Preeti’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2021)

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

Book: Dracula by Bram Stoker
Date Read: Jul 9
Page Count: 488


Weapon:
Pg. 359: Harker evidently meant to try the matter, for he had ready his great Kukri knife, and made a fierce and sudden cut at him.

Shelter:
Red on the cover

Food:
Pg. 6: I dined on what they call ‘robber steak’—bits of bacon, onion, and beef, seasoned with red pepper, and strung on sticks and roasted over the fire, in the simple style of the London cat’s-meat!

I have 3 books on the mini ss and am already more than halfway through all of them. I will definitely be done with all of them before the 15th.
That said, if anybody completes a book that works for any of them (MPG Literary Fiction x 2, MPG Horror x 1), please go ahead and replace my book with yours. Thanks!

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer - Day 1

Chapters Prologue - 5

1. We have been introduced to a few important characters - Lucy, Christopher, and Hugo. Plus the off-page persona of Jack. What do you think of the characters so far?

Lucy: I had to keep reminding myself that she is supposed to be a grown-up because her statements make her sound very juvenile. There is a difference between being childlike and being childish and she definitely skews towards the latter at times. Also, when she talks about her childhood, she portrays herself as a victim which surprises me as she ought to have become more aware of the real circumstances as she became older.
Christopher: I haven’t really got a clear understanding of his personality other than that he has had some awful experiences in his life and that his foster family supposedly do not look after as they should be doing. I am hoping the further chapters will show us more of his backstory.
Hugo: He is the only character I feel we got a proper introduction to. Obviously, we haven’t learnt everything but we know that there is more to his story and that we will be learning about it in future chapters.

2. We get a riddle right away in the Prologue:

“Two men on an island and both blame the water
for the loss of a wife and the death of a daughter
but neither ever married, and neither's a father.
What is the secret of the girls and the water?”

Then Hugo thinks to himself that "Five years ago, it [the ocean] had brought low the small, strange kingdom of Clock Island." Do you think the riddle is related to what happened five years ago? Any speculations on what it all means, assuming you haven't read ahead?

This riddle reminded me of a similar one which made me feel that something happened to a girl/woman on the island, somebody who was like a daughter to Jack and also was loved by Hugo. I think that this is connected to what really caused Jack Masterson to stop writing which I am guessing is also connected to why he suddenly started writing again.

3. At the beginning of Chapter Two, Hugo says that he used to dream about living in Greenwich Village, but now that he can actually afford it, it doesn't hold the same appeal. He basically says that success kills motivation. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

I don’t think that he is saying that. My feeling is that Hugo is saying that sometimes, a person can think they want something and work towards it, reach their destination only to discover they were on the wrong path all long. Living in Greenwich Village was quite possibly what Hugo dreamed of and it turns out he was wrong and actually wanted or even needed an entirely different thing.

4. What do you think of the wishing game Lucy plays with Christopher? Do you think this game and mindset are healthy? Do you agree with Lucy that it gives them hope, or do you agree with the social worker that it just gets their hopes up?

That is the one thing I agree with Lucy on. Making wishes is simply a method of figuring out what we desire and that gives us the motivation to do what is needed to achieve them.
A favourite quote that I read many years ago says it better that I can. Thoreau said in his book Walden, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”

5. Why do you think Jack finally started writing again? And what might be his motive in holding a contest for the only copy of the new book?

I am in two minds about this. One thought is that something has come to light connected to whatever happened in the past and Jack wants to force something to happen to solve that issue. The other is that like many other books, he is trying to find a worthy successor and this is his method of doing so. Whichever it is or even if it something entirely different, hopefully, the coming chapters with provide some enlightenment.

The July NBRC Back Room book is up for DQ volunteers in case anybody is interested.

A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles (sequel to the book from June)


https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Kamaria wrote: "My reading is going to be a bit slow because I'm preparing for a new job in a few days and I'm currently in an area which is considered a war zone so we're in a no-fight and flight mode... And we'r..."

Kamaria, all the best of luck with your new job and move. I hope all goes well and you stay safe, healthy and happy.

Book: The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (The Doomsday Books #1) by K.J. Charles
Date Read: Jul 6
Page Count: 353


Weapon:
Pg. 321: The two men struggled for a second, and the gun went off with a deafening report.

Shelter:
Building on the cover

Food:
Pg. 97: She brought out a cold pie and pickles along with bread and cheese.

Defense:
Blue cover

Yay! Good to hear from you, Sammy. Now please take plenty of rest, we want you back here all healed and on your feet.

Also, this is such a coincidence. After my last surgery, Hercule Poirot was my good buddy through recuperation. Him and an obscenely large quantity of salted caramel icecream.

Preeti’s BOM Participation Post:

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow - Day 5

Chapters 27 - epilogue

21. Wow what a ride! What were your initial thoughts and feelings after finishing the book?

Like many books that I have similarly rated 3 stars, I loved the concept, not so much the execution. I felt there were too many plot-holes and there was a lot of information that if added to the book would have given the readers a better understanding of what was going on. The biggest thing that I did not like was the whole miscommunication trope which can ruin a book if not handled well.

22. An integral part to the book is the way the story of Starling House is told through many different viewpoints, with truth and lies and rumours and hearsay and opinions often woven together. Did you find that you learned more about Starling House through each story? Did this type of story building and layering work for you? Why or why not?

Funnily enough, this was one of the only things I actually liked about the book. The multiple viewpoints showed just how the stories about the house got developed and gave the whole thing the required dimensionality.

23. In the ending battles, the MCs were fighting beasts of nightmares and of their own making, inside dreams. Do think it's hard for good dreams to win out against nightmares? Explain your thoughts.

I think it all depends on the individual and their circumstances.

24. A major theme in the book is wants and needs, and how they seemingly twist into each other if you want hard enough. In this theme exploration, what was the message you got from the author, and did it resonate with you?

Wants and needs are definitely two motives that drives us to do the things that we do and it is essential to understand the difference between them and identify which of them is truly important.
The message I got from this book is the importance of communication and maintaining absolutely crystal clear channels of conversation with loved ones.

25. Would you recommend this book? Explain.

I am entirely undecided as I liked the plot on one hand but on the other, I did not enjoy the writing. I doubt if I would dissuade anybody from reading it, at the same time it would not make my top 10 must-read list (or top 100 for that matter).

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow - Day 4

Chapters 20 - 26

16. I love Bev’s line ‘ How in hell is anybody supposed to help if you won’t ask?’ Are there any characters who don't need to hear this? Did it resonate with you?

That is so true and definitely so for the 3 main characters who despite their ages behave like children. I can understand Jasper hiding things to a certain extent (teenager!!!) but a little more communication was badly needed. Having said that, I can understand the reluctance to be too open as it increases vulnerability.

17. Opal and Jasper finally reveal their secrets and talk. Were you surprised that they are both Graverlys? How do you feel about the outcome regarding schools?

Finally!!! No, I wasn’t surprised as I was expecting something like that particularly with the talk of the curse and the accident. Jasper getting into the U of L felt a bit strange considering there was no mention of Opal’s signing any documents which she would have had to do being Jasper’s legal guardian. Though at least that solved the mystery of why there was a mention of the U of L in an earlier chapter when Opal talks about not finding any follow-up emails from the power company and only finding YouTube video notifications and promo emails from the U of L.

18. Elizabeth Baine seems to have an amazing connections and pull. Who do you think she works for? How do you think she figured out what the right leverage was?

She definitely has some serious clout though I feel her part was not full explained. I would have liked to know more about her and the organisation behind her. It would have made sense for there not to be much info about her if there was going to be a sequel but this being a stand-alone, I felt that this and a lot of other threads were left incomplete.

19. So much happened in these chapters, yet I really don’t feel like I learned much. How do you feel about the pacing/storyline?

I did not like the pacing at all which was very haphazard in my opinion. I liked the storyline but was not very impressed by the tying up of the plot lines. I had even more unanswered questions than when I first started reading the book.

20. We learn that being a warden is a choice, although the house asks very vulnerable people. Do you think that the other wardens understood the price? How does Opal fit – she chose, but she isn’t a warden at this point.

I don’t think any of the wardens knew or cared that it was a choice. I think the state in which they were when they got the “calling” made it that their prime objective was to find shelter and if the house required that they perform specific tasks, then so be it.

Bonus cat question: Which name do you prefer – Baast or Hellcat?

I love both names. If the cat could talk, I could easily picture it saying “My name is Hellcat. Baast Hellcat.”

Book: Better to Rest (Liam Campbell #4) by Dana Stabenow
Date Read: Jul 5
Page Count: 308


Weapon:
Pg. 17: Where can I buy a gun?

Food:
Pg. 168: How about a steak sandwich, fries, green salad with bleu cheese on the side? And a diet Coke with a wedge of lime, if you’ve got it. Lemon if you don’t.

Defense:
Two of the MCs are Alaska State Troopers.

Good luck, Sammy! Best wishes for a quick and successful recovery.

I absolutely agree as well! If anybody has completed a book that fits a slot that I have taken, please go ahead and replace it with your book.

Hi. I removed one of the books that I was reading for MPG Historical Fiction and replaced it with a Literary Fiction book. I started reading Roots and found my attention wandering all over the place. I highly doubt that I will be able to finish it before the end date. I am going to try and find one of my old favourites that works for Historical Fiction once I have finished a few more books.

Book: Nothing Gold Can Stay (Liam Campbell #3) by Dana Stabenow
Date Read: Jul 4
Page Count: 350


Weapon:
Pg. 17: …with a shot gun in a sheath fastened to the back.

Shelter:
Building on the cover

Food:
Pg. 158: She cooked for him, noodles with green onions sliced into them at the last moment before serving and a few drops of sesame oil added…

Defense:
MCs who are Alaska State Troopers: Liam Campbell and Diana Prince

Alexander Skarsgård

Book: So Sure of Death (Liam Campbell #2) by Dana Stabenow
Date Read: Jul 3
Page Count: 308


Weapon:
Pg. 81: He closed his eyes and pushed, the hand with the gun in it knocking awkwardly against the side of the plane.

Food:
All letters of FOOD in the title

Defense:
Two of the MCs are Alaska State Troopers.

JDM here as well, thank you very much!

Keely wrote: "@Preeti - can you add Fugitive Telemetry to your Book Games shelf, please?"

Done. Sorry!

Book: Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries #6) by Martha Wells
Date Read: Jul 2
Page Count: 168


Weapon:
Pg. 46: I have energy weapons in my arms and it’s not like I can leave them behind in the hotel room.

Shelter:
Murderbot is the perfect person to shelter with. It can provide security and entertainment at the same time.

Defense:
Senior Officer Indah is the head of Preservation Station Security.