MelanieJoy’s Comments (group member since Apr 26, 2016)

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

7/19 - 502p

7/21 - 339p

7/22 - 372p

subtotal: 1213

Current Total: 1,189,802p

One down, one to go!

Highly recommend for those who like thrillers/mystery/suspense!

I did realize right before reading, that I joined the NBRC buddy read of Ware's book , and that turned me on to thrillers in general, and I think Ware is masterful at writing these!

I'm not a huge horror reader so I'm not sure I could read the Frieda McFadden books. These thrillers are more my style, I feel excitement and there's fear, but it's just...my speed I guess.

Whoever likes thrillers in this group should check this one out!

Ok, onto the next book!

this is a hard one, I don't love either haha. Sam Heughan.

Haha Laura! Hooray for new presents, so sorry yours died!

Started my first battle book. Already sucked in!

Finished

The last 3 chapters plus the epilogue are fast paced, disorienting, heartwrenching and I struggled to keep up. The heaviness of all that happens at the end was why I rated this one star the first time I read it. Now I can't decide if the first person short sentence manic writing style is genius or trying-too-hard, to be frank. There are so many lines in the last part that are highlight worthy.

Katniss' desire to die was highlighted to me. I can now see this time around how it was too much suffering and how it was hard for her that no one would let her die. But it's also super weird that no one visited her in that room for months.

And it's interesting - I think in the decision of Gale or Peeta, Gale made the decision for her by getting a job in 2? Or had she already made the decision realizing that he built the bomb that did the ultimate damage at the capitol?

I guess I'm left with a few unanswered questions but the glaring thing is that through an unimaginable amount of suffering. the survivors somehow managed to find a way forward.

It wrecked me again!
Last note - I think for me the book is more powerful than the movie. The movie is more memorable because I can see the faces of the characters, but the feelings, the sensations the author is trying to evoke, are more prevalent in my mind through the reading experience as opposed to the movie experience. So I guess with those thoughts, I can say Suzanne Collins is genius, the way she took on the roller coaster of that Hunger Games ride.

Finished part 2

I feel like this was jam packed with stuff! You see Gale's thirst for revenge and how it overtakes what justice should/could really look like. And for me, there was where I was really able to let go of Gale as a partner for Katniss; she's not able to condone that kind of bloodshed, for any reason. It's better to arrive at a resolution with grace and diplomacy.
It was interesting to me her description of after the torture and then after the confusion, how Peeta now saw her the same way everyone else does and how that's disheartening to her and embarrassing. I also remember the first time I read through the description of what Peeta went through in the capitol and I was sooo horrified and disheartened. It was probably one of the reasons I gave this book a one star rating way back then - it was too heavy for my unsuspecting heart.

To note - it took 3 weeks for Katniss and Johana Mason to train and catch up to the elite soldiers who've been training for months? Hmmm I don't buy it...

Looks good to me!

Sorry Laura I didn't realize we were checking the thread at the same time! I had just put my baby down for bedtime.

@Laura I peeked on district two's thread and it looks like they want the book that ends with Nev. So I'll plan to read both One by One and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev and finish both before the 28? 29? Shouldn't be a problem.

Hopefully everyone that wanted to participate is getting a chance!

Laura that sounds good!

Keely have an awesome time with the kitten! My cats are 1 and 1.5yrs now and they're a lot less cuddly. I come out the living room and usually they've knocked something over during the night.

Sounds good! But just so everyone is aware I’m happy to take a back seat if someone else wants to read for the battle.

Hey Laura,

I did some digging and I think if no one else wants to read, you can take the One Day Like This,

we can then request His Carrot Her Muffin and I'll read The Final Revival of Opal & Nev because it looks amazing, and it leaves District 2 with Nev; there's a lot of popular books that starts with Never, so it should be a good ending.

If someone wants to participate in a battle and hasn't gotten a turn, I'm happy to sit out, but this can be a great back up option to send before the timer runs out. The book looks really intriguing and it fits another challenge I'm working on.
Up to you though, if you've been looking for a chance to read Ender’s Game I can still also do One Day Like This

My nephew's birthday party is tomorrow (it's Friday night for me right now) so if you go with the FIN option, just send me a message and let me know. I've got all books checked out from Libby just in case.

Here's some options someone (not me) could read (just did a quick book search):

FIN:
The Final Girl Support Group
The Final Empire
The Final Gambit
Final Girls

TER:
Term Limits
The Terminal List
The Terminal Man
Terms and Conditions
The Terms: Part One

Done!

Finished through ch 7.

This time I'm listening to the audiobook; the first time I read it was 10-12 years ago and I've watched the movies twice since then, so it's interesting reading the story while also remembering how it ends and some of the important parts in it.

One thing that stands out is I think in the movie, District 13 doesn't let Katniss see remains of District 12 until she becomes Mockingjay, right? That was how I remembered it in my, but the book has it differently.

I definitely forgot the prep team was locked up in like a prison box! So inhumane!

Knowing the ending, I can see the similarities of how District 13 runs things similar to how the Capitol does. It's something interesting to keep an eye on this time through.

PS - when the hold comes through for the ebook version, I may switch to that; I often switch back and forth to try and finish faster.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Kaley wrote: "If Gale has no haters, I’m dead.

I don’t know how I didn’t notice from the first minute I read this book how truly awful he is. I was NEVER Team Gale and only disliked him after lat..."

Karen, I just read that scene and I'm with you that it was powerful! I'm definitely taking Katniss side on that one, but you can see how the rebels would be split.

Laura wrote: "MelanieJoy wrote: "@Laura I can read One Day Like This if you want! It looks like my kind of romance and I usually finish those in a day or two if they're not too long. Totally up t..."

We can wait and I'll let you know for sure tomorrow after we see what they send.

@Laura I can read One Day Like This if you want! It looks like my kind of romance and I usually finish those in a day or two if they're not too long. Totally up to you but I've got your back if you want it.

7/01 384p

7/06 358p

7/10 416p

7/12 302p

7/15 352p

subtotal: 1812p

current total: 1,168,306p

@ Laura - can I commit to One by One by Ruth Ware? This one is tagged thriller and the other is tagged horror so I think I'll do better with Ruth Ware. Thanks!