Sonia’s Comments (group member since Feb 10, 2012)

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

Sammy wrote: "The king book isn't horror. It's basically a guy from the present finds a portal that takes him to the 60s :)"

I think that makes it even worse!

I watched first episode of the series... but couldn't watch the second one for a reason and then let it pass again.

Curious enough, I wanted to read the book since then. I'm still debating the PT vs EN version though.

Well, I only read Nightmares and Dreamscapes, the anthology Eni asked me for her birthday.

The portuguese edition was split in two volumes, so each one of us was reading one. Mine was a bit "colorful" than hers. And as soon as I was finished with it I said no more Mr King for me.

She somehow roped me into reading the other book, stating that it was meeker. Well, it was. Until it wasn't. She kinda forgot about the vampire story. Considering I was still on my "no vampires for me phase", I had nightmares for a very long time.... I'm surprised I ended up reading the Charlaine Harris books at all. Because I couldn't think the word vampire without picturing a very gory scene in my head.

It was also the year I bought Harry Potter for her, because she needed light in her life. LOL

Ashley wrote: "Added link to last DQ for The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. :)"

Nice!

I never answer my own questions, so, I'll have to wait till tomorrow to have them all.

And can I just say the world must be ending? I am reading a gothic horror novel and enjoying it so much that all my other books are on stand by and feel kinda of meh

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 18

10. I've noticed Carlota's perceptions are often described using non visual cues: she hears a lot, and even smells Montgomery behind her bedroom door but then dismisses the idea. After her attack, she finds herself noticing that "Her fingers, in the mirror, looked very long, the nails almost too sharp and the eyes...". Do you feel Carlota ever questions her own nature as a human/hybrid or is she too ingenuous to do so? Do you also feel the author is using alternate senses and, if so, as clues for the reader or red herrings?
She's too clueless to understand what is happening. All she remembers is the sickness and pain, and she believes to be the doctor's daughter. She might be the "perfection he achieved only once" and it seems that the author is "herding" us in that direction.

11. For much of this part, I felt Montgomery was conflicted regarding his feelings for Carlota. He "writes" to his wife using what I felt was a brotherly perspective only to realise, a few lines and drinks later, he could not resist kissing her if she were there in that moment. What did you make of this change of heart and do you find his various missteps bring something to the story?For all his flaws, I think he's the more complex character in the story. Is not as much a change of hear as the perpetual contradiction state.

12. We're already halfway through the story - Doctor Moreau and Montgomery are both complex characters. Am I alone in thinking Carlota and her hybrid friends deserve to be more thoroughly fleshed out and layered?Well the book is called the Daughter of Dr Moreau... I would assume hers was the predominant part. Didn't felt that so far.

13. What did you make of the scene where Carlota loses her virginity by the cenote - did her reaction seem natural to you or did you find yourself questioning her fearlessness? In your opinion, if Carlota is herself a hybrid, what effect might that have on their progeny?That was to be expected. I was suprised it took him so long to convince her. I guess he just needed to know what would he have to promise her in return. I'm not sure progeny will be an issue. Her father made sure the hybrids couldn't reproduce, so, maybe he did it to her too?

14. There's a storm brewing as the hybrids plan to join Juan Cumux and Carlota attempts to retrieve her father's notes and formulas. Do you think the hybrids will remain subservient once they remove themselves from Doctor Moreau's influence or could the story turn dark?I'm pretty sure this will not have a fairytale ending. It can't. I'm not seeing a good way for that to happen. And for a horror novel, it has been pretty tame so far. So... some dark times ahead. if I had to do some predictions... the old Lizarde will shut everything down, from wedding to property, and will order the hybrids to be terminated.. and then all hell will break lose. But that may be my inner bloodthristy self that is tired of seeing living beings treated as stuff.

*giggles*

I think that is the face Lexi did for the whole dino book readings

DQs: Day 2, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).
Carlota sounds like a spoiled brat!!! But, it's not exactly her fault, since her education is obviously lacking. Lupe sounds as excepted... a caged bird wanted to fly. I would like to see what the first weeks were before the jump, but I guess it makes sense in a way

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?
I honestly am not liking both MC so far. Better yet, I'm only liking Ramona, and Lupe and Cachito. All the rest are not likeable characters.

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?
Entitled much? Eduardo should change his name to Karen. And can I just say how creepy the whole trip to the cenote was? They weren't swimming because they had company? Because Carlota by herself was okay? Nope. BIG Nope.

9. So far these feels very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?
Yes. Although I would prefer to have some science mixed in. Alas, I'm starting to think this was not the point of the book

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?
I'm partial to feline shifters... specially the sleek and deadly jaguars

Someone please remind me to go to the library to get it... Because I almost forgot about the BOM... again... and I was the one doing first day of questions. Meh.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 5

1. Have you read the original Island of Dr Moreau book? Or watched any of the films? I only saw the 1996 movie, so, in my head, I keep seeing Dr Moreau as Marlon Brando, Val Killer as Montgomery and Fairuza Balk as Carlota.

2. In the movie, Fairuza was one of the hybrids, although here, she only has "treatments" with jaguar genetic code. Do you think it's just a ruse from the doctor and she is actually the first hybrid?

3. Montgomery's past was a sad one. And he looks like just a drunk with some natural instincts to protect the innocent. Were you surprised he was considering not to accept the job, and then when the incident happens and he needs to kill the hybrid he decides to stay?

4. I'm a bit disappointed that he didn't explain exactly how his studies came to be. In a scientific point of view, how is it even possible? We're in the 1870s... way before in vitro fertilization or genetic advances... and he manages to separate and mix genomes, or as called in the book gemmules? Not to mention that the original story was written way before cloning was a thing....

5. So, hybrids are dangerous. Specially when they're still developing, and their animal instincts are overpowering the human ones (in theory, since we had no idea what the level of brain maturity the developing hybrid was). Back in the movie, there is a rebellion and it doesn't end well for humans. Do you think it will be the case here?

And a bonus, Am I the only one that is sad that we're jumping 6 years? I wanted to see the fall out from the incident.

Ashley wrote: "Also, it looks like Sammy volunteered for City of Brass backup. I would assume that means me doing so is pointless?

I would volunteer for the Stephen King book, but I don't know that I'll have tha..."

Unless you want to use your token credits. It would count as a separate entry.

Any of them seems to be a good alternative to minotaur smutt times.

When I read monster erotica (and worse), I read it as a dark and twisted guilty pleasure. Not for the whole world to see and discuss it.

Melindam wrote: "I voted for Sword Dance. :D"

Atta girl.

Lexi does have a good taste in books... If I hadn't nominated mine already, I would refrain to do it and vote on hers.

Alas, I am going to read mine whatever it ends winning or not. The DQ points would be nice... but as long as is not another monster/alien/tentacle erotica, I'm good with it.

Oh, and if you vote on the darn milky farm book, you better want to read it, because 1)all the other books seem like having a shot at a story, and 2)it wasn't my nomination :P :P :P

In that note... I almost forgot about the BOM, again!!! On my way to read my section for DQ's

Hi Alexandria, Welcome to the fun!!!

Just a fair warning, we tend to chat a lot, if it is too overwhelming to you... just ignore us.. kinda!

I know facelifts are needed to keep things up to date... But there are ways of doing it without losing functionalities.

I'll have to search for it, but there are a few places where to report issues.

Problem is... is not the developer that decides what to fix or what is an issue that needs to be fixed. It's the powers that be at goodreads... and those where the ones that decided the new page was a good thing.

Sooo, I went to check my awaited release dates for June... I think I forgot to tell the authors I only signed up for 8 books a month because I'm starting a new project on June 1st, AND I have the next ISTQB exam certification to do this year preferably before summer ends.

Okay so

June 1st


June 2nd


June 21st


June 22nd

Uhmmmm, I'm just realizing that both books I'm anxiously waiting for - AJ Sherwood and KM Neuhold, both release on June 2nd aka my birthday. And I have a full day planned *cries*

Oh well... I'm wondering what people at the hairdresser salon will think of me reading a book called Rear Ended? *giggles*

Sure, I could read the much tamer (at least in title) A Mage's Guide to Wicky, which I'm really excited for, his familiar is a phone... YES, A PHONE... which only plays sounds and music as a form of communication despite the thousands of voice packages he tricks Wicky into installing :o) Wicky was a great support character in previous books, so I am dyyyyying to have him take the stage for his own book.

YES... Visiting with the Variks is out!!!!!

Uhmmmm... why do I have the feeling that short stories anthology is going to cause a re-read?

Sophie wrote: "Sonia wrote: "Melindam wrote: "Sonia wrote: "Finished last night. So cute. Too bad we don't have dragons on our minis."

It would be nice, if teams were allowed to build 1..."

Well... at least it wasn't a crazy idea. But, we never know what the chipmunks twisted minds do with them...