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

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

** Bonus question. ***

Looks like most of us didn't really "like" the characters in this. Which made me ponder.. is it important to like or have some sort of empathy for the characters to make a good story or for a book to be an overall enjoyable reading experience?

Awesome Vicky! I'm very envious of your spread sheet skills. 😁

Looks like everyone has got the hang of it fairly quickly. Well done team.

BOM BONUS BOOK TRACKING

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/...

Day 5 - Jess - epilogue

17. The wrapping up of this was very hectic, with bonus tear-gas fueled bathroom sex! Was the ending satisfactory to you?

Mmmm, thinking back of Lucy Foley's other books, I think the hectic ending is what she does. Have all these threads starting wide apart and joining up at the end. For the big finish. I guess the bathroom sex was the cliche of affirming life after a near death situation. Have to admit I didn't it see it that Ben was alive and not Jacques but now that I think about it I don't think we saw Jacques actually on the page he was just talked about so maybe that was a hint. I didn't think this book was as good as her others.

18. Jess blackmails Sophie into helping out the sex-trafficked girls. What did you think of this plot line?

She was getting something back after all the times she was exploited. Maneuvering the situation to stand up and do the right thing for other girls when no one stood up for her.

19. Any changes in your view of the characters over the course of the book?

Not really. The male characters weren't really likeable, I guess Theo did do the right thing by the end by saving Jess. And the female characters that could have been characterized as victims at different times through the story such as Sophie, Jess, The Concierge and Irina did regain their power by the end.

20. Finally, do you think the inversion of the normal view of Paris as the city of love was effective here?

Although I love Paris as a tourist and have been there a few times there is no doubt like all big cities it has its problems. Which have been highlighted quite a bit over the last couple of years. This story could have been set in any capital city in Europe really although the French setting did give it that extra something because I'm familiar with the landmarks and have been all over in the Metro.

I don't think this book was quite as effective as some of Lucy Foley's others - 3.5 stars.

Ariel wrote: "I have a booked logged (The Wild Man) and it hits over 500 pages so I have 12 ingredients. I would say over 80% of the books ingredients make up desserts. Is it okay with the team that I logged tho..."

That sounds great Ariel.

Day 5- Nick - Mimi - This is actually Day 4 DQ's ...

13. There is a lot going on in this section with many twists. First we head to Amsterdam and the Ben/Nick encounter was this expected. What are your thoughts on how Ben treated Nick when he moved into the apartment?

Mmm.. I didn't pick this up from the book, only by what other readers had hinted. Sort of explains why they were friends then weren't for ten years. Maybe after that time had passed Nick had some perspective on what happened... and there hadn't been any ramifications from that night. So he felt "safe" to resume their friendship.

14. Ben and Sophie embark on illicit rendezvous courting danger, while Mimi is on an obsessive mission to seduce Ben. Where do you see this ending?

In tears, of course... bloody tears!!

15. Jess and Theo succeed in gaining entry to the exclusive club owned by Jacques but are thrown out when they attempt to access the locked room, with one of the dancers being fearful when she spots them down there. Ideas on what is behind the door?

Is it some sort of club where the girls are murdered during sex. Or something really horrible along those lines? Something really heinous.

16. We learn a lot about Mimi’s heritage and her connection to the Concierge. Do you think she’s aware of the connection?

No, I don't think so. Not at this point anyway. I thought the connection might have been with Sophie but Mimi wasn't too far off the mark.

Emma wrote: "I’ve just been given access!!"

That's great. Happy reading.

Emma wrote: "I am still unable to access the spreadsheet unfortunately"

Oh no Emma. Does anyone know how Emma can gain access?

That's great Vicky. Glad you gals are right on the spreadsheet expertise. Something I'm a bit lacking sadly.

We're off to a great start. Better go and check out what teenagers eat... with 3 kids and 6 grandkids you'd think I'd know, Lol.

Kaley or anyone.. have anything for our restaurant blurb?

Cat.. I though the Concierge's daughter was possibly Sophie as well. The author threw out a few hints but maybe just a red herring.

DQs Day 3 - Mimi - Sophie
9. Now, we know they are one big (not so) happy family. What do you think of the family dynamics? Do you think it is odd to live in an apartment in someone else’s house? This also means that anyone could have a key.

Very dysfunctional family. The kids have got a totally unhealthy co-dependence on their father and stepmother. Very creepy indeed.

10. We have learned about the father and his view on sex/chastity with two of his children (“becoming a man” and his daughter’s outfit). How do these two scenes reflect on the family and character development?

Totally a caveman, his unhealthy influence seems to have totally driven his children's skewed development. Are they all into something sinister driven by the father or is it just totally f***ed up family dynamics. Time will tell.

11. Ben seems to have been investigating the family business. What do you think is really going on and is represented by the “wine” transactions? I think there is one obvious choice, but I will wait for others to comment.

Wow, I didn't really pick up that the "wine" transactions was something illegal. But doh now that I think about it, it totally is. And Ben was investigating surreptitously and got caught. Makes perfect sense.

12. Finally, do you have a favorite character so far? Do you think the characters have developed much or are they still mostly defined relationally?
Can't say any of the characters leap out at me. In fact I'm finding the book a little tedious to be honest. They all seem a bit whiney and try hard. I suppose Jess is the most interesting really.

Morning Everyone,

What a great start. Good idea about the BOMs Kaley. 😊

Ariel, for the desserts and alcoholic drinks. The books have to have 500+ pages to use the words . Could you check and amend your entries on the spreadsheet. Thanks so much, you're going great.

Emma, any luck accessing the spreadsheet?

Emma wrote: "Thanks Lisa- do you know how I can get access to the spreadsheet? Ive requested it but nothing so far. Are you authorised ?"

Not sure Emma, I think the Mods will get back to you.

Emma wrote: "Do we need to have a dedicated shelf for this challenge?"

Emma, I just checked the rules and it doesn't specifically say you have to. But I created one for this challenge, for me it makes it easier to keep check, but I think it's up to you.

Vicky wrote: "Lisa - are you talking about the error in the "used as scavenger or spell-it-out" column on the Books Read tab? That's the only error I see and I have NO CLUE what's causing that... I tried in a fe..."

Thanks Vicky! All seems to be working now.

Day 2 DQs Jess to Jess

5.) This section opens with Jess and Nick meeting which provides more insight into Ben and his relationships with friends. The conversation Nick and Ben had about the apartment rent seemed really odd, why was the rent for that apartment so cheap? And how could Nick really arrange it?

The way it is written it seems there is something more to Ben and Nick's relationship. Some undercurrent. Maybe they are just casual uni friends with nothing untoward. It seems Nick is quite wealthy and helping out Ben might just be something he does to help an old Uni buddy and think nothing of it. We will see.

6.) More layers added to the Concierge, she seemed to like Ben because he treated her like a person. Anyone else think he had an angle there and he wasn't just being a decent person? However, she's following Sophie's instructions about Jess and vaguely threatened her. Any thoughts as to why?

I'm thinking Ben is hot on the trail of some journalistic expose and is playing all the angles. And all the people.

7.) Things are not looking good for Ben, I'm back to pondering the freshly planted flower bed in the courtyard. Any guess at what he's been up to? The blackmail of Sophie?


See answer above

8.) The police station. Do you think Nick told them what Jess think he told them? Or do you think he told them "this is my friend's nutter sister who thinks he's missing when he's off getting laid".?

Probably a bit of both. I really don't think Nick is up to anything. It is just dramatic license for the reader to think that he is.

So I logged my book on the spreadsheet so you can get an idea of how it works. My book has 421 pages so I can use 8 ingredients - so I made the Special that takes 6 and finished Meal 1 and Started Meal 2 with two - it needs 3 more to finish.

It is showing an error on the first page, Kaley or any spreadsheet gurus maybe have a look and see why? Ta.

Just checking, can the word fowl be substituted for chicken in the monthly special?

Emma and Ariel. Yes, it can be a bit confusing but you'll get the hang of it. You can use an item if it used several times in a book, coffee is a common one. But as depending on the number of pages you only have a limited number of ingredients, so it comes down to the best use of them. See Kaley's awesome table.

I'll be finished my first book later on today. Or maybe one of the other previous players might finish. Just hang off a tad and follow on the spreadsheet and you'll get an idea. Or if completely lost, come back here and post your books, items and pg numbers and I'm sure someone will post on the spread sheet for you till you get the hang of it. It's fun, I promise.

DAY 1 QUESTIONS - PROLOGUE - CONCIERGE

1. Lucy Foley has been a very popular author over the last few years starting with The Book of Lost and Found in 2015, this is her sixth book. How many have your read? Have you a favourite? What is it about her writing style that keeps you coming back? And if you are a newbie what are you expecting from The Paris Apartment?

2. Ahhh.. Voila. Paris the city of love and light. 💕 How important do you think the apartment's location will be to the story? Have you been to Paris or is it on your travel bucket list? Any memories/stories you want to share.

3. And now to the prologue. Does is set the scene? What are your initial thoughts of Ben and what is to come? PS Isn't the key so cute with the Paris landmarks on it. I want one!

4. It's a bit of a femme fest with all the main characters at this stage women. Jess, Sophie, Mimi and the mysterious Concierge - all seem to be full of subterfuge and secrets. Compare and contrast these women and what do you think their ongoing role in the novel will be?