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

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

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 :)

Sammy wrote: "No. Never. But I suspect they will not pass up the opportunity to torment us 😆"

I'm not saying that we've internally renamed the Music Mini "Sammmy's Nemesis", but I'm not sayings we've not either ;-P


though of course, when I refreshed my memory I did wonder what we've done to ourselves (again!)

looks bluey to me, not grey

gold and yellow work for each other :)

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 3 ONLY! - Time theme

COMPLETED!!

Challenge Long Minis
Mini 1 - Genres #2
G41 Nonfiction
G42 Romance
G43 Fantasy
G46 Epic/High Fantasy
G49 Mystery
G51 Crime
G55 Memoir
G59 Science Fiction / Sci-Fi
G60 Young Adult
G64 Travel
G66 Horror
G67 Art
G72 Suspense
G73 Coming of Age
G78 Time Travel

Mini 2 - Colours #2
C53 Orange Cover
C57 Yellow Cover
C61 Green Cover
C64 Green item on Cover
C68 Blue item on Cover
C69 Purple Cover
C73 Teal Cover
C74 Teal Text on Cover
C78 Brown Text on Cover
C82 Black Text on Cover
C83 Black in text
C84 Black item on Cover
C86 White Text on Cover
C91 Pink 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

it is not repeated, but we do get 30 bonus points for completing!

We do have all the genres and colours to play with as much as we like, of course! so I very much hope no book will go without a mini slot :)

ugh! auditors! I'm having to tender for two contracts for internal auditors right now.... which will involve sitting in interviews for 2 or 3 days (please no!)....

I will be helped with chocolate! and especially liquer filled ones!

and I've just finished the published pre 1800s.

Sammy, have you read The Nun? not sure if it's a 1001 book, but it's absolutely amazingly bonkers! if it's on the list, push it up! (I'm not sure I'd fully recommend it if it's not on the list, mind)

thanks Amanda - we'll keep it in mind, but there's no time pressure on that task (yet) :)

just finished the set in 1500s book :)

we've got time of day covered off already!

The time limited tasks left are:

Unclaimed
Told during multiple time periods. (just two, but with decent gap between them)
Set in 1600s

Claimed
Any type of watch on the cover. - Danielle
First published before 1800 - Cat (bumpable!)
Author initials in TIME PIECE. - Sarah
Tagged "steampunk" 10x - Vikki
Written in diary / epistolary format. - Cat (bumpable)
Book with flashbacks. - Franzi
Tagged "time travel" 10x. - Danielle
Set in period BCE - Amanda

Sarah wrote: "I might re-re-reread The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for epistolary - fits turf and a nice comfort read. :) It was one of mum's favourites as well."

My current turns out to be in diary entries, so no pressure if you aren't feeling the reread x

Fab!

All the genres have been reopened now!

We are going so well!

New Monster....
Peter Stumpp (Germany/Holy Roman Empire)
1 350 to 450
2 Takes place in Germany
3 Someone is beheaded
4 Tagged werewolf/werewolves at least 10 times
5 wheel on cover

Finally finished one off! Year in title and set in Finland - happy Wheel and Monster days!

fixed the shelf, sorry!

oh no, she was complaining about them! and (unwanted) attention they get etc etc. so valid points, but less is more...
like also: she went to yoga I think in order to make a comment about squishing boobs against thighs during a pose.

nice plan, Sammy!

I just finished the road sign on cover book, and frankly don't believe that the author is in fact a woman. or if she is, she's not a woman with boobs. there was a mention of the MC (1st person POV) and her massive boobs every other page. no one thinks about their boobs that often in the normal course of life! So draining to read...

I'll have a look at pub before 1800 options next

That's probably more useful - and I recall that book being quite fun!
Thanks Vikki!