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

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

You
Read: 8 June 2017
Pages: 422
BOM: My input
Rating: ★★★

Day 5 - chapters 33-42

19) I'm still trying to figure out what it is about Beck that caught Joe so absolutely, but what did you think when he says about Beck: "You are a cheater, to the bone, a renovator and I admire you, Beck. You never stop making improvements on life. You have charisma. You have vision." Is Beck a "type" for Joe? Do you think Joe latched onto Beck because he saw someone like him?

I'm beginning to think that. They are shockingly similar in some regards. They're both manipulative and the both use people for their own purposes. Of course, Joe is actually in love (well... Joe's special kind of love) with Beck whereas I don't think Beck is actually in love with Joe. Beck needs almost as much psychological help as Joe does...

20) "We all learn something from an untimely, tragic death. What a danger, blaming other people for your problems. What a waste of life." How can Joe say something so accurate, yet have it be so chilling? Have you found yourself agreeing with a Joe observation, then wondering if there is something wrong with you? (I did, a few times - lol.)

Joe makes quite a few statements that made me stop and think and, yes, agree with him. And it does feel super weird because I really don't like agreeing with Joe. But I feel like it kind of makes sense. Joe wouldn't be able to get away with half the stuff he does if he didn't have a pretty good grasp on human nature. He's smart and he's observant. Unfortunately, he's also insane.

21) What did you think about Beck's notes to herself? What did they say about her as a person, her actions, her motivations? Do you like her more or less because of them? Do you think her notes or Dr. Nicky's notes about her were more accurate?

Meh, I don't think Beck's notes to herself were her actually trying to make any kind of improvement. They read more like her next story or something. Like she was putting on an act. I definitely think Dr. Nicky's notes were more accurate, at least at the beginning. They obviously became a bit... skewed as time went on.

22) Joe is the consummate actor, trickster. He hides in his foxhole when hunting Peach, then calls himself Dan Fox when he becomes a patient of Dr. Nicky. He seems to be able to fool everyone with different adapted personas, in life or imitations via texts or emails. Do you think there is anyone that sees through it? Did you ever catch hints of when others saw something off about Joe?

There *has* to be someone that can see through all of his acting and I'm kind of thinking it might be Beck. I don't know, though... Beck is so wrapped up in herself most of the time. Of course, with Joe attempting to be some version of himself around Beck, there's more chance of the real him shining through. And he has made some slip ups when talking to Beck before that he thought he played off, but maybe she just didn't say anything? I really haven't gotten a vibe from anyone else that they might know something is off with Joe.

23) Karen Minty - she is, down deep, what she appears to be on the surface. She seems to be the polar opposite of Beck, not different, hot, and Joe recognized that simplicity is good for him, him as Dan Fox. What is your take on Karen's effect on Joe? Why do you think he stayed with her as long as he did?

Oh, Karen... I felt so bad for her. She *was* good for Joe in that I think he could have honestly just been himself with her if he wasn't so obsessed with Beck. He wouldn't have had to stalk her and murder her ex-boyfriend. He could have just lived his life. And she was devoted to him, which Joe obviously likes. I think that's why he stuck around so long. He even felt bad for breaking her heart! I was kind of hoping he would realize how good he had it and move on, but Joe is not that type of guy. He has his obsession and nothing is going to make him give her up.

24) Do you agree with Joe when he says that Dr. Nicky is "a very talented, very sick manipulator" or do you think that is just how he sees it? Do you think Joe could be helped by a therapist? Do you think he would want to be helped?

I think that's just how he sees it. Dr. Nicky is confirmed competition so of course he's going to think that he manipulated Beck into falling for him. Admittedly, Dr. Nicky isn't necessarily doing the right thing, but I don't think he's a manipulator. As for Joe, I think he *needs* therapy, but I'm not sure if it would actually benefit him. He lives so much inside his own head that he could go to therapy for years and never actually get anything from it. He would have to *want* to be helped for it to work and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

25) So Beck and Joe have a honeymoon period, where Joe finds his answer: "My answer is you." Do you think this garden of earthly delights will last? Are you starting to make predictions for what will happen?

There's too many chapters left for this to go on as is, lol. Also, I don't think that level of entanglement can be sustained for long. They are completely wrapped up in each other. Like Ethan tells Joe, it's not going to stay that intense forever. And, judging from Beck's history, she's probably about to bail soon. Still no concrete predictions. This book certainly keeps me guessing!

Emily wrote: "Guys, Exit West is the best book I've read in a long, long time. It is so relevant and the prose is so beautiful and not overly complicated."

I've been curious about that book. Now it looks like it'll be going on my TBR :)

DQ's for Chapters 24-32

15. It was funny to read Joe trying to hide the stuff he took from Beck when she came to his apartment. Why did he let her in if he had that much stuff lying around? Do you think that maybe he wants her to find out about his obsession with her?

I think she caught him off-guard and he thought it would have been more suspicious if he had refused to let her in. I don't think he wants her to find out (why try and hide all the stuff if he did?) but he just wasn't expecting her to randomly show up. On a side note, I would have been mad at Curtis, too, if he gave my address to someone who just claimed to know me. I mean, she did, but still!! He didn't know that!

16. Hmmm, I'm getting the feeling Beck is using Joe. Taking him on a shopping trip and him offering her a job. What do you think? Is it a smart decision to hire her for the bookstore? This could totally backfire on him.

I definitely think she's using him a little bit. She needs someone around constantly, it seems. I didn't think it was a good idea to hire her for the bookstore and it certainly didn't end well. It seemed to be fine for awhile, but I don't think it was ever going to last.

17. Joe has a lot of bad luck, first he gets beat up by a former employee and his friends and then an unfortunate meeting with a deer. I this karma being a bitch or the universe telling him he should just forget about Beck and let Peach have her?

I think it's just having a string of misfortune caused by his obsession with Beck. I doubt he would have fired Curtis if not for Curtis giving Beck his address. And he wouldn't have been driving out in a snowstorm if he wasn't obsessively stalking Beck. Honestly, he really should just forget Beck... I don't see the appeal. But that's not how obsession works.

18. What is you opinion of this book when we're over the halfway mark? Do you like the style? Is the pace fast enough or do you think it's too slow? Any guesses on where the story is going?

I'm enjoying it so far. It does seem to be slowing down a little bit, in my opinion. Most of the suspense was in Joe trying to get Beck and now it's just kind of us watch his constant thoughts about her now that they did the deed (however briefly...). The whole scene in the hospital seemed unbelievable and he's sneaking around Peach's beach house moreso. I'm hoping it picks back up soon because, like I said, I am enjoying the book so far. I really have no clue where this book is headed, but I feel like it's not going to pretty.

Into the Water
Read: 5 June 2017
Pages: 386
Rating: ★★★★

Anna Maria wrote: "Hello!! Happy Birthday Samantha, I hope you had a good time.

I've be reading The Name of the Wind the last few days and it's soo good. I'll be done with it pretty soon. Unfortunately my finals are..."

Ohhh, I've been wanting to read The Name of the Wind for ages. It's even on my bookshelf! I think I'll pick that up after I finish Into the Water. Everyone I know who has read it has loved it.

Grace wrote: "How is everyone ? Enjoying your books, read anything really incredible or really awful ?

I have been reading mainly average books lately, hardly anything makes me go wow. I want to read that agai..."

I'm enjoying our current BOM, though it's not what I usually go for. It's creepy as hell, though, and I love it for that!

I'm also reading Into the Water and it's engaging but I cannot *stand* any of the characters, so far. Paula Hawkins has a knack for writing insufferable characters!

I feel you on the whole zombie thing. I love horror movies. I've been watching them since I was a kid (thanks, Dad, haha) and I was never outright scared of the big baddies. Except zombies. Zombies *terrified* me. It's not so bad anymore, but I still get unnerved by movies/shows/books involving zombies. What book did you end up reading for that challenge?

I just got this book on my Overdrive app, so I'll join in the discussion when it comes time :)

Teddie wrote: "I'm visiting a friend this weekend, helping her celebrate her birthday. Her husband asked a few of us to fly in and surprise her - champagne abounds. :)"

That sounds like fun! Hope you're having a great trip. Also, I'm gonna have to drop hints for my hubby, lol.

Samantha wrote: "Hey everyone. Sorry I've been so quiet recently. I came down with something over a week ago and it's knocked me out from any reading :/ I went to the doctor yesterday (because my husband basically ..."

Aww, boo :( I hope you feel better soon! And happy belated birthday!

Day 3 Discussions Questions

10. Peach claims a lot of Beck’s time in this section. When Joe comes back over to assemble Beck’s new bed, Peach shows up since Beck was supposed to have a guy from Craig’s List come over to put her bed together. Joe seemed to get angrier with Peach as the night went on and took out his frustrations on Benji. Was it surprising that he used something that Benji was allergic to instead of a more violent way to kill him? How much longer do you think he would have lived if Joe wasn’t so angry with all the Peach’s and Benji’s in the world? Do you think his body will eventually be found?

No, I wasn't surprised that he used a subtler way to kill Benji. He really doesn't seem like the overly violent type. Just mentally unstable. I don't think Benji was ever getting out of there alive, but I think he might have lived a bit longer if Peach hadn't worked Joe into such an agitated state. Seeming as he just stuck him in a locker (even if it is a secure one) I feel like someone will eventually find Benji.

11. Joe is convinced Peach is in love with Beck. Do you think Peach is in love with Beck?

If he actually found those pictures of Beck in Peach's room, then, yes. It does explain how she always manages to interfere with their plans in one way or another, especially when they start to get more serious. She wants Beck to herself.

12. Peach has some bad habits when she runs that Joe was able to take advantage of. Since he wasn’t successful in killing her, do you think he will try again? Joe seems to lack a lot of social skills. He was using the website to inform him of what type of balloons were for Get Well Soon. What do you think of the balloon? Did Beck overreact with him?

If she keeps getting in the way, then he will definitely try again. He'll think of another way to kill her, though, since I don't think she'll be running alone through the woods anytime soon. I thought the smiley face balloon was probably not the *best* choice, but I do think that they both overreacted. If I didn't know that he's mentally ill and hates Peach, I would have just seen it as a nice gesture. I also think Peach intentionally took it the wrong way to drive a wedge between Joe and Beck.

13. Beck’s father is not dead. Why do you think she lied to Joe about her father? Do you think she will tell Joe the truth about her father and seeing him?

I kind of read ahead a little, so I'm gonna sit this question out :)

14. Joe is in a really bad place. Beck keeps calling since she got off the boat and he is afraid that she saw him there. After he gets back to his place, there is a knock on the door? Who do you think it is? What do you think he will do?

Heh, see my answer to the above question. I just had to know who was knocking!

Random thought: TT is not helping with the state of my TBR list. I swear I add at least a book a day!

Day 2 Discussion Questions
Chapters 10-14

5. What do you think are Joe's intentions with Benji? Is there any way you can see this ending well for Benji?

I think he plans on killing him eventually. He mentioned somewhere that he "can't kill Benji until you kill Benji" so I think he's waiting for Beck to get over him. I don't see this ending well for Benji at all. He's not present enough to make a more than a half-hearted attempt at escape. He's probably gonna die.

6. Joe asks Benji to write down his 5 favourite books, if you had to write a list of your five favourite books, what would they be?

This is haaaaaard! Though, unlike Benji, it isn't hard because I haven't read any of the books... there's just so many that I love. Let's give it a whirl...

1. The Westing Game
2. All Creatures Great and Small
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (really the whole Harry Potter series, but this is the introduction to the magic :) )
4. The Night Circus
5. Ready Player One

7. What is your impression of Beck through Joe's eyes? Do you sympathise with her situation with Benji? Can you see why Joe is so enthralled with her?

I'm not a huge fan of Beck's, to be honest. She seems kind of fake and a smidge pretentious, though not as bad as Peach. Still, I feel bad for what Joe is doing to her. It's all okay right now, but I just see this devolving into chaos. I do sympathize with her Benji situation because I, too, was once young and dumb and stuck on a guy that was *terrible* for me. It happens. I suppose Beck has her charms, but I honestly don't know why Joe is so captivated with her.

8. How do you think Beck feels about Joe? Do you think she genuinely likes him and it's only her feelings for Benji that are getting in the way of her progressing a relationship with him?

I think she sees him as the quintessential "nice guy" and, now that Benji is MIA, she sees him as her rebound, as well. I don't think she has genuine feelings for him beyond a slight, surface attraction. She definitely doesn't feel the same way Joe does about their relationship. Given time, she might grow to like him, but seeming as Joe is a complete creep and that's bound to come to light sooner or later, I don't think that'll happen.

9. I am finding Beck's friendships with Lynne, Chana, and Peach to be lacking any real warmth and often interactions amongst the girls seem a bit strained. What are your thoughts on Beck's friends, do you think they are genuine friends who only want the best for her?

Beck's friends are kind of the worst. And it's not even because they thought her story was craptastic. The fact that they were talking about her behind her back and then praised her to her face is what makes them so awful. Ain't nobody got time for fake friends. Well... except, apparently, Beck. Also, I hate Peach. That may have been the only time I was on Joe's side when it came to his irrational hatred. Of course, she may have been being a complete snobby... witch because she's trying to protect Beck, who has horrible taste in men. Peach does seem to actually care about Beck, in her own way. Still... she rubbed me the wrong way.

Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine

Let the world burn.

With an iron fist, the Great Library controls the knowledge of the world, ruthlessly stamping out all rebellion and, in the name of the greater good, forbidding the personal ownership of books.

Jess Brightwell has survived his introduction to the sinister, seductive world of the Library, but serving in its army is nothing like he envisioned. His life and the lives of those he cares for have been altered forever. His best friend is lost, and Morgan, the girl he loves, is locked away in the Iron Tower, doomed to a life apart from everything she knows.

After embarking on a mission to save one of their own, Jess and his band of allies make one wrong move and suddenly find themselves hunted by the Library’s deadly automata and forced to flee Alexandria, all the way to London.

But Jess’s home isn’t safe anymore. The Welsh army is coming, London is burning, and soon, Jess must choose between his friends, his family, and the Library, which is willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in the search for ultimate control…

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

By 2021, the World War has killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remain covet any living creature, and for people who can't afford one, companies have built incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep. They've even built humans.

Emigrées to Mars receive androids so sophisticated it's impossible to tell them from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans could wreak, the government bans them from Earth, but when androids don't want to be identified, they just blend in. Rick Deckard is an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose job is to find rogue androids and retire them, but cornered, androids tend to fight back--with deadly results.

Red Dragon by Thomas Harris

Will Graham stands in a silent, empty house communing with a killer. An FBI instructor with a gift for hunting madmen, Graham knows what his murderer looks like, how he thinks, and what he did to his victims after they died. Now Graham must try to catch him. But to do it, he must feel the heat of a killer's brain, draw on the macabre advice of a dangerous mental patient, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and follow a trail of microscopic clues to the place where another family has already been chosen to die--and where an innocent woman has found the Dragon first.

1. What do you think about the POV? Does it draw you in or push you away? It's not quite in 2nd person, but it's much more direct than most 1st persons, even ones that break the reader wall. Do you feel Joe is talking to Beck, to you the reader, or both -- are you supposed to identify as Beck?

I'm really enjoying the POV. I honestly think Joe is talking to himself, like having a running dialogue in your head or something. It definitely draws me in. Joe's head is a twisted place...

2. Many times books are set in first person to make it easier to emphasize with the narrator. Do you have sympathy for him? Do you feel you understand why he feels the way he does? Would it be easier or harder if you saw him from outside?

I have zero sympathy for this guy. What the hell, man?! He is the creeper that women are warned about and, what makes it worse, is that he thinks he's being the "nice guy". There is a lot wrong with this young man. I don't know if I understand his feelings... I get his rationale, but I don't understand it, if that makes any sense. I think it would actually be easier to be sympathetic towards him if I were on the outside and had no access to his inner thoughts.

3. Is Joe an unreliable narrator? He's clearly delusional in some ways; how deep do you think that goes? Do you trust him that he's really doing everything he reports?

Joe is most certainly an unreliable narrator. He skews everything to make himself look good and to justify his clearly insane actions. His delusion is pretty bone deep, at this point. I do think he's actually doing all the things he reports, though. Which makes it even creepier.

4. What do you expect from this book? What made you decide to read it? Do you expect it to have the beats of a thriller, or does the adventurous point of view change your expectations?

I expect this is going to be a hell of a ride! I've never heard of this book before it was chosen as a BOM, but it sounded interesting and I've heard good things from other people, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I think the point of view makes it even more thrilling. I'm constantly dreading what Joe is going to do next!

Strange the Dreamer
Read: 1 June 2017
Pages: 544
BOM: My input
Rating: ★★★★

May 28
Ch 53 - Ch 67

25. Did you guess the truth about Lazlo? What does this mean for the other hundreds of children that the Gods had and "disappeared"?

I guessed he wasn't ordinary and, in the context of the story, I thought it might mean that he was godspawn. I didn't guess that he would have the power to control mesarthium, though! I'm assuming Wraith spread the children throughout the world since Lazlo has a vague memory of the bird and being weightless. I wonder what the purpose was, though. Did they realize that the humans would revolt and murder them all one day?

26. Lazlo and Sarai wanted Minya to catch her without even thinking of the consequences. Is it a "life" if you have no body and your will is not your own?

I'm trying really hard not to repeat the foul language I yelled at the end of this book. I just... UGH!! I want to punch Minya directly in the face. No, that is not a life! Sarai is just a puppet, now, though a puppet that still can think and feel, which makes it a million times worse. And Lazlo loves her so much, I don't think he'll be able to give her up even if she *is* just a puppet. Stupid *censored* Minya....

27. Any guesses for the next book? What would you like to see happen?

I'm guessing Minya will use her power over Lazlo to try and get her revenge. I would *like* Lazlo to get rid of her some how (perhaps Ruby can give her a fiery hug as Sparrow suggested...) so that everyone else can move on and try actually living life.

28. Final thoughts on the book? Will you read the next one? Will you read more of Liani's work if you haven't already?

I enjoyed this book, though it took me awhile to get into it. It really came alive for me once Sarai and Lazlo met. I'll definitely be reading the next one because there's no way that *Minya* gets to win, right?!? I've started the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy by this author and, though I was planning on finishing it anyways, I'm more excited to now. I like this author's style.

Grace wrote: "LOL I think the only Nic Cage film I ever liked was Raising Arizona."

I love that movie! It's so ridiculous, lol.

That sounds like a pain (literally) :( Though the concept of Book Jeopardy sounds intriguing.