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

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

DQs Day 2: Chap 20-29

10. Beth's house has seemed important from the beginning of the story and there have been a lot of descriptions of the "Frankenstein ugly" house. During one of Shea's interviews Beth told her to go upstairs and see her childhood bedroom and then she said, "Not all of the answers you want so desperately are going to come from me. Some of them are going to come from this house." What do you think Shea learned from the house when she perused Beth's room?
I think learning how nothing has changed, even the cold cream, was certainly reinforced. It's such a spooky place.

11. We now have a better insight into the note that was left at the murder scene that said, in part, Am I bitter or am I sweet? In this section we got a lot of details about how this "bitter/sweet" was played out in the house with Mariana and the two girls. Lily also told Beth that everything was her fault and she could have stopped it. What do you think the note will reveal about the murderer and how do you think Beth could've stopped it or could she have? At this point I was thinking that Beth might have some sort of split personality. I don't think Beth could have stopped the murder (unless she did it herself). It's weird with these parts seeing Beth like she was the "good girl" when how she talks to Shea, Beth sounds more like the "bitter girl".

12. Julian's treatment of Lily is rather atrocious, especially considering how young she is when she first visits them. Why do you think he hates her so much and who do you suspect Lily's father is? (I have only read through chapter 29 for my questions, so I don't even know if that is revealed. Just curious what others are thinking about the situation.) I thought it could be Julian until he was just so mean about the whole thing. But I have no respect for his behavior - what a jerk. I guess he wanted a "pure virgin" wife - jerk.

13. Lily told Beth she wanted a lot of things, including the house. Beth told Lily she hated the house to which Lily said, "That's because you don't understand it...It's an abomination that shouldn't exist...It's exactly like me." What do you think she meant by this? I think the Lily has been told that all of her life. No wonder she identifies with the house. Note: I suspect some of the mansions on the hills outside our city are abominations too .... or maybe I'm just jealous :)

14. Lily appears to have more power in the relationship between her and Beth, but based on Beth's current day ability to manipulate others, do you think Lily really is the more powerful one in their relationship? Why or why not?I think Lily had the relationship power. BUT maybe Beth learned from Lily - she certainly manipulates a lot now.

Alisha that meme is perfect. I really appreciate those summer reading programs, but that is as a parent - poor librarians!

Hooray for summer vacation! Finishing up the school year is SO busy. Congratulations!

DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.
I would have believed ghosts over telekinesis and would have never ever ever wanted to go back to that house!!


6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
Note: I laughed at the cat's name - cute! I think they will meet up. I HOPE Michael isn't some evil person - I suspect everyone!

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Mrs. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories? It sounds like she was crazy and her behavior that we've heard about seems to support that. Although people used "mental problems" for a lot of things. I remember my Aunt who suffered from depression being sent away at 16 to a mental facility where they gave her shock treatments!! And that was in the 70s. I was just a little kid but I still thought that couldn't be right.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that? I wouldn't have come back to the house after the first experience, and after this - eeek. I thought it was super spooky. And wondered who it was? I'm guessing the mom?

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share? Not any scary stories. My Grandmother, who I adored, used to occasionally say she saw loved ones who had passed on. My parents thought she was nuts, but I thought she was sincere.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "DQs Day 2: Chap 12-19



I love that ghost story Lisa. I'd like to think it was the latter also.

Oops! I will do that as soon as I take the dog out for his morning walk. He sounds a bit anxious :). Sorry - I THOUGHT so hard last night about adding it that I thought I actually did it.

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11
1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?
I did read The Sun Down Motel. So it made me expect something similar. Ghosts, and a mystery rooted in the past.

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?
I think for this book it serves to make her seem very isolated with nobody she can ask for help.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you? I felt like Beth is very self-aware. I liked how she interviewed Shay as much as getting interviewed herself - maybe more.


4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I thought they were super spooky but I also felt like they detracted a bit from the mystery aspect. But yeah, creepy

Happy June! Thanks for the new poll links. And all the information. I can't believe it's June already.

Nice job on the mini-challenge, team! I really wasn't sure it was possible to finish all that.

Volunteering for Electra

I finished my last mini-challenge book. It was very Mulan-like, so I kept hearing the Disney music in my head. Which is NOT what the author intended, I'm sure.

Even better - books you start now (or tomorrow) will count for June, they just can't be used for the maze.

Awesome job finishing those books with all of the other things you've been juggling - that is great! And thanks for the recommendation - I for sure want to check out the Messy Lives of Book People. I think I might identify with it.

Oh dear Renata. I'm glad you feel a little better and I hope you feel a LOT better soon!!

Thanks! I have the book and will be ready to question.

I will finish She Who Became the Sun today.

Iron Widow (that I finished last night) does work for 1st in series if we want to use it.

We have some leeway (I think they let us go 10% over), so I think it's good for all of us to add everything we've read. If we go into the penalty area, we don't have to use some books. I believe they are counting for the entire challenge vs. individual months, which is helpful.

If you look on the very first page of the team spreadsheet here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
the brilliant spreadsheet wizards have put book cap information. It says the % of the challenge finished, the number of books we could have read to be 100% on target, and then how far off we are. We are actually slightly below target (most the teams are), but our focus on longish books has kept us quite competitive so far!

Thanks so much for checking in Cris! Oh wow - jury duty is a lot easier when you don't get chosen - and probably frustrating needing to be gone for that when you were just away for vacation.

What a wonderful thing to participate in! And no worries - the maze goes the whole challenge, plus it's just one small part of a huge endeavor.

I always thought if I ever ran a marathon, I'd want it to be at Disney World. But now I just want to be fit enough to walk around there :)

That's a good idea to keep books on the go when possible!

What a lot of great comments. I will also keep an eye on the maze. But I'm fine for any books I read to just be used for page points as well.

Yes the maze challenge starts June 1st. I'm sure we'll come up with some strategies for completing in the Mythics secret group. I'm guessing it will seem easier once we've actually done a few steps.