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

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

I forgot to post my books:

- a re-read. I am not sure what prompted me to start this book.. but it held up on a re-read. Should work for the eyes challenge

- Another good addition from JQ. Will work for eyes challenge

- I want Briggs to continue this series. I loved the world-building. And I still want dragons. Preferably purple please but I'm not picky. Again, should work for eyes challenge

Wow!!

Thanks, Karen!

Casual one please. I'll ask LK or one of the mods to open a thread for us.

Leslie, Chris - can we start beginning of July?

I was actually about to start with book #4 (Series OCD mostly) but thankfully I did research and decided to skip that. If I become so crazy about the series, then I can always read it. When are you planing to read #7?

I can't stand if people tell me too many details about the series. My friend who knows that taunted me when the last Harry Potter came out and I was waiting for my copy. I had to spend my time with him closing my ears.

Ah, Leslie. It's no fun when an accident like that happens. Must suck.

I like the Gin Blanco series - the character developments has been a real plus in the series. Just that I will need some break between the books. And you didn't like ?

There really is a long thesis articles about that but I have which is an omnibus Shards of Honour & Barrayar (Cordelia's story). I understand the series' main character seems to be someone called Miles & I *think* she's supposed to be his mother? Anyway, I plan to read that and work my way along if I like the series.

But, if you go by chronological order, you are supposed to start off with Falling Free which I've heard is a bore. So I'm skipping that. So, in short, I'm going by chronological order with common sense + research.

Ooh, Tea how was it? I'm planning to start that in a couple of days but everybody and their mother (it seems) are raving about that series.

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.