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

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

Not sure Ariane, sounds kind of iffy to me, I'll let el Capitain make the final decision. :D

Finished a pre-1900 books.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book that your co-captain or captain has read which is on your "to read" shelf (go to the person's profile -->compare books).

Again! *sigh*

I'm going to start today and I should be done my Underappreciated Book by tonight.

Updated to here.

I have finished (and enjoyed) the first two novels, so I should be able to finish the 3rd and catch up before we start this discussion.

I'd like to volunteer for DQs also - Team Raven.

12 Jan 2016 Chapters 1 - 7 Questions

1.Do you like the book so far? Why did you decide to read this book? Have you read any other books by this author?
It's okay, pretty standard stuff for Kristin Hannah who I have read in the past. She is usually a 3 star read for me, not great but not horrid.

2.The Nightingale opens with the following statement: “If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” What do you think the narrator means by this? Is love the ideal and war the reality?

2.Who do you think is the elderly lady at the beginning? What is the reason for your choice?
I had already forgotten about her, how funny. I expect she is Isabelle, the person you'd least expect to leave France and have a traditional life in America.

3.The narrator says that: “He [her son] loves a version of me that is incomplete. I always thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired. Now I think perhaps I'd like to be known.” what have you always wanted? Has it changed and why or why not?
I have never wanted to be admired and I have never wanted to be known. Honestly, I'd most like to be left alone but I say this people tend to judge me. So don't judge, I like solitude and I like my own company. :D

4.War changes people. “The father who went off to war was not the one who came home.” How did war affect Vianne and Isabelle's family? Do you think that Antoine will be changed like Vianne's father? How about the soldiers that Isabelle comes across? Should she be so angry with them? Would you?
I don't think there are many soldiers that don't come home changed though the changes can be different, some for the worse, some with a greater appreciation for life. I expect Antoine will be broken by war though, he doesn't strike me as an overly thinking man. Isabelle is very young, her world is strict black and white and good and bad. The common solider isn't the one to blame for war, but she can't see that and will blame everyone who doesn't think exactly like her.

5.Why do you think Vianne is in absolute denial about the war? How would you react if it was you? Do you think your choice is a product of 50/50 because we can look back on that period and know what happened?
Vianne has lived most of her life with her head in the sand, war certainly isn't going to change that. I think I'm much better suited to face a war than she is and it's not because of prior experience. Vianne has lived through a war already and hasn't learned to face facts.

6.Isabelle says that "Magic, to be its best, must be unexpected." Do you agree? Why or why not? Do you think she is warning her sister here?
I do agree but I doubt Isabelle understands half of what she is saying. She's a child.

7.What do you think of the characters so far? Are they believable? Do you have a favorite? Dislike any?
I don't like any of the characters so far. I am very picky in my WWII fiction and so far this novel isn't my favourite.

Sarah-jane wrote: "Ha ha ! I thought you were being sarcastic, I am taking my time because the book I am reading is dreadful !"

HA! I do read horrible books slowly sometimes, but usually I try to power through to get them over with. But when the story is beautiful I want to savour it and not read at work when I can be interrupted. :D

Sarah-jane wrote: "Allison Ann wrote: "I'm enjoying my Underappreciated Book so much that I am reading it slowly. Sorry team.

I'm the same with my L book Allison ... so feel free to read books beginning with "L" guys cause it might take me a while ! "

It's so nice to love the book I'm reading with all the bad ones I've picked lately. And no matter how many books we read, we're never going to rocket ahead to first place :) so why not enjoy the ride.

I'm enjoying my Underappreciated Book so much that I am reading it slowly. Sorry team.

I also have a copy of I could read, but it's on my computer and I am really burnt out on screen reading right now, so it will probably take me a week. If anyone else can do it faster, please do so. :)

Anima wrote: "I liked Lila at the end, I definitely warmed to her with the progress of the story, and her final actions won me over completely.
I also think that Lila and Kell were a very good team in the last part of the story. "

Well this gives me a bit of hope because so far I am reading this book at a snail's pace and it is all because I dislike Lila and what she has done to the story. The first few chapters before she appeared were quite enjoyable and I was interested in where the story would go, now I'm forcing myself to read a few pages a day.

Finished for the Book Club listopia.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book which has the main location (setting) as a known planet other than Earth.

I have no Africa book right now, so I would be all for booning that one.

I have books for both Listopia lists so I will pick one to start tonight.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book that is in the "Best for Book Clubs" Listopia List (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...).

✼Danielle✼ wrote: "You're not the only one. I finished it today, but it has taken me over a week to read. I kept putting it down to read other books. "

Nope, couldn't finish it, a few chapters is my daily max. I absolutely can't stand Lila and she is ruining the book for me, I found the beginning before she was introduced quite promising. Oh well, I did finish which I thought was pretty good. And it has a character named Iko so that's good for a goal. BRB with our new goal.

Off to work, have a great day teammates. I'm going to try and get done today - apparently I am not enjoying it as much as most people are.

Finished the book with a snake on the cover.

NEW GOAL -- Read a book where a character gets a haircut.

When I'm done my X book I'll be reading one with a snake on the cover next. :D

I'll be done the X book tonight when I get home. We may want to save Donna's I book and use the one I just finished instead. Her's is an actual book with characters and plots and mine is an advertisement for Weight Watchers thinly disguised as a music autobiography. With no G characters. :)

Finished two books that work for O today, updated the mini-challenge. Didn't feel like reading on a screen so I'll get my X book done tomorrow. On my way out for dinner, I'll check in later.

Oh I should have an I book done tomorrow too.

I have an X book I can read and I think we should boon our 5 books now and keep the random book I'm reading on reserve - we seem to always get a goal 3 times. :)

My random book is over 700 pages, maybe they will let us use January books in this newest mini-challenge?

Lots of vowels in this round too. Perhaps we should let our goalless books build up a bit.