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

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

No worries Celia.

Let's have a breather at Stop 6 till everyone catches up before we finish the last two stops.

I've heard of Discworld probably through Goodreads but this TT will be my first real introduction to the world. I'm just amazed at some of the names of the characters..... I mean Moist von Lipwig, it's so gross that it's awesome, LOL.

No Tina, us here in NSW have only Anzac Day on the Sunday, the public holiday is always on the day it actually falls. Enjoy your long weekend.

So looking forward to starting.. just finishing of UNO now. Definitely join in next year Christina. My two favourite challenges back to back.. woo hoo.

bookswithpaulette wrote: "Marie (UK) wrote: "Hi from Team Ventinari

I wondered if anyone can give me a couple of recommendations

I enjoy most genres -
Mystery / thriller, historical fiction, JD Robb and some nonfiction"
..."

I just read The Four Winds my first Kristin Hannah. Even though it is beautifully written and well researched I initially thought it was a bit slow in the first half. But boy, that ending was so emotional it made up for the slow start. I think I used half a box of tissues and did the ugly cry. Will definitely read more of Ms Hannah.

Jammin Jenny wrote: "Hi there! This is Team Rob Anybody dropping in!!



Can you all provide some book recommendations? We'll supply some in return if you wish."

Hi there Jenny. There are some recommendations in above messages 58 and 59. We'd love some of yours as well.

Celia, Sally and Namita are all on this team as well... so from travel buddies to frenemies, LOL. Good luck and happy reading.

Marie (UK) wrote: "Hi from Team Ventinari

I wondered if anyone can give me a couple of recommendations

I enjoy most genres -
Mystery / thriller, historical fiction, JD Robb and some nonfiction"

Hi Marie,

Have you read the DI Kim Stone murder mysteries by Angela Marsons set in the Black Country of your country. They are enjoyable as they combine a lot of character development with the police procedural. Or Kendra Elliot has a couple of mystery/thrillers set in Oregon, USA. Anything Sandra Brown also crime thrillers are also pretty good. And Aussie Jane Harper writes thrillers where the country of Australia becomes an extra character, The Survivors is her latest.

Historicals anything Kate Mosse or Aussie Writers Kate Forsyth or Karen Brooks are good. Hope that helps.

Hi Celia, there are a few of us from Planes, Trains and Really Big Books on this team, Namita, Sally and I. And I'm pretty sure the other ladies are on other teams. Thanks for joining in, this is a great Challenge. Hope you enjoy it.

Day 4

14. We finally get Will's perspective of some of the events. Did you think that this worked in the story to build up to the end? I thought getting Will's perspective just re-enforced what the reader had already worked out about him. Sociopath. Everything was about him so no surprises he could justify to himself all his heinous actions.

15. The author has changed the pace a bit and we are now getting a lot of shorter sharper chapters before the perspective switches. I found this built up the tension; did it di the same for you?

It was a really effective tool in creating an exciting denouement!

16. The big reveal! I hadn't quite put together how Aoife was connected (but had wondered why she had been so determined to host this wedding). I felt like Johnno got a raw deal, and was surprisingly accepting - I suppose this feels like his punishment fir the death at school. Did you work it out?.

I had worked out it was Aoife mainly because of the knowledge that she had a family member buried in the graveyard. But I thought it may have been a sister also abused by Will. But now I know the outcome it makes perfect sense that "Loner" was her brother. Nice touch having her husband Freddie also one of the school boys.
Just an aside - those school boys were a perfect example of toxic masculinity that is being discussed right now. Somehow the system has to change!

17. I've added some more books by the author to my tbr. Will you be doing the same?'
This is my second read by Lucy Foley and both have been 4 star reads. Well plotted and easy to read, once you start you have to keep reading. Will definitely read more of her.

Day 3

4 Apr Aoife, the Wedding Planner
The guests are arriving. - Out of the marquee, into the growing darkness.


10. So we have finally learnt the rest of Olivia's story. And I had to laugh at myself for thinking there had been a knife-fight or an actual murder involving Steven. (It's a crime novel so the thought seemed logical haha.)
An abortion is not an easy experience and Olivia sees herself as a monster. Is the fear of Jules not believing her the only reason why she hasn't talked to her sister? What do you make of the relationship between the sisters now that we know a little more?

Some of you clever people already picked up on that Steven was Will. Good one! The relationship between Jules and Olivia is tenuous at best. Olivia seems to have major self esteem problems tied up with Jules and her act of self confidence. I say act because Jules has her own issues. It's sad that Olivia just couldn't tell Olivia or her mother the truth. Would have been difficult then but probably would have changed the outcome of the book.

11. Johnno is still confusing me but man, what a, pardon the expression, dick-move to steal his best friend's idea for a show and then manage to get him kicked out of it all the while pretending that it hadn't been his decision. What does this little episode tell you about their friendship or rather the dynamic thereof?

Again as a lot of you have picked up Will isn't a nice person. He's a user and nearly a sociopath drawing people in with his good lucks and smooth charm to do his bidding. He's been using Johnno all along, shame it took Johnno so long to realize this.

12. Charlie seems to have a bit of an aggressive and/or violent streak in him, which only seems to come out when he's been drinking heavily. For the rest, he seems like a bit of a doormat. I can't quite decide what to make of him. What about you? What do you think of this man? Do you think he has it in him to actually kill someone if the booze gets to him enough that this other part of him gains the upper hand?
Charlie seems to have a weak character to me, and he's actually fortunate to have a compassionate woman like Hannah as his wife. But often even weak people can be pushed to kill
although in this case I'd be surprised if he was the murderer.
13. Now that we know that Freddy was not a psychopathic murderer out to get all the ushers, and after that very, very odd best man speech and the guys taking off with a blind-folded Will, who do you think is the victim? What do you think happened? A true murder? Another accident that may not quite have been an accident?

Looks like it probably is Will but I still haven't put all the pieces together yet. But having read The Hunting Party the author is good at bringing all the threads together so interested to see how it all pans out.

Alysa wrote: "Anybody else going through that thing where you want to start reading a new book, but feel like you should wait and save it for TT ?!

I’m reading the current April YA BOM but otherwise I will try ..."

Yes.. and I'm even starting to pick out books that match tasks. Addictive or what, LOL. Luckily still reading to finish UNO, so that should keep me out of trouble.

My first book is for 93 - Character representating Death.

Hi Tina, great to have you as our Captain.

Here's my shelf link - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Day 2

3 Apr. - The Day before - Jules, the Bride 90-182
"Dad!" I say, "You terrified poor Hannah!" - I'm the bad thing. What I've done.

5. Jules keeps stating that she loves Will. However, I think she loves the idea of him and how they look as a couple. It seems she is in love with Charlie and wants him to be jealous. Do you think Jules truly loves Will?

Being in love means different things to different people. (Think of Prince Charles famous "whatever love means" speech back in the day and the ramifications of that! ) Image does seem really important to Jules as does their sexual chemistry. Charlie seems to be the "safe" boy that she's strung along for years.. she doesn't want him really, but she still wants to feel her power over him. Jules and Will seem a pretty superficial couple really and I don't think they will last the distance... if they both survive the book!

6. We have POV’s from Jules, Johnno, Hannah, Olivia and Aoife. Is there a reason why we hear from these characters and not some of the others? Do you think this makes them more likely to be the victim or even the murderer?

Good question. Probably one is the murderer and one is the victim, although I still have my suspicions over that gang of school friends. They are toxic.

7. Who do you think sent the note to Jules warning her against marrying Will? I think it was Olivia. I think the older man that Olivia was seeing was Will.
Interesting theory... definitely Olivia could have written the note, but it seems like something really bad happened to that guy so I'm thinking it's not Will.

On a side note I also think that Will is the ex-boyfriend of Hannah’s sister Alice. The one who she had the bad break-up with while she was at University. I think he is a bit of a predator.

8. Johnno is haunted by something that happened while he was at the boarding school. Something tied up with boy that died. It appears the boy died as a result of that prank they used to play ‘Survival’. Do you think this will be the key to the mystery or is it a red herring?
Another good question. I think it may be a side plot maybe a red herring but not at the heart of the central mystery.

9. So far we don’t know much about Freddie, even Aoife hardly mentions him. He kind of fades into the background. But suddenly he looms out of the darkness on the wedding night. Do you think he means the ushers harm or is he there to help them?
The mysterious Freddie... perhaps the murderer or another red herring. Time will tell..

Day 1

2 Apr Now - The Wedding Night 1-89
"The lights go out. - Safety in numbers and all that."


1. I loved The Hunting Party and this book also immediately has me hooked. There's something about her style which keeps the fast pace and consistently drops little hints about secrets or things to come. I also love her use of imagery. What do you think of the style? Have you read any other of her books?

I recently read and enjoyed The Hunting Party. This is very similar in style. I'm searching for all the clues to see if I can work out the murderer and victim before the end.

2. I'm getting And Then There Were None vibes. I think the idea of the isolated island with a small list of invited guests. Do you like the setting?

Was that an Agatha Christie novel/film? I probably read it eons ago so can't remember any details but I do think the island setting is great for a creepy murder.

3. Is there any character you are particularly drawn to or relate to?
For me, I'm really intriguied by Hannah as there are parts of her character I relate to - especially that feel of discomfort being thrown into a situation out of the day-to-day and with all those rich/glamorous people.
That's a coincidence, I was immediately thinking how much I liked Hannah as a character. She's very personable and normal when a lot of the other characters seem quite pretentious. Hope this isn't a ploy by the author to disguise her as the murderer!

4. Any guesses as to who died? And who was the person that mouthed BOO at the window to Hannah (talk about creepy!).
This is the sort of book where immediately the reader is trying to guess Whodunnit and Whogotdone, LOL. I'm thinking it might Jules or Olivia who have been murdered and one of the school friends the murderer. We will see..

I HATE the new pages. And I told them so. Why, oh why to they have to play around with what works perfectly well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

But on happy note, can't wait to play TT and be introduced to Discworld! Let the games begin.

Hi everyone, Lisa from Oz, I split my time between Sydney and our dairy farm in country NSW. So excited to see so many familiar faces and meet some new ones. This is my 7th TT, I'm a bit of a challenge addict and can pretty much read anything to fit a task. I haven't read any Discworld but am definitely going to read , as someone who loves checking out historic graveyards it seems right up my alley. Other than reading I love travelling only travel books and brochures at the moment, (sigh but forever hopeful that will change soon) and hanging out with my 5 grandchildren, aged 7 and under. Looking forward to reading and having fun with you all.

Celia Buell wrote: "Happy with detour as well."

Great Celia. That is seven of us reading for the detour. And when Abir checks in she can read for it too or Read any Book. 😊

Looks like we're heading towards the detour for Stop 6 - Read a book starting with W. Stop starts 1 May.

Louise
Lisa
Maddy
Sally
Jenny
Namita

That sounds great Jenny. I won't be able to get to my Stop 6 book till then either.

So Stop 6 Detour - Read a book starting with W or read any book. Starting 1 May.

Looks like we're heading towards the detour for Stop 6 - Read a book starting with W

Louise
Lisa
Maddy
Sally
Jenny
Namita

I'm happy with the detour. But I've got a back log to read in April so won't get to it for a few weeks. . I do LOVE this series.