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

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

I am so here for this! I've loved the the team challenges I've done so far! :D

I just finished Into the Wild and I think it's my favorite book I've read from this list so far! I saw the movie forever ago and have wanted to read the book for about as long. I just thought the story was so tragic and I wanted to see if the book had anymore insight (since the book usually does). The writer did a great job telling this story. At times, as I was reading it, I would forget that this is a work of non-fiction. Then I would remember and be devastated all over again. Great book!

After a visit to the library, I can strike one more off my list. Just finished Black Beauty, which I think I've wanted to read since I was a kid. I gave it a solid three stars. It was enjoyable and cute and I think my daughter would really love it!

Second book down! Just finished reading Forrest Gump, which was a pretty good read. Vastly different from the movie (not too surprising, there) but I liked it for it's own charm. The ending didn't make me want to sob like a baby, either, haha.

One down, 29 more to go! Just finished The Vampire Lestat, which I have started and stopped like three times. It's was okay, in the end, but it definitely took me some time to get into it.

I think that might be how I attempt Les Miserables. The audiobook version of Moby Dick is the only reason I got through that book!

That's a lot of great suggestions for Les Miserables! That's definitely one of the more daunting ones on my list...

Didn't quite get there last year, but this year, I'll be starting from the beginning! And I'm going to shoot for that Emerald Coin. So here are the 30 oldest books on my TBR shelf.

1. The Count of Monte Cristo
2. Les Misérables
3. Fahrenheit 451
4. The Stand
5. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
6. Watchmen
7. Atonement
8. The Joy Luck Club
9. The Three Musketeers
10. It
11. Into the Wild
12. Othello
13. Uncle Tom's Cabin
14. The Vampire Lestat
15. The Silence of the Lambs
16. Neverwhere
17. Different Seasons
18. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
19. The Jungle
20. Stardust
21. The Graveyard Book
22. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
23. Artemis Fowl
24. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
25. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
26. 'Salem's Lot
27. Far from the Madding Crowd
28. Black Beauty
29. The Queen of the Damned
30. Forrest Gump

Completed books:

I definitely won't be finishing my list before the end of December. Looks like I'll have to start this challenge again next year! It definitely helps clean up the TBR list :)

I agree with Karen, #14 is an amazing book!

Woo, top ten! Great job, Team Draco! I really am gonna miss this team. Hopefully I'll bump into you guys in a later challenge :)

I want to add my voice to thanking the captains. You guys did an amazing job keeping everything organized and helping us out! I have no idea how you guys managed it. Thanks for helping to make this awesome :)

Ahh, this has been a great group challenge and I'm glad I got to do it with such a fun group of ladies!

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Date completed" 6 November 2016
Pages: 406
Published: September 12th, 2006

I don't think it really works for anything right now, but we can use it for gold!

Day 5 Questions
Chapters 19-22, Epilogue

30. In Chapter 19, we learn that Jack is half-mortal. But Severin shares a special glance with Jack's mother, and she later suggests there is one more heir to the throne. Do you think Jack really is the Alderking's son, despite Eolanthe claiming that she bore him with a mortal father? She could have been lying to protect him from the evil Alderking and his hatred of his own children. Do you think Severin has accepted him as "legitimate" in the epilogue?

Though I do think the Alderking might be Jack's father, I wonder why lying to him about it was safer than telling the truth, at least for Jack's mother. Although the Alderking does seem pretty done with his spawn in general, so maybe it was the best thing to lie.

31. Hazel and Ben's parents continue to astound me. There is more and more evidence of their poor parenting, despite the claim that they have gotten better more recently. Were you surprised that they didn't argue about Ben's decision to stay in Faerieland? Do you think they should have fought the decision like Jack's parents would have fought to protect him?

I think they did try to argue, but it was half-hearted, at best. It really sticks to their characters, though. These are the parents that cared more about raging parties than feeding their children. Sure, they grew out of the parties, but that level of negligence is bone deep. I don't know if I agree that they should have fought the decision, though. Ben's reasoning makes a lot of sense and, as a parent, I would want him to be happy. I would be upset, sure, but I would understand that this is probably for the best interest of everyone involved.

32. What is your impression of Hazel's night self? She spent a lot of time trying to tell her day self the truth, yet also yearned to protect her. Was she right to wait as long as she did to leave clues? What do you think about the melding of her night and day self?

Night Hazel seemed like she was just along for the ride until she realized that the Alderking was fixing to obliterate her whole town. I think she's pretty much the same as Day Hazel, but with a lot more backbone. I'm hoping, now that all their memories are shared, some of that backbone will make itself known in Day Hazel. Or, I guess, just Hazel now.

33. Were you surprised at Hazel's hiding place for Heartsworn? Were you able to guess where she had hidden it?

Seemed like a weird hiding spot, but it did the trick. I didn't guess it until Hazel did, but as soon as she said it, I remembered her seeing that flash when she went to the revel and was before the Alderking. Tricksty.

34. The Alderking curses Hazel to remember everything, from her night self and from her infancy. But do you think the rediscovered knowledge is really a curse?

It's probably helping her mend her split personality a lot easier, though I'm sure she'd rather forget some of the things she did as the Alderking's knight.

35. Any guesses as to who is in the glass coffin now?

The Alderking. Severin put him in there. Serves him right!

36. What is your final impression of the book? Is there one section or character that stands out above other sections/characters of the book or above other books in this genre?

I liked it. It didn't knock my socks off or anything, but it was good. It had an interesting plot, but I felt the characters were a little flat, to be honest. I did end up liking Jack a lot, which is good because I didn't really care for any of them at first. I usually can't get into a book where I don't like the characters. After everyone stopped being so hush hush about literally everything, it got better.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
Date completed: 29 October 2016
Pages: 336
Published: Jan 13, 2015

How it fits:
Card #1 - Preposition (The Darkest Part of the Forest)
Card #2 - H (author's first name, MC named Hazel), A (character named the Alderking, character named Amanda)
Card #3 - Published in 2015
Card #5 - B (author's last name, MC named Ben)

Discussion Questions Day 4
Chapters 15-18

21. In chapter 15 Severin tells Ben a story about his sister and father. Do you think Ben will be able to relay the info to Hazel?

I should hope so, though, if he doesn't, it seems like Severin probably will. Seriously, though, everyone needs to stop with all the secrets!

22. Severin mentions faerie love and Sorrel's love for her husband. Do you think it is very different from human love?

Well, faeries live a lot longer than humans do, so I would imagine their emotions work a little differently than ours. Humans can be fast to fall in and out of love because we don't get a lot of time. I can see it taking longer for faeries since they are used to the idea of being around, if not forever, at least quite a few centuries.

23. Were you surprised to find out that Sorrel is Sorrow?

I figured out she was Sorrow about halfway through Severin's story. All the stuff about "My father took him. My brother killed him," from when the Sorrow attacked the school. It was still pretty surprising, though! I'm surprised that ended as well as it did. Well... for now.

24. The Alderking trapped Severin in the crystal coffin for disobeying him and not backing down. Do you think he overreacted or that maybe there is more to the story?

The Alderking overreacts to everything ever. Seriously. From the little details we've heard from other characters and his little part in the book, he loves the drama. I thought Severin was going to say that he placed himself in the casket so that his father wouldn't be able to use it on his sister, but I can totally see the Alderking doing it himself because he was sick of his "disobedient" child.

25. Why do you think Hazel decided to tell Jack about what the Alderking asked her to do (bringing him the prince)?

Maybe she's finally tired of not telling anyone anything ever? Jesus...

26. Jack's mother told him not to come home until she specified, How did you feel about this at first? After finding out about the town meeting do you think it was the right decision?

I was pissed! But after finding out about the meeting, I thought she was right to do it. I should have known better. A woman who is willing to risk faerie wrath to take and raise Jack is not going to just abandon him because the townfolks have their knickers in a twist.

27. I was glad that Jack's human parents stood up for him regardless of his decision to leave. How did you feel about the situation?

Ugh, I was so proud of them! It had to have been difficult, but it shows how much they truly love him.

28. The Sorrow fight scene was pretty intense! Luckily Ben was there, do you think using his musical abilities was instinct?

Well, that's what they used to do when they were kids, so I think that kicked back in when everyone was in real, imminent danger. Good job, Ben!

29. Do you think Ben really helped Sorrow with her grieving or was it just a temporary solution?

Ben's music is pretty powerful, so I think it actually helped. I don't think she'll be turning back into a faerie anytime soon, but I think the process has been started.

Day 3 Questions
Chapters 11 - 14

14. What did you think of the story of the baby? How do think this story and the story of his origins would have affected him growing up? Knowing about Jack's childhood, do you think his "adoptive" mother was right in keeping him from the folk and raising him?

It was an interesting story, but I'm sure it drove home the fact that Jack would never be accepted as a full member of the family, no matter how much they tried. A part of them would always see him as the changeling. I don't know... what she did to get her child back was brave and I can kind of see her reasoning behind keeping Jack, but I don't think it was really far to him. The fact that she makes him deny (or at least doesn't encourage his exploring) his faerie side is wrong, too. He can't deny his nature and she shouldn't force him to try.

15. "One wore a face familiar enough that it seemed to him that this must be a dream." Pg 139 Do you think Jack may have known about Hazel's double life this whole time and just not been able to tell?

I don't think he knew for sure though he might have suspected. Everyone in this town is so damn secretive, if he had figured it out, he probably would have just chalked it up to another secret.

16. Why do you think the school was attacked? Was it random because the beast after the prince is loose or was it chasing the sword and prince? Could it have been after Hazel?

I'm not sure why the Sorrow attacked the school. If the Alderking truly controls it, maybe he was after a particular person in the school who he thought might have knowledge about where Severin is hiding? I don't think he would have attacked his "Sir Hazel".

17. Leonie told a story about how Jack had given away he was not human and Hazel wonders if there are other times his mask has slipped. Do you think Hazel's crush on Jack has made her blind to see this?

Probably, though I think Jack was extra careful to not let his mask slip around people he truly cares about. He only really let it slip when he was trying to warn Ben and Hazel about going after Severin. He was being his faerie self to try and protect them.

18. What did you think of Hazel's decision to join the revel? Do you think what she learned outweighed the danger? Do you think there will be any consequences for Jack?

I thought it was a really stupid idea and I stand by that. Sure she figured out what was happening to her and that she's already been paying on her debt, but I feel like the risk was far too great. And now she got slipped faerie food and who knows what effect that's going to have on her! And I'm sure Jack is going to get in some kind of trouble.

19. Were you surprised to find out that Hazel has already been paying her bargain off since she first made the deal? Does this mean that what's happened with the prince being released at this time is just a coincidence? Or do you think there might be some connection?

I was surprised by that! I thought her lost night was the beginning of the repayment, but to find out it's been happening since she made the deal was shocking. I think what happened with the prince and everything that happened the next morning is a result of Night Hazel rebelling against the Alderking. I'd imagine she cleaned herself up all the other nights she went adventuring since Day Hazel had no idea of her nighttime adventures, so why was there mud everywhere and glass in her hands the night the prince was freed? It was like she was sending herself a message.

20. It seems that Hazel dream about hunting with the folk might actually be a memory from her subconscious and night time 'Sir Hazel' seems very different from her usual self. Why do you think this might be so?

I think Sir Hazel is a little more fey than regular Hazel and a little more sure of herself. She's probably been influenced by the Alderking's claim to her and the fact that she's living her dream of being a knight. Still, I think she's essentially Hazel and not as terrible as that memory would lead us to believe.

There's only two weeks of WOBBLE left?! I feel like that went really fast O_o

Chapters 6 - 10

7. Ben breaks his hand on purpose so that he can't play after his music teacher is killed when he plays when he is upset. I get him being upset, but this seems like an over reaction, when he could just learn to be more careful with his gift. What did you think about that? Also is that why he could no longer play the music?

I think it was an overreaction of a hormonal pre-teen/teenager. I mean, it would be kind of freaky to find out you can control people as well as monsters and that your music can actually cause harm. I might have had the same reaction. Couple that with the his recent heartbreak and I'm not all that surprised he did what he did. I assume his hand injury is why he can't or won't play anymore.

8. Hazel mentions spaghetti, meatballs and peas as a common childhood meal that is comfort food for her. Do you have a meal like that that you associate with comfort from your childhood?

Homemade fried chicken, fried potatoes, and my mom's banana pudding for dessert <3

9. Why do you think the prince was awakened and released now?

Faeries have weird timing for everything. Maybe it has something to do with Hazel's seven year deal? Maybe some fey is using her to help the cursed prince? Or maybe to lure him out...

10. I was surprised that Ben has not been to college to study music yet, but the fairies can collect on their seven year agreement. Am I misunderstanding something here? Is the time in Philadelphia the school that Hazel bargained for, or is it college?

The time in Philadelphia was at a special music school, not college. That was what Hazel bargained for with the fey because the school was super expensive.

11. I was surprised by how much Severin knows about the desires of Ben and Hazel. Is that part of his magic? Do you think he knows everyone's desires?

I think he has the power to know anyone's desires, which is pretty dangerous. But, you know, he is a fey and they aren't exactly super nice in this town. I am curious why he's being such a jerk to Hazel when he claims she's the only one who can help him.

12. When Hazel is thinking about her family she thinks "Normal was a lot more tempting when it was out of reach." Do you agree or disagree?

The grass is always greener on the other side. People always tend to covet what they don't have or aspects they don't possess.

13. Are you enjoying the story so far? Any favorite characters?

I am enjoying the story, though I don't have a favorite character, as of yet.