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

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

Oo, it's been a while since I stopped by LJB and I'm catching up now.. Congrats on Phoebe! She's looks so adorable!!

@Karen - Congrats on completing your June challenge!! I'm impressed you managed to read the books you wanted to. I can't do that. :)

LOL, Leslie!! We'll wait :)

Btw, when are we starting ?

I finished - it was very good. I loved the WW setting and how it affected the people of US. The only biggest thing was it had depiction of childbirth. I so didn't want to read about it NOW. I'll be picking up other books of this author. Any recs on which I should read first?

And also - this was a good addition (though repetitions are starting to get on my nerves). I didn't expect the events that happened. I thought the author would string it out for another book or two. So far, totally loving the world and the characters. Definitely picking up the next book in the series; maybe in a week or two. This should work for captains' challenge.

I'm not sure if works. I'll leave it to Chris.

Kristin wrote: "I But the best news is I have lost 18 pounds in a little over a month! I had to share that! "

Congrats on the weight loss. I hope you get better soon!!

Leslie & LK - I finished yesterday and I loved it. I loved Devil & Honoria and the extended family was described very well. I'll be picking up the next books in the series but with some gap between books (Susan has lovely reviews of most books in the series)

And that's why I don't try. I'm sure I'll be sitting in the corner.. :P

*giggles* Love the commercial!

I finished the book so i'm going to skip the next set of Qs and go straight to the last one. I can't wait for you guys to wake up.

22. Do you think Luna knows who is in that unmarked grave in the laurel bald, or was that shadow that flitted around her face at Amelia’s mention of it at the dinner table just to make us suspicious of her? And why did she question the grave being cared for?
I think Luna knows about that grave. If the grave is cared for, then it means somebody knows about the grave too. Maybe she didn't like that?

23. BOOK QUOTE: “But there is some symbolism – a rose and a rosebud. The inclusion of both sometimes signifies a dual burial of mother and child. And the presence of the severed stem may indicate a sudden or unexpected death.” Ah! Something more to think about.
I'm amazed at all the symbolisms for the graves. I never knew there was all these stuff.

24. What was Maris’s sudden departure all about? And Luna’s smile over it?
It has to be hard living with Hugh. She'd probably know about Luna too. Luna's acting smug? I don't like her.

25. I have to admit, after Amelia talk after the dinner with Thane Asher, if Angus(view spoiler) -- but I have since ruled it out. You? And why was Thane perplexed when asked if his grandfather was heartbroken over the loss of him?
That thought didn't even cross my mind unfortunately. If the grandfather is so callous of his blood relations, him caring for dogs also seems a stretch. Which could be why Thane was perplexed. I do want to know if the dog was found.

26. So, we have an answer: the forth girl in the picture at Thane’s house – that he found in a book after his mother died – is the ghost at the pier. Freya. Why did Edward, Thane’s step-father, go completely white upon seeing it? Was she Tilly’s daughter?
Wasn't it mentioned it was Tilly's daughter? Maybe Edward & Freya went out when they were younger?

27. So, seems like Thane is interested in Amelia? Right? I have several theories on this, one of which is that Amelia is somehow related, and Hugh wants him to marry her so that his children will have Asher blood. That is why Pell Asher was peeking out at them when they said good night. Good theory?
That's a good theory. I didn't think of that when I read. Does Thane know about Pell's manipulation?

28. BOOK QUOTE: “Leave now!” Okay, was that a warning or a threat? I’m having my suspicions. You?
A warning?

29. Who took Angus and set him up as bait? And why? I’ll admit again my mind was darting all over the place jumping from person to person. I even suspected Ivy, at one point, because she’s crushing on Thane. In the aftermath of it all, what do you think? And, what was that stuff on Angus? And the hundred birds swooping down? Whatreally brought Tilly there? And her cryptic, “It don’t come for me.”   ???
The Angus incident was so weird. Why would anyone do that? And Tilly knows more than she's letting on. I wonder what.

30. What grave did Amelia’s mother visit? What did you think of her reaction to the town? Was it Asher Falls? Who was she afraid of taking Amelia?
That portion made me convinced Amelia has ties to Asher Falls. Maybe her mother gave birth to her here and she was adopted by her current parents.

31. What was your impression of Amelia and Tilly’s talk the next morning? What about her daughter loving the graveyard under Bell Lake? What about Tilly’s admonition for Amelia to go home because she didn’t understand things? Anything else in particular stand out?
Tilly doesn't seem like unbalanced as Lily & her friends said. As I said, Tilly knows a lot but she seems to be reluctant to share it with Amelia. And everybody wants Amelia to leave Asher Falls. At this point, I think it's better she leaves too.

32. Is Thane right? Was the cemetery neglected out of disrespect? Why are Thane’s hands beat up?
Nobody bothered to care about it and Pell didn't seem like a person who inspires familial loyalty

Answers to Lisa Kay's Questions for Chapter 7 - 12

11. Thoughts on Ivy? What’s with the tattoo on her ankle, one of the symbols carved into the cliff at the falls? Will that come into play later? What are people afraid of at “the thin place”?
I'm not a fan of her. The tattoo will definitely come into play later. Probably evil ghosts/spirits?

12. BOOK QUOTE: Do you agree with the statement, How can you know who you are if you don’t know where you come from?” Do you agree? Do you think there are exceptions?
Personally, I don't agree with it completely. It's very subjective - depends on the person. It's how you are now that matters.

13. Were you relieved that Sidra told Amelia about the old clock tower in the square being hallowed ground. Again, how would she know?
I was wondering why she said that. Sidra's probably seeings ghosts too so it'd be good sense to know where the hallowed grounds are.

14. What is going on with Amelia’s sense of destiny? Or is it just familiarity? Do you believe in destiny?
The foreshadowing is leading me to believe she is connected to Asher Falls somehow. I believe in destiny :)

15. Okay, I was more puzzled than freaked out over the blackbird hitting the windshield and the crows on the branches and power lines. Do you think Amelia will learn anything more about it from Catrice Hawthorne, the redheaded ornithologist at the party?
That bird scene was really out of the blue and very very strange. I'm not sure if it symbolizes anything or just a freak coincidence. I don't know if she'll even mention that scene. I wouldn't to strangers.

16. Do you have any guess as to whose twenty to thirty year-old unmarked grave that was up in the hill thicket? Who is keeping it up? Why did Amelia pass out after she traced her finger along the severed stem etched in the stone? What amorphous evil was causing that wind that chased her down the hill? Is that the real reason they brought Amelia to Asher Falls? To rid the place of “it”? (BTW, thank goodness for Angus, even if he did start it by running off!)
I think it should be related somehow to the Ashers. No idea who's keeping it up. Amelia herself said she was in unchartered territory so this could be one of them. Again, no idea what the evil is. I can only Amelia was bought down specifically for a reason but I don't know why.

17. BOOK QUOTE: On a scale of 0-10, how strongly do you believe in what Amelia said,“And those who pay tribute to the dead usually have a commensurate respect for life.” What do you think of Thane’s cryptic reply?
I actually don't have any belief. We don't have dead buried to visit and do such stuff so I've never thought like that. We do have a ceremony that honors the dead every year but that's about it. I'm the wrong person to ask this question.

18. What were you impressions of the women at the dinner party? Who stood out the most? Luna, Bryn, Meris, Catrice, their conversation about Tilly Pattershaw? Is Sid’s mother, Bryn Birch, really a witch, as Ivy implied?
It was an interesting mix of characters. The thing that really stood out above everything else was the undercurrents. I'd really love to know what they were thinking. I don't believe Tilly's like they say - there's a under text here that we don't know yet. I'm discounting Bryn.

19. What about the men? Who stood out more? Hugh Asher, Pell Asher, Thane Asher? Are you, like Amelia, getting a different impression of Thane now?
Thane is standing out for me. I am getting different impression which is making me curious. I'm tempted to cheer Thane over Devlin.

20. BOOK QUOTE: “You should make the time. Without the touchstone of family, one leads an imbalanced life.” True? False?
My family's big on family especially my dad. I agree with him to an extent but it's not limited to blood. It's about who you consider family. Honestly, there are times when you just need family and times when you want to stay away from them for a day.

21. What about great-aunt Emelyn Asher, the Sleeping Bride? Could she be the ghost at the dock? In the unmarked grave on the mountain? Or did she pass away too long ago? Maybe it was Thane’s fiancée, Harper?
I don't think it's the great-aunt. Didn't she pass away too long ago? I don't see why Harper would linger.

Chris, you rated the book 4 stars? So it was all good except (mostly) for the endng? Huh, but I'm still not touching that book.

Leslie wrote: "Highly recommend it for those who like children's poetry (the only kind I can understand) and dragons. "

LOL, Leslie! Me too. I have never understood poems. I'll check the book out.

I just finished off - I'm so in love with the cover. The dragon has eyes. And it looks so cute! I want a dragon just like that too. Book wise, it was good. I've downloaded the next from my library already. Too bad the author is concentrating on her Mercy Thompson series. I'd like more fantasy from her.

With that, it's bed time. Have a great day, folks!

Rebecca wrote: "Moderators of Nothing but Reading Challenges wrote: "Beautiful pics posted in the "old" thread."

I loved looking through those photos."

Those photos were so beautiful. I never knew cemeteries could be like that. I have to say - I've never been to a cemetery so I didn't have any idea at all.

I am when I'm reading (for the most par) but the questions make me think otherwise.. if only for the sake of it.

I think I stopped somewhere around Chapter 14 when I got sidetracked with Dragon Bones. I'll have to continue this tomorrow.

Leslie, you're talking about Bingo, right? Regina from your team had a status update about that book and that prompted me to download the book. Credit totally goes to her for starting me on that book.

Catherine, there are really no winners or losers. If we complete it, we get 4 books called Book Advantage Points. All those teams who have completed have those advantage points.

As for repeating, the only reward we get is 1 cupcake for each completed category upto a maximum of 5. Rebecca is keeping track of it and even then, we can claim that only from July 1st onwards.

Instead, we've decided to hold mini-challenges within our team for fun and of course, bragging rights. The EYE challenge is a face-off between the Captains and the rest of the team actually.

I hope I helped.

Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 1 – 6

1. What do you think about Asher Falls and Thorngate Cemetery? Do you feel the eerie atmosphere – or dark enchantment – as you read about it? Well, at least we know why the book is named “The Kingdom.”
The author did a good job of making it eerie.

2. What did you think of Thane Asher, the guy on the ferry? Did Amelia’s necklace really fall off? What vibs are Amelia picking up for him? Is he an alcoholic? Is he attracted to her; are his feeling sinister?
No judgements yet on Thane Asher. Yep, it could have fallen off. Amelia, I think, is thinking too much of Devlin. So I'd say most things/people remind her of him. Hmm, maybe. He's interested in her. I'm not sure if that is good or not yet.

3. What is your first impression of Luna Kemper, Real Estate Agent extraordinaire? What about out Amelia’s tussle with her over Angus? How about the Daughter of our Valiant Heroes? Do you think there is more to the story about why Luna hired Amelia? Where does that second, narrow door in her office lead?
The author is looking to set up things to be creepy that I'm trying not to get influenced by Amelia. She could be a unreliable narrator. But, I'm not liking Luna. There's more to the dogs than she's saying. I don't think Amelia taking this job without any further research was a good idea. Probably a back room? (I didn't really notice the door)

4. Does Sidra Birch have the ability to see ghosts, like Amelia? Who’s ghost was it the picture? Is she the same as the one by the Floyd Covey’s dock?
I do think she does. But maybe there's something else going on too that we are not aware. I can't guess right now. And I didn't make the connection with the dock ghost. Do the people who become ghosts are usually the same age as when they die?

5. Why does Amelia feel something different with the dock ghost? Is it a result from her experience with the Others in the last book?
That is possible but it could also be due to the place. There's some foreshadowing going on in this book.

6. BOOK QUOTE: Is it really you? - Okay, what does THAT mean?
This sentence is the foreshadowing part. I'm thinking Amelia has some sort of attachment to this place.

7. Do you think Floyd Covey’s house – having been a church –really is hallowed ground and protection from ghosts?
So far it seems very likely

8. Who was the bizarre, creepy guy at the cemetery who slithered under the fence?
I want to see how people can slither. I've been trying to imagine but so far I haven't been successful. Anyway, I don't have an idea but I'm not going to creeped out.

9. Who was in the library moaning with Luna – if it even was Luna?
Amelia's assuming Thane. I'm not so sure yet.

10. Yikes! Chief Wayne Van Zandt! Now I’m freaked out he’ll hurt Angus. What are your thoughts?
I don't like that Chief. Why is the first thought is to put the dog down? As I said, it's too early in the book to make judgements. Atleast, I'm trying not to.

Something tells me I'm not a right person to read horror books if I don't go with the flow.

I finished and yesterday. Saving Francesca was awesome! I totally loved it and it went straight to my favorites shelf. The friendships and the different relationships depicted in the book definitely made the book.

The author has an "I". So it fits :)

And I'm starting it now. Leslie, I liked the pics you posted when we read the first.