Mary’s Comments (group member since Jan 29, 2017)

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

Yay!! Read ALL the books! :) <3

I'm over here waiting so impatiently as my books call to me that I am saving for the challenge! I'm so excited!

I have both BOMs on my stack of for sure reading. I also found Untamed that I've been dying to read.

Oh good! That makes me feel a bit better. And yeah it’s a LOT of dog food lol and a lot of hair. We sweep up Pomeranians on a daily basis!

Starting to go through my TBR to see what fits for our word and lines up with tags and tasks. It is a little harder than I initially thought. LOL at least I have a few days!

Cherry wrote: "Mary wrote: "Hello! I am from Pensacola, FL. I have 2 kids, 4 dogs, and 2 cats. Reading is my favorite hobby and I am sure my husband wishes that I would stop buying more books! Excited to be a par..."

Yay! Go Florida! :) how old are your kids?

Laura wrote: "Hi Mary! Welcome to Team Pants.
What kind of dogs do you have?"

I have a golden retriever, a german shepherd rotti mix, a dalmation mix, and a husky. :)

Hello! I am from Pensacola, FL. I have 2 kids, 4 dogs, and 2 cats. Reading is my favorite hobby and I am sure my husband wishes that I would stop buying more books! Excited to be a part of this challenge. It is my first time doing this particular one!

sorry for not being able to read this week or be in chat much. I've been super sick. hopefully I'll have time to at least finish a book tomorrow since I'm feeling better. :)

Day Three: Hetty (Ch 9) - Chapter 13

11. After all the tension in the beginning between Hetty and Reese, and now that they only have each other without Byatt as the middleman, they admit their true feelings toward one another. I felt like we didn't get much of a buildup to it so did you feel the chemistry between them? Did you think this turn in their relationship was believable? Forced? Necessary, or something to give the reader hope?

--Honestly this bond was necessary. Neither of them could have kept going without the other. Struggles require support without support you lose hope.

12. I didn't stop to consider how everyone's symptoms were so varied until Byatt started listing them for Teddy. Why do you think it reacted so differently with everyone it infected?

--I think it was basing it on hormones. Everyone has a different hormone levels, so based on the hormones the intensity and symptoms would be different.

13. We learned a lot more about Byatt which made me rethink the previous interactions she had with her friends. Did Hetty and Reese really know the real Byatt? And is Byatt reliable as a narrator knowing that she's a compulsive liar?

--I do not think anyone, including Byatt, knew the real Byatt. Compulsive lying does not to a person. Who turn into an individual no one knows because you grow to trust even your own lies.

14. Byatt manipulated poor Teddy into removing his mask and kissing him. Why do you think she did this? To infect him, just because she could, or because she really believed it only affected girls (though come on, Mr. Harker!)?

I wanted to kiss him; she had feelings for him. I do not think that it crossed her mind that the time but the dangers and risk of infection. I think it was a selfish move, but I do not feel that she maliciously did it.

15. When Mona told Byatt that "They'll ruin it," who do you think she was referring to and what do you think she meant by it? Mona then asks if Byatt would keep the disfigurements caused by the Tox even if there was a cure. What did you make of this? Why do you think they would want to keep them?

--I was confused by this. I know some of these “flares up” gave them strength and power which would give them reason to want to keep maintaining that power of strength and control. However, they were all pretty miserable, why would anyone want to keep that level of pain.

Day 2 - chapters 4 - 8


5. The Boat Shift segment was intense! The description of the changes to the island were very evocative (and reminiscent of Annihilation, as Frankie mentioned). Are you going to be able to walk in the woods the same again? How effective are you finding the fungal horrors?
--After this I will probably be very cautious to ever walk in the woods again. I am not as effective at finding the fungal horrors as I feel that I should be.

6. Welch. First, during the Boat Shift segment; Did you believe/agree with Welch at the first reading? And by the end of this section, looking back, do you still agree? Would you have done what Hetty did, and complied with the rule of silence? Then we discover Welch is communicating with someone (with a familiar voice....) about receipt, replacement and returns. By the end of this section we can guess at "receipt", but who / what is being returned?? Were you surprised by the reveal of Welch being in on "it"?
--I whole heartedly do not agree. I understand not wanting to test the girls; however, what if something had worked and what if something could have saved all of these girls. I do not feel that I will ever agree. Having a daughter myself I do not feel that I wouldn’t have done everything possible to help her survive or to cure her depending on the amount of time and research put into it. I wouldn’t have just let them hand her anything, but if there was research to help I would not have said no. Everything in this book has surprised me and keeps taking turns that I cannot even imagine.

7. Hetty has a big revelation about Reese "I've spent my every day since I met her telling myself the wrong thing. Telling myself over and over that she was cold, when maybe she was burning the whole time" I actually judged Hetty a lot at this point, for being so blinkered and oblivious, but I did like the adjustment she made during the conversation. How do you feel about Hetty, Reese and Byatt? Are they becoming more credible characters yet?
--Honestly by this time in the book I distrusted everyone and everything. The whole story was growing more and more fill with lies to me.

8. We have a switch in POV to Byatt. What do you think of this choice by the author?
-- It allows the reader to see the perspective otherwise of the school environment and the work put into possibly saving these girls.

9. The Byatt segment shows medical stuff happening. What do you make of that? Are they curing or creating?
--I truly felt like they were trying to cure. My only confusion was why they did not think to take out the Tox. If Byatt knew it was there wouldn’t the doctors have known as well. Xrays MRI anything would have shown as parasite or so I would hope…

10. "Just before a flare-up, there's a moment. Hard to describe, hard to pin down, but for me it almost makes it worth it. The pain and the loss, all of it a fair price for this. This strength, this power, this eagerness to bare my teeth>" What do you think this quote means? Does it hint at reasons for the Tox? At future developments in the story line?
--Honestly, it worries me as to why they would believe a flare up would give them strength and power. There are definitely future developments and I am curious to see why this Tox is only taking over young girls.

Day 3 - Chapter 14- 20

10. Thoughts on the deaths, did you care to lose these two or are you just waiting for the body count to increase?

--Honestly, my heart was a little broken with the lost of these two. They were friendly and kind to everyone and it sets a tone for whatever or whoever is killing. Honestly, I believe the body count will continue to rise until one person is dead.

11. I like the electric toothbrush detail. What do you think of the room they found? Are there any details from the room that you think are going to be important later?

The room seemed odd and other of place. It is very much going to be important later.

12. The letter clearly has Gideon’s name in it (see below) but we get no comment from Gideon as the narrator on her reaction to this. What do you think of this as an author’s choice and what do you think the letter means?
" ut we all know the sad + trying realit
is that this will remain incomplete t
the last. He can’t fix my deficiencies her
ease give Gideon my congratulations, howev"

I think it may be something from Gideon’s past, and we do not have enough information yet to perceive what is going on.

13. This quote feel like somewhat heavy handed foreshadowing , though I may be wrong.
“You’re all right. Gideon, Gideon … you’re so young. Don’t give yourself away. Do you know, it’s not worth it … none of this is worth it, at all. It’s cruel. It’s so cruel. You are so young—and vital—and alive. Gideon, you’re all right … remember this, and don’t let anyone do it to you ever again. I’m sorry. We take so much. I’m so sorry.”
She would remember each word later, loud and clear. It seems to imply this is Dulcinea’s voice and does this impact your opinion of her?

I truly felt that Dulcinea was trying to eliminate competition, but also to help Gideon maybe figure out that she does not need to cavalier or is not fit to be one.

DQ’s Day Two: October 7, 2019
Chapters 8-13

6. I think we all had a feeling (including Gideon) that Harrow wanted her ring - & of course, she got it. What do you think was her purpose of stealing the ring from Gideon?
--It feels to me that Harrow wants to be in complete control of Gideon and that whatever she has Harrow must also have or get Gideon’s. Plus she is independent she did not want anyone else to have control over her.

7. Gideon has never seen modern technologies such as a sink with running water, or a toilet. She didn’t even know the difference between night & day... nor had she ever had a hot beverage before. This, in itself, tells us more about the Ninth than we knew before, but could also leave room for speculation. Would you consider this book to be speculative fiction? If so, what are some of the different things you could speculate from this or other parts of the story?

--In some ways the book is speculative, in others not so much. Things you could speculate: the lifestyle of the people on the ninth, a classism system may be in placed based on area, the ninth are far worse off then initially thought.

8. Somehow the Third twin knew Gideon was hiding in the stairwell eavesdropping, even though she couldn’t physically see her, & told her that isn’t the way to start things off. Will this encounter affect Gideon & the Twins in the future? Is it a sign of what’s to come?
-- I do believe this encounter when affect the relationship with this group. It is a sign of distrust and spying I am sure is not appreciated.

9. What do you think Dulcinea’s motive is when talking to Gideon? She seems to be the only one really “intrigued” by Gideon, to the point of wanting to be around her a lot. Is this just normal, friendly interest? Or is there something bigger at play here?
--There is always something bigger at play when someone takes more interest in someone then expected.

Thank you! I’ve already started Fearless and I am plowing through it. I absolutely love it so far.

Tammie wrote: "*************Claimed Animals**************

Tricky
Akita-Tammie
Chinook-Tammie
HoneyBee-Megan
Kudu-Tammie
Platypus-Tammie
Water Buffalo-Megan
Woolly Mammoth-Em

Easy
Buffalo-Em
Dog-Michelle"

I can probably do Gopher and Killer Whale

"Books will either count towards the main part of the challenge (the Seven Deadly Sins) or towards this mini challenge."

Does this mean we have to read extra or will one book be able to count for both?

DQ’s Day One: Chapters 1-3

1. It’s interesting to see the dynamic between the main girls (Hetty, Byatt, Reese). They can fist fight over food one minute, but still be best friends the next. Reminds me of my sister & I. LOL. Have you ever had this kind of relationship with someone?
--Absolutely. My husband and I are even like this somedays. We fight over one thing and then cannot live without the other within a few minutes.

2. Byatt sneaks out of the room when she thinks Hetty is sleeping, then crawls up in Reese’s bunk when she returns. Where do you think she snuck off to? & what did she mean when she said to Reese, ”If you know something...”? Reese shuts down & kicks her out of her bunk. Wonder what their secret is?
--Honestly there are so many places she could have gone, but who really knows. It will be curious to see what their secret is and why they are keeping it from Hetty.

3. Hetty says, “And I’ve wanted boys, and I’ve wanted girls, but I’ve never wanted anyone enough to miss them, enough to pluck them from the slideshow of my old life and bring them here.”
People have different ways of handling emotional stuff like this. Some people (like Hetty) believe thinking or talking about your loved ones or past life would only make the situation harder to deal with emotionally. Put yourself in this situation. How do you think you’d cope with missing your old life/family? Would you be like Hetty & shut down emotionally to prevent more pain? Or would you be like the other girls, laughing & sharing stories of your old life?
--I would immediately shut down. My family is my life. Seriously…they are what calms me, protects me, and helps me. They are my home. Without them I would be lost in a world of chaos that I would not know how to handle.

4. Personally, I’m really enjoying the book already! I love the writing style, the world building, & the characters. I know we’re only a few chapters in, but how are you liking it so far? What aspect of the book do you like best at this point (writing, world building, characters, etc.)?
--I extremely like the writing style. It keeps you intrigued and really in touch with the characters. It gives the perfect perspective of their thought processes and allows you to completely understand what they are going through.

Ambi wrote: "

Hey team, just want your input for this cover. Is it Purple enough?"

According to tin eye it is more blue (33.8%) than purple.

For BOM do we need to answer all the dq's to get credit or just a few.

I answered DQs for day one for Gideon the Ninth this morning.

Day 1: Chapters 1-7

1. I love the world building this author does for her universe. I find it helpful in epic fantasies when authors give a little narrative upfront about the main characters in the story and their interrelationships. The world is very grey where Gideon lives - even her porridge is grey. Her arrival in this house as a baby from a woman that fell into the world was very auspicious. Gideon attempted to run away when she was four, and tried 86 times to run away by the time she was 18. What were your initial impressions of this world?
--I’ve always believed that there is quite a bit of grey in all the worlds I’ve read from. So, to have a world that is described as such with very little back and white lines I was extremely taken back as to where this world was going to go. It is rather depressing and down putting to put yourself into this world, which would make sense as to why Gideon is starting out as such a pessimistic in the book.

2. Harrow tricked Gideon when she talked about her offer of freedom. Gideon seemed to have the upper hand, but then Harrow won the fight through her earlier planning and planting that day. What do you think that says about their relationship?
--I think it says that Harrow knows Gideon is not a person who plans out and uses planning/timing to her advantage. They’ve known each other for a while if Harrow can make those predictions; however, I am curious to figure out how Gideon has not figured out how Harrow plans her tactics.

3. So Harrow wants Gideon to be her guardian as she travels to the other houses. Seems like a good opportunity to get off the Ninth, and become a Cohort. Gideon does take the position. Do you think that was a good choice for her?
--I believe it was a good choice for Gideon; however, it will be interesting to see how the Harrow/Gideon dynamic plays out without them being in the Ninth.

4. I liked when Gideon’s sword instructor said “anyone can learn to fight, not anyone can learn to think”. Do you think that Gideon needs to do more thinking than fighting?
--Oh yes. It takes planning and preparation to execute a plan flawlessly kind of like Harrow did at the beginning. Plus it takes quick thinking in a fight to be able to overcome challenges in a quick manner rather than just fight through it.

5. What do you think about the House of the First? The world seems like the exact opposite of the ninth in terms of light and sky, rather than everything grey. All the houses are there - do you think Gideon is going to get into trouble or save Harrow from trouble?
--It is difficult to adjust to how I am thinking of the world from the Ninth to the First and trying to see it as lighter and brighter. I think Gideon will absolutely get her and Harrow into trouble; however I believe that she will continue to protect Harrow and save her from any trouble they happen to come across.