Nanci’s Comments (group member since Jan 29, 2016)

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

Here's a link to my response to the second set of questions from the BOM, You.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Do I need to list the link here each time I answer the questions on the thread, or is this enough?
Still enjoying the book!

Day 2 Discussion Questions
Chapters 10-14

5. What do you think are Joe's intentions with Benji? Is there any way you can see this ending well for Benji?

Joe is obsessed with Beck and needs to take out anything and anyone who stands in his way. No way! Benji is totally a dead man walking. I only hope it's not too gruesome. A psychological thriller every now and again can be fun to read, but I don't like gore and will have a hard time continuing the book if it's graphic.

6. Joe asks Benji to write down his 5 favourite books, if you had to write a list of your five favourite books, what would they be?
Ha! I find it interesting that most of us are having a hard time answering this question. Thanks for asking. I'm hoping to get some great next reads from some of you. :)
Here's 5 I loved. Just know there are another 105 I could have listed also!
1. Night
2. Pope Joan
3. The Handmaid's Tale
4. The Kitchen House
5. A Fine Balance

7. What is your impression of Beck through Joe's eyes? Do you sympathise with her situation with Benji? Can you see why Joe is so enthralled with her?

I think Joe is attracted to messed up girls. Girls who he believes can be "made better" by him. He sees Beck's flaws, but also is turned on by them, since they are the very areas that he feels he can improve and control. Along with being mentally ill, he also is not thinking with his correct head, if you get what I mean. Beck is someone who also needs counseling. Her obsession with Benji, may be more socially acceptable, but it is far from healthy. Beck has major issues with self-esteem and seems to be one of those women who is drawn to men who treat them terribly.

8. How do you think Beck feels about Joe? Do you think she genuinely likes him and it's only her feelings for Benji that are getting in the way of her progressing a relationship with him?
At this point, I don't think Beck has strong feelings about Joe, but she is maybe testing him out as a possible fling. Beck seems like a person who could have sex just for the sake of the sex, without necessarily needing to have romantic feelings. I do think her feelings for Benji are holding her back some, but not because of loyalty to Benji. More because of her not so healthy dependence on Benji. I can't recall if the author gave Beck's specific age, but I'm guessing she's in her mid-20s. She seems so insecure and immature compared to most people I know in her age range.

9. I am finding Beck's friendships with Lynne, Chana and Peach to be lacking any real warmth and often interactions amongst the girls seem a bit strained. What are your thoughts on Beck's friends, do you think they are genuine friends who only want the best for her?

With friends like this, you don't need any enemies! It saddens me that Beck doesn't seem to have genuine friends, but then again I can't imagine too many women would want to be friends with such a self-indulged person. It seems pretty obvious to me that Peach is going to turn out to be somewhat of a villain too. She is so cold and heartless and I think very jealous of Beck and her other relationships. She too wants to control Beck, just in a different manner than Joe. There is something about the relationship between Peach and Beck that is obsessive on Peach's part. Also, I could definitely see Joe killing Peach at some point, since he won't like Peach manipulating Beck to spend time with her. Lynne and Chana are by no means top shelf friends, but I'm hoping one or both of their characters get stronger as the story continues. My guess is that the eventual saving of Beck's life may come down to one of them helping her, and at this point I don't see them being effective. Hoping they get their act together before Joe possibly kills them too. I keep reading the quote on the back cover, "You're going to be so sorry when you realize what you made me do...the good news is that I have no regrets." and it makes me think Joe is going to kill a lot of people that mean something to Beck.

Alissa wrote: "Hi Maritza and Nancy!!"

Hey Alissa! What team are you on for TT?

Those donuts look amazing! I actually like just a plain glazed donut. The yeast kind, like Krispy Kreme, not the cake donuts. Wish I had one now!

Here's the link to my comment on the BOM You.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Have only read the first 9 chapters, but it already has me tight in it's grip!

1. What do you think about the POV? Does it draw you in or push you away? It's not quite in 2nd person, but it's much more direct than most 1st persons, even ones that break the reader wall. Do you feel Joe is talking to Beck, to you the reader, or both -- are you supposed to identify as Beck?

I liked the POV right away. I think it is very fitting for this type of book. I feel Joe is talking to himself. I like how the author is giving us so much inside information into Joe's psyche by using this POV.

2. Many times books are set in first person to make it easier to emphasize with the narrator. Do you have sympathy for him? Do you feel you understand why he feels the way he does? Would it be easier or harder if you saw him from outside?

I don't have sympathy for him at this point. There have been some hints that he had a less than idyllic childhood, but still...he's just not right mentally and it seems pretty obvious he's going to do a lot of sick things. He is willing to do anything to make his fantasy come true. Locking up Benji is just the start of the manipulation, I'm sure.

3. Is Joe an unreliable narrator? He's clearly delusional in some ways; how deep do you think that goes? Do you trust him that he's really doing everything he reports?

Joe's thought process is skewed, so his perception is certainly not accurate. How deep do I think his delusion is? Very deep! I hadn't thought about the possibility that he's not doing everything he reports; that his delusion could be impacting even his stalking. At this point, I think he really is succeeding in all the manipulation of Beck's social media, phone, etc. I mean he definitely hacked and fooled Benji, so my feeling is he's doing the same to Beck.

4. What do you expect from this book? What made you decide to read it? Do you expect it to have the beats of a thriller, or does the adventurous point of view change your expectations?

I expect to be on the edge of my seat during a lot of this book. I'm already pretty creeped out by Joe. I'm not a big fan of Beck yet, but even so I sure don't want to see anything awful happen to her. I'm also guessing there might be some bad things happen to her friends or other people in her life. I was checking out the books for Tower Teams and thought it sounded like an intriguing read. I don't read this genre a whole lot, but every now and again I like a thriller if it's well-written. I can't read too many because I primarily read at night and then I can't sleep!

Maritza wrote: "Doing good . Currently reading The Woman in Cabin 10 which I see you've read. Playing towers and Disney shuffleboard."

I'll be interested to hear what you think about Cabin 10. Especially the ending. Good to know you're doing well!

Maritza wrote: "Nanci wrote: "I just added it to my TBR list too.
Hi Maritza!! Good to see you again. *waves and blows kisses*"

Hey what have you been up to?"

Maritza, I finished another round of UNO (we placed in about the middle of the pack) and our team in The Amazing Race challenge is still hanging in there. Hope you're doing well!

I just added it to my TBR list too.
Hi Maritza!! Good to see you again. *waves and blows kisses*

I picked up the book, You for the BOM starting in June. I'll participate in that discussion. Do you need me to post the link when I discuss the book?

I just picked up the book from my library, so I will be joining the discussion with all of you. Yay! Glad to hear the people who already read it liked it enough they wanted to read it again. I'm from team K-2S0.

Completion post

Building Celebration House
Date finished: May 30
Pages: 234
Rating: 3 stars

Sarah,
I am so sorry about the loss of your friend. He truly was a hero coming to the aid of those women. I heard about it this morning on the Today Show. Just horrifying. There is so much hate in the world. It is just so sad. I do take comfort in the outpouring of support after these horrible events and hope that is helping you too. I myself, try to just be even more loving to all in the face of such injustices. My hope for you is that you will feel much love around you to help lessen your fear. I'm glad your daughter is better. My love to the city of Portland! I've visited there and found it to be filled with lots of nice people. Goodness will prevail!

Sandy wrote: "Yep - he pancakes on the ground, so I've got to drag him over to the car, lift his front legs in, then lift and shove his back end in, and then try to get him secured before he jumps back out. It f..."

Hysterical, Sandy! We've had a few big dogs who are big babies too about the vet. Trying to get them OUT of the car at the vet was our problem. Afterwards they couldn't get out of the office fast enough and yanked my arm out of the socket running to get back in the car. I feel your pain!

Thanks for the info on BOM, Daniela and Sandy. Brandy is signed up to write DQs, for "You", so looks like we're set for that. It is available at my library, so I'll pick it up on Tuesday and read along and contribute to the discussion.

Now that I'm back I'd be happy to participate in a BOM. I just need a little guidance. Do we still need someone to do one for June? How do I know which one to do? Can someone post a link? Thanks!
Also, I tried to upload a picture from my trip, but couldn't figure out how to get it to work. Any help on that?

Trinia wrote: "
Date Read: 5/24/17
Pages: 240
Rating: 4 Stars

If anyone is interested it is the last day to get thi..."
Bummed that I got on this thread too late to get that one. What a great site though for getting free books! I did order "Boy".

Trinia wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I loved Big Little Lies, and I did the audio. is also sooooo good."

Yes! That's a winner to..."

Good link to know about! Thanks!

Completion post
All the Missing Girls
Date finished: May 27
Pages: 384
Rating: 4 stars
This book is written backwards, so it's a bit different to read. Good mystery with lots of twists and I thought it read fast.

Hi team!
I am back in the old USA!!! Spain and Portugal were beautiful countries and we had a fantastic time, but it is good to be home.

I feel very out of touch with my GR challenges. I hardly got to read at all for the past 3 weeks. The least reading I've done in probably my lifetime. We were on the go all the time and then crashed into bed each night. On the way home on the plane I watched all the great movies that I had been wanting to see instead of reading...Lion, Loving, Hacksaw Ridge. Such wonderful movies! I was crying like a baby!

Now I'm back to reading, YAY!!! I came home to a bunch of books from my library, as well as a few on my iPad that I didn't get to read, so I have plenty of choices. Should be listing some in the next few days. Good work, team!