Geri’s Comments

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

Note: Geri is not currently a member of this group.

Will the Secret Santas be posted soon?

WOW. Just saw our final ranking. Great job all! I had loads of fun too. And definitely hope to see everyone in another challenge!

Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley

Finished 12-7-18, 522 pages

How it fits

D - series Dream Man
A - author Kristen Ashley
T - character Tyra Masters
R - character Rush
E - character Elliott
N - character Naomi
C - character Cherry

My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins

Finished 12-7-18, 336 pages

How it fits

Fits task 37 - read a book with snow on the cover

Also participated in BOM discussion https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

N - character Noel
R- author Rainbow Rowell
S - author Stephanie Perkins
D - author David Levithan
A - author Ally Carter
T- author Laini Taylor

Star of Bethlehem
36. Lydia was very impulsive, in switching tickets with Hulda. Have you ever done anything so impulsive? What did it make you think about Lydia's character and situation?

Even before the details came out, I could tell right away that Lydia did not like her home situation. No. I have never done anything as impulsive as what Lydia did.

37. Being British, the idea that an airport is four hours drive away is insane to me - I mean, I can be in France in four hours! which means I find it hard to connect with the situation (and, incidentally, completely got Hulda's outrage in the airport that getting a bus wasn't practical!) Did the setting of the story add or distract from your reading?

I live near Chicago and have been to O’Hare airport. So I had no trouble relating to the situation or setting.

38. Ethan's family was a really tangible element to the story. Do you think Lydia fell for the boy or the mob?

I do think she fell for both.

The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer
39. This story had a really unpleasant baddy, in the form of Reverend Thingy (I disliked him so much that all I retain of his name is that it began with S). Did you react strongly to him? Other characters?

Yes, he was a creepy character. A supposedly holy man who definitely was not!

40. The fact that the baddy was the priest and the love interest was a primoridal god-like creature made this feel kinda anti-religion. Do you think it fitted with the holiday theme of the collection?

This was an odd holiday story. But Taylor does write fantasy so I guess she wrote what she likes to write. This wasn’t my usual holiday read.

41. The imagery in this story was really powerful. Did you enjoy it?

The writing was good. But I can’t say I enjoyed the story.

======
42. and finally: do you have a favourite story? which author(s) will you read more of?

I did enjoy Midnights and It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown. I may check out books by Perkins since I enjoyed her story and haven’t read anything by her previously.

Beer Buckets and Baby Jesus
27. What do you think of Vaughn's pranks? Do you find them funny throughout the story? Could you relate to the way he thinks - like everything is just a step away from a disaster to happen?

No. Vaughn and I have totally different personalities. But I did find hm humorous. I’m sure he thought he was funny. But to the people he did pranks on, probably they didn’t find him funny.

28. I've noticed that the stories in the book have some kind of continuity regarding fathers and them leaving. Did you get a similar feeling too? What do you think why Vaughn's dad left and what do you think of his mom and how she is handling the whole situation?

Now that you mention it, I can see a pattern. Vaughn’s mother isn’t taking things well. It could be one reason Vaughn acts out with his pranks.

29. In my opinion, the quick love-to-be between Vaughn and Gracie felt a bit rushed. Do you feel the same way or do you have a different opinion? Do you think they go together well as a couple and why?

This is a short story so there isn’t much time to get them together. The fact that they knew each other before the story started helped me to believe the story.

30. During the reading, I also wondered how kind was Gracie's dad, the pastor, to Vaughn. What do you think was the course of his actions, do you think it was really just out of kindness as Gracie pointed out? Overall, how did you 'experience' the pastor? Did he seem like an actual pastor?

I liked the pastor and did think he was being nice, keeping Vaughn out of jail. I also liked that the pastor had a sense of humor.

Welcome to Christmas, CA
31. Would you like to live in a town like Christmas? If yes/no, why?

No. I don’t think I could take all the tourists that would be in my town year round!

32. What do you think you would be if you were a food?

Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream on top.

33. Did you expect Rick acting this way and saving money so Maria could go to college?

This was a nice surprise. But not sure Rick and her mom should have kept this a secret for so long. Maria was definitely resentful about not getting paid.

34. Personally, I really liked Maria as a character - especially when she helped Candy so much. What did you think of her?

I agree it was nice of Maria to help. But I found this part of the story depressing. I usually like to read happy, joyful stories this time of year. This wasn’t one I would normally read.

35. What part of Christmas is your favorite?

I do love to see the Christmas lights downtown and on neighbor’s houses.

Of Blood and Bone by Nora Roberts

Finished 12-6-18, 464 pages

How it fits

Fits task 23 - read a book with a birth ( character Arlys has a baby in the prologue)

O - title O
N, R - author Nora Roberts
A - character Ariys
S - character Fallon Swift
C - character Colin
E - character Ethan
T - character Travis
D - character Duncan

Rebecca by Daphe du Maurier

Finished 12-6-18, 449 pages

How it fits

D - author Daphne du Maurier
R - title R
C - character Caroline de Winter
A - narrator Anna Massey

SandyL wrote: "Regarding the first story in this book - was anyone else yucked out when Mags shoves a bunch of Chex Mix in her mouth and then Noel shows up and gives her a kiss (and I didn't even remember about t..."

I can see your point, Sandy. But Noel always looked longingly at the food he couldn’t have. And by kissing Mags I guess you can say he got a taste of forbidden fruit, in more than one way. And, of course, Mags gets to save him like Noel always said she did!

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz

Finished 12-5-18, 434 pages

How it fits

S - title S
D - author Dean Koontz
E - character Ethan Hunt
R - character Jimmy Rayburn
T - character Travis
N - character Nathan Silverman
C - character Gladys Chang
O - character William Sterling Overton
A - character Ansel Hawk

The Christmas Sisters by Sarah Morgan

Finished 12-5-18, 416 pages

How it fits

Fits task 39 - read a book with a scarf on the cover

C - title C
S - author Sarah Morgan
R - character Ruby
A - character Adam

The Wolf Gift by Anne Rice

Finished 12-5-18, 404 pages

How it fits

A, R - author Anne Rice
E - character Phillip Emanuel Golding
N - character Marchent Nideck
D - character Dennys
C - character Celeste
S - character Stuart

Krampuslauf
22. Krampuslauf is an unusual holiday festivity. Does your community and/or country have unusual holiday traditions and/or festivals?

Not that I can think of. If they do, I haven’t been.

23. Penny and Silke were given the opportunity to decide if Roth was going to be punished. Penny showed more compassion with wanting Grieselda to punish him like Krampus would. What did you think about Roth being turned into a donkey?

This was a strange story! It took a turn I did not see coming. Turning Roth into a donkey was bizarre but somehow right. LOL

24. Joachim told Hanna that his people are often beseeched for favors, but seldom invited to share feasts. When he offered her a gift, Hanna wanted to never forget that there’s magic in the world. Why do you think she wanted that?

Knowing magic was real would likely give her hope that she could make her dreams come true. She just had to put herself out there.

What the Hell Have You Done, Sophie Roth

25. Sophie is having a hard time adjusting to college life. Having to say “just kidding” and wondering what she has done this time. Do you think she misread situations?

It seems so since at the end, she had more friends and people who had her back than she thought.

26. Russell said the only constant in his life was the Simpsons. I feel when he was talking about his grandmother that she is a constant too, regardless of the amount of time he could spend with her. Is there something or someone that is a constant in your life that helps keep you grounded?

I found the friendship that developed between Sophie and Russell interesting. They connected because they both felt like outsiders. And because of the Simpsons too. It’s definitely important to find your “tribe”, people you connect with and make life more fun. Yes, I have family and friends and a husband who keep life interesting and keep me grounded.

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Finished 12-4-18, 368 pages

How it fits

Fits task 36 - read a book with stars on the cover

D - title D
A - author Jennifer L. Armentrout
E - character Evie Dasher
S - character Heidi Stein
C - character Clyde
N - character Nadia

Since different team members can read the same book, if anyone has time, the book has a dog on the cover. I already used it for Christmas lights on the cover. The book was short, sweet and I was able to borrow it from Overdrive. It literally took me slightly over 2 hours to read.

The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

Finished 12-4-18, 673 pages

A - character Aiden Graves
C - character Christian
D - character Diana
T - character Trevor
R - character Rob

A Cold Legacy by Megan Shepherd

Finished 12-4-18, 416 pages

How it fits

Fits task 11 - read a book with a body of water on the cover

C - title C
S - author Megan Shepherd
E - character Edward
R - character Lucy Radcliffe

14. We are halfway through. Do you have a favourite of the stories so far? Is there one you are particularly looking forward to reading?

My favorite so far is Midnights since I do like Rainbow Rowell books in general.

It's a yuletide miracle

15. Marigold's apartment was a suprise. Have you ever lived somewhere with things piled up around you like that or where you had boxes unpacked for months?

No. I’m a neat freak. Living like that would make me anxious. LOL

16. I thought this story had a nice style. Have you read any books by Stephanie Perkins? What did you think?

This was my first Perkins story. I liked it. I’m a Charlie Brown fan so I found it funny that Marigold bought a “Charlie Brown” tree. And I thought Marigold and North were interesting characters with interesting stories to tell.

17. I was trying to picture Asheville in my mind and ended up doing some google-ing. Have you ever been there or somewhere like it?

There are many small towns and rural areas just minutes away from where I live. So, yeah, I have been to places similar to Asheville many times.

Your temporary Santa

18. This story was the most unusual for me. I felt like there was a lot more going on than what I understood (like the nasty sister and the strange interaction with the mum in the hallway). But I find that a lot with Levithan books! How about you?

I haven’t read other books by this author. But definitely there was a lot going on that was never explained. This was one of my least favorite stories so far because of this.

19. I like how he is Jewish and his parents gave him the story about Santa and how "you can wave to him as he flies past if you want". Did your parents have any unusual Christmas stories or traditions?

Not really. We were traditional when it came to Christmas.

20. Did you ever see Santa? When did you stop believing?

I probably stopped believing around 10 or 11. But until then, I made sure to leave cookies and milk out for Santa! LOL

Laura, I saw you read the latest Fatal book. Did you enjoy it? I need to read book 3. And I still plan to make my way through the series!

Sandy, I know you love KA. I am making my way through the Dream Man series. I loved, loved, LOVED Law Man! But now I am reading Motorcycle Man and UGH! I just can’t warm up to Kane. KA really can write some uber a**holes! Yes, I did see you enjoyed the book. This book just crosses the line for me. I also didn’t like the book Complicated. I didn’t like the way the hero treated the heroine in that book too.

You’ve been reading some books I want to read and will check out your ratings. I hope you loved I Flipping Love You. I read that and really loved it!