Kerri’s Comments (group member since Sep 29, 2015)

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

Can I just say that I always enjoy checking in on this thread, lol. The gifs are *chef's kiss*

So I was at my local bookstore and ended up buying a copy of Two Can Keep a Secret...

Because I have no self-control, lol.

Alysa wrote: "I liked all of those books, haha.
None was 5 stars, but all highly enjoyable to me for different reasons :)"

Same here. No 5 stars, but I really liked them!

Looking forward to The Chestnut Man and now I *have* to read Two Can Keep a Secret! We are the BOM team, after all ;-) I think I'm gunna go ahead and get started on Chestnut Man since they posted the break down and I don't have a good cover read/chonky book, atm. Happy reading week, Team Ira!

Just finished up Magic for Liars but, unfortunately, I’m at work and GR is blocked. Would someone mind updating the spreadsheet for me? Using it for Lust - Red cover. Thank you!

That is quite an extensive list! I love the mystery/thriller genre, so I'm sure I can find something on my shelves that'll fit at least one of those tasks.

Almost done with Magic for Liars, too. I'll probably be posting it tonight or early tomorrow. Keeping my eye out for any animals in case it helps fill out a collection.

Looks rather purple to me!

I'll be working this weekend, so I probably won't be around that much, but I'll make sure to get my current book posted and at least check in!

Jessi wrote: "[[ Frankie ]] - Punkins & Pages! wrote: "Also, I had no idea Wilder Girls was a sin bingo... I didn’t think the cover was solid enough of a color. But that’s wonderful that it is!"

I saw the book ..."

Agreed. It's definitely a lot more green in person than it seemed when I was looking at on Goodreads.

@wren - Good luck on your midterms!

@Allison Ann - I hope your furnace woes have been resolved

@Alysa - I'd probably say C, too. Those thicc books do give us a lot of points!

I'm almost done with Serpent & Dove and I'm a little sad that "dove" isn't one of the animals to find! Ah well, it'll work for YA, at least.

All done with Wilder Girls and updated the sheet! I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I thought I was going to when I first started it.

DQ Day 5 Chapter 20 to the end

20- Early in chapter 29, Hetty thinks to herself, “For a year and a half we’ve been as safe as we could ask for. The fence, regular supplies. Welch and the Headmistress to hold us together. A year and a half, and in a week I’ve torn it apart.” Do you agree? Do you think the events at the end are Hetty’s fault?

No, the lies from the people in charge and the secrecy are what's to blame. Perhaps it started with wanting to protect the girls and not cause a mass panic, but it just bred an environment of mistrust where it was girl group against girl group. Now that I know the testing facility was on the island with them, it makes more sense why them leaving the school counted as breaking quarantine, but did they honestly believe they could keep that going indefinitely? Did they not have a better back up plan in case of a breach?! This is the worst run government outfit ever, sheesh... But, all that to say, Hetty did what she did, but this was all going to end in tragedy even if she didn't.

21- The chaos of chapter 20 is nuts. A bear, poison, evil people who think they have a better right to life than the others. The thing I found most disturbing in this part was that the extra girls, the remaining girls, the ones we know almost nothing about, seemed truly extra to the story. I felt nothing for them, and that bothered me. How did you all feel about this chaotic part of the book; the taking of Reese, the poison room, etc.?

It was insane! I really thought Headmistress was going to try and help the girls, but she turned out to be a spineless piece of *expletive deleted*. It was her job to protect those girls, even before all this Tox business happened, and she didn't. She basically sold them to the government and had an escape plan for herself if things went south. Ugh.

I do agree with you that I really felt nothing for the other girls, but I think it made sense considering the POV of the story. Hetty cares about two people: Reese and Byatt. Everyone else was always on the periphery, so it makes sense that we as readers really don't get to know the other girls and end up not really caring about them.

22- The reveal of the cause of the Tox, (view spoiler)[the primeval poison released by global warming, (hide spoiler)] was a good story point, I thought. Would you have liked to get more info on this? Did you have any inkling that this was the cause, or what did you think it was? Do you think that the CDC (or whoever found this stuff) released it on the island, or was it found there in the girls?

I thought that was an interesting twist, as well. Knowing that information, I think that the parasite was always on the island. I think they became aware of it with the Raxter Blues and the Raxter irises. I think they were studying those and assuming it woudn't infect humans but, when it did, they decided to just keep studying/testing, using the girls as their new test subjects. Which is pretty terrible. If you find some new, terrible parasite on an INHABITED island, you don't just continue to let people live there! I really would have liked to learn more about the Tox but, again, in the context of the POV, it makes sense that we didn't.

23- What happens next? Do they reach the mainland? Does Byatt recover, or is her essence gone? Why? Will there be a sequel, and will you read it if there is?

That's a good question. I felt like this was a satisfying open-ended ending, which I don't say often. I tend to like things being wrapped up, but this ending really worked for this book. I think they will probably reach the mainland, but I think Hetty is getting sicker by the second. I mean, she just vomited up a second heart! I don't know if they'll survive with those things in them and Byatt is most definitely gonna be (no pun intended) dead weight. I'm not sure how I feel about a possible sequel... I think it works just fine on it's own, even if I still have questions.

Alysa wrote: "Kerri wrote: "Is there a countdown for end of Week 2/beginning of Week 3? I still got a bit of Wilder Girls to go and I’m wondering if I can get it done for this week or just save it for next week"..."

Thank you! Looks like I will have time to finish up Wilder Girls!

DQ Day 4 Chapters 14-19

16. I felt so bad for Reese to be able to see her father again and so different. Mr. Harker changed in ways none of the girls have. Why do you think the Tox is more aggressive with men? Is it just hormones or something else? Was Reese’s reaction to Hetty killing her father a normal reaction? Do you think Reese has lost hope now?

That was an intense scene. I suppose it could be because of hormones, like the doctors seem to think, but who knows? We really don't know enough about the Tox to guess why it affects men differently. Hormones seems a good enough answer for now!

As for Reese, initially I was upset with how she reacted but, thinking about it, her reaction as written was more real. I mean, yes, her father was trying to kill her and Hetty, but that's her dad.... the most important person in her life. She understands that Hetty did what she had to do, but I understand why she's still upset. I'm hoping she doesn't block Hetty out forever, though.

17. Byatt’s section was pretty intense. This is the first time that we see the Tox attacking someone and how horrific it is. By the end she seems pretty resigned and ready to die when Paretta tells her that they are evacuating and there will be no more help for Raxton. Do you think Byatt understood that she was condemned everyone to death by breaking quarantine?

Byatt's section was definitely crazy. It seems like she felt a bit of remorse for infecting Teddy and it seems like she was all set to die, herself. I'm wondering if she's actually dead... I feel like we might see more from her later. But maybe that's because I read so many books with twist endings that I'm suspicious of every book now, lol.

Also, I don't think it was Byatt's actions that caused the military to abandon ship. They knew someone was in that cabin with Mona's body, which "broke quarantine", so it was Hetty and Reese that caused them to freak and run. I'm hesitant to blame them, though. They (well... Hetty) were just trying to save their friend. I don't understand why them leaving the school that is ON AN ISLAND would be considered breaking quarantine. It's not like there is a boat they can take to the mainland! Maybe?

18. Welch and the Headmistress are really upset about quarantine being broken. Do you believe they know who did it? What do you think about Welch telling the truth to the Boat Shift girls on the dock before she kills herself? Do they believe her or are just to overwhelm to really process everything?

I don't think Welch knows who broke quarantine, but perhaps Headmistress suspects? I don't she knows, either, or she's so distracted by the fact that she's now supposed to kill all these girls that it just doesn't matter to her anymore. I think the girls believe what Welch told them. Whether it's actually true or not... *shrug* They lie about so many things, I don't know what's what!

19. Hetty was right when she said Welch held everything and everyone together (paraphrasing). The first night she is gone things start to fall apart. Hetty not locking the gate when they got back. Gun Shift girls falling asleep on duty. Both reasons caused Lindsey to die. Do you think Hetty will step up to lead to the girls to make sure things do not dissolve any further into chaos or let her guilt of not locking the gate overwhelm her?

I thought that gate automatically locked when you closed it?? Like, they don't have to lock it when they leave, so why doesn't it lock when you close it after coming back? That whole situation seems fishy... I do think the guilt is already getting to Hetty. She's letting it get to her and I think it might be enough to break her. Reese might step up to take the lead. She's still hurting, but she seems tough.

Is there a countdown for end of Week 2/beginning of Week 3? I still got a bit of Wilder Girls to go and I’m wondering if I can get it done for this week or just save it for next week

Just finished The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and updated the spreadsheet! It was really enjoyable!

Day 3 DQs - Hetty (Ch 9) - 13


11. After all the tension in the beginning between Hetty and Reese, and now that they only have each other without Byatt as the middleman, they admit their true feelings toward one another. I felt like we didn't get much of a buildup to it so did you feel the chemistry between them? Did you think this turn in their relationship was believable? Forced? Necessary, or something to give the reader hope?

There were instances before that hinted at Hetty suppressing some feelings for Reese and the scene where Hetty's stance towards Reese shifts gives clues that Reese has feelings for Hetty, as well. But, being awkward teenagers, they don't know how to properly process their feelings. I thought it was believable, especially in the context of them being alone and able to actually kind of talk about their feelings without onlookers. I liked the way the author did this scene.

12. I didn't stop to consider how everyone's symptoms were so varied until Byatt started listing them for Teddy. Why do you think it reacted so differently with everyone it infected?

Perhaps it has something to do with their individual genes? As in, the Tox is mutating specific genes, but since everyone's genes are different, the symptoms are different.

13. We learned a lot more about Byatt which made me rethink the previous interactions she had with her friends. Did Hetty and Reese really know the real Byatt? And is Byatt reliable as a narrator knowing that she's a compulsive liar?

I think Reese saw through Byatt, but Hetty definitely did not. Hetty basically idolizes Byatt, so she can do no wrong in Hetty's eyes. Even after she lied straight to her face. I think she's reliable in the current context, but when it comes to her past, who knows? I do wonder what happened that caused her parents to ship her off to Raxter. She's been to at least one therapist before... I wonder what it was for. Was it the compulsive lying or...? I'm also super put off by the fact that she kissed Teddy, even though she knew he could get infected, simply because she "wants what [she] wants." That's cold-blooded...

14. Byatt manipulated poor Teddy into removing his mask and kissing him. Why do you think she did this? To infect him, just because she could, or because she really believed it only affected girls (though come on, Mr. Harker!)?

She knew it infected men, as well, but she wanted to do it, so she did. I'm really beginning to dislike or, at least, distrust Byatt. She is rather protective of her friends, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's because she genuinely cares about them or because she thinks of Hetty and Reese as "hers".

15. When Mona told Byatt that "They'll ruin it," who do you think she was referring to and what do you think she meant by it? Mona then asks if Byatt would keep the disfigurements caused by the Tox even if there was a cure. What did you make of this? Why do you think they would want to keep them?

I think Mona was weirdly fond of her gills and thought that the Navy people were going to "ruin it" by finding a cure. I'm not sure why they would want to keep their disfigurements. Byatt did mention the sense of power she had before the flare-ups and she also mentioned that she liked her body physically matching the way her mind felt.

Just checking in for the day! We had cookies at work today, so it was a pretty alright Friday :D Also, I've actually started enjoying Wilder Girls, so maybe I actually will finish it before the deadline! I'm gonna try.

Day 2 - chapters 4 - 8

5. The Boat Shift segment was intense! The description of the changes to the island were very evocative (and reminiscent of Annihilation, as Frankie mentioned). Are you going to be able to walk in the woods the same again? How effective are you finding the fungal horrors?

I absolutely loved this section! This section alone has finally got me hooked. So much was happening. And, like you said, the descriptions were so evocative! I could picture myself in that creepy forest with the close air and the eerie noises. I've been in forests like that, though, obviously, with normal non-infected trees, lol. This part sucked me right in and now I'm finding it difficult to put the book down!

6. Welch. First, during the Boat Shift segment; Did you believe/agree with Welch at the first reading? And by the end of this section, looking back, do you still agree? Would you have done what Hetty did, and complied with the rule of silence? Then we discover Welch is communicating with someone (with a familiar voice....) about receipt, replacement and returns. By the end of this section we can guess at "receipt", but who / what is being returned?? Were you surprised by the reveal of Welch being in on "it"?

Uuuugh, Welch! First off, I would have gotten myself shot because there is no way I would have agreed to tossing desperately needed food into the ocean!! I mean, Hetty describes people fighting over moldy bread, so there's no way I'm letting you toss perfectly good grapes in the sea because of pesticides? PESTICIDES?!

Yeah... I would've been dead.

As for her conversation with the mysterious Navy guy, I wasn't all that shocked that she is "in" on it after her demand for silence at the pier. She's proven she'll do some extreme things because she personally believes it's for the best, so I can see her being in on shipping girls to the Navy to be experimented on for a hopeful cure. I trust Welch about as far as I can throw... which ain't far. As far as who might be being returned... probably the last girl that went up to the infirmary? I feel like they send them to the main land when they feel they are beyond help so they can do their experiments and when they die, they ship them back so the body can be burned.

7. Hetty has a big revelation about Reese "I've spent my every day since I met her telling myself the wrong thing. Telling myself over and over that she was cold, when maybe she was burning the whole time" I actually judged Hetty a lot at this point, for being so blinkered and oblivious, but I did like the adjustment she made during the conversation. How do you feel about Hetty, Reese and Byatt? Are they becoming more credible characters yet?

I have to say, I like Hetty a LOT better when she is by herself. She felt like such an afterthought whenever she was around Byatt, but, when she's by herself, her actual personality shines through. I liked her interaction with Reese after Byatt's flare up and subsequent disappearance to the "infirmary". I'm also pretty sure that Reese was trying to tell Hetty that she was attracted to her, but Hetty is the definition of oblivious. Either way, the characters have become much more interesting and I find myself liking them more.

8. We have a switch in POV to Byatt. What do you think of this choice by the author?

I liked it! It feel like it adds tension because, even though we kind of know where she is, we have no idea what they plan to do with Byatt and if she'll survive the process. We also know that Byatt might not be where Hetty thinks she is, which will lead to some issues if Hetty tries to rescue her at Reese's father's cabin. This whole book is just me yelling "What is going on?!" frantically in my head, lol.

9. The Byatt segment shows medical stuff happening. What do you make of that? Are they curing or creating?

I feel like they maybe created it, realized they couldn't control it, and are now trying desperately to un-make it. Although that pill seemed to amplify whatever is happening to Byatt, but with less pain and a bit more control. So maybe this is a "trying to develop a super-soldier" kind of scenario? Where they are now trying to refine the process so it doesn't, ya know, slowly yet violently murder the subject?

10. "Just before a flare-up, there's a moment. Hard to describe, hard to pin down, but for me it almost makes it worth it. The pain and the loss, all of it a fair price for this. This strength, this power, this eagerness to bare my teeth>" What do you think this quote means? Does it hint at reasons for the Tox? At future developments in the story line?

It seems like the Tox gives the girl some kind of power, but it's completely overwhelming to the point that it burns them out and kills them. Or hollows them to the point where they just go feral. I definitely think there's more to that!

As for my progress, I know I'll get through The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by the end of the week, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get through Wilder Girls as well... I am going to try, though!

I am here for this mini challenge! Time to go find some books I can fit in for next week :D