Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2012)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

LISA'S POSTS FOR TOKENS.

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQ's Day 4 Ch. 18-23

14. Lucy's winning streak comes to an end and she loses the riddle to Melanie. How do you think this is going to affect her and the way she is playing the game? Do you think she still has a chance to win? What do you think she is going to have to face as far as her fear?

It was always going to go this way, it wouldn't be easy to win. Lucy is resilient in her own way, she has picked herself up several times when life throws a curve ball and she will again this time. I've finished so I know her fear, but I had guessed it anyway. It was interesting getting the alternate POV .

15. Jack's riddle comes back again "Two men on an island and both blame the water...". We find out what it means in this section. How awful for him to see 'fan' letters that depict children going through such terrible things and how horrible for those poor children begging for help. Jack tried to help this girl and it ended with the worst possible outcome. Do you think Jack should have done something different? How would you have reacted if you were Jack?

Jack certainly is a naive character. He makes these grand gestures which are admirable and is a caring man but sometimes these need thinking through. This was such an example and such a sad scenario.

16. We also learn why Jack started writing his Clock Island books and the life he faced as a child. Does this change your opinion on Jack in any way?

See answer above. He means well but he does live in his head a lot. And sometimes thinks in the real world just don't turn out like our thoughts/dreams.

17. Lucy learns that Christopher is going to be going to a new foster home and tries to leave the island but Hugo stops her. We also learn more about Lucy's past. Each person seems to have gone through some terrible event in their lives and these books have helped them through it. Do you believe books have that power? Are there any books as a child or an adult that have helped you through a tough time in your life?

People read for all sorts of reasons. For me it is knowledge, and escapism. It's a great outlet when life isn't kind.

BOM DAY 3

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 3:

10. We read something that moves us, touches us, speaks to us and it... it changes us?"

Do you agree with that quote? Are there any books that changed you personally?

There are definitely books that I loved and think about often. I'm not sure they changed me but I sure enjoyed reading them. Two I read as a teenager that made me think more like an adult would have been Wuthering Heights and Interview with a Vampire, both ground breaking books in their own way.

11. We finally get the first riddle. Did you guess it before Lucy did?

When she mentioned Carrie I actually did put it together.

12. What did you think of The City of Secondhand and of Markham showing up like that? Is he just a sleezy lawyer, or is there something more sinister going on?

It was kind of obvious that there would be a temptation offered to the contestants, it really reminds me of Willy Wonka. Sinister.. may be, but I'm guessing more straight forward inducements.

13. do you have to keep reminding yourself that the "contestants" are adults, not children?

Yes, there is definitely a child like quality to the story, as is mentioned that Jack thinks of the contestants like they still are children. Is this tagged as YA, it does read that way.


Some other thoughts:

- Why would someone being a "famous artist" mean it's odd for them to bring a guest their dinner? I found this rather a lot weird.

- One for the backroom BOM regulars: Did the whole bizarre scarf thing give anyone else Hot Prof and Daisy vibes? 😆

Yeah, yeah... I realise I was way off base with that one. Fatherly feelings all the way.

BOM Day 2

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 2 Chapter 6 - 11

6. Jack replied to Lucy's letter and Lucy decided to run away from home. What did you think of his letter and would you have done the same as Lucy?

Jack seems a very genuine caring person, if not a little naive. It probably never occurred to him what his words would mean to a teenage lonely girl. I think every teenaged kid at some time has thought about running away when they have a fight with their parents, doesn't mean they do.

7. We get more insights on Clock Island. Every 'hour' is its own section like for example a beach. Would you like to visit the island? Do you find the idea of it fascinating or could you not care less?

The author does bring the description of the Island to life. I'm sure it would be fascinating. I remember as a kid loving Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree and would have loved to climb and experience the lands there. This is much the same thing for a different generation.

8. Every part starts with a quote from Jack's book. Do you think these parts are important for the story? Just showing off Jack's work? Something else?

Definitely part of the evolving story. But it probably will take to well into the book to work out how they fit.

9. It seems like there will be a deeper connection between Lucy and Hugo. Do you agree? And would you approve of it given that Hugo had first met her when she was still a child?

Yep, Lucy and Hugo are definitely a HEA. From their interaction there is nothing creepy about it. In that way Lucy was being a typical teenage girl and Hugo did absolutely nothing inappropriate.

E, are you getting to spend much time with our book babe, Gabe?😍

I'm so sorry to hear that Keri. It must be very stressful. Hope it is all resolved soon and everything works out.

BOM

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Discussion Questions : Day 1 (Prologue - Chapter 5)

1. We have been introduced to a few important characters - Lucy, Christopher, and Hugo. Plus the off-page persona of Jack. What do you think of the characters so far?

It's taken me the first five chapters to get a handle of what's sort of going on. Lucy seems a bit damaged, Hugo seems lost and no idea about the mysterious Jack.

2. We get a riddle right away in the Prologue:

"Two men on an island and both blame the water
for the loss of a wife and the death of a daughter
but neither ever married, and neither's a father.
What is the secret of the girls and the water?"

Then Hugo thinks to himself that "Five years ago, it [the ocean] had brought low the small, strange kingdom of Clock Island." Do you think the riddle is related to what happened five years ago? Any speculations on what it all means, assuming you haven't read ahead?

Definitely it's the key to the mystery of Clock Island and the penny won't actually drop till the end of the book I'm thinking.

3. At the beginning of Chapter Two, Hugo says that he used to dream about living in Greenwich Village, but now that he can actually afford it, it doesn't hold the same appeal. He basically says that success kills motivation. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Not entirely. But success definitely quiets the hunger and ambition you have as a younger person.

4. What do you think of the wishing game Lucy plays with Christopher? Do you think this game and mindset are healthy? Do you agree with Lucy that it gives them hope, or do you agree with the social worker that it just gets their hopes up?

Mmmm, Lucy. My heart says what she wants to do for Christopher and being there for him now is right but my head can see the points that the social worker has been making. Lucy seems to have mega childhood issues and she probably needs to come to terms with them before taking on the role of raising a child. If love was enough it would be great but unfortunately and honestly it's not in this harsh world of reality.

5. Why do you think Jack finally started writing again? And what might be his motive in holding a contest for the only copy of the new book?

The first thing that springs to mind is a Willy Wonka scenario. Lucy and Christopher will be deemed worthy of having all their dreams come true after some sort of test set by the Mastermind aka Masterson..

Sounds like a fabulous time Andy.

I'm going to the Italian Lakes next year, It's a bucket list trip. There's just something about Italy..sigh.

Does this count? Warm Bodies.

If so , I can read it.

Quick question - Do the books have to be read in the order they have been planned in?

Actually not bad.. it was a similar to a traditional historical romance just with a MM couple. No where as ridiculous as some of the backroom reads.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Finished the Backroom BOM .

Day 1 Wrote DQS - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Finished the Backroom BOM .

Day 1 Wrote DQS
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4

Finished Hamlet.

Monster 102 is from Bad Romance - Christian Grey

Have a great trip Karen. And some lovely warm swimming weather! It's been a bit chilly here in Sydney.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) | 5961 commentsI've got one for diacritic - Decoy Training (K-9s on Patrol #1) by Caridad Piñeiro . I'll be able to finish it in time. 😁

Edited to say - And can you believe its also set in Idaho! Why didn't I find this series two weeks ago (hitting head) !!

FINISHED AND POSTED

I've got 30% left of my diacritic one so will finish and post later on this morning. 😊