Bobbi ’s Comments (group member since Mar 10, 2016)

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

Apoorv wrote: "Bobbi wrote: "I have one!

Completion Post

The Circle - Dave Eggers
Pgs: 492
7/5/22

Tasks
Read a book where the MC ignores important a..."

Sure thing!

I have one!

Completion Post

The Circle - Dave Eggers
Pgs: 492
7/5/22

Tasks
Read a book where the MC ignores important advice (Mae's ex-boyfriend warned her that being so involved with The Circle would lead to nothing good for her. Later, (view spoiler)[she chases him with drones as part of her presentation and it leads to his death. (hide spoiler)]

Start: 7/1/22
End: 9/30/22
Option 1
Glam Rock: 13/40

July: Upheaval, USA (2/11)
U
P
H: Holly Madison - Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny 🎸🎸🎸
E
A
V
A
L: Legend 🎸🎸🎸🎸

August: Breakaway, USA (7/12)
B: Barnes, Jennifer Lynn - The Final Gambit 🎸🎸🎸🎸
R: Ravi Singh (char) Good Girl, Bad Blood - Holly Jackson 🎸🎸🎸🎸
E: The Echo Wife 🎸🎸🎸🎸
A: Annihilation 🎸🎸
K: Kingdom of the Wicked 🎸🎸🎸🎸
A: Alice Hunter - The Serial Killer’s Wife 🎸🎸
W: We Need to Talk About Kevin 🎸🎸🎸🎸
A
Y

September: Louder Than Life, USA (4/17)
L: Lawson, Jenny - Broken 🎸🎸🎸
O
U
D: The Darkest Touch 🎸🎸🎸🎸
E
R

T
H: Howard, Catherine Ryan - 56 Days 🎸🎸
A: Anna Sewell - Black Beauty 🎸🎸🎸🎸
N

L
I
F: Fulton, Victoria - Horror Hotel 🎸🎸🎸
E

Lynne wrote: "Judy wrote: "@ everyone who's read The Witch's Heart... do we think Hel works for:

Read a book where a child (under age 18) is an important part of the plot.

She's a child for quite a bit... and ..."

I definitely agree here.

Apoorv wrote: "Oh, for crying out loud!
Is that monster wheel stuck or did we offend any monster lords? Bah! (◔_◔)"

I think it's one head/defeat lol

Completion Post

Book: Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight - Travis Langley ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date: 6/23/22
Pages: 352


Monster Mini Task:

Completion Post

Book: The Witch's Heart - Genevieve Gornichec ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date: 6/22/22
Pages: 359


Monster Mini Task:
Harpies -
🔹Read a book with a character who is royalty (Odin)
Medusa -
🔹Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive). (359)
🔹Read a book where someone is beheaded. (Mimir)
🔹Read a book with a snake on the cover.
Minotaur -
🔹character described as "bull-headed" or "hard-headed". (Skadi)
🔹Read a book with a Goodreads rating of 4.0 or higher (4.08)
Lernaean Hydra -
🔹Read a book with gold text on the cover
Stymphalian Birds -
🔹Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
Empusa -
🔹Read a book with a character who is a bully (your interpretation) (Odin)
Scylla -
🔹Read a book that features a sacrifice of some type (your interpretation). (Angrboda)
🔹Read a book that features a sorceress. (Angrboda)
Cerebus -
🔹Read a book where a funerary celebration/service takes place (Baldur's)

BOM Points (links in planning sheet)

DQs - Day 5 - June 20th
"With Skadi gone, ..."

“The ending doesn’t matter. What matters is how we get there. To face what’s ahead with as much dignity as we can muster and make the most of the time we have left.”

21. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. It had a very hopeful feel to it, even though almost everyone ended up dying. Also I was so happy Boda and Skadi finally got together even if only for a little while. What did you think of the last parts of the book?
I have a... complicated relationship with my mother. When Hel realizes that her mother died to save her and Baldur, it broke me in the very best way.

22. I mostly enjoyed the book overall, although it wasn’t quite what I expected. I have now moved Norse Mythology to the top of my TBR because this book made me realize how little I know on the subject and how much I want to learn. What did you think of the book? Glad you read it? Or just happy to get the points and move on?
I'm a huge fan of Norse mythology in general and honestly, I loved this book, if only because the author did not shy away from making Loki a charming weasel. I was so afraid he would be portrayed as some incorrigible scamp. #NotMyLoki

23. So many interesting themes in this book. As a new mom, I was most drawn to the theme of mother’s love, but there were so many others: fate vs. free will, forgiveness, death/rebirth, friendship, sacrifice, etc etc. Did any of the themes resonate with you?
Forgiveness and mother's love really resonated with me.


24. I really enjoyed reading about Boda's children and their relationships with each other and their parents, for better or worse. Which character or relationship did you enjoy reading about the most?
Loki. I know, probably not the popular opinion but he was so well written and complex.

25. My very favorite part of the whole book was when Boda was finally reunited with her sons and got to say goodbye to them. Did you have a favorite quote or scene?
Oddly, I think my favorite scene was when she meets Sigyn again in the cave. That neither woman was too proud to admit the wrongs that they committed and came to a mutual respect, both for their strengths and shared losses when their only "sin" was loving Loki. It was a very powerful scene

DQ's Day 4
"Angrboda was redjusting her pack basket..."
"Angrboda couldn't argue with that." 81%

16. So in addition to her past life as Gullveig, Angrboda is also the Old One, Mother Witch, the wise old woman in the woods and a healer. I can understand wanting to forget about her time as Gullveig but why do you think she can't remember anything from the time before? Do you think she'll recover these memories at some point? She's recovered her power, with a little help from Freyja but still seems to be holding back. How powerful do you think she really is? Do you think she'll go all in and if so what do you think will happen?
I don't think she can remember for the same reason she lost her seid, fear.

17. "There's no power in the cosmos that can escape what's coming". Angrboda, Odin, Skadi and a few others now know about Ragnorok and, with Loki killing Odin's son, his punishment and the start of the long winter it seems to be the beginning of the end. Do you think it's better to know what's coming like Angrboda and Odin or would you prefer, like Loki, not to know? Do you think knowing or not knowing will make any difference to what happens? Do you think there's anything Angrboda can do to change the outcome?
I'm a control freak. I would want to know if only because I may change something that could save someone I love, much like Angrboda wants to do for Hel.

18. "I'm the one who's done the most evil among the Aesir, and if nothing else, at least they'll remember my name. That's more than one can say for you." We know a lot more about Loki now, what do you think of him as a character? Why do you think he acts the way he does? Angrboda thinks Loki may have killed Baldur for his daughter's sake. Do you believe he genuinely cares about Hel? What about Angrboda and his sons, do you think he loves them or are they a means to an end? Will Angrboda forgive him despite all he's done?
I think it's a mistake to think of Loki's feelings in a linear way. He absolutely adores Hel, that much is clear. I agree with Angrboda that he killed Baldur so that his daughter wouldn't end up alone. I think Loki loves his sons and Angrboda in his own way.

19. It seems like Skadi and Angrboda are on the brink of becoming more than friends when Skadi announces that she's joining the giants in the fight against the gods. She wants to go down fighting for her people and to avenge her father. Were you surprised she wants to go out fighting rather than staying with Angrboda? Has this changed your mind about why Skadi accepted marriage in recompense for her father's death?
No, I would have been way more surprised if Skadi would have set aside her need to avenge her father, even for Angrboda.

20. We're moving on to the final section now. What do you think Angrboda will do now that she's alone again? Do you think she'll be reunited with her family? Loki? Any predictions for how it will all end?
I think she will see them all again.

DQs Day Three - 18 Jun
"There came a day in laste summer..."
"Angrboda agreed." 62%

11. I love how the myths surrounding Loki are casually mixed into this book. I'm a fan of Norse mythology, though I don't know a ton about it. Do you know or enjoy Norse mythology? Do you like how the author is incorporating it into her book?
I am a huge fan of Norse mythology and the way the author is incorporating those stories into this book is great and makes for a much deeper appreciation of both.

12. "Was I wrong to not tell them the world may not accept the the way they are?"

This is Angrboda's question after not only Loki's other wife, but Loki himself, refers to their children as monsters. How would you answer her question? Was she right to try and protect and hide them from the Nine Worlds? Should she have gone about it in a different manner?
It's hard to say she was wrong to protect her children's feelings. I can understand why she would want to, but she should have talked to them about it. They would be leaving her home eventually.

13. What an ending to Part One! Did you see what was to come? Did you already know the myths before or were you completely surprised? If you already knew the myth, did you like the author's interpretation of events? Were you as angry at the world as I was reading all that happened to Angrboda and her children, cause I was ready to fight!
I already knew the myths going in but this interpretation absolutely made me ready to fight a god or two. And Gerd...

14. It seems that Angrboda's dreams can now transport her into other's thoughts. Do you think this is a one-off event because of how much stress she was under? If not, how do you think she'll use this skill from now on?
I think she'll be able to use it as she hopes, to try to save her children.

15. So Angrboda has a new voice in her head. Who do you think the voice belongs to? Do you think it's connected to Angrboda's seeming inability to die? Do you think it's a friend or a foe?
I feel like the voice is a representation of the past she can't remember.

DQs Day 2 — "He stayed with her as the days ..." to "... given her daughter a new obsession" - 40%

6. After Angrboda performs seid for the first time again, she starts having dreams where she hears someone calling to and beckoning her. Angrboda doesn't believe it to be Odin at first, but her suspicion changes over time. Who do you think it could be?
Odin makes the most sense since anyone that is familiar with Norse mythology knows what her visions actually are, Ragnarok.

7. Skadi reappears in this section, having left her husband behind. Do you think he'll come back into the story later? Why do you think she chose a husband as recompense in the first place?
I think he will but am unsure in what capacity. I believe Skadi chose a husband because she hopes to gain favor with the Aesir and Vanir and they may one day look the other way when she takes vengeance on Loki for her father's death.

8. Hel was born with "dead" legs (or dead flesh on fully functioning legs? I'm honestly a little confused by it) and when she over exerts herself she starts turning blue. Angrboda attributes this to when she tried to save her daughter — but I'm not so sure. Do you have any theories on what the cause could be? Is it as simple as Angrboda believes, or do you think it's something bigger to be revealed later on?
These questions are really hard for me to answer based on the story alone and not adding anything additional from the Poetic Edda. My theory is that Hel was touched by death, and so when Angrboda saved her, the touch left its mark. More will definitely be revealed.

9. There have been several mentions of a witch who birthed a race of wolves who chase the sun and moon so far in the story — and now Angrboda has given birth to a wolf. Do you think she is the Old one the stories reference? Or, if not, do you think we will meet that character later on?
I think she is. When she found the foundation of the old building in the woods, she felt some connection, like she had been there before.

10. Angrboda decides not to tell Loki about his and his family's involvement in her vision of the beginning of the end. What do you think of her decision? Do you think she made the right choice in not telling him?
I'm not sure what I think. It's obviously important, but I think perhaps she is afraid, for good reason, that Loki would use that knowledge to bring about her visions rather than help her stop it.

DQs Day 1
Beginning to "... a promise she knew that she couldn't keep."

1.) What attracted you to this book? BOM points? That COVER? Because of the Norse Retelling angle to the story? Any expectations you'd like to share?
I love Norse mythology (two of my dogs are Thor and Loki) so seeing that it was a story about Angrboda was a huge draw for me. I expect Loki to be completely unrepentant about his behavior.

2.) What did you think of Angrboda's first meeting with Loki? I mean he brought her heart back in his knapsack basically because he was bored. But he was so charming, I'm not sure I'd care either. Though it didn't hurt I kept picturing him as Tom Hiddleston. LOL
I thought they had a very flirty back and forth. Loki wasn't called Silver-tongue for nothing.

3.) Thoughts on Skadi? Why do you think she helped Angrboda in the first place? And to such an extent? If Skadi was male, how different do you think that interaction would of been?
Skadi is an astute trader. Sure, she is helping Angrboda, but she is also winning in her dealings. I don't think Angrboda would have trusted Skadi were she male and most likely would have run and hid.

4.) The quote from Skadi, "Time doesn't matter unless you are keeping track of it." Resonated with me. What do you think of this? Do you agree with the statement?
I agree with it. The more you try to keep track of how long ago something was, it feels longer ago.

5.) Loki's reaction to the pregnancy was, let's go with interesting. What type of father are you expecting him to be? Do you think he will be a functioning part of the child's life?
Loki will likely be a very hands-off, distant parent and not at all a functioning part of their life.

Completion Post


Book: Dead Silence
Author: S.A. Barnes
Date: 6/13
Pgs: 343

Volunteering for DQs (Team Helen).

Volunteering for DQs (Team Helen).

Completion Post

Book: A Dead-End Job
Author: Justin Alcala
Pages: 294
Date: 6/7/22 ⭐⭐⭐

Task
Read a book with the main genre (listed on the first page on GR) as Urban Fantasy
East - even pages

I don't read quickly enough to be an asset for the maze, but I hope to make up for it in the mini challenge! 😅

Query: I have two books i plan on reading this month that have the same name. Would it be easier for all involved if I add the author's name in parentheses so it doesn't look like a double log?

Example: The Deep (Alma Katsu)

Completion Post

Book: The Book of Cold Cases
Author: Simone St. James
Pages: 344
Date: 6/6

DQ DAY 5 (Chapter Thirty-Nine - Forty-Eight)

19. Beth's relationship with Lily is extremely important to the story, obviously but Shea also has an older sister? What do you think the point of having both main characters have sisters? Do you think it's a purposeful connection the author made?
I think as Shea learned more about Beth and Lily, she strived to fix the distance in her relationship with her own sister.


20. Why do you think Lily always kept the house the way it was decades ago? Was it just a way to torment her sister or do you think there's something more to it then that?
I'm sure part of it was to torment Beth, but I think more than anything, she wanted the house to stay as it was when she proclaimed it hers. It also kept Beth stuck with her.

21. Shea was almost murdered by Lily because she went to Beth's mansion while she was away. Do you think Beth knew her sister would try and kill Shea?
No, I don't think Beth knew. She lived with her ghost for 40 years and while she may have played mind games, she didn't kill Beth, her actual murderer.

22. How did you like the ending? Did any of the reveals surprise you? Did the conclusion for the characters feel satisfying to you?
I liked it okay, but it reminded me a lot of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Older woman tells her story to a "reporter" who then writes a book about said older woman after she passes away.