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

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

Andy wrote: "anyone have a Friday feeling song, feel free to post it !

"

how about this one?
https://youtu.be/jf_NKqwklKg?si=D5bxv...
always gets me in a good mood 😊

Claire, could you please set a read date for De bessenplukkers? Thanks :)

400 pages

Current total: 1,026,424

volunteering for DQs (3P)

Oh I love that channel!

Melindam wrote: "

🏯🏯🏯 Hello Team!

We are through the first, and very successful month: great reading!! And I thought I'd ask for the books you loved/liked the most? (putting no limits here :)
Care to Share?

Al..."

My favorites were Heartless, The Rule Book, Matilda, Great Big Beautiful Life and Caught Up

Bonus info: One book I hated was Lolita

432 pages
326 pages
297 pages
368 pages

Current total: 1,023,801

KayLynn wrote: "Moderators of NBRC wrote: "The Chipmunks have had enough of the smell and want Mel's cheese out! These even come on a stick, so helpful in launching into the towers.

Queijo Coalho

Queijo (de) coa..."

Actually the first of our cheeses I REALLY want to eat :D

BOM Participation Fiona
Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 6
Chapter 32–end

24. Lots of big reveals here in the last few chapters! We learn the truth about Jodi's relationship to Margaret, as well as some vital information about Hayden's family history. What did you think of those reveals? Did you have any theories that ended up being right, or did they surprise you?
The truth about Jodi came as a shock.. the truth about Hayden didn't. At some point I just knew that this would happen. I liked those reveals.

25. Alice finally has the hard conversation with her mother about how out of place she feels in the family and how she feels like her mother doesn't like her as a person. How did you feel about the conversation? Did it feel realistic to you? Was there anything left unsaid you wish would've been addressed?
I teared up a little reading this part. I thought the conversation was really cute! So I'm happy they talked about it.

26. Emily Henry, the author, said that the song that best encapsulates this book is "the last great american dynasty" by Taylor Swift. I personally think there was a part that specifically felt like "marjorie" by Taylor Swift (when Alice talks about all the things she should have done when her dad was alive). If you had to pick one song that fits this book — either the book as a whole or a specific part — what song would you choose? Do you like when authors provide songs/playlists that go with their books?
I do think that "the last great american dynasty" fits very well. But yes, I was actually thinking of "marjorie" as well when she said those things about her dad.. I can't really think of any other song that fits well. But yes, I love it when authors include playlists!

27. "I welcome her to this great big beautiful life" — the epilogue finally reveals the significance of the title. What did you think of the ending and how the author wrapped up the story? Is there anything you wish had been done differently?
I liked the ending but it felt slightly rushed to me.

DQs Day 5
Chapters 26 - 31/The Story

21. In the previous story…Margaret regretted the next set of interview questions with Alice…stating it was time to recall all her worst mistakes.
Was it a mistake to go to Cosmo’s concert instead of being at home during Gerald’s final hours? Was it something with Laura/Dr. David? Again, later she indicates she regrets every decision she made. What do you think? Why does she feel this way? What were the bad decisions?
I think there's a lot she regrets, although the thing she regrets most was revealed later in the book. So I think she was referring to that.

22. Margaret keeps referring to trust. In chapter 27 she makes a reference to trusting people who wear bright colored clothing vs not. Why would someone like Margaret, with so much experience, call out the colors in clothing as a reason to trust someone? What are some of the things that make you trust one person vs another? Why?
Honestly, I have no idea haha
The only thing that I could explain it with is people dressing in black/white/grey are trying to hide something? Maybe?

23. In one of the last chapters in this section, we find out that Hayden knows details about Cecil, and Alice doesn’t; after deciding together, Alice point blank asks Margaret if she knows anyone else on the island.
Do you think Alice and Hayden have broken their trust/the NDA terms with Margaret by discussing Cecil together? Should they have handled this situation differently?
I think the way they handled this situation was the best way they could without actually breaking the NDA terms.

DAY 4 - CHAPTERS 21 - STORY 26

16. So the title, Great, Big, Beautiful Life... your thoughts on who this actually refers to? Do you think it has any significance to the plot at all or is it just a catchphrase along with the bright cover art to lure in the reader?
I thought it referred to Margaret.. But having read on, maybe it is also about Alice and Hayden?

17. Half way through the book and I realized that the only interviews the reader is privy to with Margaret is through Alice's eyes. Why has Emily Henry written it this way? What is the deal with Hayden? Is there actually a contest at all? And is there more to him not wanting to take his relationship with Alice to 100% physical? Is there going to be a twist, anyone think they've worked it out?
I think it was written this way so we don't find out what exactly Margaret is telling Hayden and to build up tension for later reveals. I did think there's a contest. I didn't think there was more to him not wanting a relationship with Alice.

18. Wow, nearly makeup, storm sex occurs, another near miss! What do you think about all the extended foreplay without getting to the main event? Do you like how Emily Henry writes an intimate scene? Are they important or interrupting the flow of the storyline?
I like the way she wrote it for sure, I like a good slowburn. Did not think it was disrupting the story at all.

19. One of the themes of the book is family relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. How does the parts about Alice and Hayden's family and especially the relationship with Alice and her mother contribute to the overall story?
I think it just gives us more insight to our main characters and to understand them better. The way they behave, the way they think..

20. What are your favourite parts of the book? The Alice and Hayden relationship or the slow reveal of the Ives' story?
Definitely loved the Ives' story, but I'm a little more of a romance lover, so I'd say the Alice and Hayden relationship was my favorite part of the book.

Day 3 Chapters 14-20

11. Whether the stories are true or not, are you interested in the back stories of Margaret’s family? What did you think of Freddy’s first interaction with Bernie? (The one that contained the only laugh out loud line so far “Because of your wardrobe?”)
I loved hearing about the whole backstory. Also loved their first interaction, I thought it was pretty funny.

12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
I honestly thought she's just a friend, or maybe even a little more than a friend of Margaret. About the big reveal - I was a little torn about that. Maybe she would be, maybe she wouldn't, I was pretty undecided.

13. I do not have kids, but Hayden’s list of “what ifs” to worry about was a lot. Do you parents worry about that stuff?
Not a parent and don't plan to be for a long time so I can't comment.

14. Why do you think Alice thinks that Margaret’s tales of her childhood are true, as opposed to the stuff about her family before she was around? Do you find her insightful or naive?
My two cents on this: I thought Alice thought that because it was Margaret's own story and she had nothing to hide. The lies about her family might have been to protect the memory of them.

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?
I thought that there would be some tension but it would be resolved in the end. I didn't really think about a visit to Hayden's family.

Perfect, thanks Mel :)

DQs Day 2
The Story to Chapter 13

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?
I had this theory that Margaret told them different stories or different parts of the story to see if they would keep their word and not talk to each other about it.

6. Similarly, it was kind of an aside but I thought it was interesting when Margaret mentioned the Ives family’s rivalry with the Pulitzers. Is it just a random coincidence that Hayden is a Pulitzer-prize winning author who now also gets to talk to her? Especially since she requested him? And he has a bunch of family issues too?
When I read that, I honestly didn't think much of it.

7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?
I was definitely shocked as well.. but actually found it sweet that he didn't want to get into something with Alice because of that reason. Of course, the way he said it was a bit cocky.. but I believed his reason.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?
Yes, definitely! It gives depth to both the story and the character.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?
I'm quite interested in the British Royal family, but not to an insane extent. For sure very interested in how Diana's death came about..

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?
Yes, I felt like that a bit. But also made me realize that I forgot quite a bit about the book and that I should reread it.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 to 7

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?
I've enjoyed most books of hers, so I was hoping a lot to enjoy this one as well, even though I've heard it's a little different than her other books.

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?
Alice seemed friendly but also a little obnoxious to me in the beginning. I do think sending Hayden that drink was a nice gesture though.

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?
I think I'd agree, since Margaret is paying them anyway. If she wouldn't, I'd definitely tell her a good bit of my opinion.
At first, I thought it was because she really just wanted to find the best person for the job. Having read the whole book before getting the time to answer these questions, I obviously know now that it was not the case.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did you opinion change a bit on his character?
Yes, you really start to understand him and why he is the way he is.

I moved Empire of Storms over to the 600+ pages task. So the A in Italy is free again ☺️

I can’t get my laptop to start which is GREAT, the goodreads app is so annoying 😭 can’t wait to be home again tomorrow

Andy, thanks for the recommendation! What a great song.

hahahaha

I’ll do that. I have about 6 hours left so maybe I’ll even be able to throw in some reading later 🫠

man, I’m on my 10-hour train ride, and I wanted to get so much reading done but I didn’t sleep much last night so I’m barely hanging on 🥲