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

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

Hopefully the fact that the hostages haven't been hurt yet (after 4.5 hours) is a good sign that it may end without casualties - my fingers are crossed for them.

So on a completely different note, Sydney is having a seige situation - it looks like some terrorist (an islamic flag has been held up in the window) has taken over a cafe in the CBD - the whole CBD has been evacuated and there are about 12 people being held hostage. Needless to say, not much work is being done as we watch the news.

I am at work at the moment, but thought I would join in. You girs have me intrigued about'We Need to Talk About Kevin, I might have to add it to my TBR pile.

Yep, totally creepy!

7. We are introduced to the character Mathew, whom is revealing to have the same symptoms as Abigail. Do you think an "epidemic" is starting to form?
It looks like it. It seems to have something to do with the beach so I would be interested to see if Abigail or her husband had spent time at the seaside.

8. Mathew's main occupation was gathering gems and the sort from the beach, and he got sick (or started to behave strangely). Do you think it has anything to do with the gems that Lizzie has? And what is he listening to?
I think it is something to do with the beach but I am not sure the gems are the cause - if they are, why are Emma and Lizzie not behaving in the same way as Abigail and Mathew?

9. The Doctor is ashamed of his past behavior, towards Abigail's case. He started to take proper notes about what's happening. Do you think they will be important? I wonder if he will eventually compare notes with Lizzie.
I think we will discover more about Abigail's case as he rewrites his notes - I am anticipating some interesting observances coming out of his new notes.

10. I have the feeling the professor is starting to get sick as well. Do you think it's because Emma sent him that specimen and he started to observe it with his bare hands?
Yes, I think he is going the same way as Mathew and Abigail and it's because he didn't wear gloves.

What a cutie!

What a lovely thing you do for those cats Erin. It must be so rewarding. I think I would have great difficulty not taking home all the cats I was cuddling, it must be very hard not to!

Unfortunately for me, we have a dog with a strong prey drive who has already tried to kill the cat I owned before I met my partner (Daisy our German Shepherd was his). This means our house is now seperated into two zones, the cat's zone and the dog's zone. This also means that we can never have any further cats until Daisy is no longer with us - which will be years yet - as it is very difficult maintaining the two zones and unfair to Mia, who has had to become a totally inside cat. I would love to be able to cuddle a kitten again - they are just so gorgeous!!!!

Chapters 5-10

(view spoiler)[I am enjoying the return to the 18th century, primarily because I want to find out how the hell Claire ended up back in the 20th century - how does she go from being with Jamie in France, to wondering around the scottish highlands in her present time? It must be going to happen soon, given she is already pregnant in France.

I agree with RebeccaS that the glimpse into the French courst is interesting - especially how the french King has random people watch him get up every morning, even to the point of being there when he is on the toilet!!!

Well, I am just up to the point where Frank/Jonathan Randall/another look alike has just turned up at the French Court - I can't wait to see what happens next. (hide spoiler)]

Erica wrote: "Emma: yes!"

Yay, I'll look forward to it! Maybe you could do DoS&B for your bingo re-read ;)

Kristin ~ Experiment in Terror Junkie wrote: "Maplecroft has started off with some promise. :)"

Yeah, I'm enjoying Maplecroft so far. I'm just about to read day 2's portion of the book. It's really quite a creepy book so far.

Erica wrote: "Emma: I lived that book too! I am going to re-read it then read the next two."

Oh I feel a buddy read coming on for books 2 & 3 :)

1. What are your first impressions of Lizzie Borden? Do you enjoy the book being from her POV? What are your thoughts on her losing herself and being "lured" to the box and the gems inside? Do you think she killed her father and Mrs. Borden?
I like Lizzie's POV. To me she seems very pragmatic and level- headed. I am not sure why the gems have a hold over her - they remind me a bit of the ring from Lord of the Rings. I think she might have killed her parents but it may have been in self defence or, because their bodies had been taken over.

2. Emma seems older, wiser, but at the moment ill, as it seems so was her father and Mrs. Borden? Why do you think this is? Why is Lizzie seemingly immune?
To me the illnesses suffered by her parents was different from Emma's illness. I don't get the impression, at this stage, that the consumption Emma suffers from is to do with what's going on, although I am open to to it becoming more evident as the story progresses.

3. I personally prefer the Doctor's POV so far, he seems to give us a much more interesting perspective on the family, as even in Lizzie's POV she seems secretive. What do you think about the Doctor? Could he have done more to help the Bordens?
I like the doctor's POV too. He provides an outsider's take on the situation without all the suspicion and hatred others in the town feel towards Lizzie. Therefore I don't feel his version of events is told with a nasty bias.

4. Emma as I said before seems very intelligent and masquerades as E.A. Jackson a renowned retired professor and well published. What do you think of her research? Is the specimen she spent to the Professor really a specimen from one of the "creatures" lurking around their house at night? What are your thoughts on this whole situation?
I do believe that the specimen is from one of the creatures, and is Emma's attempt to find out what they really are. Saying that, it appears that Lizzie has a number of deformed sea creatures that she has collected, so there seems to be something seriously wrong in the water where they are.

5. Not sure what to think about the Fey and what seems to be happening solely to the Borden sisters, is this really just some fantastic illusion that the sisters share or is their something more sinister going on? Why does it seem to be just the sisters who have issues with these creatures?
I get the impression that the sisters are the only thing standing between the monsters and the township - I think they are trying to protect the town from these things. I have no idea why it is only happening to them though.

6. Out of turn, but what do you believe it was that Lizzie had over Abigail when she asked her to return inside and Mrs. Borden followed suit but knew something bad would happen to her, is t just because she knew Lizzie could handle these creatures, but also that at some point they would meet their maker and Lizzie wouldn't be able to save them? Or is it that Lizzie is really the mad woman here and this is all in her head?
Yeah, that part made Lizzie seem really creepy! The fact that Abigail just turned and went were her was interesting, but I have absolutely no idea why. Also, the doctor's view of Abigail was a lot more positive than Lizzie's so I wonder if Abigail showed a different side in public than in private?

Finally finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone and it is one of the best books I have read to date - will definitely be going onto my favourites shelf.

I also had some lovely people return my comments on an old BR thread for it, so yay for my first BR points!

I am hoping to finish my audible book that I listen to in my car today as well :)

This is so much fun :)

That's good Erin, now you can chillax with a good book :)

Yeah I am holding off until the questions too :)

Steven wrote: "I read today's chapters last night. Do you have any idea how hard it was to stop???"

I know right, thankfully I had other books to distract me, but it was a hard one to put down!

Ok, so i am totally shipping Karou and Akiva. He's on his way to Marrakesh to meet up with her, wishbone in his hot little hands. I am hoping he doesn't drop that damn wishbone into the Mediterranean as it seems to be the key to finding out for sure about karou's background, and I so want to find out. I am finding this book so intriguing I think I am going to have to finish it tonight. Talk about unputdownable!

RebeccaS wrote: "Chapter 1-5 Thoughts.

So we find out that poor Jamie died in the battle and somehow Claire returned to her modern time. She had Brianna and told her that Frank was her father. I can't imagine ho..."

Chapters1-5

Well I have also got through the first five chapters. I am desperate to find out what happened to Jamie and how Claire ended up back in the 20th century, but I guess we will find out in due course.

I have to say that I am yet to warm to Roger, there is something about him that just puts me off. I think part of it is I don't like the way he has sometimes spoken to Fiona, but there is also something about his character that I just don't like - I just can't put my finger on it.

Anyway on to the Part 2 :)

Joining in for this BOM, looking forward to it.

Snowtulip wrote: "Ok, I'm going in:

Headlamp - Check
Snacks - Check
Kleenex - Check
Backup Kleenex - Check
Call a Friend option - Check (I might need support)
Copy of Written in My Own Heart's Blood..."

lol.. Good Luck!!!!