Rebecca ’s Comments (group member since Sep 03, 2016)

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

Thanks for all your hard work captains! You are all amazing! And thanks to everyone on the team, we certainly are an eclectic group of readers lol I had a lot of fun 🤩

Thanks it’s on there

Just finished the audiobook of:



I'm Your Huckleberry by Val Kilmer
Narrators:
Will Forte
George Newbern
Mare Winningham


It has 320 pages so we could replace Legends and Lattes if you'd like. Sorry I haven't been able to get any reading in since I came back work has been nuts!

Just got back in town, I’ll see what I can do. I got zero reading in on the cruise-too many martinis, trivia, eating, beach and silent disco parties lol Had a blast!!!

Thanks Vicki I’ll see what I can do

I’m hoping to finish up reading Sword of Kaigen tonight and My Friends in the morning which will put me at my cap of 13 books I believe. Questions are done for both. Not sure if I can keep reading for our team efforts or not…I’m headed out on a short cruise this weekend and hoping to do some reading whether it counts or not lol

DAY 3 DQ'S CHAPTERS 20-30

10. "Art is coincidence. Love is Chaos."
"Art is a small break from human despair."

Do you agree? Discuss these quotes in relation to the book and real life in general.
I feel that art and love are two different things and to each their own interpretation.

11. We still don't know the artist's real name and now we find out he isn't even in the picture! What do you think is the author's intention in regards to the Artist's role throughout the novel? And how about the significance of the title of the picture, " The One of the Sea instead of the Artist's thoughts it should have been called, The Boys and Her?
The artist has to be the one that ties everything together I'm thinking. I think she was supposed to stand out because she's the only girl. Not really too sure.

12. Louise asks Ted, "Were you two a couple?" In light of how the relationship is written were you surprised by his answer?
No, they could of been a couple but were probably better off as friends.

13. This novel is full of big emotions, real life hardships, death and tragedy but connected and possibly redeemed by the beauty in meaningful and fragile human relationships. The Artist and his friends, Christian and the Artist, Ted and the Artist, Ali and Joar, Ted and Louisa, Fish and Louisa... Which relationship has made the most impression on you? Which one do you think is pivotal to the storyline?
No one relationship has stood out to me they are all integral to the story.

14. Chapter 30 - Louisa leaves the picture then gets off the train when Ted is asleep. Did you see that happening, what do you think will happen next? Ted and Louisa reconnecting or big tragedy? (More tissues needed!)
I didn't see that coming. I think he might try to go after her

Day 2 July 3
Chapter 12-19 18-37%

#5. Joar mentions that his mom thinks the best invention in the world are pockets. I have seen a Meme that says a woman, when complimented on her dress will reply “It has pockets.” I love a good pocket. How do you feel about pockets?
I love pockets! I would be lost without them. I always have a variety of odds and ends in them-my phone, keys, pieces of paper, lip gloss, mints etc

#6. I must admit I am confused and intrigued about the artist. Who do you think the artist is? What is his or her significance in the story?
I'm leaning towards the homeless guy. No idea...

#7. I am loving the banter between Louisa and Ted. Louise is so precocious. What do you think of their relationship? Any ideas of what is to come between the two?
It's fun how naive and childish she is and he plays into it. They need each other but not in a romantic sense. No idea of what may come.

#8. In Chapter #19 we find more about the mentioned Ali. What is your impression of her?Any guesses on what happens next?
Confident but broken. I like her she is a strong character. I never have any idea of what might happen next in his books because they always seems to take me on a crazy ride in a direction I probably would have never guessed.

#9. Fredrick Backman has a way of pulling at your heartstrings. In Chapter 19 I both cried and laughed. The children's stories are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. How are you feeling about the book so far? Are you enjoying it?
I'm enjoying it, it's an easy read and I can't wait to find out what is to come.

Vicky wrote: "@Elizabeth - We don't have to complete anything at this point to get our points per book. So I would say that if you read something that fits a task put it there first, that way we have as many let..."

Done! One less to find lol

My Friends has the word "kiwis" in it could we use that? If so, I'll snag that one and move it from "B"

Day 1, Chapters 1-11 (1-18%)


1. Warm-up question: have you read any other books by Fredrik Backman before? If yes, what do you like/dislike about his themes/style, etc?
They're generally quirky and real to life touching on subjects that are real to people every day. He has a great easy to real style and a great translator because I find myself reading his books very quickly.

2. In the first chapter we are introduced to quite a memorable auction scene with super-rich people who all want to possess THE PAINTING, though their intentions are questionable. Did this make you think of some similar events happening in the world right now?
Hmmm... no. I'm trying to think of what you might be referencing.

3. "Artists vs Normal People" - another aspect of these first chapters is the great divide between true artists and normal people. Backman seems to suggest that most people don't/cannot get true art and artists are so much more different (possibly better people?). Do you agree with this? Or is it a generalisation?
No, just because you do or don't get something doesn't make you better or less. It's like telling a joke it might be funny to one person but not another.

4. In a sequence of weird events, Louisa ends up in possession of The Painting.
Any guesses what may happen to her and to it?
No, real idea yet. She needs to sell it to live but I doubt that is what will happen knowing Backman's writing style lol

Bonus Q: do you have a favourite artist or a favourite piece of painting/sculpture?
I have an appreciation for art, more so for classic or renaissance than modern. No real favorite artist though.

DQ'S Day 3 Chapter 8 - Chapter 12


10. Mamoru is becoming more friends with Kwang Chul-Hee and seems to be rebelling more and finally has a fall out with his father. Do you think his father would have hit Mamoru again if Misaki wouldn't have accidentally interrupted?
100% that is his style.

11. Are you understanding their powers and magic system more through these last few chapters and the fighting that has occurred. Which power would you want?
I'm not sure that I'm completely understanding it, it all still seems kind of vague to me. I don't know which power I would choose because of this.

12. Misaki received a letter from her friend and told her to run and get out of town. With the Emperor keeping it a secret. Do you think anyone else knew war was coming? And why they are attacking such an isolated village?
Possibly, it seems like the friend was able to warn her cryptically about the impending attack and might have warned others. Easy target? Know that they have magic/powers?

Completed the "hard" book and the Japan book. I take it we are mostly working on the food spell it outs now?

Found a "hard" book for that last slot. I'm hoping to finish it by tomorrow, Sunday morning at the absolute latest. Crazy work schedule and I'm watching my friends cats which requires going to their house twice a day and chasing one of them down to administer meds. I love the little furballs though!

DQs Day 2
Chap 5 to 7

6. What do you think about the hierarchy of the villages and the Matsudos and Yukinos being the "rulers" of the mountain?
It gives the story a backbone. I've felt from the beginning that this book feels both historical and futuristic at the same time and having this adds to those qualities.

7. We get to know the history of the relationship between the Matsudos and the Kotetsus. Do you think this relationship / the Kotetsu family will play an important role later on in the story? If so, how?
100% because why else give the history of their relationship. They're going to blend/help one another out somehow later.

8. In chapter 6, we find out that Misaki was a real badass in her past. Was there anything that stuck out to you when getting to know her backstory? Something interesting, shocking, odd?
Just the fact that she went away to school and was such a fantastic fighter. I think this is going to come back later in the book. I also wonder about Robin. I also wonder why she didn't put her foot down about her marriage.

9. The conversation between Misaki and Mamoru was heartwarming. Do you think we will see both of them side by side as warriors by the end of the book?
Definitely or least I'm hoping we will!

Thanks! 😂🤣

No, I’m on my computer, that’s why it’s so strange hmmm I even closed out of it and went back in

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to 4

1.) Had you heard of this book before it was nominated for/was selected to be a BOM this month? Or read other books by the author? Any expectations going in?
Nope, never heard of it before or read anything by this author. I'm trying not to have expectations because this is completely out of my normal reading wheel house.

2.) How effective is the author at conveying the isolationist nature of Kaigen? And at the glimpses of what the rest of the world is really like? How do you think the Emperor has managed to do this so effectively?
I think it's pretty evident that they are secluded since the other students haven't traveled and no one seems to know anything about the outside world. Through propaganda and control. The adults teach the children the "correct" version.

3.) Misaki is an interesting character with a lot of repressed or hidden depths I think. I like that one of the main characters in an epic fantasy is not a 20 something who just happens to master everything in 5 pages. What are you most curious about her at the moment. Also, shout out to her friends, who seem like real women-friends. Yay!
I like her and her friends so far. They have been the best part for me. I'm trying to get into the rest of the book but really struggling. I hope we find out why she married Tekure.

4.) Tekure (husband/father) has managed to make me hate him without even popping up on page yet. Go him. Do you think we'll get a scene where Misaki does her version of 'down with the patriarchy' before the end of the book?
100%

5.) What do you think of the magic system so far?
There has been very little of it so far.

Something weird is going on with the spreadsheet, I was able to edit it about an hour ago and now it won't let me do anything. I am signed in and I have refreshed the page a couple of times. It says the file is view only and to contact the owner. Thanks for any help!

I finished Do Not Disturb but I didn't place it anywhere. It probably only works for a spell it out, sorry but it's sitting on my shelf for months and I just couldn't resist reading it. I needed a quick, twisty book before heading into Sword of Kaigen. Almost finished with A Merry Little Murder Plot. I think I only have an hour left so maybe I'll listen to that now....