Jammin Jenny’s Comments (group member since Jan 31, 2016)

Jammin Jenny’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

COMPLETION POST


The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
Date Finished: July 4
Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 336
BOM DQs (writing Day 6, answering all): https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Letters:
R: C - Robert
C: C - Carly Kirk
K: C - Carly Kirk
M: C - Marnie
N: C - Nick
T - Title
A - C: Alma
S - Title

Task: 11 - Read a book set in a hotel

Day 5 Questions - 83% - end

22. At the beginning of this section Viv is kind of freaking out over what she did. She starts to call the police, then changes her mind. Then she hears a car pull up and footsteps coming toward where she is. What would you do in this situation?

23. When Viv and Marnie are taking care of Simon Hess, another car pulls up and it's Alma. Did you anticipate her reaction to what was going on? Why or why not?

24. Carly is being followed by Callum McCray (sp?) and loses him by pulling into Alma's driveway. Why does Alma cringe or flinch when she hears Callum's name?

25. One of my favorite scenes was near the end when a ghost in a suit comes in to the motel lobby to check in. Carly doesn't want to touch the ghost so she snatches a key from the case and passes it over the counter. The ghost says "Oh good 209. My old home." I got the shakes just hearing it. Did you anticipate that ghost making an appearance?

26. Carly figures out what Viv did and gets to meet her aunt. Were you happy with the end of the story? If not, what would you have liked to see?

Day 4: 64% - 82%

17. Some of the major and minor questions developed throughout the story have been answered in this section: why young, pretty Helen was meeting with average Robert (Helen and her husband had planned to blackmail Robert); the connection of the girls' murders and their murderer (Simon Hess targetted women who were lonely); and why the murders had stopped after Viv had vanished (Simon was stabbed by Viv so he couldn't hurt any more girls). Did you see any of this coming? What clues gave it away?
I was shocked about all of the outcomes in this section, but I loved it!

18. Both Viv in 1982 and Carly in 2017 mentioned that Tracey might have been alive had her parents kept her in the house. This echoes the warnings that Fell parents have been giving their daughters: don't go jogging or don't work nights. What do you think of such advice? What else could Tracey, her parents, and her school have done to keep her safe from a predator?
I think back in 1982 a lot of people were more complacent. We just had Ted Bundy in the late 70s so a lot of people were not in tune to the types of predators out there. I think the advice is sound but people need to learn about the word in their own time.

19. "The Sun Down Motel" has been tagged by 336 users as "Horror." What has been the most horrific scene for you so far? Is it a supernatural one or one connected to the murders?
I think the "horror" is the murders - the brutal killings and rapes of the young women. It is amped up by the ghosts.

20. At the end of the last chapter set in 2017 in this section, Carly claims her aunt may have done something wrong (alluding to the stabbing of Simon). What do you think of Viv's actions? Do you think she was right or wrong, justified or unjustified in her actions?
I think Viv was totally in her rights stabbing him after Simon Hess admitted to doing all those killings.

21. With only 18% of the book left to go, what do you think will happen? Do you have an idea of what happened to Viv after she stabbed Simon? Do you think Marnie and Alma know what truly happened to Viv? Do you think Carly will find out what happened to Viv?
I already finished, but I didn't know what would happen to Viv. I was worried she should get caught.

It was nice - I actually got a lot of rest because my daughter was working double shifts...

I'm okay with it, but agree it needs to be of substantial length, at least 120 pages.

COMPLETION POST


Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George
Date Finished: July 5
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pages: 358 pages (default edition, I listened to audible)

Letters:
R: C - Rabu
K: C - Kate
S: Title

Task: 143 - Read a book with a four word title

@E and Megan, we are almost done with the BOM DQs so I'll just wait and post my book on the 6th or 7th.

I don't think so - but maybe.

Lisa, do you know? You seem to be able to find rules really easily!

Okay

Louise I put you down for S
Maddy I put you down for E and R

That leaves A and N for Abir and Namita.

If either of you want to swap with me I have an A and a U

Here are the letters we have left in our SIO

S, A, R, E, N

We need one person that hasn't signed up yet to take two letters to finish the SIO.

Celia wrote: "Put me wherever and I'll figure it out from there. I still need to get my GB book done as well."

I put you in for one of the Rs

Yes I'm reading my GB book this week.

SIO - 11 letters, 8 of us, three of us will need to read for 2 letters

S - Louise
A - Jenny
A - Namita
R - Celia
B - LIsa
R - Maddy
U - Jenny UnWholly
E - Maddy
C - Sally
K - Sally
E - Lisa
N - Abir

If we spell out SAARBRUCKEN everyone will be able to participate in the SIO - is that good for everyone?

Day 3 - July 4- 42%-64%- (edited to correct percentages)

13. Thoughts on Viv telling Mrs. White that her husband cheats on her. Do you think this is what gets her into trouble?
I think her heart was in the right place but I think sometimes sticking your nose into other people's business can really get you into trouble.

14. We have another encounter with the angry man ( this makes at least 3) Who is he? Why is he important to the story?
I don't know who this angry man is. I think he's important to the story because he reflects the general tenor of the motel - it's all very hostile and rage driven.

15. Which story line (Carly or Viv's ) are you enjoying more? Why?
I think I am enjoying Viv's story line more. She's tracking the serial killer which gives a real edge to the story.

16. The ending of this section just raises more questions for me. If Viv buys a knife, didn't she get a chance to use it?
Where is the knife? Was it mentioned in the police reports? What do you think?
I think she'll get a chance to use the knife. When the author makes it a point to show what a character is buying, and when that character is tracking a nasty serial killer, chances are she'll use that knife at some point.

We can do a spell out to be more inclusive. We get the same points either way. We can spell out GERMANY or Saarbruecken

DQs Day 2
21% to 42%

6.) This section opens with some spooky stuff going on. If you saw literal ghosts in the creepy place you worked, would you split right away? Would you of left with sketchy-past Nick? Would you go back to work or think the overnight creep factor was making you see things that weren't really there?
Yes I think I would split right away. Ghosts are no laughing matter. But I would probably think my imagination was running away with me, unless someone else saw them too.

7.) Viv listens to guests' phone conversations. There is the saying 'people who eavesdrop are seldom happy with what they hear'. Or something close to that anyway. Do you think she may over hear something that results in her disappearance? Would you listen in if you were Viv?
I think it's dangerous to listen to other people's conversations like that because as you say you might here something you really don't want to hear. But, in her situation, where she's trying to help others and track down a killer, it might seem worthwhile.

8.) There really have been several deaths of young women in Fell, especially factoring in the size of the town. Do you think they are all connected? Connected to Viv's disappearance? Do you buy into the police stance of no connection between any of them?
Yes, I think they are all connected and connected to Viv's disappearance. I don't buy the police's stance - that's their standard line to try to avoid public panic.

9.) What do you think of the complete laxness of management and staff at The Sun Down Motel? Anyone else wonder how the heck that place is still open? And more importantly, why?
I don't know how it is still open, unless management likes ghosts and they try to market it that way. It might make sense to do that.

10.) Any thoughts on the candy machine? It keeps popping up in both timelines. Maybe nothing, but in this type of story, who knows.
When things keep popping up in a story, there's bound to be a significance at some point.

11.) Marnie and Callum are interesting additions to the character line-up, thoughts? Did you think it was strange that Marnie won't talk with Carly? Callum local nice boy-helper dude or creeper?
Yes I think it's weird that Marnie won't talk to Carly - she must know something. And Callum is definitely creeper!!

So, I've finished the BOTM because it was AWESOME but we are still writing and answering DQs. Should I wait to post the completion until we are done so you can track those points too?

Jade aka MrsTosh wrote: "Anyone else getting a Stephen King vibe from this book? it reminds me of the beginning of It when Mike starts digging up the history of Derry."

Yes there is a big Stephen King vibe for me. I am really loving this book.

COMPLETION POST


Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Date Finished: 7/4/20
Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 355 pages (default - I listened to audio)

Letters:
R - Author' LN
C - C: Camille
K - C: Karen
N - C: Nicola Aragento (Daisy's Italian Prince)
T - Author's FN
A - C: Nicola Aragento
S - C: Simone

Task: #119 - Read a book recommended by someone in a different team - recommended by someone on Team Orient Express