Michelle’s Comments (group member since Sep 19, 2013)

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

I love that series, Chales.

DQ Day 2: Ch. 6-10

6. Were you surprised to find out Daniel had a wife? I personally was super surprised as I originally believed him when he said he was single. What do you think of the way Daniel died?
I was shocked. I didn't see it coming. I think he must have had a brain aneurysm because of the crippling headaches (maybe). I could still change my mind, though.

7. How do you think Alexandra Callard knew about Bess and her daughter?
I'm not sure yet! Maybe she followed her to the hospital or was at the hospital for the choosing? Or there was someone at the hospital that recognized the whalebone somehow and made the connection?

8. What do you think of the way Alexandra and Charlotte live? Do you think Alexandra keeps Charlotte home to stop her from being recognized or because she is truly scared of the real world?
I think she stayed home at the beginning to let enough time pass for the baby to make sense.

9. "Eliza" has been fired on her first day. What do you think of Alexandra's reasoning for firing her? Do you think part of Alexandra knows that she is Charlotte's real mom?
I think she doesn't realize it at this point, but I don't trust Alexandra, obviously. She doesn't like change or anything new, so she couldn't handle it.

10. Do you think Bess will find a way to still see her daughter? How?
Yes, nothing will stop her from seeing her now that she knows where her daughter is.

DQ Day 1 - Chapters 1-5

1. How are you liking the writing style ? Are you enjoying the story so far?
This is my first book by this author. It took me through the first chapter to settle into the writing style. It's different then the books I've been reading recently so it took my brain a bit to get into the rhythm.

2. After reading that opening scene, what do you think of the practice of the Hospital taking babies based on a lottery (the coloured balls in the bag) ?
I thought it was an interesting way to do it, and it was fair and unbiased. All babies have the same chance, and the balls were random. It at least levels the playing field for all of the babies. Imagine how sad you would be when you chose the wrong ball, though. Heartbreaking. What bothered me the most was the audience.

3. At some point Bess says that "knowing she [Clara] could be anywhere instead of nowhere at all was torture even more exquisite." Implying that not knowing where her child is is worse than knowing she's dead. What's your opinion ? Or would you rather not know ?
I think not knowing makes it especially hard. You would always wonder. Knowing your child is dead is so final, but then you can try to heal. You always have hope if you don't know for sure.

4. What do you make of the child's father, Daniel Callard ? Everyone keeps asking Bess if he's really dead. Do you suspect there's more to Daniel than we've been told so far ?
I assume he is dead, but I wouldn't be surprised with a twist of some kind. Maybe he is exactly as presented, but maybe not.

5. Time for your theories ! Who do you think claimed Clara on the 28th of November 1747, the day after Bess gave up her baby ?
I think one of the ladies watching the process takes her newborn as her own.

I'm going to check it out, Rosina!

Deanna wrote: "Finished today and updated spreasheet."

I've been meaning to read that series, Deanna! What did you think?

NICE! Thanks, Lisa. So many good new books to add.

Erin wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happi..."

Another new one. Adding!

I LOVE YOU ALL! So many great new books for me to read. You are going to keep me busy the next couple of months. YAY!

Oooh, a new one for me. Thanks, Becky! Adding to my list.

Oooh, thanks to you both! Lots of things I haven't discovered yet. Adding to my list for the challenge.

Jenny!! I added all three to my list. I hadn’t heard of any of them but they all look good. I’m going to try to fit them in during the challenge. Thank you!!

Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happily ever after. Bloody murder? Yep. Bring it on.

Throw your favorite authors and titles my way. Please and thank you.

Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happily ever after. Bloody murder? Yep. Bring it on.

Throw your favorite authors and titles my way. Please and thank you.

Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happily ever after. Bloody murder? Yep. Bring it on.

Throw your favorite authors and titles my way. Please and thank you.

Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happily ever after. Bloody murder? Yep. Bring it on.

Throw your favorite authors and titles my way. Please and thank you.

Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happily ever after. Bloody murder? Yep. Bring it on.

Throw your favorite authors and titles my way. Please and thank you.

Hi, stopping by from Team The Luggage to beg for recommendations. Mysteries or historicals. Historical mysteries, yes please. Historical romance? Certainly, I'm here for that happily ever after. Bloody murder? Yep. Bring it on.

Throw your favorite authors and titles my way. Please and thank you.

Ok, you know my two true loves are historical fiction and mysteries, so I'm not sure if these would be ones you like, but here is a few suggestions:
Historicals
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - China
The Red Tent - Middle East
From Sand and Ash -WWII Italy
The Orphan's Tale - WWII Europe
The Sandcastle Girls - Syria (I haven't read this one yet)
Love in the Time of Cholera - Columbia
Bel Canto - South America (maybe Peru?)
The Bronze Horseman - Russia
Not historical, but an absolutely great book and author
Beartown - Sweden

Mysteries (just choosing first one for ease of reference)
Jar City - Iceland
Death at La Fenice - Venice
Still Life - Quebec
Buried in a Bog - Ireland
Death of a Gossip - Scotland
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Bostwana
Seven Graves One Winter - Greenland

Lorna wrote: "I have it planned for this month Michelle!🥰

Stacey Halls is a fantastic author, The Familiars was amazing!"

That's great news, because I downloaded that one, too!

Is anyone else reading The Foundling? I love historical fiction and a good mystery. I’m starting it tonight.

We decided to switch our back sliding glass doors with French doors today and as soon as we got the sliders out it starts to rain! We are frantically trying to get to framing set so we can get the new doors installed. What a day! At least I can listen to my audio as I work.