Allison Ann’s Comments (group member since Oct 19, 2014)

Allison Ann’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

I watched half a Christmas movie and then went back to my books. But I'm only reading fluffy books that are under 300 pages. :D

Congratulations Team Lust

That we are. :D

Only 46 minutes left! I second what Joanne said - awesome effort everyone.

Added my last book and it looks like we won't need anything else, so I'm going to not read for a couple of hours. :D What oh what shall I do with myself?

One more long book added to the spreadsheet, one more still reading. I may or may not have time for a short book Sunday, but we shall have to see how the morning goes. :D It's been an awesome challenge, but I have to say I am happy we are ending. I went to the library yesterday and got the next book in all of the mystery series I am in the middle of reading. All 300-400 page books that I've been avoiding for 10 weeks. So excited!

Books are being read and added, sorry I haven't been posting much. The free time is so limited at this time of year. :D But at least I'm reading.

I got a stand for my ereader so I can roll cookies and read at the same time!

That video is giving me a headache! But since you finished the monster book about silly weddings, I will allow it. :D

Day 4 DQs
Chapters 14-20

13. As disgusting as Alex's form of justice was on Blake, did you laugh and write it off as karma, or did she take it too far?
Actually I didn't think it was funny or karma. He should have been reported and arrested. Being humiliated like he was will probably make him more vicious in his next attacks, and let's face it he will attack other women.


14. At Rosenfeld Darlington felt the darkness of the "portal" before telling Alex that it wasn't a portal. I feel like there are still a lot of holes in the world building and the magic system, but do you have any idea what it could be if not a portal?
No clue and I wish the author would give us some clarity on the magic in this world.

15. In that same scene we learned what happened when Darlington disappeared. Do you think Alex could've stopped it or was to blame? She seemed a little uncertain herself. And if he didn't disappear, do you think he would've turned Alex in for what he believed her to be?
Alex is marginally trained at this point, what was she supposed to do? I find it very natural that she wouldn't be able to save him. And I do think he would have reported her to the Dean, and I think the Dean would've done absolutely nothing because he already knows what happened and that's why he brought Alex to Yale.

16. After discovering what happened with Hellie, Len and the others in LA, did it help you understand Alex more? Did it change how you felt about her?
Meh.

17. Lance seemed to be involved in more than just selling drugs, especially with the ability to portal! Why did he attack Alex as soon as he appeared? Did someone send him after her? But then going back to the scene in the morgue, if this was Lance, who did Alex see when she had the vision above Tara's body (you would think she would remember the face)? Anyone else thinking Glamours?
Again, I'd love some answers, don't know if we'll get them.

Ninth House
Day 3 DQs: Chapters 9 - 13

9. Well, these chapters definitely get exciting! Alex is attacked by a gluma, which seems like a Gray on steroids. She later recalls that they are messengers sometime used by the houses. Book & Snake are the ones that can "create" these messengers, but that doesn't necessarily mean they were behind the attack. Who do you think is trying to have Alex killed? Do you think it's because of her investigation or for some other sinister purpose?
I think whoever was behind Tara's murder is targeting Alex. Who that is, I have absolutely no freaking clue. The characters (except Alex at this point) are so thin, I don't understand anyone's motivation.

10. "But one thought returned again and again as he tossed and turned, fell in and out of dreams, morning light beginning its slow bleed through the high tower window: Alex Stern was not what she seemed."

We know that Alex is special because she can see Grays without the assistance of potions, but Darlington knows this, as well. What do you think that thought means? Is there something more to Alex that makes her "not what she seemed"? Why do you think she can see Grays in the first place?
This book is reading like YA for me and I don't like it. All the special secrets and coy statements irritate me to no end.

11. A lot has been happening to the Lethe House Dante and Virgil: Darlington gets purposely drugged at the Manuscript party, he subsequently goes missing, and now someone is trying to off Alex. Do you think that these incidents are connected? Do you think someone has it out for not only Alex, but Lethe House in general? Any other theories about what might be happening?
No theories and although I never do this, I am so tempted to just read the ending to see what happens without having to suffer through any more writing.

12. After reading the chapter about Darlington's past, my immediate thought was, "Does Sandow do all of his recruiting in the hospital?" Do you think that he preys on vulnerable kids? Why would he do so when there are thousands of freshman at Yale they could recruit to be Dante?
Because he's a bad guy and bad guys like vulnerable kids?

Done

Late to vote, so I won't. :D

However, brown enough?

Day 2 - Chapters 5-8

5. In chapter 5, we meet Professor Marguerite Belbalm who Alex has a meeting with. What do you make of their meeting? Why is she proving help for Alex? Do you think she's just being a helpful teacher or that she has a sinister reason, like wanting to use Alex for something? How do you think this will influence Alex's behaviours and choices in the book?
Alex seems to trust and like her, which of course makes me suspicious that she will betray her.

6. Whilst Alex is looking at the crime scene of Tara 'on the other side of the intersection', she has a sense of familiarity and then remembers Helllie and Len struggling in the apartment. Len asks her to let them out. What do think happened in that situation and why did she remember it? I feel like it is something important to the story. Do you think this memory will lead to a large reveal or is it just a small and not so important memory?
It felt like there is more to the memory and I hope we'll get more info as the book progresses. I'm not super hopeful though, I have lots more questions than answers so far.

7. In chapter 7 we get a glimpse into Alex's past and what she had to go through to deal with the ghosts. I honestly wasn't expecting us to find out about her past until past halfway mark. She mentions a lot of issues she had to deal with like no one believeing her, kids making fun of her and ostracising her, her parents, that awful bathroom scene, her illicit drug abuse... Why do you think the Lethe society didn't reach out and help her through all that if they were watching her?
I think the Lethe society thought she was not of their class and therefore not important enough to care for until she was needed by them. She has every right to be furious at them.

8. I'm interested in what you guys think of the writing style so far. We have a chapter written in the present tense with Alex and a snippit of passages from books. Then we get Darlington's POV in the past. Are you in favour of this? What do you think of the snippits and are you paying much attention to what they say?
Not loving the style or the book so much, but I have hopes that it will eventually stop being so over the top mysterious and answer some questions.

The Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Day 1 Questions


1. Our book starts out with a Prologue that leaves me understandably a bit lost and confused but wanting more, giving us minimal clues to our forthcoming story.
How do you feel about Prologues? Do you ever go back and Re-read them after you finish the book?
This prologue definitely left me confused and intrigued. After finishing the first part of the main story, I am still confused, but less intrigued. I rarely reread the prologue after finishing, mainly because my disorganized mind will just eventually mix it into the main story and I won't remember what was in the prologue.

2. The setting of our story is the prestigious Ivy League school of Yale. The history runs deep and gives a gothic and dark feel to the book. Why else do you think the author may have chosen Yale as the setting?
History and ambiance for sure.

3. In Chapter 1 our Main Character, Alex Stern, is running late for the Prognostication. By definition Prognostication is the action of foretelling or prophesying future events. I'm curious as to what the Bonesmen final goal is by performing these ceremonies. Although it is still early in the book are there any guesses as to what the Bonesmen are seeking? Are they after glory ? Time travel? Immortality?
The secret societies are generally ways for people to amass power and money and influence, so I'm thinking this is the same. Though time travel would be awesome.

4. The Grays ! I love ghost stories and cannot wait to learn more about the Grays. Alex not only has the ability to see the Grays but is also able to see them in color. This is important and seems to be a key feature that got her this opportunity at the school. Darlington appears to be jealous of this ability of Alex because he needs to take an elixir at a great risk to do the same. How do you see the relationship between Alex and Darlington? Will they become friends, enemies or lovers?
They don't seem to have much of a relationship at all now and I don't know if that will change. I generally prefer friendship to romance in my reading, so that is what I am hoping for.

It has gone so fast, but honestly I am looking forward to reading shorter books again. :D

Posted my last book. I will be aiming for 6 - 1000 page books and the BOM for next week. I'd like to go for as many points as possible with an emphasis on Wrath when we can't get anything else. :) Most of my long books don't work for genre or cover colour, so it is fortunate many things make me wrathful. :) We might not be able to beat Lust, they had a lot of teammates read that massive anthology, but I do want to try. My opinion anyway.

Added one to the finished list and I'll have one more long one done tomorrow.

I've been rereading books. I just don't have the time and energy to search for longer books that I might enjoy, so old favourites it is.

Alysa wrote: "@ M, or anyone else who has read Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell — anything wrath-inducing in it?"

It's one of those books that I can't remember a single plot point about, but I can guarantee hateful characters.

[[ Frankie ]] wrote: "I’m gonna try to get to soon finally. I just gotta finish the two books I’m currently reading (but I’m almost done with both). Yay!"

I just finished this. I know M didn't like it when she read it, but I loved it.!

And it's a sin bingo if something makes you wrathful. :D