way, though I'm leaning to a different one that either of these two. Hard to say though. And I like to be surprised.

I'm really loving this book and very invested. I think it is very interesting that both Viv and Carly are so interested in the missing girls.

I'm also intrigued by the traveling salesman. Anyone else? I'm at a point where the author seems to be leading us but I'm afraid to take too much at face value.

1. The Sundown Motel...what a perfect name for a motel! Have you ever stayed at a motel before...something like the Sundown? What was the name of the motel...Any interesting experiences come of that?

I haven't, at least that I remember. I have driven down to Jacksonville FL on the old roads that folks used to use before the highways. Littered with old abandoned motels.

2. Viv is young and working alone. I don't think I would tolerate my daughter doing anything of the sort. What were you thinking from the 1st few pages? Viv comments..."Being with people was easy, but being alone was hard. Especially along in the dark. The person who could be truly alone, in the company of no one but oneself and one's own thought--that person was stronger than anyone else. More ready. More prepared."

Well, I definitely thought it was not safe, especially after being dropped off by the creep. As a mom, I wouldn't be happy but Viv left home, so it wouldn't matter. The being alone line is striking. When alone we tend to add music, TV, books, etc so as not to feel alone.



3. What do you think the significance of the door to number 103 banging open/shut is?

Definitely a foreshadowing/foreboding. Manifestation of evil?

4. So far Carly's mom's reaction to seeing the newspaper clipping..."Vivian is dead" has really bothered me. What's your take? Have you already solved the case? Is Vivian dead?

No idea about what actually happened. But given the area, the other dead girls and the likelihood it may just be easier to think that than to deal with not knowing. My guess is that her mom drilled it into her as well.

5. What did you think about the dual timeline between Viv and Carly? In what ways are Viv and Carly very similar? How are they different

I love the alternating timeline. When done well it can be very effective, like here. There are lots of similarities as to the why they left home; however, Viv had no money and was just trying to go somewhere. Carly is looking for Viv and has an inheritance to help her. Carly looking for info on Viv necessarily puts her in instances where she is where Viv was and influences her choices.

Completion Post
Book: White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism
Date: 7/1
Pages: 154

Letters -
R - (a) Robin Diangelo
A - narrator: Amy Landon

Task: 52, text only cover

✿~Danielle~✿ wrote: "Hello, dropping in from team Fridge for some recommendations for Fantasy (Epic/High/Dark) and Space Opera. If you have any please?

Thank you!"

I'm not familiar with Space Opera. I may have to look into that.

Have you read Children of Blood and Bone? I'd definitely recommend

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Karen ♐ wrote: "Jammin Jenny wrote: "I'm listening to a monster book

- 1,796 pages"


63 hrs"

I was considering listening to one that was 36 hrs and was scared by the length. I hope you enjoy, that is quite a commitment.

Completion Post
Book: The Bookshop of Yesterdays
Date: 6/30
Pages: 368

Letters:
C: (c) Charlie
M: (c) Miranda Brooks
A: (a) Amy Meyerson
S: (c) Sheila

Task: 108, Book on cover:

I'm definitely missing being able to go out and about like normal for some reason today. It's even been to wet to hike, but that has been good for my reading. Hope everyone else is enjoying.

Completion Post
Book: Never Have I Ever
Date: 6/27
Pages: 352

Letters:
R: (c) Roux
C: (c) Charlotte
M: (c) Madison
N: (t) Never
T: (c) Tig
A: (c) Amy

Task: #48 - MPG Contemporary (by 52 users)

Would you consider this book a children's book? . I was planning on using it and it has some great letters. It is a middle grade novel though. Page length is ok, but it is written in prose so the audiobook version isn't as long as I expected.