Emma (M)’s Comments (group member since Dec 02, 2014)

Emma (M)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Wow, ST, goo work at getting through Written in My Own Heart's Blood that quickly! Without giving anything away since I have only finished book two, was it a good edition to the series?

No, you aren't the only one. It was awful. I didn't even finish the first book. There are so many better examples of erotic fiction out there!

I have The Colour of Magic on my e-reader, so happy to join in on this BR

Well,after deciding to have a break from Dragonfly in AmberI promptly ignored my own brain's call for a break and finished it in a marathon reading session today. Phew, that was hard work! However, I now really want to read the next in the series to see what happens. Although, I will wait until the New Year to do this as I really can't deal with another long book right now. Plus I have the Agatha Christie to read :)

Well, after a marathon reading session today, I have finally finished it. As frustrated as I was with this story in parts, it has now left me wanting to read the next in the series to find out what happens from here.

I really, really want Brianna to meet Jamie, although I am not sure how that may happen, but surely it has to happen at some point?

I didn't see Roger's ancestor twist coming, I have to say. Also, I found Roger so much better in the second half of the book than I did at the start. I really found him creepy to start with, but didn't find he was creepy at the end. This is probably a good thing as I am sure he will continue to feature in the next book.

Anyhow, as much as I want to read on, I am really going to have to have a break before tackling another really long book.

Will you other ladies be trying the third installment of the Outlander series?

Well from what you ladies say it looks like I will enjoy it. Maybe I'll get hooked on a new genre :) I'll start it today.

Actually, I think I need to take a break from Dragonfly in Amber, so I might start a new one. For the Bingo challenge of read a book in a genre you don't usually read I have decided on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. I have not really read many who-done-its and I have heard so many great things about Agatha Christie books, I thought I would give it a go. Anywone else read this one?

Snowtulip wrote: "I love the Outlander series, but there are definately some that are better than others. The first book is the only one that I can read over and over, since I never get tired of the interactions be..."

I am conflicted about the series so far. I love Diane Gabaldon's writing, when I do pick the book up I really enjoy reading it. But the length of the books just drives me nuts. I think the biggest problem with Book 2 is you find out at the start that Claire has come back to the 20th Century, but then the rest of the book (so far at 65%) she is back with Jamie, so I can't enjoy the story as it unfolds, because I am constantly wanting to find out and waiting to fiind out, how Claire ended up back in the 20th century. It has put a realy dampner on it for me. However, like I said, I do love her writing, I think her historical world building is fabulous.

lol Snowtulip... men, they always get in the way of a good plan :)

It sounds like we are at about the same place in the book RebeccaS. (view spoiler)[ Jamie and Claire are marching to battle and Jamie has just used Claire to get information out of the English boy that tried to kill him while they were camping for the night. I am so happy the book has moved back to Scotland, I was getting tired of the French storyline - all the plotting was getting tedious. However, I also just want to get on with how Claire ends up back in the 20th century. Knowing it should be soon is driving me nuts! Also, I am really glad that Ian decided to stay home with Jenny and children. It is good to know that he will be there to run the farm when Jamie dies in battle (hide spoiler)]

I am reading number 2 in the Outlander series right now and it seems to be taking forever. Like Erin, I have a huge pile of books to read, but I want to finish this second in the series before moving to another book.

Kristin, I am liking Maplecroft but am finding the stop/start reading for a BOM is messing with my reading rhythm so I am finding it difficult to know if I really like it or not. It is certainly different from anything else I have read, and it's certainly intriguing. What do you think?

27. The thing! That was an exciting scene of Doctor Seabury, Lizzie, and the thing/creature. Lizzie said, Iron. Any thoughts to why Iron is the kryptonite of the thing? How about its body breaking down to gelatin like substance, and bones crumbling to pebbles? Are these the pebbles people are finding?
I am wondering if these creatures may be something to do with the Fey that Lizzie mentioned earlier - I thought I have read before than iron is a Fey's kryptonite?

28. Lizzie is pretty hardcore. She has killed 7 or 8 of these things/creatures. Where are they coming from?
I have no idea where they are coming from but maybe they are drawn to the gems in Lizzie's cellar too.

29. Lizzie said that she did kill her father and Abby because they were turning into something that wasn’t human. Any ideas as to what her parents would turn into?
I really don't know the answer to this, though I am keen to find out.

30. The fire at the cannery was an odd occurrence. Wolf shown up again, wanting to know more about the bodies found in the fire. Do you have any reason to why he might be interest? Is this another x-file?
He must see a link between all the different occurances that are happening - maybe it is the presence of so much water at all of the crime scenes?

31. We have found out from Western Union that there are more incidents and Wolf’s name is popping up quite a bit. Something in the last fire and the cannery they found an alter and tentacles. There are more eyes seeing and paying attention to what is happening, do you think more people will come to see what is going on?
It seems that knowledge of the events is slowly spreading, but no one actually knows what's going on, just that it is weird and seemingly linked.

32. Doctor Seabury and Wolf are discussing the crimes happening, Emma’s pseudonym is popping up. When Doctor Seabury is reading the letter that Wolf gave him he sees the name right in the middle, any idea to what the name is? I thought it was EA Jackson, since that was the name being discussed when Wolf showed the letter to Dr Seabury.

ST - Half Bad seems to be one of those books that people love or hate. I was one of those people that loved it, but there are plenty of people, whose reviews I generally agree with, that really disliked it. If you do read it though, beware that the very start of the book is in a weird second person present tense type POV, but this does not last, so don't think the whole book is like this :)

For me it would be Daughter of Smoke & Bone I loved this book. I also really liked Half Bad, much more than I anticipated I would.

Actually, maybe I should ignore all the books I already have piling up on my e-reader and download The Martian, everyone seems to love it and I really, really want to read it!

Ooooh, I haven't even thought what my first book of 2015 will be. Hmmm, I guess I will have to see what I have left on my e-reader 'To Read' collection when I hit the 1st Jan :) I better make it a good one though, gotta start the year with a bang!

Yay ST!! I find long reads quite a chore to get through these days. Dragonfly in Amber seems to be taking ages and I am not even half way through! Thankfully I go on Xmas holidays this Friday so will be able to devote hours and hours to reading :)

Part 3

(view spoiler)[ I haven't completely finished Part 3 yet, but have got to the part where Claire has bumped into Jack Randall at the Duke's house. I suppose we can't be too shocked at this, given Frank is still alive

I am finding that because I know that Claire ends up back in modern times with Frank, I just want them to hurry up and tell 'my how and why this happened, which means I am not enjoying the French section as much as I maybe would have if I didn't know what ends up happening to Claire. I also have to say that once again, Jamie's double standard between himself and Claire is driving me nuts. Apparently he is permitted to be deeply jealous, giving people dirty looks if they so much look askance at her, but she can't get upset if he spends all night at a brothel, obviously being touched up by the girls... grrr. Beside that I am enjoying the book for the most part. (hide spoiler)]

Oh Erica, that sounds awfully painful, you poor thing! I hope the knee damage is not serious and you make a full recovery. The extra reading time is a positive aspect to your situation though :)

11. I was thankful to finally get a more in depth "chapter" POV for Emma -- or at all for that matter. I've been finding this snippet POVs make it hard for me to get a good read on any character or to get invested in any way. Emma gave a more detailed look into her thoughts, what their lives are like, etc. She indicated that her illness started at the same time as their parents, but subsided when she and Lizzie separated themselves. Lizzie also seems very determined to protect Emma. How do you think they were able to save themselves from the affliction attacking their father and step-mother? Could it have been so simple as just moving into another section of the house?
I get the impression they don't really understand why they haven't been inflicted. Being separated in another part of the house may have helped though.

12. Emma gave the impression that she is happy that Lizzie has Nancy as a "companion" even if she was not trusting of her motivations. They rarely interact with anyone else other than the monthly visit from the doctor. I felt like there was some hint of romantic interest on Emma's part for the doctor, even though he's much older. Do you think it's one sided on her part? Are Emma and Lizzie's friends going to be drug into the fight against evil with them or will they continue on their own?
I think Emma is so desperate for company that she enjoys her visits by the doctor. I don't necessarily think she has a romantic interest in him though. It does look like they may discuss what they know with him though.

13. Professor Zollicoffer does seem to be on a downward spiral. However, he still had enough wherewithal to keep his job and access to his lab -- albeit by name dropping Emma's alter ego Dr. Jackson. He inner monologues make it obvious he is obsessed with the specimen. He isn't eating, sleeping, teaching, etc. He's planning on moving a cot into the lab. As meticulous and careful as Lizzie seems to be in her research, how is it that they would send this specimen to the Professor thereby risking infecting him and others? Were they not worried it would effect him? Do you think they haven't figured out the danger is coming from the sea? Or is it they believed the specimen deceased and therefore not dangerous?
I don't think they realised the danger of the specimen would be to him.

14. In Nancy's more in depth POV, she came across, at least to me, as quite self-involved and callous in regards to her feelings toward Emma. Despite all the wards, charms, protections Lizzie has in place throughout the home, she also appears to be receptive to the affliction. She was hearing the ocean, lost time in the kitchen, etc. What do you think it is about her that leaves her susceptible when Lizzie and Emma are not? Is it simply that they know about it and are on guard or could it be something about her personality characteristics that make her nonresistant? I have no idea - Lizzie obviously feels the pull if the gems as well but maybe she has developed a resistance to them?

15. The chapters feel like they are getting a bit longer. The novel is appearing to pick up some steam. It feels like things could start happening. As we head into our first break day, what are your thoughts about the novel up to this point? Are you enjoying it? Do you have a favorite character/POV? Any thoughts about what is in store for the characters? Thoughts on what might happen next? . I am enjoying it so far and am looking forward to the rest of the book and eventually having all my questions answered.