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

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

QUESTIONS DAY 2

5. Bone dogs, drowned boys and magically pulled teeth and all quite vividly described. Where does the contents of Nettle & Bone sit on your horror meter ? And how about that demon chicken. What role does the wry humour have in the story?

A- Some of the horror is a bit creepy but not cringe worthy. I really like the humour and think it provides a good balance to the creepiness. The demon chicken gets all the good lines.

6. Enter our hero Fenris. The Magic Moth indicated that Marra needed him to complete her quest. What do you think Fenris' role with be?

A - To be the Knight in Shining armour/love interest. As long as he doesn't end up dead I'm fine with it.

7. The Goblin Market. Thoughts? How important do you think the events that happened there will be to the plot moving forward.

A. I like the way the author wrote this scene. It is very visual. You can nearly feel Marra when she get the tooth magically removed. Yikes. It is a pivotal scene because this is where Fenris enters the picture and gives us some more important informaton about Marra's quest.

8. By Chapter 14 Marra has a merry band of supporters ready to battle King Vorling. Agnes, Dust wife, Fenris, Bone Dog and last but not least the Demon Chook. Who do you think will survive and who will be become tragic collateral damage?

A. Gee I hope no one dies. I suspect Fenris' head is on the chopping block.. or maybe the chicken becomes chicken soup, LOL.

QUESTIONS DAY 2

5. Bone dogs, drowned boys and magically pulled teeth and all quite vividly described. Where does the contents of Nettle & Bone sit on your horror meter ? And how about that demon chicken. What role does the wry humour have in the story?

6. Enter our hero Fenris. The Magic Moth indicated that Marra needed him to complete her quest. What do you think Fenris' role with be?

7. The Goblin Market. Thoughts? How important do you think the events that happened there will be to the plot moving forward.

8. By Chapter 14 Marra has a merry band of supporters ready to battle King Vorling. Agnes, Dust wife, Fenris, Bone Dog and last but not least the Demon Chook. Who do you think will survive and who will be become tragic collateral damage?

Carrie (friend)
3031 books | 107 friends
see comment historyDaily Questions: Day 1

1. Marra clearly struggles with being a princess. Early on, she states that she had not realized "a nun had more power than a princess, that she could close a door". I found this a very striking quote in that we always think of royalty as being powerful and living lives of luxury. What did you think of this quote? Do you believe that Marra is happier at the convent than she could ever be at the Palace with her family?

Marra seems a bit lost in both places. Despite being very hard on herself she is an intelligent and deep thinking girl who has worked out her place in the world she inhabits quite early. Being the "spare" never seems to be fulfulling either in a book or in real life.. Just ask Prince Harry!

2. I am big fan of fables and myths. I love learning about new things. Before reading this book, I had never heard of a dust-wife or a church grim. Were you familiar with either concept? What do you think about them? Is it comforting to think of a dust-wife or church grim keeping watch over the dead or do you find it creepy?

Neither had I. It is an interesting concept and some people would find it creepy. But not me, one of my favourite holiday things to do is to wander around historic cemeteries checking out ancient gravestones.

3. Were you bothered to discover that Marra's mother, the Queen, was aware that the Prince had murdered Marra's oldest sister? Does that make you dislike the Queen or does it make you respect her more in that she is looking out for the welfare of her kingdom?

It's horrible by today's standards.. but just think back to medieval times where females only currency was how fertile they were and pumping out the heirs to the throne. The Queen didn't seem a very warm character although she would say in sacrificing her daughters all the people in the Kingdom would live.

4. It's early in the book yet, but part of my favorite thing about this book is Bone Dog and the chicken with a demon in it. Have you found yourself growing attached to either one? Do you think either one will play a significant role in the story?

That's my favourite part as well. They provide the comic relief when parts of the story get a little gruesome. Definitely adds to the enjoyment of the story .

Great Work Team Classical.

And thanks to the Mods and Captains also for a job well done.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

I've got my DQ's ready to go.. just waiting for Carrie up first.

Another wheel over... sigh. Well done everyone, I really enjoyed playing with you all. Big shout out to the Mods for another great Challenge and our Team Captains for all your time, keeping everything together!

I always pick up some unexpected reading in Challenges as I read anything for points, LOL, but only read a couple of clangers this challenge. Favourite book I read was probably because I just love the characters of Strike and Robin although nothing to do with music.

And now to start hoarding those colour covers in preparation for UNO 2024!

Hope everyone has a very happy Christmas and holiday season.

I finished the Dave Grohl book yesterday. Found it really interesting and probably wouldn't have picked it up without this challenge. 😊

I'll be finished my last book later on today.

Defeated - The Thames Ice Snake

Nex up - Literary Monsters - Dementors (HP)

All good. Seeing I'm second I'll start after the Wheel is over if that's okay. So my questions should be up around Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

My current book I’m reading also has a p which I haven’t added to the spreadsheet yet (the letter not the book). So that’s another one. It’s a long book and I’ve had a busy pre Christmas week but I’ll catch up with my reading this week. Can’t believe we’re in the last week of the wheel!

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists returns…with a family reunion that leads to murder.

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

DQs, Day 5 Chapters 46-end

20. Between Henry, Martha, and Opaline, whose story was most compelling for you and why?
21. Holy moley… Lyndon! I did NOT see that twist coming (ch 52), did you? What are your thoughts about his story?
22. What did you make of the relationship between Opaline and Martha? If you guessed, did you get it right?
23. What about Mme Bowden? Did you enjoy her resolution? If not, what other scenario would you have preferred for her?
24. What did you make of the magical elements in the book?
25. Is there anything that struck you about the plot, story, characters, etc that hasn’t been part of a discussion question over the 5 days?

20. I enjoyed both the time lines, maybe Henry and Martha just a tad more.
21. Lyndon.. pretty obvious he was a d***. What an awful man.
22. It seemed quite plausible that the baby survived and was going to be Martha's mother or grandmother.
23. I was a bit confused about how Mrs Bowden just faded out. I get she was the custodian of the bookshop till Opaline's descendant arrived.. but in Melissa's response did she mean that Mrs Bowden was actually Opaline? I'll have to read some more answers to figure that one out.
24. I liked the descriptions of how the bookshop "grew" with the magical tree. It was a very visual story which I enjoyed.
25. Liked the ending with the Emily Bronte story just waiting to be discovered. Added a nice touch.

Lisa Posts for Book Credit 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/...

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?