Heli’s Comments (group member since Jan 23, 2015)

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

Completion post

Book: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Date Read: 11/17/19
Page Count: 419
Sin: Envy
Mini Challenge: no
How it fits: MPG Young Adult
SS updated: no

Completion post:

Book:
Author: Celeste Ng
Date Read: 11/15/19
Page Count: 292
Sin: Greed
Mini Challenge: yes
How it fits:
Water: Water on the cover. Also an important theme in the book.
Cake: Birthday cake for Lydia's 16th birthday.
Food: Also an important theme in the book.
Boat: Boat ride at the lake.
SS updated: no

Completion post

Book: Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Date Read: 11/13/19
Page Count: 546
Sin: Greed
Mini Challenge: Yes
How it fits:
Rich: in title and the characters were rich
Jewellery: Description of jewellery was very detailed.
Wealthy: Most of the people were were wealthy.
Money: Anyone had more than enough money.
Extravagant: The wedding was extravagant.
Bling: Bling was everywhere.
Mansion: Nick and Rachel stayed in Nick's grandmother's mansion.
Exclusive: There was an exclusive club that had a waiting list of eight years.
Ruby: Nadine wore a ruby ring.
Ball: There were several ball's before and after the wedding.
Deluxe: People lived deluxe lives in deluxe houses.
Diamond: Astrid bought several diamonds.
Sapphire: Rachel wore a sapphire necklace in the ball after the wedding.
SS updated: no

Completion post

Book:
Author: Jasper Fforde
Date Read: 11/12/19
Page Count: 374
Sin: Greed
Mini Challenge: yes
How it fits:
Woman: MC is a woman. Woman on the cover.
Gown: Woman on the cover is wearing a gown.
SS updated: no

Just finished my third book of the week. I'm close to finishing the fourth, but I have to go to work. So I will not be reading The Eyre Affair this week either.

Completion post:

Book:
Author: Gregg Hurwitz
Date Read; 11/10/19
Page Count: 412
Sin: Lust
Sin Bingo: No
How it fits: Red cover
SS updated: no

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Book: Roomies
Author: Christina Lauren
Date Read: 11/7/19
Page Count: 368
Sin: Pride
Sin Bingo: no
How it fits: MPG Contemporary
SS updated: no

I just added Roomies to the ss. I used it for pride as it is contemporary, but I can move it to lust if you think it could be useful for the story.

Completion post

Book: The Chestnut Man
Author: Søren Sveistrup
Date Read: 11/4/19
Page Count: 528
Sin: Lust
Sin Bingo: no
How it fits: Red cover
SS updated: no

BOM: November
DQ 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DQ 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DQ 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 4: Chapters 63-78

16. I could not believe how much abuse Eric afflicted on his wife and children. It made me sick to my stomach reading about how he justified his actions and knew he would get away with it. Even when he found out about his wife’s death after learning that she was planning on running away, Eric thought it was justice being served. How was your experience reading this section?

The abuser always justifies his actions to himself. I'm glad the children were taken from him, but I'm sorry the children lost their mother.

17. Hess is annoyed when he finds out that Nylander is in communication with his ex-boss from Interpol. There’s been hints so far as to what resulted in Hess’s dismissal from his previous job. Do you have any ideas what it might have been?

Not sure. He does not drink or use drugs. Maybe anger issues?

18. The killer keeps distracting the police officers with incorrect leads. Did you think the killer was going to come to Jessie’s apartment? Were you surprised that her lover came instead?

Yes. I did think it was going to be the killer.

19. One of the things I really like about this book is how you get multiple viewpoints from the various characters (the women before they are killed, Nylander, the cop in charge of Kristine’s case etc.) It really helps to flesh out the plot and character development. What are your thoughts about this? Do you like this type of narrative or would you have wanted the focus to be on Thulin and Hess?

Sometimes I'm so tired of multiple POV books. But in this case I think the author is skilled enough to use this structure so that the result is good.

Bonus question: The author of this book is a writer for the TV show – The Killing. Have you watched it or are you interested in watching it after reading this book?

I've seen the American version on Netflix and it was great. I would love to watch the Danish version!

Day 2 DQ's– Chapters 20 – 38

6 We have got a fair way into the book now and my first question is to ask how you feel about it? What do you like / dislike about it


I like the way the story is told. You get small snippets of information and that forces you to read on. So far I don't dislike anything about it. It's been a great thriller.

7. What are your impressions about the time line from Marius to Kristine to Laura?

It must be the same killer. And the killer has a plan that only he/she understands.

8. Hess and Thulin are not necessarily bosom buddies How do you see their differing working methods and relationship developing?

It's good that they are different. They have different life experiences and methods of working the case. I think they might become to appreciate each others methods.

9. Hess insists on visiting Magnus Kjaer and showing him some photographs. What do you think is the significance of "The chestnut man" being something new?

It could be a lead.

10. Erik Sejer Lassen is arrested - there is a lot going on during the chase - How do you read the events leading up to the arrest and during the questioning?

He is being set up. But he is not a nice man so there might be something the killer wants to reveal of Erik Sejer Lassen.

Day 1 DQs

1. At the very beginning we are hit with a chilling image and as Officer Marius is descending into the basement looking for one of the little girls he "...becomes aware of the room. Glancing around, he realizes what it's been used for. He's disgusted." What do you think this room was used for?

I think it could have been used for locking up a dangerous person.

2. We get brief look at what happens to Laura before Thulin and Hess get called out to the scene. While looking over the body and the garden Thulin notices a chestnut doll and has an odd reaction to it. "It's a simple doll consisting of two spheres and four sticks, but briefly, for some reason she can't explain, it makes Thulin's heart stop." Why do you think she had a strong reaction? Could it be a repressed memory?

Yes. I think it is a repressed memory. Or if not that, then an old case she has studied in police school perhaps.

3. Speaking of Thulin and Hess. I'm a bit put off by the both of them. Thulin seems to think homicide is boring and Hess just seems to not give a flying rat's behind about anything. What do you think of our MCs so far?

I think this is a classic case of nordic noir. The characters are seldom likable. But I hope they will make more sense when the story progresses.

4. Then we have Rosa and Steen, the parents of Kristine who is missing and presumed dead. They each have a different way of handling their grief. Rosa has thrown herself into her work as a politician and Steen is drowning his sorrows in alcohol. As a parent it's really hard to imagine losing a child. How do you think you would handle losing your child? Do you think their reactions are typical for parents who have lost a child?

I would be devastated if I lost my child. I could see myself working in order to forget. I think there is no one typical reaction to losing a child. People are individuals and react differently.

5. Do you think Kristine Hartung is still alive? Or is it a cruel joke being played on her parents? Why or why not?

She might be alive. I think a wrong person confessed to the crime.

Completion post:

Book:
Author: Matt Haig
Date Read: 11/3/19
Page Count: 341
Sin: Wrath - mini challenge
Sin Bingo: No
Task: Read a book with blood on the cover
How it fits: Blood on the cover
SS updated: no

Just finished my second book of the week. I think I can finish The Radleys tomorrow. The Eyre Affair I will have to reschedule for next week since I'm working this weekend and can't possibly read them both.

I'll be reading The Chestnut Man next week. It's also the next BOM.

Completion post

Book: The Distant Echo
Author: Val McDermid
Date Read: 11/2/19
Page Count: 496
Sin: Wrth - mini challenge
Sin Bingo: no
Task: Read a book with MPG Crime, Mystery, Thriller or Suspense that also meets the criteria for "Cold Case"
How it fits: MPG Mystery/Thriller. 25 year old cold case is investigated.
SS updated: no

Completion post

Book: The Hit
Author: David Baldacci
Date Read: 10/29/19
Page Count: 401
Sin: Wrath
Sin Bingo: no
Task: Read a book with a killer/assassin as the main character
How it fits: MC is an assassin
SS updated: no

Completion post

Book: Hammaskeiju
Author: Eve Hietamies
Date Read: 10/27/19
Page Count: 415
Sin: Greed
Sin Bingo: no
How it fits: Anything goes
SS updated: no

I've read three books so far this week. Not sure if I can read a fourth. I'm spending the weekend at a book fair. It is of course about books and authors, but I might not get a lot of reading done.

I just read and it was so good! I hope you are all reading good books too!

Completion post

Book: The Wonder
Author: Emma Donoghue
Date Read: 10/24/19
Page Count: 304
Sin: Mini challenge
Sin Bingo: No
How it fits: Dragonfly in book: pg. 86: "Two azure dragonflies clung together a few inches above the water."
SS updated: no

Completion post

Book: The Lying Game
Author: Ruth Ware
Date Read: 10/23/19
Page Count: 384
Sin: Mini challenge
Sin Bingo: no
How it fits: Sheep in text. Pg. 105 "...,the dead sheep in the flatbed of his truck."
SS updated: no