Maritza’s Comments (group member since Jun 08, 2014)

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

Author - Paula Hawkins
352 pgs
Read - 06/13/17
BOM - No
Rating - ***

Hope to finish and something else.

Author - Caroline Kepnes
422 pgs
Read - 06/09/17
BOM - Yes
Rating - **

Just finished . I had higher hopes for it but ended up not really liking it. It might have been a DNF if it wasn't a BOM.

Day 5 - chapters 33-42

19) I'm still trying to figure out what it is about Beck that caught Joe so absolutely, but what did you think when he says about Beck: "You are a cheater, to the bone, a renovator and I admire you, Beck. You never stop making improvements on life. You have charisma. You have vision." Is Beck a "type" for Joe? Do you think Joe latched onto Beck because he saw someone like him?
-----Joe just latched on to her because she was nice to him. Everything after is him justifying why she is the one for him.
20) "We all learn something from an untimely, tragic death. What a danger, blaming other people for your problems. What a waste of life." How can Joe say something so accurate, yet have it be so chilling? Have you found yourself agreeing with a Joe observation, then wondering if there is something wrong with you? (I did, a few times - lol.)
-----I find myself agreeing with him but I don't think anything is wrong with me. A lot may have to do with the fact that he reads a lot of different kinds of books so he has a unique outlook.
21) What did you think about Beck's notes to herself? What did they say about her as a person, her actions, her motivations? Do you like her more or less because of them? Do you think her notes or Dr. Nicky's notes about her were more accurate?
-----I have not been liking Beck for a while now and her notes confirm to me that she in not a likeable person.
22) Joe is the consummate actor, trickster. He hides in his foxhole when hunting Peach, then calls himself Dan Fox when he becomes a patient of Dr. Nicky. He seems to be able to fool everyone with different adapted personas, in life or imitations via texts or emails. Do you think there is anyone that sees through it? Did you ever catch hints of when others saw something off about Joe?
-----I don't know why no one sees thru him. I think he would give me the wileys if I saw him in real life.
23) Karen Minty - she is, down deep, what she appears to be on the surface. She seems to be the polar opposite of Beck, not different, hot, and Joe recognized that simplicity is good for him, him as Dan Fox. What is your take on Karen's effect on Joe? Why do you think he stayed with her as long as he did?
-----Karen is a temporary fix until he gets back to Beck.
24) Do you agree with Joe when he says that Dr. Nicky is "a very talented, very sick manipulator" or do you think that is just how he sees it? Do you think Joe could be helped by a therapist? Do you think he would want to be helped?
-----I think all therapists are master manipulators and may unwittingly foist there ideas on their patients without meaning to.
25) So Beck and Joe have a honeymoon period, where Joe finds his answer: "My answer is you." Do you think this garden of earthly delights will last? Are you starting to make predictions for what will happen?
-----The garden will be delightful as long as Beck conforms to Joe's ideas of her. I still think that if Beck is not careful she will wind up dead.

DQ's for Chapters 24-32

15. It was funny to read Joe trying to hide the stuff he took from Beck when she cam to his appartment. Why did he let her in if he had that much stuff lying around? Do you think that maybe he wants her to find out about his obsession with her?
-----The way things are going it feels like her let her in because he knows he will be able to explain himself out of seeming weird. He let her in because his obsession with her trumps everything else. He doesn't want her to know he just wants her with him.
16. Hmmm, I'm getting the feeling Beck is using Joe. Taking him on a shopping trip and him ofering her a job. What do you think? Is it a smart decision to hire her for the bookstore? This could totally backfire on him.
-----I think Beck uses everyone she meets for one reason or another. I think she wants to be liked. Him offering her a job is just feeding into her using people. It is never a smart decision to have someone you are obsessed with so close.
17. Joe has a lot of bad luck, first he gets bead up by a former employee and his friends and then an unfortunate meeting with a deer. I this karma being a bitch or the universe telling him he should just forget about Beck and let Peach have her?
-----I don't thinks its bad luck just his rushing into things without thinking about it first. Maybe there is a force trying to pull him back but I think he is beyond help.
18. What is you opinion of this book when we're over the halfway mark? Do you like the style? Is the pacce fast enough or do you think it's too slow? Any guesses on where the story is going?
-----I don't like the book too much. I started out wanting to read it in the hopes that Beck gets away but now I have no sympathy for either one. The book is too slow. I think he ends up killing Beck in one of his sudden outbursts.

Jodie wrote: "Maritza wrote: "Hi guys still trying to get through You and also found book with title containg Fire and Ice and Historical Romance I would like to get thru at least by the weekend...."

Thanx and yay more points

Dragana wrote: "Maritza wrote: "Hi guys still trying to get through You and also found book with title containg Fire and Ice and Historical Romance I would like to get thru at least by the weekend...."
That is why I enjoy these team challenges they get my mind off real life.

Cecily wrote: "oh no Maritza!! I am sorry to hear that! I know how a co-worker or a bad boss can make the work place hell so I'm sorry you have to go through that. you just need to know when to walk away and say ..."

Thanks for the kind words. I am really trying not to let things get to me.

Day 3 Discussions Questions

10. Peach claims a lot of Beck’s time in this section. When Joe comes back over to assemble Beck’s new bed, Peach shows up since Beck was supposed to have a guy from Craig’s List come over to put her bed together. Joe seemed to get angrier with Peach as the night went on and took out his frustrations on Benji. Was it surprising that he used something that Benji was allergic to instead of a more violent way to kill him? How much longer do you think he would have lived if Joe wasn’t so angry with all the Peach’s and Benji’s in the world? Do you think his body will eventually be found?
-----I was really surprised as I did not expect Joe to kill Benji. I don't think Joe meant to kill him it was done spur of the moment. I believe he would have lived. I don't think he will be found again.
11. Joe is convinced Peach is in love with Beck. Do you think Peach is in love with Beck?
-----I don't think Peach is in love Beck. I just think she does not have friends so she obsesses over Beck as she knows she can control her.
12. Peach has some bad habits when she runs that Joe was able to take advantage of. Since he wasn’t successful in killing her, do you think he will try again? Joe seems to lack a lot of social skills. He was using the website to inform him of what type of balloons were for Get Well Soon. What do you think of the balloon? Did Beck overreact with him?
-----He might kill her if he gets into a rage like before. Beck just lets Peach control her and so she reacts they way Peach does. The balloons were fine they was no reason for the outburst.
13. Beck’s father is not dead. Why do you think she lied to Joe about her father? Do you think she will tell Joe the truth about her father and seeing him?
-----She lied because her father left her and her mom and siblings and made another family. She lied because she did not want him to know that thing were not okay at home for her father and he just left them Beck's is a liar so she won't tell Joe anything.
14. Joe is in a really bad place. Beck keeps calling since she got off the boat and he is afraid that she saw him there. After he gets back to his place, there is a knock on the door? Who do you think it is? What do you think he will do?
-----It might be a delievery. If he is in a rage he might kill again.

Hi guys still trying to get through You and also found book with title containg Fire and Ice and Historical Romance I would like to get thru at least by the weekend.

How is everything going. Small update had to get cortisone injections to the head as I have bald spot. Dr. said it may be stress or autoimmune response. Have appt with specialist at the end of the month so will try to remain stress free but its kind of hard right now with my co-worker.

Jen wrote: "Hi everyone, I'm Jen. I'm super, super excited to be added to the team! My reading has slowed down this year and I stopped using Goodreads. So, when I came on and saw that Tower Teams had started, ..."

Oh hi Jenn. We've been on same team before so its nice seeing you again.

Cecily wrote: "Yay!! Lets rack up those BOM Points :)"


yes I see we went up a little in rank.

Author - Jeanne St. James
235 pgs
Read 06/07/2017
BOM - No
Rating - ****

About halfway thru current BOM. Put Stephen King BOM on hold but am number 44. DQ sign ups are going on but don't know if getting book on time for DQ.

Hi Christy and Jen. Welcome to the team.

Day 2 Discussion Questions
Chapters 10-14

5. What do you think are Joe's intentions with Benji? Is there any way you can see this endingwell for Benji?
-----I think Joe is psychotic enough to kill Benji. This is not going to end well unless someone finds him and releases him.

6. Joe asks Benji to write down his 5 favourite books, if you had to write a list of your five favourite books, what would they be?
-----I can never answer this question. but going by books that I can read over and over I say,
The Holy Bible
Charlotte's Web
The Diary of a Young Girl
Night
??????

7. What is your impression of Beck through Joe's eyes? Do you sympathise with her situation with Benji? Can you see why Joe is so enthralled with her?
-----That she is a very fickle person who deserves to be stalked as she is so unaware of her environment. I see that Joe has built up a fantasy about her because she was nice to him.

8. How do you think Beck feels about Joe? Do you think she genuinely likes him and it's only her feelings for Benji that are getting in the way of her progressing a relationship with him?
-----I don't think Beck feels anything for Joe as she doesn't know him. She is just a young woman trying to have fun and enjoy her life. She would probably not have paid him any attention if he did not inject himself into her life.

9. I am finding Beck's friendships with Lynne, Chana and Peach to be lacking any real warmth and often interactions amongst the girls seem a bit strained. What are your thoughts on Beck's friends, do you think they are genuine friends who only want the best for her?
-----I don't think that they are either not genuine or mature enough just based on the way they were carrying on behind her back at the reading.

Dragana wrote: "Ok so the doctor cleared kiddo to go to the daycare. It seems it was ordinary cold, not scarlet fever. (phew). It seems those Mommy cuddles helped. :)

I am still reading [book:The Iron Duke|78645..."


That is wonderful, I hate it when kiddos get sick. I'd rather they be running and jumping (says the one with no kids :)))

Vivi wrote: "Hi,

so I have been reading at a very slow pace (and I put the other book I was reading It Had To Be You on-hold) ... but I am currently reading Cuts Like An Angel a..."

no worries.

1. What do you think about the POV? Does it draw you in or push you away? It's not quite in 2nd person, but it's much more direct than most 1st persons, even ones that break the reader wall. Do you feel Joe is talking to Beck, to you the reader, or both -- are you supposed to identify as Beck?
-----I really like books where we are able to see what is in the mind of the characters. It is them telling us what is going on and what they are thinking. For me it adds so much more to the story. Joe is not talking to us so much as he is letting us know what is happening.

2. Many times books are set in first person to make it easier to emphasize with the narrator. Do you have sympathy for him? Do you feel you understand why he feels the way he does? Would it be easier or harder if you saw him from outside?
-----So far I do not have any sympathy for him as his thoughts and actions are not coming from a giving, positive place. I do not understand him nor do I want to at this point. It might be easier for me if I saw him from the outside as I am normally a sucker for the under dogs.

3. Is Joe an unreliable narrator? He's clearly delusional in some ways; how deep do you think that goes? Do you trust him that he's really doing everything he reports?
-----He is coming off a little psychotic although I don't know if this was the author's intent. He does not seem stable or reliable to me but to him he is.

4. What do you expect from this book? What made you decide to read it? Do you expect it to have the beats of a thriller, or does the adventurous point of view change your expectations?
-----I expect to see a good movie with cheesy music and Becks getting away at the end.