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

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

I'll nominate
Outliers: The Story of Success by Kimberly McCreight

From New York Times bestselling author Kimberley McCreight comes the first book in a breathtakingly brilliant new trilogy, packed with tension, romance and thrilling twists and turns.

They’ll get inside your head…

Imagine if you could see inside the minds of everyone around you – your best friend, your boyfriend, your enemies…?

Imagine how valuable you’d be…

Imagine how much danger you’d be in…

Imagine being an Outlier.

It all starts with a text:
Please Wylie, I need your help.

Wylie hasn't heard from her one time best friend, Cassie, in over a week. Not since their last fight. But that doesn't matter. Cassie's in trouble, and it’s up to Wylie to do what she does best, save her best friend from herself.

This time it's different though – Cassie's texts are increasingly cryptic and scary. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie asked him to help. Trusting the super-hot boy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn't feel right, but Wylie has no choice.

But as Wylie and Jasper follow Cassie’s bizarre trail, Wylie has a growing sense that something is REALLY wrong. What isn’t Cassie telling them? Who is she with and what do they want from her? And could finding her be just the beginning…?

I'm a little over halfway done with

What are everyone's thoughts??

Brooke wrote: "That sounds amazing! Did you arrange to go via a church group? Or a non-prophet? I've always wanted to do something like that."

My friend Brook (no e) invited me to go with her mom and a guy from her mom's church, because that church sponsors the missionary family that we went to work with and support. It was really awesome. You should definitely go sometime!!

:45 for 15?

me

Thank you ladies!!

Brooke, my favorite part was just being in Ecuador, speaking Spanish, and seeing how the missionaries lived, getting to know the kids at the special needs orphanage/foster home and in the village. There wasn't really something I can say that was my overall favorite. There were definitely hard and gross parts to it too! We trekked into the Amazon jungle and the mud tried to swallow us and we had to eat interesting things. We were also pretty close to two villages that are at war currently. So it could have been dangerous but we weren't in real danger. The village we visited was the peacemaker village in the middle. There's so much more I could say!!

MH, YES PLEASE!!!! Soon!! Let me finish YOU first and then I'll be ready. It's an interesting book!!

Day 1 Discussion Questions

1. What do you think about the POV? Does it draw you in or push you away? It's not quite in 2nd person, but it's much more direct than most 1st persons, even ones that break the reader wall. Do you feel Joe is talking to Beck, to you the reader, or both -- are you supposed to identify as Beck?

At first I wasn't sure about the POV, but it definitely made me think more deeply and I realized that you're weren't really supposed to know what was going on so you couldn't predict too much or love or hate Joe right off the bat. I definitely felt like he was talking to Beck, and it intrigued me.

2. Many times books are set in first person to make it easier to emphasize with the narrator. Do you have sympathy for him? Do you feel you understand why he feels the way he does? Would it be easier or harder if you saw him from outside?

It's not that I had sympathy for him. I could see his filter and how he interprets what Beck does so I can understand how he arrives at some of his conclusions. It would definitely be harder to empathize (not sympathize) if it wasn't written from his POV.

3. Is Joe an unreliable narrator? He's clearly delusional in some ways; how deep do you think that goes? Do you trust him that he's really doing everything he reports?

I think he's reliable to a point. He's explaining how he sees the world, and he says things about Beck that are definitely not how she meant for him to interpret what she says or does, but you can see how he arrives at his conclusions. So in some ways he's unreliable, but that's not a bad thing. The reader just has to take into account that he has some mental hang-ups. Yes I think he's definitely doing everything he reports, if not more.

4. What do you expect from this book? What made you decide to read it? Do you expect it to have the beats of a thriller, or does the adventurous point of view change your expectations?

I honestly am only reading this because it's a BOM, and I'm on a Towers team. I'm not a huge psychological thriller fan because I get heavily involved in the plots and emotions of the characters. This book I think will blow my mind at some point. It's a slow build so I think it will have suspenseful, thriller beats later on.

Day 2 Discussion Questions
Chapters 10-14

5. What do you think are Joe's intentions with Benji? Is there any way you can see this endingwell for Benji?

I definitely see him wanting to get rid of Benji and I'm nervous for Benji. He definitely knows too much.

6. Joe asks Benji to write down his 5 favourite books, if you had to write a list of your five favourite books, what would they be?
(in no particular order) (it's really hard to pick favorites so these are some that stand out as really great reads)

The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis
The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer
The Testament by John Grisham
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
First Test by Tamora Pierce

7. What is your impression of Beck through Joe's eyes? Do you sympathise with her situation with Benji? Can you see why Joe is so enthralled with her?

I liked her a lot more in the beginning few chapters. Sweet, paying attention, and I thought her exhibitionist? tendencies were intriguing. I see that Benji is withholding his love and affection and I can see why she wants it. I can see why Joe likes her but I think his being enthralled is his own mind.

8. How do you think Beck feels about Joe? Do you think she genuinely likes him and it's only her feelings for Benji that are getting in the way of her progressing a relationship with him?

I do think she likes him but I'm not sure if it's just Benji or if there are other factors involved with her hanging out with him more. He's playing a different role than Benji so it may just be that she's more attracted currently to what Benji is offering.

9. I am finding Beck's friendships with Lynne, Chana and Peach to be lacking any real warmth and often interactions amongst the girls seem a bit strained. What are your thoughts on Beck's friends, do you think they are genuine friends who only want the best for her?

I definitely agree that her friendships lack substance, but that may just be Joe's narration. As the book goes on later, Chana seems to be the most reliable friend, although I did not like her in the beginning. But at this point in reading I did not really think they cared about her.

Day 3 Discussions Questions

10. Peach claims a lot of Beck’s time in this section. When Joe comes back over to assemble Beck’s new bed, Peach shows up since Beck was supposed to have a guy from Craig’s List come over to put her bed together. Joe seemed to get angrier with Peach as the night went on and took out his frustrations on Benji. Was it surprising that he used something that Benji was allergic to instead of a more violent way to kill him? How much longer do you think he would have lived if Joe wasn’t so angry with all the Peach’s and Benji’s in the world? Do you think his body will eventually be found?

I was surprised at the peanut allergy, but I think for me it confirms that he wants to be with Beck, not that he wants to commit violent murders. He sees murder as a task; he doesn't seem to get off on it. Well maybe a little. And I think there is definitely a chance that Benji's body could be found.

11. Joe is convinced Peach is in love with Beck. Do you think Peach is in love with Beck?

I think he could be right to some extent. But I can't tell because Peach tries to control Beck and talks down to her. It's definitely codependency and it's unhealthy, that's for sure.

12. Peach has some bad habits when she runs that Joe was able to take advantage of. Since he wasn’t successful in killing her, do you think he will try again? Joe seems to lack a lot of social skills. He was using the website to inform him of what type of balloons were for Get Well Soon. What do you think of the balloon? Did Beck overreact with him?

I do think he will try again with Peach. Well it depends on how much he NEEDS her out of the way. I thought the balloon was fine, especially since he's not dating her. I would have seen it as a cheering-up gesture. But that may say something about my own social skills :P

13. Beck’s father is not dead. Why do you think she lied to Joe about her father? Do you think she will tell Joe the truth about her father and seeing him?

Honestly I have no idea why she lied, was she ashamed of her dad? Is she in trouble? I have no idea if she will tell Joe or not. She might because she told him about the red ladle, but I doubt it since she lied.

14. Joe is in a really bad place. Beck keeps calling since she got off the boat and he is afraid that she saw him there. After he gets back to his place, there is a knock on the door? Who do you think it is? What do you think he will do?

I think it's Beck. I have no idea what Joe will do. It's definitely suspenseful at this point.

DQ's for Chapters 24-32

15. It was funny to read Joe trying to hide the stuff he took from Beck when she cam to his apartment. Why did he let her in if he had that much stuff lying around? Do you think that maybe he wants her to find out about his obsession with her?

I think he had no choice to let her in, or he just forgot in the moment where everything was and had to respond to Beck. I'm pretty he doesn't want her to find out; he seems to know that if "normal people" caught him they would not understand and he would be labeled a "stalker."

16. Hmmm, I'm getting the feeling Beck is using Joe. Taking him on a shopping trip and him offering her a job. What do you think? Is it a smart decision to hire her for the bookstore? This could totally backfire on him.

I do think she is using Joe while she tries to decide if she wants to take things with him to the next level or not. I don't think she has that figured out yet. I'm not sure about hiring her for the bookstore, it could be what he wants since she'll be closer and he'll spend more time with her.

17. Joe has a lot of bad luck, first he gets bead up by a former employee and his friends and then an unfortunate meeting with a deer. Is this karma being a bitch or the universe telling him he should just forget about Beck and let Peach have her?

I think those things could be a warning but I don't think the universe is telling him to let Peach have her, and even if it was, there's no way he would listen. He's in too deep.

18. What is you opinion of this book when we're over the halfway mark? Do you like the style? Is the pace fast enough or do you think it's too slow? Any guesses on where the story is going?

This is definitely not my kind of book, but I am intrigued. I think it's been a little slow but things are picking up. After Peach's scene with trying to be with Beck, I think he will definitely do something about her. I also know things can't end well for Beck and Joe but I'm not sure who will get the shorter end of the straw.

Hi Everyone!

I'm back from Ecuador!!
I haven't read a single book in 3 weeks! (insert tears and hysteric crying here). I just moved into my new duplex so once I unpack I'm hoping to be able to read more. I have and so I can start with those.

I hope your weeks were great! I skimmed through the 200 posts I missed and it looks like your books are great for the most part!

Alright, back to work! I'll try to listen to an audiobook while I work today. It was a wonderful trip but it's good to be home!

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Mine definitely got better and I enjoyed time with friends and family and went to a wedding!

I'll do my best to finish the Circle this week before I leave for Ecuador :)

In the same town I currently live: Walnut Creek, CA

Wow Brooke. That really is CREEPY. Glad you're out of that situation now.

On the plus side I FOUND A PLACE TO LIVE! I have to move out of my current place by June 30 or earlier, and I found two young women who are Christians like me to share a duplex 3 with! I'm so blessed! I move in right after Ecuador!!

So after next week I won't be doing much reading!. I'll try to finish The Circle and Rogue One before I leave for Ecuador and then the reading should pick up after the move.

I read 1 page and got distracted with work. Woops!

Hi Melanie!

Megan and Erin, sorry about those experiences! those are uncomfortable and awkward. Thankful you're both fine. I'll join the people-are-rude club, I had a phone conversation with my ex tonight and he told me while we were dating he thought I was beneath him and that he could do better.... Talk about rude. But we both blocked each other from phone calls and text and FB and everything so I don't have to hear from him ever again.

Getting back in the reading now! Going to read the Circle with getting my travel shots for Ecuador!

I'm here too! a short :45 for 15?

I only read 1%

:15 for 20?

5% read | 6% done

I can do 20 at :40 too

maria helena wrote: "Laura wrote: "Anyone else vote on the June BOM's? I just voted. I'm hoping this time the 3 picks are more to my liking!! ( though I'm looking forward to reading Strange the Dreamer...."

I felt the same way! I voted and I like several of the picks. I'm honestly hoping the winning books are 2015 or older so that the library is more likely to have available copies. Newer books are more likely to be on hold.

I nominated for YA and for Anything Goes. They both look like a large majority of readers would enjoy them.