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

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

I'm not gonna lie. When the ranger told me we should be careful of the bear activity in Sitka I was ok, but when I saw the big bear paw track in the mud on the trail, I had a small moment of panic.

But we didn't see any. I ran into them quite a bit in Southern Colorado (Mesa Verde) when we lived there.

Not scary. A mild thriller.

Good morning, team. Updating the spreadsheet now.

Welcome back, Amanda.

Still holding steady at 11th place right now.

Daily Questions - Day 3
Chapters 13-17

15. Do you think the head of security has something to do with the missing mascara? If not, do you have any gut feelings about who may have?
I'm not sure. I don't suspect him, but I do think the girl is still around hiding somewhere (maybe back in cabin 10) and somehow stole it back while the room was being made up.

16. Given what he told Nilsson about Lo's past I'm surprised that she has once again confided in Ben, this time about what she think she saw from the balcony of cabin 10. I don't trust him at this stage, do you think Ben is trustworthy?
I think he believes Lo because of their past. If she thinks she saw something, he thinks she did. I think he's a reporter, so he'll dig in.

17. Flash forwards of news reports have confirmed that Lo definitely goes missing from the cruise ship. Have you found knowing this has increased or lessened the tension of the current storyline?
Increased, for me. I like that part of the book.

18. When Lo found that writing on the shower it confirmed that something has definitely happened to the girl in cabin 10. It seems like a scary situation for her to be in, especially not knowing who to trust. What do you think you would do if you were in Lo's position?
I was actually surprised at this part. If you were trying to gaslight her, that actually makes her doubt herself less and puts her more on guard. Whoever did it made the wrong move.

19. Future newspaper reports indicate a body has been found and it seems pretty obvious to me that it would be that of the girl. Do you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader that it is Lo? If so do you think she has succeeded in sowing enough of a seed to get the reader to consider it might be her?
I am 100% sure it is not Lo. I think it might be the girl, or a memebr of the crew who stumbled upon something they shouldn't see.

Day 2 DQs
8. Lo wonders about Rowan's experience of going to luxury places to report about them. She wonders "How can she stand it, these regular glimpses into a life no regular person would ever be able to afford?". Do you agree with this? Would you like to travel to luxury places for your work?
YES! I have gotten to visit some amazing places through my job (and some rather boring ones as well). I am envious of Lo getting this opportunity. She seems to be blowing it right now.

9. Tina is looking at Lo in a speculatively way, while they are waiting before they can go to the dinner room. Why do you think she looks at Lo that way? Did she overhear Lo talking about her?
I didn't think she overheard Lo, but I could be wrong. I do think she is wondering what Lo's deal is. Drinking, acting awkward, and the bruise on her cheek.

10. Jo is panicked and is thinking of Judah, then she says “I imagined burying my face in Judah’s shoulder and for a second I nearly burst into tears, but I clenched my teeth and swallowed them back down. Judah was not the answer to all". Why do you think she says this? Does she really have second thought about breaking up with Judah?
Ok, I'm sure we are all on the same page as far as Lo having issues. She is messed up. I think she has regrets about breaking up with Judah (if that is what it was--hard to tell from her version) and she also knows she is messed up and seems to have trust issues. Unsure at this point, but I don't like her much.

11. When Ben and Lo are alone, she tells him all about the burglary. Why do you think she can tell Ben and not Judha all details and how it made her feel? What does this say about Lo's feelings towards Ben and Judah?
Ben is a creep, and she was stupid to confide in him. I think she didn't tell Judah the details because she is punishing him on a subconcious level for not being there when it happened. She clearly has issues with his job, which seems to be more successful than hers.

12. Why do you think Judah is so worried about Jo? He asks all her friends if they heard from her. Do you think he is overreacting?
I got the impression that they stay in pretty close contact when they are apart for their jobs. Plus she is on this cool trip so I'm sure he expected at least some social media updates. The total radio silence is freaking him out.

13. Lo hears a scream and thinks she sees a woman in the sea. Do you think she imagined it? After all, she is a bit drunk and is possibly suffering from anxiety and PTSD. How do you think the staff handles the situation? Should they have done anything else?
It's hard to know what she heard (scream-wise) but it seems pretty certain that she heard the veranda door and saw a smear, right?

14. I think it is strange the schedule of the order of the ports is changed. Do you believe the reason they give to Lo?
No. It seems strange to me as well.

July 2 Discussion questions & comments
Chapters 1 -6

1. Have you read anything by Ruth Ware before? Why did you decide to join this read?
It is my first book by this author, but I have had it on my list for a long time so I'm glad to finally get to it.

2. I have the impression that Lo suffered panic attacks and slight claustrophobia even before the break-in. Do you think there's much more to her past than we've been told so far?
I definitely got the same impression. She mentioned it a couple of times and my mind immediately went to how she would cope being in a small boat cabin. Those bathrooms are like closets.

3. Theories on the break-in? Does a burglar wear latex gloves and lock the occupant of the house in their bedroom while ransacking the place? How would he know she didn't have a phone in her room? Seems there's more going on here than a simple burglary
I think she must know the burglar. It didn't seem like a regular break in.

4. I can't quite imagine the boat. She said it isn't much bigger than a yacht and yet the descriptions make it sound quite large. Your thoughts?
I think it must have a few levels to accommodate so many rooms. Plus the cabins on most boats are very small, so I can picture it.

5. Ok stupid question, but would you borrow mascara from someone?! (What a way to get an eye infection!) And also on this very expensive ship full of rich people the lady gives her Maybelline mascara which is a realtively cheap brand. A clue she doesn't belong there perhaps?
No. Just no! It made me cringe thinking about it. Maybelline stuck out, if not for the cost, but to specifically call out a name brand in that moment. I would have let her keep it too.

6. Have you ever been so overly tired but not able to sleep? Do you think Lo is paranoid due to her lack of sleep and anxiety or is there someone watching her?
I hate it when you get to the point of exhaustion where you just can't sleep. My work schedule is very erratic and sometimes I can't get caught up on rest, so I understand. I think she suffers from panic attacks and the exhaustion exacerbates the issues for her.

7. Do you like the writing style? Is it an effective way to build suspense by using the emails to give us a glimpse in the future before going back to present day?
It's an easy read so far. Looking forward to getting to the bottom of what happens betweeen Sunday and those Tuesday emails.

No response from either PM.

I'm working today so missing out on some sweet BBQ action, too.

Welcome back!!

Have fun, LaurLa. I will be working on the 4th but at least it's holiday pay. Makes it somewhat worth it.

Have fun, Snowtulip! Are you going someplace cooler?

I still want to read both of those, I just haven't worked them into my reading list yet.

We all contribute in our own way! I like the points, for sure. But my volume is a little lower too. 😜

I got the last set of DQs for The Woman in Cabin 10! Very excited. I have wanted to read this book for a long time and just haven't gotten to it.

Did you like it, Cassie? I need to get off my butt and start it.

I will message her now!

I also sent a message to Victoria. Hope she got past that reading slump. Those can be terrible!

Updated. We are in 11th place right now.

Not bad, not bad!

I can see that! Mae and Beck do have some annoying similarities.

Ah, good perspective, Beth! You could be right. We only get Joe's version on Beck.

Did anyone else find Beck to be unlikeable? I just felt like she was so selfish and that bothered me. I wanted to have sympathy for her but she just drove me nuts.

Sorry I didn't come back sooner. I've been on a cruise to Alaska with no internet.

This book was well-written, and creepy. I really enjoyed reading it from Joe's POV, even though you know he is unreliable. And crazy. I think we can trust some of his version of events, but not all.

I was surprised at the ending, and didn't expect it. But I'm not 100% sure I will read the next book.