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

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

OK, this will be the detailed break down based on my ebook version:

Date Reading Pages Questions by:

November 5th Chapter 1 - Chapter 9 8 - 56
November 6th Chapter 10 - Chapter 16 59 - 104
November 7th Chapter 17 - Chapter 24 105 - 156
November 8th Chapter 25 - Chapter 32 157 - 209
November 9th Chapter 33 - Chapter 40 210 - 260
November 10th Chapter 41 - Chapter 46 261 - 311
November 11th Chapter 47 - Chapter 53 311 - 360
November 12th Chapter 54 - Chapter 60 361 - 415
November 13th Chapter 61 - Epilogue 416 - 467

Are you reading paper or ebook? I'm doing ebook and it comes to 467 pages including epilogue. I was thinking of doing 50 pages per day (I'm a little impatient...)

Diesel and amazon are selling it now at $2.99 instead of 7.99. That is the only reason I bought this book at diesel, I swear ;)

It's US only :(

NBRC Decades Challenge

Duration: 11/11/11 - 12/12/12
Progress: 75/75 DONE!! *gulp*

√Published in 2003
1) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling - 12/11/11 - ★★★★
2) Lawless by Diana Palmer - 15/12/11 - ★
3) Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan - 11/1/12 - ★★★



√Published in 2004
1) Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros - 19/12/11 - ★★★★
2) Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist - 29/05/12 - ★★★
3) Blood Rites by Jim Butcher - 21/10/12 - ★★★★
4) Northern Lights by Nora Roberts - 26/10/12 - ★★★



√Published in 2005
1) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princeby J.K. Rowling - 18/11/12- ★★★★
2) Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare - 07/2/12 - ★★★
3) The Brazilian's Blackmailed Bride by Michelle Reid - 19/03/12 - ★★★
4) Can't Get Enoughby Sarah Mayberry - 22/09/12 - ★★★★
5) Till Next We Meet by Karen Ranney - 26/09/12 - ★★★★



√Published in 2006
1) The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan - 26/12/11- ★★★
2) Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn - 20/12/11 - ★★★
3) Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh - 12/1/12 - ★★★★
4) Star of the Morning by Lynn Kurland - 03/2/12 - ★★★★
5) The Italian's Future Bride by Michelle Reid - 22/03/12 - ★★★
6) The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - 24/06/12 - ★★★★



√Published in 2007
1) Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs - 20/11/11 - ★★★★
2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling - 21/11/11 - ★★★★★
3) Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh - 29/1/12 - ★★★★
4) Lord of the Fading Lands by C.L. Wilson - 04/2/12 - ★★★★
5) Lady of Light and Shadows by C.L. Wilson - 04/2/12 - ★★★★
6) Caressed By Ice by Nalini Singh - 9/2/12 - ★★★★
7) The Greek Children's Doctor by Sarah Morgan - 07/12/11 - ★★★



√Published in 2008
1) The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks - 24/11/11 - ★★★★★
2)Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman - 23/12/11 - ★★★★
3) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - 24/12/11- ★★★
4) Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks - 30/1/12 - ★★★
5) King of Sword and Sky by C.L. Wilson- 05/2/12 - ★★★★
6) In Bed With Her Italian Boss by Kate Hardy- 06/2/12 - ★★★★
7) Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs - 08/2/12 - ★★★★
8) Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks - 16/2/12 - ★★★★★



√Published in 2009
1) The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay - 13/12/11 - ★★★★
2) Sh*t My Dad Says- 30/12/11 - ★★★★
3) Queen of Song and Souls by C.L. Wilson - 05/2/12 - ★★★★
4) Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh - 10/2 - ★★★★
5) Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs - 06/03 - ★★★★
6) Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh - 29/2/12 - ★★★★
7) Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs - 06/03/12 - ★★★★
8) Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde - 15/03/12 - ★★★★
9) Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas - 02/05/12 - ★★★★



√Published in 2010
1) The Spanish Consultant by Sarah Morgan - 06/12/11 - ★★★
2) Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel - 03/1/12 - ★★
3) Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas- 02/1/12 - ★★★
4)Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson - 06/2 - ★★★★★
5) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - 08/03 - ★★★
6) Juggling Briefcase & Baby by Jessica Hart - 04/03/12 - ★★★
7) Marchese's Forgotten Bride by Michelle Reid - 19/03/12 - ★★★
8) Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green - 04/04/12 - ★★★
9) The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade - 07/04/12 - ★★★
10) Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell - 26/04/12 - ★★★★



√Published in 2011
1) All They Need by Sarah Mayberry - 16/11/11 - ★★★★
2)Ashfall by Mike Mullin - 25/11/11 - ★★★★
3) Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins - 18/12/11 - ★★★★
4) I Do, I Do, I Do by Maggie Osborne - 13/12/11 - ★★★
5) The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper - 29/12/11 - ★★★
6) Nothing Ever Happens by Sue Brown - 1/1/12 - ★★★
7) Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman - 05/1/12 - ★★★★★
8) Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - 10/01/12 - ★★
9) Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley - 14/1/12 - ★★★
10) The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway - 24/1/12 - ★★★★
11) The Bro-Magnet by Lauren Baratz-Logsted - 26/1/12 - ★★★★



√Published in 2012
1) Once a Ferrara Wife... by Sarah Morgan - 21/12/11 - ★★★
2) Celebrity in Death by J.D. Robb - 21/2/12 - ★★★★
3) I've Got Your Number: A Novel by Sophie Kinsella - 05/03/12 - ★★★★
4) Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas - 1/03/12 - ★★★★
5) Angels' Flight by Nalini Singh - 1/3/12 - ★★★★
6) More Than One Night by Sarah Mayberry - 10/03/12 - ★★★★
7) Ride with Me by Ruthie Knox - 15/03/12 - ★★★
8) Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins - 20/03/12 - ★★★
9) The Witness by Nora Roberts - 18/04/12 - ★★★★
10) About That Night by Julie James - 20/04/12 - ★★★★
11) The Legend of de Marco by Abby Green - 27/04/12 - ★★★★
12) Beguiling the Beauty by Sherry Thomas - 02/05/12 - ★★★★

Thanks, Lisa.

Based on 50 pgs a day, here's the breakdown:

Date Reading Pages Questions by:

November 5th Chapter 1 - Chapter 9 8 - 56
November 6th Chapter 10 - Chapter 16 59 - 104
November 7th Chapter 17 - Chapter 24 105 - 156
November 8th Chapter 25 - Chapter 32 157 - 209
November 9th Chapter 33 - Chapter 40 210 - 260
November 10th Chapter 41 - Chapter 46 261 - 311
November 11th Chapter 47 - Chapter 53 311 - 360
November 12th Chapter 54 - Chapter 60 361 - 415
November 13th Chapter 61 - Epilogue 416 - 467

I'm in for this too. I'll be getting the book from library this week.

I'm in. Let me check whether my lib has it.

I'm tired and I didn't even read 24 hours straight. Who knew read-a-thon could be tiring? How many books did you all read?

Ooh, this is another book I've been putting off forever. I vaguely remember the first book - so I'm all set to read the second. When are you guys starting?

I'm up after a good sleep. I managed to finish but barely. I'm off to do the dreaded job of picking the next book.

Btw, Anomander, I loved Bourne Identity. It was the first "adult" book I remember reading when I was 15 from my father's bookshelf. It's a bit long but engrossing read.

I'm reading and I'm finding myself constantly putting the book down. Of course, me being sleepy could also be the cause (its 3 AM here). I'm probably gona hit the sack once I finish the book.

I'm thinking of starting a series - I've shortlisted due to their availability:


The Jim Butcher book is overdue for a read though. Has anyone read the Michelle Sagara West book?

Jex wrote: "I'll be honest...I look at my shelf and grab the one that looks the smallest :-P"

Ah, good one Jex. I'll give that a try for the next book.

Anomander wrote: "Vi, what are you reading? Try Kate Daniels series?"

Read and loved. I'm trying to catch up on challenge reading - so far on my second book. How are you all doing?

I finished a book and starting on another now. let me see how long I plug before I fall flat. It's difficult choosing which book to read next!

I have some mixed thoughts - the main characters (Julie, Alessandro etc) were not interesting at all. Eva Maria was but mainly due to her absence. I liked Friar Lorenzo the best. He was by far the only worthy character in the whole book. I've given it a 3 star rating mainly because I liked the prose.

Now, for some recs. Susanna Kearsley writes books like this - two stories intertwining; one from the past and the other present. I'd highly recommend and . Both of them are romance and they are fiction. I loved them. And after reading hers, I'm not that impressed by Fortier's intertwining idea.

Ladies, thanks for an interesting buddy read. I really enjoyed it and it made me think :) :)

I'm finally done with the reading. On to the questions for IX.II - X

1. I am not impressed with Umberto. The guy made mistakes, true but to let one of your own daughters to be a scapegoat? What is your reaction?

2. I'm reluctantly impressed by Janice during the last few chapters. Has your estimation of her improved? I'm realizing she's one character who we can't get a proper sketch on because of the narrator and also because of the unanswered questions.

3. Quote from chapter: IX.II - Juliet saying: (Click on spoiler for a more lengthy extract) (view spoiler)[ “You’ve never done a rational thing in your life!” She closed her ripped shirt with a tight knot. “Why start now?”
As she stomped away from me, I very nearly did sit down and give up. To think it was all my own doing—this whole nightmare of a treasure hunt—and that it could have been avoided, had I trusted Alessandro and not run away from Castello Salimbeni the way I did. If only I had stayed where I was, hearing nothing, seeing nothing, and, most important, doing nothing, I might still have been there now, once again asleep in my canopy bed with his arms around me. (hide spoiler)] But my destiny had demanded otherwise. What destiny? Do you agree or disagree with Juliet's assessment? Could she have done anything differently?

4. What do you think happened to Umberto? Do you think he took the stones?

5. I suppose Juliet falling into the river and the reviving is supposed to mark the breaking of the curse. What is your reaction on reading that passage?

6. So finally we learn that everyone is related to everyone else. What do you think about Eva Maria - the way she reacted to Umberto. I can't help think that if they had trusted Juliet in the beginning, then lots of stuff need not have happened.

7. Last question: Did your initial estimation of Romeo and Juliet change after reading this book, given that this book is steeped in some historical events?

Please do share your thoughts regarding the end of this book

Ok, i'm catching up on the reading now. Questions will be up in a while.

Sashana wrote: "Thanks, Vi. If no one else jumps in then you're free to do it. By the way, awesome work on yesterday's questions (you're a natural). I'm answering them right now"

Cool, I'll take note of that. Thanks! I'm glad the questions were.. questions :P

Sandy wrote: "Earlier in the book (don't even ask me to find the page) a tour guide was speaking in a church/cathedral and mentioned that there was a hidden grave. At the time, I wondered if it was Giulietta's. Agree that this is taking too long."

Wow, good catch Sandy. I kinda vaguely seem to remember that. Let me see if I can find it.

I'm also getting paranoid on the unknown gang. Who the heck are they?