Alyana ’s Comments (group member since Feb 14, 2021)

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

Ushashi wrote: "Anyone got a book that's #8 or #9 in a series?"

I can pick up the 8th book of the Tracy Crosswhite series. Is this needed asap? But if someone has it, I'm good.

Oh boy.. How are you feeling Christina?

Ushashi wrote: " The last BOM for TT9 is Book Lovers, starting August 2

If you are willing to write DQs, please volunteer in the Thread quickly. I am guessing the mods will announce the final DQ ..."

Oh boy! I just read this last May! :(

Ushashi wrote: "Another request to everyone: please look out for any food or drink items mentioned in your books and keep a note of what was mentioned and where (just one or two would be enough) on the alternate o..."

I finished a book today and I'm not sure if I put it in the sheet correctly.

Suzanne wrote: "Thanks Alyana. You are so dependable and helpful!
Sounds like this has been a tough few weeks for quite a few of us!."

Thank you Suzanne! I should be back with my usual routine by next week.

Also, I have finally answered DQs for Malibu Rising. The past couple of weeks has been a roller coaster for me. My apologies to the team. I will try my best to read as much as needed.

Suzanne wrote: "I hope everyone is having a good weekend. Just a heads up that its a new week's round of warships - so you can head over to the planning thread in the mythics group and see if there is a genre you ..."

I claimed one spot. :)

Day 3

41% 5:00 PM
59% 10:00 PM

9. The Riva house on the beach and Nina's husband's place on a cliff are described several times in the book as the most important settings. Do you find the houses and Malibu as appealing places? What would your own dream place be like? And where would it be?
📌California was my dream to live before but my life now is in NY. All I need is a space big enough for my family and a backyard and I'm happy.

10. As we are moving forward in the story, the siblings characters may be getting fleshed out a bit more. What do you think of Nina? Does it seem like she's following in her mother's footsteps in her choices?
📌 Yes, Nina seems like following in her mom's footsteps but I believe she will have her some kind of redemption at the end.

11. Connecting to the previous question about Nina: while TJR is handing out information concerning her husband and their marriage rather sparingly, how do you see Nina's choice and their relationship? Any impressions on what Brandon is like?
📌 Brandon is a loser like Mick. They are both selfish, just thinking about themselves and doesn't care about the other people's feelings. Like my answer in the previous question, Nina made some wrong choices but I believe she will get her redemption at the right time.

12. What do you think about the relationship between Jay and Hud? How do you think Jay will react when he learns about Hud's betrayal especially as he seems to have found a real love interest?
📌 Jay and Hud grew up like twins. They were really close to each other despite them being just half brothers. I think Jay will not like when he learns about Hud and Ashley. I don't see it as a betrayal because they already broken up when Hud started seeing Ashley. It might not be as ideal as it should be, but Jay will probably understand it but he needs time to accept them.

DAY 2 - 1959 "It was last December 1959"
41% 1981 "...in her arms, on her back."

5. 1959 - "It was last December, 1959" -
It sounds like a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song...Wow! What an explosive chapter. Your reaction? Mick was characterized as a sleezy womanizer, it was always going to happen or I didn't see that coming! And June's reaction? Sensitive woman with a huge heart or a doormat for putting up with what she suspected?
📌 I hate both June and Mick's characters, but I hate Mick's more. He was such a loser and no accountability at all. With June, I don't understand why she keeps putting up with Mick's BS reasons. Maybe it was for their children? No, them together is such tragic and it will end up hurting their kids more.

6. "He gave no thought to the idea that he might break his children like someone had broken him". "You're drunk and you're killing yourself with this stuff." Discuss Mick and June's parenting styles and how they have affected the siblings as children and adults.
📌 I felt really sad for Nina because she became an adult at an early age and ended up taking care of her siblings all on her own and then getting married to a loser like her dad. It seems like the history is repeating itself.

7. The title of the book is Malibu Rising and the author gives the reader a sense of the beach culture both in the past and the present time lines. What does it bring to the story and would it be as effective in another setting?
📌 The setting definitely helps with the vibe of the book. I don't think it will be effective in another setting as all stories have all of their ups and downs to tell.

8. Already with the first set of questions there are varying opinions by the group about both Taylor Jenkins Reid as an author and how it compares to her other work. I loved Daisy Jones and the Six but I am finding this one as bit like Days of our Lives... but the author is skillful enough to make it into a page turner. Where do you sit, engaging tale well written or too much drama and as we are half way through do you see this ending in triumph or tragedy for the Riva siblings?
📌 It is indeed to much drama but I grew up watching drama shows so I don't mind. 🤣 I don't want to spoil anything so I'll stop here.

DQs Day 1: Prologue - 11:00AM

1. Both Daisy Jones & The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo have been BOMs in this group before. Have you read these books (or others) by Taylor Jenkins Reid too or is Malibu Rising your first book by the author? What are your expectations going in?
📌 I have read all of TJR's books and waiting for the latest one. I love her books! I don't have much expectations of this book as I know that it will be as great as the others.

2. We have been introduced to quite a lot of MCs and their different POVs in the first 20% of the book. Do you prefer one character/POV over the others or is it still too early to tell?
📌Yes a lot of MC's in this book but the narration is good that it's not confusing at all.

3. The writing has quite a contemporary feel to it, especially the 1983 timeline, which makes it easy to forget the book is actually set in the past. What's your opinion on the writing and the back and forth between the two timelines so far, and how does it compare to other TJR books you've read (if any)?
📌Like what I have answered in the previous question, the narration is really good that you can easily tell which is the past and the present or maybe I'm just being biased since I'm a fan of TJR.

4. "The story of June and Mick Riva seemed like a tragedy to their oldest child, Nina. It felt like a comedy of errors to their first son, Jay. It was an origin story for their second son, Hud. And a mystery to the baby of the family, Kit. To Mick himself it was just a chapter of his memoir."
We don't really know how June and Mick's marriage post kids 1 + 2 went (and ended) yet, but from what we've learned about each of the siblings and their (love) lives so far, how do you think their parents' story has affected them after reading the quote above?
📌It might sound as an ideal love story but as their story went on, it was definitely not a happy ending.

--- Also, for everyone who has read Evelyn Hugo, can we please talk about the (brief) mention of Celia St. James AND THE FACT THAT (view spoiler).
And while we're at it, Mick also had a cameo in Daisy Jones & the Six!
📌This is a reread for me and I just noticed that Celia St. James was mentioned in the book. Daisy Jones and the Six was just an okay book for me as the topic is too much for me but the audio was really good. I didn't pay much attention with Mick's cameo in there. If I would have to reread it, I'll probably encounter it as well.

Me too. Ever since my mom moved here from our home country, my listening times are so limited. I will try to get back as soon as everything settles down.

I have finished two books yesterday but I won't be able to update the ss until later tonight.

I just filled in the reasons.. Thank you for filling the others. Is that you Christina? ☺️

Hi team.. I just woke up..

Have fun Leslie!

Suzanne wrote: "That was a great call Alyana - Can you put in the examples of something physical is destroyed and character ignores important advice? Then we can turn it in and get another monster."

I just put in the reason on our sheet. :)

Suzanne wrote: "We killed the Lion and got a Centaur and killed it (I moved my book from the bull.)

One of the teams got Cookie Monster and another got a pouncing koala!

Anyway: Available tasks:
Cretan Bull
Some..."

The book that I finished yesterday, Sworn To Silence matches 1-4 tasks of the Cretan Bull monster.

Ushashi wrote: "Regarding Sirens: the prompts are truly among the harder ones, particularly after going through 4 sets of those. We also don't have anything good fit for it among the banked books. So I am thinking..."

Oh we can do that? Monsters mini ends on the 15th? So whatever we finish on the deadline is okay?

Will this work for a white cover?



If it is, it will fit 4 tasks for the Cretan Bull monster (if we get it 🤞)

Ushashi wrote: "We got another Manticore and a Stymphalian Birds.

Sana and Alyana, please add the reasons for Blood Heir and Local Woman Missing for Stymphalian Birds prompts."

Done. :)

Is anyone reading for #6 in a series task? I have one that I can start.