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

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

Jessica wrote: "On an extra note, I don't trust this Dr. Mead fellow. Why is he playing both sides of this field. He's got some motive going on here! I can feel it"

Yep, definitely agree Jessica. He's got something going on, not necessarily good.

DQ Day 2: Ch. 6-10

6. Were you surprised to find out Daniel had a wife? I personally was super surprised as I originally believed him when he said he was single. What do you think of the way Daniel died?

I wasn't surprised because really neither Bess or the reader knew all that much about Daniel. Anything was possible.

7. How do you think Alexandra Callard knew about Bess and her daughter?

It had to have something to do with the younger Dr Mead, he seems to have put them together so there is some mystery there. I still Bess's brother may have been involved.

8. What do you think of the way Alexandra and Charlotte live? Do you think Alexandra keeps Charlotte home to stop her from being recognized or because she is truly scared of the real world?

I'm thinking that Alexandra is on the autism spectrum. Or neuro diverse in some way. Could also be from some childhood trauma. Definitely mental health issues there.

9. "Eliza" has been fired on her first day. What do you think of Alexandra's reasoning for firing her? Do you think part of Alexandra knows that she is Charlotte's real mom?

Not sure about this one, whether she knows or her insecurities and mental health is affecting her decision.

10. Do you think Bess will find a way to still see her daughter? How?

No doubt about this.. but I think maybe Charlotte will plead with Alexandra for her to stay. So she won't have to go at this time.

Alysa wrote: "Jessi wrote: "Finished Interview with the Vampire.

I'm thinking Anne Rice just isn't for me. This is my second book by her and I didn't really enjoy this one at all."

Ah see, your mi..."

Ah yes, Alysa. Your comment made me smile. I was 14 when I read Interview with a Vampire. It sent me down the paranormal path. And I love The Witching Hour book although the series went in a strange direction for me. I've tried to read a couple of the latest Anne Rice books and struggled big time. I thinks she's lost her mojo somehow.

Jessi wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "@ Lisa - Do you have a link for the page count for Redemption? I've had a look online and can't find one for a kindle version. If not that's okay"

Looks like Amazon ..."

Yes, that's where I got the page count from.

s://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Brazen-Bull...

Yes, when reading these historical fiction books it's interesting (and horrifying sometimes) to see what was considered normal practice for the times. In some things society has debated, pondered and legislated for improvement but we still have a ways to go in other things. And where you live in the world also has huge bearing on a person's health and human rights unfortunately.

DQ Day 1 - Chapters 1-5

1. How are you liking the writing style ? Are you enjoying the story so far?

I haven't read Stacey Halls' other book but this one is exactly the kind of historical fiction I like. Easy reading and I really like the time period especially set in London. Great reading about places I have visited. Characters are engaging as well especially Bess and Keziah and her family. Strong female friendship is always a bonus.

2. After reading that opening scene, what do you think of the practice of the Hospital taking babies based on a lottery (the coloured balls in the bag) ?

In any time period this is horrible but even more so by our 21st standards. The number of babies that would have died or been mistreated in 18th century England would be high. One way of looking at it is that being accepted here which seems a lot better run than other orphanages might be fortunate for some.

3. At some point Bess says that "knowing she [Clara] could be anywhere instead of nowhere at all was torture even more exquisite." Implying that not knowing where her child is is worse than knowing she's dead. What's your opinion ? Or would you rather not know ?

Can't answer this question, both scenarios seem beyond awful. Thankfully have no personal experience but I have read people's accounts when their children are missing presumed dead that at least in knowing they can let them rest in peace. Just tragic.. shudders...

4. What do you make of the child's father, Daniel Callard ? Everyone keeps asking Bess if he's really dead. Do you suspect there's more to Daniel than we've been told so far ?

Mmmm, definitely seems that way... a mystery to be explored for sure..

5. Time for your theories ! Who do you think claimed Clara on the 28th of November 1747, the day after Bess gave up her baby ?

I'm guessing Daniel is more than a merchant (aristocrat or royalty) and his family has claimed the baby... or outside chance the brother Ned had something to do with it..

I finished my first book also. It must be the day for strange reads. . Nothing like I expected, just didn't get it at all.

Audrey Jane wrote: "Thank you, Sophie ! Really enjoyed this individual challenge (definitely a keeper)."

Oh yes.. let's do it again some time.

Michelle wrote: "Oooh, thanks to you both! Lots of things I haven't discovered yet. Adding to my list for the challenge."

Historical mystery - Here's some great ones -

Sebastian St Cyr -

Wrexford and Sloane -

Veronica Speedwell -

- Lizzie Hardwick

- The Bronte Sisters Mysteries.

Thanks for the challenge, Sophie. I really enjoyed it.. and had a blast trying to catch Sammy in the Edge category but she reigned surpreme. Congrats Sammy.

And to all the other winners and participants. Hope you all enjoyed playing!

Thanks Tina. That is super helpful. I've been on Goodreads so long I just work everything on Goodreads time, whatever that is. Depending on daylight saving midnight is usually between 5-7 pm Sydney time. After a while it just becomes second nature.

It's been wonderful for challenge addicts to go from Uno to TT and I had the individual Inside Out as well... I hardly watch TV now too many books to read and add, LOL.

Diane ~Firefly~ wrote: "Team - I created a listopia for our book suggestions so people can see all the books in one place. I only added my suggestions currently as I didn't want to add others unless they requested it.

ht..."

Thanks Diane. I've added some on there too.

Me too.

For TT purposes, which version are we using? The one we are actually individually reading or a default one for everyone. Thanks Mods. 😊

Oh fantastic Stacey that you got picked for DQ's! I'll be reading along, I picked up my book yesterday..

Not long to go now till TT is go..happy reading everyone.

Here's another book for our recs. It was my favourite book from last year.

by V E Schwab. It was so imaginative and a killer ending.

Morning everyone, (or evening... )

My library has the BOM so I've volunteered for back up for Stacey for the DQ's. I'm guessing different readers can still use the BOM for different tasks even though it's the same book?

I'll be reading for next month. I have read and watched the TV adaptation with David Tennant and Michael Sheen which was a hoot. My first Sir Terry solo book though.

I'll in and will backup Stacey for DQ's for Team Carrot.

A Darker Shade of MagicA Darker Shade of Magic by V E Schwab


(Shades of Magic #1)
by V.E. Schwab
4.06 · Rating details · 228,570 ratings · 29,033 reviews
Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they'll never see. It's a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they'll first need to stay alive. (less)

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

The Seven Sisters
(The Seven Sisters #1)
by Lucinda Riley (Goodreads Author)
4.18 · Rating details · 50,365 ratings · 4,322 reviews
Maia D’Apliese and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, “Atlantis”—a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva—having been told that their beloved father, who adopted them all as babies, has died. Each of them is handed a tantalizing clue to her true heritage—a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of her story and its beginnings.

Eighty years earlier in Rio’s Belle Epoque of the 1920s, Izabela Bonifacio’s father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into the aristocracy. Meanwhile, architect Heitor da Silva Costa is devising plans for an enormous statue, to be called Christ the Redeemer, and will soon travel to Paris to find the right sculptor to complete his vision. Izabela—passionate and longing to see the world—convinces her father to allow her to accompany him and his family to Europe before she is married. There, at Paul Landowski’s studio and in the heady, vibrant cafes of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows at once that her life will never be the same again.

In this sweeping, epic tale of love and loss—the first in a unique, spellbinding series of seven novels—Lucinda Riley showcases her storytelling talent like never before. (less)

If that's okay with everyone. Here's where we're up to - Itinerary 9.

Stop 1 - Complete
Stop 2 - Complete
Stop 3 - Complete

Stop 4 - Book starting with U or Read any Book - Abir

Stop 5 - "The" first word of text or read any book - Jenny, Celia and Abir

Stop 6 - Current stop - Book starting with W.