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

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

Day 1 DQ's: 0-21% (ends "he opened the door.")

1. The Sundown Motel...what a perfect name for a motel! Have you ever stayed at a motel before...something like the Sundown? What was the name of the motel...Any interesting experiences come of that?
My family traveled a lot as I grew up so I've stayed in different motels. There have been some that were cozier and homier than others, but we were always thankful to have a place to sleep during our travels and that we were enjoying time as a family.

2. Viv is young and working alone. I don't think I would tolerate my daughter doing anything of the sort. What were you thinking from the 1st few pages? Viv comments..."Being with people was easy, but being alone was hard. Especially along in the dark. The person who could be truly alone, in the company of no one but oneself and one's own thought--that person was stronger than anyone else. More ready. More prepared."
I was very confused reading the first few pages, because right before that, she said she was alone and she preferred it, so I was like which is it? Do you prefer it or is it too hard? And I couldn't figure out if she knew something would happen to her and why. Does she believe in ghosts and paranormal activity? Or are those a distraction from real crimes? (I'm only 5% in so hopefully my questions will be answered!) Also, back then I think people worried less about people working alone. The news travels faster now about crimes so I think people might generally be more cautious. I don't think I'd want my kid working without at least security. I wouldn't even want that for myself.

3. What do you think the significance of the door to number 103 banging open/shut is? There's definitely significance, but I have no idea.

4. So far Carly's mom's reaction to seeing the newspaper clipping..."Vivian is dead" has really bothered me. What's your take? Have you already solved the case? Is Vivian dead?
That reaction didn't bother me as much as it intrigued me. Especially where the comment right before that was the expression in her face included fear, which was included in the description of Viv's feelings that night also. So, seems like something sinister went down that is scarier than the determination for justice.

5. What did you think about the dual timeline between Viv and Carly? In what ways are Viv and Carly very similar? How are they different?
I really like the dual timeline in books but it makes me very impatient when I want to know what happens with one specific timeline. I start to read sporadically and flip back and forth. Makes me wish I had a hard copy of the book!

I hope to finish this by Friday but I'm still only on ch 5, so we'll see. Glad you guys are liking it and having questions! Can't wait to read more!

The full throttle book is mine. I’ll fix the post and the shelf

Thanks Laura! I totally missed the fact that each player has their own list but everything makes a lot more sense.

I assumed we were all trying to cover one list since that’s how most team challenges work.

I’ll go back and update my posts. Thanks!

Completion Post
by Julie Ann Walker
Read: 6/17
Pages: 352

Letters:
T - Title
A - Character Abby

Task: 116: Read #7 in a series

Completion Post
by Amanda Eyre Ward
Read: 6/19
Pages: 352

Letters:
T - Title
A - author Amanda
P - character Charlotte Perkins
R - character Regan

Task #8: Set on a boat - set on a cruise ship

I have to finish a time sensitive task for a different book and then I can pick this one back up on Wednesday. I got through chapter 4 or 5 so far in the audiobook I think.

In my opinion she did ok setting up the setting, plot, and characters, but I got the relatives a little mixed up.

I'm about to go back and post my completions; finally making my way around the spreadsheet!
Few questions about the tasks -
is the best strategy to post 1-2 tasks it fits and then hope that we get all the tasks covered by the end?
Is there pressure to complete all the tasks or is it just bonus points?
And when I go back and look at the tasks, are there some that are already "taken" and I should ignore and focus on others, or are we waiting to finalize that until the books are all entered?

I signed up as back up DQs for you Laura and I will have the book in time.

I wanted to add that I really liked this book and the growth and resolutions for each character was well thought out and written. I don’t read much contemporary and some stuff that’s heavy is difficult for me to stay with. But this was much better than Jetsetters and I thought the author did a way better job of pulling us in and having us love the characters.

Laura, hope your copy comes in soon! I’ll be reading a small chunk today so we’ll see how far I get.

not gonna lie, was more mediocre than I was expected. It had some good quotes and some redeemable moments at the end but it was too little too late, and there wasn't any coherent movement, it felt like she just threw together a happy end as a lucky coincidence at the end. It made me appreciate another heavy book I read recently even more: .
That said, expanding our minds to read good vs bad literature isn't bad, it's expanded my taste so I don't blame Cat at all. A blurb and good author isn't always the perfect formula, but I think she did the best she could with what she knew.
Hope that didn't feel too much like a rant, I just felt like sharing my thoughts!

Yay! I love giving book recs that others enjoy! We'll see how we feel about this one. Can't wait!

Discussion Questions Day 4 - Part 7 - 9

13: The characters have each made some defining decisions on the vacation. Which decision or resolution stuck out to you the most? Example - Mine was when Charlotte pretended not to see Cord at the end of part 9. It broke my heart to see her have so much difficulty loving her son!)

14: Why do you think Charlotte took on and passed on the traits of her mother that she didn’t appreciate? What might have been different in her interactions with her children if she intentionally shook those off? Example traits are her mother’s inability to communicate, and her disapproval turning into a lack of love)

15: The characters each have a flaw in that they hold back a piece of themselves from their family and the ones they love. Which character is the hardest to read about and why?

16: This was my first time reading this author. Do you think you’d read something else by Amanda Eyre Ward? Why or why not?

Jessi wrote: "Y’all I pushed through and went ahead and finished tonight. I did not like this book at all. It would have been a DNF if not for Wheel and BOM points..."

I'm almost done with my section for DQs. I probably would have DNFed it too but we'll see how I feel. A teammate of mine DNFed it and she just couldn't do it.

Requesting a thread for for Friday, June 19

Ok. Want to set the start date for Friday? Feel free to catch up when you get it. Does this work for anyone else? I know some of you started A Good Neighborhood. I'd love to join but my hold should be released in a week.

Volunteering for DQs as backup for team Pants

I'm in for DQs as backup for Team Pants

In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner

Displaying the author's extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyan is testament to the transcendent power of narrative and a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience.

For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins with the footsteps of her father returning home in the early dawn hours bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Soon the family's world of carefully guarded royal privilege is swept up in the chaos of revolution and forced exodus.

Over the next four years, as she endures the deaths of family members, starvation, and brutal forced labor, Raami clings to the only remaining vestige of childhood - the mythical legends and poems told to her by her father. In a climate of systematic violence where memory is sickness and justification for execution, Raami fights for her improbable survival. Displaying the author's extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyan is testament to the transcendent power of narrative and a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience.