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

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

Sorry it’s so slow that’s not what you need this week. Did you get your a/c back? I’m sorry you’re having such a rough week.

I’ve got a backlog of Elin Hilderbrand books to read and I just happened to get The Beach Club from the library which is her first book. 😃

Sure that sounds great!

Finished both of my countdown books. I’m going to start a spell it out book but I’ll save the last chapter until everyone finishes the countdown and round 1. For a team that wanted to take it easy we sure reading a lot and quickly lol

That sounds like a good idea, I think it’ll be easier to keep track that way. I finished one of mine and marked it on there already. We have to read all of these 10 before we can move on right?

You go for it Judith! I have my second book to finish and I’ll find something else to work on. No worries 😉

I’m almost done with my first book and should have the second completed tomorrow.

No worries Judith that’s great you had books that fit already.

That’s so great! I’m glad he’s doing so well! Yeah time flies when you’re having fun.

Lexi & Jenny you cant be that close to one another and not meet!

How’s Cameron doing, Judith?

I’m so sorry that has to be absolutely miserable! I think you should go get two extra large ice creams.

Can’t wait to get this started I’m in between books right now

Way to go team WHSPR!

Just finished Good Omens. I already had 3 days of BOM questions done for it. SS is updated.

Thanks everyone for a great challenge!

Day 3: Thursday and Friday

10: How do you think the baby mix up influenced how Adam turned out? Or was the mix up what was really supposed to happen in going with the theme of all actions and events being part of a divine plan?
I think it made him into a rather normal human being.

11: Crowley and Aziraphale tried to shape the upbringing of the Anti Christ only to have the wrong kid. Do you think Adam would have discovered his powers earlier if they had been influencing him instead?
More than likely. He already had been doing things like changing the weather.

12: Do you think Anathema knew that Adam might have special abilities when she met him? Was that why she gave him the reading material?
No, I think she just thought he might like to read them.

13: Like me, were you worried about what had happened to the 3rd baby? What did you think when you read the little size piece about Greasy?
I was concerned but I'm glad that he's ok.

14: There are some secondary characters that seem to have no real purpose in the book yet: Raven, Newt and Shadwell for example. Do you have any theories as to the parts they will play in stopping or helping the impending Armageddon?
I don't think these two authors would put characters in their books without having a reason for them. I definitely think they are going to come in handy (or maybe not so handy) when Armageddon rolls around.

DQs Day 2: Wednesday

5. Aziraphale and Crowley discover that Warlock isn't the antichrist and are in search of the real antichrist; why do you think they didn't catch on to this earlier?
I think they didn't catch on because they didn't know another child had been born at the same time at the same place.

6. The manor is just a little different than when the babies were born (hehe). How do you like Mary Hodges changes? Is the portrayal of corporate retreats accurately reflected?
I found the changes hilarious! To go from a hospital run by satanic nuns to a corporate retreat is ingenious. I find team building/corporate retreats to always be ridiculously over the top and this just takes it to the next level.

7. Aziraphale is excited to have the very rare book of prophecies in his hands and treats it with utmost care; does his love of books endear him to you more (well, his upgrade of Anathema's bike also made me smile at him)?
Yes, I definitely think so. I'm terrible about the condition of my books-no cracked spines, no cheetos/doritos eating while I'm reading, if its leaving the house it goes in a plastic bag just in case there's a sudden rainstorm. I can be quite obsessive. It drives everyone around me nuts but I feel that the author put a lot of work into writing the book and that needs to be respected.

8. War is on vacation; this scene is packed with nuances, but we get the sense of impending doom; what do you think the lords of hell add to the story, do you like it?
It was ok and I think it was a necessary element of the story but it's not one of my favorite parts.

9. Keeping Cat's theme going, what is your favorite quote from this section?

“I don’t recognize this,”

“What is it?”

“It’s Tchaikovsky’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust’,” said Crowley, closing his eyes as they went through Slough. To while away the time as they crossed the sleeping Chilterns, they also listened to William Byrd’s “We Are the Champions” and Beethoven’s “I Want to Break Free.” Neither were as good as Vaughn William’s “Fat-Bottomed Girls.”
I like all the references to Queen and Freddie Mercury. Any of the song references are hilarious to think about them being played as classical music. I mean can you imagine hearing "Another One Bites the Dust" being played to the tune of the 1812 Overture by Tchaivosky? BWAHAHAHAHA!

DQs Day 1: In the Beginning - Eleven Years Ago

1. What's prompted you to pick up the book (except BOM points!)? Is it a first time read, a reread, a rereread, because of the mini-series?
It's a first time read. I've haven't read anything by either of these authors but now I'm thinking I might need to.

2. I really enjoy the humour in the book, but am aware it's a very British sort of humour. Do you find it funny? Any stand out lines so far?
I do find it funny. I enjoy sarcastic, tongue in cheek humor. I've just been laughing along with it.

3. In the very first section the angel and demon discuss whether the two actions they took in the Garden of Eden (tempting of the apple and giving up the sword) are actually actions for the opposite team: is it good for humanity to have knowledge? Do you have a view?
Knowledge is good but it can also be destructive. Sometimes the more you know the better, sometimes the more you know the worse. The more you know the more you want to know,

4. The best part about this section, imo, is the frenemies relationship between Aziraphale & Crowley. Do you enjoy it? Do you have a favourite of the two?
I like them both equally. They play well off one another. IF I had to choose one over the other I would say Aziraphale right now because of his bookstore.

I just started it today but I’ll have it and the BOM questions finished by the deadline

Burn baby burn 🔥

DQs - Part Four

17. Henry’s character has turned out to be a bit of a conundrum to me. What do you think has contributed to him using and manipulating people the way he does? Were you surprised at the end of the book when he was being praised as a hero? Do you think Kelton and Alyssa should have spoke up about his dishonesty?
I think it was his own survival mechanism. It didn't surprise me and no why say anything. They don't have any way to prove that he was or wasn't there. Someone lucid enough will eventually come forward and say "Who are you?" and the game will be over for him. That's the way these usually pan out.

18. Alyssa finds out that Kelton spied on her back in 8th grade and in this section, she slaps him on the face hard. Did you think her behavior was appropriate given the amount of time that passed? Would you have handled it differently?
I can understand that she was upset, it was an invasion of her privacy and whether it happened today, yesterday or years ago it still happened. I think the way she reacted was normal and I probably would have done the same thing.

19. Hell and High Water—In this part our band of survivors experience all kinds of ‘hell’. Henry leaves his friends ‘high and dry’…betraying them…getting them almost killed...again. Kelton shoots the two brothers who were attempting to rape Alyssa and manhandle Jacqui and Garret. Alyssa displays her worst self with the mother of the two men, leaving her to perish in the fire and Alyssa almost ‘mercy’ kills her brother. What were your thoughts about any/all of these circumstances? Were the situations realistic? What do you think they could have done differently?
Since the book was written for the drama and the story I think it was a bit hyped up more than a real situation might be. I think I probably would have done the same thing. Kelton had to protect the girls and there was nothing Alyssa could have done with the mother.

20. A New Normal—When a person goes through something ‘traumatic’ you are bound to be affected in some way…this chapter gives us a glimpse of how the characters have been impacted/changed. What character’s change had the biggest impact on you? Have you ever experienced an event that changed how you see or do things? Do you think it takes something dramatic to get people to ‘wake up’ and make necessary changes?
I would have to say Alyssa but she's really the only one that the authors go in depth on. Her way of thinking is probably how others are now thinking as well. I do think it takes something completely life changing for people to get on board many times. Unless it happens to them they either don't care or are passionate for the opposition.

21. Do you think anyone is to blame for the way this disaster unraveled? Could it have been diverted?
I blame the politicians and their greed and complacency. There are plenty of things that could have been done to get ready for the potential stoppage. More desalination stations, more shelters, more public awareness of the situation...

22. Will this story impact how you use water? If so why, and what will you plan to do differently?
I honestly had already been thinking before reading this how cool is it that you turn on the tap and water just comes flowing out anytime we want. I think of people in some third world countries who have never and may never experience this. I don't think I will be changing anything though. I'm already very careful with water usage.

Day 3 DQs


11. With the introduction of Henry we see a similar situation as the McCracken's, with Henry holding a stockpile of water and his neighbors in desperate need. Why do you think Henry's neighbors didn't attack or steal what they needed from him? He was only a teenager after all and he was alone.
I think they didn't get desperate until they got sick. Also, he was willing to trade although his trades were pretty large but when you need a necessity for life you become desperate and willing to trade things you normally never would have parted with.


12. What did you make of Henry? Would you have allowed him to join your group? Do you think they would have made it as far as they have without him?
He gave me a bad vibe from the get go. It's hard to say if I would have allowed him to join. I think just because we would all be in the fight to find water together I would probably allow him to hoping that he would be able to contribute and not be selfish. I think they would have because Kelton was doing the navigation. He also seemed very knowledgeable about survival methods. I think Kelton was the greatest asset to the group.

13. In times of crisis people will do just about anything out of desperation, which we see with Hali in the Target parking lot. How do you think you would handle something like this?
It was a sad situation and one that was very tough to stomach but at the same time very true. People are like that, they are selfish.


14. I was shocked to learn that Jacqui had left a bottle of the antibiotics for Herb and Daphne. Did this change your opinion of her?
It did because up til that point I really didn't care for her.


15. We meet Water Angel's group, who are civilized and working together to survive. Henry compares it to communism and doesn't think it will last. Do you agree that it's only a short-term solution and that they will eventually turn on each other?
I'm hoping that the water will come back on before they have a chance to get that far. I think what they have for the time being works. People are getting sicker so it's easier to brainwash/convince them of things to keep them believing and being persuaded to do the biding of Water Angel.


16. Trust is a big issue that comes up again and again. Do you think Jacqui and Henry have proven themselves to be trustworthy? What about Alyssa and Kelton (despite the past drone incident)?
Out this group I would trust Alyssa and Kelton but not implicitly and Jacqui more so than Henry. He's just skeevy.

Day 2 Questions

6. The power plant vignettes at the beginning of part two are intriguing. We have the activist assuming the water is destined for the wealthy, the water guy just trying to do his job, and the plant manager trying to keep the power on and take care of his workers. With which side did you sympathize?
I think all three of them are trying their best to do what they feel is right.

7. Why do think the author has both of Alyssa and Garrett's parents go to the water desalination center at the beach? Do you think the events on the beach are realistic or over the top?
I feel they didn't think it would be as bad down there as it was. They didn't want to split up because they felt two adults were better than one or one with a kid. Mob mentality is crazy is stuff so it was probably pretty realistic.

8. Kelton states, "Things are gonna fall apart pretty quickly now... Critical services shutting down, unreliable communication--any minute now it'll all give way to urban Darwinism." Do you think the view is too pessimistic, too optimistic, or on track? Why?
I think Kelton's thinking is correct. He's a smart kid.

9. Jacqui comes into the story in this section as a new main character. What do you think of the addition of her character? Have you changed your opinion of either Alyssa or Kelton now that we have reached the halfway point?
I'm not sure that I like Jacqui. She seems a little too rogue and selfish. I'm still liking the other two.

10. I have a few problems with the mob scene and the events as they play out at Kelton's house at the end of the section. Did the sequence of events seems reasonable to you? Why or why not?
I kind of felt like it was a zombie apocalypse scene. I think that the Dad fired too soon knowing that his other son was probably on his way and since he heard the key in the lock. He knew that Brady was the only one who knew where the key was at and I doubt that anyone else could have found it with the doomsday plan in place. The key hiding place seemed pretty ingenious. The Dad was all worked up and couldn't think clearly anymore.