Vi’s Comments (group member since Jun 04, 2011)

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

Do you guys know about Turf Wars? I usually do this and then Turf Wars.. The Year is mostly gone and reading is also directed (aka towards challenges)

I found one that will work for kimchi so I'll take that one.

😂😂😂😂 What a typo to make! 😂😂

Haha, Andy. Do you have a secret connection to the Chipmunks?!

Fiona wrote: "📚 A little update: Books left to read until hitting cap📚
Mel 3
Fiona 17
Sophie 10
Vi 4"

I'm kind of not feeling like reading. Took a break over the weekend and hopefully get back to my books. Might finish 1 or 2 books.

I finished Tower of Dawn which has an Y (CFN: Yrene). It will also work for the red/yellow on cover. I have not assigned to a task yet though. I'll leave it upto you guys to decide the best fit for it.

My book - The Luxembourg Betrayal doesn't work for Luxembourg - uggh. It is at most 30% set there. I've removed it from the Mini 1.

Melindam wrote: "Vi,

could you please adjust the edition of Angels Fall on your shelf? The page count is different from what you have on the tab.

thank you."

Done, Thanks Mel!

The Netherlands had it for 4 days (Sunday till yesterday) and the temps have dropped off to a nice 20s today. I'm so grateful that it's coming to an end, hopefully for the rest of Europe too. We don't have an AC and it was brutal the last 2 days. My WFH room is at the top floor of the house and I just couldn't focus enough.

I'm slowly catching up on my reading - I'm also craving a comfort read which I'll do first and then move on. I won't be able to read much on the weekend again but continue next week.

Day 6 DQs

24. Lots of big reveals here in the last few chapters! We learn the truth about Jodi's relationship to Margaret, as well as some vital information about Hayden's family history. What did you think of those reveals? Did you have any theories that ended up being right, or did they surprise you?
I was sure Hayden was grandson so that wasn't a surprise. Jodi surprised me a little - didn't expect niece but some kind of friend's daughter.

25. Alice finally has the hard conversation with her mother about how out of place she feels in the family and how she feels like her mother doesn't like her as a person. How did you feel about the conversation? Did it feel realistic to you? Was there anything left unsaid you wish would've been addressed?
I liked how the conversation went - it was nicely done without recriminations. I like that it's still a work in progress but effort is made.

26. Emily Henry, the author, said that the song that best encapsulates this book is "the last great american dynasty" by Taylor Swift. I personally think there was a part that specifically felt like "marjorie" by Taylor Swift (when Alice talks about all the things she should have done when her dad was alive). If you had to pick one song that fits this book — either the book as a whole or a specific part — what song would you choose? Do you like when authors provide songs/playlists that go with their books?
Sometimes - but mostly I forget to listen to them.

27. "I welcome her to this great big beautiful life" — the epilogue finally reveals the significance of the title. What did you think of the ending and how the author wrapped up the story? Is there anything you wish had been done differently?
The ending was too pat. Lots of things were left out. How did Hayden feel about the reveal? How about his parents? It was too rushed - and the baby was so unnecessary.

Just putting it out here... the book is in a lot of ways remarkably similar to Genuine Lies but I find GL was done better. If you liked this, I highly recommend it. A little dated but not so much.

Day 2

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?
Yes, she is definitely lying. I’m not sure why this agenda and since I finished the book, the reason is not satisfactorily explained.

7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?
Definitely something going on.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?
Yes, a little. It is always nice to read about the process instead of just the results.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?
No, not really in the American families as I’m not aware of most of them. But from India or Europe, yes, would love to read more.

Bonus Question: Genuine Lies was the first (similar) book I read and Evelyn Hugo built on that. EH is trying to set up a mystery but it really does’t have the same immersive feeling. Sadly, this book failed on this aspect for me as I could guess the twist near the end.

Day 1 DQs

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?
So far, most if not all of her books have been hits for me. I expect to really enjoy this book

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?
I like her but also a little annoying. She’s nice but naive.

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?
I would agree - especially in place of Alice and really get to know Margaret. But also, this is not a great mystery-romance like TJR or NR (Genuine Lies) so I don’t foresee a big twist.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did you opinion change a bit on his character?
A bit but the characters for this book seem to be sunshine and Grumpy so of course they will have a story. Neither for me is believable.

Fiona wrote: "I had a little accident at work today and full on crashed into the edge of my monitor with my eye 🫠
currently sporting the worst headache and absolutely not able to read 😭 I hate everything 😂"

Oh. Hope your eye is feeling better today Fiona!

Ooh, about to finish Great Big Beautiful Life. Will fit the cover or letter G, E for Egypt. I will also do the DQs. Is there a last date for the DQs to count?

Great. I will add that to the spreadsheet. It has a good page count too.

I was looking for the cow on cover task for India (and it's difficult!). I saw this - . Near to the back, it's a cow or a bull (not sure). Will that work?

True. Maybe the mods have another challenge up their sleeve.

The next Dresden book Fool Moon will work for the new Mini 2 task. I also have longer books that I will use this opportunity to read.

Me too.. Kinda shocked that Mini 2 will end....

Finished last night and still digesting.

In a lot of ways, some of it was expected - I mean, it's not very cliffhanger-y but there are a lot of balls up in the air.

(view spoiler)[Oh Shallan is definitely pregnant - not sure what to think about it. Or the fact that all of the MCs are split..

About Syl - if she is head spren, would her going with Kaladin (if she is) have an effect?

Weird thing - both Kaladin and Szeth attained the 5th ideal but we don't know what that means. I think Shalan did too - is Sanderson intentionally not explaining?

With the first arc, the character growth of Kaladin and Dalinar is finished, I guess.. Will there be new radiants in the second half?

One of the best part of this book was Adolin - I liked how we got to see his POV and his character arc growth. Kaladin was annoying in the beginning with the thera-speak but admittedly he got better.

Feels like Shallan played a very minor role in this book.

For one I'm glad to have a break but at the same time, I don't want Sanderson to delay the next 5 books too much.

There were other interludes from book 1 that are also left open. I wonder if Sanderson will link all of them. (hide spoiler)]