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

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

My hold for Chain of Thorns came in, so if we spin another 800+ monster, I'm on it!

Sammy wrote: "If I'd taken this seriously, then yes, most likely. I'd have probably rated it 2-3 stars. But reading it like an episode of Charlie's Angels: The Menopause years made it far more fun."

Yes, I think this is the proper approach for this book otherwise there are just too many problems.

I feel like if the movie Red was a book instead, all of the silliness in the capers would become plot problems.

Sammy wrote: "Judith wrote: "I guess it's up to her, but then she'd probably of preferred to read The Dangerous Harem so not sure we can trust her judgement anyway. :P"

I maintain that the discussions around th..."

In fairness, you aren't wrong :)

I've made the swap, but kept the quotation for hardheaded off to the side in case it gets switched back.

Though does HP and the Order of the Phoenix have map in it? Like the Marauders map or something? My hard copied are still packed in boxes awaiting the bookcases my dad is making for me so I can't check. If it does, we have that monster defeated.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family.

But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role.

Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.

But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first kiss, first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal?

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Clay Cooper and his band were once the best of the best -- the meanest, dirtiest, most feared crew of mercenaries this side of the Heartwyld.

Their glory days long past, the mercs have grown apart and grown old, fat, drunk - or a combination of the three. Then an ex-bandmate turns up at Clay's door with a plea for help. His daughter Rose is trapped in a city besieged by an enemy one hundred thousand strong and hungry for blood. Rescuing Rose is the kind of mission that only the very brave or the very stupid would sign up for.

It's time to get the band back together for one last tour across the Wyld.

I've read this author's Veronica Speedwell series and it's just better with the character and plot development. And that was just missing in a lot of ways from this story.

Judith 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: wrote DQs https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Dqs
6 March chapters 33-end

17. This whole book I was conflicted as the main characters are professional killers that have killed over and over again for 40 years. I don’t buy the whole “but we only kill bad people” thing as a reason to therefore not be a bad person yourself. So I struggled to connect with the characters and care if they were successful. Were you able to just go with the flow?
Yes, I just threw sense out the window and went with the ride. I think a story like this works better as a movie where you just turn your brain off and go.

18. The whole Museum concept is also a bit interesting. Do you believe that an organisation like that can work for “good”?
No, not forever. In the beginning it was very clear. Kill Nazis, they were systematically murdering millions of people on a grand, public scale with no real shame or regret about any of it. But life generally isn't that black and white, it's gray. Moral compasses are subjective and vary culturally. It just takes one wrong turn or money/power grab and suddenly history tells you that you chose the wrong side.

19. Taverner came back but then left abruptly again. Do you think he and Billie will find each other and retire together?
I hope so, it doesn't sound like he's got a lot to tie him to a certain place. And PeePaw? Seriously? I guess he was included to give hints/assumptions at Billie's second chance. This is one of the plot points that sort of went no where. If you removed him from the final showdown I don't think I would of noticed.

20. Thoughts on the whole “mystery” and how it got resolved? Any surprises?
I was a bit surprised at what started it all but not completely. It actually was a bizarrely sensible plan and I could see someone like Vance taking advantage for his own power grab and to settle old scores.

21. How would you sum up the book? (Did Sammy’s BOM curse strike again or has it been broken? 😆)
A fun romp if you ignore logic and just expect to be entertained with cray-cray happenings that might make you side-eye your granny.
As for Sammy's curse? I guess it's up to her, but then she'd probably of preferred to read The Dangerous Harem so not sure we can trust her judgement anyway. :P

I just found bullheaded in One Fell Sweep if you don’t want to read Stardust Thief Lexi. I think the rating is over 4.0

We’d need something else for map though.

DQs Day 4 Ch 22 to 32

13) I was wondering why Billie still hadn't confronted Helen and why she hadn't said anything to any of the others about Jackson Square incident. Her explanation of yips (who knew there was a term?) sort of answers those questions. Do you think she's right?

14) Anyone else mildly disturbed by the ease of making 'tobacco tea'?

15) What did you think of the first 2 take downs? Do you think their odds of success have gone up or do you think it's going to send Vance into a tailspin of paranoia making it that much harder to get to him?

16) Vance, Vance, Vance. It all seems to go back to that guys and he seems to have it out for Billie. I'm assuming he's the big bad in all of their current problems. Do you think them being selected as scapegoats is more personal than convenient at this point? Any expectations for the final showdown?

Finished the Kappa so I spun the Asian Wheel

Aoyin

350 to 450
Animal with hooves on cover
white cover (>50%)
Mountains on cover
Tagged classic (>10 times)

DQs Day 3: Chapters 13 - 21

9. So, the meet with Sweeney went about as well as expected. But... What's up with Helen?
Yep, I wasn't surprised but part of me hoped friendship would outweigh the money.

I'm not sure what's up with her. Maybe she just lost her nerve or aim is compromised because of some yet to be disclosed health issue. I'm going to be mad if she's a turncoat.

10. We have a flashback to Taverner and Billie meeting. Do you believe in that sort of lust at first sight ? Are we going to meet him again?
I think that can happen certainly. I hope so. I hope he's still alive for them to meet up in present day and that we don't just see him pop up in other flashbacks.

11. They have finally got a handle on what's going on (or have they?) and are heading to the UK to do some proper planning of vengeance. Are they going to succeed? Will the Museum still be standing afterwards?
The explanation actually makes a lot of sense and I'm surprised it didn't occur to me as a possibility. I'm assuming they'll succeed at least to some extent otherwise the book would be really depressing. Maybe they'll be running the Museum when it's all over.

12. I enjoyed the chat about how squeamish men are over Wimmin's Troubles, and Minka's taking advantage of that to create a communication app. In general are you enjoying the feminist bits? (See also the speech in chap 19 "Guilt is our birthright...")
I'm enjoying them because they are generally accurate without being preachy or sound like the author on a soapbox. I've never understood why some guys are weirded out by buying tampons for someone in their life. Newsflash: No one thinks they are for you.

Cat wrote: "Ahhhh.... The tough love to unlock potential trope!
I mean, I am enjoying the book, but I'm not sure I'd say many of the plot beats are hugely original. I do like the ageing layers though - menopause, body slowing down, grief etc."

I feel like this is the movie Red with all female assassins instead of just the fabulous Helen Miren. With a wee bit more backstory on how they came to be assassins.

Just reading the blurb made me think of Red, I'm a bit sad there won't be John Malkovich running around with a stuffed pink pig.

I'm still enjoying the read though so *shrugs*

DQs: Day 2 , Chap 7-12

5. What did you think about all the escape plan/journey? The fires, the sailing, all the different plane rides, a road trip and finally a car ditch. Overkill? Or not enough?
It was fun I'm approaching this books as not something to take overly serious in terms of complete believability. But with the right skills and paperwork, it could happen. Right? lol

6. After talking about the museum structure they decide to call Sweeney. Do you think they can trust him? After all, he says they were supposed to be dead. And asking him to come to their hiding city/place.. is that wise?
Honestly I don't know. The Museum could just sent out a mass email notifying everyone of there assumed passing in the freak boat accident. Sweeny didn't seemed completely shocked to hear from one of them either, I think anyone who worked for the Museum would give that death situation the hairy eyeball.

7. What can possibly be the reason for termination? After all, Sweeney got retired. And he was partnered with one of the museum big honchos. If it was about knowing too much, he would be a target too, right?
Maybe one of them does know something they don't realize they know and the assumption is if one of them knows, they all know? For some reason I think it has to do with Vance. Though I think that's mainly from the fact he was included in the first chapter. It seems like an expensive way to bump them all off if it was to simply save pension funds.

8. What did you think about Constance strategy back in the past? Having Billy to get angry enough that she let herself find her talent... And how on earth could she possibly have guessed it was hand to hand combat?
Maybe because it has to do with Billie's trust issues? And Constance saw that? Or with some of the police reports with how Billie was reacting in certain situations? I think Constance's strategy worked to get Billie to take things seriously. I think Constance may of been seeing some of her younger self in Bilie.

I spun the Urban Legends Wheel to replace the Hydra

Jersey Devil

500 to 650
scream in text
Author initials in PINE BARRENS
LEEDS in title
MPG Humor

DQs: Day 1 , Chap 1-6

1. This book uses a lot of flashback so far. How do you like them for introducing the characters and backgrounds?
I like it and think it will be useful especially further into the book though right now I don't feel like I have enough information about the characters to understand much about them. Hopefully that will change.

2. Do you have a favorite character so far? Am I the only one who can’t tell them apart?
Billie I guess since she's the one we know the most about and have more of her back story. Nat and Mary Ann are still a bit blurred together. Helen is sort of a ghost of a character right now and about the only thing we know is she was 'the beautiful one' and is now a widow. so basically nothing.

3. What do you think of the setting and have you ever been on a cruise (large or small)?
No, I've been curious but I don't especially like people so not sure the big cruise liners are for me. Something like the Viking River cruises might be more my speed. Though a coworker took a cruise of the Baltic Sea that sounded amazing.

4. What do you think about the structure of the Museum so far? Do you think they actually hold up to these ideals? Either when the women started or in the current day?
I think the origin story the author gives is plausible enough for one to buy into without straining your brain. The funding of it I think requires the largest suspension of disbelief.

I don't think the ideals hold up long term and potentially not even in the short term. What moral compass do you use to determine what's right versus not? The Hilters and Pol Pots of the world are one thing I guess. But where's the line? Who draws it? Looking back on history some things are easier to see. But in the moment it's harder because you rarely, if ever, have the complete picture. Plus never underestimate the influence of money and power. And what's a stronger combination than having power over life and death for money?

Just need to be in there!

Lexi wrote: "We finished Lernaean Hydra, but I was holding off spinning for a new one until the new wheel is up or I can spin an Asian monster. Thoughts?"

I'm hoping to get myself together enough to have it up sometime tomorrow or Sat.

Lexi,

Do you have a favorite Monster from the Urban Legend list? I'm going to make that public soon and need an image for the post.

I have one for Drop Bear from TT but it's not a favorite of mine.