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

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

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
Ch 11 to 13

14. How do you like Poirot's style of revealing what happened? Do you enjoy reading whodunnit mysteries?
I'm more of a Miss Marple fan than Poirot and read a lot more of that series. This genre in general though is one of my favorites.

15. The mystery has been unraveled and we now know what happened to Mrs. Inglethorp. Have you guessed who it was or were you surprised?
It was a reread for me. It was long enough ago that I didn't remember all the details but the more I read the more that came back in the memory cells.

16. Is there anything you would have changed about the narrative? Something you didn't like? If so, here's your place to rant :)
It was fine. Though I think Poirot's books are hard to figure out because some things are just random or the details are withheld from the reader.

17. If you haven't already, would you consider picking up another Hercule Poirot book or any other of Agatha Christie's works?
I'll be reading more from her in future, I'm sure :)

And I just finished off another one

Alicanto
350 to 450
Author initials in ENTIERRO
Item or animal with wings on cover
Set in a mountainous location
"treasure" in text

Saw we had completed another monster so spun for a new one

Meduse
250-300
Tagged "africanfuturism"/"African-Futurism" at least 1 time
Part of a trilogy (can ignore 0.5)
Shortlisted for Hugo Novella Award
Author African or part of the African diaspora

Oh whoops, wrong brother written down when I was scratching down questions.

DQs Day 3
Ch 8 to 10

10.) Any guesses about "find the extra coffee cup and you can rest in peace"? Does that fact Lawrence found it indicate guilt or innocence do you think?
I'm guessing this is the coffee cup with the actual poison in it? And finding in leans towards his innocence I think, especially since he was confused about it's existence when first asked about it.

11.) With books as old as this, some language/terms just do not age well and can be jarring to randomly come across in the text. Should language like this be censored/edited to match less offensive terms of the times (though not sure there is a correct way to say a lady dressed up in blackface). Or should they be left as is and used as a point of discussion on race/sexuality/class/gender/etc?
I think they lend themselves to discussions social issues, respect and acceptance of those who are different from you. And as an example of while we have far to go for many social justice issues, we have come a long way.

12.) Lots happening in the section, arrests abound! Do you think John was arrested for his step mother's murder or for some other reason like Dr. B?
Dr B being a spy was a random thing from left field for me. I know there are a lot of comments about being at war, but it never fully registered in the sense of place in the story. I actually forgot it a war was going on until they said he was a German spy.
I don't think John killed his stepmother. I think that's another red herring. Besides, there is still 25% left in the story. LOL

13.) What do you think about our narrator and giver or random marriage proposals, Hastings?
If someone proposed to me like that, I'd probably laugh too. Or at least back away slowly. Although maybe that wasn't strange for the times? Still seemed odd and off putting.
And in general I don't find Hastings to be a very likeable character.

DQs Day 3
Ch 8 to 10

10.) Any guesses about "find the extra coffee cup and you can rest in peace"? Does that fact Lawrence found it indicate guilt or innocence do you think?

11.) With books as old as this, some language/terms just do not age well and can be jarring to randomly come across in the text. Should language like this be censored/edited to match less offensive terms of the times (though not sure there is a correct way to say a lady dressed up in blackface). Or should they be left as is and used as a point of discussion on race/sexuality/class/gender/etc?

12.) Lots happening in the section, arrests abound! Do you think John was arrested for his step mother's murder or for some other reason like Dr. B?

13.) What do you think about our narrator and giver or random marriage proposals, Hastings?

DQs Day 2
Ch 5-7

6. Poirot is concerned because Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee and calls back to when he tasted all the coffees, but it’s never expanded upon. We later find out that the poison was likely administered in coffee and that it has a bitter taste that coffee could mask. Do you have any theories as to why Poirot put such importance on “Cynthia does not take sugar”?
Because he saw granules or some other type substance at the bottom of her cup? Or that someone put sugar in there to mask the taste of something?

7. Witnesses have testified to overhearing an argument between Mr & Mrs Ingelthorp the day she was murdered — but Mr Ingelthorp claims they are mistaken. Do you believe he is truly the one who was having the argument, or do you have any other suspicions? Poirot certainly thinks he is innocent and claims to be able disprove the other claim (about him buying the poison) — does that sway you at all?
There were certainly plenty of other male options for who it could of been and Poirot's point about Ingelthorpe being an obvious patsy does make a lot of sense.

8. Most people seem to believe Mr Inglethorp is guilty (ESPECIALLY Evie), while Lawrence seems to believe the death came by natural causes, and Mr. Inglethorp doesn’t seem to have any theories at all except to believe it was murder but never pointing fingers at a suspect. I have to admit, I expected more finger-pointing from this group! Have any characters’ reactions so far stood out as peculiar to you?
Honestly they are all a bunch of shady people up to no good!

9. One of my favorite things about mysteries is trying to figure out what happened before it’s revealed. Are you trying to solve the murder, or would you prefer to be surprised by the eventual reveal? Do you feel like you’re usually good at solving the mysteries, or do they evade you?
I always try to solve the puzzle, I love a good puzzle. Whether it's an actual puzzle with the pieces or a logic puzzle. Sign me up.
I was raised watching Matlock, Perry Mason, Murder, She Wrote etc. because it's what my mom always liked to watch.
Nowadays, watching something of a similar genre, I usually figure it out fairly quickly. A lot of the times I even get it on the cold case real life shows. Drives my husband batty.
But I love being stumped. Something like Murder on the Orient Express, really is there any real way to of guessed that?

Melissa wrote: "Just finished Tower of Dawn which is Book 6 in a series in case we want to use it for that. I’ll look and see where else it fits. I’m on my phone so I can’t link the version of the ..."

It worked for fig which isn't always easy to find so I put it there :)

Melissa wrote: "Just finished Tower of Dawn which is Book 6 in a series in case we want to use it for that. I’ll look and see where else it fits. I’m on my phone so I can’t link the version of the ..."

Okay, thank you! This is all really helpful and I can do the link no problem.

DQ Day 1
Chapters 1 - 4


1. The first few chapters set the scene for this (first) instalment of Hercule Poirot. What do you make of the various characters we are introduced to? Especially "Alfred dearest" whom everybody seems to dislike. Do you agree with Mrs Howard that they're all only interested in the money? Do you agree with Hastings that they're all somewhat suspicious?
I agree that most are interested in the money or at least having security. I do agree with Lisa that Alfred always seems too obvious a choice.

2. A murder has occurred! Anyone want to venture a guess at this stage as to who has done it? And was it really death by poison? Or is Dr. Bauerstein's expertise in the matter and the fact that Mrs. Inglethorp suffered from severe convulsions in front of practically the entire household merely a red herring?
I've read this before, though a long time ago.
I think I remember who did it but not 100% sure so am refraining from guessing. I'm guessing a red herring, it's too early otherwise.

3. There was an argument the day before the murder between the late Mrs. Inglethorp and an unknown person, potentially Mr. Inglethorp. What might this have been about?
The Will or where Alfred was spending all of his time?

4. What might Mrs. Inglethorp not have wanted to show Mary Cavendish that resulted in the latter feeling somewhat peeved?
Again, the will?

5. Are you enjoying the narrative so far? I assume I don't have to ask if this is your first Christie book? It seems like most everyone has read at least one of her books, or has seen an episode or two of the tv adaptations.
Yes, it's a typical Christie book and she has an effective writing style. Clearly as she wrote a million popular books :)

Hello Team Traffic Jam!

We are doing awesome working on these mini challenge tasks. We just finished off the Garden Mini for a second time. A new third set has just been opened.

Any books finished after this post may be used for the 3rd go-round of the Garden tasks

Happy Reading everyone!

Due to logistical issues, I'll cover for Lexi's day (Team Traffic Jam)

Both the Admin Mini and the Feed Your Family Mini have completed first sets.

Books finished after this post was made can be used in the second go of each mini. The Tracking sheet is updated to show the new mini references.

GO TEAM!!

The admin bonus, yes

I'm glad work seems to be calming down for you!

Dromes
100-175
SPIN in text (can be part of a word, like spinning or spindle)
Character is trapped (can be physical or metaphorical)
Book setting is an imaginary land
letters DREAM in title


Raxacoricofallapatorian
350 to 450
Large family in story
MC involved with politics (your interpretation)
Green cover (>50%)
"calcium" in text

There was a tie for the voting of the Dec Adult BOM. So there is a run off between the top two books.

One was Lexi's nomination, Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

The poll is open until Nov 13

Great!

If people are looking for books for Round 3, we have everything claimed for the Feed Your Family mini except a few countries:

China
Mexico
Italy
Greece

they just need 5 tags for the country, the books don't actually have to take place there (example: sometimes books are tagged for the country the author is from, not where the book takes place)