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

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

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Why it fits - Triumph of good over evil.

The New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code returns with an unforgettable World War II tale of a quiet bookworm who becomes history's deadliest female sniper. Based on a true story.

In 1937 in the snowbound city of Kiev (now known as Kyiv), wry and bookish history student Mila Pavlichenko organizes her life around her library job and her young son--but Hitler's invasion of Ukraine and Russia sends her on a different path. Given a rifle and sent to join the fight, Mila must forge herself from studious girl to deadly sniper--a lethal hunter of Nazis known as Lady Death. When news of her three hundredth kill makes her a national heroine, Mila finds herself torn from the bloody battlefields of the eastern front and sent to America on a goodwill tour.

Still reeling from war wounds and devastated by loss, Mila finds herself isolated and lonely in the glittering world of Washington, DC--until an unexpected friendship with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and an even more unexpected connection with a silent fellow sniper offer the possibility of happiness. But when an old enemy from Mila's past joins forces with a deadly new foe lurking in the shadows, Lady Death finds herself battling her own demons and enemy bullets in the deadliest duel of her life.

Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye is a haunting novel of heroism born of desperation, of a mother who became a soldier, of a woman who found her place in the world and changed the course of history forever.

Wow, where did Electra come from, LOL. They were holding their cards close to their chest!!

3rd is awesome though, we had such a great team. And special shout out to our Captains and Co-Captains. THANK U. 💕

See you next time for Tower Teams X!

It was a bit of a journey but I really enjoyed it and looking forward to the next book. Buddy read next year?

Ooh very tragic indeed! Well done.

Just finished my last book for the Challenge. It has been great reading with all you gals.

Can't say I'm enjoying the new book pages Goodreads has fiddled with though. What are everyone's thoughts?

Here's to a top 2 finish!

Hi dear Mods, as much as it pains me, I'll have to drop out of the volunteering for DQ's for this book as my copy hasn't come in from the library and won't be available to the end of the month at the earliest.

Well done Deanna. Very snazzy.😍

Original Message 121

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM BONUS

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/...

Great! Keep reading everyone. 😁

Don't worry, Emma, Ariel and Vicky, it will all work once we start playing.

You really just have to note down all food items once we start. And maybe how many pages in the book you're reading. And we can combine different ingredients from different players to make complete meals. As it was two years ago we played, I'll probably have to refresh the rules too. You'll have fun, I promise!

Congratulations Tina on your new home. Hope things settle down for you soon.

And thanks to the Mods for our bubbling crumble picture. Anyone good with words who wants to write our Team Blurb, go right ahead!

Thanks Karolyn! All you Captains have done a magnificent job keeping us all in line. 😊 And a great team, it makes it so much more fun when everyone participates fully.

Here's to an amazing finish!

Hi Vicky,

I played last time and we just entered our finished books/meals on the provided spreadsheet. It seems complicated at first but once you've done it a few times it all falls into place.

Once TT9 is over I'm sure we can all chat more about how we want to do recording for this one. And some of the more tech savvy gals who played before might have some input about
tracking sheets. It's going to be a lot of fun. 😁

DQs Day 5: Ch 29-End

18. Stealing a quote from day 4: ‘Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a books finds a way to surprise you.’ Did this book surprise you? If it did, was it in a good or a bad way?

Didn't surprise me, no. But I thought the ending worked pretty well regardless.

19. Libby’s big secret surprised Nora. Was it what you expected? What are your thoughts on her keeping it secret and using the list to try to win Nora over?

No, but I knew the divorce was a red herring and mirroring Nora's insecurities about life. But as everyone has mentioned if they had just been up front about their feelings it would have saved a lot of angst.

20. What about Nadine and the cat? Did you appreciate this side story? How did you feel about how it played out in the novel?
I thought this was underdeveloped and actually went nowhere. Maybe I missed something..

22. I loved Nora’s interaction with Clint, what about you? Do you think she overstepped? Do you think it influenced the ending?

Just as well she did or Charlie and Nora probably would still be separated.

23. The ending. It is very much a Happily Ever After. Nora gets almost everything. Was it too HEA or just right and did you like it?

I liked it. But this sort of book isn't really my thing but well written for the genre. 3.5 stars.

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM BONUS

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/...

DQs Day 4 - Aug 5
Chapters 21 - 28

14.) One of the most prevalent plot devices in romance books is misunderstandings being a primary driver in the conflict between MCs. I hate it because most of the issues could be resolved with one 15 minute conversation. Does this plot device annoy anyone else? Did you find it refreshing then that Nora cleared the air a bit in the library with Charles? At least before the grabby-hands started ;)

That's a coincidence, I was thinking when I finished this section that for two sisters who love each other there is zero honest communication. At least Nora spilled to Charlie so that's a plus.

15.) Were you surprised at anything revealed by Nora and Charles during their tent conversation? Did the tension with Shepard make even more sense with some backstory?
Charlie's parentage was a bit of a surprise although there were hints I think from their physical descriptions. And I think both Clint and Shepard were described as being very blond and athletic. I can see how there would have been tension between the two especially if Charlie felt he didn't measure up in the biology stakes.

16.) Any guesses on why Libby needed a lawyer's number? Do you think it's a divorce? I'm hoping that's a red herring and it's something with their dad or a basic need like wills for her and Brendan.

Yes, I'm thinking red herring here to emphasize lack of communication and Nora's insecurities.

17.) Any guesses as to what Nora will do about the editor job? Do you think Charlie will stay in his hometown, or will he make it back to NYC?

Surely it's got to end up in a HEA with both of them blissfully in the same place?

I'll finish all my books on the spreadsheet and will work out how many extra and what categories I can do over the weekend.

Day 3 Questions Chapter 14-20

10. Charlie and Nora make a bet that Nora can finish everything on the list but Nora is a tad doubtful but she's determined to push through for her sister. Have you ever made a bet where you're bound and determined to win but knowing deep down inside that you may be doomed from the start? (For example: If I took a bet where I had to do a tower of doom thingy at an amusement park, I'm going to need a blindfold, some alcohol, and some prayers, and not necessarily in that order!)
Nuh, not in my nature to make a bet I knew I couldn't deliver on. Interesting question, though.


11. We are starting to learn more about Frigid but I still want to know what the book is really about. Why do you think the cat has to stay?

That is the 64 million dollar question. I'm thinking the book is going to segue way into what an admirable person Nora is once you get to the heart of her. Not sure about the cat though.


12. Libby is a little bit of a hot/cold person. She can turn her emotions quickly and I'm not sure if all of that is due to the pregnancy. Any ideas on what has her so upset at times and why she needs to distant herself?

It's hinting at marriage problems but I think this might be a red herring. I think maybe Nora is projecting her own insecurities in this one.


13. Finally, we end this section with Nora and Charlie in Charlie's childhood bedroom. This is a two part question. One, do y'all still have bedrooms at your childhood home? Mine got repurposed after I graduated college but I always think it's interesting who still has one and who doesn't. Second, Charlie immediately sensed something had happened when he saw Nora in the room. What do you think of the progression of their friendship and do you think Nora will start to open up and lean on him more?

Wow, it's 37 years since I left my childhood home, so it's long gone. But my daughter moved out 5 years ago and her old room is still full of her stuff, LOL.
This is a classic enemies to lovers theme, their initial snarky rapport was a huge hint that they would end up as soulmates. The author is doing a good job of showing how they get there.

And nice questions, so no worries!

Original at message 132.

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM CREDITS

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