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

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

I got super side-tracked yesterday! Here we go with Day 4.

Day 4

**Day 4 Questions**
1: What book(s) have you finished for the read-a-thon and what do you think of them? What book is on the agenda for this last day?
None finished, though I should be done with A Gathering of Shadows here soon.

2: Did you add any of the recommendations to your TBR? Which one(s)?
I did not, though I had a lot of my TBR list confirmed by being recommended, hah.

3: What is it like where you live? Tell us a little about your town/city.
It's pretty laidback here in Ohio. Right now is my favorite time of year. No more cold weather! It's currently gorgeous outside and I'm stuck at work. I live in Dayton, so it's not one of the bigger cities which is just how I like it. There's not a lot to do in the immediate area, but Columbus and Cincinnati are only about an hour away in either direction. It's nice :)

4: What is your favorite restaurant? What foods do you like most? Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?
My favorite restaurant near where we live is Osaka's. It's a Japanese steakhouse and everything they make is scrumptious. Currently, however, I'm on a Mexican food kick, which is another favorite of mine. Asian/Mexican cuisine is probably at the top of my list of delicious things. I don't have a recipe to share, though. I'm not the best of cooks, heh.

22 May, chapters 1-10, pages 1-77

1) If you were visiting the "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" what book would you adopt? How you found this book (how you came to reading it)?

Oh man, that is a good question. I have so many books that I truly adore. I guess I would have to adopt All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. A teacher gave it to me when I was in 4th or 5th grade and I still credit that book as the one that made me fall in love with reading. I mean, I liked reading before, but that book made me want to read everything I could get my hands on.

2) Have you felt the way Clara did after reading (listening to) the first Carax's book "The red house"? Describe with at least one sentence emotions you had after reading the first book which deeply touched your heart.
Clara: "Never before had I felt trapped, so seduced and caught up in a story the way I did with that book. /.../ That book taught me that by reading, I could live more intensely."

That would be the book I mentioned above! Emotions... I'm not good with describing those. That book made me feel like I was physically right beside the author, taking care of sick animals and feeling all the emotions that come with it. That book transported me like no other book had at the time. I really need to re-read it, now... So much love!

3) When thinking about Clara's and Daniel's relationship, do you think Clara knew how Daniel really felt about her? If so, then why she let him hope and "adore" her this way? Was Daniel's father right by saying that Clara was playing with Daniel like a cat with a canary?

I think Clara knew and, honestly, I think she liked the attention and having a ready companion that would be at her beck and call. She had the musician, yes, but he couldn't hang about as often as Daniel could since that would have seemed more improper. I feel really badly for Daniel... she shouldn't have played with his heart like that.

4) After finishing first chapters of the book I find this story warm hearted and beautifully written, full of quoting material. What kind of quote you liked the most so far?

I enjoyed the whole exchange with the stranger who wants to buy (and destroy) the Carax book. It was dark and intriguing and just chilling. I especially liked the part when Daniel asked what he does with the Carax books if he doesn't read them.

"The only thing that should be done with them, Daniel," he answered.
He pulled a box of matches out of his pocket. He took one and struck it. The flame showed his face for the first time. My blood froze. He had no nose, lips, or eyelids. His face was nothing but a mask of black scarred skin, consumed by fire. It was the same dead skin that Clara had touched.
"Burn them," he whispered, his voice and his eyes poisoned by hate.

Love that bit!

5) Let's fantasize a bit. What you think is the purpose of destroying every last Julian Carax's book? Do you think the scene from the book "The Shadow of the Wind" that played out in one night also in reality (end of chapter 5) was just Daniel's imagination or pure coincidence or that has something to do with the reason Carax's books are being destroyed? If so then what?
PS! Don't foretell if you have already finished the book or if you have read more than first 77 pages! :)

I have a thought as to who the stranger might be... But right now it's just a thought with no real substance behind it. I'm excited to learn more!

Kaitlin wrote: " [b..."

I've been wanting to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time for a long time!

Day 3

**Day 3 Questions**
1: How long have you been a member of GoodReads?
Since April 2011! Not that long, really.

2: How many books are on your GoodReads TBR shelf? How many books have you marked as Read?
TBR - 185
Read - 299

Both odd number... I need to rectify this.

3: What are your favorite TV shows and/or movies?
Favorite TV shows? Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead! I'm enjoying GoT more right now, though. My favorite movies are Apollo 13 and (my guilty pleasure) Renaissance Man. I'm enjoying most of the Marvel/DC movies these days, too. I think my favorite so far is Guardians of the Galaxy.

4: Do you have any pets? Share photos! What are your favorite animals (real or not)? What animals do you not like?
We have three cats, Felicia, Nelson, and Marmalade. Felicia is our black beauty, Nelson is a giant grey boy, and Marmalade is our derpy orange tabby. I love them to pieces!



My favorite animal would be the tiger. They are just so beautiful and deadly and amazing all at the same time. I have yet to find an animal I don't like, haha. I love animals!

2011: A Confederacy of Dunces

2012: Homeland

2013: A Game of Thrones (I know, I know... it's crazy popular, but it's honestly my favorite book that I read that year!)

2014: Ready Player One

2015: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

2016: Ink and Bone

Juliana wrote: "@Alison, Morning Star is really good, as the whole trilogy!

@ Kerri, Asimov is my favourite author but I didn't read all the short stories in I, Robot yet.

@Amy, Shadow Scale is in my TBR since b..."

I really enjoyed most of the tales in I, Robot! I'd never read any Asimov before and it made me want to pick up some more.

Day 2

**Day 2 Questions**
1: What book(s) have you started and/or finished for the RaT, and what do you think of them so far?
I'm finishing up A Gathering of Shadowsright now because I've been taking forever to read it. It's great, so far, I've just been slacking. Another reason I'm looking forward to WOBBLE! Just the kick in the butt I need.

2: Will WOBBLE be your first team challenge, if not how many have you done before? What have been your favorites?
Nope, though it will certainly be the most involved one! I participated in the last Tower Teams and it was an absolute blast :)

3: What are your hobbies outside of reading?
I like playing video games though I have a terrible attention span for them. I would say TV, but I honestly only pay attention to two shows; Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. I love musicals and singing and can be found doing that throughout the day, especially while driving. I like being outdoors when the sun is out, which hasn't been all that often here in Ohio lately. I love to travel, though I don't get to do it as often as I'd like to go. New places always get me excited!

4: Tell us FOUR more fun random facts about you!
- I used to be a single mom and am now taking up the mantle again as my husband is deployed to Korea. It's much more difficult with two children, but it's surprising how easily I slipped back into that role!
- I'm a medical laboratory scientist/technologist which is an awesome job that not a lot of people know exists. I love it!
- I have a B.S. in Agriculture. My major was Animal Sciences and I loved every second of it. Not doing much with it now (though it did allow me to test for the next level up in my certification) but I'm proud to have it.
- I grew up in the military. I've lived in California, Florida, Arizona, and Germany. My dad retired in Ohio, my current residence, but I married a military man and we'll be moving to New Mexico soon. I'm pretty stoked :)

I absolutely love book stores/libraries. I love the way they smell, the atmosphere, all the lovely books just waiting to be perused. I can (and have) spend hours in a book store and think it is time well-spent! Well... as long as I don't have my two year old with me. He is far less patient.

I am a physical book person, for sure, though I do own a Nook. I read ebooks every once in awhile, but I find it's harder for me to get into the book for some reason. I think I like to physically see how far I've gotten in a book, heh. Also, books smell soooo good!

I have yet to try out audiobooks. I'm about to be moving across the country, so maybe I'll give it a go for the ride.

W: The Westing Game. It is my favorite book, after all :)
O: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Written by one of my favorite authors. There was a lot of good advice mixed in with Stephen King just being Stephen King.
B: Beloved. This book played with my emotions in ways a book hasn't done in a long time. Definitely worth a read.
B: The Bell Jar. I guess this would be considered more "popular", but it really is worth a read!
L: The Lord God Made Them All. A teacher gave me the first James Herriot book when I was in grade school and I still credit that book with turning me into a book fiend. I read all his other books in quick succession after that. I believe this is the "last" one in the original series (though you could really read them each independently) but it was just as good as the first one.
E: The Eye of the World. The first book in the Wheel of Time epic. I loved this book. This book sucked me in! I can't really speak for the end of the series as we had a falling out near the end, but the first few books were awesome! I really need to go back and finish this series.

Let the Read-A-Thon begin, yay!

**Day 1 Questions**
1: Where in the world are your reading today?
In the southwestern part of Ohio.

2: What book(s) do you hope to finish during this read-a-thon?
A lot of books that have been sitting on my TBR list for forever, heh. This challenge is going to help me finish my "Cleaning Out the Closet" challenge, hopefully!

3: What WOBBLE challenge are you looking forward to most?
The Olympics, I think. It sounds like a lot of fun!

4: Tell us FOUR fun random facts about you!
- I have an unhealthy obsession for the Broadway show Hamilton: An American Musical. Seriously, it's bad.
- I love animals of all kinds, insects included! My husband has had to stop me from approaching snakes/raccoons/assorted wildlife when we go on hikes. I'm not gonna touch them, I just want to get closer!
- I'm a super picky eater. I don't like my food to touch, I don't like most vegetables, and it's like pulling teeth to get me to try something out of my comfort zone. I do, however, like to put jelly on my grilled cheese sandwiches. Go figure.
- I love the sun. If I could just be out in the sun all day long, I would be a happy girl. My husband, however, hates the sun. It's going to be interesting when we eventually have to pick somewhere to retire, haha.

Turtle was awesome, indeed! I think that was the first book I read where I so completely identified with a character. Maybe that's why I still love it so much :)

Favorite book? That's like choosing a favorite kid! My all time favorite book, though, is "The Westing Game". I read it when I was younger and fell in love. It's quirky, the main character is a strange girl (which I super identified with as a kid, lol), and the plot twist at the end is awesome. I still re-read that book from time to time and I'm not usually one to re-read. Absolutely love that book!

I'm in for this one! I've been wanting to read this book for awhile.

All signed up! I'm pretty excited about this challenge!

I may have to join in on this one. This has been on my TBR for a bit!

Ahhh, this looks like fun! I need something to kick my reading back into gear. I've been slacking here lately. This seems like a fun way to get back on track! Team challenges here are always a blast :)

This looks like fun! This may take me awhile, but I want to try and complete all the sentences :)
Completed: 90/101

“A woman’s place is... The Ocean at the End of the Lane”
“Can you look me straight in the eye and tell me that…”
“Did you ever…”
“Did you know that... One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter”
“Does this dress make me look like... The Colour of Magic?”
“Don’t drink the water here, it’s filled with... A Clockwork Orange.”
“Every day we attack them with… Sense and Sensibility”
“Everyone loves an…Outlander."
“Everything is... Everlost”
“For breakfast I had... The Woman in Cabin 10”
“Happiness is... A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald.”
“He came to... Siege and Storm.”
“How is it possible that I've never heard of... The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?”
“I can’t believe it was… The Girls!”
“I can’t wait until...The Battle of the Labyrinth!”
“I confess, I am a... Daughter of Smoke & Bone”
“I feel better after drinking... The Martian"
“I hate it when certain people... Murder on a Girls' Night Out.”
“I have a horrible… Ash and Quill”
“I learned the hard way that... Orange Is the New Black”
“I left him/her at... The Burning Bridge.”
“I like my men... Marked.”
“I love taking ‘selfies’ with… The Vampire Lestat.”
“I love to dance and sing with... Mr. Mercedes.”
“I often wonder why I bother to… Flame in the Mist”
“I used the money for… The Underground Railroad.”
“I want to eat my lunch with ... The Magicians.”
“I went to my prom with... A Gentleman in Moscow”
“I wonder why... One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?”
“I would do anything for you, except... The Hobbit”
“I wouldn’t be caught dead… On the Road.”
“I wrestled... The Grownup.”
“I’d like to teach the world to sing, but...”
“I’d like to travel to the... Library of Souls.”
“I’d rather be... Forrest Gump.”
“I’d tell you with my dying breath about... The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”
“I’m in love with my... Watchmen”
“I’m really looking forward to... The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit”
“I’m training to be…The Lightning Thief”
“If I could live anywhere, it would be... The Sea of Monsters”
“If I had one superpower that would be... Grave Sight.”
“If I’d known you were coming, I’d have... A List of Cages”
“If only I had a dollar for every time I thought of... The Joy Luck Club”
“If only I had... The Tales of Beedle the Bard.”
“If you are ever chased by zombies, try… The Gunslinger”
“If you can’t beat them, …”
“If you had written a book, you would call it... Strange the Dreamer”
“In a land far, far away was… Duma Key”
“In the garden I found... The Ruins of Gorlan.”
“Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s... The Shadow of the Wind"
“It's time for… Ruin and Rising.”
“It took... The Girl on the Train”
“It was a dark and stormy night, just perfect for… Dead Letters”
“It’s rabbit season! It’s Duck season! No, it’s... The Titan's Curse!”
“Last night I dreamed I was... The Light Fantastic”
“Last night I dreamt of... Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
“Last night I was walking in the park and saw... A Death”
“Look out behind you, it’s... The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America.”
“My father always said... Artemis”
“My favorite time of the year is... The Ninth Circle, Book 1: Fire”
“My most embarrassing moment was... The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”
“My mother always told me to…”
“My neighbor wants me to help her with... The Possessions”
“My personal motto is... Finders Keepers.”
“My prom night was... All the Light We Cannot See"
“My secret talent is…The Drawing of the Three”
“Once upon a time there were... Killers of the Flower Moon”
“Our paths will cross again when... Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk.”
“People always tell me about... The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making”
“People call me the... White Fang”
“Poor vampire, he’s… Artemis Fowl”
“Right now is the perfect time to...”
“Run, if you see… Moby-Dick; or, The Whale!”
“She had a heart like...Shadow and Bone.”
“Sometimes I have... Paper and Fire”
“That is a match made in... The Thirteenth Tale.”
“That reminds me; I need a… Traitor's Blade”
“That was definitely NOT your average... Black Beauty.”
“The best dream I ever had was about... The Icebound Land.”
“The best things in life are... Real”
“The night is still young…And Then There Were None”
“The shocking truth is... The Hate U Give”
“The specialty of the day is... The Circle”
“The world needs more... You”
“The worst nightmare I ever had was about...A Gathering of Shadows.”
“Then I met... A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.”
“Today’s special is... A Conjuring of Light”
“Tomorrow, let’s go to the... Dead Poets Society.”
“Welcome to... The Muse.”
“What do you mean she said... 'Since We Fell'?”
“When I was little I wanted to be... Ella Enchanted.”
“When I woke up this morning, I thought... Where'd You Go, Bernadette?”
“When I’m alone, I like to...”
“When no one’s looking I like to...”
“When the weather is cold I like to...”
“When the weather is hot I like to go... Into the Wild.”
“Whenever I think of that time of year, I think of… Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
“Will you stay and be… The Last Olympian?”
“Will you stay in... The Darkest Part of the Forest?”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if...”
“You couldn’t pay me to go... Into the Water”

I'll update as I go!

Noa wrote: "@Juliana, I personally love Phillip Pullman's trilogy, but I also know some people who didn't. Hopefully, you land on the side of "this was amazing." Good luck and that looks like a great list!

@K..."

This makes me excited to get to them! This should be a really enjoyable challenge :D