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

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

Lexi wrote: "My opinion is more similar to Allison's. I never read past book one, as I could not stand the romance. It is one of the few one star books I have rated outside of challenges."

Book twins! We hate Reyes and audiobooks!

As an alternate opinion, I love Charley and her snark but I hate Reyes with a burning, fiery passion. :D So I'm taking a several year break between Book 3 and 4.

I have always loved Mercedes Lackey. It's so nice to hear that she is great in real life too.

Finished my last book and added to spreadsheet. Now to have lunch and start a TRAVEL book. :)

DQs Part 3

14. Part 3 labels its chapters with locations, rather than the POVs used in the previous parts. Why do you think this is? Did you notice the change? Do you have a preference?

Honestly, I didn't notice any change. I don't tend to read the chapter labels. This explains my sometimes confusion in time travel novels. This one, didn't notice anything. No preference.

15. We see the outcome of three different relationships in this section: Alistair and Kitty; Astrid and Michael and of course Nick & Rachel, plus – of course – the flashback to Rachel’s mum’s experience of love and marriage across the money divide. What do you think Kwan is saying about the power and influence of money on relationships? Do you think the parents are reasonable in their view point, that you have to come from money to fit into the lifestyle? Can you see a happy ending in the future for Astrid, Michael, Rachel & Nick?

I do think money affects relationships and I think that people raised with money would fit more easily into the wealthy lifestyle. If I was suddenly rich, I'd build a heated workshop that I could refinish furniture in and a large fence so I could foster dogs. I wouldn't have any big parties, buy real estate just to have it or jet around the world. I don't see any happy endings in sight.

16. Kwan uses this book to expose the foibles of the Asian super-rich elite, from extravagant weddings and conspicuous consumption to the snobbery within the families. Do you think the book is successful in its social satire?

Being so outside my sphere of influence it just reads as fiction to me. Satire yes, but I don't get most of the jokes.

17. Obviously this has been made into a movie – have you seen it? What do you think will work well? And less well?

I have not seen the movie. I rarely watch movies, though this one might be a fun glittery extravaganza.

18. This is the first in a trilogy – will you read the next books in the series?

I'm a completist, so probably eventually, but I won't make an effort immediately.

I'll have one last book finished this afternoon before deadline. It will only work for N though.

Discussion Questions
Part Two Chapters 1-18

1. How do you feel about Michael's desire, early in his marriage, to live independently from Astrid's family fortune by selecting to live in a place he could afford to buy, even though it was far below Astrid's accustomed lifestyle? How much weight do their different economic backgrounds carry as the reason Michael cheats on Astrid? Were you surprised to learn that Astrid had not told Michael about the other properties she owns?

It's tradition, isn't it? The man who is threatened by his wife's wealth. I can't think that they ever truly loved each other. And they certainly married too soon, without knowing each other. And they are using money as the excuse.

2. It seems as if Amanda's mother, Jacqueline, is vying to set up Amanda with Nick. At the end of chapter 7, Eleanor is feeling "the stars are beginning to align". How do you think this could impact the story?

I had to check the MPG, but this is classified as a romance. So of course this is going to cause problems between Rachel and Nick. Amanda will act overly familiar with Nick, he won't see the problem and Rachel will freak out. Classic.

3. Rachel isn't fitting in very well at the bachelorette party. Do you think Araminta is aware of how rude the girls are being to Rachel? Whose side do you think Araminta will take if forced to choose?

Someone (Alistair maybe?) was absolutely shocked that Araminta was so nice to Rachel on their first meeting. That tells me that she is traditionally a mean girl and means girls are always on the side of their crowd.

4. We learn Bernard has a history of bullying Nick and others from the time they were young and hasn't matured or changed over the years. Give your reaction as to the bachelor party and the solution Nick devises for Colin, Alistair, and Mehmet to escape the yacht.

Bernard's an ass. Nick's solution tells me he isn't quite so unaware of his wealth as he might pretend. Normal, middle-class college professors don't automatically charter a helicopter to escape.

5. After her accident, Astrid confronts Michael about his cheating. Astrid is ready to hear the truth, forgive Michael, and work on making their marriage happy, but instead Michael quickly packs his bag and leaves. Do you think this move is final? Will Astrid continue to pursue him? Will Michael change his mind and return to her?

I think Michael will stay away and Astrid will stalk him.

6. What do you think Eleanor means on the last page of the final chapter for Part Two when she states, "We should all just sit back and watch, because things are about to get interesting."

7. Have you enjoyed the book thus far? What is your prediction on how the book might end?

I expect a big blow out and Rachel and Nick breaking up. I didn't realize this was a series when I first started the book. But there's going to have to be something to overcome for the second book.

I've answered the questions for Crazy Rich Asians.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Discussion Questions for Day 1
Prologue & Chapters 1-18 (Part 1)

1. In the prologue, Reginald Ormsby wouldn't let Eleanor, Felicity, Alexandra and their families stay at the hotel. What do you think the author was trying to say with this opening? Were you surprised at how the situation was resolved?

While I have no doubt that Reginald Ormsby is a racist, I think the situation at the hotel showed more that he was an elitist. If an Asian family had arrived in a chauffeured limo wearing fancy clothes with well behaved children, I don't think there would have been as much of a problem as there was. I have worked in the tourism industry my whole life. No one in the world is more elitist than someone with a little bit of power and a grand sense of their own (and their business') importance. I loved the family buying the hotel and firing him. The very rich are truly different. They know how to get even.

2. The second encounter with Eleanor Young in chapter 2 seems completely at odds with the woman introduced in the prologue. What are your first impressions of Eleanor as a person? as a wife and mother?

I don't remember exactly how many years had passed but at least 20? Eleanor has become Reginald. She's an elitist and a racist. She might be a good person, but she seems like a difficult wife and mother.

3. Nicholas seems very down to earth in comparison to his mother and even his cousin Astrid. He doesn't seem to think his money would change his relationship with Rachel. What are your impressions of Nicholas? What do you think of the way he is handling introducing Rachel to his family? Should he have taken Astrid's advice instead?

Nicholas seems like a good guy. He's an idiot though in how he is handling introducing Rachel to his family. I think he truly doesn't think it will make a difference though and isn't being malicious. Nothing about this is going to go well.

4. Rachel has clearly made several incorrect assumptions about Nicholas and his family. Were you surprised that Rachel's friend and her family had never heard of the Young family or knew about his grandmother's house? What do you think is going through Rachel's mind as she pulls up for family dinner?

I can't pretend to understand the level of wealth or the cultural attitudes, but I just don't think people this rich could be unknown on a small island where gossip seems to be the number one pastime. If I was Rachel, my mind would be blown.

5. Astrid's return from Paris has not at all gone as expected. What did you think about her way of handling her husband's probable affair? about her internal dialogue of the matter? Did you have any sympathy for him after watching him endure the family lunch?

I have no sympathy for either of them. If you are having problems - TALK ABOUT THEM. This is why I don't read romance novels.

6. Rachel clearly has an amazing relationship with her mother. What did you think about their relationship? Do you think it will make it easier or harder for her to understand Nicholas' family? What about her friendship with Peik Lin? Do you think it will help her interact with Nicholas' family?

I adore Peik Lin. I think she is my favourite character. I would have liked to see her in the middle of Nick's family. That would have been comedy gold.

Added A Certain Justice to the spreadsheet. Works for most letters.

I'm not a fan of YA but the first travel on cover that sprang to mind was - the map signifies travel to me. Don't know if anyone would want to read it though. I don't (not sure if I made that clear :D )

I have a bunch of Bill Bryson books that would all work for travel as genre. As I understand, non-fiction can't be used for character names, but at least The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain would work for T or R.

Almost every single book I've read in the last two weeks has had V, T and E characters. That will of course stop at 5 p.m. Central on Saturday. :D

Lexi wrote: "I haven't started my two but I should still be good as life should calm down after tomorrow. I will read genre Witches first because I think I saw that someone had a text Cauldron go by already but..."

My first book had cauldron in the text if you decide you don't want to read the one you had planned.

Atwood is very hit and miss for me, but I liked the MaddAddam series alot.

M - Hope you heal up soon.

Finished and added to spreadsheet. Works for CALDRON. I'll post a link when I get around to answering the DQs.

Another 60 pointer up next - . Three letters to start but we'll see who shows up from the village (come on Ruth and Olivier). :D

Audio for Crazy Rich Asians will be interesting I'm sure. The footnotes in the book are super annoying. If they are read out loud, I can only imagine what that would be like. You can figure out the majority by context, I really don't need definitions for "Oh gosh" in Cantonese. :)

Dead Over Heels on spreadsheet. Works for CALDR. Halfway through Crazy Rich Asians - lots of characters. :) I'll go answer some questions when I finish tonight.

I have lots of U books but they are in the 200 page range. I've been trying to find longer books that work for our letters, but I'm coming up empty most of the time. If we are really short on Us though, I can read my short books.

Finished my first two books for CAULDRON. The Book of Three has cauldron in the text, but I think someone is already reading for that. And of course The Black Cauldron has cauldron in the title. :) They don't work for many letters unfortunately.

I have one more short book to read for another team challenge and then I will start a few longer options. Seems like my longer books don't work very well for our letters. Should have had JACKOLANTERN or TRICKORTREAT. :) But I have a few 500 page ones that I will get to. And the BOM is over 500 pages, so that's good for a few points.

Added my last book to the spreadsheet. I should probably do some work now, but I'll get started on a CAULDRON book or two this evening. Good first week team!