bamaace83 ’s Comments (group member since Dec 11, 2018)

bamaace83 ’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I read Malibu Rising in April but I will definitely read the other one even if it's a fantasy book.... Maybe I'll like it ....

DQs Day 3: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?

I think she noticed that time stood still and nothing has changed. Also, the room isn't that personal so her childhood may not have been the best.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?

Lily is not a nice person. I'm not sure Beth could overtake Lily. Lily seems to be the dominant driving force behind the scenes.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)

I think he doesn't like her because she's not his. Also, she was a secret and I don't think he liked that she was a secret.


13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?

I think she feels misunderstood and not wanted like Beth feels about the house.

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?

I think Lily is the more powerful one. I finished the book but at this point I wanted to learn more about their relationship.

Oh, yeah, I gotta go answer the 3rd set too. I'll do that right when I get to work. I'm treating myself to fancy coffee this morning because it's going to be a day.

Christina wrote: "I'm currently updating the spreadsheets and since we don't need any more information at the moment, I'll just go ahead and add two books myself that I saw still missing from our tracksheet, which w..."

Thank you! I need to go answer more questions also so thanks for that reminder. I just haven't finished it just yet because I'm hoping that it's going to work for a maze soon.

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

Nope, I would've just left because that house is creepy and there's no real reason all those things were happening, especially the blood part.


6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?

I think it would be okay if they got together. I'm curious to see how their friendship progresses. I think he may be a little interested.


7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?

I think she's crazy and I'm wondering if she's really dead?

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?

If the cat is spooked, then it is time to go! I think animals totally pick up on weird things happening and that cat knows something ain't right there.


9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?

Nope, I don't think I've had any of these type experiences.

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11
1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?

I read it last year for BOM and it was pretty good. I don't really have any set expectations for this book. I hope it's a fast read and doesn't become too boring.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?

I don't read a lot of this genre. I think older investigators bring more life experience than younger ones. Also, being divorced means she has had some hardships in her life which adds another element to her detective skills.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?

I think it went like as expected. I like how she said I'll let you make your own conclusion on guilty or not.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?

The ghosts are creepy. I think they are going to play more into the story but not sure how just yet.

Yes, I had some computer issues last night but going to fix some things now.

I chose Younger Wife also because I've read the other one. I'll start the first June BOM tonight. Also, I'll put my name in for questions for July if it's a book that I haven't read this year.

I finished the book that I had listed and also finished another one. I have a hard time with sci-fi so I'm glad that I did it on audio where I could listen to it in the background while driving or doing other things. I'm trying but the story really has to catch my attention for me to start reading more of that genre. I have two books lined up on my iPad for plane/travel time so I hope that I get them done but if I don't then it will be okay. Off for a little vacation. I'm not taking my computer so I may not be able to check in again until late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning unless I'm on my phone. :)

DQs Day 3
4 May XII - Francis

9.) Theories on what the deal is with Ramona's shop. I'm thinking it's a type of phantom settlement. And that the only reason Nell found it in the first place is there was a map on the back of the business card for her to follow. Do you think that's why Ramona insisted on taking the business card back?

I finished the book and forgot to come back and answer the questions. At this time, I thought the scribbling on the back had something to do with the shop but just not sure what it did.


10.) Are you liking the second chance romance with Felix? Thoughts on Felix in general?

I thought it would be good to get them back together but some of the things Felix does gets on my nerves. I'm not sure how I feel about them together.


11.) Do you think Humphreys or Swann are part of the group of 7/The Cartographers? What about Haberson?

Swann was who I was thinking is a member of the 7. I hadn't given the other two much thoughts.


12.) Any idea why they keep mentioning the "almost kiss" between Francis and Eve in the flashbacks? I think it's weird.

I thought that played more in the story than what we knew and eventually we would know more about what was going to happen.

Thanks for doing that math! They must be reading some big books. I'll make sure to find some good long books for June. I also need to make sure that I don't wait until the last week to finish up my monthly challenges but I know that I have 3 400 page books left to finish before the end of the month. I also have the BOM ready to go for June.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye on that little spreadsheet. I didn't know that was there. Let me go add a few more books. I'm trying to get end of the month challenges finished so a couple aren't the best page numbers but I still have a couple more that are much better.

Okay, quick question. How close are we to our book read goal for the month? I know that it's a half a month so I want to make sure that I don't cause us to go over. I'll have the one book that I'm planning on reading done tomorrow because it's what I'm doing on audio but I have a couple more books that I could add but also don't want to be the cause of any penalties. :)

I am a pretty fast reader/audiobook listener so I can help out. I read some books faster than others so if it's something I'm really into usually romance or something like that I can knock out 300-400 page books in a night but if it's something else that I'm reading for a different challenge then they may take me longer so I'll plan my books accordingly. I just may need nudged in the messages because we are short-staffed at work the first two weeks of June but I will try to check in at lunchtime and before and after work. I will have that book read on the spreadsheet and I'll have a few more finished also. We are traveling out of state for a couple days Sunday-Tuesday but I'll have some airport time and I have a few books that I need to finish up for end of the month challenges. I also went back and added start dates.

Christina wrote: "Reminder for all - please make sure all your finished books have a start date set as well!"

I'm at fault for this one. I thought I just needed to add start dates at the beginning but then I was okay so I'll figure out a way to go back and add those this weekend.

DQ: 18 May - Sugi and Chikako's Hotel for Pets & Between Friends


9) Considering Satoru seems to be quite perceptive overall, do you think he knew about Sugi’s less charitable feelings about him, both in the past and during this visit?

I don't think he knew. He has so much hope in people that I don't think he thought that Sugi would have any bad feelings toward him.


10) So far, the chapters have all been combining Satoru and Nana’s journey with Satoru’s past with several other people, as well as their backgrounds. How do you feel about this interlude (chapter 3.5) focused entirely on the man and his cat? What does it add to the story?

I think it was a little break from the storyline and we could just see more of the relationship between them.


11) For the first time, we got a hint of what’s going on with Satoru when the dog said “he smells like he isn’t going to make it” in chapter 3, and this came up again in chapter 3.5. So it sounds like Satoru is ill… was that your prediction for question 4?

Yes, I thought he might be sick or something major was going on.


12) Squabbles between cats and dogs were really present in these sections. So: Are you a cat person or a dog person or both (or neither)?

I'm a dog person. Cats make me itch and sneeze and just aren't for me.

The benefits of audio and longer commutes but I had to also speed read because a deadline caught up on me. I'll probably not have any books finished until Saturday after reading so fast the past couple days. I have to catch up on my two BOM chapters and questions and hopefully finish those this weekend. I've been trying to read the sections and then go answer the questions so that I don't finish the whole book and then have problems answering. It also helps that to break the books up because the cat book isn't my normal type of book but I'm liking the other one a little more.

DQs Set 2: VI - Eve

5. We meet Ramona and get more cryptic warnings. What do you think of her shop? How are you liking the descriptions of the archives and libraries?

I want to know more about the shop. The archives and libraries descriptions were okay but the shop intrigues me more. Just because I want to know how it disappears.


6. A couple of flashbacks in this section. Did you enjoy them? And suspicions on what happened to split up the gang?

I like the flashbacks. I want to know more their past and what made them the group they were. Also, I want to know what split them up. I'm sure it was a scandal of some sort.


7. Another disappearing act when Francis vanishes! What's going on here? Why haven't Nell & Felix already leapt to the "magical shenanigans" conclusion?!

I don't know why they don't suspect magic just yet. I wonder when they will start thinking magic is involved.


8. The Atlas of Dreamers - would you buy that book if it existed?

I am curious about the book. I would like to know more about it if it did exist. I don't know much about maps in general so I'm intrigued.

DQs 1- Chapters I through V

1- We meet Nell, working in a dead end job. She had a dream job, worked with her father, and had a bright future. Then the junk box happened. Then her father dies. There is a lot that happens in the first few pages. What do you think of the intro to the story, and what do you think of Nell so far?

I like Nell. I think her father was too hard on her but I like Nell. I love how she has a passion for maps. I also wonder if there was more to her father not talking to her for so long.


2- The map. What is with the map? How many of you had to try to read one of those maps as a navigator on a road trip? (And then try to fold it again after?) For those of you who are too young, a map is GPS without the satellites. Or the iPhone.
Any clues or ideas as to why this is so important to anyone? Or, why her father was willing to become estranged from his daughter over it?

Lord, those maps never folded back right. I much preferred the atlas because it was easier to look at. I think there's something with the map that the regular eye can't see. It has some sort of significance just not sure. I'm not even sure her father knew the significance at the time and maybe that's why he kept it hidden and was working on it in private?


3- I always have to ask myself whether I would disregard the danger to find the answers, like Nell has chosen to do. How about you guys? Any intrepid leading ladies in the group?

I would totally try to find out what is behind that map. I may also have some additional security cameras in place and maybe a couple hidden baseball bats for intruders but I would want to know.


4- We are introduced to a new character, Felix, and teased about another, Ramona Wu. Thoughts about either?

I think Felix could be a very helpful friend in this storyline. Also, wondering about their relationship and if it will progress any in the story. I do love a good dark character. I want to know more about Ramona Wu.

DQ: 17 May - The Unsentimental Farmer


5) I really like reading the cat's thoughts. It can be quite funny. Do you think these are convincing cat thoughts?

I would love to know what my dog actually thinks about us sometimes so I think these are convincing cat thoughts. I think animals are pretty smart and usually look at us crazy.


6) In this chapter we are introduced to Yoshimine, another potential owner for our cat. What do you think of him and his backstory?

I felt sorry that his parents didn't want him. I think he also has a little bit of ocd because he's always worried about his plants but at the same time it's one of the things he can control in his crazy life. I'm glad he had his Grandmother.


7) Do you think Yoshimine would have been a good owner for Nana ?

I don't think Nana would've been that comfortable with him. He clearly needs to be with someone who will give him attention when needed but also leave him alone at times. I don't think it would've been the best fit.


8) Yoshimine has already a kitten called Chatran, and Satoru makes fun of him for naming his cat with such a cliché name. What is for you the most cliché cat name(s)? In french it is quite common to call a cat Chaussette (meaning sock), Mistigri or Felix (actually a cat food brand).

I think Socks or Boots is one of the most common cliche name because of possible white feet. Kitty is another one because some people just aren't creative when it comes to names.