Keli’s Comments (group member since Jun 23, 2016)

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

Susan wrote: "So I'm a dork. Of course you were talking about me. I forgot this was the challenge where we recommended books. I would also recommend this one too. It's part of the series so wouldn't it work okay?"

lol

Finished my #14 today, The Muse. Really enjoyed. I put that one on in 2016, can't believe I waited four years to read it.

Alysa wrote: "Finished #s 21 and 22.


The Blast was disappointing. It started out okay (aside from glaring ..."

I think I read this in high school. But I can't remember. Think I will give it a second go after your review.

Annalisa wrote: "Finished #18

It was such an odd book. It was very well written but I'm not sure I liked it."

That book haunted me. After I finished it, I kept asking everyone if they'd read, just so I could find out what they thought. If they thought it was as creepy as I did. It was the way the children were treated, the way they ended up feeling about their lives and the "donations." My daughter had it for required reading at her high school, which was pretty cool. I think everyone should read it. Just for the discussions about humanity, ethics, childhood, and individuality that it can encourage.

Since we've got Asia as a tag again I'll recommend some of those that I've read Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea. It's harrowing and heartbreaking at times. But so interesting.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a short read. I gave it three stars. Interesting but a bit slow. But if you love historical fiction, then you'll probably like it more than me.
I recently listened to The White Tiger. I can't recommend this enough especially if you listen to it.
Life of Pi is a tricky book. I absolutely recommend it for the last two-thirds. Once the boat goes down it gets good. But that first third literally took me a year to get through. At the end I saw why the author felt it necessary to write that dreadfully boring beginning, but he could've done it better. Or made it shorter.
For fantasy, my fave genre, I'd recommend Cinder, Across the Nightingale Floor and Naamah's Curse are all good.

I still have my last book, an N, to finish. I'll get it done but it'll be about 3 est. I've got about 5 hours left but I've got to go to bed.

Possible Asia tag books- I haven't checked the tag specifically but all of these are set in an Asian country, and I gave at least 3 stars
China - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, my copy was 178 pages. North Korea - Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea, harrowing but so interesting.
India - The White Tiger, fast paced easy read
Turkey - The Scribe. For a bit of paranormal fantasy.

I need to read Visions of Heat for another challenge. I have Dear Martin but can put that on hold for the next word. Realistically, I probably will only be able to fit one other book in so I can go with Dear Martin or I can read for a letter. I have all of the letters, so it is just matter of picking the one we need most. Are U and I our most needed?

Shannon wrote: "@Keli don't forget to shelf the book "Under Locke" so we can count it"

Do you mean my wheel shelf? I filled in the SS at work and only just got around to the review. But everything is done and shelved now.

Tammie wrote: "For those reading Dear Martin...I've started reading...in addition to N, it also works for: B Q G"

Oh good, I have Dear Martin.

Tammie wrote: "For anyone reading M Zapata this round, Laura from Don Quixote recommended anything Zapata in her post #59"

Me too.

My book is on. Phew, that true crime stuff is hard going. Thanks again for checking my update, Tammie.

Tammie wrote: "Keli
Ok...so the challenge officially ends @5
Not sure about the other captains availablity, but I’ll set my alarm for 3pm for any last minute finishes.

We are due with entries by 5..if we have t..."

Cool, if you are happy to check again at three ish, I'll have it up. Ta very much. 😊

Also, my version of Angels Blood was the audible, so I used the main book page count but I didn't know if you needed me to mention that anywhere on the SS.

My book last book is going to be down to the wire close. I don't think I will have it finished by noon EST. I will probably be closer to the 3pm deadline. So I can either try my damndest to finish for tomorrow after noon. Or I can carry it to the next week. As it's I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, it will definitely work. It's just whatever is easier for you capitans.

Donna wrote: "Anyone know anything about The Woman Who Would Be King: Hatshepsut's Rise to Power in Ancient Egypt? It is in the SS with nothing else. I don't know if it is read, currently being r..."

Sorry that one was me and I totally forgot about it! I will have four finished by Friday, don't think I can get that one in, so I'll delete.

✿~Danielle~✿ wrote: "Hello, dropping in from team Fridge for some recommendations for Fantasy (Epic/High/Dark) and Space Opera. If you have any please?

Thank you!"

The Left Hand of Darkness is one of my favourites. The Price of the Stars and Fortune's Pawn are good space operas.

Day 4 Questions Chapters 16-21

15. We get to find out about the title in this section. What did you guys think about the new rule, and the reason behind it?

Honestly, I worried for Stella. It's all well and good not wanting your disease to rule how you ultimately live but there is a reason they need to stay 6ft from each other. Have a one night stand. Take some E. Go sky diving. Those are probably all safer than putting yourself in closer contact with someone with a deadly hard to eradicate bacteria.
That foot could make all the difference, especially as they don't always wear masks.

16. Did you all like Stella and Will’s first date? Do you think you would have the self control to stay away from the love of your life?
As an aside, are there any YA books of this type that allow the kids to spend more than 6 minutes together before falling in love?

I thought it was sweet. The second date was better. I recently read The Cruel Prince, they took a while to fall in love.

17. They spend a page or two discussing the afterlife. Do you think their takes on it made sense to the characters? Realizing I am wading into murky waters here, did you want to discuss your own views? (Optional, teehee.)

I thought that it was in keeping. His is a bit more in line with mine. We live, we die. Our bodies go back.

18. Abby. We find out why happens to her here. What did you think of this reveal? Was it a satisfying explanation of the missing sister story to you?

The Abby thing was pretty obvious from the start, and I don't usually pick up on these things,my brain is often too scattered. I don't know if I'd call it satisfying but it certainly informed Stella's character.

19. Chapter 21 is a bit of a rollercoaster. The birthday dinner is pretty cool. Did you like what Stella and all set up? Then, Poe. This hit me more than any of the other "feels" in the book. How did you take this? Discuss

I thought the scavenger hunt, the surprise, the meal everything that Stella andPoe did for Will's bday was fantastic. I got a real sense of joy, excitement and camaraderie in that bit. The Poe thing didn't hit that hard. Though I clicked on a spoiler in a review of this book, so I knew it was coming. 🙄

1) From what I know, this book is the novelization of the movie. While this doesn’t happen too often, I’ve read a couple books before that were only written after a movie/series (e.g. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet). Have you ever read a book like this? What did you think? Was it successful? Did this experience influence your expectations of this book?
Never read a book based on a film or tv show that I can remember, unless graphic novels count? I imagine that it's pretty rare, cos the ability to visualise the characters is pretty much already set. Guess it's like fleshing out a, screenplay.

2) Stella and Will, wearing face masks & using copious amounts of hand sanitizer before it was cool. All jokes aside, this is an oddly timely reminder that face masks do make a difference to prevent the spreading of diseases. I knew next to nothing about CF before starting this book and I’ve seen very mixed reactions to the representation of CF so I was wondering… do you have any experience with CF and therefore expectations? (If you don’t feel comfortable answering, feel free to just skip this question!)

I knew absolutely nothing about CF. After the first chapter, I looked it up on the NHS website, to get an idea. Wow, I'm surprised at how prevalent it is but not well known.

3) "If I’m going to die, I’d like to actually live first.“ This quote from Will’s POV reminded me of the countless bucket list stories and made me wonder whether this will go in that direction. Yet while Will takes more of a Devil-May-care attitude, Stella is very cautious to follow the rules. Do you think Will’s attitude is going to influence Stella as they got closer (literally?!). Will she also take more (dangerous) risks?

Probably, and I totally see some foreshadowing in the story Barb tells of some kids she worked with at the start of her career.

4) Stella is a "tech nerd", even programming her own app. Most MCs in YA books have artsy, "girly" hobbies (sorry for using that terrible gendered stereotype), if they have any prominent hobbies at all. Books about artsy people are among my favorites and I’m always on the hunt for more. While I like traditional hobbies, some of my favorite books (e.g. With the Fire on High) have non-mainstream hobbies and I am actually quite excited to learn more about this aspect of Stella’s story. Have you read any other books where the main character had a prominent hobby that wasn’t drawing/painting/writing/theater/an instrument?

I don't know if I'd call it a hobby but the female mc in Sourdough had a robotic passion. Though I guess her hobby was baking bread which isn't artsy.

5) Stella’s parents are recently divorced, in what she calls the “most ridiculous divorce of all time”, and she worries a lot about them. It both breaks my heart and confuses me slightly why it is so far being kept from us what happened - we only know that Stella believes both parents are unhappy after the separation. So… what do you think happened?

(view spoiler)[It's fairly obvious that Abby is dead and it ended their relationship. Most parents divorce when a child dies. I don't remember the exact statistic but it was over half. (hide spoiler)]

Did anyone else get a little teary at Five Feet Apart? I'm feeling a bit more emotional at this time of the month, but I really had to try and not cry at certain points.