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

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

Day 5
(Ted - end, p261 - end)

18. When I read what Ted's mother did to him as a child I instantly thought of his mother being let go from the hospital. Did you ever suspect her of being the kidnapper and murderer? Dee had the idea that it had to be a male who took her sister, what do you think about this assumption?

I think there were some reveals half way through the book that Ted's mother was a psychopath, that section where she talks about her father it was obvious she suffered from the same disorder. But I hadn't pegged her for the perpetrator of the Lulu crime. It was very skillful how the author brought those two plot lines to fruition. And why did she think it was a man... because history tells us that 99% of the time.. it is..

19. Mental health is a key theme of this book. There is a lot happening within Ted. He tried to get help for himself but unfortunately for him his psychiatrist seemed more interested in writing a book and turning a profit than helping him. What do you think the book tells us about coping with traumas that are secret?

Never turns out well. Keeping stuff inside is a one way ticket to even more pain.

20. I thought that the afterword was helpful in helping me understand a bit more about DID, and I am planning to read more about it. Had you heard of the condition before and are you planning to read a bit more about it?

I've only heard about it through media I guess. Fortunately no personal experience. I'll probably leave that here with finishing this very disturbing book.

21. I liked the book and have a few friends I would recommend it to, but I have mixed feelings about how I would describe it to them. Did you like it? If so how would you explain this book without giving any spoilers? If you didn’t like the book why not?

This is one of those books where I respected the writing a lot and it made me feel very uneasy whilst reading. It was interesting how most of us jumped to the conclusion that Ted was the serial killer not one of the victims. That was very well done. Can't say I "liked" it because the themes were so disturbing but it is a book that will stay with me for a long time. 4 stars.

22. After reading this, I am thinking about picking up another of her books. Have you read any of Catriona Ward’s other books before?

This was the first time I've read this author. Yes, I enjoyed her writing even if the theme left me cold so I'd definitely read her again.

Thanks Vicky! Loving the purple bonus alert.. 😊

I'm trying to read above my quota this month to make up for when I go on holidays next month.

Day 4 p193 - 260
- starts "I keep trying to record my thoughts,..."
- ends "I know that, today, it will be my own."

13. Lauren tells Olivia her story, which is horrifying. Did you think she was telling the truth? We later find out she was lying (or distorting the facts) to get Olivia to stab Ted, which hurts them as well. Why do you think she does this? Are Lauren and Olivia and Ted (and Night-time!) actually separate entities paranormally stuck together or is it dissociative identity disorder?

Wow, at this stage I though Lauren/Olivia/Night time Olivia were all Lulu who because of the enormous trauma had split into these personalities. Clever writing, the author was leading the reader that way. But more was to be revealed...

14. Olivia sees the rug change color from orange to blue. I had noticed these two colors of rugs mentioned before but I just assumed they were rugs in different places. What do you think this color change means? Could it actually be a physical transformation? Or does it signify something about the narrator’s state of mind?
I noticed the mention of the colour change of the rug as well and thought it was the perception of different personas.

15. Olivia and Lauren badly hurt each other. Lauren initiates this. Do you think it indicates something else about her character and intentions or is she just desperate and lashing out?
It is revealed that Lauren is the persona who takes on the pain of unimaginable situations.

16. The psychiatrist claims that he knows Ted is evil but just wants to use him to profit by using his case as a subject for his book. How do you feel about this? Do you think he is being honest here or could he have ulterior motives? What do you think the consequences of Ted’s altercation with him will be?
Does the Bug Man/Psychiatrist think Ted is a killer or has he realised that all the personas are Ted? Either way he is horrible man and it is unfortunate that Ted doesn't have a competent therapist who can actually help him.

17. Lauren talks to Dee, who ignores her and proceeds to try to kill Ted. Do you think Lauren has anything to do with LuLu? And what does it say about Dee that she doesn’t stop to consider it?

I had to read on to find out what happens.. but Dee is so far into her own pain and reasons that there is no logic to what she is doing. Her own reasons are soon revealed.

Day 3 p129-192
Day 3 starts "I was at the window,..."
Day 3 ends "Oh God, he's coming n-"


9. The bulldozers come to put in new rest areas to attract tourists. Ted freaks out and goes to unbury the gods. There are several of them, but they all fit into a single bag. What is your theory? Are these trophies from his kills? Personal artifacts from his own history? Something else?

I'm thinking trophies from his kills. It does seem to point to the fact that Ted is a kidnapper and murderer.

10. Lauren is a piece of work. 13-year-old girls can be a handful, I understand, but she seems so much younger than that. I don't understand where she is when she is not with Ted. I am starting to have an idea, but I'm not sure yet. What are your theories about where Lauren goes when she is not allowed to come back for six months?

After reading this section I think Tammie is right. Lauren, Lulu and the Cat are all the same person. Either the trauma has made Lulu split into multiple personalities or it is how Ted sees them, not sure which yet.

11. Dee seems even more unsettled in this section. She is so dedicated to finding her sister but can't follow Ted because of a fear of possible snakes. Then she lies to the investigator (Karen) about where she is and what she is doing. Could there be more motivating Dee's activities than just missing her sister?

Maybe a hidden twist which is going to be revealed about Dee by the end. What is this fear of snakes, is that supposed to be symbolic of something?

12. There was a bit of repetitive actions in this section. The music box and the nesting dolls were broken by Olivia and years earlier by Ted. A lot of talk about the color blue: dresses, clothing, rugs, etc. Is this just to keep the reader as confused as Ted or is there a deeper meaning to all of these duplications?

Mmmm, maybe it is trying to re-enforce something. The mental illness that runs in Ted's family and the enabling influence of his mother. Definitely the author is employing a lot of smoke and mirrors and subterfuge while telling this story to keep the reader guessing.

Tammie wrote: "DAY 2 - PAGES 63-128

5. So Dee is on the case but like all the characters and situations in this story I'm feeling there is more to her than meets the eye. Emotionally damaged by the loss of her s..."

Sometimes I wonder if the cat, Lauren and Lulu aren't the same 'person'.

I think you're onto something there Tammie!

CB wrote: "CB wrote: "Quick question - in my 500+ book I just read it lists “alcohol” a couple of times (it’s a sci-fi book) - can that be used as a generic term? In the Mods explanation for alcoholic drinks ..."

Good to know, CB. Thanks.

DAY 2 - PAGES 63-128

5. So Dee is on the case but like all the characters and situations in this story I'm feeling there is more to her than meets the eye. Emotionally damaged by the loss of her sister or something else. Thoughts?

6. Interesting that the author uses Wuthering Heights as the one book Dee obsesses over because IMHO it has some of the most beautifully emotionally written passages ever written in English literature. Gush over.. back to this novel..
."the hammer falls to the floor. She kneels and comes face to face with it, the child, its silver-white flesh dappled in the moonlight, its mouth a black cherry, eyes gleaming like lamps, filled with the light of death, scalp stripped and wounded where the birds have plucked the hair from her skull."
How does language such as the above paragraph contribute to the overall feeling and tone of the novel?

7. In all the scenes with Ted and the Bug Man I find myself scrutinizing every sentence for clues. Have you picked up any insights into Ted's character that may shine light on what is actually happening?

8. Okay, here's a few theories. Ted is a harmless man with mental illness and Olivia and Lauren are delusions of his illness. He had nothing to do with Lulu's disappearance and is innocent. Or Ted is a raving psychopath, has murdered countless people and they are buried in the woods. Or somewhere in between. What's your theory on who Olivia and Lauren really are? Are you enjoying puzzling this out or is it altogether to cryptic and weird for your tastes?

CB wrote: "So for the monthly fresh bonus, it says on the spreadsheet it’s a maximum of 20 items, either from scavenger hunt or spell it out. And then off to the side it says the bonus is worth 80 points - is..."

Do you mean the monthly fresh special of chicken, oil and potato or the kid's activity items. The monthly special is 80 points I think and minimum is those 3 above items. The kid's bonus items we have to find 20 and then get the maximum bonus which is also 80 points.

Edited to say - I just checked the rules. One is the Fresh Special (Chicken, oil and potato) and the Other is the Fresh Bonus. (Kid's activities)

Day 1: Ted - Olivia (ends ""I am pretty hungry now, so I will sleep.")

1. Ted is .... interesting. With blackouts, no pain sensitivity and a very strange relationship to the present and past, is there any "weirdo" characteristic unplumbed?! How do you feel this set of quirks plays into the unreliable narrator trope?

Wow, this is an uncomfortable book to read. Weird all right. Nothing is what it seems I'm feeling. Are we supposed to empathy for Ted who is possible a serial killer? And what's with the equally bratty kid and talking cat? Hope it will make more sense as we read along.

2. Olivia - another unreliable trope. And a cat. (or is she?). And a cat who has found God. What's going on here? How do you feel about having a cat narrator? (as an aside, I'm amused we have now had two BOMs in the past 6 months with cat narrators)

I have no idea what's going on with the talking cat who has found God. Is it supposed to be a metaphor.. for something. Dunno... these existential questions for the universe are above my pay grade, LOLOL.

3. The general set-up of Needless Street seems exceptionally strange - Ted is open about having a daughter (or does he?), but she doesn't seem to go out. The lack of nosiness by the neighbours is possibly the least believable thing about this so far, cat narrator and weirdo bingo-full-house included! What do you think about the set-up?

Nothing is what it seems I'm guessing.. a total head trip. Need to read on to start making sense of it.

4. There's a reference to the gods having to be reburied. Want to hazard a guess?

The obvious answer is the dead bodies planted somewhere.. maybe the parents? But I'm guessing that is too simplistic so I'll reserve judgement.. for now.

Vicky wrote: "I can fix it once I decide to get out of bed! LOL"

Haha, Vicky I'm just getting into mine.. on the other side of the world. Thanks and good night.

The number of scavenger words for a 300 page book is still showing 10 in the spreadsheet. Do any of you spreadsheet wizards know how to fix it? Thanks.

CB wrote: "Quick question - in my 500+ book I just read it lists “alcohol” a couple of times (it’s a sci-fi book) - can that be used as a generic term? In the Mods explanation for alcoholic drinks it says “Ch..."

Mmm.. might need to ask in the Questions thread to get a Mod to answer that one.

Also from the Mods..

Favourite meals

If your team have any meals from round 1 that are your team's favourite, please PM them to the mod account. We will collate these and also our own favourites and post for a bit of fun and kudos

Vicky wrote: "FYI: I noticed that the Books Read tab is giving us 2/5/10/12 words/letters per book based on pages instead of the 2/4/8/12 we were getting last round. The Round 2 Meals and Points still says 2/4/8..."

Thanks for getting that clarified Vicky. I noticed that also.

So with the Fresh Bonus words. If you are scavenging say a 310 page book, which allows 8 words and you find 3 items does that cut your ingredients down to 5 (so 8 in total) or is it still 8 ingredients plus 3 bonus fresh words?

Glad you are ok Ariel.

Kaley, did we use any of our BOM's for swaps? Apparently if we didn't they can carry over to this month. 😁

No problem, Vicky. I do the meals straight away as I finish a book as I think it's much easier to keep track that way.

Customers arriving soon, woo hoo.

If anyone is interested in also reading the first BOM it has 6 mentions of the word vinegar and also tuna and anchovy and I'm only half way through.

Hey team, we came 11th in the Round 2 extra - so here is our task.

11-14 It is time to try something new for round 2. Pensioners will be attracted to your restaurant, but you will need to work to get other groups in the door
Meals with the word "tuna", "capers", or "anchovy" in the text or title, or used as a spell-it-out will attract more adults for round 2

Thanks. All good for my day. 😊

Thanks so much to you spreadsheet gurus for keeping all the housekeeping up to date. Much appreciated.

Hope all is okay Ariel, that storm looks scary. And hope everyone is enjoying the challenge.