Stacey’s Comments (group member since Oct 26, 2014)

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

I can do 2 or 3 books a week, so I can take another 1 or 2 from anyone who has too many for this first week. I have books picked/available for each task, so just let me know.

I'll plan to read for the trilogy task. I have possibilities for most of the others depending on what Trinia and Jennifer want to read -- except for published in the 1950s.

Oops, didn't have my notifications turned on and missed all the fun yesterday. I can edit the spreadsheet. I'll take a look after work and see what I have that fits the 10 tasks first, correct?

Hi everyone!

❀Tea❀ wrote: "Fixed. I think. At least things are showing up :P"

Thank you!

Can someone take a look at the Leaf Challenge Master board, please? Rankings are not computing. I'm not close to winning-- but I like to know where I am anyway. :) Thanks!

Questions Day 1 -- Chapter 1 - 6

1. I had never heard of this book before it came up as the BOM, even though it's right up my alley and almost 2 years old. I was even more surprised to find that I had read this author before as I didn't recognize the name at all. Was this book on your reading radar? Have you read anything this author has written before? How does this compare? Are you enjoying it so far?

2. We have (and are still meeting) quite the cast of characters as they are drawn into this expedition and board the ship. Who are you most interested in reading about? Who would you like to see eaten by mermaids first?

3. Mira Grant clearly feels strongly about climate change and environmental conservation. While I can appreciate an author's passion for a cause, I tend to get cranky when their cause takes me too far out of the story, which has happened a time or two so far in this book. Does anyone else have trouble with this -- or is it just cranky me? Do you enjoy getting that glimpse into what an author feels strongly about and their ability to use their platform to educate and/or promote?

4. I thought it was interesting that the "big bad" that doomed the last expedition was spoiled on the first page rather than being left a mystery. But I'm feeling there may be more to it....anyone want to make any guesses?

Mary: Harry Dresden's Love Slave wrote: "Should those dates say April?

Not sure I'll be that far into the book by then but I'll give it the old college try. I have it out on ebook and audio.

also the chapters don't make sense on mine. S..."

Mary do you want to swap days with me? I have the first day of questions.

I got my copy. I'll give questions a shot. :)

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Stacey wrote: "I found the word chamomile in my book, but unfortunately I only have the audio version. I have checked google books and amazon to see if I can find the sentence and page number, but ..."

Thanks!

I found the word chamomile in my book, but unfortunately I only have the audio version. I have checked google books and amazon to see if I can find the sentence and page number, but both samples stop before it gets to the location of the word. Is there another alternative? Thanks!

I feel like I should know this answer, but is 0 considered an even number?

Where is the pet names link, please?

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Stacey wrote: "Are names spelled differently permitted for the "Colonial List of Names for Girls"? I have a Rebecca, but its spelled Rebekah on the list."

I’m going to say no as it is a 100 point ..."

Got it! I'll keep looking. :)

Are names spelled differently permitted for the "Colonial List of Names for Girls"? I have a Rebecca, but its spelled Rebekah on the list.

DQs Day Three


9. It sounds like Sadie and Clare just never meshed for some reason. I think that Clare loved her, but was so messed up at the time that she wasn't able to figure out how to show her. And I think Sadie was pretty tough to crack once she wrote you off.

10. I don't know. Maybe she was just making up a story that she would like to have been true as Cat wasn't actually involved in what she was trying to accomplish.

11. Ugh, I can't answer because I've already found out! ;)

12. It's possible. It sounds like Keith/Darren was a pretty good friend to him.

13. I think if she believes that he really killed Maddie, she will be able to do it. I don't think she would have done it for herself, but for Maddie, she will.

DQs Day Two

5.) This section opens with “I want to live my life on the Internet. Everything is perfect there.” This makes me think of the addictive nature of social media, especially for teenagers. And disturbing because we all know it’s a lie, nothing is that perfect. What did you think of this quote? I think this is a huge problem for teenagers today. All they see is how perfect everyone else looks and how much fun they are having, all while they are feeling the usual terribleness of their age. I think this quote sums up this issue perfectly.

6.) when the chapter ended with the lock box Silas was hiding at the run down house breaking open, what did you think was inside? Did your thoughts change once you read Sadie’s reaction to its contents? Once I got to Sadie's reaction, I figured it was photos of children or teenagers in horrible situations. But I don't really understand why Silas was going out there at 5 am??

7.) Were you surprised she called Javi? After meeting with Sadie, why do you think he wasn’t answering Noah’s calls/texts? I can't say I was surprised, I think she wanted just a little more of the boy/girl dynamic that she never had to take away some of whatever she found in the box. I'm not sure what ended up happening to him, and why Sadie when to Silas's home without him, but I'm assuming we will get answers about that once the podcast catches up to her.

8.) What do you think May Beth wants to talk about off the record? It sounds like she thought Keith was a saint and not the monster let through the front door, so I don’t think it’s that he was an abuser to the girls. So, some other secret? Or maybe she thought the girls were sexually abused and didn’t know by whom? I got the impression it was something that could get Sadie in trouble, but other than that, no idea.

DQ Day One

1. As discussed in the thread (see msgs 38 - 41), some of us went into this book unsure and have been sucked in! What were your thoughts before starting? To be honest I didn't know anything about it. A few of my GR friends who have similar tastes liked it, and I love a good audiobook, so figured I'd give it a try.

2. I'm listening to the audio, which seems perfect for this mix of podcast and Sadie's internal thoughts. Do you like the structure (different timelines / types of narration)? I'm doing the audio too, and finding it a great way to get the story. I'd probably prefer a little more podcast part, but that's probably backward.

3. The podcast narrator, West, is very ambivalent about whether this is a compelling story: "girls just go missing sometimes" he says, though his boss keeps pushing him to follow the story. Do you think that West is right - that girls going missing is routine, and not interesting to listeners? I think that it has become too routine -- although I think each girl probably has an interesting story if we bothered to take the time to look at them.

4. Sadie's voice is SO vivid (and the audio narration of the stutter is wrenching), it makes her a compelling character to follow. We see different people interact with her stutter differently - it's an effective way to shine a light on the treatment of otherness. What other messages do you think the author is seeding in this book? I think she's trying to humanize everyone that has something that makes them different. I think stuttering is not thought of as an issues often, but listening to it be read is painful and difficult, and I can understand each person's reaction to it, even if I wish it was different.

I'll be reading and I can give DQs a shot. :)

❀Tea❀ wrote: "Stacey wrote: "For the skinny dipping task - does it have to take place "on screen"? My MC talks about her brother and friend going skinny dipping as a reason shes NOT going swimming with them, but..."

I thought so, but figured I'd ask just in case. :) Thanks!