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

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

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I just finished my 4th and last book for the week. I'm hoping to go strong next week especially with the mini challenge!"

Rebecca did you answer any DQs for the BOM? if yes you nee..."

Yes I did the DQs and the link I posted was for my first comment. So weird that it didn't link correctly?

I tried to fix it, but it still just links to the thread for day 1. Not sure what to do about that...but day 2 and 3 look ok.

Day 3 DQs - Hetty (Ch 9) - 13

11. After all the tension in the beginning between Hetty and Reese, and now that they only have each other without Byatt as the middleman, they admit their true feelings toward one another. I felt like we didn't get much of a buildup to it so did you feel the chemistry between them? Did you think this turn in their relationship was believable? Forced? Necessary, or something to give the reader hope?
I was a little surprised by it, but I thought back to the way they kind of felt distant and stilted towards each other and I think that's probably because they were trying to suppress their feelings.  I did miss the lead up, but I did love them together and how it wasn't easy to for them to just jump into a relationship or an easy right away.  That seemed more realistic to me.

12. I didn't stop to consider how everyone's symptoms were so varied until Byatt started listing them for Teddy. Why do you think it reacted so differently with everyone it infected?This is what makes this book so amazing and creepy!  It seems like they are getting traits that would be beneficial to creatures in the wild - so maybe they would eventually turn into animals or creatures and no longer humans?

13. We learned a lot more about Byatt which made me rethink the previous interactions she had with her friends. Did Hetty and Reese really know the real Byatt? And is Byatt reliable as a narrator knowing that she's a compulsive liar?
This shocked me!  Who is she - what are the things she lied about or pretended in the past? Now I want to go back and re-read all of their previous interactions.  She must have been playing a role, but who was she really?  This is kind of when I thought maybe she was in on the whole Tox outbreak.

14. Byatt manipulated poor Teddy into removing his mask and kissing him. Why do you think she did this? To infect him, just because she could, or because she really believed it only affected girls (though come on, Mr. Harker!)?
I think she did it on purpose, to prove she could.  Or because she was mad that she was being tested on and everyone else could walk in and out as they pleased.  I am still so confused about her character.

15. When Mona told Byatt that "They'll ruin it," who do you think she was referring to and what do you think she meant by it? Mona then asks if Byatt would keep the disfigurements caused by the Tox even if there was a cure. What did you make of this? Why do you think they would want to keep them?
I think she wants to keep them, but I have no idea why.  Maybe she feels powerful with them or she had a terrible life before?  I would never want to keep them, but I think these girls are young and maybe too impressionable.

Day 2 - chapters 4 - 8

sorry, loads of questions here, not like me but it was all action and set up...

5. The Boat Shift segment was intense! The description of the changes to the island were very evocative (and reminiscent of Annihilation, as Frankie mentioned). Are you going to be able to walk in the woods the same again? How effective are you finding the fungal horrors?
I'm always a little freaked out wandering through the woods, so no this will not help. I think because all the horrors seemed so real, it real had me trying not to think about them that hard.

6. Welch. First, during the Boat Shift segment; Did you believe/agree with Welch at the first reading? And by the end of this section, looking back, do you still agree? Would you have done what Hetty did, and complied with the rule of silence? Then we discover Welch is communicating with someone (with a familiar voice....) about receipt, replacement and returns. By the end of this section we can guess at "receipt", but who / what is being returned?? Were you surprised by the reveal of Welch being in on "it"?
I hate to say it but I completely understand Welch's view. It is clear there is something wrong with the food - I have a theory it is either poisoned so that the girls will die and the Navy doesn't have to try and help anymore. Or it's test cures that will end up killing the girls anyway. I think the fact that Welch is so close to the students' ages that she truly is trying to help them the best she can. I don't understand the return - but I still am unsure about Welch. I think she wants to help, but maybe she is also being duped by the outsiders.

7. Hetty has a big revelation about Reese "I've spent my every day since I met her telling myself the wrong thing. Telling myself over and over that she was cold, when maybe she was burning the whole time" I actually judged Hetty a lot at this point, for being so blinkered and oblivious, but I did like the adjustment she made during the conversation. How do you feel about Hetty, Reese and Byatt? Are they becoming more credible characters yet?
This actually had me all turned around. I had this picture of Reese, but only from Hetty's own POV. So now I could also see Reese in this totally new light and I started loving her character from her on. I am still confused about their characters and I want to know more about them and their past.

8. We have a switch in POV to Byatt. What do you think of this choice by the author?
Wow. This had my head spinning. This is when I really just felt the evil that was happening - and I expect that the CDC set these girls up to go through this so they could conduct some study.

9. The Byatt segment shows medical stuff happening. What do you make of that? Are they curing or creating?
I am so unsure and I trust no one. I think they have no interest in actually helping the girls, but maybe they are using them as an opportunity to create something bigger?

10. "Just before a flare-up, there's a moment. Hard to describe, hard to pin down, but for me it almost makes it worth it. The pain and the loss, all of it a fair price for this. This strength, this power, this eagerness to bare my teeth" What do you think this quote means? Does it hint at reasons for the Tox? At future developments in the story line?
This really surprised me. I would think before a flare-up there would be pain or uneasiness. I think this is a way for the tox to try the girls into thinking that everything will be ok, before the big change that happens.

I just finished my 4th and last book for the week. I'm hoping to go strong next week especially with the mini challenge!

Book: Wilder Girls
Author: Rory Power
Pages: 353
Sin: Envy - BINGO
Criteria: fits all categories
Read: 10/18/19--also participated in the BOM: 
DQ Day1
DQ Day2
DQ Day3

DQ’s Day One: Chapters 1-3

1. It’s interesting to see the dynamic between the main girls (Hetty, Byatt, Reese). They can fist fight over food one minute, but still be best friends the next. Reminds me of my sister & I. LOL. Have you ever had this kind of relationship with someone?
I kind of have this relationship with my brother (and honestly if my hubby and I argue we're usually just fine after haha). The relationship with these girls is strange though; the more we read the more we see they are the close knit group of 3 as they seemed to be.

2. Byatt sneaks out of the room when she thinks Hetty is sleeping, then crawls up in Reese’s bunk when she returns. Where do you think she snuck off to? & what did she mean when she said to Reese, ”If you know something...”? Reese shuts down & kicks her out of her bunk. Wonder what their secret is?
I wonder if Reese knows something because she lived on the island or from her dad. I wonder if Hetty is just restless or if shes out searching for something. I honestly didn't know what to make of this scene.

3. Hetty says, “And I’ve wanted boys, and I’ve wanted girls, but I’ve never wanted anyone enough to miss them, enough to pluck them from the slideshow of my old life and bring them here.”
People have different ways of handling emotional stuff like this. Some people (like Hetty) believe thinking or talking about your loved ones or past life would only make the situation harder to deal with emotionally. Put yourself in this situation. How do you think you’d cope with missing your old life/family? Would you be like Hetty & shut down emotionally to prevent more pain? Or would you be like the other girls, laughing & sharing stories of your old life?
I think I would miss my past life - I even now think about things I miss from the past and I can only imagine it would be compounded by this desperate situations. I'm always so amazed when reading about people in situations like this or a lot fo WWII books how people are able to adapt so well to their new normal.

4. Personally, I’m really enjoying the book already! I love the writing style, the world building, & the characters. I know we’re only a few chapters in, but how are you liking it so far? What aspect of the book do you like best at this point (writing, world building, characters, etc.)?
I love the book too, though I am kind of squeamish about the things growing or falling of their bodies. I love the writing style and I can't wait to see where the story goes.

Man after worrying about reading too much, these weeks have been brutal for my reading. I did finish my 3rd book and am working on the 4th, but it's iffy whether or not I'll finish before this week ends. I will try to get it in so I can focus on the mini challenge.

Book: The Minor Third
Author: Neil Patrick Harris
Pages: 336
Sin: Greed
Criteria: anything goes
Read: 10/18/19

Devann wrote: "ah ok, i figured a 'chain' would be all of the same animal but i guess not lol"

Maybe I missing the chain? What I saw was the collection, I didn't see a chain mentioned. Sorry if I'm being dense haha

For the collections I don't think it matters if they have the same criteria, as long as they are all easy or all hard. And each of the seven has to be a DIFFERENT animal.

If we don't do a collection, then we can do the same animal up to 7 times, but after the first time it's only worth 1 bonus point - so it's not better than using it for one of the top sin bingo options.

Where the Crawdads Sing and After the Flood both have characters who fish a lot - so if anyone is interested you should be able to find some ocean animals.

I think I'll read No Judgments which has the rescuing pets, and also The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice which includes "bird".

Plethora wrote: "Rebecca -

We need to find the correct category for this book:

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

It is not tagged Young Adult. I think all it works for worth points is Award book under Vanity. But let m..."

Oh sorry I absolutely thought it was young adult. Yeah let's go with the award category. Do you want me to change it in my post or is it ok?

And I added it to my shelf.

I can read The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café which takes place in Africa and should definitely have at least an easy animal.

So maybe we should plan to see if people want to participate and if they're going for easy or tricky. That way we can plan to at least get 1 collection.

If we do a collection of tricky it would total 69 bonus points
If we do a collection of easy it would total 45 bonus points

Is this correct?

Book: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris
Pages: 272
Sin: Envy
Criteria: young adult
Read:   10/17/19

Perfect thanks! A great BOM selection then!

Book: Into the Crooked Place
Author: Alexandra Christo
Pages: 384
Sin: Sloth
Criteria: Blue cover
Read:   10/17/19

Has anyone found a bingo book for Pride or Gluttony? I'm trying to look through my shelves, but I'm struggling to find any bingo books.

BUT I will be reading for the BOM discussion - did someone determine this worked for bingo? I'm assuming it will count for "Books that members from other teams have read (during 2019)" but didn't know if that had to be before the challenge.

Vicki wrote: "Has anyone read ? If so, would it qualify because it has varied format and font on different pages. I've had it forever and still haven't read it and it's beautiful co..."

I love this book! It's absolutely one of my favorite series. I read it first in the hardback and then on the audio. The dramatization in the audio is amazing, but you lose all the formatting which really makes the story and without the formatting it can be more confusing.

Also, I have also read Aurora rising and didn't like it that much, I personally find Illuminae to be much better.

Trinia wrote: "#dad1df 34.2 % Snuff (Violet)
#413428 26.6 % Dark Rum (Brown)
#516184 12.6 % Waikawa Grey (Blue)
#6a4427 6.5 % Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Brown)
#9494b5 6.4 % Logan (Blue)
#b08259 6.2 % Fallow (Brown)
#..."

Thanks! Glad I checked - because on my computer (work and home) it says

#e5d7e236.4 %Snuff (Violet)
#44342928.0 %Slugger (Brown)
#54588210.7 %Kimberly (Violet)
#784a238.4 %Korma (Brown)
#9d94b76.7 %Wistful (Blue)
#c58d4d3.2 %Twine (Brown)
#3f20652.4 %Christalle (Violet)
#988e8b1.6 %Suva Grey (Grey)
#b796831.5 %Sandrift (Brown)

I'll fit it somewhere else then!