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

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

DQs: Day 2, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).
I do think Carlota, Montgomery, and Lupe feel older. I'm unsure about the rest. I do like books with time jumps if they are handled well, and I think this was. That said, I do think seeing some of the fallout of the incident would have been interesting.

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?
I generally prefer single POV in my stories but it works for me here. It gives a more worldly insight to Carlota's much more sheltered view and I think it helps the overall narrative.

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?
I'm not a fan of the young men and I really don't think Carlota would react as strongly as she is if she had more interactions with people her own age.

9. So far these feels very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?
I definitely agree and I did expect it a little bit as historical fiction seems to be Moreno-Garcia's happy place.

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?
So many choices, but if I had to choose, I think I'd go with a tiger. They are solitary (fitting of my introverted nature) and love the water.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 5

1. Have you read the original Island of Dr Moreau book? Or watched any of the films? I only saw the 1996 movie, so, in my head, I keep seeing Dr Moreau as Marlon Brando, Val Killer as Montgomery and Fairuza Balk as Carlota.
I actually haven't read the original, but I have seen the movie with Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer. I plan to read it after I finish this book and Album of Dr. Moreau that was recommended in this particular thread.

2. In the movie, Fairuza was one of the hybrids, although here, she only has "treatments" with jaguar genetic code. Do you think it's just a ruse from the doctor and she is actually the first hybrid?
I think it's definitely a ruse. As the hybrids are explained by Dr. Moreau in the book, I don't know that the "treatment" would work in quite the same way as a hybrid would.

3. Montgomery's past was a sad one. And he looks like just a drunk with some natural instincts to protect the innocent. Were you surprised he was considering not to accept the job, and then when the incident happens and he needs to kill the hybrid he decides to stay?
I'm not at all surprised. As you said, he feels a need to protect the innocent and if it were me, I would definitely be weirded out coming into all of this blind.

4. I'm a bit disappointed that he didn't explain exactly how his studies came to be. In a scientific point of view, how is it even possible? We're in the 1870s... way before in vitro fertilization or genetic advances... and he manages to separate and mix genomes, or as called in the book gemmules? Not to mention that the original story was written way before cloning was a thing....
I'm choosing to suspend disbelief. Jules Verne and HG Wells wrote about a lot of things that, at the time, were (and sometimes are) not scientifically feasible, but if it has a internal logic to it, I guess sign me up!

5. So, hybrids are dangerous. Specially when they're still developing, and their animal instincts are overpowering the human ones (in theory, since we had no idea what the level of brain maturity the developing hybrid was). Back in the movie, there is a rebellion and it doesn't end well for humans. Do you think it will be the case here?
I think it's certainly possible, though the rebellion in the movie is caused by the humanity in the hybrids. I have a feeling we will see much the same here.

And a bonus, Am I the only one that is sad that we're jumping 6 years? I wanted to see the fall out from the incident.
I was definitely interested in the fallout, but I'm excited to see what has changed with Carlota in that time.

I currently only have one 600+ book (that will count for TT) planned so far. I'll move it up on my tbr and *try* to get it done by the end of May.

Judith wrote: "Bobbi,

when you get a chance could you add Magic Slays to your TT shelf?
Thanks!"

Added!

Judith wrote: "We are doing great everyone! Lots of books being read and we are knocking out the various tower tasks left and right.

All the spots for the Mod Tower are claimed and for the 18 book Rainbow, which..."

Oh good! Two or 3 of my upcoming books start with E :)

I just updated like 10 minutes ago and it was fine for me, but I updated from Sheets on mobile so Idk how different that makes things.

Honestly, those first two read orange to my eye for sure.

I don't think so, but run it through TinEye (link in one of the first posts) to be sure!

Judith wrote: "If someone is planning to read Kings of the Wyld and is looking for where it might go Winners Tower moonstone is an option and Thundercats.

Moonstone is in the text a few times including page 292 ..."

Any of the Kate Daniels series would work for Thundercats as well, I believe, since the hero Curran is a lion shifter (Lion-O being a lion).

Just a thought.

I love that series! I need to get back to it. I think I missed her last release.

I'm hoping to finish my second one tonight or early tomorrow.

Okay. I *thought* so, but I felt it was better to check first just in case lol. Thanks, Judith!

Question: I won an ARC of The Deep Sky in the giveaways. The ARC does not have a working ISBN (I tried the one on the book and it doesn't pop up) but obviously (above) the book itself is on Goodreads. May I use this book or would I have to wait for the publication date?

Judith wrote: "Bobbi wrote: "Quick clarification for our captains:

I know we may only use books started today on. I have a book that I only got 28/956 pages into. If I reread the 28 pages starting today and cont..."

Awesome! Thanks, Judith :)

Quick clarification for our captains:

I know we may only use books started today on. I have a book that I only got 28/956 pages into. If I reread the 28 pages starting today and continuing from there, could I hypothetically count it for this challenge or would it be off-limits because I started it in October of last year?

I had no idea that existed. Thank you!

Start: 2/1/22
End:
Goliath Beetle 5/26 letters

Nightcrawlers
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H: How to Sell a Haunted House - Grady Hendrix 🐞🐞🐞🐞 4/6/23
T: The Thorn Birds - Colleen McCullough 🐞🐞🐞🐞 12/10/22
C: Catherine Ryan Howard - 56 Days 🐞🐞
R: Rhodes, Natasha Final Destination #1: Dead Reckoning 🐞🐞🐞 4/13/23
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W: The Witch's Heart 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞
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E: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin Stevenson 🐞🐞🐞🐞🐞 4/16/23
R: Red Kenny (MC) Five Survive - Holly Jackson 🐞🐞🐞🐞 5/3/23
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Oriental cockroaches
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T: They Wish They Were Us - Jessica Goodman 🐞🐞🐞🐞 12/20/22
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C: Certain Dark Things - Silvia Moreno-Garcia 🐞🐞🐞
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C: The Cabin at the End of the World - Paul Tremblay 🐞🐞🐞 4/7/23
K: Kingdom of the Wicked 🐞🐞🐞🐞
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C: Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick 🐞🐞🐞 12/2
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Pharoah ants
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Raspberry crown borer
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B: Beloved - Toni Morrison 🐞🐞🐞🐞 4/30/23
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C: Changeless - Gail Carriger 🐞🐞 2/16/23
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B: The Batman Who Laughs - Scott Snyder 🐞🐞🐞🐞 2/14/23
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Silk moth caterpillars, giant
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K: Koontz, Dean - Devoted 🐞🐞🐞

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C: Contagion - Erin Bowman 🐞🐞🐞 3/5/23
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G: The Getaway - Lamar Giles 🐞🐞🐞🐞 2/4/23
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Thief ants
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F: The Fear - Charlie Higson 🐞🐞🐞🐞 2/21/23

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Unguis
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Velvet mites
V: Valentine, Danielle - How to Survive Your Murder 🐞🐞🐞🐞 3/19/23
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Wasps
W: The Whispering Dead - Darcy Coates 🐞🐞🐞 2/20/23
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S: The Sandman: Overture - Neil Gaiman 🐞🐞🐞🐞 3/4/23

Xylophagy
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Y: Yoshiie, Azami (MC) Samurai Game - Christine Feehan 🐞🐞🐞🐞 3/18/23

Yellow ants
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Zoophagy
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O: A Midsummer Night's Scream - R.L. Stine 🐞🐞🐞🐞 1/4/23
O: Oops I Ate a Vengeance Demon - Lauretta Hignett 🐞🐞🐞🐞 4/23/23
P: Pretty Little Liars - Sara Shepard 🐞 3/1/23
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Y: You'll Be the Death of Me - Karen M. McManus 🐞🐞🐞 12/28/22

Brittany wrote: "Bobbi, my son and I just restarted the beginning of Psych last week :)"

Nice! I'm on season 2 of a rewatch with my 15 year old brother. It's such a great show.

Rebecca wrote: "Bobbi wrote: "Hello all! I'm Bobbi from Michigan and I can't wait to get started I read a little bit of everything though my first love is horror (I was a big R.L. Stine kid in the 90s). My shelf l..."

I'm from an itty bitty town in the thumb area about 45 minutes west of Flint called Almont. We have 3 whole stoplights if you include both village and township! Lol