Jackie’s Comments (group member since Jul 10, 2011)

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

Beth wrote: "It's yours, Jackie! Want to post over in D4's thread?

I loved that book... complete page turner for me. 5 stars!"

Sure!

I've got The Overnight Guest if we want to go with the first one.

Sounds like a great idea to me.

None of those should be hard for D4 to find. I’d be willing to read Tonight I Said Goodbye if we want to go with that one.

I’m finished also.

I vote for Arthur & George.

Amanda wrote: "Jackie wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Jackie, do you want to actually read it? It looks interesting to me as well if you don’t want to!"

Yes, I was planning to read it. Lol"

Awesome! Could you put the ed..."

Done.

Amanda wrote: "Jackie, do you want to actually read it? It looks interesting to me as well if you don’t want to!"

Yes, I was planning to read it. Lol

I found The Ants Are My Friends: Misheard Lyrics, Malapropisms, Eggcorns, and Other Linguistic Gaffes

So nds.

Does punctuation count?

I haven't found anything better.

DQs Day 5
Chapters 27 - Epilogue

21. Wow what a ride! What were your initial thoughts and feelings after finishing the book?
I enjoyed it and was glad I read it.

22. An integral part to the book is the way the story of Starling House is told through many different viewpoints, with truth and lies and rumors and heresay and opinions often woven together. Did you find that you learned more about Starling House through each story? Did this type of story building and layering work for you? Why or why not?
It was interesting just how many stories and viewpoints existed about the house. The story worked for me because I enjoy horror and weird storylines.


23. In the ending battles, the MCs were fighting beasts of nightmares and of their own making, inside dreams. Do think it's hard for good dreams to win out against nightmares? Explain your thoughts.
Yes, I think it's hard for good dreams to win against nightmares. To me the hardest lesson that Opal learned was that she could make her dreams come true and vanquish the nightmares that pursued her.

24. A major theme in the book is wants and needs, and how they seemingly twist into each other if you want hard enough. In this theme exploration, what was the message you got from the author, and did it resonate with you?
Opal and Arthur both seemed to believe that they couldn't have their wants (dreams). I believe they felt they didn't deserve them. I was happy to see the two of them get past that and find happiness together. They went through a lot to get to that point.

25. Would you recommend this book? Explain.
Yes, but probably to just certain people that I knew enjoyed this type of twisty, nightmarish tale.

DQs Day 4: Chapters 20-26

16. I love Bev’s line ‘ How in hell is anybody supposed to help if you won’t ask?’ Are there any characters who don't need to hear this? Did it resonate with you?
I think they all need to hear it. All of these characters need to learn to ask for help when it's needed.

17. Opal and Jasper finally reveal their secrets and talk. Were you surprised that they are both Graverly’s? How do you feel about the outcome regarding schools?
Not really surprised. That explains why they both have so many accidents, misfortune. Funny that they both were trying to surprise the other.

18. Elizabeth Baine seems to have an amazing connections and pull. Who do you think she works for? How do you think she figured out what the right leverage was?
Whoever she works for, it's sinister. I don't think it's just the Gravelys. Not hard to figure out that Jasper would be the way to control Opal.

19. So much happened in these chapters, yet I really don’t feel like I learned much. How do you feel about the pacing/storyline?

20. We learn that being a warden is a choice, although the house asks very vulnerable people. Do you think that the other wardens understood the price? How does Opal fit – she chose, but she isn’t a warden at this point.
I doubt that the wardens understood all that was required at the beginning. Opal wants a home and a place to belong.

Bonus cat question: Which name do you prefer – Baast or Hellcat?
Baast

DQs Day 3
Chapters 14-19

11. Starling House reminded me up to a point with some vibes of Beauty and the Beast, although lesser now as the story progresses. Is the book reminding you of any other stories you have read before?
I have read other books where a house is a sentient being. The most recent is the Fred, the Vampire Accountant series by Drew Hayes. There is a sentient house named Charlotte.

12. Ch 14-19 have answered a lot of questions about Opal, the house, Arthur, the history of the place and what's going on. Has anything revealed in this section been surprising to you? Does the explanation so far of everything that has happened ring true?
Nothing terribly surprising has been revealed yet. Although I feel like there is more to come. Who is Opal's father and does that factor into the story? The fact that the Wardens weren't all related was a surprise.

13. Jasper and Opal are clearly close, although he is sometimes moody and surly. He seems resentful at times of Opal going out so far on a limb to take care of him and get him out of Eden. What do you think of the character now that he has more fleshed-out scenes and more has been revealed about him and their relationship?
I think the biggest problem is the lack of communication between the two. Jasper seems a pretty typical teenager trying to find some independence but Opal keeps him in the dark about what's going on with her so I think he does the same. They really need to talk!

14. Arthur and Opal have heated a few things up. Do you think they fit each other well with these developments?
I could see a romance there but I'm not sure yet whether it would be a lasting one.

15. There is humor in the book that is overshadowed by genuinely creepy horror like tales, What do you think about Underland "beasts" revealed so far?
Humor helps defuse some of the tension. The beasts are scary, but I'm really curious to learn more about them.

DQs Day 2 - Chapters 8 - 13

6) The narration is using dual POVs: 1st person for Opal, 3rd person for Arthur. Does it work for you? Do you think this suits the story?
I think it fits the story. Primarily this is Opal's story with Arthur's blending in as the secondary POV.

7) Opal goes to the Library to find out more about Starling House and finds her mother's phone number among the Gravely family's documents. What implications can it have? Do you think it could be a hint about Opal's parentage?
Apparently Opal's mother had some connection to the Gravelys. I'm really curious to see what this connection is.

8) After Bev's story about the relationship between Eleanor Starling and the Gravely brothers, we get a totally different perspective from what Nathaniel Boone went through. What do you think about the Gravely family and their "hold" over the town of Eden? What do you think Nathaniel may have discovered in the dark?
The Gravely brothers seem to have an evil streak. I think whatever Nathaniel found is the foundation of the Underworld story.

9) Finally we learn some more about about Arthur's role (warden) and his connection to the House. What do you think about their "relationship"? What is your opinion about Starling House as a sentient being? Could it be good or evil?
Yes, I think the House is a sentient being. It feels to me like the house is good and Arthur's partner in fighting whatever evil exists.

10) On "characters not communicating"
In Chapter 12 we find out that Opal has not told Jasper about the fact that she arranged for him to go to a different school and she actually managed to put together the fee for the 1st year already. Opal doesn't tell his brother about her working in Starling House and she doesn't tell Arthur about her spying on the House for Elizabeth Baine and getting more and more demands.
What do you think of all this?
I think Opal has relied on herself alone for so long that she doesn't know how to open up to anyone. I feel that Opal is carrying a deep sense of guilt and thinks she isn't worthy of anyone's help, at least help given freely. She will steal what she needs but she won't ask for help. This lack of communication just creates more problems for herself but she doesn't see that.

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to 7

1.) Have you read other books by Alix E Harrow? Was this on your tbr list before it was a BOM selection? Any expectations going in?
I've read her Fractured Fables series and enjoyed it. I didn't have it on my TBR before but I was very receptive to reading it due to my enjoyment of her other books.

2.) Did you read the footnotes as you went along? Find them helpful? Annoying?
I enjoyed them and thought it added to insights into the characters and the town.

3.) The discussion of E.Starling's book being too scary for children reminded me of some interviews with M.Sendalk when the Where the Wild Things movie came out several years ago about books, etc that scare children (when children are the target audience). His response was basically children should be scared sometimes and there's nothing wrong with that. And has further said, it's better to have a book full of fears than one pretending there's nothing to be afraid of. What are your thoughts on this topic?
I think as long as it's not too extreme, it should be fine. Children are not so fragile that they don't understand the difference between a scary story and reality.

4.) What are your thoughts so far on Eden and Starling House? Has the author done a good job so far of creating an atmosphere and setting for a good gothic story?
So far I'm enjoying it and like the gothic feel of the story. Starling House is spooky but not scary (so far.) I think the author has done a good job in creating the atmosphere and making you want more.

5.) Any favorites so far in our motley cast of characters? Opal, Arthur, Jasper, Bev, and Starling House.
I like Opal and am rooting for her. Arthur intrigues me and I want to learn more about his past. Same for Starling House. I want to know her secrets.

I agree, Beth. I'm retired as well but still never have enough time to read as much as I would like.

I’ve already read The Wishing Game also but will read Starling House.

Very little for me today as well. Too much other stuff going on.

I'll read Salt & Broom but my library didn't have The Malevolent Seven so I'll pass on it.