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

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

I've done three days of the discussion questions but need to do some errands before I write today's. Not really sure how to link my posts to the spreadsheet though. It's one reason I don't like my books and just place them in there. Also, I'm reading Grave Mercy and its on the week 2 list but it also had an animal so I included it on the animal spreadsheet. Was I suppose to put it in both places? I'll finish it tonight and add the finish date later when it's done.

Day 3 DQs - Hetty (Ch 9) - 13


11. After all the tension in the beginning between Hetty and Reese, and now that they only have each other without Byatt as the middleman, they admit their true feelings toward one another. I felt like we didn't get much of a buildup to it so did you feel the chemistry between them? Did you think this turn in their relationship was believable? Forced? Necessary, or something to give the reader hope?

Nope, I didn't suspect any feelings between them more than friends. The relationship felt forced to me. I think it would've been fine to leave it out of the storyline.


12. I didn't stop to consider how everyone's symptoms were so varied until Byatt started listing them for Teddy. Why do you think it reacted so differently with everyone it infected?

Everyone's body chemistry is different in real life so it didn't surprise me that it reacts differently per person in this world. I also wonder if everyone got the same version of tox or if it was different for each person.


13. We learned a lot more about Byatt which made me rethink the previous interactions she had with her friends. Did Hetty and Reese really know the real Byatt? And is Byatt reliable as a narrator knowing that she's a compulsive liar?

I think Byatt kept a lot of herself hidden from everyone. I wouldn't trust her.

14. Byatt manipulated poor Teddy into removing his mask and kissing him. Why do you think she did this? To infect him, just because she could, or because she really believed it only affected girls (though come on, Mr. Harker!)?

I think she wanted to see if it only affected girls. She was testing the theory and waiting to see the results. She's also manipulative and maybe she was thinking by having a relationship with him it would help her to find a cure of the tox.


15. When Mona told Byatt that "They'll ruin it," who do you think she was referring to and what do you think she meant by it? Mona then asks if Byatt would keep the disfigurements caused by the Tox even if there was a cure. What did you make of this? Why do you think they would want to keep them?

I didn't really pay attention to it. Looking back, I think she was referring to the other girls maybe? Oh Byatt would want the attention and would want to keep her battle wounds to have a better story to tell.

Day 2 - chapters 4 - 8

5. The Boat Shift segment was intense! The description of the changes to the island were very evocative (and reminiscent of Annihilation, as Frankie mentioned). Are you going to be able to walk in the woods the same again? How effective are you finding the fungal horrors?

I would definitely need some kind of weapon with me and a group of friends. I wouldn't walk in those woods alone that is for sure. I don't think I would be an effective hunter. I would be too worried about what was coming out to get me.


6. Welch. First, during the Boat Shift segment; Did you believe/agree with Welch at the first reading? And by the end of this section, looking back, do you still agree? Would you have done what Hetty did, and complied with the rule of silence? Then we discover Welch is communicating with someone (with a familiar voice....) about receipt, replacement and returns. By the end of this section we can guess at "receipt", but who / what is being returned?? Were you surprised by the reveal of Welch being in on "it"?

I had a feeling Welch and the headmistress were in on it because they don't have the same type of symptoms. It didn't surprise me when they revealed her talking to someone. I would follow the rules and stay silent.


7. Hetty has a big revelation about Reese "I've spent my every day since I met her telling myself the wrong thing. Telling myself over and over that she was cold, when maybe she was burning the whole time" I actually judged Hetty a lot at this point, for being so blinkered and oblivious, but I did like the adjustment she made during the conversation. How do you feel about Hetty, Reese and Byatt? Are they becoming more credible characters yet?

I'm not a really big fan of Reese. I want to know more about the characters to really base opinions on them. I think I like Hetty a little better than Byatt.


8. We have a switch in POV to Byatt. What do you think of this choice by the author?

It was good to get a different POV. It helps shape the story more. Also gives us a little more insight on the tox but not enough yet.

9. The Byatt segment shows medical stuff happening. What do you make of that? Are they curing or creating?

Oh those people are up to something bad! I think they are using the girls for an experiment but not sure why. I don't think they want to help the girls but just perfect their experiments.


10. "Just before a flare-up, there's a moment. Hard to describe, hard to pin down, but for me it almost makes it worth it. The pain and the loss, all of it a fair price for this. This strength, this power, this eagerness to bare my teeth>" What do you think this quote means? Does it hint at reasons for the Tox? At future developments in the story line?

I've finished the book already so probably should've answered these as I read along. I will say that I so want this quote to mean something insightful.

DQ’s Day One: Chapters 1-3

1. It’s interesting to see the dynamic between the main girls (Hetty, Byatt, Reese). They can fist fight over food one minute, but still be best friends the next. Reminds me of my sister & I. LOL. Have you ever had this kind of relationship with someone?

I would say that I'm very lucky to have two close thats friends that I've been friends with since we were toddlers. We weren't siblings but we totally fought like that. We would have a fight then be like okay where we going tonight? I'm glad I have those relationships to this day even after graduations, weddings, and three different states.


2. Byatt sneaks out of the room when she thinks Hetty is sleeping, then crawls up in Reese’s bunk when she returns. Where do you think she snuck off to? & what did she mean when she said to Reese, ”If you know something...”? Reese shuts down & kicks her out of her bunk. Wonder what their secret is?

I think she's up to something but I have no idea what.


3. Hetty says, “And I’ve wanted boys, and I’ve wanted girls, but I’ve never wanted anyone enough to miss them, enough to pluck them from the slideshow of my old life and bring them here.”
People have different ways of handling emotional stuff like this. Some people (like Hetty) believe thinking or talking about your loved ones or past life would only make the situation harder to deal with emotionally. Put yourself in this situation. How do you think you’d cope with missing your old life/family? Would you be like Hetty & shut down emotionally to prevent more pain? Or would you be like the other girls, laughing & sharing stories of your old life?

I would probably be somewhere in between. I would talk about my old life at times but be more closed off and reserved depending on the situation. I think I would cope appropriately but definitely need some downtime for myself.


4. Personally, I’m really enjoying the book already! I love the writing style, the world building, & the characters. I know we’re only a few chapters in, but how are you liking it so far? What aspect of the book do you like best at this point (writing, world building, characters, etc.)?

I think the world building is good. I like the visualizations that make it seem really realistic.

Oh, I will work on those today. It ended up being a crazy day!

I can always pick up an extra book Saturday if it looks like we will need it. I’m working on my third book now.

Thanks! I just searched the book that I was going to read and found peacock. It had a couple other animals also but that one isn't usually found.

Okay quick question about the mini challenge and if it's already been answered then I apologize because I've been at work and it's busy. Do we need to count the animal book into our weekly number of books or are the animal books tallied differently? I'm asking because I may need to change my 3rd book for the week before I start reading it. Thanks!

Just finished Hot to the Touch last night and I'm about to start Wilder Girls now.

Ohh, that's on my list to read and I think it's red. I may have to add that to my sheet for next week.

Thanks! I'm just use to using default edition with page numbers.

I added two books to the list for next week's planning sheet. Where do I put Wilder Girls at? I'm planning on reading that one also. I'm so far down on the wait list for Gideon that I may not get it from the library in time.

Great job team! I’m also done for the week. I’m currently working on figuring out my books for this week.

Just finished my book 3 and placed it on the spreadsheet. I found it on the pride sin bingo lists so I think I filled in the spreadsheet correctly. Hope so!

Blah, neither one of those books sound the least bit appealing to me but I got Wilder Girls for next week. Gideon has a crazy long wait list but I put my name on it. I'll just have to find some really good trashy romance fast reads so I can sandwich Wilder Girls in between them.

Yes, laying on the couch reading is so much more enjoyable. There is always tomorrow for weekend chores. :)

Thanks so much. I will finish it tonight.

I just posted book two. I'm working on book three. I know we have the countdown for when stage two begins but do we have any lag period between rounds. We are going out tonight for awhile and I want to make sure that I get my book three completed in time. Laundry and house cleaning may have to wait!

Eeek, I better get this reading done. Real life got in the way some this week but I should have book two tonight and then hopefully can power read book three tomorrow!

I just finished The Alice Network and posted my completion date on the spreadsheet. I'm not totally sure if I filled in all the little boxes correctly for the book but I think I did. On to my second book! I think I should be able to hit my 3 books a week exactly because my work life and real life keep hindering my reading time!