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

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

volunteering for DQs - Team Neez

Lexi wrote: "My next audio has half in the title and as my trip is still delayed, I will add it to the sheet this evening."

BOOO. Well about the trip delay part.

Poked around the banked books and used Moonraker for admin role (Miss Moneypenny for the win!)

New Task:
Solve for X - Read a book with a fraction in the title (e.g. The Vanishing Half, 7 1/2)

New Task:

X-Files - Read a book with someone who works in an admin role


Tricia, I moved one of yours on the spreadsheet to the other new task for GoodReads Choice winner.

Went through some additional tasks and a new one:

X Books - Read a book with a title contains an X

I can start the next book in the Elemental Assassin series after I finish my current audio (which should be today). I think it's #17.

DQs Day 4 - 18 June
Chapters 9-11, 32%

14) What do you think the cards symbolize for the yellow card man? I'm starting to think it could be like a warning, but I'm also connecting him to Al. They both died at the same time. Now that the yellow/orange/black card man has committed suicide am I alone in worrying that Jake may never make it back - and therefore not be able to reset things if he makes a mistake?
I was wondering if it was a sports reference like red and yellow carded players since King is a sports fan. Or maybe a traffic light? Either way I took the yellow card as a proceed with caution type of thing.

15) Jake originally thought Carolyn's accident wasn't his to fix, but ended up fixing it anyways. What do you think the reasoning behind this was? The stay at the cabin in the lake sounds magical and relaxing. Do you like to canoe? And have you ever played cribbage?
Canoeing is very relaxing and can be fun and isn't as hard as some other types of boating. No, I've never played cribbage though I also wanted to give it a go. I feel like that game has fallen a bit out of style.

16) Jake seems to be enjoying his time in the past a lot more than last time. Do you think there is a reason for this? Do you think you would be happy living in the past knowing what would happen? The general feel in this section is that of simpler and more trusting time. But how is it that nobody is even a little suspicious of a new guy, with such an oddly specific bet and other strange behaviors?
Practice makes perfect I guess. I would miss too many people to just move to the past. But without a lot of strong personal relationships to keep me in the present? I'm not sure. People tend to come up with explanations for oddness. Even today he might get away with it. People would probably tell their kids to just leave the odd man alone and generally keep their distance. But as long as he didn't do anything threatening, most people would ignore him/just watch him from a distance.

17) How do you feel about Harry dying in Vietnam? Is Jake right in feeling he wasted his time saving Harry or do we know too little about Harry's life to reach a conclusion? Should we be judging at all, and if so, based on what criteria beyond life and death?
It's sad but maybe Harry saved the life of a fellow soldier who lived, came home, and developed a live saving cancer treatment. Ripple effects are real things which is shown by how things keep changing as Jake keeps 'fixing' things.

Bonus: (we had a fantastic team discussion with this one) I suspect that that event was one of those where so many people remember where they were that day/moment, how they felt, etc. Any others you all can think of?
for me some of the things that come to mind are:
9/11
OJ Simpson verdict
various US embassy bombings
war in Ukraine
when my husband proposed
deaths of certain family members
when my cousin safely delivered her triplets and they were all going to be okay
when I got the job I was really hoping for

And another new one:

10 Awards - Read a book that won a Hugo

I've been able to use some of the books we had on hold and landed us to this:

Ten Tallest Towers 4 - Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower - Read a book set in, or by an author from Saudi Arabia

Tricia wrote: "I finished Us by Sarina Bowen on 6/3 and it is MPG New Adult. It's currently in a rainbow spot, but you're welcome to move it to the chipmunk task if we still need it."

I'll move it, thanks!

New task:

X-Files - Read a book by Gillian Anderson, or an author named Gillian

Michelle,

can you add Forfeit to you TT shelf when you get a chance? Thank you!

DQs Day 3 - 17 June
Chapters 7 - 8, 26%

10) We find out more about Frank Dunning. He is portrayed as a smooth talker and good looking. Do you find this stereotypical of someone who will go on to murder most of his family? It always seems to be someone no one suspects. Jake's opinion of him obviously isn't very good. Do you think Jake would feel differently if he didn't know what Frank was going to do?
It sounds like most of the successful serial killers in the US at least. Ugly, or personality wise off-putting people aren't generally as successful at luring people to places to murder them, at risk people (prostitutes, drug users, etc) aside. Knowing in advance I think changed Jake's opinion for sure.

11) Jake plans how he is going to stop Frank. Would your thought process have been the same as Jake's? How would you plan to change the event?
I like some of the other responses of setting him up for a different crime like child porn, but I'm not sure I'd have the skills to do that. Or have any idea on how to get a hold of child porn. I'd like to think that I could come up with something but I really don't know.

12) There is something off about Derry. The place itself feels weird and the people act strange. Would you stay somewhere where you don't feel welcome? Would you investigate more into what was going on?
Nope, I'd hightail it out of there and not look back.

13) Well, stoppping Frank didn't go to plan but he did get stopped. What do you think the cosequences of changing the event will be in the present, if any? Do you think he will go back and try again? If so, what do you think he will do differently?
I'm sure things will be different, how can they not be? But predicting King is not something I think I can do successfully. I could see Jake trying again since time resets.

Day 2 DQs
Chapter 4 - 6 or 18%

#5. How did you feel when you read Harry Dunning's essay? What would you have done if you had the power to enact change in the past?
It was very heartbreaking and the violence was just hard to read about but I'm assuming is going to be important to the plot.

#6. Money is a big deal in any timeline. Would you be able to acclimate to the past in terms of financial transactions as well as Jake? Do you think Jake acclimated TOO quickly?
I would of been a hot mess trying to get this straight. But then people likely would of assumed I was just a dumb girl who can't do math. He did seem to handle it quicker than most would of.

#7. Fashion is also an issue in the past. Do you think Jake is having an easier time of it because he is a man? What would be the most challenging fashion change for you to get used to? Is there something you would love to be able to wear?
Men generally have it easier with fashion. There are definite men fashion trends but they are smaller details and people are more forgiving except maybe for the really famous. The pantyhose with lines and old school heeled shoes. Though some of the period dresses would be fun to wear.

#8. There are a lot of interesting nods to older Advertising terms and slogans that King uses to help the reader recognize the timeline change of the past. Which one stood out to you the most and why?
I think the cigarette ads. That's just not something that is around at all any more in the US.

#9. If you have read any past King novels, some of these chapters have a lot of connections to early books about Derry, Maine, and surrounding locations. Did you find any Easter eggs from previous stories? If you haven't read earlier King novels, what about Derry seemed to stand out as unique to you?
There's just something very. . . Maine about most of King's books. I know that's not very helpful but it's hard to explain to someone who hasn't lived or spent a lot of time there. But like any place there are just certain unspoken things that make a place a place. Maine is no different.

New Task:

10 Awards - Read a book that won an Edgar

https://edgarawards.com/all-winners/

Rebecca wrote: "Would this be considered a bed?

"

sure, I'd say that's a bed

Day 1 DQs: ch1- 3

1) I have only read a few of Stephen King's books. Is this your first book by the author or are you quite familiar with his storytelling?
I've read a few but mainly because horror is not a genre I generally enjoy. He is a master storyteller though and could write in any genre he wants too successfully.

2) What do you think about the character Jake so far? Would you have gone along with what Al wanted and took the initial step back into the past, or would you have not humoured him and tried to get him help?
I mean I would of stepped into it but not expected it to actually work.

3) I am not sure how I would feel if I just stepped back into the past the way Jake and Al have, but I am really curious about how the time travelling works in this story. It seemed that Jake was somewhat calm about it. How do you think you would feel if it was you?
100% would of crapped my pants or freaked out in some other way and would not of been able to go calmly order a root beer.

4) I think it is clear that Jake is going to pick up Al's mission to try and stop the JFK assassination. Would you choose to continue Al's mission? Also how much do you know of the history surrounding this event?
I understand the desire to 'fix' things in the past to make the future 'better'. But better is subjective and things are connected in unexpected and often unknown ways. I think it's a horrible idea to mess with a major event like that.

I love this team!

I would say no to the horns for bones.

But Brittany is ready An Elderly Lady is up to No Good, which has a skull and crossed bones on the cover that should work for that.

Also that book is a fun short read and I recommend it

New task

10 Commandments - "Remember the special day" - Read a book with a day of the week in the title