Cat’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2015)

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

finished 3 Shades of Blue, picked up Soul Music - about Discworld's first professional rock musicians

Not got a short one right now, but I do have a vampire in the go

EXCURSION UPDATES!

I thought it would be helpful to do an update on where we are with the Minis. I've also hidden the completed tasks on the planning sheet.


TIME LIMITED ROUND 4 ONLY! - Music theme
Instruments in text
Franzi reading for Mandolin

Musical Locations
Vikki's reading for Paris

Music Genres in text
Franzi's reading for bhangra
Danielle's reading for salsa

By or About Musicians
Cat's reading one
Marie's reading one
Sammy's reading one
we need ONE more new book by or about musicians

Challenge Long Minis
Mini 1 - Genres #2
G41 Nonfiction
G43 Fantasy
G46 Epic/High Fantasy
G51 Crime
G55 Memoir
G59 Science Fiction / Sci-Fi
G60 Young Adult
G64 Travel
G66 Horror
G67 Art
G72 Suspense
G78 Time Travel

Mini 2 - Colours #2
C53 Orange Cover
C73 Teal Cover
C74 Teal Text on Cover
C78 Brown Text on Cover
C82 Black Text on Cover
C83 Black in text
C94 Grey Text on Cover

Mini 4 - Brown
B28-30 3 books to make up a story (see below)

Brown Mini Story
Titles so far:
(The) Travelling Cat Chronicles
My Friends
(The) Hounding
Everything is Illuminated
Never Let Me Go
Full Tilt
Karma

beat you!

just finished for an I series :)

oh, amazing! I had a quick look, didn't see a Y and was going to squeeze out a quick one, but if it's already there :) <3

it sped up! I'm finished now :)

I'm trying hard to finish one more this round, but it'll likely be right up against the clock....

we aren't complete monsters!

surely we are all grabbing a Sydney, Aus book next week?!

Sammy wrote: "Cat wrote: "finished The Mercy of Gods, which I enjoyed, Sammy."

Good to know! I probably should finish off the last couple of books of the Expanse first, but, you know... new shiny... 😂"

I know! I got to #6, so I've 3 left in the Expanse series, but I think that's where it jumps, right, which is why I've been ok cheating on it!

getting around to checking my TBR for Sammy (and Marie)'s Nemesis Mini!

I have 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, and the Lost Empire of Cool about three musicians, J & K, so that's one of the books ticked off :) possibly Soul Music might need a reread...

I've have another peruse for musical instruments on cover

finished The Mercy of Gods, which I enjoyed, Sammy.

All good Marie!

I finished the diary entry one!

DQs Day 3: to 37%
start: start of Part II
end: "...while she died there in the mud."

11. Part II opens with a really grim sonnet, though very apposite when considering the content with hindsight. Did you have any thoughts on the sonnet epigram? Do you / are you now interrogating the epigrams at the start of the parts for clues?

I read it and assumed there was going to be grimness, but didn't quite expect what we got! I do read the epigrams and look at the images and try to see how they fit with what we already know, and what might be signified.

12. Part II - the history of Juan through the eyes of Dr Bradford was a different sort of horror, with the visceral descriptions of the surgeries. Why do you feel that Enriquez included this section in the book?

I think it's an interrogation of another sort of abuse of power, or enjoyment of power - the surgeon over life and death. I found the descriptions, and the sexual energy (hope it's not just me!) that Bradford was feeling during surgeries were particularly revolting. The ways that people enjoy control, power, dominance never fail to disgust.

13. We meet Gaspar as an older child. Did you like the start of Part III, with what seemed like a normal childhood? What seeds of doubt did you pick up about his life (I'm thinking of up to about 30% in - before the dog Diana goes missing)

I did like the change of pace - a palate cleanser after the children tunnel and then the bad surgeon! but am very afraid of where we will end up by the end of this section - I can't imagine all the children will end up whole and healthy....
There were definitely hints that all is still not well (the before Diana section - afterwards it is very clear that stuff is going down!) - like Adela's arm - that's been taken by the Darkness, right? and her family are part of the Order, watching Juan and Gaspar. It does feel like Gaspar's still broadly sealed away from his magic, though surely making him feel dried eyelids (EWWWW!) isn't helpful in keeping him safe and normal?!

14. After Diana goes missing things get a bit weirder! How do you feel about Gaspar and Juan's relationship now?

I was so let down! At first it seemed pretty healthy between them, but then we get let into the knowledge that no, it's not healthy, and Juan keeps failing hard at being a good dad. I guess from his point of view is winning at keeping Gaspar safe from being turned into the next medium, but that's at the cost of a happy healthy relationship....

15. Omaira, in the Columbian disaster. It's a small story, but I wonder why Enriquez decided to include it. Any thoughts on how it links to wider themes and ideas in the book?

I've not got anything insightful here - waiting on Teddie, no pressure! - but suspect it's the first of several bad things to happen to kids - Pablo, poor Pablo trying to get to grips with his sexuality, seems mostly likely to come to an untimely end, with Adela a close second. Really hope not!
There's also a complicity thing going on here - no-one can help save her nor intervene to put her out of her misery, nor even intervene to stop the ghoulish spectacle she's been made into. What are our responsibilities to be good citizens and neighbours to make sure others are given dignity and respect?

DQs Day 3: to 37%
start: start of Part II
end: "...while she died there in the mud."

11. Part II opens with a really grim sonnet, though very apposite when considering the content with hindsight. Did you have any thoughts on the sonnet epigram? Do you / are you now interrogating the epigrams at the start of the parts for clues?

12. Part II - the history of Juan through the eyes of Dr Bradford was a different sort of horror, with the visceral descriptions of the surgeries. Why do you feel that Enriquez included this section in the book?

13. We meet Gaspar as an older child. Did you like the start of Part III, with what seemed like a normal childhood? What seeds of doubt did you pick up about his life (I'm thinking of up to about 30% in - before the dog Diana goes missing)

14. After Diana goes missing things get a bit weirder! How do you feel about Gaspar and Juan's relationship now?

15. Omaira, in the Columbian disaster. It's a small story, but I wonder why Enriquez decided to include it. Any thoughts on how it links to wider themes and ideas in the book?

I can't remember which bit of US you are, but if we haven't heard from Melissa by when you are getting ready to turn off, post this evening, thank you.

I now need to read on to catch up for tomorrow, which will mean a late UK post, everyone!


And the Ack! bit wasn't a factor, as I assumed horrific is going to continue....! (Thank you!)

DQs Day 1 : Beginning of book - 12% ("... the seal of the summons, the permission, the welcome.")

1. This book opens with a father and son in what seems like a mysterious and dangerous situation, and there is a startling mix of normalcy, grief, and dread all juxtaposed with one another as we slowly learn more details. How did it make you feel? Do you think this was a good start?

It was an excellent start! I actually got through the first part very fast, blowing right by the stop point. And then I got bogged down in some of the really grim parts of the next DQ section....

2. We learn through Juan's perspective that young Gaspar has inherited the ability to see ghosts. The first sighting occurs in a hotel, which would inevitably remind many readers of The Shining, even though the context is different (apart from them both taking place in late 1970s/early 1980s)! Do you think the author did that on purpose? And did you find the ghost super creepy, or were you totally unfazed?

The ghost wasn't super creepy to me. Not sure why - possibly I've been reading some worse horror / horror adjacent stuff lately. But it's Ok, I got well and truly skeeeeed out shortly after the ghost!

3. There is a rather abrupt POV switch from Juan to Tali. Why do you think the author chose not to tell the story only from Juan's POV? Did you appreciate the switch? Why or why not?

I like the switch, and didn't find it too jarring. It's good to get out of Juan's head every so often, and the different views build a more interesting picture with the angles

4. We learn about a secret Order of which Juan and Tali are both members. Rosario -- Gaspar's late mother and Tali's half-sister -- was a member too. Juan is trying to keep Gaspar away from the Order. From what has been revealed or hinted so far, do you have any predictions as to what the Order is all about? Do you think Juan is doing the right thing in keeping Gaspar away? Do you think Juan is a good father, overall?

I think Juan is trying really hard to be a good father, but makes some questionable choices. Possibly the choices make sense, given the power and reach of the Order, so there are no other options open...

5. Juan and Gaspar encounter many kind and generous strangers. Juan is paranoid but also good at reading people (not sure if that's part of his "powers" or simply part of his personality), and doesn't seem to have any problem using them for his own ends. Do you have any thoughts on these interactions so far? And for those readers who are more familiar with Argentina: do you think the author is using Juan's interactions to attempt some social commentary on the Argentina of 40+ years ago, vis-à-vis the police, sexuality, etc.? Or could this book be taking place anytime, without much difference?

I mean, I think Teddie won with her answer here!
I appreciated the road trip allowing for those interactions, and it certainly helps lighten the reading load - there's all this misery and horror in Juan's life, but there are still positives. And it's generally more widely applicable - the world can be going to the dog, but provided there are people willing to help and do good, it's not all bad and irredeemable.

@Teddie - If Melissa doesn't post will you be able to cover Day 2, and then E and I can figure out who does which day out of 3 & 4, keeping everyone else on track (I don't think E has started reading yet)

cool. We'll keep an eye on that.

It's also possible that Our Share of Night would work for that too, so we've got options, which is good :)