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

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

I love their blog. It's funny and light-hearted.

Yep, I think so.

Midu!! Loved the Kate Daniels excerpt, btw.

The cakes are so pretty that I don't think I can see anyone cutting it. They're too ornate.

I heard from DearAuthor that HarperCollins books are being discounted by 10 - 20%. I know it's happening on Amazon and BooksOnBoard. It should be happening at B&N as well. I'm off to check it out now ;)

Vi's Answers to Lisa Kay's Questions for Chapters 1 - 6

1. What genre do you think this book falls within? Mystery? Romance? Magical Realism? Or just Fiction?
I'm guessing it may fall with Mystery and Fiction. I don't think it'll have any magic realism.. Which reminds me, isn't the new Lisa Kleypas book out today? I need to check!

2. Do you like this author’s “voice”? Have you read anything by her before?
So far, yes. The author's prose is neat and I can easily read and lose myself. Nope. This is my first book though I do own another of hers.

3. This book is jumping around a lot in the different time periods. Are you keeping them all straight? Does that bother you? Or are you just going with the flow? (I’m trying to figure out Cassandra’s age in 1976. Grade Five is about nine or ten, right?)
Tbh, it's a bit irritating but I'm flowing with that. I'm liking young Cassandra and I have zero idea of American grades and ages. Thankfully, the author had Cassandra mention her age as 10 if I'm right.

4. Did your heart ache for Nell, abandoned in London? What a mystery! Did you notice that she thought she was going to America, yet the ship arrived in Australia?
Yep. I am very eager to know more about the people who abandoned her. Was it intentional? Why wasn't there any effort taken to find her?

5. Who is the Authoress? Will she play a significant part of in this novel? Is she Eliza Makepeace, the author of Magical Tales for Girls and Boy?
I don't know but I'm guessing it might be be the author.

6. Should Nell’s ‘adoptive’ parents, Hugh the dockmaster, and Lil have kept Nell? I get the impression that Lil was unable to have children; it appears this played a significant part in their decision. I was a bit shocked they were thinking of moving to hide the fact that Nell wasn’t their niece? Should Hugh have ever told Nell about her past?
I don't know. It's like a grey area. I understand why they did it. Nell helped their marriage but really, they should have made more effort in finding her parents. I got the same impression too. Same. I feel as if they were making sure that Nell didn't get taken away. Yes, he was right in telling her but maybe when she was a little younger when she would have been able to take it a little simpler. Children often have a different way of looking at things whereas adults sometimes just complicate it.

7. Do most people take their family connections and sense of self for granted? Do you? Have there been family secrets in your family that have been revealed over the years?
Yes, I do think we do. My greatest regret has been that I've never talked to my grandfather about his childhood. It would have been fascinating. But generally, in my family, my parents and grandparents don't talk about their childhood. It's only my maternal grandmother who used to tell tales but that was only half the time. Family secrets.. hmm probably scandals which I wouldn't know.

8. After Nell’s reaction to her ‘adoptive’ father, could you understand why Phyllis and Dot didn’t reveal to Nell that they knew about her past, even though it was decades later?
OOh seriously, I want to smack Nell on her head. It's harsh but throwing away your life just because of this fact seems a little way over the top. Hugh's still her dad, Danny's still loves her and her sisters still worshipped her. I don't know anybody who's adopted/abandoned (In India, not much chance of that either) but I still think her reaction was extreme

9. Interesting the way the Nell’s white suitcase was described, wasn’t it? And that Cassandra knew what was in it! I was surprised by that reveal.
Yep. I'm getting the impression that Nell was from a well-off family. But totally eager to know what's coming.

10. Does Nell’s house reflect her personality? Are Nell and Cassandra similar personalities? Or is it too early to tell? (I certainly could relate to Cassandra’s inability to resist a book! LOL!)
I think it's little too early to tell for me, personally. Cassandra being quiet is understandable. Lesley and Len don't seem to be the ideal parenting couple.

11. What is your impression of Nell? Of Cassandra? I don’t get the impression that Cassandra is afraid of Nell; she’s just cautious around adults. What do you think? Do you have any particular likes or dislikes of the secondary characters?
I don't like Nell. I'm probably being harsh but I felt she over-reacted to the secret. I like the young Cassandra. Especially when she mentioned Enid Blyton.

12. Well, at least we know a bit about what is in that mysterious old suitcase. Did anything, besides the fairy tale book, catch your attention? Will we be treated to the fairy tales inside?
Nope. The book caught all my attention.

13. Do you think a child the age of four should be able to remember her past? Did the fever that accompanies typhoid cause Nell to have some memory loss?
I don't believe she completely forgot everything. The child maybe chose to forget? Why exactly?

I haven't started the book yet. I was totally hooked on the other book I was reading.. *Blushes* Sorry! I just finished it and I'll try to get caught up on this as soon as I can.

I think I'll join this one too. I just have to put down the book I'm reading down which is surprisingly hard to do!

I forgot about this challenge!

Updated post #16: 71/75

To complete: 2004, 2005

Sashana, I wouldn't say naivete. Society is like that though I'd like to believe people are changing. It's not just marriage and kids, you know? It's about career too. If you are a housewife, then people condescend to you. If you concentrate on career, then you're in trouble. You just can't win. I think Society is in a transition period where the traditional roles of men and women are changing. It will take some time for all of us to adjust to the fact that there are no set boundary lines for men and women. (I hope I was clear)

Stefani: I'd say better get your phone now because I'll be getting it after marriage and we already "discussed" about it.

Lisarenee: I sure hope it will go away after marriage. I had an in-laws visit day before yesterday and they scared me with their expectations which they didn't even express. (Indian marriages are moooore family-centric)

LOL! The things out on the market. (had to google Lorax though).

Lisa Kay: I believe that theory has its merits.

I feel bad but my rant is complete opposite of yours. I'm getting married in less than a month - 27 days to be exact. I'm turning 24 end of this month and I've been see-sawing all over the place as the date is nearing. God, I'm at the panicking part now.

Good that you liked it on the second try, LK! I don't like the lingo and the physical contrast between the H and the h. The books didn't live up to the hype for me. You should start the third book, LK. Maybe Sans will read with you again.

Lisa Kay wrote: "I haven't made it to #3 yet. I know I need to be in the mood to handle Z's history. **sigh** I'm a wuss."

LK, Did you like the BDB series so far? If yes, then I suspect you'll very much enjoy the book.

In a way, I get their appeal. But I couldn't accept Travis's actions and Abby's acceptance of it. (And I especially hate the nickname Travis gave to Abby and the ending) And that is why I'm staying away from Fifty Shades.

I hated Beautiful Disaster though Sashana might kill me! Found the leads very disturbing.

City of Bones is another book that I couldn't get into. I started and gave up too many times. I hate Clary and Jace (and I hate that I can remember their names!)

I also gave up on the BDB series by J. R. Ward. I wasn't a fan of the series to start with but I managed to make it book #4 before giving up on it.

It's a GR bug since the last update. Hopefully, it'll be fixed soon.

Vi's Answers for Chapters 1 - 5

1) Some beautiful quotes in this one. I'll have to look up the verse that Eva read for Katrina's funeral. Anyone else think it strange that Katrina's husband wouldn't want to know where his wife's ashes ended up?
I agree. The Prophet Quote was the most beautiful. It was a little bit strange that he didn't want to know. I thought he might want to scatter them himself.

2) Ava is hearing and seeing things. Why do you think she's the only one who sees and hears things?
No idea.

3) What is your first impression of the book? If you've read the description do you suspect this will be a little like the Outlander?
I'm liking the book so far. I haven't read the blurb so I can't say now. Luckily, I've just recently read Outlander.

4) This is my first book by Susanna Kearsley. Have you read any of her other books? If so which ones and did you like them?
I'm a fan of her. I've read most of her books - I still have 2 or 3 books left. I really liked The Winter Sea and Mariana. They are some of my all time favorites.

I'm in. Now, I just have to remember it starts tomorrow.