Geri’s Comments

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

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

It’s a bit crazy here. We did see friends over the weekend. But mostly I have been living, breathing and devouring books since I found out our word last Thursday.

A book I was excited about Of Blood and Bone became available to me today. (I pre ordered) And there is a birth in the prologue. So now I can fulfill that task on the mini challenge too. I love when that happens!

Not sure I should check out Karen’s Uno challenge, Laura. I become very competitive and can’t rest. But maybe if there is a break...(says the challenge addict. ) LOL

Four: A Divergent Story Collection by Veronica Roth

Finished 12-4-18, 208 pages

How it fits

Fits task 7 - read a book with “four” in the title

R - author Veronica Roth
T - character Tris
E - character Ezekiel
S - character Shawna
N - character Natalie Prior

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Finished 12-3-18, 446 pages

How it fits

E - title E
S, T - author Sabaa Tahir
C - character Caine
D - character Demetrius
A - character Helene Aquilla

Beartown by Frederik Backman

Finished 12-3-18, 432 pages

How it fits

Fits task 16 - read a book where the page number changes by 1

A - character Peter Anderson
D - character David
E - character Kevin Erdahl
S - character Sune
R - character Robbie
I - narrator Marin Ireland

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Finished 12-3-18, 488 pages

How it fits

Fits task 5 - read a book with “8” in the page number

D - title D
A - author Alexandra Bracken
R - character Ruby
C - character Chubs
S - character Samantha Dahl

Law Man by Kristen Ashley

Finished 12-2-18, 535 pages

How it fits

D - series Dream Man
A - author Kristen Ashley
R - character Roberta

Angels in the Snow

8. Shy puts up a good front that everything is just fine when he is actually starving and lonely. Haley's invitation to dinner seems to be exactly what he needs. Why do you think he is making choices that are clearly making him miserable?

I thought Shy was reluctant to tell Haley his real situation because he didn’t really know her. It would be difficult to tell a total stranger how dire his situation was. He was trying to make the best of a bad situation on his own.

9. Haley asks Shy about his meals, invites him to dinner, and then brings muffins which she puts straight into the refrigerator without giving Shy a chance to stop her. Do you think she suspects that he doesn't have any food? What did you think of her solution of fixing dinner and then dragging him up to her apartment to eat it?

It was very generous of Haley to cook dinner for Shy. She did make a comment about not smelling any food, so I do think she suspected Shy may not have any food.

10. In the end, it turns out that Haley wasn't completely honest, and she confesses her deception to Shy. What do you think initially motivated her to deceive him? Why is she telling him the truth now?

Initially, I do think she wanted to warn Shy that she wasn’t available. But after she got to know and like Shy, she didn’t need to keep him at a distance.

Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me

11. Given that Natalie has lived at the North Pole since she was a baby, did you find it odd that she seemed so completely alone at the party and separate from the elves?

No. Not really. She is a human living among elves. That had to be difficult.

12. What did you think of Santa as a dad: the dress, the dance, the fact he can't be lied to?

He seemed like a good dad. But not sure it was the wisest decision to adopt her and take her to the North Pole.

13. The end of the story was really open ended. Do you think Flynn is right that she will go away someday and stop believing or do you think she will stay at the North Pole?

This was a sad story for me. I think Natalie should leave the North Pole eventually. And possibly find Lars.

A Tall, Dark Cowboy Christmas by Maisey Yates

Finished 12-2-18, 476 pages

How it fits

Fits task 28 - read a book with gloves on cover

T - title T
D - character Grant Dodge
C - character Connie
O - character Olivia
S, E - Narrator Suzanne Elise Freeman

Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

Finished 12-2-18, 256 pages

How it fits

Fits task 35 - read a book with Christmas lights on cover

D - title D
A - character Ashley Davison
S - character Dash Sutherland

I also found books last night that fulfill the tasks star on cover, scarf on cover and Christmas lights on cover. I concentrated on 50 and 40 point tasks to get the most points possible. I think I have mini challenge fever! LOL

Laura wrote: "Nice find MH!

Absolutely, Geri."

Ok, I’ll move the book. Can we use the same book for different tasks if they are read by different team members? I can put the current BOM in the spreadsheet for snow on the cover. Sandy also has it on the spreadsheet.

I am also answering DQs for BOM so we will get participation points for it too.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Finished 12-2-18, 369 pages

How it fits

Fits task 30 - read a book with black text on cover

R - title R
A - author Alice Hoffman
I - character Aunt Isabelle
S, O - character Susanna Owens
E - character Ethan

Question, Laura. I noticed the book has gloves/mittens on the cover. I originally put the book on the spreadsheet for snow on the cover. Will this fulfill the gloves on cover task? We get 50 points instead of 10, so I was thinking of moving it. But only if it fulfills the requirement. What do you think?

Midnights
Mags and Noel meet at a New Years Eve party and we read dialogue from 4 consecutive celebrations. To me, it’s pretty obvious Noel is interested in more than a ‘friendship’ relationship with Mags. What are your thoughts about why Mags is so reluctant?

This was a sweet story! I chuckled often at Mags and Noel’s conversations.

I think the reason why Mags was reluctant was due to simple shyness. She lacked the confidence to tell Noel she liked him. But she was definitely aware of him from the first “midnight”.

2. Not sure, but Noel appears to have some experience with other girls…Natalie, Amy, Alicia…while Mags doesn’t interact with other boys. What’s keeping Mags from other boys and if Noel really likes Mags why is he kissing/dating other girls?

Noel did appear to have some experience. But the girls he kissed/dated probably made it clear he was welcome. Mags being so shy probably didn’t give him any signals that she wanted more than friendship. Getting Mags to dance was obviously more than just dancing in Noel’s mind. Still, I was surprised it took years for them to figure things out.

3. It seems that Noel is really the one open to different things and specifically change vs Mags who appears likes things status quo. One quote ’everything was the same and everything was different’… what does this mean to you?

I think Mags knew that things had to finally change for her and Noel. They were in a different place in their lives now.

The Lady and the Fox
4. The man (Fenny) is outside standing still…in the trees always at Christmas, always in the snow… What do you think about this man? He says he’s where he’s supposed to be…he’s only allowed to come when it shows…why do you think he’s supposed to be there?

It is probably part of the deal the lady made with him. The rest of the time, he has to be with her.

5. Fenny gives Miranda the Fox Damask from his coat as a present and she fixes it so the fox is no longer chained and returns it to him one year later, again as a present. Is this ‘fox’ magic? Would he have been able to be free of the lady had this not occurred do you think?

No. I do agree this was magic and how he was able to break free.

6. The fact that Miranda’s mother is in jail is one aspect of this story that requires ‘imagination’. What does her mother have in common with Finny (the man in the snow) and/or the lady? Do you think her mother is really in jail in Thailand?

No. Miranda’s Mother is likely in a figurative prison like Fenny used to be.

7. The book was written in a ‘different’ style. If you were going to put a label on the style, what would you call it and why? Does Link’s style remind you on another author you’ve read…if so, who?

This story definitely had the feel of a fairytale. Especially with all the magical elements.

I didn’t enjoy this story as much. I couldn’t understand why Fenny and Miranda were in love. They hardly ever spent time with each other. But maybe I am overthinking it!

Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin

Finished 12-1-18, 352 pages

How it fits

R - character Rice Monroe
S - character Sara Berkland
D - character Dempsey
T - character Star Taver Pinkerton
A - character April

1. What type of books do you mostly read?

Fiction only. Mostly mystery/thriller/suspense, some YA Fantasy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Romance.

2. What type of book would you like to have suggested by your not so secret Santa?

Mystery/Thriller/Suspense

3. Would you like the secret Santa and possibly others to discuss the book with you?

Yes.

4. Would you be willing to discuss the book with the person you make a book suggestion to?

Yes.

5. What is your age range:

D) 41+


6. On average how many books do you read in a year?

200+

7. Do you want a book readily available from your local library or would you mind purchasing something new?

Either is fine.

Laura wrote: "And.... another challenge to check out!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."

The Not So Secret Santa sounds like fun, Laura!

Laura wrote: "It won't work Geri... Sorry. It has to be exact spelling with accents."

Darn!

The first short story in the BOM My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories has a main character named Noel. So I have claimed the task on the mini challenge. Another 50 points!

Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill

Finished 11-30-18, 448 pages

How it fits

S - title S
C - author C. Robert Cargill
O - character Orville
E, K, - narrator Eva Kaminsky