Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

Yay! my nomination won

I hope this is a fun as it looks :)

Jenny wrote: "In for DQs, obviously. I will take whatever day(s) needed."

Jenny, we pushed the start back a day and I'm hoping to get the newsletter out today which may attract some other DQ writers.

I'll get the breakdown up some time this morning. I figure you take day 1, I'll take day 2 and we can rotate unless others pop in.

does that work?

I’m in for DQs!

Judith's BOM Tracking

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/...

DQ Set 5: Chapter 63 - end

21. Simone was not safe in the shed! Shocker! There was a flurry of blood and gore here. Generally, did you like the pacing of the book? Was it effective in building and holding tension for you?
I feel like this was a stressful read and a stressful part of the book to keep up with everything that was going on.

22. What did you think of the Denny twist?
that was interesting twist and a bit unexpected and threw me for about a chapter or so.

23. We finally arrive at the luxury lodge! What thoughts did you have about the lodge and events there? And the final reveal?
it was a bit chaotic. which i guess it was supposed to be. but it really was a lot.

24. Overall, what are your thoughts on the book? Would you recommend it? Would you read others by Coates
it was fine, a bit more gore than I'd like. and compared to the other deaths Kiernan did was a high level of gore. I guess that was his goal to instill fear? it just seemed excessive and not generally my cuppa.

Day 4 DQ’s
Chapter 47-62

16. What did you make of Alexis’ code? Did you think she ever meant for Christa to read it? Do you think you would’ve been able to decipher it?
It was an interesting one and not immediately apparent if you are trying to keep your notes secret. I'm not sure she ever meant it for someone else to read but at some point I think she want to share what she knew with someone and chose Christa. I'm not sure I would of been able to decipher it. When I'm really tired and stressed my brain doesn't work all that well.

17. What job would you have taken with the generator scene and why?
Holding the ladder? I'm not a mechanic or engineer so not sure I could of gotten it working.

18. The big reveal on how everyone on the trip was connected to August 8th. What about the people who were killed already (or unconscious)? How do you think they were connected? (Brian, Grayson, Kiernan, and Alexis)?
Grayson and Alexis I'm assuming are connected via their family members. I'm thinking Alexis's sister was connected to Liam somehow and of course Grayson through his father. I'm still thinking Kiernan is alive and related to Liam. Brian, I don't know, he really wasn't around as a character long enough to have many thoughts about him.

19. Were you surprised when Simone was revealed as the butcher?
Yes and it didn't seem to make sense at the time because I don't think she is the butcher.

20. Why do you think Simone allowed herself to be framed as the butcher when it’s revealed by Christa that she isn’t the butcher? She completely gave up fighting and went along with everything. Do you think she could be connected or just feeling guilty?
I think Simone is planning some kind of long game to reveal the real butcher? I'm having trouble making sense of what she did and why

DQ's Day 3 Chapter 30 - 46

11. What did you think of the men (Steve and Denny) getting drunk. Easy prey or just transferring responsibility to others
I think they are coping by escaping in some alcohol. Not the smartest thing to be doing but they are in a high stress situation.

12. Would you have brought the axe back to the cabin or have left it in the Shed? What do you make of Simone taking all the weapons from everyone? Would you have a weapon on you, if you were there? If so what kind?
I probably would of brought it to the cabin as well? I think she is trying to form some sort of order and control in a situation where neither exists. Maybe a pocket knife?

13. Were getting background stories of others and in Chapter 35 it told a story where Christa was driving, and she refused to let a driver go around her and this resulted in his death. Do you think this has importance to the current situation?
It's probably the reason she's there on the trip.

14. They have to work together to find a way to get lights. Christa is going through all her emotions and paranoia. Did she make you feel like something was going to happen during this time?
yes and I likely would of been just as paranoid.

15. Do you feel like the killer is the same person setting and sabotaging everything such as the cabin owners dead and the tree in the middle of the road or cutting the power?
Yes, and like the others I'm back to thinking it's Kiernan on some sort of revenge/punishment bender.

That’s a good point about the And Then There were None connection. Hmm. I’d forgotten about that part

DQs Day 2
Ch 15 to 29

6.) After the teeth on the window sill and Christa's thoughts on there only being 31, were you still surprised when the found Kiernan's body?
Actually, yes I was still a bit surprised. I was thinking that whole walk after the bus broke down seemed sus like most everyone else did based on people's answers to the first set of DQs. I'm not sure his body could be a fake in any way that makes sense so I was wrong on that count.

7.) Would you of been in the group that tried walking to find help or the group that stayed in the cabin?
I'm not fit enough to of kept up in those conditions so I would of stayed at the cabin.

8.) What do you make of Alexis's story about Grayson and Denny?
I think it's a bit of a red herring and to be honest made me more suspicious of Alexis than anything. Especially in light of what happened at the end of this section.

9.) Well it looks like Brian, Kiernan, Miri, and Grayson are out of the running to be the killer. Any guesses out of who's left?
Alexis seems suspicious with some of her behavior, but that might be a distraction. And I don't think she's strong enough to pull some of it off by herself. Hutch? Steve? I don't know, but if there is an unknown mystery person we haven't met yet I'm going to be annoyed.

10.) Why do you think this group is being targeted? Random bad luck? Planned?
It almost has to be planned? But the weather is a big factor and not sure how that fits in to a master plan ahead of time. I do find it strange they couldn't find the road to the lodge and kept running into dead ends. It makes me wonder where they are.

DQs Day 2
Ch 15 to 29

6.) After the teeth on the window sill and Christa's thoughts on there only being 31, were you still surprised when the found Kiernan's body?

7.) Would you of been in the group that tried walking to find help or the group that stayed in the cabin?

8.) What do you make of Alexis's story about Grayson and Denny?

9.) Well it looks like Brian, Kiernan, Miri, and Grayson are out of the running to be the killer. Any guesses out of whose left?

10.) Why do you think this group is being targeted? Random bad luck? Planned?

Judith's BOM Tracking

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/...

DQs Day 4

13. What do you think about Emily’s plan to wake the trapped King? Aside from for plot purposes, do you think it is consistent with her character that she would make this choice?
I think it is consistent for her with a methodical approach. But also a bit desperate and self-sacrificing. Home girl needs to learn how to ask for help and recognize when she can use some.

14. We see a lot more faeries in this section. Would you like to be part of an ice court? Did you have any particularly favorite visual element from the book as a whole?
No, Fae courts are scary. Hard pass. I liked the incorporation of wee folk in the story. Too many books just focus on the high courts and male fae, err, wingspan.

15. Do you think Emily has grown as a person over this book and did your view of her change at all across the book?
I think she has and I think the author set it up for more to come in book too. I'm glad she didn't just run off and marry Wendall as that would of been out of character for her I think.

16. Did you like how the ending was told or were you expecting more details or have other suggestions?
It was fine. I'm assuming she was planning a second book while she was writing this one so it's nice to have the story set up to go somewhere interesting next.

Bonus. If your version comes with an extra story at the end, what are your thoughts on a gown with added hedgehogs and pomaded chickens? If you did not read this story, you are missing a lot of hedgehogs
I think it sounded like the perfect gown for all you Discworld lovers :P

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to Ch 14

1. If you travel, where’s the coldest place you’ve ever visited?
Probably the coldest place I've ever visited is Iceland? Though it wasn't much colder there than it was where I live in the US at the time. Unless you figure in how cold it was when we were on top of the mountains snowmobiling.

2. Do you like skiing?
I've never gone skiing. With my athletic ability I'm fairly sure though if I attempted it, I would die or end up with a broken leg at least. I'll pass on paying for that privilege :)

3. Do you think it was odd that the ski resort was open during a time it would normally be closed?
Not necessarily. If there was a way for them to make enough money for special trips like this one to make paying utilities and staff, it would be a way to have some income coming in on the off season instead of the fixed costs of the place just draining accounts.

4. Do you think Christa and Kiernan will be reunited by the story’s end?
I hope so, it seems like Christa has been through some things before this trip so hopefully it ends well for her which I think means Kiernan needs a happy ending too.

5. Do you think Kiernan survived the storm in the beginning of the story?
I hope so but there is certainly something a bit weird going on with his situation and her memories.

No, it would be a U for United

DQs Day 3

9.) Emily seems to have a bad habit of wandering off by herself to deal with faerie problems. I'm all for independence and what not, but sometimes help is very much warranted. She got a bit lucky her first trip into faerie worked out, do you think she'll be as lucky in getting away from the King?
Her first trip into faerie, while she ran into some bumps certainly could of been worse. And she still needed help from Wendell and Shadow to get out of it. Now with the Ice King, she has neither with her and that seems like poor choices are her part. I'm guessing Wendell will be involved in getting her out of it but there'll be a high price.

10.) I chuckled a bit when I realized that Wendell wrote in her journal. Did you enjoy this snippet from his POV?
This made me like him more actually. I enjoyed the bit from his POV and thought it was just enough. As I was reading that, all I could think was Emily is going to be so annoyed when she sees her journal. LOL

11.) Wendell bemoaned a bit the lack of sword fighting in the mortal world. Thoughts on being able to settle work problems with a sword fight in the parking lot (or whatever is appropriate for your workplace)?
This would be amazing. We should all have this option or Friday dodgeball games where you can pelt annoying coworkers during the game. Not that I'm condoning violence *looks away*

12.) The changeling problem has been solved (at least it appears so). Was this a satisfactory conclusion for you?
Yes, I like how it wasn't a rando thread but fit into the larger story/issues of the area.

DQs Day 3

9.) Emily seems to have a bad habit of wandering off by herself to deal with faerie problems. I'm all for independence and what not, but sometimes help is very much warranted. She got a bit lucky her first trip into faerie worked out, do you think she'll be as lucky in getting away from the King?

10.) I chuckled a bit when I realized that Wendell wrote in her journal. Did you enjoy this snippet from his POV?

11.) Wendell bemoaned a bit the lack of sword fighting in the mortal world. Thoughts on being able to settle work problems with a sword fight in the parking lot (or whatever is appropriate for your workplace)?

12.) The changeling problem has been solved (at least it appears so). Was this a satisfactory conclusion for you?

DQs Day 2

5. I don’t try to avoid them but they are getting a bit overused. I agree with Sammy this is especially the case with High Fae, to the point that’s it’s almost boring. But I agree with her other point that books with the Wee Ones are interesting and largely untapped. And so much lore there to pull from.

I enjoy when authors pull from lessor known stories. So much more interesting than the same old Seelie/Unseelie, he’s so hot with a large wingspan or whatever. Time and a place 😂

I like the mix in this one and that we learn about the fae along with Emily in her research.

6. I’m assuming some sort of protector? Not sure why she has one. Maybe from helping a fae in the past? A family connection seems unlikely.

7. I hope they get help and ideally their child back but that doesn’t seem likely. Maybe find peace with their changeling?

8. He is very self centered and definitely thinks he’s above doing certain things. I know he cares for Emily but not sure why. It’s not likes he’s not dabbling in carnal pleasures do to his love for her or whatever.

I’m a tree fairy 🌳

DQs Day 1

1. Emily finds herself in a very cold, snowy location, and worries about surviving the cold.
What do you think of the setting?
Have you ever found yourself in similar surroundings, and how did you cope, or how do you believe you would cope if you haven’t?
Also splitting logs…Would you manage like a boss, or risk loss of limbs?

I think it’s effective in setting a remote, isolated, lonely area for her to be in. For some reason tropical places don’t come across the same way as easily even though the person can be just as isolated.
I’ve been in really cold places. Went to grad school in Maine, Quebec and Iceland trips in winter but never without proper gear and access to modern conveniences. With her situation what would kill me is the outhouse at night. Brrr.
I feel like there is an art to splitting logs safely and efficiently that I have not learned. I’d give it a go though.

2. How do you feel about footnotes?
I think they work here. Emily is a scholar and she’s using footnotes for accreditation and additional info. It works for her character, some nonfiction authors might want to take that under consideration. *judgy face*

3. In a world where the existence of faeries is an established fact, would you consider dryadology as a profession?
Maybe? But probably more as protecting their spaces in the mortal world and not really what Emily is doing.

4. What do you think of Emily so far? And Brambleby?
I like she’s not perfect and has made definite blunders. I’m looking forward to her character growth. Brambleby is not my favorite and I wouldn’t trust him as a colleague in terms of sharing credit, etc.

Sounds good!

Either is fine with me. Since it’s a reread for you, I’ll let you pick which one is easier for you