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

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

DQs Day 2
7. The Haunted Flat -> 13. Enter the Hero

6.) Berlioz kept having things disappear from his apartment. What would you of thought if stuff was randomly disappearing from your home? Blame it on the kids? Partner? Ghost? Thief? Do you think it's supposed to represent Stalin's infamous purges where people simply disappear?
It happens to me all the time. I have St Anthony on retainer because stuff is always going missing. "Something is lost and must be found please St Anthony come around!" I definitely think it goes along with Stalin's purges.

7.) What do you think of Woland's posse of 3? Would you want to be a part of that group? Of the 3, do you have a favorite character?
I'm so lost/confused with these characters but if I had to pick one it would be the cat because cats are cool.

8.) Thoughts on Stavinsky? Would you want him treating a family member? Considering this is the 1930's and it's a mental asylum, was it what you'd expect? Or more modern?
It some ways it seems more modern for example with the button. I don't know that I would want him treating a family member. He seems a little unstable himself.

9.) This section made me think about the housing/apartment situation in Stalin's Soviet Union. Maybe because I recently moved house, it made me grateful for the choices I have available about my living situation. Did this resonate at all with you? How so?
The housing crisis is very real. Rents keep going up, 25% in the past year here and 50% in other areas. Plus, there is a housing shortage so that doesn't help any. I don't think fighting over it is going to solve anything though.

10.) I still have like no idea what's going on really. I feel like I'm just going to keep reading and hope it either starts making sense or the book ends. How are you enjoying the book so far?
I feel the same way lol It's ok but nothing I would have normally picked to read.

Thanks Truitt, I was looking closer at it and it makes sense now. I think I’m just tired and overthinking it.

Yes, extremely quick and I am extremely confused about the book bank tab lol

Day 1 DQs
Book 1- Chapters 1 (Never talk to strangers) - 6 (Schizophrenia)

1) Poetry and literature. Religion. Philosophy. Deep topics, deftly handled by a mad, funny writer. What do you think so far? Are you fans of Homeless (Ivan) and Belioz and their pretentious academic discussions? Are you intrigued? Confused?
So far not really a fan. I'm more confused than anything. I think the only part I wasn't completely confused was Chapter 2.

2) So, you meet a stranger that knows your name, and says that he just had breakfast with Immanuel Kant (who died over100 years ago), and was there to see Jesus, then tells you how you are going to die.
Did you know who the Professor (W, foreigner, stranger, consultant, etc.) is from the synopsis, or when did you start to realize who this character really is?
I had no clue who the Professor was until I reread the synopsis-duh! I should have figured it out.

3) We move to Judea, in the story that the Professor is telling. Pilate and Yeshua discuss why he has been imprisoned. What did you think of their talk? Did the characters of Jesus and Pilate differ from how you imagined them? What do you think of the different philosophies of authority vs the kingdom of truth and justice, in the book or in life?
What do you think of Yeshua’s belief that all men are good?
(I Personally loved the comment of Yeshua that his disciple keeps recording his words wrong. Teehee)
The story definitely sounded somewhat familiar but differed from the true story out of the bible. The characters seemed more normal, more human I guess you could say. Truth has become so fleeting in life today. I feel it's more an interpretation by the person vs, the actual facts. Of course he's going to believe that all men are good. Don't we all feel that way until proven wrong? that's my take on people. I always want to think the best of someone until they prove me wrong.

4) Well, Ivan’s life just took a turn. A dead friend, levitating men, a giant cat, a dip in a river resulting in missing clothing. Ever had a day like this? Do you think you would have given chase?
Nope, never had a day like this lol I don't think I would have given chase all things considered.

5) I love the psychiatric hospital scene. It is so absurd. “Let him use the phone.” Teehee. I mean, poor Ivan. Do you think he will be there a while, or convince the doctor to let him go?
I think he's going to be there for awhile. He doesn't seem very believable and I don't think he's going to be able to convince the doctor to let him go.

Bonus question) Anyone familiar with Stalin’s Russia? How does what you know relate to the book so far? Does the fact that this book was written during Stalin’s Russia make a difference to how you are understanding the book?
What I learned about Stalin's Russia I've probably forgotten at this point. I have a vague memory of it but it's very vague lol The book is odd and I'm very confused so far.

DQs Day 3: 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 she learned about Beth's childhood somewhat because nothing had been changed. Everything is frozen in time. It wasn't the bedroom of a normal child and explains why she seems to be so emotionless.

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?
I don't know that Beth could have stopped it or maybe Lily taunted her into believing that she could have stopped it. I think the note will reveal the anger behind the actions but I'm not really sure.
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 think he hates her because he married his wife not knowing about her. She was a deep, dark secret that wasn't told to him before marrying Mariana. I have a feeling it's one of the two other men that died.
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 maybe she knew that she was born out of wedlock and unwanted. The house was remodeled or reborn and is also unwanted.

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 is simply because she has gotten into Beth's head. She's strong willed in a not good way whereas Beth is a different type of powerful in that she more comfortable in her own skin.

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 think I would probably question how these are happening at the same time not leaving out that there might be a ghost.

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?
I think they will end up together. It just seems a little to easy that she turns to him with questions like this and that he readily always answers the phone. I think he might be interested as well.

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?
I have a feeling she was not crazy but that she knew about what was "going on" in the house therefore making everyone think she is crazy.

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?
It's creepy as all get out especially with Winston reacting the way he did. I definitely feel that cats have a feel for the supernatural from past experience. I don't know if I would, if I did I would be on edge.

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?
When I was a little kid we rented an old house that was haunted. We got strange phone calls, in particular from my grandmother who had passed away. Also, it sounded like people going up and down the stairs all night long. My cat was spooked a lot of the time. He would walk into a room and you could see the fur on his back stand on end and he would be on alert as if someone was there that he didn't recognize. There were other incidents that occurred that led to my parents having us move faster than they had planned.

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?
Yes, I read it two years ago. No, I expect it will be just as good if not better. The summary sounds very creepy and I have a feeling that there will aspects that are unexplained the same as in The Sun Down Motel.
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 have and it seems like that has become the standard for books of this genre. I feel that it makes the character more mature in some ways when they have a complicated past or relationship. Shea has her own deep dark secret and therefore was able to somewhat sympathize with Beth and hopefully get her to share her story more easily.
3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
It was about what I expected. I do like hearing Shea's story because it explains her personality. The one about her mother being trapped in her marriage.
4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
Creepy, I thought it adds to the mystery of the story.

Sleep well!

I’ll add my maze book onto the spreadsheet as soon as I can. I just got to work

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻yay Judith!

Congratulations!!! I bet it was a wonderful presentation. I would have gone 😃

Darn! I started reading it before the maze started bummer

I’m about halfway through but hoping to finish it tonight or tomorrow

👍🏻

👍🏻 thanks for the clarification

Ok great, I thought it was strange that we would only have the maze going

We can start reading something as long as we don’t finish it before the start of the next mini right? I just started a 612 pg book that I’m positive I could drag out until the 15th (not sure if that’s when it the new mini starts)

Vaidehi wrote: "Thanks for asking Rebecca! No, it's been still raining and it's going to be raining for next 10 days... That's Taiwan for you! So nothing is going to dry! not me and not my house hahaha
But the spe..."

I'm sorry...I hope you don't have too many problems and can keep yourself and your books dry :-D How long does the rainy season usually last for?

You’re welcome Vaidehi, I’m glad you’re going to be able to finish.
Were you able to get your apartment dried out some? Water damage can be miserable in so many ways

I'm going to finish my last book for the mini tonight. Is there anyone who is not going to be able to finish their book that I can read for their letter or are there letters we still need?