Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Aug 13, 2015)

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

@Kirsten - I just wanted to check - for Fox's Earth, did you read the pink paperback or the one on your shelf? To use as a color cover it has to be the edition you read. But if you read the other, that's fine - we can use it as a spell-out :)

@Keli - I think we will end up ok with the 500-599 page books - I think it's ok to stick with what you've planned - and it sounds like an excellent lineup of books. Thanks for checking on that! It is just fine to finish your mod reads next month.

@Kerri - so glad you popped in!

It's good to hear about Lessons in Chemistry - it is on my radar! And Vi I'm glad you asked about Elektra - it'll work well for that!

Nanci - I'm glad your book arrived. That reminds me I need to answer the daily questions for today!

Janeylou thanks for the great checkin! And Leslie - thanks for the recommendation - I added that book to my "to read" list! I liked his other series a lot.

Vi - that is a great book for Vetinari.

For Electra - of course anything to do with mythology. Also, any book where someone saves a person's life, someone gets revenge on a person, someone has a terrible mother. I hope that helps!

Nicole B wrote: "Check in: Still struggling to read but finished another book at least - Because of you. I mucked up my list so I have to read a different book because carrying on and I still need to read Pod so we..."

That's great you finished a book Nicole - thank you for helping us out. I hope all goes well.

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 have heard the premise of Dr Moreau but that's it. Hmm...I kind of want to check out that movie now though.

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 suspect that she IS the first hybrid because of the treatments - I'm so glad you asked this question because that means I'm not the only one wondering.

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 was indeed surprised that the incident made him decide to stay. I felt bad for Montgomery - how his wife made him feel so inadequate and left him. And I like the letters he composes in his head - I often do that too.

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.... Good point! I guess that is what puts it into science fiction.

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? It might? The one the broke out seemed scary - even how it looked. And pretty mindless. I'm very curious to see what will happen.

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 wanted more information too! But I guess he said something about how they take 7 years to develop so maybe that's why?

Yes it sure would. That's great Keli. Sounds like an interesting book too!

Wow - so many books read this week already! Awesome!

Just a note while I'm thinking about it: if you have a book with an assassin character, a benevolent dictator, someone who allows or establishes unions (guilds), or someone who is stealthy then it could be used for Winners Lord Vetinari.

Wow - that's fantastic with so many reading the King book! (And of course the competitive devil on my shoulder rubs her hands in glee and thinks "So many points!"

Nanci - I loved Project Hail Mary - but I do enjoy science fiction. I actually read it, and then listened to it with my husband (who also enjoyed it). I hope you at least enjoy it! And I'm sure your son-in-law will appreciate your effort!

Volunteering for Ashara.

Volunteering for Ashara.

@Sammy - wow how exciting about your daughter.

Kirsten and if you read the whole thing before some questions appear, its fine - just answer as you can and if they ask about what do you think will happen, say you finished. Hope that makes sense!

It IS really hard to watch or read something that others love - the pressure!

Elinor and Nanci - they said it'd be no problem if we have to make the change, since Elinor had also volunteered for DQs. So that's great!

Haha I'll be a proud (and needing support) member of the King Doorstopper club :)

I THINK we just tell them, but I went ahead and asked in the book thread. Elinor that's so thoughtful of you! We have the best team! (And I'd say that no matter how many points we have.)

@Mods - Elinor in our team thread has volunteered to backup Nanci for daily questions if her book doesn't come - is that ok?

Those are great page lengths Vi! Even if we didn't need them for that category (and we do), since every book gives page points, those will give a lot!

I don't own the Stephen King book, but it has been on my TBR, so I guess this is the time to read it! I think I'm going to get it on audio because I've read good things about the audio version/narrator.

Kerri wrote: "Question about shelving Kings of the Wyld:

I know we're using the official page count from the BOM thread. Does that mean I need to shelve the book that corresponds with that page ..."

Just shelve the one you actually read. Those BOM official counts are "special" and do make it fair so we can read whatever we can get hold of.

I'm honestly not sure - I haven't heard of any. However, I would personally bet there will be more.

Weekly Status Report

Summary: Amazing! There is so much good reading going on! We currently have the most books read of all the teams. The neatest thing about that is every single one of you is reading and contributing - thank you!

Status sheet Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

May Books: Required Tower 141/223: 63% complete
Needed Page ranges - all done except:
400-499 need 9 more books
500-599 need 13 more books
Any other books you read, put in "free choice" (if you remember).
Note: It is fine - and will be great - if we go over that 223 book count! However, never feel pressured to read - have as much fun as possible!

Shelf fixes (I put those notes here because it is easy to miss them in the thread.)
Lisa - need Sheriff's Troublemaker, Virgin Flyer, and Oracle on your shelf

Cris - Need Paper Cuts on your shelf.


Books of the Month
If you want to participate, the last day to answer daily questions is 2 June. Be sure to link three of your answers into our planning sheet.


starts 16 May - Nanci is asking the DQs on day 3 - yay!


(Backroom read) starts 10 May

Upcoming books for June:

Mini-Challenge
If a book cover is more than 50% of any color be sure to record that in the spreadsheet, no matter what mini- you are using it for.
If we need to free up spots in the other minis, we can move these into Rainbow towers - which will never fill up :).
All but one Mod shelf is claimed, and the Winner's Towers are filling in nicely (great creativity team!)
I was going to give numbers, but those are so fluid, and we are doing all that we need to here. If you ever have trouble finding a spot for a book, just speak up! We have lots of great and creative brains on the team.

Other Notes
Tone - an Outlander tour of Scotland - that should be it's own category of earning points. Have a fantastic time!

I love the dog/puppy talk. :)

Happy Mother's Day to you mothers and grandmothers. And way to share by example your love of reading!

Kerri - that mutt sounds adorable - what a neat combination - and speaking of smart.... I adore dogs.