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

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

Hi guys!

I'm Heli from Finland. I'm married and have two grown sons. I'm a practical nurse and work in a housing unit for people with intellectual disabilities. My favorite genres are mysteries and thrillers, but I also love variety and often read fantasy, sci-fi, horror, classics, romance etc.

I won't be reading BOM's this month. They are not available in my library.

Skipping task Read a book with the word build, make, create or construct (plurals are acceptable) in the title. Moving south.

P - Nine Lives by Peter Swanson - 3/21
A - We Know You Remember by Tove Alsterdal - 3/20
S - Sleepyhead by Mark Billingham - 3/18
S - The Absolution by Yrsa Sigurdardottir - 3/19

Skipping task read a book with a gargoyle.

M Räsynukke by Max Manner - 2/17/24
I Pedon syleily by Ilkka Remes - 3/2/24
S Sadie by Courtney Summers - 2/28/24
S Tappokäsky by Jarkko Sipilä - 2/21/24

Skipping Task: Read a book shelved (listed on the first page on GR) as soon.

P: Witchmark by C.L. Polk - 2/11
A: Lumimyrsky by Lina Areklew - 2/7
S: Switched by Sarah Ready - 2/5
S: Juhannusmurha by Viveca Sten - 2/8

TBR Tackler 2024

Completed: 25/30

1. #704 - Vanished by Tim Weaver - 3/26
2. #324 - Lasisiivet by Katrine Engberg- 11/7
3. #795 - The Killing Kind by Jane Casey - 7/22
4. #815 - Wild Justice by Phillip Margolin - 7/5
5. #29 - Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
6. #868 - The Vines by Shelley Nolden - 7/9
7. #434 - The Swimming Pool by Louise Candlish - 5/22
8. #179 - These Precious Days: Essays by Ann Patchett
9. #393 - Seven Days by Alex Lake
10. #883 - Laws of Depravity by Eriq La Salle - 6/5

11. #537 - Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale - 10/29
12. #910 - Conjuring the Witch by Jessica Leonard - 6/16
13. #352 - Something Wilder by Christina Lauren - 4/13
14. #803 - The Lie by C.L. Taylor - 6/12
15. #1037 - The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
16. #41 - 1st Case by James Patterson - 8/31
17. #782 - Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie - 2/14
18. #657 - Before Your Memory Fades by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - 7/8
19. #226 - The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake - 2/3
20. #632 - All That Consumes Us by Erica Waters - 2/20

21. #780 - Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders - 2/12
22. #621 - November Road by Lou Berney
23. #354 - City of Bones by Martha Wells - 3/10
24. #830 - The Locked Attic by B.P. Walter - 2/23
25. #564 - The Better Sister by Alafair Burke - 8/22
26. #14 - Räsynukke by Max Manner - 2/17
27. #755 - The Guest by Emma Cline - 2/19
28. #846 - Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett - 5/4
29. #814 - Babel by R.F. Kuang - 1/15
30. #982 - Kill Show by Daniel Sweren-Becker - 11/18

I was hoping to read one more book for this round, but I had to work instead.
Thank you captains for a fun challenge. Merry Christmas everyone!

DQs Day 3: Chapters 23 - 31

10. Armand pops up again twice in this section, revealing his true colours at the end. What do you think is the purpose of Armand in Opaline's story? especially as he has been a pivot point for her life many times.
He's there to be the father of the baby.

11. Henry has a revelation or two in this section. What do you think of his approach to building a relationship with Martha? and his father?
It's nice of him to be Martha's friend even if they can't be a couple. I also liked that he made an effort with his father at least.

12. Martha luckily escapes from abusive Shane with no comeback to her externally, and in a pretty passive fashion (the house / Madam B / drunkenness puts paid to him, and then Madam B finagles a clear up). Why do you think the author chose this route rather than give Martha a more active role in finally freeing herself?
That was such a surprise. I was expecting something totally different, Martha finally being able to tell Shane to get lost and be proud of herself for it.

13. We've two different treasure hunts going on - for a lost book in 1920s and for a lost bookshop now. Are you more invested in one - which and why?
I'm more interested in finding the bookshop. The premise is so exciting.

14. If you were inventing a lost book, who would you pick as the author?
Jane Austen!

DQ's Day 2: Chapters 13-22

5. In this section, we find out how Opaline ends up in Dublin. What do you think of Armand and her relationship/friendship with him? I feel there is something off about him but he does seem to want to honestly help her.
I think there is something fishy about Armand. We'll find out later, I'm sure.

6. In many ways there are parallels with Opaline and Martha's stories. Both are running from abuse and from a life they do not want and both have ended up living in a basement apartment where the vanishing bookshop was located. Do you think these parallels will continue? Do you think this plays a part in Martha solving the mystery of the Lost Bookshop?
I think the bookshop is giving Martha clues. She's searching something without even realizing it at first.

7. The old library in Italy! What a coincidence that a book that showed up in Martha's apartment, A Place Called Lost, is the same story of how Matthew's father built the building where his shop was! I just love how the author is building the connection from the past to the present. Do you have any guesses yet about what the connection or what happened to the Lost Bookshop? Have you read magical realism before? It's one of my favorite genres to read.
I already finished so I know what happens. I do read Magical Realism sometimes, but it's not my favorite genre. In this book it works well, though.

8. "Were we all preconditioned to love certain things? A moment in childhood, lost to memory but indelibly marked on our souls?" This quote jumped out at me while I was reading and made me think. I don't know when I started reading or where my love for reading came from. My mom always says I was carrying a book around before I could walk! But I have no specific moment where I fell in love with reading just that I always have loved it. It made me think was there a moment that happened but I can't remember? Something so significant it created something in me? Or was I preconditioned to love reading? What do you think about this quote?
I don't think that we are preconditioned to love something. The love grows from our family, environment and experiences.

9. I think Madam Bowden is going to prove to be a character with surprises. Could she be Opaline? Or a descendent? I think she knows about this vanishing bookshop and why it shows itself to certain people and not others.
I thought she would be Opaline. I'm not telling, though 😉

DQ's Day 1

1. Love the cover, love the blurb! I'm expecting big things from this novel. "The thing about books" she said "is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of."
Is this why you love to read or do you just enjoy good old fashioned escapism? Discuss.
I love finding new worlds and great stories.

2. In the Prologue and the first two chapters we are introduced to the main protagonists, Opaline, Martha and Henry. First impressions of these characters and what differences and similarities to you notice about them?
Opaline is idealistic and stubborn living in 1920's. Martha has found the courage to leave an abusive husband. Henry is looking for a bookshop. In the beginning I liked Henry best.

3. In a novel about books (and big bonus points to the author for Wuthering Heights being the first book mentioned) there seems to be a lot of novels names and famous authors mentioned in the early chapters. How many of these have you read and loved.. or hated!
I've read most of them and liked or loved them all.

4. The novel is taking place in two time lines with Opaline in one and Martha and Henry in the other. How do you see the two timelines/storylines being linked and being a novel with a magical theme do you think the characters in the two timelines might actually meet?
The bookshop is the connection. I could imagine them meeting each other at some point.

DQs Day 3
Chapters 13-19

9. I don't know how I feel about the school basically milking Ray owning a Stradivarius and him having to do an interview without even getting asked to do so. I personally would have preferred to keep it private, at least for a while. What are your thoughts on the situation?
I guess the publicity brings the funding and visibility that are needed while launching a career in music industry.

10. I can see where Ray's family is coming from wanting to sell the Stradivarius and divide the money, but they never showed any interest in the violin even though it had been in the family for a century, and Ray's grandmother gave Ray the fiddle for Christmas. He had to take care of everything surrounding it and his school/education himself, and he never even had much money to begin with. Would you be selling whatever in your life might turn out be worth this much money, and would you feel like your family was entitled to fair shares?
In this case the violin also has enormous emotional value.
I would not sell something valuable simply for the money. I have everything I need right now. My children would be entitled to some of the money of course, but aunts and uncles definitely not.

11. Another family claiming ownership of the violin - it was bound to happen. On one hand I'm surprised they're suing Ray for the Stradivarius since I doubt they can prove the fiddle was stolen in any way, but on the other hand the odds clearly are against Ray. And now his family is suing him for the violin as well?! Who do you think is the rightful owner of the Stradivarius?
Ray is the rightful owner. His grandma gave it to him as a gift.

12. We've been introduced to a lot of different people (whose names I don't even all remember) and they all (most of them anyway) seem to have different reasons to possibly want to steal Ray's Stradivarius - greed, jealousy, racism,... it's all there. Do you have any more guesses of who's behind it all?
I haven't the foggiest idea, but so far I'm loving the ride.

DQs Day 2
Chapters 7 - 12

5.His mother and Aunt Joyce had gone to the store - ostensibly because they needed more collard greens, but in reality because one of the biggest family traditions was to keep Aunt Joyce out of the kitchen
Do you have any unusual family traditions, Thanksgiving if it applies, or Christmas, if it's not too early, or any other significant cultural event that revolves around a convoluted family meal?
No unusual family traditions here.


6. When Grandma gifts PopPop's fiddle to Ray, his mother's immediate reaction is that he can't keep it and she even scolds her own mother,
Mama .... what are you thinking?
What do you think motivates Ray's mother's resistance to his pursuit of music?
Is it purely because she wants his focus to be on earning money for the family, or does she anticipate the racism and resistance he could face and is trying to protect him from heartbreak?
Maybe it's just what she has been taught and what she's used to. Sometimes it's hard to think outside the box.

7. Ray's meeting with Dr. Janice Stevens seems a pivotal moment, giving him access to the connections that sustain the close-knit classical music world
Do you feel there is a message here that hard work and talent may not be enough to overcome barriers to success, or is Ray's progress and recognition simply a result of his dedication?
Talent and dedication combined with hard work can take you far. And Ray seems to be a really nice person. His kindness will win many people over, at least the ones who can look past skin color.

8. So... PopPop's old fiddle might be a Stradivarius, but before the appraisal Rowland offers to buy it for $25,000 dollars. Ray refuses, declaring
I'm not selling it. Ever
What do you think is behind Ray's attachment to the instrument at this point, the rarity of it and the legitimacy it will give him in pursuing his dreams, or the link to his family's history, back to slavery, or something else?
His beloved grandmother gave him the violin. She was the only one in his family that ever believed in him and loved him unconditionally. Playing the violin is in respecting her loving memory.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 - 6

1. Can you even imagine losing a 10 million dollar anything?! Have you ever lost something and felt as Ray is portrayed in chapter 1...constantly retracing your steps over and over? What are your thoughts on other security precautions, if any, that should have been in place?
I would not want to be responsible for something worth 10 million. The thought is frightening.
Just this morning I was looking for my airpods and retracing my steps in order to find them.
The violin should have been locked in a safe at least.

2. At this point in the book, when/where do you think the Stradivarius was taken?
I really can't say. It could be someone close to Ray.

3. Money can be a keen motivator...the ransom note leads us to believe it's all about the money...do you think it's possible it's about something else?
Money makes the world go round. Money is a great motivator. Jealousy could be one too.

4. It's eluded to that Ray is about to make history because of his race with the upcoming competition in Russia. His family sure doesn't seem to be proud or supportive. Should Ray be proud of this accomplishment or is putting the focus on race poor form by everyone concerned?
He should be proud of everything he's accomplished.

Karolyn wrote: "I’ll update it Heli!"

Thank you, Karolyn!

I finished That Camden Summer for white cover. I’m out of town this weekend and cannot update the spreadsheet. Can someone update it for me. Thank you in advance 🤗

It looks grey to me.

Just finished my last book for round #2

DQs Day 3; Chapters 16-22

10. Pupkin is,,, alive??? Okay, no big surprise there to be honest, but we did finally get some interesting background info from Louise and Mark's childhood, even if that's not how Louise remembers it. Do you think she really doesn't remember, has simply forgotten, due to trauma or it just having happened way too long ago, or does she remember but chooses not to acknoledge it? Or maybe Mark misremembers himself and it didn't even happen (that way at least)? They were both still very young after all, Mark especially. Is it possible to remember something that happened when you were only two years old?
This all happened over 30 odd years ago. They were both really young children. Time has a way of twisting memories, but I do think that some powerful piece of memory can stick to your brain as Mark's does. I have a sister who is a year younger than me. We have different memories of many of the events in our childhood. In a way it's interesting to combine those memories and get a fresh picture.

11. The second perspective adds a new layer, however it only got added halfway through the book. Were you surprised we got Mark's POV at all, and would you have preferred for it to be there from the beginning of the book? Also, has this last section changed your opinion on him in any way? He did save Louise from Pupkin after all....
Mark's POV was a surprise, but a good one. It did change my opinion of him. I no longer see him as a total loser.

12. To me, the last chapter feels a bit like a fever dream, definitely like they were on drugs. I personally don't remember which MPGs the book has and don't want to check in case of 'spoilers' now, but do you think there's a possibility the house, our main characters, the puppets, the dolls, Pupkin, everything- isn't actually haunted and none of it is actually happening?? What if it's just a dream (which would be the worst ending ngl), mental problems like Louise wants to believe, or mold in the house that's effecting them like this plus possible drug use from Mark when he was away?
I've already read the book and know what happens.

13. I can't help but wonder how the book is gonna end... If Pupkin is indeed an evil puppet come to life I only see one way it can be destroyed - fire. Do you think they'll end up burning down the entire house (although Hill House (in the show at least) wouldn't let itself be burned down either, so who knows if that would work), or will the dolls and puppets take over? What do you predict will happen in the rest of the book?
As I've already read the book I will not be spoiling the ending. Let's just say that it was perfect.

DQs Set 2: Chapters 8 - 15

6. Were you expecting those wills? Why do you think both parents were so unfair on the kids?
Those wills were a total surprise. The parents must have their reasons, but I'm still bummed.

7. Yikes! killer stuffed squirrels! The first violent haunting here, was it effective?
I was expecting something like that, but it still managed to scare me.

8. Despite the various creepy things that Louise has experienced, she's refusing to let her aunt exorcise the house. Would you still be hanging onto rational reasons over accepting family help?
In that early stage, yes. I would be hanging on hope that it's really nothing to be worried about. (Fingers crossed)

9. We've had more insight into the childhood of Mark and Louise. Does this change your opinion of either of them?
Yes. I can see them more clearly as troubled individuals, with their own tragic backgrouds. This family has so many secrets.

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to Ch 7

1.) What are your first impressions of the family and of Louise and Mark? How pivotal do you think their relationship (or lack thereof) will play in the story.
Aside: I plan to steal and use the phrase "Terminal Assholism" in future. Thank you Hendrix!
Louise and Mark seem to have a difficult relationship. The extended family is a hoot, though.

2.) The book is organized into sections following the 5 stages of grief. Does this impact your expectations of the book at all?
I do not have any specific expectations. I am interested in seeing how Hendrix will use it as a plot device.

3.) Okay. Life size dolls named after her children. Weird, creepy? Would you be excited to have them as part of your inheritance?
I might not mind a doll or even two, but hundreds of them. No way! I'm not sure how I would feel if a doll was named after me or if I was named after a doll.

4.) Have you ever experienced a family post-death squabble/fight like the one Louise and Mark had in front of the junk clean out guys?
I've heard of them, but have no first hand experience.

5.) Did anyone else google Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers? If so, were you surprised to find they were a real organization? Has anyone interacted with them before or a similar organization for other religious beliefs? [note: please keep responses respectful to people's beliefs, this is a safe space]
I did not google them. Interesting to hear that they are a real thing. Now I do have to google them! 😂

Hi guys!
I'm Heli from Finland. I love mysteries and thrillers, but can read almost anything for a challenge. This is my fourht time participating in Wheels.
I like 80's rock and anything by Bon Jovi and Foo Fighters.