Ashlee’s Comments (group member since May 10, 2016)

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

August 1?

Teri wrote: "Is anyone interested in reading Game or The Alice Network?"

I'd love to have a BR for Game

Fahrenheit 451
By: Ray Bradbury
159 pages

I'm excited to keep going until the end of August. It keeps me motivated to keep up my reading pace that I usually lose when I go back to teaching.

I Hunt Killers
By: Barry Lyga
359 pages
BOM comments:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


This Song Will Save Your Life
By: Leila Sales
276 pages

DQs 4: Chapter 28 - Epilogue


22. Jazz made a shocking decision to go visit Billy after no contact with him. He asks G William to help him get in quickly. Why do you think Jazz finally made the decision to visit Billy? Would you trust what Billy tells you?

I think Jazz needed to go see Billy because he still had so many unanswered questions. Of course, upon seeing Billy, Jazz realizes that he can't trust anything he says.

23. Why do you think Billy’s request to Jazz about moving the birdbath signified? Do you believe it was a signal? Or just another way to mess with Jazz's head?

With the way everything ended, I would say that it definitely was a signal, and was meant to mess with Jazz's head.

24. The Impressionist tells Jasper that he was never supposed to talk to him or see him, which leads me to believe he was taking orders from someone. Do you think Billy was telling the truth about not having contact with him? Do you have any theories of who is pulling his strings?

I do think the Impressionist has been in contact with Billy, maybe through his fan mail. However, I don't think Billy is the one pulling the strings. I think Erickson is involved in some way.

25. The Impressionist has a pretty terrifying trophy in his finger belt! What do you think is the significance of the dual “L-O-V-E” and “F-E-A-R” tattoos?

In looking at Billy, I think that he 'loves' to instill 'fear' among others. Maybe, 'love' what you do, but 'fear' nothing.

26. “Sure you are. You just ain’t killed no one yet.” Do you think Jazz killed his mother? Or is Billy messing with his head with the note?

I think, just as the Impressionist tried to do with gramma, Billy held Jazz's hand while killing his mother.

27. Final thoughts of the book and overall rating? Are you intrigued enough to continue on with the series?

I surprisingly loved this book, giving it 5 stars. I am definitely planning to continue the series, and would love to do a BR of it.

I have enjoyed most of the books that I have read this summer, giving them 4 or 5 stars. Some of my favorite 5 star ratings were


I am currently loving

I really didn't like , but gave it 3 stars because the historical aspects were interesting.

I just recently started listening to audiobooks. I didn't care for because it moved too slowly and I didn't get an understanding of the characters.

Also received Professor Dumbledore. We must all be very loyal people. I guess that shows since our team has remained intact.

DQ 3: Chapters 18 - 28

14. After sharing his theory and brainstorming, Jazz totally manipulated Connie and Howie to get them to go with him to look for evidence instead of calling the Sheriff. (And we've seen him manipulate a lot of people, especially women, before.) What do you think about this behavior?

It's second nature to him because that is how he was raised. He was manipulated by his father and is manipulated by his grandmother.

15. Jazz spends a lot of time taking care of his Grandmother, and she is awfully toxic. Why do you think he is so determined to stay with her instead of going to a foster home? Is Melissa right to decide to move him out?

Speaking from a child service prospective, yes, Melissa is right to move him out. Looking at it from Jazz's POV, he is 17 years old. What is the sense of moving him into foster care for less than a year.

16. Wow the scene with Ginny was very intense. What did it make you think of with regards to Jazz - his feelings of pleasure conflicting with trying to help? Do you like him any less or more?

He will always have these conflicting feelings, as long as he is afraid of becoming his father. I'm glad that he thwarted the killer just a bit, and that he made an attempt to save Ginny.

17. Erickson keeps showing up and being pretty abusive? Is he a red herring or something more? (Ha I guess don't answer this if you have read this book before - unless you remember what you thought at the time.)

I don't like Erickson. Seems to always be in the right place at the right time.

18. How did the Impressionist know about Jazz's room (or did he?)? Do you think he is going to interact even more with Jazz now, even though it is against orders?

I still believe that the Impressionist is getting information from someone close to Jazz, so I would assume that's is how he learned of Jazz's wall.

19. The scene with the dog and learning not to cry was really horrific. I think that interposed with the scene where he cries when talking to Connie are important. Any thoughts?

I was surprised when he cried with Connie. Despite the fact that he doesn't completely trust her with his plans, he was able to break down some of his walls.

20. Speaking of Connie, what do you think about what she said to Jazz in Chapter 28?

If we're referring to her stepping toe to toe with Jazz, I think this was the only thing she could think to do to show him that if she isn't afraid of him, he shouldn't be afraid of himself.

21. Is it right for the Sheriff to have Jazz help in the investigation?

Legally, no, but I think the Sheriff knows that Jazz will be his saving grace.

DQ set 2: Chapters 9-17

8. "If I catch killers, then maybe that means I'm not a killer," says Jazz. Howie then goes on to give a great reason why Jazz isn't a killer (love Howie)...are you seeing killer tendencies in Jazz?

Of course he has killer tendencies, it is all he ever thinks about. He is currently in a state of living and breathing the repercussions of his father's actions. However, just because he has the tendencies doesn't mean he needs to act on them.

9. Jazz has another interaction with Jeff Fulton, do you think that Jazz should share information about Billy Dent's victims with their families? If so, how would that impact his mental health?

Although I feel bad for Jeff Fulton, I think it is right of Jazz to refuse to give him information. With all that he has to deal with in his life, explaining his father's actions to the victims' families shouldn't be added on.

10. We see vulnerability in Jazz through the dreams he is having of cutting flesh, that he believes is his mom...and thinking that he killed her. Do you think these are really flashbacks? If so, why?

I do think these are flashbacks. Just my thoughts... I have a suspicion that at some point Billy made Jazz help him with some of the victims. From reading other things about traumatic events, it seems that our subconscious can push those memories out of the way.

11. Enter Office Erikson once again, he comes from the town that one of the ladies was killed lived in, and we saw his behavior when he picked up Jazz from the high school. Why do you think G Williams isn't doing anything about this abnormal behavior and potential connections to the victim?

I think G. William doesn't want to see the connection.

12. EDIT: Question removed

13. I've read this series and love it, it was actually one of my first book about serial killers (was scared to read them before). Are there other series that you recommend in this genre?

Last year, I read You (which I hated) and Hidden Bodies (not as bad), but have not really dug into this genre to know many others.

DQ set 1: Chapters 1 - 8

1. What are your first impressions of Jazz? What is his motivation for spying on the crime scene and requesting to help investigate?

I think Jazz is motivated by the fact that he is determined to not become his father. If he is able to use the terrible knowledge that he has for the greater good, he is kept out of following in his father's footsteps. Also, by helping with the investigation, he may be able to show the community that he is, in fact, different than his father.

2. "Ever since arresting Dear Old Dad four years ago, G. William had kept in touch with Jazz...". How would you characterize the relationship between Jazz and G. William? Why is the sheriff so adament about one body not meaning a serial killer? Is he trying to protect Jazz, himself, or both?

I think the relationship between Jazz and G. William borders on paternal. G. William wants to see Jazz make something of himself. Wants Jazz to be able to forget what he had been taught as a child, and be a productive member of society. I don't think the fact that he is adamant it's not a serial killer has anything to do with protecting someone. I just think it is wishful thinking because he doesn't want to have to go through the series of investigations as he did with Billy Dent.

3. Howie has been the only friend who stayed with Jaspar after his father's exposure. Jaspar claims that he needs Howie to keep him "close to the line of safety and legality". Do you think Howie realizes what Jazz needs from him? Why doesn't he get angry when Jazz gets him into trouble?

Like G. William, I think Howie also wants to save Jazz. He doesn't get angry with Jazz because, as his friend, Howie realizes that this is what Jazz needs to do.

4. Deputy Erikson has caught Jazz's attention twice now with his behavior at the crime scene and his unexplained appearance at the morgue. Do you agree with Jazz's assessment of the deputy, or do you think there is a reasonable explanation for his actions?

I have a strange feeling about the new deputy in town.

5. The Impressionist states he "had been given a rule" not to interact with or harm Jaspar. Who do you think might have given him that rule and why?

Billy Dent seems to be someone who WANTS his son to follow in his footsteps. My suspicion is that he has talked someone into doing the 'dirty work' for him.

6. Jazz has the mantra, "People matter. People are real.", as a screensaver and pictures of all his father's victims in his room? Do you think this actually helps or hurts him? Is Connie right about letting go of the past?

I think this helps keep Jazz grounded when he gets the stray thought or fear of becoming his father. It's easy for an outsider, such as Connie, to say to let go of the past. For Jazz, this is not an easy task. He has been brainwashed by his father and the community since childhood.

7. "His upbringing... told him that women were simultaneously special and useless." How do the three women in his life (Connie, Melissa, and Gramma) match with what he has been taught? Do they reinforce or challenge the idea? What kind of influence are they on Jazz?

His gramma is special to him because she is his last link to his family. With her failing health, she is useless to him, but as long as he can prove that she is there, he can remain.
Melissa is neither special nor useful to Jazz. She seems to be the thorn in his side. Despite the fact that she only wants what is the best for him, she is attempting to tear him from that last shred of family.
Connie is both special and useful to Jazz. She is the one person he can go to for comfort, though, she is also the one person he can't completely trust with his secrets.

Pretend You Don't See Her
By: Mary Higgins Clark
305 pages

I just started Prisoner of Azkaban this morning, and hopefully I can pick up I Hunt Killers from the library tomorrow.

The President Is Missing
By: James Patterson and Bill Clinton
518 pages


A Fool and His Honey
By: Charlaine Harris
257 pages


The Secret Language of Sisters
By: Luanne Rice
336 pages

Im in the middle of The Girl Who Drank the Moon. It's 388 pages. I should be finished this weekend.

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Ashlee wrote: "So now that spells are over and classes are nearly complete, should we just post completed books with the page count?"

Yes...until we know what the Tri-Wizard Tournament will need."

Great! Thanks. I'm all for an extension, it keeps me motivated.

So now that spells are over and classes are nearly complete, should we just post completed books with the page count?

The Silver Boat
By: Luanne Rice
336 pages

DADA - title contains silver


All Fall Down
By: Jennifer Weiner
384 pages

A - title E - FN Eloise L - LN Lai
R - FN Ronnie S - FN Sarah


The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker
By: Louis Sachar

A - FN Alton C - title G - FN Gloria
L - FN Lester R - LN Richards S - LN Sachar
T - LN Trapp

Jammin Jenny wrote: "@Ashlee who is the O character in your book Dog Collar Knockoff"


LN O'Brien

I am at the beach this week, still reading away, but not keeping up to date with The Dungeon as frequently. Go team!! All of our quidditch players have been great!

Every Day
By: David Levithan
322 pages

Spells:
A - FN D - author's FN E - title
L - author's LN R - Rhiannon FN

Classes:
charms - water on cover

Bone Gap
By: Laura Ruby
373 pages

Spells:
B - title C - FN Charlie F - FN Finn
L - author's FN M - FN Miguel O - LN O'Sullivan
P - FN Priscilla R - FN Roza S - FN Sean
V - LN Valentine W - LN Willis

Classes:
Charms - no water on cover