Jill’s Comments (group member since Nov 15, 2016)

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

I've rearranged the books, and if A Study in Charlotte was read it can easily be added. Kate, the deadline is fast approaching. We really need you to add those books to your shelves!!! Please comment when done, thanks!

I'm working on my last book!! Should be done in 30 minutes. How is everyone else doing?

Updated

DQ Day 3 Ch 17-end

10) Judge Frankenstein did not let Elizabeth know that he was fighting to get her inheritance back. If she would have known, do you think she would have handled things differently with when she found Justine and forced a marriage between her and Victor? Would she have been a different person?

Yes, things would have definitely played out differently. She was unsure of her true parentage, thus was relying on her friendship/relationship with Victor to be the sole reason the Frankensteins kept her around. In her mind, if she left the Frankensteins, she would have nothing. If she knew of her fortune, she would have been able to leave at age 21 or whenever she wished.

11) Victor said, “You made it clear from the start you did not care what I did so long as you did not have know the specifics. It was our agreement.” Did Elizabeth contribute to Victor’s madness? If she would have told him he went was going too far at any time, would he have stopped or just not tell her?

I guess you can say everyone had a hand in Victor's madness because no one was strict with him. He was allowed to do whatever he wanted.

12) Victor wound up leaving after the conversation Elizabeth saw with the monster. Later we found out that he was watching and protecting Elizabeth. Was Elizabeth committed to an asylum to keep her safe or to get the monster out of the way so Victor would be able to continue with his work?

Elizabeth was committed to the asylum because she was a loose end. She knew of Victor's dark secrets and would get in the way of his bigger plan.

13) Was it surprising that Victor killed Henry and used part of him for his experiments? Were you surprised that Mary and Elizabeth friended the monster and let him chose a new name?

I liked the twist that the monster was Henry. He was a very likable character, and while it was sad that he was dead and a grotesque monster, it was nice to see him "live" and his soul untarnished. It wasn't surprising that Victor killed him because towards the end of the book, you see Victor as a heartless murderer and crazed scientist who was willing to do anything for his experiments. It was nice that Elizabeth, Mary, and Adam became friends in the end and not surprising at all because, as I mentioned before, his good soul remained the same.

14) Do you believe that Victor finally succeeded with his experiment to retrieve Elizabeth or that he needed to go forward with the experiment on her to have her back the way she was?

No, he didn't succeed because Elizabeth managed to escape. Victor's reasoning for experimenting on Elizabeth was to keep her forever as his own. It was always about controlling Elizabeth.

15) How did you like this retelling to the original and/or other retellings?

Again, I have nothing to compare with work to as I did not read the original nor have a read other retellings. Overall, I liked the story and gave it 3 stars.

Book: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein
Author: Kiersten White
Page Total: 304
Date Read: Nov 24

Letter Used For: E
Other Letters It Can Be Used For: C, A

DQ Part 1
DQ Part 2
DQ Part 3

Discussion Questions Part 2 (Ch 12 to 16)

6)Sometimes we are strangers even to ourselves
Another great quote in this book! Do you think Elizabeth was just referring to Henry here or about all 3 of them? She seems quite restless and unsettled since finding Victor. Why do you think this is?

I think she was talking about herself because of how she puts on a persona versus how she truly feels, which is revealed to the reader. She seems restless because she hasn't seen him in a while and is worried about losing him again. Also, the circumstances in which she found him was very shady, so I'm sure she's still processing everything that happened and what she saw (his laboratory, the shadowy figure following her).

7) It's fairly well established a this point that everyone is frightened of Victor to the point where most seem to want to avoid him as much as possible. Elizabeth comments that at night when she was scared and having horrible nightmares she went to Victor. And sleeping by his side, she had no nightmares. Why do you think that is?

I don't know. They seem to have a weird relationship. Doesn't he abuse her? They have a strange connection, even though it is somewhat toxic.

8) Why do you think everyone was so willing to believe Justine killed William? To believe her going mad so suddenly and randomly? Do you think she actually did it? If not, who do you think it was?

Everyone thought it was her because of the necklace as evidence next to her bedside. And because she confessed. She didn't do it, it was Victor's monster, the same person who seems to be tormenting Elizabeth. I think Justine maybe was confronted by the monster and was threatened by it, that she just confessed out of fear.

9) Elizabeth sees her actions towards saving Justine from her previous life as the only selfless thing she has done in her life. Do you think her actions were truly selfless though?

Yes, because Elizabeth felt that she was truly saving Justine. Elizabeth saw herself in Justine and remembered how she escaped her abusive caretaker and created this much better life for herself. Elizabeth projected those same feelings and experiences onto Justine.

10) Upon seeing the monster having a conversation with Victor, that Victor appears to lose, Elizabeth's reaction is to find out what it is holding over Victor, remove the hold, then kill the monster. Do you think this is a normal reaction? What would you have done?

Yes, the monster seems sinister and in control. Elizabeth knows this is the figure that has been following her and William's true murderer. She also senses that Victor is in trouble and will do anything to save him.

Cathy, I switched your N book to my spot. Will read Girls of Paper and Fire for week 5

I don't know if I'll finish Girls of Paper and Fire by the deadline :( I'm reading like mad at the moment!!

Discussion Questions Part 1 (pg 1-124)

1. I love this quote in the story. “Justine did not have to pretend, as she always seemed genuinely unaware of the effect we had on men. I, however, was perfectly aware of my beauty. I considered it a skill, alongside speaking French, English, Italian, and German. It was a language of its own, in a way; on that translated well in different circumstances.” What does this tell you about the different characters of Justine and Elizabeth?

Justine is innocent, sweet, and genuine. Elizabeth is very calculating and manipulative. They are polar opposites, and it is made very clear to the reader.

2. Elizabeth truly seems able to control Victor’s dark character. She helps him clean up after the incident with his younger brother, and comes up with a story to help save Victor. Why do you think she is able to do that when no-one else seems able to control him?

They have some kind of connection that no one else has. Her whole purpose of her residency with the Frankensteins is to keep Victor "in check." If she can't, she must go back to the hardship she came from. That motivates her enough to be able to keep Victor level headed.

3. When Henry proposes to Elizabeth, she immediately begins to worry whether she can be the wife he needs. But she decides to send him to Victor to ask for his blessing. She figures there can be two outcomes - one Victor will return to her and ask her to marry him, or two Victor will give his blessing and she can marry Henry. This “plot” comes from feeling desperate to belong and the fear of not being needed by the Frankenstein’s anymore. What would you do if you felt that way?

I would follow whoever my heart desires because it would be a win-win. Even if the Frankensteins don't need me anymore, I would still have Henry.

4. When Elizabeth burns down the house that Victor was using for his experiments, she hears a large splash in the river. Who do you think it was fleeing the burning building? Do you think it’s the same man Elizabeth saw out her window at the boarding house and out of her carriage? Or do you think her mind is playing tricks on her?

I think it was one of Victor's "experiments." I think it is something superhuman and very real.

5. Re-tellings are now one of my favorite new genres. Do you like this retelling of the Frankenstein story so far? What other re-tellings have you read that you really liked?

It is hard to tell because I have not read the original Frankenstein for comparison. This is also my first retelling, so I have no experience in this genre. One fairytale retelling made into a movie that comes to mind is Ever After WHICH I LOVEDDD. It's a Cinderella retelling that was so well done. I like the concept of them and am looking forward to reading more of them :)

Book: The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Author: Michelle Hodkin
Page Total: 527
Date Read: Nov 23

Letter Used For: N
Other Letters It Can Be Used For: E

Natalie wrote: "Kiss for the genre? I like the look of this one. "

The word can't be hyphenated :(

Updated

Hi Team Zombie Band! How is everyone doing with their books?

Our week 5 word is MISTLETOE and we can use kiss for our MPG. Planner is updated, so you can start adding books for next week :)

Yes I think we should. Also, we haven't heard from everyone yet so we might need more than one

Yay I'm glad the majority want to continue on business class :)

I want to continue!

Checked

Great! We earned 50 points! Rina, can you update with the Mods?

We are now in Irakleion, Greece! The challenge for this stop is to read a book with 41-50 chapters. Seraphina, update your slot on the spreadsheet. CiCi and Alexandra, you have until at least the 27th :)

Book: Red
Author: Alison Cherry
Page Total: 320
Date Read: Nov 20

Letter Used For: R
Other Letters It Can Be Used For: A, C

Bonus Task: MPG Genre