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

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

Hello District 4!




The List by Yomi Adegoke
384 pages, read by Nadine on June 8

Works for:
Weapons: "...he said he didn't even have a weapon on him." ch 21
Shelter: purple cover
Food: "...leaving chilli chicken noodle pots from Itsu on her doorstep like her personal Deliveroo." ch 19
Defense: Michael defends his reputation

Let us know if you need anything specific for the remaining supply drops!

Cheers :)

Cris (The Biblio Blonde) wrote: "Fiona wrote: "Hello guys, I'm in as new co-captain!

Silje, could you please double-check the edition of
Forgotten in Death?

Gwen, could you please double-check the editions of
[..."

Thanks Cris!

Gwen|| Bookish Blondie wrote: "Correct editions should now be in"

Thanks Gwen!

Silje wrote: "Fiona wrote: "Hello guys, I'm in as new co-captain!

Silje, could you please double-check the edition of
Forgotten in Death?

Gwen, could you please double-check the editions of
[..."

Yes, my bad! Realized it was fine but was in a long work meeting so couldn't edit the message. Sorry!

Hello guys, I'm in as new co-captain!

Silje, could you please double-check the edition of
Forgotten in Death?

Gwen, could you please double-check the editions of
Prince Caspian
But He's My Grumpy Neighbor?

Nadine, could you please add Babel to your shelf?

Cris, could you please double-check the edition of
The Ministry of Time?

BOM Participation Post Fiona

DQ1
DQ2
DQ3
DQ4
DQ5

DQs Day 5
Chapters 27 - Epilogue

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

I rated it 3 stars. I was hoping for it to be more but I was also not in the right headspace for the book, so maybe I’ll reread it and then it could possibly become a 4 star read.

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?

Sometimes it was a bit irritating but I do feel like it worked. It was interesting to hear the different sides, truths and lies.

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 definitely think it’s hard. Thinking about my own dreams, of course I have good dreams from time to time and sometimes I’m lucky enough to remember them for more than 5 minutes. Nightmares, however, stick with me for longer even though I don’t want them to.

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?

What we think we need is often what we want and we don’t actually need it. It makes one think about what we want and think we need in our own lives.

25. Would you recommend this book? Explain.

I would recommend it to some people but I can see that it is not for everyone. Like I said, I myself wasn't in the right headspace for the book but am willing to give it another chance.

DQs Day 4: Chapters 20-26

16. I love Bev’s line ‘ How in hell is anybody supposed to help if you won’t ask?’ Are there any characters who don't need to hear this? Did it resonate with you?

I feel like Jasper is probably the only one who doesn’t need to hear this. But Opal does. Just confide in someone sometimes.

17. Opal and Jasper finally reveal their secrets and talk. Were you surprised that they are both Graverly’s? How do you feel about the outcome regarding schools?

I’m not really surprised by them being Gravely’s. The whole school thing was irritating but good that they finally talked.

18. Elizabeth Baine seems to have an amazing connections and pull. Who do you think she works for? How do you think she figured out what the right leverage was?

Double agent maybe? I just don’t like her and want her to go away.

19. So much happened in these chapters, yet I really don’t feel like I learned much. How do you feel about the pacing/storyline?

There was one point in which I literally fell asleep while reading so I guess that says a lot.

20. We learn that being a warden is a choice, although the house asks very vulnerable people. Do you think that the other wardens understood the price? How does Opal fit – she chose, but she isn’t a warden at this point.

I do think that the others understood the price but they really did not see any other / better choice than to be a warden given that they are this vulnerable.

Bonus cat question: Which name do you prefer – Baast or Hellcat?

100% Hellcat. I loved that name since the beginning.

DQs Day 3
Chapters 14-19

11. Starling House reminded me up to a point with some vibes of Beauty and the Beast, although lesser now as the story progresses. Is the book reminding you of any other stories you have read before?

I had the feeling that it seems familiar somehow but I can’t pinpoint what it is reminding me of.

12. Ch 14-19 have answered a lot of questions about Opal, the house, Arthur, the history of the place and what's going on. Has anything revealed in this section been surprising to you? Does the explanation so far of everything that has happened ring true?

So far it all makes sense to me. I did expect the wardens to not be blood related.

13. Jasper and Opal are clearly close, although he is sometimes moody and surly. He seems resentful at times of Opal going out so far on a limb to take care of him and get him out of Eden. What do you think of the character now that he has more fleshed-out scenes and more has been revealed about him and their relationship?

I can understand both of their sides - Opal doing everything she can so he can have a better life and Jasper not wanting her to do crazy stuff for it. I like their relationship.

14. Arthur and Opal have heated a few things up. Do you think they fit each other well with these developments?

I’d say so. I’m not the biggest fan of either of them but I think they fit each other quite well.

15. There is humor in the book that is overshadowed by genuinely creepy horror like tales, What do you think about Underland "beasts" revealed so far?

I find it all a bit creepy and I certainly wouldn’t want to meet any of them.

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?

Yes that actually works for me. It makes it seem like the actual MC is Opal and Arthur is important but not as much as Opal. Seems good to me.

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?

I didn’t think about any correlation regarding the parentage. I thought that it might have to do with her mother’s death. Maybe she was looking into Starling House as well and that’s why she died?

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?

They are very probably rich and evil. Nathaniel might have discovered Underland.

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?

How weird to have a “relationship” with your house. Though I like the thought of Starling House being sentient. I think it could be good but has seen a lot of dark things?

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?

I don’t like that. I find it best to just tell the truth directly, it will come out in the end anyway. Also boo for the spying, I hate that.

464 pages
312 pages
136 pages

Current total: 929,349

Perfect thank you 😊

The mini :)

I don’t think I’ll be able to finish Starling House in time. Can anyone take that spot?

Yayyy I got the DQs for the Country Gentlemen!

There’s a new Hunger Games book coming about the 50th games where Haymitch won!!!!

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 not read any other books by this author yet. The book was definitely on my TBR before but as so many books on my TBR, I had no idea what this book is about. After reading the first 7 chapters, I’m still not sure.

2.) Did you read the footnotes as you went along? Find them helpful? Annoying?

I’m listening to the audiobook, so I had no choice lol
I find them okay, I think I’d like them better had I been reading the physical copy.

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?

I think it depends on the child and the circumstances they’re in. For a child that has a great life, sure scare them a bit. But a child that hasn’t got a nice upbringing, it would be nicer if they can escape their lives for a bit and dive into a book with a better world.

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?

I don’t think I can say much about Eden. Starling House seems to have its own will and I’m intrigued by its mystery.

5.) Any favorites so far in our motley cast of characters? Opal, Arthur, Jasper, Bev, and Starling House.

I like Jasper and Bev. Can’t say much about Starling House yet except what I said for question 4. Opal and Arthur I dislike I guess.

136 pages
368 pages

Current total: 914,980

That book is definitely on my TBR but probably won't be able to fit it in.

Hope you feel better soon, Christina!

Judy, Nistha - I'm there with you on the crazy workload.

Really trying to get through my books somehow..