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

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

I didn't think we could use the BOM for the Christmas tasks.

It looked like we were getting pretty close to finished with the bonus tasks. Are there any left unclaimed?

I'm going to finish up Life After Life today or tomorrow at the latest. Middlemarch is a slog but I'm making good progress (it only works for 4 items of clothing and word red in text). I'm also reading Heart on Fire and it seems like it will also only work for red in text and 4 items of clothing. I thought will all the Greek gods surly there would be something else that worked.

I will probably listen to the BOM next unless there is a task that is more important.

I read a book that will fit black text on cover. I don't know where Middlemarch will fit it it isn't clothes so maybe move Truth or Beard to black text on the cover. Then I have clothes back for Middlemarch.

I think she is wearing a scarf.

The Hathaways are a fun family and the series was very good.

Ora, I used Seduce Me at Sunrise for either Tower or Uno and it showed up as red for me on Tin Eye.

Ora wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "Does anyone have a way to search the text of a book? I think maybe the word "carrot" was in Truth or Beard, but I can't find it flipping through the book."

I canno..."

I am planning on reading Middlemarch still. It is a long one though and without the audio I won't get through it as quickly. Go ahead and change it out and I'll see if Middlemarch will fit somewhere else. I did find red in the text so it could fit there.

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "Look the book up on googlebooks.com or Amazon. Most books have a search option."

Thank you.

Completion Post
Cover:
Title: Truth or Beard
Author: Penny Reid
Series: Winston Brothers
Date: Dec 1st
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 338
Spell-Out Letters
R - Author
D - Duane Winston (character)

Bonus options:
Red in text. p.15 "Then the identical twins--Beau and Duane--with their red beards and blue eyes."

15. Four clothing items. I've included 5 in case shoes and hats don't count. 1. p.2 "grabbed my grey cape and wizard hat."2. p.2 "The rest of my costume was negligible--a one-piece mini-skirt sheath dress with a low cut front" 3. p.3 "I twisted to one side then the other to show off new new garment and my high-heeled strappy sandals." 4. p.19 "I reached for his white shirt, drawing him closer, and tried to roughly pull it off. He acquiesced, helping me remove the material, as my fingertips fumbled for the hem of his boxers..."
29. Read something sweet. I would consider this a sweet book, but it wasn't fluffy.
30. Read a book with black text on the cover. The title is black.
40. Carrot in text. I thought I saw it yesterday when I was reading but I can't find it now.

Does anyone have a way to search the text of a book? I think maybe the word "carrot" was in Truth or Beard, but I can't find it flipping through the book.

Completion Post
Cover:
Title: Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Date: Nov 30th
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 403
Spell-Out
T - Michael Teo
E - Eleanor Young (character)
N - Nicholas Young (character)
L - Astrid Leong (character)

BOM:
DQ 1
DQ 2
DQ 3

DQs Part 3

14. Part 3 labels its chapters with locations, rather than the POVs used in the previous parts. Why do you think this is? Did you notice the change? Do you have a preference?
I did notice the change and at first I was annoyed because I didn't know who was narrating, but then the point of view jumped around a lot. I think consistency would have been good, but I do see why the author did it.

15. We see the outcome of three different relationships in this section: Alistair and Kitty; Astrid and Michael and of course Nick & Rachel, plus – of course – the flashback to Rachel’s mum’s experience of love and marriage across the money divide. What do you think Kwan is saying about the power and influence of money on relationships? Do you think the parents are reasonable in their view point, that you have to come from money to fit into the lifestyle? Can you see a happy ending in the future for Astrid, Michael, Rachel & Nick?
I don't know about happy endings. Maybe, but I think for Astrid and Michael and Rachel and Nick there are big things that will have to change or be given up.

16. Kwan uses this book to expose the foibles of the Asian super-rich elite, from extravagant weddings and conspicuous consumption to the snobbery within the families. Do you think the book is successful in its social satire?
I don't know if it is a successful satire. I do know he did a pretty good job making many Singaporeans very angry. Also, I'm not sure I would consider this satire.

17. Obviously this has been made into a movie – have you seen it? What do you think will work well? And less well?
I have not seen it. I would be curious to see it, but that is because I used to live in Singapore and I'm curious to see how things have changed.

18. This is the first in a trilogy – will you read the next books in the series?
I don't know if I will or not. I didn't love this book. I guess I went in expecting it to be more than it was. It was entertaining, but I'm not sure it was enough so for me to want to keep reading.

Wow, finally made it through Crazy Rich Asians. And I wrote 50,000 words of a novel this month. Now I just have to finish writing it, but that can wait until wheel is over.

Also, I noticed that your version of Crazy Rich Asians, Ora, has about 100 more pages than what I read.

Discussion Questions
Part Two Chapters 1-18

1. How do you feel about Michael's desire, early in his marriage, to live independently from Astrid's family fortune by selecting to live in a place he could afford to buy, even though it was far below Astrid's accustomed lifestyle? How much weight do their different economic backgrounds carry as the reason Michael cheats on Astrid? Were you surprised to learn that Astrid had not told Michael about the other properties she owns?
I thought this was a way for them to have some independence and space from Astrid's family which seems like they treat him poorly. It seems like Michael may have been cheating on Astrid for a while since we see a boy with them. About the same age as Astrid's son. I don't know that the economics are the reason Michael cheats but I think they play a role in the failure of the marriage. I wasn't surprised that Astrid didn't tell Michael about the properties she owns.

2. It seems as if Amanda's mother, Jacqueline, is vying to set up Amanda with Nick. At the end of chapter 7, Eleanor is feeling "the stars are beginning to align". How do you think this could impact the story?
I think that Rachel is going to have a lot to deal with and a lot of girls who may or may not be interested are going to be thrown at Nick.

3. Rachel isn't fitting in very well at the bachelorette party. Do you think Araminta is aware of how rude the girls are being to Rachel? Whose side do you think Araminta will take if forced to choose?
I don't feel like I know Araminta that well. I would like to think she would take Rachel's side but I really don't know if she would.

4. We learn Bernard has a history of bullying Nick and others from the time they were young and hasn't matured or changed over the years. Give your reaction as to the bachelor party and the solution Nick devises for Colin, Alistair, and Mehmet to escape the yacht.
I thought their escape was great. However, it was all a bit extravagant. It was the first time Nick used his influence and money in a way that seemed a little to much but it seemed necessary. At least he wasn't flashy like Bernard.

5. After her accident, Astrid confronts Michael about his cheating. Astrid is ready to hear the truth, forgive Michael, and work on making their marriage happy, but instead Michael quickly packs his bag and leaves. Do you think this move is final? Will Astrid continue to pursue him? Will Michael change his mind and return to her?
I don't know if it is final. From Astrid's perspective she doesn't want it to be, from Michael's it is. That is a difficult place to be in.

6. What do you think Eleanor means on the last page of the final chapter for Part Two when she states, "We should all just sit back and watch, because things are about to get interesting."
I have a feeling it has something to do with her trip, but maybe also with how all the women Nick's age are reacting.

7. Have you enjoyed the book thus far? What is your prediction on how the book might end?
I'm enjoying parts of it, but I don't know if I really like the book. It has been a slow read for me. I have no idea how it will end. I'm just hoping that with the wedding the speed of the book will pick up.

Ora, I updated my post for The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein to include the correct info.

I'm still working on Crazy Rich Asians. I just finished Part 2, and as soon as I finish the last thousand words for NaNoWriMo I will read until I will read Part 3.

Lauren wrote: "I'm free!! My last assignment is done and come next week and I will officially have my Masters in Library and Information Science in hand!

Obviously I missed a bunch in the last 24 hours. I'll go ..."

Congratulations. That is a big achievement.

Can we use December BOM for bonus tasks?

I'm pretty sure that Middlemarch works for the four items of clothing mentioned. I don't know if it works for anything else. I'm going to look this evening or tomorrow after I finish Crazy Rich Asians.

Completion Post
Cover:
Title: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
Author: Kiersten White
Narrator: Katharin McEwan
Date: Nov. 30th
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 304
Spell-Out Letters:
T - Title (if you can count the article)
E - Elizabeth Levenza
L - Elizabeth Levenza


BOM
DQ 1
DQ 2
DQ 3

DQ Day 3 Ch 17-end

10) Judge Frankenstein did not let Elizabeth know that he was fighting to get her inheritance back. If she would have known, do you think she would have handled things differently with when she found Justine and forced a marriage between her and Victor? Would she have been a different person?
I think there is a chance she would have acted differently, but she repeatedly says she doesn't know who she is without Victor. She is who she is because of him. I would hope she would have acted differently but there is really no way to know.

11) Victor said, “You made it clear from the start you did not care what I did so long as you did not have know the specifics. It was our agreement.” Did Elizabeth contribute to Victor’s madness? If she would have told him he went was going too far at any time, would he have stopped or just not tell her?
I have a feeling Victor was already beyond help by the time Elizabeth arrived. She maybe enabled his madness, but I don't think he would have stopped just because she asked him to. Or told him not to do something.

12) Victor wound up leaving after the conversation Elizabeth saw with the monster. Later we found out that he was watching and protecting Elizabeth. Was Elizabeth committed to an asylum to keep her safe or to get the monster out of the way so Victor would be able to continue with his work?
I think Elizabeth being in an asylum was a way for Victor to work and not be bothered.

13) Was it surprising that Victor killed Henry and used part of him for his experiments? Were you surprised that Mary and Elizabeth friended the monster and let him chose a new name?
I suspected that Henry had been killed when Elizabeth found the hat. I wasn't surprised that Mary and Elizabeth befriend the monster, but I didn't expect it.

14) Do you believe that Victor finally succeeded with his experiment to retrieve Elizabeth or that he needed to go forward with the experiment on her to have her back the way she was?
I think Elizabeth wasn't as modable as Victor needed and he needed her to be more like the child she was when they first met. I imagine Victor did succeed in his experiments. He seems rather proud of himself.

15) How did you like this retelling to the original and/or other retellings?
I haven't read the original so I'm not sure. I did enjoy the story more than I expected to. I normally avoid anything that is labeled horror, but this wasn't as bad as I thought. I'm glad it was a BOM and I read it. Now I guess I should read the original.