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

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

Judith's BOM Tracking Post

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/...

DQ's Day 4 Ch. 18-23

14. Lucy's winning streak comes to an end and she loses the riddle to Melanie. How do you think this is going to affect her and the way she is playing the game? Do you think she still has a chance to win? What do you think she is going to have to face as far as her fear?
I think it was a blow to her fragile confidence. It's not all that firm to begin with and she has so much riding on getting these winnings. Hmm, her fear. I don't know, facing her biological family? And her fear that she isn't worth loving? That's come up a fair bit.

15. Jack's riddle comes back again "Two men on an island and both blame the water...". We find out what it means in this section. How awful for him to see 'fan' letters that depict children going through such terrible things and how horrible for those poor children begging for help. Jack tried to help this girl and it ended with the worst possible outcome. Do you think Jack should have done something different? How would you have reacted if you were Jack?
Even if the police never did anything, every letter with allusions to abuse, especially physical and sexual, should of always been immediately reported. I'm surprised nothing happened sooner.

16. We also learn why Jack started writing his Clock Island books and the life he faced as a child. Does this change your opinion on Jack in any way?
No it was more confirmation with specific details on what his childhood was like. What did Hugo say, something along the lines of it's easier to be creative when you are miserable. Misery creates a reason to need an escape.

17. Lucy learns that Christopher is going to be going to a new foster home and tries to leave the island but Hugo stops her. We also learn more about Lucy's past. Each person seems to have gone through some terrible event in their lives and these books have helped them through it. Do you believe books have that power? Are there any books as a child or an adult that have helped you through a tough time in your life?
Oh certainly and also various other types of creative arts like Sammy mentioned. A particular books doesn't come to mind but reading in general has always been a happy place for me.

District 8 sees your level of klass and heartily approves of the game play. We also enjoy your Thirst games so much, we decided to enter Our Boy as an honorable mention.

Krissy wrote: "Yes sorry! I was working in the middle of BFE so I kept losing reception ☹️☹️

Here are my options:
●Our Pup
●Our Boy
●Our Dom
●[book:Ours to Love|4..."

Sorry about the dodgy reception, that's always annoying to deal with.

Captains conferred a bit and like Our Boy would be a great choice to send to D1.

Remember not to start it until June 22nd and have it read by June 29 :)

DQs Day 3:

10. We read something that moves us, touches us, speaks to us and it... it changes us?"

Do you agree with that quote? Are there any books that changed you personally?
Yes, I do. Most 5 star reads have changed me in some sort of ways. Generally in small ways or cause slight shifts in how I think about something and I think many books have broadened my understanding of people different from me by allowing me to experience things from different perspectives. It's why I think bigots are so desperate to ban books. They are afraid of the power books have to change things from the status quo to the better.

11. We finally get the first riddle. Did you guess it before Lucy did?
Nope, but I wasn't trying all that hard and only had a few sips of coffee when I read that chapter. Though I'm fairly sure it wouldn't of mattered. LOL

12. What did you think of The City of Secondhand and of Markham showing up like that? Is he just a sleezy lawyer, or is there something more sinister going on?
Well, the books is worth a fortune. And people like having the only rare item so it could just be that. Again though I got Wonka vibes from when all the kids were approached to steal that jawbreaker or whatever it was.

13. do you have to keep reminding yourself that the "contestants" are adults, not children?
Lucy doesn't really come across as the youngest of the group. So sort of?


Some other thoughts:

- Why would someone being a "famous artist" mean it's odd for them to bring a guest their dinner? I found this rather a lot weird.
I took it to mean that seemed like a servants job? I think with a house that size and a fortune that size many would assume the housekeeper or something would bring the tray like it was 1850 or something?

- One for the backroom BOM regulars: Did the whole bizarre scarf thing give anyone else Hot Prof and Daisy vibes?
Sort of, but a lot more wholesome. And it was some cute, awkward flirting so it didn't really bother me. Plus Lucy and Hugo aren't trying to survive dino attacks and not a melon in sight. hehe

I am glad you are starting to feel better!

I can do Our Mutual Friend, which Sammy keeps telling everyone to read. It is a long one though so if Krissy pops in with one or if we want to go with Melanie's that's fine too

DQs Day 2 Chapter 6 - 11

6. Jack replied to Lucy's letter and Lucy decided to run away from home. What did you think of his letter and would you have done the same as Lucy?
I think his letters were life lines to scared, lonely children and made them feel heard and/or seen. I probably would of wanted to do the same as Lucy but don't know if I would of had the courage to actually do it.

7. We get more insights on Clock Island. Every 'hour' is its own section like for example a beach. Would you like to visit the island? Do you find the idea of it fascinating or could you not care less?
It sounds cool but also creeps me out a bit because it makes me think of the clock arena from Catching Fire (ironically considering we are in the middle of Book Games).

8. Every part starts with a quote from Jack's book. Do you think these parts are important for the story? Just showing off Jack's work? Something else?
I think it's to provide some context/thoughts indirectly to the reader about Jack and the situation at hand.

9. It seems like there will be a deeper connection between Lucy and Hugo. Do you agree? And would you approve of it given that Hugo had first met her when she was still a child?
He interacted with her in a very respectable, non-creepy way once for a couple hours 10 years ago. He never sought her out or interacted with her or even thought much about her in those years. Even when he remembers her, it's as a lonely 13 year old kid. Not has that hot girl who grew up to be a hotter woman. It's not like he groomed her or something. I don't see it as a big deal.

Jenny wrote: "Judith wrote: "

Yes, that's us. Nothing but dignity and class."

Snort."

Me clutching my pearls at your snort of disbelief

District 8 is trying to bring virtue back in style and going positively medieval and bring Honor's Splendour into the fight. Yes, that's us. Nothing but dignity and class.

Discussion Questions : Day 1 (Prologue - Chapter 5)

1. We have been introduced to a few important characters - Lucy, Christopher, and Hugo. Plus the off-page persona of Jack. What do you think of the characters so far?
I feel invested in their individual stories which I think this early in a story is about the best to hope for.

2. We get a riddle right away in the Prologue:

"Two men on an island and both blame the water
for the loss of a wife and the death of a daughter
but neither ever married, and neither's a father.
What is the secret of the girls and the water?"

Then Hugo thinks to himself that "Five years ago, it [the ocean] had brought low the small, strange kingdom of Clock Island." Do you think the riddle is related to what happened five years ago? Any speculations on what it all means, assuming you haven't read ahead?
No clue, but I'm guessing like some others have that it's the key to everything. I would of said it had something to do with when Lucy made it there as a child, but that was a lot longer than 5 years ago.

3. At the beginning of Chapter Two, Hugo says that he used to dream about living in Greenwich Village, but now that he can actually afford it, it doesn't hold the same appeal. He basically says that success kills motivation. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
Not completely, but things can look golden and glittery from a far only to realize it's tinfoil up close. There can be a big difference between what you think you want and what you actually want. If you end up focusing too much on the former, you may not actually have any idea what the latter even is.

4. What do you think of the wishing game Lucy plays with Christopher? Do you think this game and mindset are healthy? Do you agree with Lucy that it gives them hope, or do you agree with the social worker that it just gets their hopes up?
To the degree Christopher and Lucy are doing it or what they are doing it about, I'm not sure how healthy that is. It's a tough system they are working with and the social worker isn't lying to Lucy and Lucy should know it's not that simple.

5. Why do you think Jack finally started writing again? And what might be his motive in holding a contest for the only copy of the new book?
Like others I'm thinking a Willy Wonka situation at this point and is looking for the next caretaker of Clock Island.

I can take a look and grab the next one, I don’t have one yet.

Still wrapping up Father’s Day activities and can look in a bit.

I’m reading the wishing game too. It reads quick and so far been a nice break from some of my heavier reads of late

Thank you!

It sounds like Sammy has a response book covered so I think we’ll go with Vikki’s.


I’m just on the app right now I’ll send it over to D1 later this evening

lol, okay. It’s not Erection: A memoir, is it? 😂

But I may be missing an obvious word that starts with ERE

Yes books have to be read between June 22 and June 29.

My only concern with Elsewhere is that leaves ERE as the start of their next book. I’m not finding much for them to match with

Anyone who have books left unread on Round 1, I moved them to Round 2.

And I locked the Round 1 tab so no one accidentally adds things there and the captains miss it.

D1 sent over the next battle book and we are looking for a title that starts ELS