Alley’s Comments (group member since Jan 11, 2012)

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

Questions and Comments for The Eighth Square - The Storm

59) So I don't know about anyone else, but I'm still at a loss as to how this game got started. Do you think we'll find out in the last section? Anyone else confused? I can understand why people would want the chess set, but am miffed how everyone going after it became known as chess pieces.
I do hope they say how it all started. I can see it being a never ending thing.

60) So you can leave the game if you find a replacement. Anyone else surprised that with all the people in the game who are related that they'd opt to drag in an outsider to replace the Queen? Who is the Black King?
I'm surprised they allow people to leave at all. I figured it was one of those 'the only way to leave is to die' type things. No idea about the Black King. Probably Solarin.

61) Wahad is Theresa's, the switchboard operator's, son? The "tour guide" kid with the lice. Why didn't she tell that to Catherine? Does this have a little bit of the feel of Alice in Wonderland to anyone else?
Everyone and everything is interconnected. I bet Cat is a descendant of Mireille.

62) Do you think it was wise for Maurice to leave the Chess pieces unguarded in the US?
I think so. Less chance someone would find it he had them if he hides them. Not sure if the chose the best hiding place though.

63) So the Abbess was taken out of the game. Was she a part of it? What piece do you think she could be? Did Plato replace her? I'm a little confused.
I'm still confused about this as well.

64) Will the guys, (David, Talleyrand, and Napoleon), figure out who Catherine Grand is? I think there are way too many Catherine's in this book.
I hope so. I prefer things to be explained in books with this amount of mystery and intrigue.

65) So Solarin and Catherine hook up. I didn't see that one coming. Smart move or is Catherine totally out of her mind? Do we know what piece Solarin is? He did say he wanted to bring her into the game. Could he be the Black King? Didn't they say he was brought in several years ago by his grandmother? Could that have been when Kamel's father, the previous Black King died?
I saw it coming. No idea which piece he is - the black king seems logical.

66) What do you think of the formula deciphering Solarin, Catherine, and Lily are doing? Looks like Sonia was right. The formula may be all about alchemy.
It's been so long since I've had to think about chemistry or science at this level, I think my brain is slightly broken.

Questions And Comments for The Black Queen - The White Land

50)We finally found the mysterious fortune teller. What do you think about her? And Cat & Lily as a team. Yeah, I would like that as much as Cat did.
She's interesting. Weird, but interesting.

51)Wait. The formula hidden in the Montglane service has something to do with the elements and is the key to Alchemy? That doesn't sound so mystical.
I'm not surprised is Alchemy-related. Lots of things could happen with that formula.

52)And Sharrif is still threatening Cat. Why doesn't he say what he really wants? His he really a foe, or is just a strategy to appear so?
Did they ever say if he was the Black King? I know the other dude is the White one. I don't think he is - if anything, he's a knight or rook. A bit too important to be a pawn.

53)I still don't trust Kamel. He seems.. too cooperative to my taste. First the project was too important, and now he's helping a friend of a worker? It smells fishy to me.
Yeah, he seems a little shady.

54)A road trip, in the middle of the desert with no markings. Are those girls nuts? uh-uh, not me. Much less in the 70's. Of course, they had to get lost. Now what? I'd be dead by now, for sure.
I think they are both crazy.

55)A labyrinth inside a cavern, a trapdoor, bats. For a moment I thought I was reading Indiana Jones. But they finally get the pieces just to find out the police waiting for them. Can I say "Zugzwang" too?
Did they even try camouflaging the car at all?

56) So They are trapped by the white king. And by the police. Now what? Let's jump to the Mediterranean. Really?
I was waiting for them to rappel down the building or do an impromptu zip-line maneuver, but jumping in the water works too.

57)So, it seems that Maurice is as smart as they make us believe he was. But even so, he and the pieces are now moving to America, while Mireille went to London. I'm wondering if they will found each other again.
I think they will. If they can survive Catherine Grand.

58)And Benjamin Franklin solver the riddle. What?!
This could almost be a drinking game. Take a shot every time a known famous historical figure is mentioned. Take 2 if they know all about the Service.

I'm so behind. Blaming it on the hellacious sinus infection I've got going on. I'll do my best to answer this section's questions, but honestly I don't remember everything that happened. I hate that I couldn't concentrate on this like I should have.

Questions for The Sound of the Desert - The Death of Kings

37) What did you think of when Mireille was told she'd have to kill someone and that she and her son had been prophesied about? What did you make of the cave paintings?
Not surprised at all. I thought she would have killed someone before then to protect the pieces, herself or her child. The cave paintings were a little confusing. I still don't know what went on there.

38) So are the Queens the only ones marked and are they always born on 4/4 or is every player?
Not sure. I bet the kings would be marked somehow.

39) Were you shocked to discover that Mireille was the black queen? Is that because she's for the Moors?
Not really. I knew her part was a big one.

40) What did you think of the white Queen? Is it the same Catherine as the modern day one? Does that mean they'll be another Queen Mireille?
This must have been a part that my brain didn't absorb. Once I'm better, I should go back and reread this section.

41) Do you like the idea of a real life chess tournament, as Catherine and Lily surmise, going on?
It's interesting and quite scary to think about. Who is controlling the board? What happens if the wrong side wins? Which side is the wrong one?

42) What role would Mireille's the little boy play?
Maybe he will be the game master/controller guy

43) Who are the kings? Was Marat one or is it just real life Kings in this game that get killed and there are no other Kings?
No clue.

44) What did you think of Mireille's escape? What about David's betrayal? Did he have a choice?
I think I missed something in this part as well.

45) What about the curse that was on the Montglane Abbey? They brought it up a second time. Does it mean something than the girls first thought?
It's bound to mean something epic. Don't know what though.

46) Who is Catherine Grand? How can she look so much like Valentine? It can't be Catherine the Great because she is too old? Any theories?
No idea. So many Catherines in this book.

47) Who are all the players? Do you think we've met all of them that are still in play?
I'm sure there are more - some we've met and some that we haven't.

48) Will modern day Catherine acquire the pieces she sought? What do you make of her not knowing who or what part she has in the game?
I think she will. She's a lot braver than I am. Not knowing what is oing on must be nervewracking, but she's handling it pretty well.

49) Do you enjoy all the codes and the deciphering of them? How would you have fared trying to unravel them?
It's neat, but not for me. I stink at codes. I get so excited when I can figure out more than 2 letters of a Cryptogram word puzzle.

The Middle Game - Position Analysis

29) So is anyone else wondering what happened to the Moors that were protecting the chess set? Could they have settled down and could their offspring be looking after things? Could that be who was on that horse when Valentine and Mireille left the abbey?
Quite possibly. It seems like a story and mission that would be passed down through generations.

30) The Bishop of Autun is going to give the chess pieces to the next ruler of France? Is that wise. I think I know who that will be. Now I'm starting to wonder if the set somehow stimulates the owner's greed or dark side. What do you think? The first glimpse of Napoleon makes him seem rather nice.
I'm surprised he hasn't wanted to keep them for himself. Well, in a way, I suppose he has - he wants to use them to get himself out of trouble. I bet the pieces do something to the owner - maybe through continued touch or something. The Bishop doesn't seem to have changed much, and he's has the pieces for months.

31) If I was Catherine Velis, I think I'd be going nuts right now. She seems to be taking things well. So the fortune teller picked her to be in the game? Why and why is everyone so secretive about it with her? I'm not sure we have the full picture yet, but we seem to be getting there.
I'd be pulling my hair out in frustration by now.

32) Who is connected to who in Algiers? Who is bad and who is good? Any ideas? Was anyone else surprised that Kamel and Sharrif weren't on the same page?
I have no idea! They way things have been going, Sharrif is going to be one of the good guys and Kamel one of the bad.

33) What did you think of the story of Elissa and her rising again?
There are so many pieces to this story - it's hard to tell what's real and what's myth.

34) Could these chess pieces have something to do with the apocalypse?
I was leaning toward that. For all I know, it could be the formula for clean energy or something so the world wouldn't need to rely on oil.

35) Were you surprised Mireille teamed up with Napoleon and his sister and trusted them?
Nope. I figured she would meet up with someone who knew something about the Service. For something so secret and hidden, a surprising number of people seem to know all about it.

36} Were you surprised Mireille turned up pregnant? I wonder how this will affect things?
Not at all. Since they did have sex, and earlier it was mentioned that in general, people don't kill/harm pregnant women, it makes sense to have her pregnant for a bit of her journey. I am surprised she allowed herself to be waylaid on Corsica for so long.

Questions and Comments for The Knight's Tour - The Center Board

18)So, chess is the Russian national sport. Do you think that the Russian tradition is connected with Catherine the Great's obsession with the chess set?
Maybe. Chess was important even before then, wasn't it? Her obsession could have just reinforced the grab the game has on the Russians.

19)J-A-D-O-U-B-E/C-V. That was weird. Do you think is an omen of some dark event to come?I would have nightmares too.
So many hidden messages! I would have never figured this out in a million years. It's all a little creepy. I think I would have just gone into hiding or something.

20)Everyone seems to think That Cat is destined to have some key part on finding the chess pieces. That made me think that perhaps the whole go to Algiers trip was some kind of a set-up and not as a punishment as we were lead to believe. What do you think?
It's totally a set up. It only was made to feel like a punishment because of the friction between Cat and her boss(es).

21)Again, the reference of the enigma of the Knight's Turn on the chess master's tale. Do you think that's the great enigma hidden in the Montglane service? Or is the secret of the Word as the chess master believed?
I wonder if you must use the proper Knight's Turn on the board to unlock the formula.

22)So Valentine kept her vows, while Mireille didn't to protect her cousin. I'm still at shock with the two cousins' fate. Who do you think was the foul judge? I'm wondering how much of the original set was recovered through the ages.
Same. How did he even know they had the pieces? If they mentiond it, i must have missed it. That's what happens when you read all hopped up on cold medicine. We will see the gross judge guy again, I'm sure. All that business about pus and oozing turned my stomach.

23)Mordecai said that computers were the eigth wonder of the world, ad then they connected with 'on the forth day of the fourth month, then will came the eight', does that mean that Catherine is THE Eight?
I have no idea. Is The Eight a singular person or a group of Eight people?

24)Wait, just wait a minute. So Saul disappeared, and the resigned, just to be murdered on the room that Cat and Solarin were talking. Does that mean that he was involved on the conspiracy to get the chess pieces? That could explain he's expression about Lily playing chess on New Year's Eve. Or did he died trying to tell Cat and Solaris something? Is it just me, or this is getting really confusing? What do you think about his dead being totally unknown?
I think he was killed because he was in the way of them getting to Cat and Lily. They staged the disappearance/resignation to keep the family from notifying the police before they could use the body to scare Cat.

25)To grieve her cousin Mireille ends up in bed with the man that Valentina loved. Worse, she confided the pieces to the same man that caused them to be removed from their secret place. Isn't that ironic? Wasn't she supposed to be the well behaved one? But at least we have the lead how all connects to Algeria. Although I don't get it. If she send the pieces to London, how did they ended up on Algeria?
I'm not surprised. With Valentine's flighty-ness, she seemed like the one who'd give up the pieces - so of course it would be Mireille who actually did it. Sleeping with dude took me by surprise though. No idea how they end up in Algeria. I bet we'll find out!

26)The Rads' maid has a brother living on Algeria. Could he be the contact that informed Llewellyn about the chess pieces?
Maybe. That thought never crossed my mind.

27)'I will meet you at Algeria'. Wow... that sounded like a promise and a warning. I would have lost my ability to sleep. Hoe about you?
I don't know. It seems Solarin has only been trying to help Cat - I might be a little relieved(and a little wary as well) knowing he would be there.

28)How about Mordecai? I was wonder if he had a part in this whole story. And then we learned that he is Harry's father, that was a surprise. But no as much as him being responsible for the mysterious fortune teller. Thoughts about that? I know my head is drawing a knot, or maybe an eight. Each piece of the puzzle has an hidden puzzle itself.
Everything is connected to everything apparently. I have a feeling that it will get even more convoluted as the book progresses.

Questions for A Game of Chess - The Knight's Wheel

10. What are your first impressions of Lily? Do you think she will play a larger role later in the book or is she just a small part?
I didn't like her. I have a feeling she'll play a large part.

11. I didn't realize how popular chess is. Anyone know anything about chess or been to a match like the one Lily and Catherine attended? It seems all very political. Thoughts?
I know almost nothing about chess. I know how the pieces move, but that's about it. It seems to be much more political than I thought it would be.

12. Who do you think Solarin is? Do you think he is a reincarnated protector of the Montglane Service or just a modern day government agent? Any thoughts on who he is working for? The mysterious secretary?
Not sure yet. I'm leaning towards agent.

13. Who do you think killed Fiske? Is it a government or a rich individual? Do you think Solarin knows who it is? It sure seems like he knows more than he is saying.
The government, and I think he does know, or at least suspects someone.

14. So the Abbess' friend was Catherine the Great. Were you surprised that the Abbess knew Catherine was after the service? Is it just me or does the Abbess seem to be saying that the 8 placed on her wrist was put there by God? Thoughts?
Not really surprised. The Abbess seems to know more than I thought she did.

15. What did you think of Catherine's story? Does it make you believe that she is only looking out for the chess set and truly cares for her old friend, or is it another story cloaked in sneakiness?
I don't believe it at all - she wants all the power she can get.

16. We have a mysterious white clad bicycle man and a woman feeding birds in black. Do you think we will see more of these people? Do you think they are more protectors of the chess set, or enemies keeping a watch on Catherine?
We'll see them again. I bet those in white are protectors and in black are collectors. Or vice versa.

17. What did you think of Nim? I have a sneaky suspicion he is not the nice man that he seems? What role do you think he will play in the story?
Nim is different - not sure what I think of him. I think he's going to stick to Cat now and be her advisor or whatnot.

*Side Note* Did anyone else make the connection between the names of the two Catherines being the same. Do you think this is something to do with the story or is it merely a coincidence?
I didn't even think about that.

I so need to go do today's reading. I'm a little behind.

I finished this morning - it was very meh.

Started this afternoon and will start tonight.

Questions and Comments for The Defense - Fianchetto

1) Who do you think the horseman who witnessed the exodus from the abbey of Valentine and Mireille was? Will he come into play later?
No idea. My first thought was that he was an advance scout for the Bishop. We will learn more about that later, I'm sure.

2) What do you think of the powerful chess set with a a formula hidden on it for universal power? Do you think it really has such a formula or is it just spelled or cursed?
I'm not sure. Maybe it does have the formula, but it's cursed so no one can use it.

3) Was Velis, the girl from the 1970's, a reincarnation of Valentine or one of the other nuns? Why did the information the fortune teller gave her sound so familiar? Could Lily end up being Mireille?
Reincarnation sounds about right.

4) What did you think of the ghost story? Do you think the Bishop made it all up?
I think it was a bunch of malarkey.

5) Do you think Valentine will be able to keep her vow to protect her chess pieces?
I don't want to underestimate her, but no, I don't think she'll keep it, She doesn't have proper control of her mouth. Maybe her cousin will help keep her mouth closed.

6) Who do you think is collecting the pieces in the 70's?
No idea. Some power-crazy rich guy maybe.

7) What did you think when you heard the Abbess' friend was Catherine the Great? Will the Abbess be safe?
I think the poor Abbess is doomed.

8) First thoughts of the Bishop of Autun? Is he the devil incarnate? Do you think Valentine will sympathize with him because she was almost forced to become a nun? What did you think of his excuse about never wanting to be a priest so he doesn't feel the need to live by the vows he took?
He seems sleazy and shady as hell. I have a feeling he's going to stick to the girls like glue - and I won't be surprised if he seduces Valentine.

9) 8 seems to be a repeated and significant number throughout the story. There were 8 Moors, 8 Nuns to hide the 32 chess pieces, 8 large oil companies in the OPEC. At this point do you think 'The Eight' refers to the Nuns or all the things dealing with the number eight?
I think The Eight refers to everything.

I did like Glazed Murder. It's a bit too much like the Hannah Swenson series ( ), but it was still a fun read. I put the rest of the series on my TBR. :)

I'm sad that I don't have any blue books to read for the mini challenge. I finished 4 books this weekend, bringing my total to 21!

I've finished Obsessed by Susan Andersen and 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz.

77 Shadow street was an audiobook - I haven't listened to one in a while and wanted to try it out. Audiobooks make me so tired. I don't know if it was the fact that someone was reading a book to me or that I found the book itself slightly boring that made me sleepy. I'll try again with something else soon. Audiobooks are so handy when knitting - I really want them to work.

I didn't finish any books today, but I did make some progress in a few of them. I should finish 2 tomorrow.

I barely got any reading done today. Tomorrow should be better - I always seem to read a lot on laundry day.

Leslie wrote: "@Alley - What did you think of Hell on Wheels? I just finished it. And I haven't read any Kathleen Woodiwiss in a very ..."

I liked it. There were a few things that bugged me - overuse of certain phrases (H-E-double-hockey-sticks??! really?) and random movie quotes/song lyrics - but not enough to make me put the book down. A few eye rolls, maybe, but that's it. I put the rest of the series on my TBR - I'm looking forward to Frank and Becky's book. If there is one. There'd better be one.

As for Kathleen Woodiwiss - this is the first one of hers I've read. I really like it so far - it's just very dense. Small print on large pages makes for slow reading.

I've finished book 4 - Hell on Wheels by Julie Ann Walker.
Still reading Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss (it's 672 pages, so it'll take me a bit to finish) and Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Started Allison Hewitt Is Trapped by Madeline Roux - should finish it tomorrow or Sunday.
Will be starting Doubleblind by Ann Aguirre tonight, maybe.

Deedee wrote: "I was about 1/3rd way through

as Dec. 31 became Jan. 1. Can I use that as my Book #1 of the challenge?

And, I agree, we need a team name. Maybe a name beginning..."

I think that's fine - as long as the majority of it is read after the start.

I've finished my first book of the year - A Pirate's Love. I don't recommend it. Apparently in the 70s, "I'll rape you until you love me" was considered romantic.

Next up on my reading list:

NbRC Level 1 Serious Readers
Duration: Jan 1 - Dec 31
Completed: 100/100

1. A Pirate's Love - Johanna Lindsey 01/01
2. The Dark and Hollow Places - Carrie Ryan 01/02
3. The Darkest Hour - Maya Banks 01/03
4. Hell on Wheels - Julie Ann Walker 01/04
5. Fantasy Lover - Sherrilyn Kenyon 01/05
6. Doubleblind - Ann Aguirre 01/06
7. Allison Hewitt Is Trapped - Madeleine Roux 01/06
8. Dragonswan - Sherrilyn Kenyon 01/08
9. The Mysterious Affair At Styles - Agatha Christie 01/08
10. Dust and Decay - Jonathan Maberry 01/09

11. Supernaturally - Kiersten White 01/10
12. Obsessed - Susan Andersen 01/11
13. 77 Shadow Street - Dean Koontz 01/11
14. The Colorado Kid - Stephen King 01/13
15. Unspeakable - Sandra Brown 01/13
16. The Highlander's Touch - Karen Marie Moning 01/14
17. 3 Men and a Body - Stephanie Bond 01/15
18. Peach Cobbler Murder - Joanne Fluke 01/16
19. Night Pleasures - Sherrilyn Kenyon - 01/16
20. The Angel Experiment - James Patterson - 01/19

21. Dark Desires After Dusk - Kresley Cole 01/19
22. Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews 01/20
23. Glazed Murder - Jessica Beck 01/20
24. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs - Molly Harper 01/22
25. Ashes in the Wind - Kathleen E Woodiwiss 01/22
26. The Black Lyon - Jude Deveraux 01/23
27. Buried Bones - Carolyn Haines 01/24
28. Stained - Ella James 01/25
29. Angel Fire - Valmore Daniels 01/25
30. Chill of Fear - Kay Hooper 01/26

31. Thirst - LA Larkin 01/28
32. The Duke and I - Julia Quinn 01/28
33. Four to Score - Janet Evanovich 01/29
34. The Eight - Katherine Neville 01/30
35. Over Sea, Under Stone - Susan Cooper 01/31
36. Mind Over Monsters - Jennifer Harlow 02/02
37. Killbox - Ann Aguirre 02/03
38. One Shot - Lee Child 02/03
39. Cherry Cheesecake Murder - Joanne Fluke 02/04
40. Delusion in Death - JD Robb 02/06

41. Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr 02/08
42. My Favorite Mistake - Chelsea M Cameron 02/08
43. Midsummer Magic - Catherine Coulter 02/09
44. Death of a Poison Pen - MC Beaton 02/09
45. Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun - Victoria Laurie 02/10
46. A Gentle Feuding - Johanna Lindsey 02/11
47. Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon 02/12
48. High Five - Janet Evanovich 02/13
49. Once and Again - Lauren Dane 02/15
50. Third Grave Dead Ahead - Darynda Jones 02/17

51. Friday Night Bites - Chloe Neill 02/18
52. Murder on the Links - Agatha Christie 02/19
53. Sleeping with Fear - Kay Hooper 02/20
54. Dance with the Devil - Sherrilyn Kenyon 02/22
55. Everything and the Moon - Julia Quinn 02/23
56. Colder Than Ice - Maggie Shayne 02/24
57. Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews 02/26
58. No Place to Run - Maya Banks 02/28
59. A Rose in Winter - Kathleen E Woodiwiss 03/02
60. Kiss of the Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon 03/03

61. Aftermath - Ann Aguirre 03/05
62. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - JK Rowling 03/07
63. The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R King 03/10
64. Hot Six - Janet Evanovich 03/11
65. Ecstasy Unveiled - Larissa Ione 03/15
66. Key Lime Pie Murder - Joanne Fluke 03/16
67. Once Burned - Jeaniene Frost 03/19
68. Ghouls Gone Wild - Victoria Laurie 03/21
69. Death of a Bore - MC Beaton 03/22
70. Endgame - Ann Aguirre 03/26

71. Play of Passion - Nalini Singh 03/29
72. Pandemonium - Warren Fahy 03/31
73. Cold Days - Jim Butcher 04/05
74. Blood Dreams - Kay Hooper 04/07
75. Hidden Away - Maya Banks 04/08
76. Venom - Jennifer Estep 04/10
77. Calculated in Death - JD Robb 04/14
78. Seven Up - Janet Evanovich 04/16
79. Candy Cane Murder - Joanne Fluke 04/18
80. Open Minds - Susan Kaye Quinn 04/18

81. The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry - Jon Ronson 04/25
82. Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich 04/27
83. Edge of Evil - JA Jance 04/28
84. Magic Slays - Ilona Andrews 05/01
85. From a Far Land - G. David Walker 05/05
86. Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls - Victoria Laurie 05/07
87. A Memory of Light - Jordan/Sanderson 05/09
88. I'll Walk Alone - Mary Higgins Clark 05/10
89. Counterfeit Lady (James River #1) - Jude Deveraux 05/12
90. Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich 05/12

91. The Face Of Deception - Iris Johansen 05/16
92. Death of a Dreamer - MC Beaton 05/18
93. Tangled Threads - Jennifer Estep 05/20
94. NOS4A2 - Joe Hill 05/26
95. Dead Ever After - Charlaine Harris 05/26
96. To the Nines - Janet Evanovich 05/29
97. Midnight Blue-Light Special - Seanan McGuire 05/29
98. Wild Sweet Wilderness - Dorothy Garlock 06/02
99. The Warded Man - Peter V Brett 06/08
100. Sin Undone - Larissa Ione 06/09

I'll join in. I have this one in from the library already. I'll do my best to keep up - my last few tries at these haven't done well.

MIght want to change my total as well. I read 15 books that were < 170 pgs, so 245. As of right this minute, I've only read 258 books, but I have 2 that will be finished this weekend - both of which are > 170 pgs,

I'd like to join! I'm almost to 260 books read for the year.