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

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

Also reading a book shortly that is no 16 in a series if that helps for medium/higher numbers “what the devil knows” by CS Harris.

Emily Wilde is at my library so I will read that one. 😀

Cathy M. wrote: "Teddie wrote: "

For everyone traveling the Camino de Santiago with us,
the road is ready!
"

Never heard of this before until my boss said he'll be out for the next couple weeks to do this!"

Its' a thing, believe me. My husband and daughter completed it in 2014 - from the Pyrenees to the sea. Over 800 km. I think they're mad but they say it is the best thing they have ever done. Each to their own, LOL.

Alysa wrote: "DQ'S - DAY 5 Reality Again - end

18. Who else thought that Izzy really had been killed and was very upset about it?! Did you like how the fake-out was handled? Do you think it worked as a narrativ..."

could make him healthy and long-lived and allow him to look like anybody, I actually thought for a hot minute that Hugo turned himself into Mr. Webber and was him the whole time

Hey, Alysa... me too! Same. For a second I thought, hang on is Mr Webber Barbery redeemed. But I instantly discounted it. Mr Webber was intrinsically such a warm, caring man I don't think a million years of redemption could shift Barbery that much. But great minds do think alike, LOL.

DQ'S - DAY 5 Reality Again - end

18. Who else thought that Izzy really had been killed and was very upset about it?! Did you like how the fake-out was handled? Do you think it worked as a narrative choice?

I was shocked but then my interest was caught up with Cassie in the nowhere place and what we found out there. But when it was revealed about The Book of Safety it made perfect sense to me and I liked it as a plot bomb.

19. We finally found out how Mr. Webber got the Book of Doors. Were you expecting that? Did you have any other ideas about how that would play out? Did his “final” final scene change your feelings or interpretations of the earlier ones?

As I mentioned previously, I was hanging out to find out the resolution to that. As it was getting closer to the end I was thinking it was going to be a plot fault - again it made perfect sense with all the time travelling that was the resolution.

21. The ultimate stories of Hugo Barbary and the Woman are… interesting. And rather unexpectedly intertwined! What did you think about all of that? Had you predicted anything along those lines?

Again, I liked it. I guess it made me have some sympathy for the woman who was a happy little girl just in the wrong place at the wrong time. So she was as much a victim of the Books as the people she killed. As Cassie "created" the Books out of her emotions I guess in a way it is up to her to become a "Guardian" of the Books so this sort of thing doesn't happen again. Which I guess is what happens as the good guys team collate them for the Fox Library.

22. What with how this ends for the remaining characters — not to mention a few loose plot threads — it seems to me like the author is leaving the door open (no pun intended, lol) for a sequel. Does this book feel like a complete story to you? Why or why not? In fact it looks like his next novel is set in the same world, even if it’s not a direct sequel. Would you read it? Why or why not?

It felt pretty much complete to me and I really enjoyed it. But I am a sucker for time travel plots such as this.
I definitely will read his next book - in fact I have nominated it for the December BOM - so if anyone is interested, please vote for it, LOL.

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOOK CREDIT

DAY 1 - DQ'S - 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 Set 4: The Final Goodbye to Mr Weber - The Woman, After the Auction

14. Mr Weber! So good. How do you feel about the characterisation in the book? Do they feel real? Any particular thoughts on our main players?

I've finished the book now and really enjoyed it. IMHO the author did a good job with the characters, you could feel the warmth in the Cassie and Izzy relationship and the bond between Cassie and her Grandfather and her substitute GF, Mr Webber. And The Woman was absolutely chilling.

15. In all that we never really saw how Mr Weber got the real Book of Doors, given the one he found wasn't the one he gave Cassie. Do you have thoughts on how this will be solved?

This was perplexing me right up to the final pages and resolution. I liked the way it came about, it did fit with the time travel theme.

16. Lots of action in the auction. Did you enjoy the auction scene? Did you expect that sort of action when you first started the book?

Anytime the Woman was involved it was chilling. I really liked the Origin story of the books, it worked for me. But I generally like these time travel type of theories. If you can keep all the timelines straight in your head while reading.

17. The Woman, honestly she's a caricature at this point, but pretty effective at bringing the horror! Do you think we'll get a backstory to humanise her or will she remain a nameless horror?

I've finished the book so I'll just say, all the components of the story worked for me. I felt very satisfied by the end. I didn't see the Woman as a caricature more of a personification of Evil. And everything bad that the books in the wrong hands could bring about.

Thanks Judith all good. 😍

I probably will be under my cap for Round 1 as my first book to read is at 897 pages which will take around a week give or take to read. But lots of page points.

DQs Day 3
Izzy Out of Sorts to The Book of Doors Discovered

9. If you could talk to anyone from your past, would you? Who would it be?

My Mum, she passed away before she saw my grand children, she would be so proud of them. I'd love to have another chat with her and my dear MIL as well.

10. With more information about what happened to Drummond and his friends but also what happened to Izzy after she woke up, did it change your answer to DQ#8?

Well, bad things still did happen. And I'm glad a lot of answers brought to my attention Izzy's lack of consent in what happened. Drummond and Cassie should definitely have given her some agency in the situation.

11. What did you think of Lund and The Bookseller?

Lund is a really intriguing character, an opportunist but with a decent streak. The Bookseller seems just out for what she can get. I don't think that position will change but we shall see.

12. Was Cassie trapped in the past longer than you expected? Did it make some things that happened in the beginning make sense?

This came out of left field for me. This is the sort of plot line I love in time travel and the space/time continuum. It's like a time circle, going back into the past which then altered the future. It needs a bigger brain than mine to understand all the sciency stuff but it makes a great story!

13. Now that we are about 2/3 through the book, predictions?

Well, it's a stand alone novel I think so after lots of bad things happening surely there is light after the dark. Cassie and Drummond will defeat the big bad Woman, and get together as custodians of the Fox library in the end.

Me, checking in too. Off to the library to get some books for those tricky letters!

Catherine
10450 books | 65 friends
see comment historyA Night of Travel- Matt's All-American Burgers
Oct 5- A Night of Travel thru Matt's All-American Burgers

6. Are you more like Cassie- adventurous and a risk taker or Izzy, more careful and think things through?

Definitely an Izzy but my husband is like a Cassie so thankfully we balance each other out, LOL.

7. What are your thoughts on "The Woman" now hearing more of her story.

Oh, the way she is written is chilling. And a warning about the danger of the books if they fall into the wrong hands. I get the feeling she was already a psychopath and the acquisition and obsession with the books has just fueled that to overload.

8. Drummond Fox has the Book of Memories and it is often used more to forget than to remember something. Can you pinpoint anything in your life you would willingly forget on purpose? Cassie is now on this adventure on her own because Drummond made Izzy forget the Book of Doors but Cassie was now able to see the Library. Was the trade off worth it?

There are probably quite a lot of things I'd like to forget but unfortunately it's all part of living.
Izzy seems out of danger and given her nature that might be for the best but Cassie is going to be in a heap of trouble!

Jenny wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Fantastic Mods. Can't wait to start.

What's everyone's first book for the challenge. I've been holding off for this one..."

T..."

Exactly! I can't wait to start it.

Fantastic Mods. Can't wait to start.

What's everyone's first book for the challenge. I've been holding off for this one...

Vicky wrote: "Sounds good, that was my gut too but wanted to get a second opinion.

I might be saving it until Wheel starts though, as it does have a brown cover... lol"

Good call.

I’d use it Vicky. Rules for this challenge are pretty flexible and it’s a difficult category.

DQ'S - DAY 1 START - BOOK PEOPLE

1. "This is the Book of Doors Hold it in your hand and any door is every door"
If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?

2. The first page of the novel starts with this lovely sentence - so true for book lovers.
"I've read it before but as I get older, I find comfort in re-reading favourites. It's like spending time with old friends." - Mr Webber
Does this ring true for you? What is your favourite comfort read?
PS - Have you read The Count of Monte Cristo? If you have do you agree or disagree with Cassie's opinion?

3. After Cassie's and Izzy's first outing with the Book, despite Cassie's delight it seems that Izzy's reservations are valid. Can you see the positive and negative aspects of owning the books - So far other than the Book of Doors, the Books of Pain, Shadow, Memories, Illusions and Luck have been revealed. If you could own one book which one would it be? Which one wouldn't you touch with a ten foot pole!

4. Everyone seems terrified of the mysterious Woman? Who do you think she is and why is her name capitalized?

5. Cassie goes to Mr Webber's apartment to get some answers.
"Why did you give me the book Mr Webber" she asked the room "and where did you get it. What is the secret behind it?"
These are the "64 million dollars questions"!! Do you have any theories or is it too early in the story to come to any conclusions?

👍

I’d say so. 👍

Carcer is defeated.

Our first Holiday Monster is up - Gavle Goat (Sweden)

Happy Holiday Hunting.

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown

The world of unknowable objects - magical items that most people have no idea possess powers - has been quiet for decades . . .

But three current members of a secret society have remained watchful, meeting every six months in the basement of a bookshop in London. They are pledged to protect their archive of magical items hidden away, safe from the outside world - and keep the world safe from them. But when Frank Simpson, the longest-standing member of the Society of Unknowable Objects, hears of a new artefact coming to light in Hong Kong, he sends the Society's newest member, author Magda Sparks, to investigate.

Within hours of arriving in Hong Kong, Magda is facing death and danger, confronted by a professional killer who seems to know all about unknowable objects, specifically one that was stolen from him a decade before. Magda is forced to flee, using an artefact that not even the rest of the Society knows about.

Returning to London, Magda learns hers is not the only secret being kept from the other two members. And that the most pernicious secret is about the nature of the Society’s mission. Her discoveries will lead her on a perilous journey, across the Atlantic to the deep south of the United States - not in pursuit of an unknowable object, but an unknowable person: the killer she first faced in Hong Kong. In doing so, Magda begins to understand that there are even more in the world who are chasing these magical items, and that her own family’s legacy is tied up in keeping all these secrets under wraps.

Magic has always been too powerful to reveal to the world. But Magda will learn there might be something even more powerful: the truth.