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

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

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to Ch 7

1.) Did you know of Bella's story prior to picking up The Personal Librarian? Did your knowledge (or lack of) her story influence your decision to decide to read this book?

No, never heard of this story before. I'm only reading because it is a BOM and it does seem interesting so far.

2.) In the early 1900's would you do what Bella's mother did and lie on the census and have them pass as a family as white? Even with your husband as a civil rights activist?

As Beth said previously, as a white person I don't feel I can give an opinion on this. I don't think anyone really knows what they would do in a position they would never be put in especially under difficult circumstances. I don't judge the family at all for what they felt they had to do. I do find it an interesting scenario as most history I've read from this time as people of colour are proud of their heritage and vocal about gaining rights. This shows another perspective.

3.) The mega rich just exist different I think. I can't image having priceless original works in a rando box or just sitting out on the floor in the foyer. Can you image being that blasé about one of a kind, million dollar pieces of art?

Yep, the mega rich live on an entirely different planet.

4.) What are your impressions of JP Morgan and his family so far? What about his desire to have a library/collection so vast he needs a personal librarian/curator?

It seems a good and positive way to spend your enormous reserves of cash, although it's a personal collection isn't' it so not benefitting the rest of society. I'll be interested to see if it ends up donated to a museum or as a legacy to the general public at some point.

5.) Belle. What a complicated web she walks on, sticky and thin, that threatens to break if she takes one wrong step. A woman, white-passing, from a working class family trying to make it in the mega wealthy white man's world. That takes some gumption and seems exhausting and scary. What do you think of her so far?

Like I said earlier, no judgement on what they are doing. But it must be hard keeping that secret especially the circles she will be moving in. I admire Belle she is an interesting character. No way could you keep that a secret in the modern age.

Good with my day. Can swap if anyone needs to. 😀

The Luggage has been packed away... permanently!

More Romantic monsters - Tom and Daisy from The Great Gatsby.

Finally got The Dementors slain.

And got to spin the new Bad Romance Wheel woo hoo spinning -

Tom and Summer (500 days of Summer) not familiar with this one, I wanted to get Cathy and Heathcliff, maybe next time...

Vicky wrote: "OMG I love this wheel! haha

Also just loaded the tasks into our spreadsheet. :)"

can't wait to give it a spin. My TORS book finally came in at the library and I should be able to knock that one off in a few days. 😍

Thanks for adding the new wheel.

Oh love it.. 😍

https://wheeldecide.com/?c1=Hot%20Pro...

New wheel just in time for Valentine's Day. 😍

In the spirit of monster hunting camaraderie, here's some soul sucking reading choices.. You're welcome. 😁

- I read this one, it's pretty ordinary though pg 151

pg 18

pg 71. This is book 7 but you probably can read without reading the rest although it is fun series.

LISA'S POSTS FOR BOM TOKENS

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/...

20. Well, what a ride!! Was this an ending you were expecting? Did you guess who the murderer was before all was revealed? What about Daisy's part in the story? Considering the gothic setting and set-up of the story, I was almost disappointed in myself that I had not figured out Daisy. Did you figure out who Trixie's father was before it was revealed?

Well, the only thing I worked out was that Conor was Trixie's father but that was a given really. I'll have to check out all those scenes with Daisy and the family to confirm the one way interactions.

21.a. Let's talk about the family because they really need to be talked about. I had so many "wtf" moments reading those last chapters because I could not believe the people in this family! Rose and Lily (and Conor by extension), how could they have done what they did?! What was your reaction when you found out?

Yeah, they put the dys in dysfunction! Beyond the pale what they did especially her opening her eyes at the end. Really super creepy. I didn't really enjoy the characters but I suppose that was the author's intention. It was an uncomfortable story.

21.b. And then Nancy! Why was she sobbing like a heart-broken mother when her daughter with the broken heart could be fixed for an extended period of time? By extension, Daisy always felt, and seems to not have been the only one, that Nancy preferred Rose and especially Lily over her, but then inside the locket we saw a picture of Daisy and a pressed daisy.

That was another weird relationship. It's like Nancy could only relate to the "broken" Daisy. She needed some parenting intervention big time!

22. Now that the mystery is solved... what about the clean-up?! How do you think Trixie is going to handle the aftermath of it all? What is going to happen with all those bodies?

Yeah, the denouement was a bit of a shocker, and you can't think about it in too much detail as I think it falls apart a fair bit.

23. Going back to the very start of it all, there was a little note from the author's agent at the beginning of the book before even the first chapter started. Did you read it? What did you think of it? (If you did not read it, you might want to have a quick peak.)
If you've (now) read it, what do you make of it now? Now, that we have reached the ending.

It does make sense when you know the ending, I guess.

24. Since this was the first Feeney for most of you (I think?), were you satisfied with the novel? Are you going to pick up another one of her books?

It was a bit of a dour, depressing novel really. I quite enjoyed it although the characters were unlikeable and flashback situations were hard to read in part. As I mentioned it did have ah ha moments by the end but if you looked too closely there were plot holes and inconsistencies. But in saying that I would definitely read another Alice Feeney.

Great discussion ladies. thank u.

Vicky wrote: "I need a second opinion for the "technology plays an important role in the plot" task. I'm reading my way through a romance series between a serial killer and an FBI agent and it of course has a ch..."

Yeah sure does. I think the Mods are quite lenient when it comes to this Challenge in comparison to others. So I say go for it.

New Wheel coming soon apparently. 😍

Yes, Bradley (view spoiler)[ was definitely a contender for the murderer with a grudge. As soon as they mentioned there was no body. But I think the author planted this one as a misdirection. (hide spoiler)]

Wow.. I had to read on and finish. Didn't clue to what had happened.. at all. I'll be interested to see who worked it out. Think I'll have to flick back to put all the pieces together.

(view spoiler)[ The Sixth Sense has a lot to answer for, I never worked that one out either, 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 28-38 Questions

15:In this section we see ways Daisy took revenge on her sisters using the scissors. Were you surprised when you read her actions? Did the reasoning and the excuses make it less horrifying? What were your thoughts?

I wasn't really surprised, I kind of thought that Daisy wasn't perfect and could be an unreliable narrator. All the characters in this story can be quite unpleasant.

16: We are now introduced to a new character: Nana's agent. We see a flashback of him with the family and we also see that he visited Nana recently without punching out on the clock. Do you think this is a clue to something? What are your predictions with his involvement?

He's either the murderer or it's a red herring.

17: What I really want to know is what the doctor whispered to Nancy after Daisy's heart stopped the last time, which made Nancy break down into sobs. Do you have ideas what she was told? Do you think this played a role in Nancy's choice to bring up Daisy in isolation?

I'm thinking this is a twist.. that Daisy's heart condition is now under control and she isn't dying. And Daisy's mother doesn't tell anyone for her own reasons. Kind of like a Muchaussen's Sydrome by Proxy. And this is somehow linked to the murders.

18: At this point, Seaglass to me seems more of a place of refuge than a spooky large house. What is your take on the setting now, having seen depictions of all of this time spent at Seaglass?

The house isn't as scary as the family, they really are a depressing lot.

19: Ok so we're 80%done with the story. Any predictions to what happened that night after Lily kissed Conor? Who do you think is killing members of the Darker family?

So it seems that Trixie's father is Conor.. they mention that Conor's father disappeared.. is Conor's father the murderer or did Conor murder him... The plot does thicken.. I still haven't worked it out... keep reading..

Duh! Of course the mystery of who is Trixie's father must be a major piece in solving this puzzle. Why am I only getting this now, thanks ladies!

And back to reading...

DQs Day 3 Chapters 18-27

10. "Looking back, I think they might have done more to make life better for us than we sometimes remember." This quote almost knocked the air out me as both a daughter and a mother. Do you feel like you have a good picture of how your parents sacrificed to improve your life? Do you think your kids know what you do for them (if this applies to you)?

As a mother of 3 and grandmother of 6 I think in most typical families the parents love the kids more than the kids love their parents. And I don't mean that in a negative way more a loving and supportive way. Kids and grandkids have to know their parents and grandparents will love and support them unconditionally, it's our responsibility and honour to do so. And then hopefully the kids will love and respect right back.

11. I couldn't decide whether to be slightly amused or completely outraged when it was revealed they'd drugged Trixie to get her to sleep. Your thoughts?

I guess lots of parents from previous generations have been guilty of helping kids to sleep with medication. No judgement here, but Trixie seems a little old to be doing this. And her Mum isn't the most stable person so it was a bit off putting.

12. "You can get away with murder when everyone thinks you're dying." "...the real Daisy Darker was never quite as sweet or boken as everyone wated to believe. I have a secret of my own. And some secrets are worth killing to keep." It feels lazily obvious that these two quotes are leading to a reveal that Daisy is actually the killer, but who knows? Any theories on the killer's identity?

I thought that earlier but I think it's a red herring. I don't have an idea who the killer is yet I think there is going to be almighty twist coming.

13. "Lily had as much rhythm as an arrhythmia." Hahahahaha! I love that line. I'm enjoying these small notes of humor sprinkled in. What quotes or scenes have you found humorous?

Some of them are good but some are a bit over the top and a tad cheesy.

14. I haven't turned the page to chapter 29. What is the terrifying thing on the screen going to be???

Hopefully something that gives a hint whodunnit!

DQs Day 2 Chapters 10-17

Q6. The VHS tapes are a lil spooky. But we realise this is how we’re going to learn about the Darker’s family past. Do we like how VHS’ are used to give more background? I’d especially love to know what you thought about the two mice incidents? Eeekkk

The mice incidents were disturbing as is the whole family dynamic. What a horrible family.


Q7. What do you think of the dynamic of the three sisters? They’re pretty horrible to Daisy. Do you think it’s because they’re older than her or just cruel kids?

I've been thinking that throughout the novel. There seems to be something more than just usual sisters problems. Those older girls are really nasty.


Q8. We know they can’t call anyone due to mobiles having no network and Nana having no landline, but now the boat is gone, how would you feel being truly trapped on this island? Any ideas of how to escape?

It does seem unusual that after two murders the rest of the family don't seem very worried about who might be next. You'd think that would cross their minds!


Q9. “We all get broken sometimes and if you can help someone, you should always try.” Nana was full of nuggets of wisdom. Is there a character you relate to the most? // Any other quotes that jumped out?

I have noticed quite a lot of pearls of wisdom although some of them seem a little contrived nearly like purple prose. Nearly all of the characters seem unpleasant except for Daisy and Trixie and I guess Conor. I'm wondering if Daisy is actually the person who has set up the VHS tapes as payback for her family although I don't think she would have killed her Nana and Dad. Mmmm... the plot thickens!

Judith wrote: "Yes, there’s a wheel coming out for Valentines Day.

Your suggestion isn’t all that far off from what I have put together 😂"

Fantastic. Can't wait to play. Long live the Wheel! 😍

Hey monster wheel lovers..

Are there any more wheel topics under construction?

I had an idea for a Monsters - Book boyfriends. you know a wheel of bad boys or anti heroes that do bad things even though it's nothing that the love of a good woman or man won't fix. 😁

Vicky, I think you need to spin for defeating The Ice Warriors.