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

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

I've listened to both the Wheaton & Amber Benson versions, so happily read Chris as non-binary :)

Think it's unlucky!

So I finished my 500+ page book and thus a monster.

Respun Asian... Got another 500+ page monster!

Jorogumo
1 500 to 650
2 Tagged family (>10 times)
3 Baby in story
4 8 in page count
5 Char pretends to be someone else

Yeah, I got this in the audible sale after reading House, I think. This is very much not the same class of book!

Have any of you read The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune??

I am finding it annoying, not least the MC being totally oblivious to everything. Not sure I can cope with another 2/3rd of a book like this...

and I am SOOOOOO hoping that there is another couple of twists hidden below the two that have been sign-posted from the get go...

Got us a new Asian!

sorry for the long pages again...

Kamaitachi
1 500 to 650
2 Author initials in Sickle Weasel
3 3 in page number
4 Knees on cover
5 MC 's gender is male

Sophie wrote: "How are you finding the Crying of Lot 49? I really didn't enjoy it."

It was weird. I didn't hate it but there wasn't a vast amount of point, and excessive weird sex for such a short book!

152 pages

Current total: 1,272,084

For me, this is a fun challenge, so if the four of us are in agreement that the rules are 100 pages +, and not to worry about word count we can use it.

I don't have a problem with that being our guide for acceptability of books. Sammy? Sophie?

FWIW, the principle I've been working with is that we have to finish a book after we get the monster, so no banked books being sed - I assume you guys are good with that as a team rule?

I have to defend Manchester as being the rainiest city, and also with the wettest rain. I've never been anywhere else that has the same ability for it's rain, whether stair-rods or drizzle to get you so instantly and insistently WET! London, for instance, has to try really hard - proper flog it down for hours in order to get the same levels of utter miserable sodden that Manchester manages effortlessly in seconds!

looking for a bight side: the reservoirs did need the rain though, right?

on the other hand, I gather that the farmers have had a disastrous time - the wheat etc failing to dry and ripen.

Hope the Hungary weather breaks for you soon Mel.

hurrah for birth control failure! :D

good camping fun though? tired kids because of all the fun or because they slept for 2 hrs a night?

nice :) the page count excepted, obvs!

208 pages

Current total: 1,270,223

Finished the book for El Duende. Someone want to spin a new monster?

The Parable ones are probably the toughest, yes!

Though as al of them touch on Big Topics like racism, slavery, autonomy, they are none of them pure fuzzy feels!

Agree! I did like the different take on vampires but there was definite ick!
I think I might like the Lilith's Brood / Xenogenesis series the best. I found the Parable books SUPER hard to read

DQs: Day 5 - Ch 32 - 38

20. In this section, Ursa relates what happened to her and her mother, but does it in a way that still works with her alien construct. Were there any aspects of the story that surprised you? Were you still hoping the alien part of the story was real? What was your take on Ursa’s origin story?

I never thought she was an alien. Initially I thought she had just run away from abusive family, but the first visit to Effingham kinda put paid to that. The whole rape attempt was extra, and not expected!

21. Part of Ursa’s healing involves integrating her little girl and alien parts. Jo suggested that the alien could be the soul of Ursa. What is your take on Ursa’s assertion that “It’s more like the other way around: Ursa is the soul of me, the one who came from the stars.” How do you think this idea plays into the title of the book?

I thought that it was more that the adults, grounded (earthy) were the forest, meeting the magical thinking of Ursa

22. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the idea of Ursa the alien giving off quarks that touch people’s lives - how all of us affect and are related to each other from a scientific standpoint., even if we can’t predict what the outcome will be. What are your thoughts around the quark idea? Just positive thinking?

The power of trying is strong! Giving positive thoughts / visualisation a name maybe makes it less "woo-woo" to the adults, so it's easier for them to buy that being active leads to good things happening?

23. A primary theme of the book is around the power of love - familial love, love of nature, chosen families - building nests with others to live. What did you think of how all the different families came together? And what about Lacey’s transformation from harridan to helpful - believable or just hopeful?

Lacey's transfrmation was shockingly sudden (a bit like Gabe's sudden comfort with frolicking in the world), but I was glad that she was able to reframe her thoughts.

24. One part of the book that really resonated with me was Jo’s decision to “enter the darkness” with her dying mother, to be there fully with no regrets. That is the kind of emotional bravery I aspire to - shedding the self-protective shell to embrace a fuller loved and loving life. What aspects of the book struck a note for you? Do you believe that sometimes bad things happen to make way for better things next?

Agree - the being brave and putting yourself out there to lead to better things, even if there is pain involved is a good message to try and live by

25. What are your final thoughts on the book? Favorite moments or themes? Who else wants to adopt Ursa?

links for participation token:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 4
Day 5