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

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

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.

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?

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.

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?

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?

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 heading out of town tomorrow morning for vacation so posting these just a wee bit early

DAY 2

6. "There are times when it's better to keep a secret from our loved ones than to hurt them with the truth. Right?"
Do you think Mum and Eddie working secretly at the Manor will result in some grief when it comes to light? Do you agree or disagree with Eddie's Mum about keeping secrets from loved ones for the right reasons?
I have a feeling it will cause some big issues with their dad/father. Especially if there's something that happens with the land rights and they loose the farm to Francesca. Sure I think keeping some things from people can be the best choice but it seriously depends and I'm not sure I'd agree those secrets are the right ones to be keeping. But I get why both made that choice.

7. "She's looking round in every direction like an animal sniffing the air for a predator"
"The vivid green and blood red of lettuce heads, frondy explosions of carrot tops waving gently in the breeze"
"out of the garden gate onto the main drive, which snakes between emerald lawns sparkling with dew"
Do you enjoy Lucy Foley's style of writing and her use of metaphors and adjectives to describe a scene? Does it enhance or detract as the reader tries to puzzle out the plot?
Sometimes it's a bit much for me but it can help set the tone of a scene and aid the creep factor I think she's going for. But I have skimmed over it sometimes when she goes a bit too far with it.

8. Why do you think the author has introduced the summer journal quarter of the way into the novel? What information do you think it will reveal?
I think it's where we get a good background on Francesca and her brothers and why Bella/Alison is there at The Manor. The brothers were definitely sexually assaulting local girls/women so that might be part of whatever is happening in present day.

9. What do you make of Owen and Francesca's relationship? Together forever or convenient for now? Who holds the power in the relationship?
It is messed up and completely full of secrets that is going to blow up in a spectacular way is my guess. Both and neither which is a weird answer. With both hiding so many things, I don't think the dynamic is stable at all and is situationally dependent. Unhealthy, that's for sure.

10. Are you getting a sense of what the mystery of "the birds" may be at this stage of the story?
I'm guessing locals. Or maybe just a legend some locals are using to their advantage? I honestly haven't thought all that much about it

DQs Day 1

1. We meet some of the characters in this section (maybe all?) What do you think of them so far?
I think they all have a bit of shade going on in their lives. Even Eddie, though I think there the secrets are more about things we haven't learned about his circumstances (like what happened to his brother). Other than Eddie, so far I'm not liking the characters much, though I don't think we are supposed to like them.

2. Bella seems to have an ulterior motive for going to The Manor. What do you think it could be?
My initial thought was she was chasing her child's father and thinking the baby daddy was Owen. But I dismissed that fairly quickly after a chapter or so from his perspective, it just didn't fit. So that leaves she's got an issue with Francesca for some reason yet to be unveiled.

3. The Manor seems to be a unique place to stay. Have you ever been to anywhere that fancy? Would you ever want to visit a place like that?
I've had the occasion to stay at a high end place from time to time. Either hotel or a high end vacation rental. But not to the extent it was so pretentious as I'm sure The Manor is (if it was a real place). I'm not sure I'd be comfortable there. I'm all for creature comforts but I want to be relaxed on vacation.

4. How are you enjoying the back and forth with the past and present? We already know The Manor is burning and someone is dead but who could it be?
Assuming it is someone we already know it would be either Bella or Francesca and Francesca makes more sense. So for right now, I'm assuming it's her body at the bottom of the cliff.

5. We start off with a man being dead in front of a black feather and Francesca finding one in her bed. What do you think the connection could be? Who do you think the man is? Her grandfather maybe?
I assumed the grandfather and I'm assuming he did something at some point to screw over the locals (literally, figuratively, or both) and someone finally gave him his comeuppance. And she's treading into the same waters as he did

Yes, I think we should. And I may of already kinda sorta been doing that when I spun 😬

Robin wrote: "This challenge was a blast!! Thank you to all mods and captains and the lovely folks in District 8 who welcomed me as a latecomer! :)

Has it been announced yet what/when the next NBRC team challen..."

keep an eye out in the monthly newsletters, we try to have announcements there and also it's a good idea to follow this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

we try to always post there about signups being open and whatnot