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

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

DQs Day 5
Part 5 to end

17. What do you think of the ending with Frank? What do you think caused his final response?

Frank liked to be in control, and Frank was trying to make something of himself. So I think this was an act of controlling the end; he probably didn't see how he could get out of the situation.

18. Were you surprised by the family’s response to Nell especially Rose’s response? Would you have sided with the family or Nell?

I think there's a temptation to side with the family so that everyone can keep their nice little ending and no one else gets hurt. But morally speaking, that's an impossible ask, to let someone, or more than one person you know get away with murder. But when the threats came, that took it to the next level and I could feel Nell's outrage.

19. This book deals with serval major themes. Do you think the author handled them well? Especially each person’s response to what Frank did to Rose?

I definitely think the author handled everything well, exposing multiple themes and seeing how different people will handle and prioritize things differently. What stuck out to me was Nell apologizing to Rose, and then expecting Rose to say no worries you had a lot on her plate but she didn't. Not everything in real life gets tied up in a neat little bow, and forgiveness can be hard to come by. So even though all of it was hard to read and it feels heavy after the book was complete, I do think the author did a great job.

20. Finally, the epilogue. Did you think it was necessary and were you surprised?

I was shocked, and Idk if it was necessary or not; I think it sucks that NO ONE (in the story) will ever know. This secret was taken to the grave. I wonder if it was written so that the audience abhors Frank even more, and is be more willing to say Frank got what was coming to him and he deserved to be framed, but I'm not sure.
overall, it's been sticking with me since I finished it. So it's compelling read, but not my typical story and not what I was expecting. I also give 3 stars.

DQ Day 4: Part Four

13. The relationship between Billie and Nell - do like like this relationship and how it's developed over the course of the book? How does it fit with the other parent-child relationships we see (explicit or implied, like with Frank and The Admiral)

I am appreciative how they are mostly open with each other and pretty communicative. I also appreciate how Nell is fiercely protective of Billie.

14. Cora and Dom: did anyone expect that twist?! What do you think of this big reveal?

Did not expect that! It definitely makes sense but it came out of nowhere for me.

15. The Bonehunters: what do you think of the different Bonehunters? In day 1 Lisa asked about how digital / social changed the mechanics of the hunt. Have your thoughts been played out in the book? Given at the start we were all thinking about it as a hunt, and it's ended up being a relationship book, how has the move to digital for the Bonehunters affected their interactions, with each other, the world and the hunt?
I feel like the move to digital made it easier for the Bonehunters to come together as a group and declare unofficial group rules and behaviors guidelines in the hunt (ex the Glehams disassociating with Stuart Cummins and explaining how his behavior is not in line with the bonehunters) it's also made it easier for richard and others to be in communication with them. I think without digital, it's more of an individual thing because letters arrive far more slowly. But I may just be spitballing.

16. Who's portrait are they actually hung up on, if it's not Bridget (given that Bridget was clear there was a portrait of her in the last part)?
Gotta be Rose, but that threw me for a loop!! And like, how does that explain Bridget looking at the portrait in the beginning of part 3? Did she know it was Rose? Did she try to put a stop to any of it? When Rose asked Dom to marry her, was she pregnant? so many questions now!

DQs Day 3
Part 3


9. "Home was vomit and broken glass, and under Frank's hands she was a ripe peach splitting open, danger and solace merged in the act." - what compelling language! I had to re-read this line multiple times, and I'm still unsure if I received the author's intent. What was your interpretation? What are your thoughts on Frank and Bridgit's affair as a whole?

10. Let's talk about some of the characters. In this section I grew to truly despise Frank, understand Cora and Dom a little more, but Bridgit is the most interesting to me- I keep mulling over her desire to no longer be tied to Frank, divorce Lal, and get out, but seemingly choosing to stay for Rose; and shocked but intrigued by her actions on the phone at the end. Who stands out to you and why?

11. This section breathed new life into the book for me. It was refreshing to see one night of the story from multiple viewpoints, and it drew me in, knowing that it will be catalytic for the remainder of the book. Did part 3 increase, decrease, or have no effect on your enjoyment of the book and why?

12. Who do you think got into the car with Lal?

DQs Day 2
Part 2

5.) What do you think of Richard, past & present? Do you believe that he really loved Nell? If you were Nell could you of stayed with Richard or ever forgiven him?
I don't think Richard is that bad after reading this large chunk. I don't think Nell should have expected his answer to be he'd pick her over the jewel at this point in his life, having made another family. If he was still single and things hadn't gone as well, then yeah maybe it's a good question to ask. It's hard to for me to picture myself as Nell because it's hard to relate to all this trauma she's going through related to the search. She seems very self-focused, paranoid, and cosntantly on the lookout for the next threat to her life. Maybe she has a point, but I'm having trouble seeing it.

6.) Do you like the set up of the book, flashing back and the current timeline? What about the Frank/Lal chapters with the Up/Downs, complicated friendship there. Do you find this effective or distracting?
I do appreciate them but I feel like I could get just a little more out of them, they're more like teasers than real information for some sections.

7.) "He used other people's bodies as weapons." Do you think Frank and Bridgit had the affair? If so do you think Lal knew/knows?
It's really hard to guess based on the chapters from the previous years and how Frank felt about Bridgit. But signs do point that way, so maybe they almost went all the way? Or oneo f them suggested something for money or to sober Lal up? But the end of the second part had that huge cliffhanger to lead you that directions so it's hard not to imagine that it happened and that Lal knows.

8.) Oisin got quite the reality check about his family. Poor dude, grandparents weren't always old and could of been very different people from who they are at 70. Do you think Frank and Lal did it? A setup, if you any guesses as to who?
I definitely think grandparents can be different people and change behaviors after mistaeks and regrets; my great grandmother was a different person around me but I've heard stories of how she was as a mom to my grandma and it wasn't pretty. My guess was definitely Frank and Lal murdered this girl but I truly don't know.

DQ'S DAY 1 PROLOGUE - PART 1

1. First up let's discuss the artwork on the cover. When this book first popped up on my Goodreads feed I was drawn to the intriguing combination of bones, keys and flowers. Pretty. How important are covers and cover art to you when choosing to pick up (or download) a book? Does the growing popularity of audio and eBooks lessen the importance of what the cover looks like?

I definitely think my interest in the book depends on the cover. And covers can occassionally help me figure out the genre of the book to determine if I'm in the mood for that genre. This cover felt more ambiguous, and it definitely drew me in.

2. The author's note and the prologue set the scene for a riveting tale. Have you ever heard of Kim Williams' Masquerade (I hadn't)? What differences do you think the digital and social media era would bring as compared to the original treasure hunt?

I'd never heard of Masquerade. The main difference is the ease at which you can access the info, for physical treasure hunts I think you had to be way more committed.

3. "What's mine is his and what's his is his". (Lall)
Frank - generous Patriarch, friend and benefactor or control freak? Discuss.
mostly manipulative, but definitely here he believes he's being generous. I definitely dislike him though for many reasons.

4. Finishing up Part 1 the story is a little different to what I thought it would be. I was thinking along the lines of an epic Grail quest and for me it's more a story of the family dynamics and egos. Not about the actual text of The Golden Bones but how it has affected the author, family, friends and the Bonehunter community. What's your thoughts on the novel so far and what's your prediction for what's to come?

I was about 15% in and I went back to the main page for it in GR, and realized one MPG is "Gothic" and "Horror" and I wasl ike ohhh it's one of THOSE books. So Nell's horror and trepidation kind of made more sense. Definitely family dynamics play into it but she describes the book and the quest as well. To note - it is interesting instead of the treasure hunt being something you WANT to participate in and something positive, here it's entirely negative. so it's a unique twist on the obsession of treasure hunting. Definitely makes for a good premise.

Finished:

Long May She Reign'

Not bad! Better than that last one I read on my TBR. I loved the main character and I felt she was believable even if the plot and setting were slightly far fetched. I enjoyed the read.

I’m still reading for Day 3 DQs. I Can post tomorrow or someone can cover for me. Up to the Mods.

Marla wrote: "MelanieJoy wrote: "Im ahead of the line only because I’m still counting books on TBR that weren’t my original goal. Also I’m having an awesome reading start this year. But I’ll probably also have a..."

Haha thanks Marla! Honestly I think the reason I'm reading so much is because I love goodreads and the online community here. But I have to read books to justify getting on here, hahaha!

I'm super excited to see what you guys are planning! the world is your oyster!

Im ahead of the line only because I’m still counting books on TBR that weren’t my original goal. Also I’m having an awesome reading start this year. But I’ll probably also have a “hare” year where I start amazingly strong and then slow way the heck down later. My son isn’t crawling yet and his naps are longer so I’m still good on freetime.

I nominate

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kyiv, wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour.

Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC--until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life.

Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.

@Melindam, Keeper of Enchanted Rooms was one of my fave books last year. Some reviews didn't love it, and the beginning was better that the middle and ending, but I was really glad I read it.

Have we read

If we have I'll nominate something else. This has been on my TBR for years.

Summary:
At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.

Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

99 cents is good because my library copies are all checked out.

okay I'm good for Day 3.

I'm in for this one.

288p

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438

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current total: 274,025

Finished #5

This was actually on my maybe shelf and not on my TBR shelf, I moved like 150 books over that I was like I have no idea if I'll ever read this or not but I don't feel like just deleting it right now. So it doesn't help me get rid of my actual 50 from 2017 that are on my shelf, but it definitely counts.

It's a weird rating from me because I was completely hooked a the end and now I can't wait to read the second, but up until like 70% of the way through, I was saying it was slow, some parts were slightly unbelievable, and I wasn't really having any fun reading it. But now, I'm invested and will be moving on to book 2.

Keely wrote: "It was the same for me."

Same for me. I did finish the trilogy but yeah...

Mel's BOM Tracking:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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DQ Day 5
Chapters 39 - end

20. Well, what a ride!! Was this an ending you were expecting? Did you guess who the murderer was before all was revealed? What about Daisy's part in the story? Considering the gothic setting and set-up of the story, I was almost disappointed in myself that I had not figured out Daisy. Did you figure out who Trixie's father was before it was revealed?
in the 30s chapters I figured Daisy was dead because I realized no one was speaking to her. But when I went back to the very beginning, Nana greeted her and said do you want a snack, come inside so I thought maybe she was alive...but I guess she could have been talking to Poppins the dog... I also thought Lily was going to be with Conor at some point in the beginning of the story when Daisy was talking about all of the girls loving him. But then when Trixie said she recognized Conor's dad, I thought he was the father. But I guess since Trixie can see ghosts, maybe she recognized his ghost? Wow... trippy story! I also wondered at one point if Nana had something to do with it but I was like no, Nana's dead she couldn't have...this story really did keep me guessing.

21.a. Let's talk about the family because they really need to be talked about. I had so many "wtf" moments reading those last chapters because I could not believe the people in this family! Rose and Lily (and Conor by extension), how could they have done what they did?! What was your reaction when you found out?
definitely horrified that they just decided to cover up Daisy's death. And then I was trying to imagine what it would be like to see Daisy's eyes open as she was falling into the ocean, presumably not fully dead...

21.b. And then Nancy! Why was she sobbing like a heart-broken mother when her daughter with the broken heart could be fixed for an extended period of time? By extension, Daisy always felt, and seems to not have been the only one, that Nancy preferred Rose and especially Lily over her, but then inside the locket we saw a picture of Daisy and a pressed daisy.
If at the point they find her body and open the locket Daisy is already dead, then it would make sense that she's mourning her...And yes I agree with Judith that she mourned her long before she's dead, so if the doc told her she could have lived longer then Nancy couldn't really live with the fact that she kept her daughter from really living and it ended up being for nothing.

22. Now that the mystery is solved... what about the clean-up?! How do you think Trixie is going to handle the aftermath of it all? What is going to happen with all those bodies?
no idea. I can't imagine murder cases wrapping up without the perp getting caught, but either trixie is going to also kill herself soon, or try to pin all the murders as suicides? I mean in the will she got the house, and no one else got anything. Also it makes sense why Daisy did not get the house - she was dead!

23. Going back to the very start of it all, there was a little note from the author's agent at the beginning of the book before even the first chapter started. Did you read it? What did you think of it? (If you did not read it, you might want to have a quick peak.)
If you've (now) read it, what do you make of it now? Now, that we have reached the ending.
THAT's WHAT THAT WAS! I thought that Feeney was writing that about herself and I was like no... Agatha Christie wouldn't ship a book to her door... there has to be another explanation... ok that makes SO much sense now! And it's great! The full circle thing on these books that like start and end the way always throws me.

24. Since this was the first Feeney for most of you (I think?), were you satisfied with the novel? Are you going to pick up another one of her books?

I think creepy books for me are good only for like buddy reads or BOTM. I typically read fluff so if I'm going to read gothic horror, I probably need people to read it with to sort through all these emotions and make sure I'm not alone. So yes, but under the right circumstances.