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

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

- CFN North Archer

- CFN Victor and ALN . Veletzos

Lisa' posts for book tokens -

DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - DQS - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DAY 4 - CHAPTERS 21 - STORY 26

16. So the title, Great, Big, Beautiful Life... your thoughts on who this actually refers to? Do you think it has any significance to the plot at all or is it just a catchphrase along with the bright cover art to lure in the reader?

17. Half way through the book and I realized that the only interviews the reader is privy to with Margaret is through Alice's eyes. Why has Emily Henry written it this way? What is the deal with Hayden? Is there actually a contest at all? And is there more to him not wanting to take his relationship with Alice to 100% physical? Is there going to be a twist, anyone think they've worked it out?

18. Wow, nearly makeup, storm sex occurs, another near miss! What do you think about all the extended foreplay without getting to the main event? Do you like how Emily Henry writes an intimate scene? Are they important or interrupting the flow of the storyline?

19. One of the themes of the book is family relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. How does the parts about Alice and Hayden's family and especially the relationship with Alice and her mother contribute to the overall story?

20. What are your favourite parts of the book? The Alice and Hayden relationship or the slow reveal of the Ives' story?

Let me know, if we need the X. I've got a series on ice for this purpose starting with X and they are quick reads.

Jenny (friend)
8405 books | 290 friends
see comment historyDay 3 Chapters 14-20

11. Whether the stories are true or not, are you interested in the back stories of Margaret’s family? What did you think of Freddy’s first interaction with Bernie? (The one that contained the only laugh out loud line so far “Because of your wardrobe?”)
The backstories are fine, I quite like past and present juxtaposition of the two narratives. The Bernie and Gerard story was quite interesting but could have been expanded, I felt we got to find out more about Gerard's POV than Bernie. For example what did she really think about the affair with Nina?
And the resulting secret love child grenade.
12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
Not sure about that one, we will see.

13. I do not have kids, but Hayden’s list of “what ifs” to worry about was a lot. Do you parents worry about that stuff?

Yep, I remember saying to my son when he was having his first baby, "You don't know what fear is till you have a kid!" Seriously you've got to keep this sort of stuff in perspective.

14. Why do you think Alice thinks that Margaret’s tales of her childhood are true, as opposed to the stuff about her family before she was around? Do you find her insightful or naive?

Maybe because this was actually about her living memories and not just family legend. Alice is a mixture of naivete and intuition especially when it comes to her writing she is a lot more cluey.

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?

This is a mystery, I think who Hayden's family is will be part of the reveal at the end.

Dromes is history!

Incoming monster is Albert and Celie from the Colour Purple (Bad Romance)

Let the hunting begin.

Good work Natasha.

I should be finishing those final books in those monsters in the next week.

So look out for new monsters incoming...

Judy
1827 books | 152 friends
see comment historyDQs Day 2
The Story to Chapter 13

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?

Yes, I'm thinking along the same lines, that neither story is true. And the true story will be the twist towards the end. Laura may be part of this.. or not.

6. Similarly, it was kind of an aside but I thought it was interesting when Margaret mentioned the Ives family’s rivalry with the Pulitzers. Is it just a random coincidence that Hayden is a Pulitzer-prize winning author who now also gets to talk to her? Especially since she requested him? And he has a bunch of family issues too?
Probably inevitable that the Pulitzers and the Hearsts as media moguls of the time will be mentioned. Interesting theory that maybe Hayden is part of either the Pulitzer or Ives family, missing illegitimate son maybe?
7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?

Typical romance trope, amazing sexual chemistry but no we can't get together for A, B, or C reason. Romance 101, they can't get together in the first third of the book, or if they do some silly misunderstanding will break them up. Par for the course, here.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?

Not really, I was glazing over a bit at these details, although I suppose they do add credibility to her profession as journalist.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?

The British Royal family, especially historical monarchs are my thing. Love reading about what they got up, warts and all.

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?

Interesting, that didn't really cross my mind. I suppose a lot of novels have backstories, so yes I can see some similarities.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 to 7

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?

I've read quite a few of her books, enjoyed them while reading but forget them a week after I'm done. So I expect it will be the same for this book. But maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?

Typical EmHen (apparently that's what her Tik Tok fans calls her ) type of heroine. What's not to like, LOL. Sunny, a little bit feisty, enough to melt a brooding hero's heart!)

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?

If I was these characters I'd surely do it. They are dedicated enough to the story to do pretty much anything to get the job. Why is Margaret doing it this way, she had a great love affair and I think she recognizes in Alice and Hayden there will be one there too.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did you opinion change a bit on his character?

We know that he's protective and a good hearted guy behind the growly exterior, No doubt, Alice will bring out more of his character. Time (and pages) will tell.

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil

From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.

This is a story about hunger.
1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
A young girl grows up wild and wily—her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets.

This is a story about love.
1827. London.
A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family’s estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte’s tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow—but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined.

This is a story about rage.
2019. Boston.
College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That’s why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge.

This is a story about life—
how it ends, and how it starts

I may have one for a tight deadline.

Andie is given 30 days to get two unruly orphans ready to go to boarding school and if she succeeds she will get 10,000 from her ex husband.

30 days tight enough deadline?

Yes, I second that. Fantastic job, Insiyah. ❤️

Hope everyone is enjoying the challenge, I know I am!

Insiyah wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "If a book is listed as set in Vatican City and is about the Borgias - Pope Alexander VI, is this the same as The Holy See?"

I'm going to go with yes"

Oh that's good. I love reading about the Borgias!

If a book is listed as set in Vatican City and is about the Borgias - Pope Alexander VI, is this the same as The Holy See?

Yay. I got picked for DQ’s for the first June BOM. Picking the book up from the library today. It’s the Emily Henry so an easy read.

Good for my day.

Set in New Zealand

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2013)
It is 1866, and young Walter Moody has come to make his fortune upon the New Zealand goldfields. On the stormy night of his arrival, he stumbles across a tense gathering of twelve local men who have met in secret to discuss a series of unexplained events: A wealthy man has vanished, a prostitute has tried to end her life, and an enormous fortune has been discovered in the home of a luckless drunk. Moody is soon drawn into the mystery: a network of fates and fortunes that is as complex and exquisitely ornate as the night sky. Richly evoking a mid-nineteenth-century world of shipping, banking, and gold rush boom and bust, The Luminaries is a brilliantly constructed, fiendishly clever ghost story and a gripping page-turner

Well done Richard.

Yes, Cheese is good.. especially Bega! (For Aussies)

Thanks Karen. Sorry, if I wasn't clear asking the question.

So that one does fit, I'll borrow it from the library. 😊