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

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

1. Our book starts out with a Prologue that leaves me understandably a bit lost and confused but wanting more, giving us minimal clues to our forthcoming story.
How do you feel about Prologues? Do you ever go back and Re-read them after you finish the book?

I don't ever really read prologues. I just skim through them really fast. I don't think I've gone back to finish one either.


2. The setting of our story is the prestigious Ivy League school of Yale. The history runs deep and gives a gothic and dark feel to the book. Why else do you think the author may have chosen Yale as the setting?

I think the setting was picked because of the rich history of the school. Also, we know even to this day that secret societies are there.

3. In Chapter 1 our Main Character, Alex Stern, is running late for the Prognostication. By definition Prognostication is the action of foretelling or prophesying future events. I'm curious as to what the Bonesmen final goal is by performing these ceremonies. Although it is still early in the book are there any guesses as to what the Bonesmen are seeking? Are they after glory ? Time travel? Immortality?

I would say immortality, money or power.

4. The Grays ! I love ghost stories and cannot wait to learn more about the Grays. Alex not only has the ability to see the Grays but is also able to see them in color. This is important and seems to be a key feature that got her this opportunity at the school. Darlington appears to be jealous of this ability of Alex because he needs to take an elixir at a great risk to do the same. How do you see the relationship between Alex and Darlington? Will they become friends, enemies or lovers?

I think it's interesting that she sees colors. That may play a hand in things later. I have a feeling they will end up as lovers but I could be wrong.

I finished Ninth House and another book. I'll add them to the spreadsheet. I haven't done my Ninth House questions yet but I will work on those today/tomorrow depending on work. I'm working on finding another good long book to help that I can read the next two days.

Thanks so much! My real life got in the way also. I think it’s a busy time for a lot of us. I’m hoping to get some reading in this week for sure.

I have books to add tomorrow morning. A couple aren’t the best of page numbers but I’ll get them added in the morning. They should all be on my tt shelf.

I thought I had a couple more days to finish The Chestnut Man and I wrote the dates down wrong. I didn't get it done in time but I am reading the Ninth House this week so that will help. Sorry about that! Real life just messed me up.

Thanks for adding my books. I updated the shelves on that baby book and added it also but if someone else finishes a book with better numbers, just take it off. :)

I have finished that super long book and will update it in the morning. I’m only halfway through the chestnut man though so I won’t get that one finished in time but I have 3 books in all to add to the spreadsheet tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm off to eat all the food. My favorites are mac and cheese, turkey, and dressing. :)

I had to read a short crappy book for another challenge. It's hardly any points at all on here. Should I add it to the spreadsheet? I'm working on The Chestnut Man and the really really long book. I should have both of those done by the deadline also.

Hope you feel better soon Donna. I get migraines also and totally understand. My doctor actually tells me to take two excederin and 800 mg ibruprofen when it first comes on if I’m at work since my prescription meds make me tired. Hope you get some rest and can enjoy all the holiday festivities. I’m ready for all the food!

Donna, I just finished book 9. You're up next.

I'm partially through my book because I went ahead and started it last night. I'm at work until 4 eastern today but have no plans tonight so hopefully I can knock it out when I get home. I usually have time at work but it's a short work week and it's crazy here.

I just put a book on the list for 9th in the series. Carrie, will you send me a message when you finish 8, please? It's a crazy week with the holiday's but we aren't traveling so that helps a lot.

I just added another book with good page numbers. I thought I would have that massive Christmas book done but looks like it's going to have to be next week. I'm hoping to get The Chestnut Man from the library this weekend because I am next on the list. :)

I finished Two Can Keep a Secret. I actually really liked that book! I don't know how to link my posts though for the first three days.

Day 3: Chapters 12-19

11. So we've heard from Sadie again! (every time I hear her name she reminds me of Sadie by Courtney Summers and I have to keep reminding myself: wrong book sis)
I wonder if substance abuse is the only thing she struggles with, or if there's more to her. She feels a bit off to me... Is she hiding something, or is that just who she is? Do you think she knows or at least has an idea of what happened to her sister? Why does she not want to talk about Sarah at all, and why did she leave Echo Ridge? Would you have left?... Is she even still at the institute?

I think substance abuse hides her real problems and feelings. Some people who turn to drugs and alcohol have an underlying PTSD event that leads them down a path and some don't. I think Sadie hasn't quite dealt with her past and it's not spiraling out of control. I think it is a mental block not to talk about Sarah. I want to know why she left but I still think she is at the institute.

12. Even though Sadie has hardly ever been back to Echo Ridge, I have a feeling Ellery and Ezra's dad might be from there. Do you think we have met the twins' father by now? Could it be Vance, or Peter, or somebody else completely? (I actually have a theory, and it's neither of the guys I just mentioned lol)

I've finished the book so I can't totally answer this question. I do agree that Sadie knows who the dad is and there must be a reason why she has not divulged his name to the twins. I also think that the grandmother knows who the twins dad is.

13. Viv has been acting very strangely towards Ellery. What is her problem? Do you think she's jealous of Ellery for getting nominated for Prom Queen, or that she has kind of gotten into their friend group without even trying?

I haven't figured out Viv yet at this point of the book. I think there is a reason why Viv is the way she is but not sure why.


14. I can't stop thinking about what happened in the past. First Sarah went missing, then years later Lacey vanished and had been found dead shortly after. Do you think Sarah shared the same fate, or is she still out there somewhere? Are their cases related? And then Mr. Bowman has been killed in a hit and run - what a nice introduction to town our twins had here. Do you think this is connected to everything else that's been going on in town, with Daisy and Declan being back, etc.?

Oh yes, I think everything is connected but we are missing the middle of the puzzle. We keep getting the edges.

15. Just like Viv, Brooke has been acting weirdly as well, but I don't think it has anything to do with Ellery. She seemed worn down when El sat with the girls at lunch, and Mr. Bowman's death seemed to get to her way more than to her peers. Do you think she had anything to do with the hit and run, or maybe was involved with the late teacher? Is this why she was so agitated at the party? Where do you think she vanished to when she slept over at Katrin's the week before but was gone for at least 20 minutes?

At this point in the book, I was thinking Brooke has a secret relationship going on with the teacher or she was hiding something to do with the teacher. I do think Brooke knew who hit the teacher. There is no telling where Brooke went. Maybe to make a phone call or get some air.

DQ Day 2: Chapters 6-11

6. It's taken me a bit to understand what's happening in town currently and in the past. Has anyone else struggled or have you caught on well? Do you think the author has set the scene well, or are there improvements/other ways you think would work better?

I haven't had any trouble following this story line. It reminds me a lot of some RL Stein type books from middle/high school. I think the story line is going well and I'm curious to see where it's going to go.


7. We meet Declan Kelly in this chapter, Malcolm's brother. What are your impressions on him? Do you think he murdered Lacey? Or has anything to do with Sarah's (Sadie's twin) disappearance? The hit and run of Mr Bowman or the threats around town? If not, who do you think is responsible for all of them, or any of them? Do you have any theories so far on the connections of the occurrences? I feel like there's so many suspects and Sadie is definitely hiding something.

Oh, I wanted to know why Declan is back. I don't think Declan is here for bad but I also want to know how all these puzzle pieces fit together. I've finished the book so no spoilers.

8. The Homecoming Court announcements: Did it surprise you that Ellery was nominated for Queen? Why do you think she was 'chosen' as a potential Queen? It's kind of ominous to the Homecoming, isn't it? I feel like Homecoming is where things will go crazy. What do you guys predict will happen?

Didn't surprise me one bit when they put her name in for Queen. Her mother was on the court before and now she's back. That's how small towns work sometimes. Oh, something crazy is going to happen for sure. Her being on the court sets the stage for something to happen.

9. As an Australian, I don't understand the craze around Homecoming. We have Formals which is similar to Homecoming but no one is chosen as a Queen or King. Did you go to a Homecoming in High School, or something similar? What was it like? I went without a boy (too cool for boys back then) and went with one of my girl friends. We had a blast! My aunty actually helped me design my dress and made it for me. It was actually my first introduction on how to dress feminine and like it!

Homecoming and prom were the two big things to go to. Our homecoming dance was not formal and you just went and hung out. Prom was completely formal. I went with friends but times but this was in the late 90s. I asked to not be placed on either of the courts because I didn't want to go through all that stuff. I did dress up for Prom and it was nice to wear fancy clothes and get your hair done. Just washing your hair was a hot mess.


10. It seems like Daisy has been through a lot... Her breakdown in the car and shutting herself in her room. What do you think is going on with her? Do you think she's finally dealing with Lacey's death or do you think something else is going on with her?

Again, I've read ahead but I think Daisy has a secret. I think that there is more to the Lacey death than we know at this point. Also, why did Daisy come back now? There must be a significance.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 to 5

1.) Why are you participating in this BOM? Just for extra Tower Teams points? Because you were interested in/going to read this book anyway? Have you read other words by this author?

I've been participating to get extra points for challenges. This time it's for TT. I would've probably read this book anyway though because it's got good reviews and I like young adult/mysteries. They are so much better than all that crappy sci-fi stuff. ;)

2.) I'm loving Ellery's true crime obsession. Pre-child I used to have the Discovery ID channel (true crime, all the time) on a lot as background. Though I'm thinking this is foreshadowing of not good things to come. What do you think? Have you read any of the crime books mentioned so far?

I've read a few of the crime books mentioned. My favorite suspense author though is Catherine Coulter's FBI series. I love her true crime mind. I never watched Discovery ID though.

3.) Characters, first impressions. What do you think of Ellery & Ezra? Sadie, and the fact they refer to her by her first name and not 'Mom'? Malcom & Katrin? Familial relations seems to be a central theme to this book and specifically sibling relationships. There's been several twin references and references to other sibling relationships (Declan, Daisy, Lacey's siblings, etc). Do you think these types of ties will play into the main story line?

Oh, I think all the characters are connected. I'm very curious to see how all this plays out. I like Ellery and Ezra. Doesn't surprise me that they don't call their mom Sadie. I really like Malcom but I don't like Katrin very much.

4.) This book is set in a small town and that type of atmosphere has been highlighted strongly during the set-up of the story. However, it isn't really the bucolic small town setting being highlighted by the author, but the everyone is in everyone else's business and will judge the crap out of your entire family if given the chance. What do you think of small towns? Would you like to live in one (or do you already)?

I grew up in a small town and live in large metro city. I actually prefer small town life at times. Things tend to be simpler. Now, you do have to watch yourself because those small town phone chains are no joke! People will know your business before you get home sometimes. I do like in the metro city that people don't follow your every move.

5.) I loved the epitaph of Mr. Bowman's tombstone.
"Tell me and I forget
Teach me and I may remember
Involve me and I learn"
What did you think about it? Do you agree with the statement? And why do you think there has been such a focus on a seemingly sad, but random hit and run?

I totally agree with this statement. I think that a lot of times we go to teach kids but we don't involve them and then they don't absorb the information. Oh, that hit and run has to have a back story.

Great job team! Now, off to plan some books for this week.

I finished the new girl but I’m on my phone and I’ve started reading my next book and will have it finished if time. I’ll update in the morning unless someone wants me to fix it tonight.