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

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

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Date read: 3 September 2016
Pages: 361
Published: 2008

How it fits:Possibly N-1 (Zeus); it's a book involving Greek gods and Zeus is mentioned a few times.

I just finished The Battle of the Labyrinth, which deals with the Greek Gods specifically, so I thought it fill the Zeus square. I'm not sure if it'll work, though, because Zeus, though mentioned a few times, isn't really in the story? I'll add it to my book read post, just in case.

Claudia wrote: "Kerri wrote: "I kind of want to punch Albus in the face. "

I’m totally with you there. I know it shows my age but he’s like a total brat and from what I see it’s for no real reason cause Harry doe..."

Agreed. He drives me a little insane. I think he also kind of scares me because I have a daughter that is getting close to those teenage years and I'm hoping this isn't what I should expect, lol.

Comments and Questions
September 2
Part One, Act One

1. Have you read many plays? Do you find it easy/difficult to read and imagine the stage production? I'm still picturing Hermoine, Ron and Harry as the actors from the film rather than these actors from the play. How about you?

I've read a couple of plays, if we're not counting Shakespeare. If we are, I've read a lot of plays, lol. As it is, I'm finding it pretty easy to picture what is happening on stage, what with the stage direction and all that. I'm sure the imaginings of my mind are a little more fantastical than what could *actually* be accomplished on a stage, but I'm liking it. I am still picturing the movie actors, but I don't think there's any shaking that unless I actually see the play. And there's about 0% chance of that ever happening.

2. Without giving any spoilers, have you read much about what this book is about, or are you going into it with no pre-conceived ideas?

I'm going into it with absolutely no pre-conceived notions. I purposely avoided news about this book because I wanted to read it with a clean slate.

3. I absolutely love that Albus is in Slytherin, that he is unpopular, best friends with Scorpius... It has kept this story quite different to Harry's and adds a new dimension to Harry as he needs to learn how to be a parent to a child who doesn't enjoy Hogwarts. What are your thoughts?

At times, it seems like it's trying to be a little anti-Harry (look at how different! He has trouble with everything that Harry found easy!), but I do like the angle and I especially like seeing Harry has just as much difficulty as anyone would dealing with a surly teenager. Albus' Potter-side is showing, though. Jumping off the Hogwarts Express is so very Harry.

4. I wasn't expecting Cedric Diggory to be a plot point and I can't see how it would be possible to change time and have him survive. If they succeed, does the last 19 years just become a gap in Cedric's memory? How would that work? Time travel is always so timey-wimey!

I was not expecting this at all. I also don't see how it would really work out. Cedric being alive could potentially change everything, *including* Voldemort being dead. Time is funny like that. Also, I think Amos is being a tad bit of an ass. Yes, it sucks that Cedric died. It sucks really hard. But a lot of people died at Voldemort's hands. What makes Cedric so special that his father thinks he deserves to come back but no one else does? I know he's grieving his son, but he needs to just let his son rest in peace.

5. Initial thoughts? Loving? Hating? Ambivalent?

I'm liking it. Not loving it. But definitely not hating it. I kind of want to punch Albus in the face. We'll see how it goes.

Samantha wrote: "Kerri wrote: "I'm starting The Battle of the Labyrinth, which was published in 2008. I'll try and get it done tonight, but if someone finishes one before that, I'm sure it'll be good..."

I've really been enjoying the series, too! It's a fun, fast read and I really like all the mythology involved.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Date completed: 30 August 2016
Pages: 372
Published: 2016

Works for: B-1 (lake); the main character practices her newfound abilities near a lake frequently. Possibly B-3 (lion); in Egypt, the lion represented the heat of the sun and the main character is a Sun Summoner. Also, lions can symbolize power/courage/strength, which the main character displays in spades (she's one of the most powerful Grisha)

I'm starting The Battle of the Labyrinth, which was published in 2008. I'll try and get it done tonight, but if someone finishes one before that, I'm sure it'll be good for something else :)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
Date completed: 28 August 2016
Pages: 288
Published: 1999

Works for: Possibly O-2 (gold coins); there is a lot of gambling for money in the book. B-2 (death); there are two deaths in the book.

Have we decided on what pattern we're going for with this card? Trying to see if my book will fit in anywhere. If not, we can just save it for the next one :)

Loving it! Every time we go outside, we see mountains. It's so pretty out here!

Sorry I haven't been around much this week! I started back to work and I'm trying to adjust to the new schedule. You guys have been kicking butt with these squares! I should be done with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest tonight. I'm sure it'll work for something, if not on this card, then hopefully the next one.

I'm reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which could work for book made into a movie or possibly the police badge one (there are guards).

Just finished up The Titan's Curse, which works for quite a few squares! I had a question, though. If the square says "Cover has a horse" then it's more specific than if the square is just an image of a horse, correct? As in, the pegasus on the cover of my book wouldn't work for the first square, but would work for the second one.

Also, when it says "Genre is *insert genre*", are we only looking at the genres on the initial page or is this a "first page of top shelves" thing?

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan
Date completed: 21 August 2016
Pages: 312

Squares:

O-3: Pegasus on cover; main character can communicate with horses (horse image)
I-1: Character is daughter of Zeus, uses lightning when she attacks (lightning image)
O-4: Tagged as young adult (Genre is YA)

Just checking in! I started The Titan's Curse and should be finished with it by tomorrow. I probably could have gotten it done today, but we *finally* received our household goods today, so the day has been a blur of boxes and unpacking. At least I get to sleep in my actual bed tonight instead of on an air mattress :D

Another question! I'm about to read , which has a Pegasus on the front cover. Would that be able to cover our horse square or does it need to specifically be a horse?

Before I answer these questions (and ask some of my own :) ), I just wanted to say "Thank you!" to the author, Natasha Lester, for giving the group free copies of her book and allowing me the chance to win one!

Part Three

13. The last section showed yet another development of Evie. She seems to have aged so much from the start of the book! And the relationship that formed between Viola and Evie was unexpected. How did you find the development of the characters?

Evie is definitely a changed woman, though still as strong and fearless as ever. I'm glad she reconciled with Viola. I was ready to write Viola off, but it made me happy to see her change near the end. I finally realized how awful Charles could be and that Evie wasn't as awful as she had been programmed to believe. It's good to see them back together again and probably with a much stronger relationship.

14. I was shocked to learn that Thomas was engaged to Winnie. I wonder what happened in the intervening years? If he decided he couldn't keep chasing Evie or if he believed she had changed her mind? I guess it is much easier these days to communicate with people and get answers! :o

I was surprised by that, as well, though it makes sense that he would eventually get married. I think Tommy was hurt by her not trusting him enough to even bother to tell him why, yet again. I mean, this is the second time she just caught him off with no explanation. I would imagine that would be frustrating and painful. Like Bea said at some point, maybe he got tired of always having to chase Evie. I was really irked with Evie that she refused to tell him he had a child, too... That wasn't fair to Tommy at all. He's a big boy. Let him make his own decisions about his life and who he wants in it.

15. I cried at the end. I didn't even feel it coming, the tears just poured out. haha! How did you find the ending?

I knew they would get married, though I didn't see it happening quite as it did. I'm glad she finally told him, though it was basically forced out of her. I was happy, though I managed to hold the tears in!

16. Questions for the author! Please post what you would like to ask Natasha and I'll send them to her via Facebook. I'm not sure if she will post here, so I'll copy and paste the answers here :)

Oh! Let's see...

1) I work in the medical field and I really enjoyed the insight into the struggles women went through, not only to become doctors in the 1920s, but also in childbirth, as well. What drew you to write about this topic?
2) When reading about Evie's hardships, I realized some of them still ring true today (like her getting paid less than the male doctors and the stigma which still surrounds unwed mothers). Was that a conscious thing you put into your work to call attention to those issues or just coincidental?
3) Did you get to pick your narrator? Because she did a fantastic job with your story!
4) Which character in your novel do you most relate to and why?

A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester
Date completed: 18 August 2016
Pages: 400 (default version; I listened to the audiobook)
Narrator: Kelly Burke

Goal: Banked for Emerge the Victor (unless needed for WAT)

Sandy wrote: "Kerri wrote: "Just making sure, but, if we use the diamond pattern and one of our squares is the Bingoshark, the diamond bonus means we won't need to re-read a book for that square on this card?"

..."

Thanks for getting that clarified, Sandy! I think I got thrown off by the "current card" thing. That makes sense, though, that it would be the *next* card.

So I have a question. I just finished a book that I was reading for a BOM (I was going to try and wait to finish until BINGO started, but I'm a weirdo about schedules and the book was really good...), so I'm posting it to our Books Read thread, but I'm not sure of what information to put. For now I'm just going to put the basic info and if it needs to be updated later on, I can certainly do that.

Also, way to go, DLs! Wheelathon was a lot of fun :) I'm really looking forward to Bingo, too. So much variety in those cards!

Just making sure, but, if we use the diamond pattern and one of our squares is the Bingoshark, the diamond bonus means we won't need to re-read a book for that square on this card?