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

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

I'm also struggling with Crazy Rich Asians. I'm about half way through it.
Ora is there a specific time we need to have BOM completion posts done for them to count?

I'm planning on finishing both books of the month. I think I should be able to do it.

Do you want us to claim tasks now or just post what they work for when we finish a book?

Questions Part 2 (Ch 12 to 16)

6)Sometimes we are strangers even to ourselves
Another great quote in this book! Do you think Elizabeth was just referring to Henry here or about all 3 of them? She seems quite restless and unsettled since finding Victor. Why do you think this is?
Knowing Victor as well as she does I expect she knows what he was doing and it hiding from the facts. She did know even before they left the town they find Victor in that he has done something he should not have. I think she is referring to how we deceive ourselves and how when we realize that it surprises us.

7) It's fairly well established a this point that everyone is frightened of Victor to the point where most seem to want to avoid him as much as possible. Elizabeth comments that at night when she was scared and having horrible nightmares she went to Victor. And sleeping by his side, she had no nightmares. Why do you think that is?
I guess it is because he took her out of the life she had that was starving her hurting her as a child. So even when she sees the dark side of Victor it doesn't hurt her in the way her previous life did. I normally don't think about books quite this much when I read them.

8) Why do you think everyone was so willing to believe Justine killed William? To believe her going mad so suddenly and randomly? Do you think she actually did it? If not, who do you think it was?
Justine is clearly innocent. She doesn't know what happened. I did wonder how she ended up with the watch. I think the Monster did it and probably it was an accident. Justine may have found the necklace on her way back to the house.

9) Elizabeth sees her actions towards saving Justine from her previous life as the only selfless thing she has done in her life. Do you think her actions were truly selfless though?
I don't think Elizabeth is really capable of selfless ness. She calculates everything. Her pain had to be stopped and Justine was suffering as she had, so she takes her. She also knows I thinking hat doing so will make Justine in her debt.

10) Upon seeing the monster having a conversation with Victor, that Victor appears to lose, Elizabeth's reaction is to find out what it is holding over Victor, remove the hold, then kill the monster. Do you think this is a normal reaction? What would you have done?
I don't know what I would have done. I think her always think of her place in the family and seeing her only way to be there as through Victor may be a mistake. If she tells anyone she will sound crazy though. She is in a difficult position. I probably would have tried to get someone to believe me.

Red would be easy. We could certainly spell it lots of times.

Wreath and red have no difficult letters. I'm not sure if hat is something we want to consider.

I like that we get to pick our word this time.

Discussion Questions Part 1 (pg 1-124)

1. I love this quote in the story. “Justine did not have to pretend, as she always seemed genuinely unaware of the effect we had on men. I, however, was perfectly aware of my beauty. I considered it a skill, alongside speaking French, English, Italian, and German. It was a language of its own, in a way; on that translated well in different circumstances.” What does this tell you about the different characters of Justine and Elizabeth?
Elizabeth seems very calculating and wants to be what the person she is with wants, so that she can get what she needs in return. Justine seems like a genuine person more of a what you see is what you get individual.

2. Elizabeth truly seems able to control Victor’s dark character. She helps him clean up after the incident with his younger brother, and comes up with a story to help save Victor. Why do you think she is able to do that when no-one else seems able to control him?
I think it has something to do with her ability to mold herself to others needs and wants. Some of it is clearly desperation as well.

3. When Henry proposes to Elizabeth, she immediately begins to worry whether she can be the wife he needs. But she decides to send him to Victor to ask for his blessing. She figures there can be two outcomes - one Victor will return to her and ask her to marry him, or two Victor will give his blessing and she can marry Henry. This “plot” comes from feeling desperate to belong and the fear of not being needed by the Frankenstein’s anymore. What would you do if you felt that way?
I have no idea what I would do. She is very calculating but I don't feel like she is taking her own happiness into account in her "plotting". I would want to look for what would be best for me.

4. When Elizabeth burns down the house that Victor was using for his experiments, she hears a large splash in the river. Who do you think it was fleeing the burning building? Do you think it’s the same man Elizabeth saw out her window at the boarding house and out of her carriage? Or do you think her mind is playing tricks on her?
I think it is likely the Frankenstein Monster and yes I think it is following Elizabeth.

5. Re-tellings are now one of my favorite new genres. Do you like this retelling of the Frankenstein story so far? What other re-tellings have you read that you really liked?
I absolutely loved Hunted by Meagan Spooner a Beauty and the Beast retelling. It was dark and it felt more real that the Disney version I knew better.
I'm not really familiar with the

Crazy Rich Asians is not a quick read for me. I'm about half way so I should finish it. I'll just make sure I don't get distracted by other physical copy books.

I feel a little like a crazy reader. I have my physical book for at home reading, audiobook for car and chores, and a few ebooks for breaks at work.

I started The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein today as I was finally able to get the audiobook. I can speed it up so I'll have it finished in the next few days. I'm surprised to find that I'm really enjoying it. I saw the horror tag and was worried.

If I am reading book of the months do I need to have them finished by the 30th?

Cover:
Title: A Corner of White
Author: Jaclyn Moriarty
Narrator: Fiona Hardingham, Andrew Eiden, Kate Reinders, Peter McGowan
Date: Nov 26th
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 375
Spell-Out Letters (I'm not sure of name spellings since I listened to the audiobook.)
T - Madeline Tully (character) not
N - Nicky (character)
E - Elliot Beransky (character)

Cover:
Title: The Next Best Thing
Author: Kristan Higgins
Date Read: Nov 25
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 393
Spell-Out Letters:
I - Iris (character)
N - Nick (character)
E - Ethan Mirabelli (character)
L - Lucy (character)

I'm about 40% through Crazy Rich Asians and I have to return it to the library Monday so I'm going to try and finish it today. Thought I would have already finished it but ended up making last minute plans for Thursday and Friday.

Ora wrote: "Annalisa wrote: "I was just looking at our BOM points and I'm wondering if there is something wrong with them. All of the points are in week 3, shouldn't we have points for week 4?"

Yes, Sonia is going to take a look."

Wasn't sure if there was something I didn't understand about how the points worked. I just know we need all the points we can get to try and keep up with the demons. Guess that means I should be reading not on goodreads.

I was just looking at our BOM points and I'm wondering if there is something wrong with them. All of the points are in week 3, shouldn't we have points for week 4?

I should finish a book that work for R, A, and N tomorrow or Friday.

Cover:
Book: Beach Town
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Date: Nov. 20th
Rating: 3 stars
Pages: 448
Spell-Out Letters:
A - author
G - Greer Hennessy (character)
E - Eben (character)

Completion Post

Cover:
Title: The Poppy War
Author: R.F. Kuang
Series: The Poppy War #1
Date Read: Nov. 18th
Rating: 4 stars
Page Total: 530
Spell-Out Letters:
R - Rin (character)
A - Altan (character)
N - Nezha (character)

Sorry to hear that, Ora. I hope it is an easy fix.

Today is my travel day for the Holiday so I doubt I will finish another book.