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

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

N?

I just checked, and I read it in June so normally it should be fine. Yes, we can complete each other of what we recall from the book :) I tend to ask annoying questions when I'm confused lol

I just noticed that I have Recaptains in my favourites :) So for everyone who wants a quick reminder of the plottwists and major events in Scarlet (tread carefully because the site is full of spoilers ;)): http://recaptains.blogspot.be/2013/10...

Hi everyone! I'm joining this one too. It has been a couple of months since I've read Scarlet, I hope everthing will come back to me while reading Cress :)

I like the idea of mini-challenges. I like your suggestion Lauren :) There are enough superheroes to choose from. Will they be weekly or monthly?

About the Karin Slaughter series. I also prefer to follow the intern chronological order. If I understand it correctly after a quick search I'm supposed to read the Grant County first and than the Will Trent series. Or I read the first three Will Trent books and than the Grant County. Thanks for pointing that out.

@NancyHelen: I agree, but I liked our discussion about the book and enjoyed the group read a lot. Also I enjoyed Karin Slaughter's writing style so much I rushed through it, that's what I need for this challenge ;)

October 23: pages 63-127 - answers

6. I have no idea. Everything in this book is cloaked in mystery and the 'unsaid', I'm waiting for the characters to have an openhearted conversation or one of the servants to spill it all out. But it does keep me on the edge of my seat, I'm curious.

7. What Karen said. I suppose she's a ghost or something since it seems that only Nella can see the woman (and the dog apparently). So maybe Nella has a sixth sense? Maybe the woman appears to warn Nella of something.

9. I thought we would actually meet the miniaturist, but we don't. I think that's important and that 'the miniaturist' plays the central role (like the title suggest), whoever he/she is the miniaturist seems all-knowing. (I think the marzipan was asked as a statement, I see it as an act of rebellion. Plus marzipan is delicious :)).

10. No, not really, because even Marin has it difficult to make her brother do things for their business. In the end he does what he wants.

Maybe like Agnes with all the rings on her fingers, they want to show off their wealth to the outside world. Keeping up appearance I guess.

11. Maybe good health and food is a sign of wealth (because the economy and trade is going good due to the VOC). The author mentions at the beginning [...] it was said that their poor ate much better than their counterparts in England, Italy, France, and Spain., so it means the country is doing well at the time.

12. I like Renee and Anita's suggestions, something along the line that the doll house absorbs the soul of the house and the people living in it, since it's a miniature version of it. And the miniaturist seems to have the role of the 'puppet master'.

I can't wait to read more!

Karen wrote: "I agree that Marin and Johannes felt a bit like possible incest to me, but I think it is more that Marin wants to be him, but can't as she is female. And I suspect he is a closet homosexual"

I had that suspicion too. The more I read the more I'm convinced. Besides I wonder about the love letter Nella found in Marin's room.

Missy wrote: "I read an interview with the author. She said that while Petronella and her husband did exist, and that the cabinet was real, these were the only "real" parts of the book. She said that everything else in the book was complete fiction. Knowing that, I almost think it would have made more sense to change the names of the characters. Using real people is confusing. "

Thanks Missy, good to know.

Kristie wrote: "Kristin wrote: "This thread is going to be the death of me. I want to read Cress too and December is perfect. Count me in!"


December 23rd works for me too. No problem Kristin, it's a 500+ pages book so I will go slowly. Besides if it happens that I'm finished before I will discuss it with you afterwards anyway.

Hey Thundercats! I've been perusing my shelves to give me some ideas for reading material for this Tower Teams challenge. I'm aiming to read bigger books I have on my shelves and have neglected for far too long.

Also I recently found a copy of Triptych by Karin Slaughter at a secondhand bookstore. I'm planning to start her Will Trent series since I enjoyed last month BOM Cop Town by the same author.

Usually I join one BOM, the one that I want to read the most. I'm planning to join The Knife of Never Letting Go discussion which is the Young-Adult BOM for November. During the Pirate contest held last month I volunteered to do a set of questions and I liked doing it, so it won't bother me to do it again. I just have to see for enough time and which book of course.

Concerning buddy reads, I went to check what has been set up already. Currently the ones I would like to join are the BR for Unwind, Mortal Danger and Still Alice (and maybe The Gunslinger depending on the start date).

Edit: Turns out I'm also doing a BR for Cress :)

Kristie wrote: "I'd love to read it with you, but I've signed up for a bunch of buddy reads in November already. Could we read it in December? The next book in the series doesn't come out until January. "

Lol Kristie, I can see that! No problem here, I'm a slow reader so December or even January is good for me. I didn't know that. That's great! we can be on time for the new release :)

Just passing by to check if some of you still have to read ? It got nominated last month and came in 4th, I know some of you have voted for it *looks around*. I was wondering (in case you haven't read it in the mean time) if someone was interested in doing a buddy read?

Passing through ...*takes one of those delicious looking Cinnamon Buns* I'm talking about the food not the other eye candy . . . *clears throat* I like your "honorary" members Sonia, they can always come visit the ThunderCats *winks*

I haven't made that observation either. Like Karen, I temporarily try to ignore the anachronism, but I hope it doesn't happen often.

Kelly, I don't know if you have seen it, but there's another review pointing out the same issue as you. They don't only need an editor but when it comes to historical fiction they should put an historian on it as well :)

I saw that some readers classified it as magical-realism so I thought putting it under my 'paranormal' shelf but I wanted to wait to check out for myself first.

What I gathered from a quick search is that Petronella did exist and married Johannes Brandt. On the official site of the Rijksmuseum: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collect... (Also there's a 'zoom in' tool ;))

@Karen: I checked yesterday and read that in real life Johannes Brandt and Nella had 4 children (also another site stated that Petronella was married before and had a child but after her daughter and first husband died, she remarried to J. Brandt). But I don't know how far the author is taking from facts for her story.
Oh nice! Have you had the chance to visit the Rijksmuseum?

Lára wrote: "Well, since he gave her a doll's house, i think he might think she's too young to marry and that he understand she misses her home. I think he wants to give her the feeling that she has a family an..."

Yes, the prologue aside, I'm completely hooked now. The descriptions are not overdone, yet I can perfectly picture it. I'm curious what happens next too.

Missy wrote: "I was reading a bit about the real life Nella, and it seems that dollhouses like this were common for the wealthier women to own. For some reason I find that fact a bit sad. It reflects how they t..."

I agree about the prologue, I was a bit lost too but it got better afterwards. Yes, the siblings seem like an old couple bickering all the time.
Indeed, I wonder how Nella will deal with the dollhouse. It's beautiful but what next? That's why she makes the reflection about the fact that at 18 years she's to old for that.

October 22: Pages 1-62 - answers

1. The name Petronella means "rock" or "stone".
What are your thoughts on Petronella? Will she live up to the meaning of her name?

I think the character description you gave for Petronella (Nella) is pretty accurate. I think she lives up to her name. She is determined and has demands as new wife and 'mistress of the house'. She isn't scared to do some snooping around. I think in the long run she will impose herself in the household. But she is not like Marin.

2. Nella is given "pattens" to wear inside the house.
What are your thoughts on the writing style and descriptions of the period. Is it a historical era/place you are familiar with?

Admittedly, it took time for me to adjust to the writing style. It's a bit lyrical, but now I can appreciate it. I can clearly picture the setting through the descriptions given. I'm familiar with the historical era in the sense that I took a course 'History of the Low Countries' at university. I know about the VOC and what's referred to as the 'Gouden Eeuw', but I forgot certain parts of the course. As for the historical place I rely on art.

3. Johannes isn't much of a husband so far. What are your thoughts on the relationship between him and his sister?

It's weird, isn't it. My first thought was that they were more than siblings but now I just think Marin is being bossy and likes to be in control lol

4. Will Marin and Nella ever become friends?

Mmm, I don't know. It's too soon I guess, but why not. For example if Johannes keeps 'neglecting' Nella and the two women share the same fate, they could have that in common to bond.

5. The tortoiseshell and pewter inlaid cabinet, finished in 1686, had taken craftsmen 19 years to build.
Have you ever seen this cabinet or been to Amsterdam? What do you think of the house? In my mind it was larger than the 9 rooms shown in the cabinet (as 3 of those "rooms" are pretty small!). Which room is Marin's and which is Nella's do you think?

I've never been to Amsterdam. We usually go southwards to soak up the sun. But you just gave me an idea for our next city trip :)

I just went to check out more pictures for the Dollhouse, and personally I think it's a bit creepy. I'm curious which role the dollhouse will play in the story. Nevertheless, I must say it's pretty and quite detailed.

The two rooms right, upstairs. But I imagined Marin's room super small, and more akin to a cabinet of curiosities.

Note: I liked the following quote and some others of course;
About Marin's room - "This is the Republic's reach, in four small walls"

❀Tea❀ wrote: "✼Danielle wrote: " I managed to read a whole lot during it. "

She's lying! ☺
She read, like, only half of books for our team."

I concur :) Our team wouldn't have done so great without Danielle. This is a team to watch out for.

S?

Hi team mates! I'm looking forward to start this team challenge with you all :) It's my second team challenge, but first time doing Tower Teams. I'm so excited already!

Hi NancyHelen! Congratulations with the baby!

I'm Audrey and live in Belgium. My favourite genres are historical fiction, mysteries, urban-fantasy, science-fiction, fantasy, and will occasionally read some romance when I'm in the mood for it. But I'm willing to try anything.

Here is my shelf for this team challenge: NBRC Tower Teams

Sarah wrote: "Oh good I found my team. They made a mistake and put me on another team. But my element is defenitely fire and not earth or whatever, and I am not a troll. Just kidding, guess I am a troll. Oh well..."

Lol Sarah :p Subtle!
I read somewhere that Hobbits are needed to fight off trolls ;)