Annalisa’s Comments (group member since May 04, 2018)

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

I finished The Obelisk Gate yesterday. With that I am finished for the challenge. Excited to see results. It has been fun playing with everyone!

I’ve just finished The Evening and the Morning.

We might need to send direct messages since notifications are messed up. To send these messages I've had to sign in 3 times. There are some real issues.

Charanya wrote: "@Stephanie, would you like to join our team? I had asked you before, but I think GR Is messing up notifs again?

For now, its me and Kira, till the others respond"

I'm in for the team. Good Reads notifications are off for me. I have been reading an average of 9 books a month for the year so far. Here is my good reads profile: 18726199-annalisa

Also, I have 5 hours left on The Mourning and The Evening. Will be best for story I think since would really only work for food.

If we say that adding the first book in a series counts I am reading the second book of a series and I added the first book to my TBR in 2017 I think.

I’m going to be finishing up Never Split the Difference this week and it has been on my TBR since 2018.

@Charanya we want to have a total of 80 books a month and if we form a team we would be about 20 books to low. Hopefully a few more people will want to join with higher per month reading numbers so we can for teams that a close to that.

I'd love to play again. I read about 8 to 10 books a month.

DQs Day 5

19. What did you think about Ariadne's reaction when Phaedra confides in her regarding Hippolytus ? And Hippolytus' answer to Phaedra when she expresses her feelings to him ? Did you suspect it wasn't romantic love?
Yes, I thought it was likely infatuation on Phaedra’s part. I wasn’t surprised by anything that happened around that.

20. Ariadne and Theseus finally meet each other again after all these years. Was their reunion scene satisfactorily enough for you ?
I thought their reunion was satisfactory it showed how much Ariadne had changed. She felt a little fear but she mostly was just there for her sister and he was an accident of that.

21. We learn more about Dionysus: his worshippers and blood rites, his obsession with his status as an Olympian god, and his interaction with his brother, Perseus. Did your opinion about him change after those scenes ? Were you expecting his relationship with Ariadne to change like that ?
I did find I didn’t care for him as much after this. I do know that he seemed like he might have over time become more like the other gods. I hoped his relationship with Ariadne wouldn’t change but wasn’t surprised it did when he changed.

22. What do you think about the way Phaedra's and Ariadne's stories ended ? Does it give enough closure or is there something you wish ended differently ?
I was satisfied with the ending for both sisters.

23. Did you enjoy the book ? If you had any expectations, did the book meet them ? Will you be reading more by this author ? She recently published another Greek mythology retelling: Elektra.
The book was good, but not as good as I hoped. I would read another book by the author but not going to look for it.

DQs Day 4:

15. What do you think about Dionysus' encounter with Hades, the god of the Underworld?
It was short and felt to easy for him to take his mother but then again we do seem to have the desire to get back at Hera.

16. It seems like Ariadne loves her life in Naxos, what do you think of her relationship with Dionysus?
She does seem to love her life on Naxos and she also seems to have been won over by Dionysus. Although there are starting to be cracks.

17. Ariadne is horrified by the bloody rites she witnesses between Dionysus, the maenads, and the resurrected goat. In attempting to understand the maenads’ participation, she reflects: “The ritual gave fearful shape to the anger and the grief that had driven so many of them here in the first place; they screamed and danced in their blood-soaked frenzy by night so that they could live serenely in the sunlight.” Does this explanation make sense to you?
Somewhat. I also think that Ariadne is trying to keep this from herself she doesn’t want to know.

18. Were you more drawn to Ariadne’s or Phaedra’s chapters? Why do you think the author chose to include both of their perspectives?
I don’t know that I like one more than the other. I like Ariadne’s character more but I don’t think the story would be complete if you only had one side.

DQs Day 3

10) What did you think of Pasiphae’s response to the death of her son, the Minotaur?
It is still her son and really changed the life. I can see why she is mourning. I think it is about what I expected from other peaks we have at her character.

11) Dionysus makes quite the entrance, doesn’t he? What are your thoughts on him and the interaction between him and Ariadne?
so far I’m inclined to like Dionysus. He seems like a kind god and he gives Ariadne a second chance at life. I’m was inclined to like him at this point in the story.

12) Phaedra comes into her own in Athens. What do you think of her in her new life?
I’m enjoying seeing her grow. I’m sad for her that she has to learn manipulative ways but glad she finds a life that brings her some happiness.

13) We see many examples of the gods playing with mortals in this story; Pasiphae with the bull. King Midas and his golden touch, Hera causing Semele to burn. what do you think it would be like to live in a world where gods existed and interacted with humans?
I think it would be different and dangerous. I’d hope not to encounter them. However in Dionysus case he is the god of wine and he seems more like a teacher.

14) Do you think the sisters will find out the truth about one another? If so, any predictions on what will happen?
Yes, Dionysus already told Ariadne that he sees her sister coming once she has reached her potential. I don’t know why he doesn’t tell her where she is. I completely understand Theseus not telling Phaedra since Ariadne is dead in his version of the story.

DQs Day 2

5. Have you heard of Theseus before? What do you think of his backstory, does it compare with other well-known Greek heroes like Hercules and Achilles? Do you think it fits his humble and collected demeanor in the previous chapter?
I read ahead. I had not heard of Theseus, but did know the story of the Minotaur. I feel a little like what he presented was a lie. He seems like he wants to be a hero like Achilles or Hercules but he isn’t the same. But I also don’t know back story of them. Maybe they were also two faced.

6. I don’t know about you, but “insta-love” stories royally annoy me. Ariadne spends a significant part of these chapters reveling in her undying and world-changing love and devotion to someone she just met. Do you think this is realistic, or just a cheap plot ploy from the author?
Ariadne is infatuated and she thinks it is love. I didn’t see it as actual love when she was feeling it just her not having experienced attraction or any real physical longing before.

7. Why do you think Theseus left Ariadne on the island with no heads up whatsoever? How do you feel about her thoughts and actions, as she processes this new reality?
This is when the story started picking up for me. I wasn’t so interested earlier on. We got all the hints that Ariadne betraying her family would lead to her destruction. There is the story of Mino killing the woman who betrays her family for him. Ariadne was not going to be different.

8. During the "great escape", Phaedra is left behind - do you think it was by accident, or purposefully (and if so, why)? Do you think it was wise of her to return to the Palace?
It was on purpose I’m almost certain. I think she was fine to return to the palace.

9. A common theme in Greek mythology is the linear progression of Fate - from Hubris (thinking and acting as if one is a God), to Atis (blindness of one’s puny nature, leading the mortal to commit an unforgivable or insulting act), to Nemesis (the anger and revenge of the Gods), and finally Tisis (the mortal’s punishment). Where have you noticed this process so far? Where do you think Nemesis will strike next?
This is not a question I was expecting. I think we are at this point in the story seeing it with Ariadne as she is dealing with being left by someone she thought she trusted and loved.

I just finished Malibu Rising. I didn't put it on the mini tab as it fits multiple places and I thought I'd let others decide where it fits best. I've been doing that with all of my books. If that isn't how I should do it I can start placing them.

Day 5
20 Jul 2:00 AM - 7:00 AM

17. I love how the author describes how the party goes feral starting with that awful Vaughn Donovan. Have you ever been to a party where things spiraled out of control?
I have not been to a party that spiraled out of control.

18. I fist pumped the air when Nina tells herself to stop being a doormat and goes to find her dad (or as she says, her "f&*(ing nothing"!!). That whole scene where she confronts him felt so cathartic. I loved the line "It would not be her that bent and broke anymore." How did you find it?
I really started enjoyed that. It felt like it was the exact right thing. I also liked how Casey seems to just not care about Mic but does care about the others.

19. There are always many sides to a story. Why do you think Mick came to the party? If he was your dad, would you have forgiven him? Would you have wanted to see him again after the party?
I think Mick was lonely. I would not have forgiven him. It was an asshole and he needed to hear what Nina said because he really hurt them and he only thought of himself. If I was Kit or Casey I might have seen him again just because I didn't have as much history.

20. The party changed the siblings in lots of different ways. How do you think their lives will be different now?
I think that they are going to move out of the shadow of the past and rediscover themselves. It wasn't a happy ending but it was also kind of uplifting.

21. Final thoughts on the book? Would you read more by the author?
I didn't love this book but I also did enjoy parts of it. The start was just so slow that I really struggled with that. I picked up but I still wanted something more. I do expect that I will read more by Taylor Jenkins Reid but I it might be a while.

Day 4

59% 11:00 PM
80% 01:00 AM

13. From the four siblings, I was surprised to find out that Kit had been sending the party invitations to his father for the last few years. I would have expected it from Nina and Hud first. Was it a surprise for you too? What do you think the future relationship (if any) will look like between Mick and his children? I feel he is quite an unredeemable character so it could go towards many different directions.
I did think that of any of the children to send the invitation it would have been Kit. She seems to be the one that has the least against him.

14. Now that we know the story between Brandon and Nina and her reaction to his mistress' appearance, I can finally see the fire awakening in Nina. She has a chance to not commit the same mistakes as her mom. Do you think that she will finally stand up to herself and what she wants or will she fall into old habits? We haven't seen the last from Brandon, what do you think he will do to try to get Nina back?
I think that Nina isn't going to take him back. I think Brandon is a bit of a goner. He seems a little like Mic (self obsessed, not really seeing others and what they want.) Although maybe in a way Mic has more awareness than he lets on.

15. Nina has taken very well the situation with Casey. How do you think the others will react to the news?
I think given that it is about their father and not her they will accept her.

16. I am worried about the fate of some characters. Now that we are getting closer to the end, do you think everyone will have a HEA or the story is leading toward some heartbreak and bittersweet ending?
I expect the story to have an ending that is well done but I do not expect it to be happy.

Day 3

41% 5:00 PM
59% 10:00 PM

9. The Riva house on the beach and Nina's husband's place on a cliff are described several times in the book as the most important settings. Do you find the houses and Malibu as appealing places?
What would your own dreamplace be like? And where would it be?
I don't really find the setting all the appealing. I would like visiting but not living there. I would prefer a Japanese style house with an inner court yard and a garden in the mountains.

10. As we are moving forward in the story, the siblings characters may be getting fleshed out a bit more. What do you think of Nina? Does it seem like she's following in her mother's footsteps in her choices?
I do think Nina is following her mother's footsteps. However, I hope that she changes and doesn't.

11. Connecting to the previous question about Nina: while TJR is handing out information concerning her husband and their marriage rather sparingly, how do you see Nina's choice and their relationship? Any impressions on what Brandon is like?
I don't think Nina has much choice. It seems like she kind of goes along since it is either that or make a scene and Nina doesn't like that. Hopefully she can stand up for herself though.

12. What do you think about the relationship between Jay and Hud? How do you think Jay will react when he learns about Hud's betrayal especially as he seems to have found a real love interest?
I expect it to be kind of explosive. The story leads us to believe that is what is going to happen. I hope with the love interest he doesn't turn into a raging bull but I think that is what will happen.

DAY 2 - 1959 "It was last December 1959"
41% 1981 "...in her arms, on her back."

5. 1959 - "It was last December, 1959" -
It sounds like a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song...Wow! What an explosive chapter. Your reaction? Mick was characterised as a sleezy womaniser, it was always going to happen or I didn't see that coming! And June's reaction? Sensitive woman with a huge heart or a doormat for putting up with what she suspected?
I really don't remember the specifics of this chapter. I do think Mick being a womaniser was kind of going to happen. He even thinks it as he is getting to know June.
6. "He gave no thought to the idea that he might break his children like someone had broken him". "You're drunk and you're killing yourself with this stuff." Discuss Mick and June's parenting styles and how they have affected the siblings as children and adults.
Well clearly the Riva kids now do not trust anyone. They all think that trust is not something you give. They also struggle with relationships outside of with each other.

7. The title of the book is Malibu Rising and the author gives the reader a sense of the beach culture both in the past and the present time lines. What does it bring to the story and would it be as effective in another setting?
Because of the opening talking about fires and how fire is part of the story I think of it as a metaphor for fire. Maybe not true but it feels to me as though the smoke is rising.

8. Already with the first set of questions there are varying opinions by the group about both Taylor Jenkins Reid as an author and how it compares to her other work. I loved Daisy Jones and the Six but I am finding this one as bit like Days of our Lives... but the author is skillful enough to make it into a page turner. Where do you sit, engaging tale well written or too much drama and as we are half way through do you see this ending in triumph or tragedy for the Riva siblings?
At the half way point I'm engaged in the story. I'm listening to it so I have it speed up which helps with my not being as interested in the subject. It is not a page turner for me though. I think this is a tragedy. I do not think this is going to be a happy story overall.

DQs Day 1

1. Excited about the book, or just here for the points? Were you familiar with the myths behind the story before starting this book?
I am just here for the points. I was interested in the book but not enough to pick it up without the BOM. Not really familiar with the myths.

2. "Let me tell you a story..." I don't know about you, but I love opening lines like that. Do you have a favourite opening line? Have you ever bought a book on the strength of the opening line alone? (I have!)
I have not bought a book on the strength of an opening line but I do notice them when they are strong. I did like this but opening, but it didn't stand out to me. I don't know that I have a favorite. I did just start the second book in The Broken Earth trilogy and I really liked the opening. I read it to my partner asking him what he thought of it.

3. Asterion: The early years. I bet no-one was fooled by the few paragraphs of almost sweet baby and toddler descriptions: This was always going to end with a monster in a maze of course.
But do you think it served well as a way to establish Ariadne's character?
I think it did a good job of creating some of her character. I don't know that cared for that part of the story though.

4. What do you think of the writing so far? There's a lot of description and narration and very little dialogue, which tries in with the idea that Ariadne is telling the story to the reader. It allows for a lot more depth and detail than more dialogue-heavy storytelling does. Is that a style you enjoy, or do you prefer the faster pace of a book that is more about character interaction?
I have enjoyed this style where it is a very detailed almost internal story in the past. I'm bored with the story so far. Although I was just starting to get interested at the end of this section. I'm hoping that it picks up a bit.

DQs Day 1: Prologue - 11:00AM

1. Both Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo have been BOMs in this group before. Have you read these books (or others) by Taylor Jenkins Reid too or is Malibu Rising your first book by the author? What are your expectations going in?
I read Daisy Jones & The Six but have not read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I am not sure what to expect of Malibu Rising. I guess I have high expectations because I really liked Daisy Jones & The Six. Let's just say that so far I am a little bored.

2. We have been introduced to quite a lot of MCs and their different POVs in the first 20% of the book. Do you prefer one character/POV over the others or is it still too early to tell?
It's really to early to tell. I don't think I really care about any of them. Maybe June but I'm not sure.

3. The writing has quite a contemporary feel to it, especially the 1983 timeline, which makes it easy to forget the book is actually set in the past. What's your opinion on the writing and the back and forth between the two timelines so far, and how does it compare to other TJR books you've read (if any)?
I like the back and forth. I think without that I'd be really really bored with the story. It is not living up to my expectations from having read Daisy Jones & The Six.

4. "The story of June and Mick Riva seemed like a tragedy to their oldest child, Nina. It felt like a comedy of errors to their first son, Jay. It was an origin story for their second son, Hud. And a mystery to the baby of the family, Kit. To Mick himself it was just a chapter of his memoir."
We don't really know how June and Mick's marriage post kids 1 + 2 went (and ended) yet, but from what we've learned about each of the siblings and their (love) lives so far, how do you think their parents' story has affected them after reading the quote above?
It seems like they are all trying to be exactly the opposite. Nina is like her mother. Kit isn't making romantic connections even though she claims to want that. Hud and Jay seem pretty messed up too.