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

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

DQ Day 3
Chapters 16-21


11. The fight with Raff's old band (who looked like clowns) that ended with snakes is one of the first times we see the almost full band working together. What did you think of this scene? Did you like the action or was it confusing?
I'm not very good with fight scenes, I try to follow along, get lost, end up re-reading, get lost again and then hope that a character somehow summarizes what happened.

12. So the hoarder kobolds - I thought they were great! And the bird-like creatures pulling the carriage. Do you have a favorite creature you've seen so far, or one you'd like to see? Tell why.
I'd like to see a dragon especially since the Kings supposedly almost killed one when they were at their peak. I don't want them to kill one I just want to see what they would do.

13. I think in the last half of this section we really start understanding what a big deal the Kings of Wyld really were. And we get to compare them to the Screaming Eagles. What do you think about the ethics and popularity of the new bands that kill captive monsters in arenas?
It's for entertainment and shock value kind of what wrestling is like these days. The wrestlers arent' really wrestling it's all a show. The new bands are in it for entertainment not because they are really true mercenaries.

14. Lastleaf gave his (and the hordes') motivations for conquest. Do you think his reasons were valid, or is he just evil? Do you feel at all sorry for the monsters?
His reasons seem valid I guess but I do think he is evil to a point. It seems to be humans vs monsters and I'm not really liking either side in this battle. There are good humans, there are bad humans, there are good monsters, there are bad monsters. I guess I would have to say I feel bad for individual humans and individual monsters if I knew more about each one.

15. We all picked our favorite character in day 1 questions. Has yours changed since then?
I can't remember if I picked one or not but Moog is definitely my favorite. He's so goofy and funny. He can't seem to get his magic right but it always works out in the end.

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 18

10. I've noticed Carlota's perceptions are often described using non visual cues: she hears a lot, and even smells Montgomery behind her bedroom door but then dismisses the idea. After her attack, she finds herself noticing that "Her fingers, in the mirror, looked very long, the nails almost too sharp and the eyes...". Do you feel Carlota ever questions her own nature as a human/hybrid or is she too ingenuous to do so? Do you also feel the author is using alternate senses and, if so, as clues for the reader or red herrings?
I think she does question her own nature but at the same time dismisses it because why would she think she's a hybrid. There are definite clues such as her sickness as a child and having to take medicine yet we never know what illness she had or why she has to continue to take medicine.

11. For much of this part, I felt Montgomery was conflicted regarding his feelings for Carlota. He "writes" to his wife using what I felt was a brotherly perspective only to realise, a few lines and drinks later, he could not resist kissing her if she were there in that moment. What did you make of this change of heart and do you find his various missteps bring something to the story?
I don't know that his missteps bring anything to the story than of course he was going to have the hots for her she's the only girl around or that he's laid eyes on for years. He'd be unusual to not feel this way.

12. We're already halfway through the story - Doctor Moreau and Montgomery are both complex characters. Am I alone in thinking Carlota and her hybrid friends deserve to be more thoroughly fleshed out and layered?
I would like to hear more about the hybrids and I think that is going to be coming very soon.

13. What did you make of the scene where Carlota loses her virginity by the cenote - did her reaction seem natural to you or did you find yourself questioning her fearlessness? In your opinion, if Carlota is herself a hybrid, what effect might that have on their progeny?
Since the hybrids are sterile and I have good reason to believe she is a "successful" hybrid there's no chance of a progeny. As far as the sex scene goes she thinks she's in love with Eduardo and is very naive and trusting so of course she jumped in feet first.

14. There's a storm brewing as the hybrids plan to join Juan Cumux and Carlota attempts to retrieve her father's notes and formulas. Do you think the hybrids will remain subservient once they remove themselves from Doctor Moreau's influence or could the story turn dark?
I don't think they will remain subservient that would make for an extremely boring book.

DQ Day 2
Chapters 9 - 15

6. We meet the 3rd member of the band, the wizard Moog. What are your impressions of the wizard? Were you as surprised as Clay that he agreed to go right away?
I like Moog! I think he's quirky and fun and reminds me of Mad Max from The Princess Bride. Not surprised at all, he seems like he is ready for an adventure and to be with people he cares for.

7. That was some entrance to the palace, don't you think? What were your first impressions of Matrick? Were you surprised by the turn of events in chapter 11? Excited or worried when Moog announces that he had a plan?
Yes it was, I loved that the phylatery had gotten all over them and they were all sporting boners "zero to hero as advertised" haha Matrick seems kind of down in the dumps because he knows his wife is cheating on him but he loves all the kids even though they aren't his. He seems like he's ready for a change. I was excited that Moog has a plan because I knew that crazy times would be coming up.

8. After several descriptions sprinkled thoughout the story thus far, we finally meet a druin. What do you think his plan is? Why does he really want the Council to stand down?
He wants to take over the world. Not really sure about that.

9. Were you surprised at how Lillian arranged the funeral? What did you think of Clay's contribution? How successful would you rate Moog's plan?
No, she seems like a real piece of work. Clay missing with the arrows was genius because it Moog's plan in motion. His plan was quite successful because it kept Matrick alive although a little worse for the wear.

10. Gabriel borrows Moog's crystal ball to check on his daughter. Were you surprised at what he saw? What did you think of the band's reaction?
No, not really I expected it to be bad. Their reaction was exactly what I thought it would be, they must go on at all costs to rescue Rose.

Lexi wrote: "Not sure who told you on background, but Tineye was used for a while, but the rule changed as it occasionally is very, very wrong. It can be very confusing, so not your fault at all.

For instance..."

Definitely not any shade of pink I've ever seen LOL

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).
Carlota definitely does not seem six years older. I think that's due to the fact that she is so sheltered. She was talking about Lupe wanting to travel and how she couldn't believe how anyone would want to leave there. Montgomery seems a little more mellowed out. The time jump didn't bothered me it seemed needed. Carlota needed to be older to get the story rolling.

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 don't mind dual POVs as long as it's not massively repetitive or every detail i.e. repetition of conversations. I like to know what's going on in the minds of the different characters. I don't have a favorite at this point.

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?
Eduardo seems like a pompous, entitled jerk. I feel like Carlota doesn't know what to do since she is so sheltered and has never encountered anything like this before.

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 agree so far but I have a feeling this is going to change, I almost feel like it has to change to being more scientific in order for the story to be what it's supposed to be. It wasn't written solely as a romance.

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?
One of my cats! They are very spoiled. I used to work with a guy that always said in his next life he wants to come back as one of my cats lol

Lexi wrote: "TinEye is not always to be trusted on colors. Also, never exclude background color as we want the entire cover for color percent.

Edited: On second thought, it is the color of a post-it-note whic..."

Sorry I thought TinEye was what we are supposed to use. Sometime in the past someone told me (captain or co-captain can't remember which) that when they excluded the background...

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.
No and I really have very little idea about what it's about.

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 a ruse she's actually the first somewhat successful hybrid.

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 am kind of surprised that he was considering not to accept the job. I think because he had to kill the hybrid he's curious now as to what could possibly happen.

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....
It's a book they can do whatever they want there's no boundary line to the imagination. There doesn't have to be a reason.

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 don't know hard to say because I have no background on the other books or movies.

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'm ok with it, let's get the show on the road lol This isn't really my genre so I'm ready to get a move on.

Tricia wrote: "

Does this book cover work as a color? It's essentially cream, but since that isn't a color on the rainbow, I was thi..."

According to TinEye it's 59.5% grey and if you exclude the background color it"s 79.6% white. I would do white since grey isn't one of the colors we need

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to CH 8

1.) What do you think of the premise of the book, like an aging rock band getting back together to go on tour but an adventuring band instead? Is the author pulling it off so far?
I'm loving it! It's reminding me of A Knight's Tale for some reason. I keep hearing "We will, we will rock you!" in my head as the soundtrack. I full on expect if this ends the way I think it will that they would all be singing this song, swilling beer and staggering back home discussing their next mission.


2.) The rocks, may of hit me a bit in the feels. Did it affect your opinion of Gabe at all?
It made him seem more tenderhearted more of a real man/father than a mercenary.

3.) How do you like the world building, is it being done effectively for you without major info dumping? Is it helping to set the stage for the story?
I'm liking it, it's not overwhelming and seems very gradual. I don't like when there's an info dump and you keep having to look back to figure out what something is.

4.) What did you think about the parade? Did anyone else enjoy Clay's reaction to the ladies being whistled at and be disappointed when the lady blew a kiss back instead of skewering the guy (like Clay expected to happen)?
The parade was ok, it was what I expected for this world. I would have expected the lady to have skewered the guy in any other book but this seems so far to be a book of softness so far, I have a feeling that is going to change.

5.) Do you have a favorite character so far?
Not yet, I keep going back and forth between Clay and Gabe. I'm sure once the story gets further and more characters get introduced this will change.


Bonus: Taking a poll for a very important question. On the Tassel Farm: Centaur or Moose?
Centaur because why couldn't it be, especially in this world

I do too 💕😂🤣

I FINALLY finished The Ink Black Heart which was my 600+ book and now I'm on to Kings of the Wyld which is 500+. I should definitely have it and the BOM questions done by the deadline. I'm also hoping to get in the other two books I have on the ss. I just checked out from the library Daughter of Dr Moreau as an audiobook so now I can switch back and forth between audio and print. I'm hoping to have the the BOM questions for it done as well by the 31st.

Tricia wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Judith wrote: "I wanted to check in with everyone now that we are at the mid-point of Month 1 for TT.

Any Questions? Favorite books read so far? Books you've hated and want to warn..."

They do get crazy long! The Ink Black Heart is 1012 pages, which it's rare for me to read something that long but this series is so worth it. She really stumps me when it comes to the whodunnit.
The Bodyguard was hilarious! I think if it becomes a movie ever Sandra Bullock should play Hannah. How to Walk Away was very good and it had it's funny moments but definitely a lot more serious than the other books

Judith wrote: "I wanted to check in with everyone now that we are at the mid-point of Month 1 for TT.

Any Questions? Favorite books read so far? Books you've hated and want to warn people away from?

Also for bo..."

I'm hoping to read everything that I have on the ss. I'm reading The Ink Black Heart right now which is a 600+ and next is Kings of the Wyld which is in the 500+ range. Hoping to knock them both out this week or first part of next week.

As far as favorite books go I'm really loving Katherine Center right now. Things You Save in a Fire was so cute and funny. Plus, who doesn't like a hot fireman! How to Walk Away ties into TYSIAF but they are both standalones and it won't matter which order you read them in. The Ink Black Heart is also an awesome read, I'm about halfway through. Robert Galbraith/J.K. Rowling puts so much detail and thought into her characters. If you like a good gumshoe detective story this is the series for you.

We are doing so awesome everyone! GO NEEZNAA GO! Happy Reading Everyone!

That’s Judith, that’s what I thought but just wanted to make sure. I hate to “waste” (although NO book is ever wasted) during a challenge

I can't remember the rules on books with short stories sorry. Are they ok to use? I know that if you read an anthology they have to count as separate books. The book I'm thinking about reading/listening to is:

The Amish Sweet Shop

This team ROCKS!!!

Just a little public service announcement…if you have kindle unlimited in the US the price is increasing from $9.99 to $11.99. Amazon is running a deal where you can either purchase it one time at the $9.99 a month for 6 months or a year. This special is for a limited time, I’m not sure when it ends. You should receive an email regarding it, I received mine today

Lexi wrote: "I made it to Atlanta with my two cats and managed to listen to a 800+ book on the way, so that may be my longest for TTs."

Congratulations on both accounts! I hope you get to relax now. Were the cats good navigators for you? Or did they just keep you company?

Sharon wrote: "Hi team! Just wanted to pop in and let everyone know that I am reading and should be able to contribute some books soon. One of our cars broke down this week, so my husband and I have been coordina..."

That stinks but I'm glad you're up and running again with two vehicles. Car troubles are never fun

Laura..devouring books like crumpets wrote: "Hey Guys sorry for Delay had one heck of a mad weekend..... All up to date now!!!"

Hopefully it was a fun filled weekend!