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

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

Kimberly wrote: "Please let me know if you want me to read this book for pickaxe (there are 2 on the cover):
"

I don't think anyone else has mentioned that one so that looks like a good one!

I finished Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone yesterday (on the sheet) and that would work for A book with a left

17: X marks the spot - Read a book with a spade / shovel / pick-axe on the cover - Rebecca

I don't actually have a book for this lined up yet (apparently I don't know the difference between a pick-axe and regular axe). If anyone has a book that could fit they're welcome to take the task and I will keep looking :(

Okay so I guess I don't know what a pickax is haha - I just googles an image and the book I was planning to use for it has a regular ax on it. So if anyone else has a book that works, that would be great. I'll keep looking too.

I’ll leave it up to the captain’s discretion but I just finished Witch Upon A Star if you want to use it for under the skin.

Not at a computer so I’ll update the spreadsheet later.

X-Rays - Read a book that gets under the skin of something (be creative - a psychological thriller, a non-fiction investigation)

The book I'm reading now - someone get's stabbed.....that's under the skin right?! lol Witch Upon a Star

🐾 17: X marks the spot - Read a book with a spade / shovel / pick-axe on the cover

If no one else wants it, I can read for that, but it'll probably take me until Friday-ish?

Oooh I just saw there's a new mini challenge!

I'm away starting tomorrow through the weekend and with 2 kids will probably not get any reading done haha, but hoping to get some this afternoon! This challenge has already pushed me to read more than I usually do for the month which I'm so excited about.

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 18

10. I've noticed Carlota's perceptions are often described using non visual cues: she hears a lot, and even smells Montgomery behind her bedroom door but then dismisses the idea. After her attack, she finds herself noticing that "Her fingers, in the mirror, looked very long, the nails almost too sharp and the eyes...". Do you feel Carlota ever questions her own nature as a human/hybrid or is she too ingenuous to do so? Do you also feel the author is using alternate senses and, if so, as clues for the reader or red herrings?
I feel like Carlota doesn’t think herself a hybrid and has always assumed that the extra senses are due to the jaguar blood. I keep waffling between what to believe about her.

11. For much of this part, I felt Montgomery was conflicted regarding his feelings for Carlota. He "writes" to his wife using what I felt was a brotherly perspective only to realise, a few lines and drinks later, he could not resist kissing her if she were there in that moment. What did you make of this change of heart and do you find his various missteps bring something to the story?
I’ll be honest I don’t like Montgomery that much. I know he has demons and a tough childhood but I just cannot connect with him and he’s annoying me.


12. We're already halfway through the story - Doctor Moreau and Montgomery are both complex characters. Am I alone in thinking Carlota and her hybrid friends deserve to be more thoroughly fleshed out and layered?
Yes I absolutely think so, I feel like I barely know them and they are the reason I wanted to read the book.

13. What did you make of the scene where Carlota loses her virginity by the cenote - did her reaction seem natural to you or did you find yourself questioning her fearlessness? In your opinion, if Carlota is herself a hybrid, what effect might that have on their progeny?
I was surprised by it, but also I feel like she has been pretty fearless in the fact that she literally has grown up with these hybrids (remember the scene where she let one out). It did feel strange but also again I don’t feel like I know her that well. I am sooooo curious about how her progeny might turn out!

14. There's a storm brewing as the hybrids plan to join Juan Cumux and Carlota attempts to retrieve her father's notes and formulas. Do you think the hybrids will remain subservient once they remove themselves from Doctor Moreau's influence or could the story turn dark?
Heck no! And honestly I’m waiting for more drama to unfold, the story is feeling a bit stagnant to me.

Cordelia wrote: "Finished Emily Wilde this morning! It was such a sweet book but one I definitely took my time with. I can't wait for book 2. I had entered it in the spreadsheet earlier and it didn't change color w..."

I honestly felt the same way with Still Life and was surprised by how not into it I was since I loooove crime fiction and this is a much loved series.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).I do think the characters feel older, maybe not the hybrids but Carlota does (though she is still young and innocent since he is isolated on this island). You can tell Montgomery has settled in and is struggling with his emotions and his past.  I don't think we need to see how he works, I am more interested in his character development.

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?I am always a big fan of dual POV and especially seeing the scene differently because these characters are so different and I think the story is moving quickly, so I like the added information. I don't know if I prefer a view - maybe Carlota?

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?I knew this was coming somehow.... I honestly don't love either. I think Eduardo is the stereotypical lethario who just wants Carlota because she is pretty and isolated and different, but we will see. Montgomery is too damage and in his head about his past, I don't think Carlota will choose him.

9. So far these feels very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?Yes I totally agree, and I think I did expect that a bit, but wish there was a bit more sci-fi to it.

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?
Definitely some large cat, they seem graceful and sly, but also love to nap in the sun.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 5

1. Have you read the original Island of Dr Moreau book? Or watched any of the films? I only saw the 1996 movie, so, in my head, I keep seeing Dr Moreau as Marlon Brando, Val Killer as Montgomery and Fairuza Balk as Carlota.I have not and honestly couldn't remember exactly what the story was before starting, so I looked up a quick summary.  I think I will have to watch it after the book!

  2. In the movie, Fairuza was one of the hybrids, although here, she only has "treatments" with jaguar genetic code. Do you think it's just a ruse from the doctor and she is actually the first hybrid?I think she doesn't need the treatments at all and it is a ruse to keep her tied to him? Or something else fishy is going on.

  3. Montgomery's past was a sad one. And he looks like just a drunk with some natural instincts to protect the innocent. Were you surprised he was considering not to accept the job, and then when the incident happens and he needs to kill the hybrid he decides to stay?I think he stayed out of guilt and need to protect Carlota, but I wasn't surprised he took the job after reading his back story and how hopeless he was feeling.

  4. I'm a bit disappointed that he didn't explain exactly how his studies came to be. In a scientific point of view, how is it even possible? We're in the 1870s... way before in vitro fertilization or genetic advances... and he manages to separate and mix genomes, or as called in the book gemmules? Not to mention that the original story was written way before cloning was a thing....As a scientist I am trying to read this book as Sci-Fi and not ask myself to many "HOW THE HECKS?!" I am loving the mad scientist aspect, but yes I wish we got more of a glimpse into the process, but also remember it is about the daughter.

  5. So, hybrids are dangerous. Specially when they're still developing, and their animal instincts are overpowering the human ones (in theory, since we had no idea what the level of brain maturity the developing hybrid was). Back in the movie, there is a rebellion and it doesn't end well for humans. Do you think it will be the case here?
I think it will and I think Carlotta will help them with Montgomery .

  And a bonus, Am I the only one that is sad that we're jumping 6 years? I wanted to see the fall out from the incident. 
Right?! I thought I was missing some pages haha

Heather wrote: "Rebecca, I noticed on the spreadsheet that you read Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. How did you find it? I am planning to read it next month for my book club. It sound..."

I loved it!! It was so heartwarming and funny, I actually laughed out loud a few times. Found family vibes with a great mystery.

I'm reading this soon, which should work for red? maybe?



Also I can work on these, though if anyone else gets to them first that's great since my reading always takes a sharp turn haha

Laura - Twisted Twenty-Six
tea - Celebrity in Death
Cat - The Cartographers

I’ll check my TBR tonight. I actually finished a book today and will get it up later or tomorrow morning. Both kids are going through sleep regressions so this past week and been survival mode and crossing my fingers for a calm bedtime haha

Jean wrote: "Rebecca, I don’t see this book marked as read on our spreadsheet on your tower shelf.

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide

Was this marked in error?"

Hmmm so strange because it’s definitely there: I just untagged it and retagged it - let me know if that worked!

Woohooo welcome new team members Dawn and Snowtulip and Kimberly!

Heather wrote: "I couldn't decide on a single book today so I started a few, I am going to try and finish either The Duchess Deal or House of Secrets tonight and read the first part of Noise."

Oooh I loved The Duchess Deal !

Question - do we need to link the books we read, or just list? What works easiest for the captains