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

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

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.

Emma wrote: "So I am going to do my spell it outs today. I thought we still created meals using letters, but do we just make food words?"

Yes just food words, Emma. Have a look at the spreadsheet for inspiration.

Hope all is okay Ariel, stay safe.

I'm half way through my last book for this month, should have it finished by tomorrow.

And don't forget we all have to vote on the restaurant names by the end of the countdown.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Great teamwork ladies. 💕

All good with shuffling for more meals. Agree that just using the minimum number of ingredients allowed for a meal is the better strategy for more meals.

Also just a heads up that I will be away from 9 November so will be reading less from then. And won’t have reliable internet either.

We also have to vote which affects Round 2.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...