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

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

Judy
1827 books | 152 friends
see comment historyDQs Day 2
The Story to Chapter 13

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?

Yes, I'm thinking along the same lines, that neither story is true. And the true story will be the twist towards the end. Laura may be part of this.. or not.

6. Similarly, it was kind of an aside but I thought it was interesting when Margaret mentioned the Ives family’s rivalry with the Pulitzers. Is it just a random coincidence that Hayden is a Pulitzer-prize winning author who now also gets to talk to her? Especially since she requested him? And he has a bunch of family issues too?
Probably inevitable that the Pulitzers and the Hearsts as media moguls of the time will be mentioned. Interesting theory that maybe Hayden is part of either the Pulitzer or Ives family, missing illegitimate son maybe?
7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?

Typical romance trope, amazing sexual chemistry but no we can't get together for A, B, or C reason. Romance 101, they can't get together in the first third of the book, or if they do some silly misunderstanding will break them up. Par for the course, here.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?

Not really, I was glazing over a bit at these details, although I suppose they do add credibility to her profession as journalist.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?

The British Royal family, especially historical monarchs are my thing. Love reading about what they got up, warts and all.

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?

Interesting, that didn't really cross my mind. I suppose a lot of novels have backstories, so yes I can see some similarities.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 to 7

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?

I've read quite a few of her books, enjoyed them while reading but forget them a week after I'm done. So I expect it will be the same for this book. But maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?

Typical EmHen (apparently that's what her Tik Tok fans calls her ) type of heroine. What's not to like, LOL. Sunny, a little bit feisty, enough to melt a brooding hero's heart!)

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?

If I was these characters I'd surely do it. They are dedicated enough to the story to do pretty much anything to get the job. Why is Margaret doing it this way, she had a great love affair and I think she recognizes in Alice and Hayden there will be one there too.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did you opinion change a bit on his character?

We know that he's protective and a good hearted guy behind the growly exterior, No doubt, Alice will bring out more of his character. Time (and pages) will tell.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts

I may have one for a tight deadline.

Andie is given 30 days to get two unruly orphans ready to go to boarding school and if she succeeds she will get 10,000 from her ex husband.

30 days tight enough deadline?

Yes, I second that. Fantastic job, Insiyah. ❤️

Hope everyone is enjoying the challenge, I know I am!

Insiyah wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "If a book is listed as set in Vatican City and is about the Borgias - Pope Alexander VI, is this the same as The Holy See?"

I'm going to go with yes"

Oh that's good. I love reading about the Borgias!

If a book is listed as set in Vatican City and is about the Borgias - Pope Alexander VI, is this the same as The Holy See?

Yay. I got picked for DQ’s for the first June BOM. Picking the book up from the library today. It’s the Emily Henry so an easy read.

Good for my day.

Set in New Zealand

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2013)
It is 1866, and young Walter Moody has come to make his fortune upon the New Zealand goldfields. On the stormy night of his arrival, he stumbles across a tense gathering of twelve local men who have met in secret to discuss a series of unexplained events: A wealthy man has vanished, a prostitute has tried to end her life, and an enormous fortune has been discovered in the home of a luckless drunk. Moody is soon drawn into the mystery: a network of fates and fortunes that is as complex and exquisitely ornate as the night sky. Richly evoking a mid-nineteenth-century world of shipping, banking, and gold rush boom and bust, The Luminaries is a brilliantly constructed, fiendishly clever ghost story and a gripping page-turner

Well done Richard.

Yes, Cheese is good.. especially Bega! (For Aussies)

Thanks Karen. Sorry, if I wasn't clear asking the question.

So that one does fit, I'll borrow it from the library. 😊

Insiyah wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Just a quick question, Caps,

If the task says colour, eg red white and blue on cover, is it just those colours or can it be a multi coloured cover containing those co..."

That makes is a bit tricky.

- Would this count for red and white?

Just a quick question, Caps,

If the task says colour, eg red white and blue on cover, is it just those colours or can it be a multi coloured cover containing those colours and others?

Thanks.

Richard wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I've got a kiwi fruit on the cover."

Okay, I'll do the Moose one & you can do the Kiwi one"

Thanks Richard.

I've got a kiwi fruit on the cover.

Karen - it started at 7.30 pm and ended about 10 pm. It left out a couple of scenes, but basically was the same as the theatre show.

Marina Prior and Matt Lucas (from Little Britain fame) played the Thenardiers (The Innkeepers, the comic relief) and nearly stole the show. And Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean and Bradley Jaden as Javert were amazing.. I could gush all night. I guess you get the picture how much we enjoyed it! 😍

I've had a busy month.. but back to reality now. More tasks to find, great! Love finding those obscure books. The ones with the Haka in the text and maple syrup weren't bad at all. Especially when they're kindle freebies or under a dollar.

Karen, that sounds lovely. Hope the weather holds for you.

It's coming up for my 40th wedding anniversary, (wow, that's gone quickly) so the hubs and I went to Melbourne overnight and saw the Arena show of Les Misérables. It's the only show my husband likes, he's not into musical theatre like I am, and boy it didn't disappoint. Fantastic show, amazing cast - it's travelling around the world, if you get a chance it's well worth it.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and reading heaps!

The Cheese is finished - I fortunately had a C in my finished book. 😊

Happy reading everyone.