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

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

Trinia wrote: "Yes ma’am! Done, sorry thought I had added them 🫣"

No worries, Thank you!!

Trinia,

Can you add Umbrella Man and Children of the Fog to your challenge shelf when you get a chance?

Thank you!

Judith's BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Marie (UK) wrote: "MY copy of this book has 628 pages I cannot find the finishing line for this section (Day 5) - does anyone know what page it is ?"

Sorry, I used my copy for the breakdown. But the split is about 55/60% into Chapter 8 if that helps at all.

I got to pick a new one since my other won for January!! I bring you:



Masters of Death by Olivie Blake

From Olivie Blake, the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes Masters of Death, a story about vampires, ghosts, and death itself!

Viola Marek is a struggling real estate agent, and a vampire. But her biggest problem currently is that the house she needs to sell is haunted. The ghost haunting the house has been murdered, and until he can solve the mystery of how he died, he refuses to move on.

Fox D’Mora is a medium, and though is also most-definitely a shameless fraud, he isn’t entirely without his uses—seeing as he’s actually the godson of Death.

When Viola seeks out Fox to help her with her ghost-infested mansion, he becomes inextricably involved in a quest that neither he nor Vi expects (or wants). But with the help of an unruly poltergeist, a demonic personal trainer, a sharp-voiced angel, a love-stricken reaper, and a few high-functioning creatures, Vi and Fox soon discover the difference between a mysterious lost love and an annoying dead body isn’t nearly as distinct as they thought.

Zaremba, or Love and the Rule of Law by Michelle Granas

In Warsaw, a shy and high-minded polio victim lives a life of seclusion caring for her odd family until a chance encounter plunges her into the intrigues of dirty politics. Zaremba, a wealthy businessman, is about to be arrested on trumped-up charges and only she can save him. Swept along by events, Cordelia finds her feelings increasingly involved with a stranger for whom she is both rescuer and victim. When Zaremba is implicated in terrorist activities and disappears, Cordelia is painfully uncertain if she has been abandoned and must overcome surveillance, corruption, the media, and mounting humiliations and difficulties to learn the truth.

This is a story about love between a man and woman, but also love of family, country, and justice. Although set in Poland, where the CIA had a black site, it is a story that could happen anywhere, in a world where young democracies struggle against the temptations of covert operations and older democracies sometimes lead them astray.

How it fits the theme: Takes place is Warsaw, Poland (cold, icy place in winter)

Final day DQS:

21. Do you think it made sense for the group to fall apart after the climax, or would you have expected the shared experiences to keep them close (who else are they going to be able to talk about it with?).
Yes, I do really. The guilt of it all I think would just feed into their paranoia about someone breaking and turning everyone in to the police.

22. So all in all the characters are all quite unlikeable. Is there one that stands out to you as the least likeable of all?
Charles probably

23. What are your thoughts on the book as a whole? Will you read more by Tartt?
It was fine and I may read others by her depending on the topic and my mood.

24. I'm surprised this book hasn't been turned into a movie yet, especially with the popularity of Dark Academia. Would you watch the movie if they made one? Any preference for any cast members?
Probably. The movie rights were actually purchased and went through a couple rounds of almost being made but not because of life events. I think Tartt has the rights back. From what I read she hated how the movie for The Goldfinch happened so may not re-option this book for a movie.

DQs Day 5: Chapter 7 to Chapter 8 "... dark sheets of slate." (pages 377 to 489)

16. "Everyone, suddenly, had known him; everyone was deranged with grief; everyone was just going to have to try and get on as well as they could without him." This is what Richard thinks about the other students at Hampden college after Bunny was found. What are your thoughts on that? Did you ever experience something like that in real life?
When someone young dies unexpectedly, this is fairly typical I think. Especially if reporters are swarming and I think is worse now with social media. And yes I have, a good friend was killed in a car accident when I was in high school. It was disturbing how people who normally wouldn't of even said hello to her had all these memories of doing xyz with her.

17. Bunny's parents invited all of his friends (close or not so close) to stay at their house before the funeral. If you had been in Richard's place, would you have gone? Why (not)?
No, even if I was completely uninvolved with his death. Grief is complex and I would 1) want to make sure they had their space and 2) likely want my own space to both grieve on my own and as a break from the family's grief.

18. How would you describe Henry's behavior at the funeral?
Weird and I think showing he is unraveling from everything that has happened.

19. Charles kissed Camilla, and it turns out that this might not have been the first time this has happened. Were you shocked to learn about this or did you see it coming?
I mean it was gross and I wasn't expecting it but not surprised by it. Even though this was written in 1992, this is my first read of the novel. But after Game of Thrones, not sure twin-incest can ever be 100% surprising even again.

20. "Had Henry intended to make me the patsy if his plan had fallen through?" Richard suspects that Henry has used him and would've gone even further if things had been differently. Do you agree?
100 percent. Henry would certainly pick a patsy to not take accountability. Richard is the most sensible choice from Henry's perspective.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 & 2

1.) Is this your first Donna Tartt book or have you read hot book of whatever year that was, The Goldfinch? If you've read The Goldfinch, has this been sitting on your to-be-read list since?
I listened to The Goldfinch what feels like a long time ago. It was the second audiobook I ever listened too. I really enjoyed it, even the parts that stretched believability a bit too much. And yep, this books was added to my tbr shortly thereafter.

2.) This has definite secret-college-campus-society vibes. Do you like this setting for a story? Have you read any from this genre you'd recommend to others?
I do and I think the college environment lends itself well to the type of plot set up that requires some level isolation of the characters without making it completely obvious (like snowed in on top of a mountain or the like). I've enjoyed some like Ninth House though I still need to read the second.

3.) Speaking of the setting, does the author provide a good description of the campus and the surrounding landscape to set a believable atmosphere for the novel?
Yes, I think she provides enough detail to set the stage but vague enough for your imagination to have spaces to fill in.

4.) Initial thoughts on characters. It's early in the book, but any you like, don't like, or want to learn more about?
They are all interesting in their own way but probably the most interested in learning more about the twins.

5.) Do you think the narrator is reliable? Do you like unreliable narrated books or are you not a fan?
No, he's not reliable and I feel like lies even when the truth would work just as well. Some people are just wired like that and I find it weird and fascinating at the same time.

Ann,

When you get a chance can you add Sanshiro, The Golden Son, and Death and Taxes to your challenge shelf?

Thank you!

To those who celebrate, Happy Thanksgiving!

The blind date was an unexpected gold nugget

Thank you! It’s been a day

Got those 2 old ones out of there finally!

We are doing great team! Holding strong in 3rd place even though many teams are reading more books than us. The points from long and old books are certainly paying off!! And generally reading books that work for mini tasks help as well.

I did want to provide some clarification on the Relax mini task "features one or more books". This can be either other book(s) are mentioned in the text somewhere or there are books on the cover.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 & 2

1.) Is this your first Donna Tartt book or have you read hot book of whatever year that was, The Goldfinch? If you've read The Goldfinch, has this been sitting on your to-be-read list since?

2.) This has definite secret-college-campus-society vibes. Do you like this setting for a story? Have you read any from this genre you'd recommend to others?

3.) Speaking of the setting, does the author provide a good description of the campus and the surrounding landscape to set a believable atmosphere for the novel?

4.) Initial thoughts on characters. It's early in the book, but any you like, don't like, or want to learn more about?

5.) Do you think the narrator is reliable? Do you like unreliable narrated books or are you not a fan?

Michelle's Empty Nest wrote: "Just wanted to update that I'm done adding books for this round."

Thank you for letting us know!

And this reminds me to ask everyone to check in when they've read their last book for Round 3

I'm in for DQs Team Traffic Jam

extra entry too!

Yes, lots and lots of food mentioned in that one!

Teddie, our tracking sheet master has the R4 Book tab ready to go for those planners among us :)

Our word for Round 4 (and the last round) is Projectile Vomit Clean-up