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

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

DAY 4 - CHAPTERS 15-19

13. Getting closer to the end now where all will be revealed. Does the character of Agnes Young and hearing the story of Tyler's near drowning shed any more light on the sister's story?

14. I enjoyed reading the research Iris did into the masked man. Who do you think he is and what is his agenda regarding the three sisters?

15. "Outside Edinburgh was steeped in predawn darkness. We headed toward Saint Giles' Cathedral...We walked, shivering through the Old Town's warren of narrow lanes.."
" The ruins of the chapel sat on a squat hill overlooking a small loch in Holyrood Park... The ruins were two stories tall; only the corner of the chapel remained now the walls tendered in rough stone in some century long passed. "
How does the setting in Edinburgh's Old Town contribute to the spookiness of the tale? Would the story work equally as well in a more modern city or urbanised area?

16. Finally Iris and Tyler make a break through entering the strange place through the doorway.
"The Halfway.
It's putrid. It's a slowly rotting canker somewhere between the realms of life and death."
Your first impressions of this place? Is the story following the path you expected and how does the language contribute to your feelings of The Halfway and what happens there?

Jenny | 4726 commentsDay 3: Chapters 11-15

9.Let’s talk about Cate. What could Grey have possibly said to her to make a mother hate her child? (If she is her child.) What do you think of Cate and Iris’ relationship?

This is a real puzzle to me. I'm racking my brain to try and work it out. Is Grey not really her daughter or did she do something to bring this horror onto the family? I've got a sort of a theory forming that the girls were supposed to die and somehow cheated death who is stalking them. Thus all the creepy funeral and death references.

10. What do you think causes the sisters to have the power of suggestion, or the power of the kiss, or whatever you call it?
Mmm.. not sure on this one. I'll be interested to see what everyone else thinks. Maybe being between worlds gives them some sort of power. Dunno.

11. How do you feel about Grey's actions in the hospital and during the escape?
She does what she has to do I suppose without thought of the havoc she is causing for innocent bystanders. I'm not finding her a very likable character despite the fact that she is running for her life.

12. The girl says “It is in me…In her…In you.” What is in them? And, may I say, yuck. This story seems very myth-laden. Has anyone recognized the myth yet, or do you think this is an original one? Are you enjoying the story so far? (Is anyone else having a flashback to the creepy video in season one of True Detective, or is it just me?)

I'm thinking it's a combination of quite a few myths but not one that I recognise. I'm still thinking that they have cheated death somehow and he is coming for them to restore the balance. And it also has fae overtones. The fact that they are always hungry and their powers over humans.

And, just out of curiosity, has anyone done a Google search on the flowers yet?

No.. but may do now that you've given me the idea.

Tammie (friend)
2990 books | 229 friends
see comment historyDay 2: Chapters 6-10

5. Grey leaves her sisters a note that reveals the creepy guy is really a very bad person...that she's in peril. She provides a key and sends them to a super creepy apartment...'The missing sister, the dead body, the burned apartment, the gunshot wound, the armful of stolen artifacts. Even harder: the man in the skull, the flowers growing rampant in all the soft parts of a corpse.' What is your conclusion so far?
The plot thickens.. Definitely seems a fae tale to me. The girls were taken by the fae into another world and changed somehow.. Grey being the oldest still had memories and has either been searching to return to the other world or has been taken there by persons unknown.. I don't think she is dead.

6. Vivi and Iris find a diary from their father...his notes supporting the Vogue article with all kinds of rumors about the girls. What do you think about their father? Was he crazy? Are his girls dead?

Something happened to them, they were changed by their experience. But I think it's the same girls just different to who they were before. They have been touched by the Fae.

7. What is with the flowers and vegetation found in the girls and around the girls? This organic, smelly stuff keeps showing up? What do you think is behind it?

It is the remnants of the world they were transported to through the door. One world seeping into the next. Creepy.

8. Tyler shows up at the end of this section of our reading. There's an article referenced with mention of a disappearance. Someone else came back. What do you think is next? What will Tyler's role be...hero, bad guy, or is his appearance a cameo/distraction?

I'm getting good guy vibes from Tyler. What happens next... well they are going to track down Yulia and this will provide a vital clue as to where Grey has gone.

Day 1 - prologue - Chapter 5

(posting early because I'm with the niblings over the weekend so will get no chance to post tomorrow!)

1. What sort of stuff do you like in your horror books? Do you like the slow pacing here?
Is this a horror themed book? Must have missed the email on that one, LOL. Is it YA.. there have been a couple of references so far which left me thinking it was more adult. I'm enjoying the slow, nearly dreamy writing. It's very appropriate for the mystery of who the sisters are at this point.

2. What do you think of the sister's and their relationship with each other?

There is certainly something magical about them, it is hinted they maybe witches but I'm getting more of a fae vibe from them. They certainly are tight, and they seems to be about more than the fact that they are sisters.

3. We are getting hints about the strangeness around the Hollow girls, and at what happened to them. What are your suspicions? Would you be like Cate with her daughters, and not push at the memories overtly or dig actively?
Yep, I'm thinking they are fae or something to do with Greek legends. Their mother seems ordinary human, does she know something she is keeping from them especially Iris regarding their heritage?

4. The descriptions (of Grey's clothing in particular!) is very atmospheric. Are you enjoying the descriptive language used?

Yes, it completely suits the tone of the novel. Sometimes this descriptive language can be overdone but it does add to the mystery and illusion of something supernatural or paranormal here.

Congratulations Sophie. What an achievement and good luck.

Here in NSW, Australia we have got to 80% double vaccination and that means our overseas borders are going to open 1 November. So I'm spending the weekend re planning overseas holidays that were cancelled. Hope whatever you are doing you are enjoying your weekend.

My Calamity JaneWelcome ​to 1876 and a rootin’-tootin’ America bursting with gunslingers, outlaws, and garou.

JANE (a genuine hero-eene)

Calamity’s her name, and garou hunting’s her game—when she’s not starring in Wild Bill’s Traveling Show, that is. She reckons that if a girl wants to be a legend, she should just go ahead and be one.

FRANK (*wolf whistle*)
Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler is the Wild West’s #1 bachelor. He’s also the best sharpshooter on both sides of the Mississippi, but he’s about to meet his match. . . .

ANNIE (get your gun!)
Annie Oakley (yep, that Annie) is lookin’ for a job, not a romance, but she can’t deny there’s something about Frank she likes. Really likes. Still, she’s pretty sure that anything he can do, she can do better.

A HAIRY SITUATION
After a garou hunt goes south and Jane finds a suspicious-like bite on her arm, she turns tail for Deadwood, where there’s been talk of a garou cure. But things ain’t always what they seem—meaning the gang better hightail it after her before they’re a day late and a Jane short. (less)

Hyde

by Craig Russell (Goodreads Author)
3.87 · Rating details · 160 ratings · 75 reviews
Edward Hyde has a strange gift-or a curse-he keeps secret from all but his physician. He experiences two realities, one real, the other a dreamworld state brought on by a neurological condition.

When murders in Victorian Edinburgh echo the ancient Celtic threefold death ritual, Captain Edward Hyde hunts for those responsible. In the process he becomes entangled in a web of Celticist occultism and dark scheming by powerful figures. The answers are there to be found, not just in the real world but in the sinister symbolism of Edward Hyde’s otherworld.

He must find the killer, or lose his mind.

A dark tale. One that inspires Hyde’s friend . . . Robert Louis Stevenson. (less)

Thanks Lexi. All good to go. I love it when our team gets picked in a challenge. Lots of lovely points.

I'm good with my day. 😊

Sally906 wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "PS So glad I have a light and fluffy one up next. My favourite space smut.. I'm still reading Brides of the Kindred, Sally
P..."

LOL - I have a few tucked away still
..."

Nuh, spent the day trying to replan the holidays I had to cancel. I'm having crepes with my sister on Wednesday. At a cafe!!! Luxury.. and Yummy. But I'll still be taking my mask and sanitiser. Don't think we're out of the woods yet.

Finished my first book for the challenge (and posted to shelf and s/sheet) . And it was brilliant - 5 stars. Karin Slaughter is the master of the dark thriller.

PS So glad I have a light and fluffy one up next. My favourite space smut.. I'm still reading Brides of the Kindred, Sally, 🤣

Great to hear from you Jenny. Definitely your health should be your priority and we'll catch up with you on our next itinerary. 😊

Hi everyone, excited for the challenge to start. I'm just finishing off my last book to coincide with reading a fresh book for the challenge. What is everyone's first book going to be be? Mine is by Lucinda Riley. It's the second book in The Seven Sisters series. I really enjoy these family stories set over generations. Happy reading all.

Great to see you back, Cat. So all letters for Stop 6 picked. Hope it's ok that I put you down for the last O, Louise. The stop is due to finish on the 31st October.

N - Lisa
E - Maddy
W - Namita

C - Sally
A - Sally
L - Namita
E - Cat
D - Cat
O - Louise
N - Maddy
I - Louise
A - Celia

Great everyone. Hope we all enjoy reading it together. 😍

The November BOM's are up.

I'm really pleased because the one I chose for YA got chosen. So I nominated for DQ's as well.

Oooh,, glad my nomination got up.

Nominating for Team Max. 😍

Louise wrote: "So letters E, D & O are left and Cat let to pick?"

Yes, that's where we're up to. I've PM'd Cat so hopefully she'll pop in soon.

Thanks ladies. I'll PM Cat and see where she is up to with the challenge. '😊

N - Lisa
E - Maddy
W - Namita

C - Sally
A - Sally
L - Namita
E
D
O
N - Maddy
I - Louise
A - Celia