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

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

December 6 - DQs Chapter 9 – 11: Pages 161 – 225

21. We’ve learned already that Grace hid the birth of Gywneth’s early arrival. That she hoped that Gywneth might be a carrier of the time traveling gene. If you were in Grace’s situation, would you have hid the birth of your child? Would you have bribed the midwife to change the birthday? Also do you think Grace is behind the midwife leaving so quickly?
I agree with what has been said above, Lucy and Paul are Gwyn's real parents; but I also think it was a poor move to keep Gwyneth in the dark because now she's ill prepared for what is to come. I'm sure Grace is behind it.

22. What do you think the mission is?
To unite the 12 time travellers. What will happen if they do, that I don't know.

24. We’ve learned more of why Lucy stole the chronography and with Paul, Falk de Villiers brother. They went to the past forever, what time period do you think they went to keep safe? Also, why would Grace help them?
(view spoiler)[At the beginning of the 20th century, weren't they hiding in 1912? They were talking about hiding from London's bombing/blitz, maybe just before WWII? (hide spoiler)] They would chose a time where they knew a family member. Agree with Angel; it helps to know what's going to happen, I would try to choose a period with relatively peace. Because Grace cares about Lucy, she is her niece.

25. We learned some of the reasons why Grace is adamant about Gywneth Count Saint-Germain. He is can read thoughts and control their will. Do you think this is true? After Gywneth met the count, do you think he is still able to read minds?
He has telekinesis I think, I don't know how big his power is. He seems like a power hungry person.

26. Do you think it’s right for Gideon to travel back in time and tell the Guardians companies to invest in like Apple?
I understand it's tempting, maybe to help my family but it isn't fair and I'm sure it's forbidden to change history, plus especially helping a fishy secret society as the guardians. I don't trust it.

27. Gywneth was asked by the count if she had any special abilities. She didn’t think so. Do you think some of the other Circle of the Blood has special abilities? Is it possible Gideon can read thoughts too? Do you think Gywneth hasn’t discovered hers yet?
Agreed with what has been said above. Gideon can probably read thoughts, as for Gwyneth I think seeing and talking to ghosts is pretty special and can be helpful later. I don't know what the mentioned 'ravens' in the prophecy are referencing to.

Are we doing next spin?

Yesterday evening we put the christmas tree with all the decorations :) meanwhile my cat was watching and scheming how to sabotage christmas this year. Last year he jumped into the tree to play with the decorations and the whole tree fell. He is like the grinch :p

T?

D?

December 4 - Comments and Questions: Chapters 6-8 (Pages 96-160)

14. Do you think James is starting to come to grips with this ghostness? What role do you see him playing in the book?
Maybe some day, if it's one of those books that ghosts 'disappear' when they are able to move on. I think Gwyneth will need him for her time travels.

15. Aunt Maddy's vision had a sapphire breaking and a chick popping out and ravens. It seems to be coming very close to the poem of the 12 time travelers. Thoughts?
Isn't Lucy the sapphire? And the next book is called Sapphire Blue. Not sure about the rest.

16. Aunt Glenda is a rather mean lady. Do you think there's more to her protests than just wanting to be the center of attention?
I guess it's difficult to take that after all this years of conditioning they have to give it up and move on. I think it's jealousy.

17. Gideon was her secret love in the past. Thoughts? Why do you think she was so set on him not seeing her double?
Not secret love, they are the Gideon and Gwyneth in one of their later travels in the past. Gideon seems to be a stickler for following the rules.

18. We have confirmation on Mr. Whitman being a member of the group. Do you think it was chance that he was both Gwyneth and Charlottes teacher?
No, I don't think so, it would be a huge coincidence if it was certainly considering that time travellers are rare.

19. Mr. George sounds remarkably calm about Gywneth's ability to see ghosts. Do you think the group knows of other abilities besides the time travel and visions?
Yes, I think the members of the time travellers' family all have kind of a secret or certain abilities.

20. What a crazy and varied group of people. Was there anyone who stood out as your favorite? Anyone you really disliked?
I liked Aunt Maddy and Lesley seems always cheerful & positive. I didn't like the Count of Saint-Germain and Gideon is a bit annoying.

Finished by Kerstin Gier
Characters: Bernard, Lesley Hay, Thomas White
--> Letters: H, B, T

Finished by Kerstin Gier ★★★ 5 Dec
- Quick and light read but not that invested to continue the series.
- 336 pages
- BOM: Yes - here here
- Thundercats Christmas mini-challenge: The cover has a christmassy vibe to it with the red and silver colours, I don't know if the judge will let this pass :p

*Save Christmas Quest: Red cover + BOM

Comments and Questions - December 3: Chapter 3 - Chapter 5

6 - So, as expected, Gwyneth travels back in time. What did you think about the little differences in everything (like the doorbell, the cars, etc)? And Gwyneth's first thought was to go back home. Do you think it was the right thing to do? What would you have done?

Time travel would be awesome but it would be scary too. If they could control it that would be better. But yes, it's logic she went to what is most familiar to her, I would do that too.

7 - That was a shock! This remotes back to Sir Isaac Newton. Do you think there's going to be a conspiracy going on, something like Da Vinci's code, but for teens and time travelling?

Maybe, the Guardians 'club' seems intriguing and quite mysterious. There must be a reason the two lovers in the prologue were hiding away from them.

8 - What did you think about aunt Maddy's vision?

Vague. Now they need someone who can interpret it. Maybe Gwyneth will be in danger.

9 - The second time travel happens. This one was a very close call, with everyone else trying to find her. What did you think about Mr Bernard's showing up out of nowhere? He is a strange fellow. I keep thinking he suspects Gwyneth's time travelling gene, but if he does, he hasn't mentioned anything!

He's 'part' of the family for a very long time so I guess he had time to snoop around and listen at the doors :p He seems to be clued-in the family secrets.

10 - The tidbit before chapter 5, tells us of Gwyneth's adventure, but it also blames her for the disappearence of some items. Do you think this will be significant?

Maybe. I thought the theft was a cover up and Gwyneth was used as a scapegoat, maybe the servants did it. Or like what has been suggested above Gwyneth is followed by another time traveller (that would be Gideon?).

11 - I love that Leslie was trying so hard to help. All that information and Back to the Future movies xD and Google! Do you think Leslie will be able to find something about this close guarded secret?

She's pretty cool as a friend. She might contribute something to uncovering the secret, but I think she will also be important as a supportive friend.

12 - Mr Whiteman wears a signet ring just like Gwyneth's grandfather used to. And then he says that Charlotte won't be back in school "until everything has ...returned to normal". Do you think he is a Guardian? Or maybe a watcher of sorts? He definitely knows something, specially considering the design of his signet ring.

Definitely, I think he's part of the 'secret club'.

13 - And the third jump takes Gwyneth to see herself in a wig and strange clothes. AND kissing this very handsome boy. Do you think the boy could be the famous Gideon de Villiers? And why was Gwyneth 2 trying so hard to hide Gwyneth 1 from him?

Yes, I think it's him (I understood that they are the only 2 time travellers alive or Lucy is still alive too).
Since Gwyneth 1&2 are the same person, I think Gwyneth 2 knew that Gwyneth 1 was in that same room, because Gwyn 2 is Gwyn 1 that time travels later so Gwyn 1 actually sees Gwyn 2 in one of her later time travels. Mmm, I don't know why exactly she hid it from the boy but it's time travel so that can turn out to be complicated.

S?

This book is quite a quick read. I read chapters 1-7 in one go.

Comments and Questions - December 2: Prologue - Chapter 2

1. Theories on the prologue? Who is Grace? (there seem to be a lot of "G" names in the family!)

I think Grace is the mother of Gwyneth. Yes indeed, I hope I will remember them all. I think I'm going to read the prologue again since Lucy has been mentioned.

2. So Leslie is Gwyneth's friend, Charlotte is her cousin, James is the ghost and Caroline and Nick are her siblings. Thoughts on the characters so far?

James seems interesting, I think he might play an important role since he's from the past and might help Gwyneth. Caroline sounds adorable. I also like Aunt Maddy so far, still not so sure about Gwyneth.

3. What do you think is with the man in black outside their house? Why is no-one concerned about him?

Yes, I wondered why the parents, adults in general weren't concerned at all, and the kids were. That was a bit weird. I think he's interested in the time traveller, maybe he's a guardian?

4. Do you like the writing style / the humour and the little newspaper clippings or book excerpts before each chapter?

It's a translation so I don't know how it is in German but the English version is easy to follow, no complicated writing style. I had some giggles yes. The paper clippings can be a bit confusing at first but I think they will be useful to understand the consequences of time travel since time travel is quite a tricky concept.

5. How annoying that Gwyneth hasn't worked out her symptoms! I wonder why her family haven't realised she has the gene?

Yeah, that was a bit predictable and typical YA. I read further so I know why but the excuse they gave didn't convince me.

I'm in!

Challenge extended for 1 month.

❄ Quest to Save Christmas ❄

Duration: 2 Dec 2014 - 31 Januari 28 February 2015
Level: Valiant Attempt
Progress: 160/300 Golden Coins

Find the Missing Elf

Read 3 books with direction words in the title (in, out, up, down, north, south, around, etc.) Earn 50 Golden Coins when complete:

1. Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
2.
3.

Find More Paint

Read a book that has each of the following colors as the main color (over 50%) of the cover. (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White, Black, Pink) Earn 10 Golden Coins per color and an additional 40 if all colors are found:

1. Red - You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister 09/12/2014 ★★★★
2. Orange - Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister 25/22/2014 ★★★
3. Yellow - Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones 16/12/2014 ★★★★
4. Green - Witch's Business by Diana Wynne Jones 7/01/2015 ★★★
5. Blue - The Gods of Gotham by Lyndsay Faye 18/12/2014 ★★
6. Purple - Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones 4/01/2015 ★★★1/2
7. White - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 12/12/2014 ★★★
8. Black - Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister 6/01/2015 ★★★
9. Pink -



Check the List

Read 4 books where the title contains the words good, bad or similar words or where the main character is a bad boy/girl or a good boy/girl. Earn 50 Golden Coins when complete:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Fix the Chimney

Read 4 books that make 4 corners each match up with a letter. Completing the chimney repair will earn you 80 Golden Coins:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Fix Santa's Sleigh

New Harnesses - Read 2 skinny (100-125 pages) books to create beautiful new streamline harnesses:
1. Curran POV Collection by Gordon Andrews (kindle: 105 pg.) 02/12/2014 ★★★★
2. Claimed by Lindsay Buroker (kindle: 103 pg.) 27/01/2015 ★★★



New Stuffing and Fabric - Stuff your mind with new popular books. Read a book from GoodReads Choice Awards (winner or nominee is acceptable):
1. Cress by Merissa Meyer 31/12/2014 ★★



New Rails - Read a 800+ page book to get thick new rails:
1.

Paint Remover - Participate in a BOM discussion and uncover hidden depths:
1. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier 05/12/2014 ★★★

(Each item found will net 20 Golden Coins. Completing all will grant an additional 30 Golden Coins.)

I will BR in January, if the book qualifies for the colour pink then we could use that one.

I have Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch on my tbr list.

Btw first snow in Belgium today ❄ ☃ but it's that kind of instant melting snow.

Lauren wrote: "Barron's is actually the only reason I stuck with the Fever series. I couldn't stand Mac and wanted to slap her silly all the time!"

Yeah, that too. Let's just say I won't reread it :p


@ Sheila: looks good to me. I will read the quest more attentively and see how I can contribute.

Kathleen wrote: "I'm in for Jonathan Strange too! My goodness but that book is BIG. I'm hoping the buddy read and TT3 will spur me into finishing it (got stuck at Chapter 3). "

I liked it but my mistake was to switch repeatedly between the paperback and the audiobook, in the end I got confused and didn't know where I was in the story anymore, so it's time I pick it up again.

Curran's POV collection is free here: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/curran-p...

My favourite characters are without a doubt Aunt B, Barabas, Derek and now Desandra :)

I read the Fever series but I didn't enjoy it, I know a lot of readers liked Barrons but I thought he was mean and disrespectful towards Mac. I prefer the banter between Curran and Kate. Kathleen if you're interested I think they are doing a BR for Burned.

Renee wrote: "Look Everyone! Our first official mini challenge with real points!

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

That looks really fun! I'm always amazed at what you mods come up with.

Btw Renee I just checked the team rankings, the eagles are really soaring :) Way to go! Now there are 2 air teams in the top 5.

I tried audiobooks several times but it's not working for me. I tend to sleep in. First time was for Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, I had to put it on hold around 300 pages, I think I will join the BR for this one because it would earn us 130 points :)

For Renee's challenge I read the smallest book on my tbr list, and that was Curran POV Collection with 157 pages.

Jeanne wrote: "Is it A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters"

Yes, you got it Jeanne! Still need to continue the series.

Finished by Gordon Andrews, 2 December, ★★★★
- Collection of short stories from Curran's point of view set during or between the first 4 books in the Kate Daniels series. Enjoyed it a lot! Here kitty kitty
- 157 pages

A / _OR_ID / _AS_E / FOR / _ONES by ELLIS / _E_ERS

Letters used: A, D, E, F, I, L, N, O, R, S

Catherine wrote: "I love her books...have you not read any of her books? "

Nope, I first thought she was the author of The Secret Garden which in retrospect doesn't make any sense considering the date of release, and I watched the movie years ago lol. The book is historical fiction/mystery, it's the kind of genre I enjoy the most :)