Allegra’s Comments (group member since Nov 03, 2017)

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

November 25
64 pages


November 26
368 pages

Current total: 1,813,998

13. What did you think of the ending? Love it, leave it, hate it?
It worked. I actually found it pretty sudden, considering that the title of the book is the ultimate spoiler.

14. They kind of left us hanging What do you think happened to Rufus?
I thought that too as I read, even looked for the next page, but that was just Stage 1: Denial. I looked back and it was all there.

15. I kind of liked the Romance elements, what did you think of them?
They were cute. I'm glad they didn't have sex, which I would have put in the Question 6 category. Too soon, too much (for Mateo)

16. How would you handle it if your best friend was told they were going to die today and didn't tell you? Do you think Mateo's and Rufus' friends/families handled it well?
It's hard to say for sure, because you never know for sure what your friends are telling you. I'd like to think I'd understand their reasons. In the situation set by the book, there's nothing they can do. And with so little time, I wouldn't want to hold them back, or have them thinking about me.

17. What did you think of Rufus' family's death? Should they have tried to get out of the car? What would you do?
The book seems very clear on the rules. So, Why?

18. What did you think of the club? Do you think it matters if someone drinks alcohol under the age of 18/21 (depending on where you live) if you know they'll die the same day? You can't say they'll get hooked. And will it kill anyone, if they're guaranteed to die that day anyway?
The biggest reason to maintain the rule is to maintain the order and the fun for everyone. I'm actually unclear why they bother to check ID in the first place. Why shouldn't a 16-year-old get a few minutes of "grown-up time"? I assume drinkers can choose a different club. (Look for me somewhere that sells very expensive Champagne, or Bourbon.)
Look at it practically. You'd be sure to get first-time drinkers, belligerent drunks, those who want to "choose" to drink until they drop (literally and forever). It would be a mess. And who wants to die during an argument about who puked on your shoes?

8) How are you handling the oddities of DeathCast? Are you ok with the plot? I find myself arguing over fate and unstable time lines. I'm hoping it wraps up somewhat.
Once I'm reading a book (or watching a movie), I go with it. If I can't, I move on because there's no point.

9) There's a lot of sub plots going on right now. Do you think they'll merge together at the end? Which one is your favorite one?
It turns out to be a lot like life. You meet someone, you share their story for a few minutes (or hours), and then you go back to your own life; sometimes you learn more or see them again, sometimes you never know how things turned out. That said, I would have like to know more about Delilah. I got a bit bogged down a couple times about who was who, but introducing each new character with the line about the call helped me to know who I'd met before.

10) The VR experience was not the quality of experience that the boys were looking for. This feels like it could be relevant in many lives as we switch to a more virtual experience in many areas of our lives. What takeaways are you getting from the book?
About VR? It doesn't seem worth it in the world described here. But when we get to a Star Trek holodeck, I'm in.

11) Rufus is bisexual and it has been mentioned in passing several times. Do you think this is going to be any sort of significant plot point? Or just a way to introduce potential tension into the friendship?
I got the hints.

12) Thoughts on how they're going to die and when? (and if?!?)
I didn't find it worth my brain cells to keep guessing.

I finished the book last night so that will color my answers--and spoilers. Now that I've seen how this works, I'll work harder to get on here as I'm reading.

1. Such an interesting concept for a book. Do you think they really do "die at the end" or are you still holding out some hope?
I admit it: I held out hope right until the moment it was taken away. (I even looked to see if there was another page.) But I'm not sure that's what I really wanted, or if it would have made it all feel cheap. After all, doesn't Everyone Die in the End ?

2. Have you read any other books by this author? Why did you decide to join this read?
This was my first book by Silvera, and I really chose it to "join" the group. But it was (is) an intriguing concept, and I'm glad I picked it up.

3. What are your thoughts on Mateo and Rufus? Can you relate to either or do you have a favorite?
I feel I have a better sense of Mateo, so I guess I can relate better to him. I enjoy trying new things, I love traveling, but I can get into funks. I'm having trouble creating a "Rufus checklist" for comparison.

4. I wasn't expecting Andrea's POV, I thought it would just rotate between Mateo and Rufus. I think it will be really interesting to hear more from her and that complete opposite point of view. Your thoughts?
I didn't love her in the bits we get to see. But I don't think I'd go so far as saying she had "that complete opposite point of view." The different voices were an important part of what I liked about the book.

5. The idea of the apps was not surprising! I was expecting a bit more explanation of Death-Cast by now. I keep wondering how it is that not only can they pin point the date of death, but also one you know, how do you not change the course of history?
Mateo would have otherwise spent the day at home (right?!). Is it a "self fulfilling prophecy" or is the concept that no matter what you do you will die as it is just fate?
I would love to know more about Death-Cast--but we can't. Any more than we can know more about the way it works now. I don't want to cave to flat-out fate--why get off the couch?--but I don't have enough time for that full Fate discussion here, and it's too early in the morning for that, and I'd want adult beverages, and I don't want to type that much, and ...

6. Further to the above what stops people from not going crazy on their last day? Robbing banks, killing enemies etc.? Where are the societal parameters?
The societal parameters are the same we have now. Police, security, and do you want your Last Act to be murder? (Not to mention, I'm still a bit fuzzy about the ability to die if you don't get the call.) What really stops people from "going crazy" on any day?

7. Ok, gotta ask. What would you do with your last day?
I was dreading this question. I can see myself starting like Mateo, thinking about all the things I need to try to do but not actually getting to it. Maybe I'd make my sister's favorite chicken one last time, or bake enough cookies to host my own funeral. But in the end I'd probably go hiking alone, not wanting to bother others with the news of the end. Truth is, I would want to know when I have a few months, or even weeks, but by the time it's down to less than 24-hours, leave me out of it.

November 16
120 pages

Current total: 1,771,133

Let's get some

T: They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
U: Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut by J.D. Salinger
R: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
K: White Truffles in Winter: A Novel by N.M. Kelby
E: Steampunk: Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
Y: "The Dog-Meat General" by Lin Yutang

6/6
If I'm still hungry before the month is over, maybe I'll add a side.

So I checked my completions, and I can also take some:

H: The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett [character: Holly]
A: Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
M: Fairest: In All the Land by Bill Willingham

and

P: A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J.D. Salinger
I: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating by Alan Alda
E: The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket [character: Esmé Squalor]

Completed 12 total.

Is this challenge LIVE again? I don't know how to tell. Help

So much going on in this group. I'm overwhelmed.
I'm starting to wrap my head around it. I read the posts about creating a private group to keep track of everything, so I'm in the process of making that happen.

As of now, my main issue is I thought I'd joined a Scavenger Hunt challenge (first word: Affluently) but I can't find it on your list. Did I make it up? Can you provide a link?


Also, as a more general comment, one thing I'm having a lot of trouble with is knowing which of these challenges are current and which are long over. I don't know if GR gives any ways of sorting/marking. For instance, would putting current challenges under "Challenges" and leaving inactive under "Discussions" make any difference in how they push to Notifications or how the pages appear? With so many challenges "at your own pace" on top of the monthly and seasonal, I'm having trouble sorting through the master list. Would it be a lot of work to keep a list of the "current" challenges on the Group Home page? I don't want to add too much work to the piles of our hard-working moderators. (I can't fathom how you guys find the time. Bless you!)
Thanks for whatever you can do

Agnieszka wrote: "Allegra wrote: "Tried to create a Secret Group but it says I need to first verify my email. I have no idea what this means! I've been on GR for years. Do I need to create a public group first, and ..."

Thanks for your help. Oddly, late last night, I got an email from GR saying I hadn't confirmed; I guess--for now--I'm good, so I'll try again. But if they know of the bug, why not admit it and ask everyone to re-hook up?

November 15
256 pages

Current Total: 1,761,671

Tried to create a Secret Group but it says I need to first verify my email. I have no idea what this means! I've been on GR for years. Do I need to create a public group first, and then change it.

Anyway, what I'm looking for now is the current Scavenger Hunt. Can anyone send a link?

I think I'll give this one a go. I like the variety, and I like that I can take my time.

Associates Degree -- GRADUATED April 6
Science: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating
Literature: Scrambled Eggs and Whiskey
History: White Truffles in Winter: A Novel
Social Sciences: The Trouble with Reality: A Rumination on Moral Panic in Our Time
Art: Drawing from Memory
Language: "The Garnet Bracelet"/From Karamzin to Bunin: An Anthology of Russian Short Stories
Athletics: Ready Player One



Bachelor's Degree -- GRADUATED August 11
Science Major
1. The Hippopotamus (Applied Science - medical conditions)
2. Nuclear Jellyfish CD (Applied/Practical Science - and what unusual applications for the lessons)
3. 1Q84 (Science Fiction)
4. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (Non-Fic: Practical Science)
5. James and the Giant Peach (Fantasy/Life Science - plants)
6. The Nakeds (Applied Science - medical conditions, psychologist)
7. Seven Brief Lessons on Physics (Non-Fic: Practical Science)
8. Babel-17/Empire Star (Science Fiction)
9. 1984 (Science Fiction--we hope)
10. Fables, Vol. 1: Legends in Exile (Applied Science - medical conditions)
11. The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds (Life Science - plants)


History Minor
1. I Was Amelia Earhart (pub: 1996 / set: 1937 - 1939)
2. A Most Imperfect Union: A Contrarian History of the United States (pub: 2014 / set: pre-1492 - early-2000s)
3. The Tragedy of MacBeth (1st pub: 1606 / set: likely 1100s)
4. Manhattan Beach (pub: 2017 / set: WWII)



Masters Degree -- GRADUATED February 13
Social Science
>Anthropology (I am American): set in a culture or country different from yours
1. Wild Strawberries
2. A Cold Day For Murder
3. The Property
>Psychology: about psychology, psychological disorders, a psychiatrist, or where the main character has a mental disorder
1. Hawkes Harbor
2. In Cold Blood
3. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet
>Education: about education, an educator (school administration or teacher), or set in a school
1. Hallowe'en Party
2. Scorpions
3. A Study in Charlotte
>Political Science: about a political movement, politician, or set in a "great power" state (UK, China, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, or US)
1. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World
2. Pachinko
3. Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Golden Samovar
>Plus 3
1. Beast (Psychology)
2. Wind, Sand and Stars (Political Science)
3. Disgrace (Anthropology)


Ph.D.
Anthropology (I have avoided books set in fictitious countries; solely in England or Canada; and largely in the U.S., excepting sovereign Native American lands, which seem more different than most of England)
1. Fillets of Plaice (Greece/England)
2. Love in a Dish . . . and Other Culinary Delights by M.F.K. Fisher; The Greengage Summer; Waiting for Bojangles (France+)
3. The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices (China)
4. Last Chance to See (Madagascar/Indonesia/New Zealand/Zaire/China)
5. TransAtlanticThe Third Policeman; Murder in an Irish Village (Ireland)
6. The Standing Rock Portraits: Sioux Photographed by Frank Bennett Fiske 1900-1915; The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon (Native Americans)
7. The Cat's Table (Sri Lanka/Indian Ocean/England)
8.
9.
10.
/ / / / / / /

November 8th
263 pages

Current Total: 1,727,189

fleurette wrote: "I'm in for Scavenger Hunt Freestyle


Choose Your Own Adventure

Scavenger Hunt Freestyle - Vanguard

5th November 2017 - ?


Beginning: (p.51) I was beginning..."


Is this the correct way to play this one? I was thinking of this in reverse, and simplified. I.e.,
Rudder / "The Balloon-Hoax" by E.A.Poe
Perhaps add the page number, but the quote never occurred to me.

I want to know at the beginning while I can still keep all the appropriate notes. As I primarily read library books, it won't be practical to go back after the fact.

Is there an intention? or consensus?
Thanks

If I've got this right, I set up what I'm shooting for and then keep filling it in. So I think I'll try to spell POPPIES. But I may fill in some of the tasks too. I can't figure out how long we have for this and I don't want to overcommit.

P: A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J. D. Salinger
O: The Allegra Biscotti Collection by Olivia Bennett
P: Steampunk: Poe by Edgar Allan Poe
P: The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket
I: If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating by Alan Alda
E: My Little Boy by Carl Ewald
S: Drawing from Memory by Allen Say

I DID IT!
Finished: 7/7 (I've got PEP!) (Well, I had it for a while)
(Gotta run. Gotta read.)

I read 12 pages of Poe's "The Balloon-Hoax" in Steampunk Poe. This is not my favorite story included, but there's only a few pages left. I really hope something happens because this reads like a bad science report. Overall, I'm at 58% of a book I started for Horror Week so here's hoping the remaining stories are more "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and less "The Masque of the Red Death."
Either way, thanks for the push.

Meaning read for 20 minutes starting in 1 minute? If so, I'll be in

T

Red - Mary-Louise Parker