Lauri’s Comments (group member since Jan 23, 2016)

Lauri’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

OMG! Can’t we just stick with the monsters? Color me ultra confused now!
Can I just continue reading as usual? Someone can tell me what to do, and I will do it…
Yikes!

DQs Day 4 - Chapters 30 - 34
In this section, we see Beth really open up in the interview and describe two different Christmas flashbacks. The first, when Beth was 14, Lily was bruised and had been clearly abused by her foster family. We also (at least according to Beth) see the beginnings of Lily as a serial killer. Do you feel any sympathy for Lily? Do you agree with Beth that Beth could have stopped her?
I have sympathy for any abandoned and/or abused child. But Lily is a sociopath, obviously. I really don’t think Beth could have done a damn thing to stop her!

16. What did you think of the interview with the lawyer Ransom Wells? Why do you think he and Beth never told the police about Lily, even after the murders?
I think Ransom is quite protective of Beth, perhaps because of Mariana. He’s the only fatherly figure in her life, really. If they were to tell the police about Lily, both their lives would be forfeit.

17. Beth gets a wonderful shopping trip with her mom that immediately gets ruined when they return home and Lily is there. Lily is clearly the favorite. Why do you think that is?
I think Mariana felt a great deal of guilt for giving Lily up for adoption and for what subsequently became of her. It was very unfortunate that Mariana should have made that comment about loving Lily in Beth’s hearing. Their whole family dynamic is totally messed up!

18. Can Shea trust Michael? He seems almost too good to be true.
Michael seems to be a good guy. I dearly hope he is what he seems to be.

I’ve got fig in text with Leave No Scone Unturned

DQs Day 3: Chapters 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?
Not everything is immediately visible or is what it seems at first glance. I think that Beth knows that people won’t believe her if she tries to tell them about her house. She invites Shea in to experience it all for herself. There seems to be an entity inhabiting the house and it’s not at all benign.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have?
I really have no idea what to think at this point! While Lily was experiencing the seamier side of life, Beth was more sheltered. All she knew was what she saw from her parents’ and Lily’s behaviors. Nothing good or ‘normal’ at all.

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.)
I don’t really know how any adult could be so horrible to a young child. Whatever happened was not Lily’s fault! Im guessing that he felt tricked into marrying Mariana & that he had received ‘damaged goods.’ I am hoping that it doesn’t turn out to be something heinous like incest or rape.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this?
That’s exactly why I’m afraid there’s something awful to be revealed. I don’t care for that abomination remark. A young girl doesn’t just come up with a word like that all by herself. She had to have heard it somewhere…

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?
I think Beth learned her manipulative behaviors directly from Lily. Beth seems to naturally choose the path of least resistance. Otherwise she would have taken off years ago. There’s some reason holding her back. I haven’t a clue as to what that is yet!

Wow! You guys sure have been busy little beavers! Incredible….

I’m home today, so will work more on my BOMs & big books…

Completion Post!
How to Raise an Elephant
Alexander McCall Smith
Finished 6/23/22
Page count: 256
Monster mini: T62 set in Africa (Botswana)

Sammy wrote: "Tasks currently unclaimed


T32 Read a book that takes place in the suburbs.


T38 Read a book with lightning on the cover
T39 Read a book where the title contains all the letters in ZEUS
T40 Read ..."

Hey… I don’t think I claimed book with plain on cover, I believe it was water….
I am almost done with Africa!

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?
Ghosts. Definitely ghosts! Especially the taps, the cupboards and the blood! I was terrified by the Paranormal movies, especially #2!

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
I really hope they will meet and at least be friends. Shea really needs a friend right about now. Her cold case obsession, while understandable, is probably not the most healthy thing in the world for her.

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?
Maybe the house or she herself was haunted. We are being naive when we expect rational explanations for everything.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?
I found that very scary! Especially alone at night in your home where you expect safe haven. I definitely believe animals (and young children) can see more than we do. Haven’t you ever seen a cat just stare at something unseen for a long while & then hiss and run away? Creepy!

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?
OMG yes! My 2-year-old niece used to talk to someone invisible whom she later pointed out in a family photo album. She called her “the lady” & it turned out to be her great aunt who had died waaayy before my niece was born!
I used to work in a very haunted building. We would have cold spots, hear unexplained voices/noises, feel people caress our arms & faces when we were alone, several of us saw full body apparitions in mirrors, hallways & right outside on the grounds. This all happened on the grounds of our State Mental Hospital which has been in use in some form or another since the 1800s. I never quit, but I refused to be alone in the building.

Completion Post!
Silver Anniversary Murder
Leslie Meier
Finished 6/18/22
Page count: 272 pages
Monster mini:
T7 - RAB with a funerary service- Lucy’s Friend Beth has a funeral
T16 - RAB 200-299 pages
T26 - RAB 200-299 pages
T28 - RAB where someone is kidnapped - Lucy is kidnapped by a religious cult
T35 - RAB where someone owns a dog or a cow- Lucy owns Libby the Lab!

Completion Post!
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Stieg Larsson
Finished 6/18/22
Page count: 503
Monster mini:
T1 - RAB between 500-650 pages
T5 - RAB with Fire in the title
T28 - RAB where someone is kidnapped - character Miriam Wu is kidnapped
T33 - RAB where someone is a bully - many bullies! Magge Lundin, Atho & Harry Ranta…
T36 - RAB between 500-650 pages

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11
1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?
I did read The Sun Down Motel! It was sufficiently interesting AND creepy enough for me to want to read this one. Thus far, I am intrigued!

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?
I think you’re right. This MC is a bit younger and seems to have PTSD as well. Maybe without a significant other they just have loads of spare time to fill? A void in their lives to compensate…

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
Beth is weird. Plain and simple. We’re about to find out exactly why. The comment that sticks out the most is “There were rumors I was fu- - ing everyone,…” A nice lady wouldn’t just blurt that out. She’s trying to make a point.

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
LOVE the ghostly! I was thinking, Yeah! It’s ON now! What I want to know is can anyone coming over to the house see these things. OR is it just Shea???

Claire wrote: "How do you like the series Lauri? I remeber when I read them I was obsessed ! I really loved it :)"

I am really liking it, but it’s a little “off” to me. By that it may just be stilted dialogue between different species or just trying to get to the meanings each is trying to convey. There’s also so much tension! It’s hard to understand that humans are just meat… I will definitely read on. I am a bit different — when I find a series I enjoy, I stretch out the time between books to make it last as long as possible!

Completion post!
Murder of Crows
Anne Bishop
Finished 6/17/22
Page count: 354
Monster Mini:
Nemean Lion T21 RAB between 350-400 pages
Stymphalian Birds T11 RAB between 350-400 pages, T15 RAB features a bird book has the Crowgard Crow shifters that are being targeted
Lamia T29 RAB features prophecy - MC Meg is a Cassandra Sangue, when she cuts her skin, she speaks prophecy

Completion post!
Dancing With Demons
Peter Tremayne
Finished 6/15/22
Page count: 274
Monster mini:
Colchian Dragon
T16 between 200 - 299 pages (274)
T17 RAB from an unfinished series ( #18 in the Sister Fidelma series)
Stymphalian Birds
T14 Metal on cover (a sword and metal Sun disk)

Sammy wrote: "Eldarwen wrote: "Sammy, not even the kiddy one? Generally those are better for more sensitive skin?

I usually go for the really obvious and very white one for kids if I need to use sunblock that's..."

Come on down! If you want beaches, this is the place for you! BUT I have gotten heatstroke, blisters, maroon-purple skin all with SPF 30+. I have also had skin cancer twice! (Nose & chest.) So now I am milky white, scarred and stay indoors as much as possible. I wear SPF 100 when I do go out. Back in the day, we'd go to the beach all day with only baby oil on & fry in the sun. I used to have a gorgeous tan. Now? Those days are gone forever. Be careful out there!

I can also do Cerberus #2 Funerary Service takes place with Silver Anniversary Murder and Scylla #2 with body of water on cover with The City of Tears

Completion Post!
The Whispered Word
Ellery Adams
Finished 6/11/22
Page count: 292

Completion Post!
Cloud Cuckoo Land
Anthony Doerr
Finished 6/11/22
Page count: 626

Wow, guess you guys weren’t kidding about shenanigans!
I finished two books today, but will hold off on more…

Could I pleased claim takes place in Africa?
I have How to Raise an Elephant which takes place in Botswana…

I had a really hard time with Lestat! It took me ages to finish! I have never successfully finished Interview with the Vampire and I have tried repeatedly.

Namita, I wasn’t able to help out with The Maze either — for the same reasons you stated! My full time job just gets in the way of book fun… *sigh* I was going to put in a dedicated effort today since I’m off, but alas…. So no more weird little tasks for us this June? I’m abound to finish my first medium-sized Big Book…