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

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

I've finished Something in the Heir. I've added a few more options for where it fits.

I finished quite a few books this weekend. I was planning on reading longer books for the duration of TT but have not been in the mood. I'm not sure where my audiobook will fit for tasks. I think I'll watch and see as I get closer to finishing. I still have about 9 hours left as I don't get as much listening time as I used to.

I've got the mod take over BOM as an audio but haven't started yet. I'd rather have an ebook but didn't find one so will see if I get to it or not. Waiting on holds for both of the others.

I've got an ARC of Something in the Heir so that is the next book I plan on reading. Only things I know it will work for are T16 & T18 I'm sure I'll find more as I read though.

Tina wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "I recently finished The Fifth Season and I can't believe I didn't read it sooner. It was a 5 star read for me. I think I was a little scared of all the hype it got...."

I didn't find it depressing but it was defiantly dark. I really like fantasy but dystopia isn't my favorite either. I don't think I'd consider it dystopia because it is more of a fantasy world.

Tina wrote: "- 5 Stars

I've hit the halfway mark of the challenge! I loved this book and sped through it faster than I expected. It reminded me of the Bear and the Nightinga..."

I'm going to have to read this soon. I really enjoyed Uprooted and have had this on my list since I finished.

I recently finished The Fifth Season and I can't believe I didn't read it sooner. It was a 5 star read for me. I think I was a little scared of all the hype it got. For me it lived up to it. I'm really looking forward to the second book when my hold comes in.

I finished Much Ado About Dukes. I was really hoping that it would work for the maze but I decided to finish it tonight. It was a NetGalley and I needed to get the review in before the work week started. Otherwise I would have put off finishing for longer. It had the potential to be good but the editing was not great.

Robin hope you feel better soon.

I noticed that the next book from the Ice Planet Barbarian world was published today. So I’m pausing other reads unless they fit maze to read that next.

I’ve got holds on the two BOMs but am not sure I can get the mod take over book. My library didn’t have an e copy.

I just finished The Fifth Season so I’ll be starting something new soon. Not sure what yet. I’ll probably try and get a few started on the chance one works for the maze.

Jen wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "I finished The Travelling Cat Chronicles. It had been on my TBR for a long time. It was not what I expected but it was good. Glad the BOM finally got me to read it...."

Done

I finished The Travelling Cat Chronicles. It had been on my TBR for a long time. It was not what I expected but it was good. Glad the BOM finally got me to read it.

DQ May 19- How Noriko Learned to Love - End of Book

Do not read these if you haven't finished the book. Contains spoilers.

13. In this chapter we get to know Saturo's Aunt Noriko better. What adjectives would you use to describe Noriko's personality? How did you feel about the way Noriko revealed Saturo's birth story? Were you surprised to learn he was adopted?
I would describe Noriko as blunt, acerbic, and regretful. Noriko seems not to have a filter that most people do that stops them from saying things. She almost instantly regrets her words but she also doesn't have the ability to make what she says seem kinder. I wasn't surprised that he was adopted. It explained some of the way the rest of the family (specifically on his father's side) reacted.

14. Did you think Nana running off towards the end and living his former life as a stray was fitting for the story. Was it believable that he would come back and forth visiting Saturo in the hospital?
I don't know if it was believable but it was fitting for the story. I did think he wanted to be with Saturo and Noriko wasn't able to bring him as often as he wanted.

15. Endings...they must be the second hardest thing to write for authors after beginnings. Did you like the ending? You may consider the Epilogue also when answering the question, if you like.
I didn't care for the Epilogue all that much. It felt like we rush through the rest of Nana's life. However, the ending for Saturo was very good. I cried.

16. The author, Hiro Arikawa, has written other books, with very different genre. She has written books about Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). (I have to admit I know nothing about that!).
Would you read another book written by her? And lastly, would you recommend this book to others? If so, would you only recommend it to people who you know are cat lovers or would you widely recommend it?
I don't know that I would recommend this book. While I liked it, it was a very slow passed book and I had issues getting into it. I would defiantly give a warning with it if I do recommend it. As for reading more from the author I don't think I would as I have really enjoyed other authors more.

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 know that he did know about Sugi's feelings. He seems perceptive about animals but maybe not humans. He knew that Sugi didn't want him to say anything about his feelings for Chikako, but he might not have taken it further.

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 actually really like this chapter. I felt like we got more of a glimpse of Satoru and Nana then we did before. Though I do see that having all the backstory has brought the story to a place where this is adds something nice to the story.

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?
My prediction was job loss. Though I really didn't know at the time. We have been getting hints about illness for a while now though.

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 probably more of a dog person but I like both dogs and cats.

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 don't know if they are convincing cat thoughts, but I buy that a cat might think some of these things.

6) In this chapter we are introduced to Yoshimine, another potential owner for our cat. What do you think of him and his backstory?
Yoshimine was interesting and he had a lot in common with Satoru as far as background. Parents that aren't there and being raised by another member of the family. I found Yoshimine to be an interesting character.

7) Do you think Yoshimine would have been a good owner for Nana ?I don't think he would have been a great cat owner, but he might have been good for Nana in that Nana seems to like being a hunter.

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).
In the US I think Whiskers and Mittens are probably some of the most cliché. (I had a cat named Whiskers -I was five when I named her- and I do think it was cliched.)

I'm reading The Travelling Cat Chronicles now as I just had that come in from the library. It has been on my TBR list for a long time. I'm also reading The Fifth Season and will probably try and focus on BOM and longer books. Otherwise I'm going to go way over what I said I would read. Looking back I know why I put 5 books a month (I wanted to focus on long books and cleaning my TBR shelf) but during past challenges I've read between 10 and 15 books a month (sometimes 20) so I really don't know why I went as low as I did.

DQs 16 May: Prologue - The Husband Without a Wife

1. How are you liking the way the story is written with its alternating POVs ? Is there a POV you prefer ?
In some ways it alternates but it also feels like we have an all knowing narrator that slips into the cat's view sometimes. I don't mind the POV but I also don't really care for any of the characters. The cat feels detached so I think we feel detached as well. It is an interesting way of telling a story though.

2. Through the flashbacks we get to know Satoru's personality a bit more. What do you make of him so far ? What did you think about his way of helping his friend Kosuke?
Satoru seems more intuitive than I would have expected. I liked how even after all these years he and Kosuke still seem to have a close relationship. (Very Asian feeling though).

3. Talking about Kosuke, what's up with his parents ? It seemed to me that Kosuke was genuinely convinced that his father would agree to keep the cat (Hachi). What did you think about his backstory ?
I think Kosuke didn't think that he would be able to keep the cat. He just really wanted the cat and then Satoru was so convincing that he went along with it. Kosuke seems a little like he goes where he is pushed and doesn't really stand up for what he believes, both as a child and an adult.

4. Why do you think Satoru can't take care of Nana anymore ?
I think Kosuke was right and Satoru was let go of at his job and he is going to have to move and can't take Nana with him.

I just finished the backroom BOM. I’ll get questions updated tomorrow. It was better than I expected. Which is a good thing for these books.

Louise wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "Louise wrote: "@Annalisa can you check A Deadly Fortune the book you’ve shelved and linked is the hardcover at 368pgs. On the tracker you’ve tracked 298pgs."

I rea..."

ISBN is 9781643136301

That is so odd that the age number is so different. Amazon also lists the 368 pages. I wonder where the extra pages came from.

I recently finished #10. was given to me by a co-worker whose sister had written it. It really kept me turning the pages. I don't read a lot of "mystery" type books but I really liked this.

Louise wrote: "@Annalisa can you check A Deadly Fortune the book you’ve shelved and linked is the hardcover at 368pgs. On the tracker you’ve tracked 298pgs."

I read the hardcover book. I went to the last page in there and put in the number of pages. I don't know why there is a discrepancy between the actual book and what is in goodreads.

Hi all just wanted to check in. The notifications aren’t working for me so I’m not remembering to check the thread while I’ve been traveling. I head back home this evening and get home tomorrow. I’ll take a look at everything then and pick a book or two. Too bad it doesn’t start earlier as I’ve got about 15 hours of travel time. Hopefully I’ll be able to sleep on the longest flight. I’ll be much more active once I’m back home.