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

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

DQs Day 4
Ch 52 to 68

16.) Were you surprised to learn Jack was alive? Or at least didn't drown like everyone was told?
This did surprise me as it wasn't something that occurred to me as being an option. Though once this twist came up, I was surprised in hindsight that it wasn't something I wondered about.

17.) Did anyone else google if peeing on your hands will toughen them up? No, just me? Mkay. Apparently it's a thing some baseball players do. Thoughts about this?
My thoughts were basically "boys are gross no matter how old they get". Followed by "what's wrong with gloves"?

18.) What a unique protection system, carnivorous flowers. Would you want them on your property or a hard pass?
In the right circumstances sure. But not at my house or anything. One I have a 6 year old so that's a no. And I also get way too many Amazon packages being delivered to risk injury to unsuspecting delivery drivers.

19.) "She was afraid" "Powerful people usually are, they have the most to lose." Do you agree with Thea's statement?
Yes, I do. It falls along the lines of "power corrupts". And I think it's why so many people in power do such cray cray things. They are desperate to keep power and obtain more. Like a drug addict looking for a bigger high.

20.) Well, do you think Emory is right? That Hephaestus killed Niema? If so, why do you think he did it?
At this point I figured it was a good possibility and that it had to do with the experiments on the people. But I'd pretty much given up at this point trying to figure out the murderer.

DQs Day 4
Ch 52 to 68

16.) Were you surprised to learn Jack was alive? Or at least didn't drown like everyone was told?

17.) Did anyone else google if peeing on your hands will toughen them up? No, just me? Mkay. Apparently it's a thing some baseball players do. Thoughts about this?

18.) What a unique protection system, carnivorous flowers. Would you want them on your property or a hard pass?

19.) "She was afraid" "Powerful people usually are, they have the most to lose." Do you agree with Thea's statement?

20.) Well, do you think Emory is right? That Hephaestus killed Niema? If so, why do you think he did it?

DQs Day 3- Chapters 35-51

11. Does anyone else want to slap Emory's father Seth? Any ideas why he is so dismissive of her?
Yes. He seems like a true believer and unmoving from his beliefs in how things are supposed to be. Emory doesn't fit the mold and he doesn't understand her and is likely embarrassed by her. I don't understand people like that (especially when it comes to their children) but there are certainly a lot of people like that in the real world.

12. The way Thea describes the villagers, she hold no regard for them, except as slave labor so to speak. So, was Niema changing them or something, trying to make them more human?
Thea just saw them as tools that are replaceable and disposable. I think Niema saw them as living things that could become more than what they were designed for.

13. What do you think about Niema's safeguard so no one in the know would kill her? Do you think that the threat (and now reality) of dropping the shield was Niema or Abi?
I'm wondering if that was put in place when all the billionaires, etc were arriving and not in their stasis pods or whatever. To prevent someone from bumping her off and taking over everything? I'm guessing Niema? maybe because of something she found out in one of her experiments? I don't really know.

14. If the villagers are basically programmed to not be independent thinkers, why are some of them starting to do that? Or dream? Or are sleep-writing advanced equations?
I'm going to quote Jurassic Park and say "life finds a way".
:P

15. For those who are reading along and not ahead, do you believe Adil's statement?
Whether you are reading ahead or just up to the day's pages, are you enjoying the book?
Maybe, I've stopped trying too hard to figure it all out because it's making my head hurt. I'm just going with it and enjoying the twists as they are revealed.
I am enjoying this. Like Lexi I think The Devil and the Dark Water may remain my favorite of the author, but this one is up there so far

DQ's Day 2

6. With Abi putting all to sleep together, do you think it lets some sleep when they want to, Like the scientist?
I think people can take naps or whatever when the want. It's just that they all have to be "asleep" during the specified time since Abi takes over and has them do other tasks the scientists don't want them remembering.

7. What do you think the Island secret is?
I'm not sure why the fog can't get to the cauldron room. Elevation or too far underground doesn't make sense, otherwise it wouldn't be the only location. Though I suppose we can't assume this island is the only site of humans. They just don't know of any others.

8. It seems that Nema has more power over Abi. Why would that be?
I'm guessing Neima is the one who developed Abi and therefore just has more control over the AI as its creator than the other scientists. I'm guessing it all goes back to the original programming.

9. Did you think the Scientists were other and could not die, as they are older than everyone else?
No, but I knew it was something squirrely. I figured it was sort of like immortal elves. Other things can kill you but natural causes really don't or won't for a long time. I'm assuming now, it has something to do with advanced medical knowledge or something that existed before the fog happened? I'm still no sure why the scientists have lived as long as the have.

10. Was Nema protecting someone/something when she ordered Abi to wipe everyone's memories. Do you think this is why Huey is disconnected from Abi?
I am assuming it is to keep some of the scientists' secrets from the islanders. But I'm not sure completely since Thea and Hep don't remember everything either.
I think whatever is going on with Heui is related to what happened in the cauldron room and maybe to Ben. Not really sure about this one either.

Hmm, mine had a Barbes and Nobel exclusive edition sticker on it. So maybe it’s an edition thing?

My edges are orange

Well Angie, I’ve read the next section and it answers a fair bit of the age related questions. 🙂

DQs Day 1
Prologue to Chapter 14

1.) Did you read 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle or The Devil and the Dark Water or is this your first Turton? Any expectations either way going into this book?
I've read both. I'm expecting some woo-woo/magical realism type aspects that keep you guessing. I'm also expecting to be surprised by some twists the author has up his sleeve.

2.) What did you think of humans having a hard stop on their life at their 60th birthday? Did you thoughts change at all when you learned kids don't show up on the island until age 8? How do you think knowing the maximum length of your life would impact your decisions?
The whole life cycle thing is really keeping my head in a spin. I know those answers are the big answers to what's going on in this community. But I certainly can't figure it out right now.
Having a hard expiration date in this community I don't think would change much. However, in the actual world it would make life planning a lot simpler. I think the age of 60 is what's throwing me. Most people these days are working well into their 60s. All my parents/in-laws would be dead already and I never would of been able to know my grandparents. It just seems really young to me.

3.) This age math is still a bit confusing to me even after learning people get kids who are 8 and not newborns. Niema and the other scientists are all well over 100. Seth is 49, his father was 60, and Emory is old enough to have a grown daughter. Is everyone else as confused as I am?
As with my comment above, I know this answer is at the heart of what's going on. It's why people's ages keep getting mentioned I'm guessing. But lordy I cannot figure it out. It's going to bug me until the answers are revealed. LOL

4.) Who or what do you think Abi is?
I'm really not sure about this either. I'm assuming some type of AI? And she has something to do with raising the kids before they are collected at age 8. Other than that, no clue right now.

5.) The concept of memory gems is an interesting one. Would you like access to all the memories of people who have died? Do you think this would be a curse or a blessing?
Part of me says yes, but I think this can lead to a lot of problems. People have private thoughts and intrusive thoughts that aren't meant to be shared outside of their minds. I think looking through people's memories after they are gone could be a blessing in some aspects but I think would end in problems.

DQs Day 1
Prologue to Chapter 14

1.) Did you read 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle or The Devil and the Dark Water or is this your first Turton? Any expectations either way going into this book?

2.) What did you think of humans having a hard stop on their life at their 60th birthday? Did you thoughts change at all when you learned kids don't show up on the island until age 8? How do you think knowing the maximum length of your life would impact your decisions?

3.) This age math is still a bit confusing to me even after learning people get kids who are 8 and not newborns. Niema and the other scientists are all well over 100. Seth is 49, his father was 60, and Emory is old enough to have a grown daughter. Is everyone else as confused as I am?

4.) Who or what do you think Abi is?

5.) The concept of memory gems is an interesting one. Would you like access to all the memories of people who have died? Do you think this would be a curse or a blessing?

Poor Miss Finch by Wilkie Collins

Wilkie Collins's intriguing story about a blind girl, Lucilla Finch, and the identical twins who both fall in love with her, has the exciting complications of his better-known novels but it also overturns conventional expectations.

Using a background of myth and fairy-tale to expand the boundaries of nineteenth-century realist fiction, Collins gives one of the best accounts in fiction of blindness and its implications.


For classic reads, I've generally found his books to be very readable and enjoyable. And this is one I haven't gotten to yet. Published in 1872.

My new nominate until it wins/I read it anyway :P



Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes

Who hasn't wondered for a split second what the world would be like the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you've probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death.

The campus of this "Poison Ivy League" college-its location unknown to even those who study there-is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate...and where one's mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.

Prepare for an education you'll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you'll ever read.

thanks Lexi!

I finished the Golem if anyone wants to spin for a new monster.

I’m in for DQs!

Do you ladies have a favorite Discworld Monster you'd like me to use for the picture?

The wheel will go up in the next few days so I can put the links in the Sept newsletter.

I'm not nearly that invested or knowledgeable about the different monsters, so whatever pic you'd like I'm happy to use.

September, it'll be up in time to be included in the newsletter

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: skipped/no posted DQs
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 5-Thoughts day

16. Who did you really think it was to ask for the workers to dig up the body on the day of the hotel's biggest night? Who's body did you think it was?
I figured it was one from 2010, but really wasn't 100% sure who. Wasn't completely surprised it was Cora as she was on my short list of options.

17. What were your feelings on Grandfafa threatening and paying off the kids to shush away the death/murder of Cora?
seemed in character for him so no surprise there either. it's pretty easy to scare kids who really don't know any better. what a horrible person he was.

18. What was your reaction when Angelica spit out "the body was Cora the cleaner," when Owen said he found a body and it was his mother?
I laughed and thought, what a dumb *b*. and that she was going to be in for it now.

19. Was you surprised to find out it was Michelle/Shelly who was behind all the sabotage happening?
No, that bit made sense. though she was a bit more involved and Nate less so than I initially guessed.

20. Did you guess correctly to some of the mysteries in the book and what were they?

It was a bit of a mixed bag but I was partially right on a lot of it.

I finished off a monster but won’t be on a computer for several days if someone wants to spin a replacement

DQs Day 3

11,) This section opens with basically teenager destructive antics to The Manor. If we remove the knowledge of the place burning to the ground in like a day, would you think those antics being even remotely effective long term? Or would it just cause more issues for the local populace?
If the place didn't burn down I think those antics would of backfired in very bad ways for the locals in Tome. Also it was a bit weird Francesca and others just kind of waved it away. There was some legit damage and very rich people were in actual danger of injury. Seemed a bit odd to me.

12.) There was some more woo-woo around The Birds. But also some important information about their origin story. What did you think of the discussion with the vicar coupled with the woo-woo aspects around the wooded areas.
The origin story was pretty interesting and actually believable. Makes me wonder if locals are keeping up the tradition. And imagination/paranoia does the rest.

13.) Well, Owen's secret is out at least to us readers. As well as Michelle's true identity. It looks like almost the whole summer gang from 2010 have arrived at the party without even planning the reunion at The Manor's opening. How do you think Francesca will react when she finds out who her husband actually is?
I am waiting for everyone's lies to blow up in a display worthy of a 4th of July fireworks.

14.) DI Walker keeps running into random people in random circumstances. Do you think his past self is connected in some way to this hot mess of a secret reunion?
Sure why not. Everyone else seems to be. LOL

15.) At just over halfway through the story, any guesses to who really did the deeds? The murder and the fire. Think it's the same person or with enough vendetta's to go around think it's different people?
I'm thinking the fire and the murder might be separate people. Like the murderer took advantage of the fire to kill Francesca? There is also the option I guess Francesca took a header off the cliff either on purpose or on accident.