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

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

I'm reading it right now, not terrible actually. :)

Super duper nerd cred. Very impressed.

I haven't read any of those books, but I do love that you used Buffy for your example. :D

I think your book might work better Joanne. Rebecca claimed it for jet ski, which isn't quite the same thing. But I think Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff would work for successful. The dude is certainly successful.

I believe we only get 7 points for a cover all, and we'd lose 50 points for reading too many books, so not really worth it.

Finished my 3000 pages of mainly ridiculous romance stories. :) Worth it for the points.

Alysa wrote: "Aw, Team Ira did not get picked for writing DQs on Two Can Keep a Secret.
But we are still leading the BOM category so I hope we can keep it up! :D"

Bummer, but our luck couldn't last forever. We still have a lot of us reading for points anyway.

Put me on the list for Ninth House too. :D

DQs Day 4: Chapters 63-78

16. I could not believe how much abuse Eric afflicted on his wife and children. It made me sick to my stomach reading about how he justified his actions and knew he would get away with it. Even when he found out about his wife’s death after learning that she was planning on running away, Eric thought it was justice being served. How was your experience reading this section?
I have a real problem reading about abuse. I hate the abuser, but I also usually end up hating the person abused, especially when there are children. I don't feel good about it, but I just don't understand letting anyone treat you that way for any millisecond, for any reason, ever. I don't blame anyone but the abuser, but I can't have empathy for the woman who takes it. So I really don't like reading about abuse.

17. Hess is annoyed when he finds out that Nylander is in communication with his ex-boss from Interpol. There’s been hints so far as to what resulted in Hess’s dismissal from his previous job. Do you have any ideas what it might have been?
No clue, and I really hate books that tease out this sort of information for ever.

18. The killer keeps distracting the police officers with incorrect leads. Did you think the killer was going to come to Jessie’s apartment? Were you surprised that her lover came instead?
A clever switch up. The killer obviously has some background information that they shouldn't. Maybe a cop?

19. One of the things I really like about this book is how you get multiple viewpoints from the various characters (the women before they are killed, Nylander, the cop in charge of Kristine’s case etc.) It really helps to flesh out the plot and character development. What are your thoughts about this? Do you like this type of narrative or would you have wanted the focus to be on Thulin and Hess?
I don't mind changes in perspective when everything is focused on the same story. This one doesn't bother me at all.

Bonus question: The author of this book is a writer for the TV show – The Killing. Have you watched it or are you interested in watching it after reading this book?

Nope and nope.

Day 3 DQ's– Chapters 39-62

11. Steen finds out from Kristine's friend Mathilde that they didn't make Chestnut Men last year like Rosa said. Do you think Rosa was just mistaken when she told the police Kristine made and sold them or that she purposely lied? What were her intentions if you think she lied - did she just want the cops to get out and leave her grieving family in peace, or do you think she knows something about the chestnut men and/or the killer?

I think she was just mistaken. The kids were making chestnut animals, they just didn't make dolls that year. An honest mistake I think.

12. Both victims families were reported to Social Services through an anonymous tip and evidence of sexual/child abuse are later discovered. Do you think the anonymous tipper is the killer?

Probably, or connected to the killer.

13. When Hess calls social services he speaks with social worker Henning Loeb who gives him information on Magnus, but lies about finding information about the two girls, Lina and Sofia Sejer-Lassen, after he "sees something he doesn't fully grasp, and that makes him wary." What do you think he saw and why did he lie? Do you think there is a connection here with Rosa who is the Minister for Social Affairs?

I think the social worker saw similarities between the reports and panicked. I think Rosa's daughter was targeted because of what her mother does.

14. A few people have speculated that the basement Officer Marius enters in ch. 1 could have been used some sort of abuse, possibly child abuse. Given what we now know do you agree and do you think the killer was possibly a victim?

Certainly a possibility, if not a victim then someone involved with the crimes at the first house. If not, why even bother having that prequel part?

15. While it's clear Hauge was the one abusing Magnus we don't know for sure if Lassen was the one abusing the girls. Do you think the abuser was Lassen or his wife? (He seemed ready to offer up info on his eldest's broken nose which is the only thing giving me pause.) If the killer is reacting to the abuse, why target the mothers and not the abusers (assuming Lassen is the abuser)? Is Thulin right in speculating that in the killers eyes the mother "ought to have know... didn't react to the report."?

I think it was Lassen because he seems like an abusive asshole and she was running from him. I'm thinking the whistle blower is the killer and he's targeting the mothers because they didn't protect their kids and serial killers usually have mommy issues, at least in fiction.

Rebecca wrote: "Fantastic! I’m so paranoid of everything this year I just wanted to make 100% certain. Thanks!"

No kidding! I keep reading and rereading the rules. This round feels more like SRC than a normal Tower Teams. :D

Okay, I changed it.

I shelved the edition they told us to use for BOM, so I don't think I can change it. And the mods have approved the use of word in text, so that's nice. Should make things a bit easier to justify.

I have a better book for exclusive but since I am reading the stupid electronic version of The Chestnut Man, I can do some searching when I finish. Also, I have if we need a crown.

Day 2 DQ's– Chapters 20 – 38

6 We have got a fair way into the book now and my first question is to ask how you feel about it? What do you like / dislike about it

I'm not a huge fan of Nordic Noir, but I'm liking this one so far. It's not quite so bleak as most I've read before. That could change of course.

7. What are your impressions about the time line from Marius to Kristine to Laura?

Honestly, I'd forgotten who Marius was, had to look him up. I don't see much of a link yet, but I'm sure it is coming.

8. Hess and Thulin are not necessarily bosom buddies How do you see their differing working methods and relationship developing?

They don't get along now, but I expect them to sleep together at some point later in the book, because it is a male author and just because. I do hope I'm wrong though.

9. Hess insists on visiting Magnus Kjaer and showing him some photographs. What do you think is the significance of "The chestnut man" being something new?

Kristine must still be alive, the doll wasn't there from last fall.

10. Erik Sejer Lassen is arrested - there is a lot going on during the chase - How do you read the events leading up to the arrest and during the questioning?

I think the woman Erik was going to rape got super lucky with the timing.

I'm sure I can find something else for The Chestnut Man, just put it for the most obvious to start.

Day 1 DQs

1. At the very beginning we are hit with a chilling image and as Officer Marius is descending into the basement looking for one of the little girls he "...becomes aware of the room. Glancing around, he realizes what it's been used for. He's disgusted." What do you think this room was used for?

I assumed there was evidence of child abuse.

2. We get brief look at what happens to Laura before Thulin and Hess get called out to the scene. While looking over the body and the garden Thulin notices a chestnut doll and has an odd reaction to it. "It's a simple doll consisting of two spheres and four sticks, but briefly, for some reason she can't explain, it makes Thulin's heart stop." Why do you think she had a strong reaction? Could it be a repressed memory?

At this point I have no idea. Does a chestnut man stand for something in Denmark?

3. Speaking of Thulin and Hess. I'm a bit put off by the both of them. Thulin seems to think homicide is boring and Hess just seems to not give a flying rat's behind about anything. What do you think of our MCs so far?

Thulin is okay, but she's a stereotypical woman officer written by a man. Hess is an asshole so far, which means he will be redeemed at some point and break the whole thing wide open. :)

4. Then we have Rosa and Steen, the parents of Kristine who is missing and presumed dead. They each have a different way of handling their grief. Rosa has thrown herself into her work as a politician and Steen is drowning his sorrows in alcohol. As a parent it's really hard to imagine losing a child. How do you think you would handle losing your child? Do you think their reactions are typical for parents who have lost a child?

I thought they were written very believably to be honest. How do you go on when your child disappears, is reported dead, but a body can't be found?

5. Do you think Kristine Hartung is still alive? Or is it a cruel joke being played on her parents? Why or why not?

I think she's alive, and someone has her locked up and making chestnut dolls to leave at their murder sites.

Sophie wrote: "I'm amazed by the number of us that see 'this is a terrible, incomprehensible book but if you read it you'll get more points' and think, yes sure, that'll be fun. Even after reading the reviews we ..."

I know that I am an idiot who will do terrible terrible things for points. I apologize profusely for my part in this conspiracy. I will retire to my mortuary to read a good book. With absolutely no cows. None.

Alysa wrote: "3rd (partial) story:

The Interstellar Super Explorer went to the planet Artemis because he had heard he could find some Little Women there. Sure enough, he found them, but upon seeing the first on..."

Hee hee!

Okay! My last books are on the spreadsheet. My explanation of is here and I'm done for the week.

Interstellar super explorer - An Explanation with Absolutely No Details

by Allison

(view spoiler)[Long ago or possibly far in the future, in a galaxy far far away or right here, somewhere near Japan, on a planet that wasn't his home appeared an ace agent of the Galaxy Security Action Bureau. His name was not important and subject to constant changes, like everyone he came into contact with. His gender, unlike the other characters seemed constant and male. Possibly because he was an alien he was never referred to as he and she in the same paragraph. How manly and adult!

Dude, as I will henceforth refer to our MC, has a head full of secret agent smarts, a body full of super human strength with kung-fu grip and a ghost bracelet that is dying. He is arrested and immediately put in charge of solving the murder of a local hooker. Which he of course does by reading local travel books. But wait, the murderous turtle is clearly just the tip of the conspiracy iceberg. Fortunately dude is there to lead the team of detectives who are too busy screaming like little girls and falling down "Plop" to solve the string of murders. Murderous turtle - dead. Murderous monk - dead. Murderous head of some agency - dead. Murderous got too tired of taking notes and lost track - dead.

Dude goes walkabout to solve these murders. Survives the Nanxun poisonous blood alliance, twice, figures out a casino game that isn't at all based on math and takes the casino for mega-cash, charms snakes that come from spider eggs, fights and beats the unicorn wolves and meets a sexy little cross-dresser princess who hides her 36D boobies in a snazzy jacket. Happily ever after? But wait!!!! The unicorn wolf horn is charging the dead ghost bracelet. Dude's home planet gets word of him. To kill or to save, that's for someone else, clearly not the author, to find out. We end on a happy note with dude flirting with his little cross-dresser and scandalizing or titillating the local aunties.

I can't help but think that if I could just get a solid translation for "catch the head", this book would reveal itself to be a work of staggering genius. And although you might think that the farts and the hookers and the turtles and the unicorn wolves and the poisonous blood alliance and the stacked princess points toward a teenage boy author, I have figured out the secret. He slipped and talked about Jedi galaxies. Ladies and gentlemen and Adults!, I present George Lucas, with his nose like a dangling.

Thank you. (hide spoiler)]