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

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

DQ Day 4 Chap 32-45

15. We finally see Martha start college! Before she goes in, she starts to question herself and it's Mrs. Bowden who gives her a pep talk to actually go. Would you need a pep talk to restart college again? Can you sympathise with Martha and what emotions & memories college brings up for her?

Yes, Martha has been through a lot and it's understandable she questions herself . But she gets through that's the main thing.

16. The book brings one of the darkest parts of Irish history to the forefront with the Mother & Baby Homes. If you knew about them, do you think this was an accurate portrayal of the institutions? If you hadn't heard of them previously, how did the cruelty from the staff to the women make you feel?

Yes unfortunately I know about them. It's a terrible indictment of the times. Nuns were notorious for their cruelty and lack of empathy. It made me really indignant reading this section of the book.

17. Henry ends up coming back to Ireland looking for Martha after leaving to end his engagement. Henry finds out that Martha never got his note. Would you accept this explanation?

Yes, I think she was too quick to dismiss him in the first place.

18. Opaline's baby was taken from her before she was able to even see or hold the baby because the child was born with the cord around her neck. Do you think the poor child is dead or that they lied to Opaline?

That crossed my mind when I read that section.

19. While in the asylum, Opaline shows a lot of compassion and empathy with the other women. Do you think over time she'll lose yourself and become hardened?

No, once she comes to terms with her baby's loss I think she will rally and try to help the other women. It's just who she is.

DQs Day 3: Chapters 23 - 31

10. Armand pops up again twice in this section, revealing his true colours at the end. What do you think is the purpose of Armand in Opaline's story? especially as he has been a pivot point for her life many times.

I think Armand was always going to be a dodgy character. Plot wise I think he was added to reinforce the feminist theme particularly in the time period that Opaline is in. Men were in charge and it took a lot for a woman to buck the system.

11. Henry has a revelation or two in this section. What do you think of his approach to building a relationship with Martha? and his father?

I glad Henry has come to his senses although the fact that Martha was so quick to write him off when she didn't seem to get his note and she thought he'd left her was a tad annoying.

12. Martha luckily escapes from abusive Shane with no comeback to her externally, and in a pretty passive fashion (the house / Madam B / drunkenness puts paid to him, and then Madam B finagles a clear up). Why do you think the author chose this route rather than give Martha a more active role in finally freeing herself?

That's a good question maybe so she could move on without any guilt that she actually did anything to remove him from her life.

13. We've two different treasure hunts going on - for a lost book in 1920s and for a lost bookshop now. Are you more invested in one - which and why?

Neither one they're both interesting to follow although another Emily Bronte book somewhere out in the world would be a joy to behold.

14. If you were inventing a lost book, who would you pick as the author?

The author must be a Bronte fan in particular Emily so I love the theme of another missing book or part thereof. Some of the questions pondered are ones I've thought of myself. How did these intelligent but very sheltered women write such books of passion and gorgeous prose? Such limited life experience such huge imaginations! That's why they are so loved 200 years later.

Judy wrote: "DQ'S DAY 1 - CHAPTERS 1-12

1. Love the cover, love the blurb! I'm expecting big things from this novel. "The thing about books" she said "is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better..."

Oh no.. Judy..you hate Wuthering Heights. I think I just died a little. It is a book that readers either love or hate that is true.

DQ's Day 2: Chapters 13-22

5. In this section, we find out how Opaline ends up in Dublin. What do you think of Armand and her relationship/friendship with him? I feel there is something off about him but he does seem to want to honestly help her.

I agree, it seems mighty convenient for Armand to be her saviour at this time. Does he want/need something from her or is he linked somehow to the library? We will see.

6. In many ways there are parallels with Opaline and Martha's stories. Both are running from abuse and from a life they do not want and both have ended up living in a basement apartment where the vanishing bookshop was located. Do you think these parallels will continue? Do you think this plays a part in Martha solving the mystery of the Lost Bookshop?

Definite parallels, maybe the Bookshop is a healing place for those who need it.

7. The old library in Italy! What a coincidence that a book that showed up in Martha's apartment, A Place Called Lost, is the same story of how Matthew's father built the building where his shop was! I just love how the author is building the connection from the past to the present. Do you have any guesses yet about what the connection or what happened to the Lost Bookshop? Have you read magical realism before? It's one of my favorite genres to read.

Not a coincidence but a part of the whole magic library scenario I'm thinking. All the pieces come together for those who need its healing properties. I'm really liking this book so far. Especially all the literary references and authors. I visited Shakespeare and Co in 2010 so that's bringing back some nice memories too.

8. "Were we all preconditioned to love certain things? A moment in childhood, lost to memory but indelibly marked on our souls?" This quote jumped out at me while I was reading and made me think. I don't know when I started reading or where my love for reading came from. My mom always says I was carrying a book around before I could walk! But I have no specific moment where I fell in love with reading just that I always have loved it. It made me think was there a moment that happened but I can't remember? Something so significant it created something in me? Or was I preconditioned to love reading? What do you think about this quote?

Oh me too. I can't remember when I couldn't read. My Mum was a big reader and I clearly remember her taking my sister and I to the library to borrow books from a really young age. It's interesting though only one of my three children is a reader and loves books and bookshops as much as me. And my 8 year grand daughter loves reading already too. It seems to be in some people's DNA.

9. I think Madam Bowden is going to prove to be a character with surprises. Could she be Opaline? Or a descendent? I think she knows about this vanishing bookshop and why it shows itself to certain people and not others.

She's definitely important somehow to the plot resolving. Could certain people become part of the library's persona or identity and be able to influence the lives of new people who come under the library's spell.

Have a great day, Bernadette. 💕

DQ'S DAY 1 - CHAPTERS 1-12

1. Love the cover, love the blurb! I'm expecting big things from this novel. "The thing about books" she said "is that they help you to imagine a life bigger and better than you could ever dream of."
Is this why you love to read or do you just enjoy good old fashioned escapism? Discuss.

2. In the Prologue and the first two chapters we are introduced to the main protagonists, Opaline, Martha and Henry. First impressions of these characters and what differences and similarities to you notice about them?

3. In a novel about books (and big bonus points to the author for Wuthering Heights being the first book mentioned) there seems to be a lot of novels names and famous authors mentioned in the early chapters. How many of these have you read and loved.. or hated!

4. The novel is taking place in two time lines with Opaline in one and Martha and Henry in the other. How do you see the two timelines/storylines being linked and being a novel with a magical theme do you think the characters in the two timelines might actually meet?

So sorry to hear that Fiona. Take Care.

I finally got picked to do the DQ's for the last BOM of the challenge. Woo Hoo.

Yay.. I finally got DQ's. Woo Hoo. All good with day 1.

Bob from Twin Peaks has gone to meet his Maker.

More Dr Who.. Carronites.

So sorry to hear that Louise. Just pop in when you can, we all understand that this is for a bit of fun and real life things happen. All the very best.

The Snowmen have melted.

As it is the 60th Anniversary of Dr Who on the 25th, I've gone with Dr Who and luckily one of my most favourites spun up. The Ood.

Happy hunting.

Elisabeth wrote: "My husband finished a library book in the DI Bill Slider mystery series which we both love and I couldn’t resist starting it. Lo and behold on P 4 …spiritual."

I enjoyed the first one and will pick the series up later. I'm quite intrigued how Bill is going to resolve his love life. 🤣

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Elisabeth wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "I’ll be done with my Grunge this weekend and I have another blue one too

My husband and kids are camping this weekend so I have the..."

Yes, my feelings exactly.

I'm working on a U book now, should be finished tomorrow. I've got 2 more after that. Two of them are blue too.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "I’ll be done with my Grunge this weekend and I have another blue one too

My husband and kids are camping this weekend so I have the house to myself and can get some good reading done 👍"

Hope the weather is okay for them.. it's not looking all that good. My oldest son said he is getting a family tent for Christmas.. I'm going with them to Fiji to a resort next year.. I said the other grandparents can do the family camping trip, LOL.

If a colour had to be used to describe Hypothermia it definitely would be blue!

I just had to share the use of the word Mambo in my book... "causing the drumbeat to shudder down to a Mambo in his groin". Wow, purple prose at its best/worst. 🤣

Volunteering for DQ's.

Volunteering for DQ's for Team Rock.

Elisabeth wrote: "Haha that book and music genre you posted made me laugh, Lisa. A wild fright and polka don't usually go together, although I guess it depends how you feel about polkaing."

It's a fun series. Paranormal set in Deadwood with a hefty dose of snark. 😁

For Sammy... 😍

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview...

Hey, it's Miley's Dad... 😁😁😁🤣

Sorry, I'm on Team B.. I'm way over it!

So, where do we stand on this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Svz-W...