Rebecca’s Comments (group member since Nov 01, 2011)

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

the MC is a tax accountant. I will check this out now.

bonus word: quilt

Ok I can read Murder on the Orient Express (such a sacrifice since it my favorite book of all time hahahah) for Turkey.

OMG it doesn't have the bonus words. This is tough!!

I don't either haha so I can't really me annoyed. But maybe I should start...hmmm...

DQs Day 3
Ch 8 to 10

10.) Any guesses about "find the extra coffee cup and you can rest in peace"? Does that fact Lawrence found it indicate guilt or innocence do you think?I was thrown off by Lawrence's response - he had "no idea" what Poirot waas referencing... I don't buy it. I think it means he would be innocent if he could find this cup.

  11.) With books as old as this, some language/terms just do not age well and can be jarring to randomly come across in the text. Should language like this be censored/edited to match less offensive terms of the times (though not sure there is a correct way to say a lady dressed up in blackface). Or should they be left as is and used as a point of discussion on race/sexuality/class/gender/etc?
I think specific terms should be edited... I think we can appreciate that just because it was a different time doesn't make it okay.  Themes I think could stay, as you say for discussion. Or maybe there could be an edited version that is noted and the "original' could also be available for study. I know there are modern books that have been updated / rereleased to address concerns like this.

  12.) Lots happening in the section, arrests abound! Do you think John was arrested for his step mother's murder or for some other reason like Dr. B?I think John was arrested for the murder, but I don't think he did it...only because there is too much book left hahahha.

  13.) What do you think about our narrator and giver or random marriage proposals, Hastings?
I never really understand Hasting hahah.  BUT I can say with many older books like this, it's surprisingly common to see a "random" marriage proposal that has me thinking "what the heck did i miss?!"

I will look through my books today! I did put in the admin material book which I will finish today.

The tags are driving me crazy because I have books that take place in some of those places, but they aren't tagged. Sheeesh haha

Any chance this quill would count as administrative material? Or books?

I need to update - this week has been crazy! I have a #4 book planned to read next, hopefully will get it done in this round.

DQs Day 2
Ch 5-7

  6. Poirot is concerned because Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee and calls back to when he tasted all the coffees, but it’s never expanded upon. We later find out that the poison was likely administered in coffee and that it has a bitter taste that coffee could mask. Do you have any theories as to why Poirot put such importance on “Cynthia does not take sugar”?I have a feeling he thought hers was one with sugar and now that he knows that was not her cup, he has to reevaluate whose cup was whose. I am always suspicious there will be a cup switch or something of that nature.....maybe someone else was supposed to be poisoned!

  7. Witnesses have testified to overhearing an argument between Mr & Mrs Ingelthorp the day she was murdered — but Mr Ingelthorp claims they are mistaken. Do you believe he is truly the one who was having the argument, or do you have any other suspicions? Poirot certainly thinks he is innocent and claims to be able disprove the other claim (about him buying the poison) — does that sway you at all?I always trust Poirot... I bet it was someone else, or maybe there was a third person?  No one actually saw in there did they?

  8. Most people seem to believe Mr Inglethorp is guilty (ESPECIALLY Evie), while Lawrence seems to believe the death came by natural causes, and Mr. Inglethorp doesn’t seem to have any theories at all except to believe it was murder but never pointing fingers at a suspect. I have to admit, I expected more finger-pointing from this group! Have any characters’ reactions so far stood out as peculiar to you?I think everyone wants to stay a bit out of the limelight so they are not suspected and maybe that's why they are not dramatically finger pointing.  I bet everyone here has SOMETHING to hide.

  9. One of my favorite things about mysteries is trying to figure out what happened before it’s revealed. Are you trying to solve the murder, or would you prefer to be surprised by the eventual reveal? Do you feel like you’re usually good at solving the mysteries, or do they evade you?I am usually pretty good, but NEVER ever guess correctly with Agatha Christie.... even when I try to choose the most unlikely or unsuspicious person.

DQ Day 1
Chapters 1 - 4


1. The first few chapters set the scene for this (first) instalment of Hercule Poirot. What do you make of the various characters we are introduced to? Especially "Alfred dearest" whom everybody seems to dislike. Do you agree with Mrs Howard that they're all only interested in the money? Do you agree with Hastings that they're all somewhat suspicious?Honestly I think all the rich people in Agatha Christie's books are suspicious because they all seem so greedy and detached from each other, but I do kind of feel bad for Alfred! And it seems like they are kind of overreacting which is also pretty typical of this class.

  2. A murder has occurred! Anyone want to venture a guess at this stage as to who has done it? And was it really death by poison? Or is Dr. Bauerstein's expertise in the matter and the fact that Mrs. Inglethorp suffered from severe convulsions in front of practically the entire household merely a red herring?I've read this book before and I feel like I know who it is, but I am also second guessing myself because she always throws so many red herrings that I might be misremembering.

  3. There was an argument the day before the murder between the late Mrs. Inglethorp and an unknown person, potentially Mr. Inglethorp. What might this have been about?I always always assume it's money.

  4. What might Mrs. Inglethorp not have wanted to show Mary Cavendish that resulted in the latter feeling somewhat peeved?Maybe some letter or correspondence?

  5. Are you enjoying the narrative so far? I assume I don't have to ask if this is your first Christie book? It seems like most everyone has read at least one of her books, or has seen an episode or two of the tv adaptations.
She's my favorite and it's so fun to return to the very start and see how she introduced Hercule Poirot.  She really does show you exact what kind of writer she is with this one!

Question: for "office romance" is that strict to a traditional office, or can it be a coworker romance?

Yessss I really want to read The God of the Woods so that would be amazing!

I just saw that The Mysterious Affair at Styles is one of the BOM for this month which is AMAZING because it was published over 100 years ago (hello points)....and its SO good. One of my favorites.

Another question - for fiction books with recipes included....do those count for the food words?

Also, for something like "the main character needs to know how to handle a budget" - does it need to explicitly say that, or can we assume - like someone who owns their own business needs to be able to do this.

I finished my last book for round - The Widowmaker - last night. I don’t have access to the sheet right now as I’m running around with kids’s sports if someone wants to mark it?

Also I have a random question that I probably should have asked before - for the spell it out CHARACTERS

If there is a character that is dead/doesn't talk, but is an important to the plot / he's mentioned literally in every chapter, does that count? (you can see I read a lot of mysteries hahahah). I haven't been counting them, BUT there is a nice O character in the book I'm looking at and I want to make sure to read it next week if it will count.

Jenny wrote: "There are a couple of ways we can do it.
We can go with first come/first served. Or, we can talk here about what our books will work for.
There should be/will be a spot on the tracking sheet to li..."

Awesome thank you! If there is a place to put other bonus options for a book then it should be easy to track (maybe).

Do we have a strategy for the minis? Should we focus on one or just do them all together? I'm just asking because I know they can be done during the entire challenge, but if we finish one we can repeat if needed, but we can't bank.

OoooOooooOoooooh okay I love a mini challenge hehe

DQs Day 3: Then - Then 58%
first line "Marcus changes completely..."
last line "...serious chat about your future"

11. "The sound of teeth against a spoon when someone's eating soup, insects that scuttle, people who don't listen, RATS, and when uncle Terry says 'WOMEN!'" - what a random list of pet peeves (Are they even pet peeves? Rats?? And uncle Terry 'all on his own'???),,, What are some of yours?I think Uncle Terry is just gross and an ass and I wouldn't call that a pet peeve.  Mine are people *men* interrupting when people talk, kicking off your shoes right in front of the door, when my shirt sticks out past my jacket hahaha. I'm sure I have a ton, but I can't think of others.

12. Dylan's (and Marcus') trip through Europe has become much more than just that, ending up in Asia, trying to figure out what to do with his life when he's already been handed it all on a silver platter. His dad is a douche and clearly wants to dictate Dylan's life while Dylan just keeps running away from his problems. Lucky he has all this money (his dad's I would assume) to just throw away. Can you relate to him in any way? Do you feel bad for him?I cannot and I do not. Honestly, I get not knowing what to do with your life (I still don't!!)....but I cannot relate to a fancy worldwide jaunt to figure it out aka just ignore it. Like pick something and try it - you're rich you can always start over!

13. "Nowadays we date, we shop around. If we really like someone we spend more time with them. Then we move in with them a few years down the line. Then, maybe, if we've lost the will to live or whatever it is that compells people to settle down we marry them. We don't rearrange our lives because of a good shag."

"Addie, she's not right for you (...) Stop that! Don't you see what you're doing? You're turning her into something she's not. You don't understand her. She's not your beautiful muse, Dylan. She's messy and dark. And raw. She's a disaster waiting to happen. She's got power. And she doesn't even know it yet you know. She's like,,, she's untapped. (...) She's not right for you. Okay?"

Did Marcus already know something we didn't at this point? Did something happen between Marcus and Addie back in France? And then the way Marcus took care of Dylan after getting too high, in the bathroom.... Do you think he (not so?) secretely has feelings for Dylan? Or is he just jealous?Marcus definitely has feelings, but I thin it's for Addie. Like the forbidden fruit type of weird obsession. I don't know why he thinks all these things about Addie, I'm not getting much from her at all and definitely not all these traits. TBH I don't think many of the characters are that deep.

14. Rodney thinking Deb has drowned in the river and actually LOOKING FOR A BODY IN THE WATER!!! had me laugh out loud to be honest, but only because of how frickin ridiculous this book is. Definitely expected something more cutesie and wholesome for some reason. Being almost two thirds into the book now, how do you feel about it so far? Is it meeting your expectations?Rodney! I cannot decide what I think of him, but I just know some sort of surprise is coming because they keep "forgetting about him".  I thought maybe Deb and Rodney would connect but now I think not. I personally am not so interested in the story and i'm just trying to get to the conclusion drama!

Christina wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Hahahah Happy Wheel Day! I started last night."

Hello from our long commute! I was wondering, if you have finished this, what are your thoughts?..."

I felt it was meh. I am with you - I loved Girl on the Train and not Into the Water. This was slow and kinda obvious, and very repetitive. It has a great setting, but there is only so much I can read about the ride haha