Fiona’s Comments (group member since Sep 25, 2023)

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

736 pages
220 pages

Current total: 1,897,827

480 pages

Current total: 1,895,320

352 pages

Current total: 1,889,688

269 pages

Current total: 1,886,918

Same with me haha but I loved the challenge and great job, team!
Happy holidays :)

757 pages

Current total: 1,885,883

Day 4 - Dec 5th - Part VI

14. How do you think the police are handling the disappearance of Barbara and how this compares to how Bear’s disappearance was handled?
I've already read ahead because I thought part VI and VII will be one day of DQs haha
It's certainly not being handled the way I hoped but I think one has to keep in mind that it was the 70s.

15. What do you think about what is implied about TJ and her relationship with Barbara? How does this relate to the themes of the book so far?
Even though I didn't believe it to be true, the book really wanted you to think that there was something inappropriate going on. I think it ties really well into the theme of the toxic and abusive relationships I mentioned in my DQs.

16. Do you have a favorite point of view or conversely, any point of views so far that you don’t think are necessary for the book?
That's difficult to say. I think my favorite was Alice's but I definitely lost track of who's POV we have been through, so can't say which one was unnecessary.

17. What do you think of the survival trips and the squirrel hunting? Do you think this is a good idea with 8- to 14-year-olds? Any experiences from your childhood/schooling as comparison that you want to share?
Camping including some survival lessons are a good idea imo but one shouldn't take it too far, especially with an 8-year-old.

478 pages

Current total: 1,877,791

DQs Day 3 - Parts IV & V

10. When Alice gave birth to her second child, she had a mantra. "I will love this new baby." I found it very odd. What do you think about that? Do you find any deeper meaning in it?

11. What do you think about Bear showing up? Could it be real? Just a vision/hallucination?

12. Do you think Barbara was "just" a name for Peter? Or could there be something he hides?

13. Louise got brutally beaten up. Toxic/abusive relationships seem to be a big factor in this book. Do you think that will have anything to do with the rest of the story and the reveal of the mystery?

That's great!! Hope they're all well :)

Day 2 - 3 Dec
Parts II & III

6. The story is told through multiple characters and constant time jumps. Do you think it's working for the plot? If not, what would you change? Is it easy for you to keep track of the plot and characters? Is it impacting on your reading?
I think it is working for the plot but it is definitely hard for me to keep track of both the character changes and the time jumps since I am listening to the audiobook.

7. We're introduced to the Van Laar family. What do you think of the mother (or the lack of her appearance so far) and the two Peter's? Do you think the grandfather or the father have a role in Bear's disappearance?
The family is weird. I really don't like the grandfather. But do they have anything to do with Bear's disappearance? I don't think so.

8. We're also introduced to Delphine who says to Alice that "that one is free to do what one wishes in life, expectations be damned”, that Alice can do more and that she is smart. What do you make of Alice's reaction to this? Do you think Alice will end up standing up for herself and speaking up?
I liked Delphine's little speech and I do think that Alice will take it to heart and hopefully act on it. What, in my opinion, Delphine doesn't see is that it won't be that easy for Alice.

9. I've noticed that the author has reduced the voice for a few characters. We see it with Alice from when she's 18 years old and with Tracey. Even with Louise as she's being asked questions by the Senior Investigator. Why do you think the author did this, especially with Alice and Tracey? Do you think Louise is like Alice and Tracey or very different? Have you noticed any other similarities between any of the characters?
I think this is probably to show character development later. Probably shy-ish, oppressed women becoming strong or something along those lines.

629 pages

Current total: 1,869,649

Day 1- Part I

1.) Have you read any Liz Moore books before? Or, did you buy it to find out what the big drip of pink paint on the cover means?
So far I have not read any Liz Moore books, although this one was on my TBR. I picked it up now for more points in Wheels :D

2.) Have you ever gone to (or been a counselor at) a summer camp or the like as a kid? Did you like it?
Is the setting of this book descriptive (or nostalgic) enough to bring you into the story?
I have only been to a kind of weekend-camp which was very fun but never to any that goes on the whole summer. That's why I can't really say if the descriptions fit.

3.) So far we have been introduced to just a few characters; a couple of campers, a couple of counselors, a couple of useless parents, and a boogey man. What do you think of them so far?
So far, I'm a little bit confused who is who and what's going on, so I'm trying to get into the book. The person who stood out the most to me was Barbara but I think more in a negative way.

4.) How did you react to Louise not being very truthful about the night Barbara disappeared? How will it come back to haunt her (if it does)?
I think it will come back to haunt her but how, I don't know yet. Like I said, still trying to get settled into the story.

5.) If you have not read ahead, do you have any wild guesses about what happened to Barbara?
If you have read ahead, how do you like the way the story is unfolding?
I have no read ahead so can only guess. Maybe she got snatched by some mysterious person or creature?

272 pages
144 pages

Current total: 1,868,792

Works for me :)

703 pages

Current total: 1,820,314

DQs Day 5: Chapter 7 to Chapter 8 "... dark sheets of slate." (pages 377 to 489)

16. "Everyone, suddenly, had known him; everyone was deranged with grief; everyone was just going to have to try and get on as well as they could without him." This is what Richard thinks about the other students at Hampden college after Bunny was found. What are your thoughts on that? Did you ever experience something like that in real life?

17. Bunny's parents invited all of his friends (close or not so close) to stay at their house before the funeral. If you had been in Richard's place, would you have gone? Why (not)?

18. How would you describe Henry's behavior at the funeral?

19. Charles kissed Camilla, and it turns out that this might not have been the first time this has happened. Were you shocked to learn about this or did you see it coming?

20. "Had Henry intended to make me the patsy if his plan had fallen through?" Richard suspects that Henry has used him and would've gone even further if things had been differently. Do you agree?

DQ Day 4 - Ch 6 (pages 275 to 376)

12. At a party, Richard has an epiphany... "The gesture was, to me, tremendously touching and all of a sudden I realized I had been wrong about these people. These were good people, common people; the salt of the earth; people whom I should count myself fortunate to know."
What are your thoughts on Judy and those people? Do you think Richard would have been better friends with them? Would he have had better grades and a better experience at college? Would he have been better off being with them and different subjects and not studying Greek with the Greek club?
Oh for sure, he'd have a normal college experience like every normal person with his very normal friend group. He'd definitely be in less danger.

13. In this chapter, the search for Bunny continues. What are your thoughts on everyone's reactions to Bunny's search party? Are they what you expected? Are they accurate? Do you care?
I'd say I care. I'm not sure about normal or accurate since I never went through this myself. I do find them a little suspiscious behaving though.

14. In murder mysteries, I always scrutinise how the police are portrayed if any evidence could lead back to the killer/s, and if the author thought of everything. What do you do when you read a murder mystery? Do you just go along with the plot, try to guess what will happen, or skip to the end of the book to find out what happened?
I definitely try to guess along with the story. I'm rarely successful with it though.

15. As I read this book, I forgot that they didn't have mobile phones back then and wondered why they weren't calling each other instead of using home phones and pay phones to get a hold of one another. Then I remembered the book was written in 1992 and mobile phones weren't a thing. Was it easy for you to slip into the 1990's setting and remember what technology was and wasn't around? What are some good memories or highlights that you have in the 1990's (mine was being born haha)
I was born in the mid 1990s as well, so there aren't all that many memories that I have of that decade haha

Day 3: Chapter 5

12. How do you feel about the pace of the novel? Do you prefer a slower character driven like this one or do you prefer something more quick and plot driven?
At this point of the novel, I wish it was a bit faster-paced. It was great to get a clear view of the characters but now I'd like a little more action. Hopefully that will happen in book 2.

13. In this chapter we see Richard dealing with his first winter alone. Why do you think the author spends one hundred pages on this? What does it tell you about Richard as a character?
In my opinion, it is to show what differences there are in Richard's character when he's alone vs. when he is with the others. Why spend 100 pages on it? Only the lord knows.

14. If you were in Richard’s situation what would you have done differently?
Well, I'd say not become friends with the group in the first place, as that was probably not the best idea. But since he's already involved with them, I don't know if I'd do anything differently myself.

15. Donna Tartt was actually good friends with Bret Easton Ellis. I heard that the Greek students make a cameo in his novels as well as Janet Poovy. Have you read anything by him? Do you know any other author friendships that share characters or settings?
I have not read anything by this author yet and currently, I can't think of any of these author friendships. I do really like the thought of it though.

DQs Day 2 - Chapters 3 & 4 (pages 104 to 172)

6. What do you think of Julian’s unique position as a wealthy outsider and its influence on his interactions with both the college and the group?
I'm not sure yet what I think about him. He's a bit weird but currently, that's all I really know.

7. The narrator and the group are greatly fascinated by the classics, in particular Greek tragedy. Do you think this influences their perception of the world and their relationships within the group and with other characters?
Definitely. I think that goes for everyone and their specific interests. How you see the world, how it shapes your conversations, etc.

8. What do you think of the relationship between Richard and the other members of the group? Do you think it has evolved over these chapters? What, if any, are the elements most likely to strengthen or disrupt this bond?
I definitely think it has evolved, but I do see some kind of dependency from Richard on the others. Also feels like they're kind of taking advantage of him sometimes.
I think what could disrupt the bond is maybe money? I don't know about strengthen.

9. How does the isolated setting of Hampden College contribute to the atmosphere and the characters' actions?
To me, it seems like they're in a state of "We can do whatever we want because no one is watching"

10. Did your thoughts about Henry’s relationship with Bunny change over the course of these chapters?
Yes, it seemed toxic and Bunny seemed a bit dangerous to me.

11. What do the Bacchic rituals symbolize to the group? Are they seeking a transcendent experience, or are they simply indulging in hedonistic pleasures? How do these rituals contribute to the group's downfall?
I don't know, not really sure I understood anything about the rituals lol

Bonus: I have always been fascinated by the various secret societies one reads about. If given a chance, would you want to be a member, and if so, which one would you want to belong to? (The secret society does not have to belong to a college/university, it can be one not linked to an educational institution.)
I would love to be a member but of which society, I'm unsure.