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

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

Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton
read 7/28
272 pages

D, M, B, H, J, E, P Character: Hamish Macbeth, Jimmy, Elsbith, Patricia

Just finished Macy's Tells Gimbels - loved the mexican movie of el cuco...I hope they find him before the next attack happens...

Okay I'm just starting (although this is a re-read for me). I really enjoyed the first read through so I am listening to the audible version this time narrated by Wil Wheaton.

I loved when he was listing all the stuff he watched/listened to just like the inventor of The Oasis (Star Trek was included and it made me laugh).

He thinks he just found the copper key (or is very close to finding it).

Correct they must be finished and posted by the 31st.

Yes that's right. Until the 31st.

Alien clowns...IT!!!

Okay so I just finished the part where the "outsider" visits Gracie in her dreams, and Holly Gibner from Finders Keepers goes to Ohio. Something very weird is going on...supernatural sounds like a good word for it.

DQ set 2: Chapters 9-17

8. "If I catch killers, then maybe that means I'm not a killer," says Jazz. Howie then goes on to give a great reason why Jazz isn't a killer (love Howie)...are you seeing killer tendencies in Jazz?

Yes I am but I don't think he is a killer. It's just the conditioning he got from his father.

9. Jazz has another interaction with Jeff Fulton, do you think that Jazz should share information about Billy Dent's victims with their families? If so, how would that impact his mental health?

No I don't. He doesn't know everything, and going through it with the families would make him even worse in terms of mental health.

10. We see vulnerability in Jazz through the dreams he is having of cutting flesh, that he believes is his mom...and thinking that he killed her. Do you think these are really flashbacks? If so, why?
I think they are mixed up flashbacks. I'm sure his dad probably did have him do things with knives, but I don't think he would have had him cut up his own mother.

11. Enter Office Erikson once again, he comes from the town that one of the ladies was killed lived in, and we saw his behavior when he picked up Jazz from the high school. Why do you think G Williams isn't doing anything about this abnormal behavior and potential connections to the victim?
Maybe he's keeping him on a short leash and doesn't want to let on that he might be a suspect.

12. EDIT: Question removed

13. I've read this series and love it, it was actually one of my first book about serial killers (was scared to read them before). Are there other series that you recommend in this genre?
I love the Dexter series - he's a serial killer with high moral standards.

DQ set 1: Chapters 1 - 8

1. What are your first impressions of Jazz? What is his motivation for spying on the crime scene and requesting to help investigate?

I think Jazz is worried he will turn out like his father, so wants to catch killers instead of be one.

2. "Ever since arresting Dear Old Dad four years ago, G. William had kept in touch with Jazz...". How would you characterize the relationship between Jazz and G. William? Why is the sheriff so adament about one body not meaning a serial killer? Is he trying to protect Jazz, himself, or both?

I think G. William is concerned about Jazz turning out like his father so he keeps an eye on him. I think that's also why he doesn't want Jazz involved in the investigation. I don't think he wants a serial killer to be on the loose again so he avoids Jazz's remarks that there is one now.

3. Howie has been the only friend who stayed with Jaspar after his father's exposure. Jaspar claims that he needs Howie to keep him "close to the line of safety and legality". Do you think Howie realizes what Jazz needs from him? Why doesn't he get angry when Jazz gets him into trouble?

Yes I think Howie knows what Jazz needs, and that's why he doesn't get angry when Jazz gets him into trouble. He's trying to help Jazz stay sane and away from serial killer tendencies.

4. Deputy Erikson has caught Jazz's attention twice now with his behavior at the crime scene and his unexplained appearance at the morgue. Do you agree with Jazz's assessment of the deputy, or do you think there is a reasonable explanation for his actions?

I think there's something up with the Deputy. At this point I'm wondering if he is the Impressionist.

5. The Impressionist states he "had been given a rule" not to interact with or harm Jaspar. Who do you think might have given him that rule and why?

Either Jazz's dad or maybe the Sheriff. If it was Jazz's dad I think it's because he loves him in some odd way. If it was the Sheriff, he was protecting Jazz.

6. Jazz has the mantra, "People matter. People are real.", as a screensaver and pictures of all his father's victims in his room? Do you think this actually helps or hurts him? Is Connie right about letting go of the past?

I think the mantra is good and helpful, but I'm not sure about having all the pics of his father's victims posted in his room is helpful. I'm not sure Connie is right in this case - Jazz had conditioning with his father and he needs to break that conditioning, so letting go of the past might not be good for Jazz.

7. "His upbringing... told him that women were simultaneously special and useless." How do the three women in his life (Connie, Melissa, and Gramma) match with what he has been taught? Do they reinforce or challenge the idea? What kind of influence are they on Jazz?

Gramma is crazy - she definitely stands out as special and useless. But I agree with others that understanding her can understand how Billy was created. Melissa tries to be helpful but I'm not sure that Jazz is getting anything from that relationship. Connie seems to be the most helpful for Jazz, but again he doesn't really trust her to understand all his past and his thoughts.

Deanna wrote: "Megan wrote: "Chapters 6-10
I agree with the whole teenage romance drama. I never noticed it in the first few times but now all I can read is the angst and actually its annoying. I like the wedding..."

Yes Dumbledore was keeping secrets to his grave...

Updated through here!

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout
read 7/28
382 pages
BR: Link

O, J, A, D, B, K, S; Characters: Daemon Black, Katy Swartz

Abir wrote: "Up till Chapter 9
[spoilers removed]"

Blake is a bad bad boy...

Joanne wrote: "Up to Chapter 17

They only have 15 minutes to get in and out of the compound that's heavily secured and that they've never been too before. Yeah that should go well... And they better keep a close..."

I was surprised about the Onyx air...

Me either! I was totally shocked!

I am loving this book! Just read the part where they bring Coach T to the courthouse, and the interview Ralph had with his wife Marcy. I wonder (view spoiler)[ if he got "cut" by someone supernatural in some way to take his form when he was visiting his dad, and if that same "someone" touched the drunk detective at the barn. And if that's the same man Gracie saw in the backyard and Fred Peterson saw when he was trying to hang himself? So many questions... (hide spoiler)]

Is anyone else out there still reading this book?

Updated through here!

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
read 7/25, 4 stars
336 pages

Characters: C (Title), A (Author FN), P (Author LN), B - Bert, F - Franny, K - Keating, L - Leon, P - Posen

The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise by Julia Stuart
read 7/25, 4 stars
304 pages

Characters: T - Tower (Title), J - Julia (Author FN), S - (Author LN)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
read 7/25, 5 stars
791 pages
BR Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Characters: A - Arthur, B - Bellatrix, C - Charlie, D - Dobby, F - Fred, G - George, H - Harry, J - Author FN, K - Kreacher, L - Luna, M - Molly, N - Nimphadora, R - Ron, S - Snape, T - Tonks

The Opportunist by Tarryn Fisher
read 7/24, 4 stars
278 pages

Characters: T - Title, O - Title, F - Fisher (Author LN), C - Caleb (MC), L - Leah (MC), N - Noah (MC)