Audrey Jane’s Comments (group member since May 27, 2014)

Audrey Jane’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I would like to claim Buddy Read points for Kisscut which I read in November 2014 during TT3. I'm enjoying the discussion around the book, and there's enough readers and interesting material to talk about, will regularly check out the thread.

Thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

@ Cynthia: Yes, spot on. (view spoiler)[Personally there where a lot of 'omg what is she/he doing' moments. The whole episode with Lena/Mark wasn't that well handled, and the case failed. Also there were a lot of obvious situations and the characters completely misjudged the situation, the moment Mark's sister enters the hospital and 'confides' in Sara is one of them. The thing about Lena is that even in the first book I wondered who does she like. She seems to dislike everyone. And you're right about her views about homosexuality, also towards her sister. But at the same time, like you said, I think Lena Adams as she is now adds to the story and will still play an important role through the series. I just hope that at some point she will accept Hank's help. Not only for her but also for Hank. I think they both need understanding & confirmation from each other, it would be interesting to see their relationship grow in the next books. It's difficult to read about characters that go into self-destructive mode, especially if it affects others as well, like loved ones imo. (hide spoiler)]

@ Emma & Becky: (view spoiler)[Completely agree with you. I really like the writing style for the same reasons that Leslie stated, and it's fast paced too. But I like to put a certain time interval between Slaughter's books. I tend to read them in one go, rushing through the story but I like to alternate books to avoid overdose ;) Agreed Emma, the author does write without restraint. Now when I read other crime fiction/thrillers, I feel that compared to Slaughter I can pretty much handle anything at this point. What I also admire in the author is the fact that her books always stirs strong emotion or thoughts on her readers part. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda, I had the sense that (view spoiler)[not much was happening almost the whole way through the book. It does pick up a little later. I enjoyed the world-building and characters, Seraphina falls into that 'neutral/kind of likeable zone' for me, if that makes sense. Also the dragon lore is pretty interesting. I understand, I kept forgetting dragons names and terms too. I felt for the scavenging little dragons in the city. It's a bit different from other YA fantasy I read so far, and there's a lot of potential and possibilities. I hope it picks up for you :) (hide spoiler)]

I agree about Lena Adams, Cynthia. (view spoiler)[I tried to root for her in the first book, but in Kisscut she turns out so bitter and unlikeable that I just can't bring myself to like her. I also don't understand her treatment of her uncle, Hank. He did wrong in the past, and I think he feels remorse and redeemed himself for that. But Lena just gives him a really hard time. The scene in the bathroom where Lena wanted to take an overdose of pills was really moving and broke my heart a little for Hank mostly. I felt that the scene was important for both of them but Lena is so stubborn. Also her way of thinking/handling victims was off-putting. I'm curious how her character will develop, hopefully not worse than this.

Ha yes, about the preacher. The moment he got introduced I thought he was fishy. On the other hand it also felt cliché.

I'm really liking this series, I'm enjoying Slaughter's writing style, and can't wait to start the next one. I noticed that there isn't a character, apart from Hank Adams maybe, that I actually think is likeable. I don't really like Sara either but I do root for her. I don't particularly dislike Jeffrey but that's because I can't figure him out, I need more information on his and Sara's past. All the characters are kind of quirky. (hide spoiler)]

by Victoria Holt
Characters: Connan TreMellyn
--> Letters: T

Yes, you got it Jeanne!

I know I'm extremely late with this one. I started my re-read of the book during the Christmas holidays, I put it down, and got distracted by other books. I'm determined to finish it this month.
I'm currently 10% in. From what I read so far, it's quite different from what I remember when I read it the first time, a bit more then ten years ago. I didn't really enjoy the trilogy upon my first read because I thought it was overly descriptive and frankly a bit boring here and there. But I seem to enjoy it a lot better this time around. I don't mind the slow pace and the descriptions of Bree and the Hobbits, I actually want to know more, and I can picture it all in my head. Agree with Tea, I think that watching all the movies in between helps a lot too.

❀Tea❀ wrote: "I'm also having problems with A this time. I keep thinking OK, we are doing Aragorn
We could always spell Strider and Aragorn. And maybe add Elessar just to have more Ss? :P"

Yes, I know. I was confused also. Since the 'I' in Strider sounds like A when pronouncing I followed Danielle's way of thinking. I liked how Strider sounds and it starts with a S but maybe I should have kept Aragorn, but then I wanted to avoid the O :p dilemma dilemma lol Yes we could do all the characters' aliases :)

_ O _ _ A N _ / O F / _ I A R S by _ A R _ N / _ A I T _ A N _

Letters used: A, T, O, N, F, S, R, I
Not used: H

I kept the original rules modified by Tea for the 7 letters word. Danielle, I tried to give precedence to your 'A' but I can't fit it in the word ;)

@ Cynthia: I received the book for Christmas together with Dr. Mutter's Marvels: A True Tale of Intrigue and Innovation at the Dawn of Modern Medicine, and have been looking for a opporunity to read it since I keep getting distracted. I'm really looking forward to reading Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. I'm not sure it will win because the Anything Goes BOM category is a hard competition with all the big books being nominated, but glad I can count on your vote ;) I think it would make a great and interesting group read. Adding I Shall Be Near to You to my TBR list.

Finished by Caleb Carr
Characters: Sara Howard, Theodore Roosevelt, Stevie Taggert, Lucius Isaacson
Letters --> S, T, R, I

I'm ready to claim my Buddy Read points for now :)
BR thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Finished by Caleb Carr - 02/02/2015 - ★★★★ - 498 pages
Buddy Read thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
(planning to comment more when there's more activity)

Great historical mystery. Recommended if you like reading or are interested in forensics medicine and psychology since these are the central themes of the book. It's completely different of the historical mysteries I've read so far. This felt more based on exchange of ideas & viewpoints, and trying to understand the criminal mind. I did take me a while but nonetheless and interesting read. My favourite characters were Sara, Cyrus and Mary (I really felt for her).

I can understand why some readers really liked it. Rebecca, (view spoiler)[I did find some redeeming qualities. I liked that everything came together in the end, that the characters' lives were interwoven through the book. It wasn't particularly bad, but I had a completely other idea of the book before I began reading it. Yes, me too :) (hide spoiler)]

_ O _ _ A N _ / O F / _ _ A R S by _ A R _ N / _ A _ T _ A N _

Letters used: A, T, O, N, F, S, R
Not used: H

_ O _ _ A N _ / O _ / _ _ A _ _ by _ A _ _ N / _ A _ T _ A N _

Letters used: A, T, O, N

I finished the book a couple of days ago, in the end it didn't pick up for me. I know I'm in the minority since I didn't like this book. I agree with Sarah that it does feel more like a literary fiction. (view spoiler)[I thought the post-apocalyptic setting a mere afterthought and not thought through. There isn't any explanation for the flu outbreak and its survivors.
The characters felt really detached, I didn't connect with any of them. The most likeable is Miranda. I can't remember the rest of the characters, the fact that they were referred to as instruments which a lot of readers seem to like, bothered me because they're seen as a number. It creates distance and implies you don't want to form a bond with them. And as a reader I felt the same.
I wasn't invested in the plot either. I think the author wanted to show the hardships and importance of arts & cultural heritage but again no post-apocalyptic setting needed for that. Plus I believe that there's beauty in the ephemeral. Also the author mentioned a list of things we take for granted and have to live without after the apocalypse. Again maybe I'm alone in this but everything mentioned was expendable. This should have been the chapter that makes a punchline and grabs my attention, but it didn't.
So yes, nothing groundbreaking here for me. (hide spoiler)]

I guess this book wasn't meant for me. I admit GR Choice Awards and I are not good friends to begin with :p

I'm still enjoying the ride. Forgot to say, I really feel for Mary, you can feel her frustration through the pages. I also noticed that the book is fairly low on character development, but it doesn't really bother me in this case because there's enough other things to process and enjoy.

How is everybody doing with this book? Are you enjoying it?

_ O _ _ A _ _ / O _ / _ _ A _ _ by _ A _ _ _ / _ A _ T _ A _ _

Letters used: A, T, O

Indeed time flew by! I can't believe it's almost over. I thought it was quite relaxed no pressure challenge, except that I'm lagging behind with buddy reads. I learnt my lesson to stop making BR promises, and only enter the discussion when I'm actually reading the book. I know I didn't contribute a lot this week, but hope to finish 2/3 books for our potential last week.

Thundercats don't fear a bit of competition. Bring it! :)