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

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

Preeti wrote: "I need some advice on a cover... Is this cover green enough?

Also, we need more lines on the spreadsheet, please.
Thanks."

I would say that is green enough. I'm about to leave for a doctor's appointment but we'll get some more lines on the ss or at least move stuff around to get books to fit.

Judith's BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: wrote questions
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs set 5 - Act V

21. So we finally discover what happened. What do you think of the big reveal?

I wasn't surprised basically everyone was involved in some way. But I don't like how Oliver took the blame and why James let him. As I mentioned in an earlier set I do not find Romeo and Juliet romantic, that part of the the play is silly and annoying. And I found it annoying here.

22. Oliver is positioning his taking the rap as a grand romantic gesture. To what extent do you agree with him?
NO! It's stupid and if James actually loved or even remotely liked Oliver he wouldn't of let it happen.

23. Of the various productions the students put on - the in the wild Macbeth scenes, the classic Caesar, the R&J scenes and finally the utterly out-there staging of Lear - do you have a favourite that you wish you had been in the audience for?
Macbeth and Lear. I'd go see those for sure.

24. Finally, what are you thoughts on the outcomes of the various characters in the present day?
I'm glad Pip found her happiness and not surprised she ended up with the combat choreographer. Wren, I guess she just had a complete breakdown from the stress of the whole thing? I guess it's a good thing Oliver can mooch off of Meredith as he is now a convicted felon and it will be hard to find a real job.

25. Finally, finally - did the book meet your expectations? Any other recs for dark academia and/or idiotic teens making BAD decisions?!
I didn't have many expectations but overall it was an interesting read. No regrets picking it up :)

Cordelia wrote: "Can someone add the read date of today, the 11th, to my post of Once Upon a Wardrobe on the spreadsheet?"

Done!

DQ – Day 4 - Act IV

1. Oliver says “A good Shakespearean actor - a good actor of any stripe, really - doesn’t just say words, he feels them.” “…a character’s emotions don’t cancel out the actor’s - instead you feel both at once.” “It can be hard, sometimes, to sort out which is which.” What are your thoughts about this? Also, in your opinion, have the personalities of the main characters been affected by the roles they play and vice versa?
I think playing a role, especially a highly emotive one can seep into your real life if you aren't careful. And in some cases even if you are, it may not be enough. To really make the role believable actors have to in a sense become the person they are playing. I think this is the line between a movie star and a true actor. Sometimes the actor is both, other times not.

2. Meredith quotes Gwendolyn as saying “When you enter the theatre there are three things you must leave at the door: dignity, modesty and personal space.” However, Filippa and Oliver say the third thing was different for each of them, personal pride for Filippa and self-doubt for Oliver. Why do you think Gwendolyn gave each of them different advice? Do you think she was addressing what she considered to be each of their biggest issues?
Because for those specific people it was true and likely sound advice. Every actor needs to let go of personal dignity and modesty because you have to partially let go of yourself to become the role you need to play. And the third item is a specific hang up for the individual.

3. Oliver finds a stained scrap of cloth while cleaning the fireplace but chooses to hide it. Why do you think he did that and what do you think about the hiding place he chose?
Panic? I would of just lit another fire and burned what was left if I want to hid the evidence. As hiding places go it seems like a good one. Seems like an odd choice, but these characters aren't exactly hitting it out of the park with their great life choices.

4. When Colborne says to Oliver, “Everyone seems to remember it differently.”, Oliver replies “Everyone experienced it differently.” What do you think he meant by that?
That stories/memories are never exact and are retained through the prism of the person who experienced them. If all of the stories were a perfect match, the police would be even more suspicious (and rightfully so).

5. Act IV has had a lot of really dark things happen, the fight between James and Oliver, Alexander’s overdose amongst others. The entire group is showing signs of cracking. And then the last line “First, the reckoning. Then, the fall.” This sounds very ominous. What are you expecting will happen next?
I'm guessing we learn what actually happened and how Oliver ended up in jail. I'm guessing he sacrificed himself for whatever reason. Hopefully that gets explained.

Ariel wrote: "The book I am currently reading for the challenge just mentioned my hometown - I was not expecting that! LOL"

How fun and random!

DQs Day 3, Act III

11.) When Meredith went and talked with Colborne at his house, what do you think she told him? Do you think that's what lead to Oliver's arrest since is was only a few days before Oliver was charged?

12.) HOLY CRAP. Could you just leave someone like that in the water if there was a chance to save them? Even if they were a bit of a douche? Who needs friends like that! Was this how you were expecting the death to go down (maybe not the specifics but this opposed to something with more pre-meditation).

13.) Do you think it was smart to not just be honest with the police. Especially Oliver and Meredith sleeping together? It provides motive but also alibis and impacts James's alibi as well.

14.) Did meeting Oliver's family change your opinion of him? He did make some awful comments about his sister's health issues. I want to put that up as heat of the moment panic/freak out.

15.) What do you think about the Oliver/James/Meredith/Wren love situation? I do ship Oliver and James a bit. But honestly I think they need to date outside of their circle. It's getting a bit incestuous.

DQs Day 2, Act II

6. Why do you think the detective is so interested in this case? Enough that he kept visiting Oliver in prison over and over.
I'm guessing because he thinks Oliver is innocent or at least isn't solely responsible. Like something about the case just doesn't sit right with him.

7. I’m not sure what to ask about Richard. He seems to be part Iago and part Marc Anthony and part Caesar, with some prima donna Hollywood actor thrown in for good measure.
Have any of you had someone like that in your life? Had to act with them? Work with them?
I went to school and worked with a few people like that over the years. My hind brain usually quietly screamed to give them wide berth so I did to the extent I could. I wish more people, women especially, would listen to that part of their brain instead of trying to be nice or because the person is really attractive. There'd be less stories for Dateline.

8. So. People make dumb decisions when they are drunk, but Oliver and Meredith hooking up after the big fight? Really? What do you think about this? Does it fit into the Shakespearian tragedy mode we have going on, or is it just stupid college kids being stupid?
I think Oliver is drunk enough the logical part of his brain is overridden by his horny parts. Meredith. Hmm, I'm not sure if she was looking for a way to get out of a relationship with Richard or if she is just trying to hurt him the only way she knows how to. Either way, I think she is using Oliver and the feelings she knows he has for her. And. . .it's probably both Shakespearian tragedy and stupid college kids. Don't sell them short Jenny :P

9. I haven’t read beyond the last scene of Act II yet, so I don’t know if Richard survives. Do you think he does? At least for a while, or was that the killing act? If so, how was Oliver blamed?
I'm not sure. For some reason I wasn't expecting the death to be Richard. I was expecting it to be James or one of the girls, though at this point that would only leave Wren since we know Pip and Meredith are alive.

10. Have any of you been in a play that had a scene go off the rails the way the killing scene went? Or just with people forgetting their lines?
No, my play performance peaked in 2nd grade.

I would, but someone already put a book there. It’s all good :)

DQ – Day 1

1. There’s been a bit of hype around If We Were Villains thanks to #booktube and #booktok. How did you hear about this book and what made you decide to pick it up?
I have seen it fly by in my update feed and such. But I'm reading it now because it is the BOM. So far I'm glad I did.

2. Between the Prologue and Act I, the format changes from prose into that of a play, with the dialogue written as speaking roles. How do you feel about this change and do you think it suits the novel?
I think it helps set the atmosphere for the story. I don't think it is something all authors could do effectively, but so far, it seems to be working here.

3. As we’re introduced to the students, they each seem to be a certain type of character, which follows the roles that they are chosen to play. Do you think that any of the students will change type as the book progresses? If so, who do you think will change and why?
I think so. The secret casting for the Halloween play seems to foreshadow this. Not having the lead seems to of broken Richard's ego and brain in a dangerous way. And if someone starts to fall, someone else needs to rise but not sure if that is going to be James or Oliver.

4. Shakespeare plays a huge role in the story, especially the tragedies. During class with Frederick they talk about the tragic hero and the tragic villain. Does this foreshadow what happens to Oliver, and do you think he will be the tragic hero or the tragic villain?
Maybe both? I'm not sure yet as I'm not sure who's still standing after the event that landed Oliver in jail in the first place. Is he a villain who deserved prison? Or a hero that has been unjustly held like so many heroes in myths?

5. Speaking of Shakespeare, how do you feel about all the Shakespearean quotes sprinkled heavily throughout the first act? Have you read either Julius Caesar or Macbeth? If not, does the use in the story make you want to? If you have, what is your favorite of the tragedies?
I've read both in school donkey years ago. Macbeth is my favorite of those I've read. But honestly Shakespeare tragedy isn't my favorite and I hate Romeo and Juliet and am baffled by why people find it romantic.

Darren wrote: "Judith wrote: "Darren,

when you get a chance, could you add a read date to Duel Identity?

Thank you!"

Done"

Perfect! Thank you

Sonia wrote: "Old man at the beginning of up cranky"

Oh my, that is rather cranky!

Sonia wrote: "So, yesterday was a Portuguese holiday... and we had our company christmas party on wednesday... Which means, my brain today is all scrambled up.

I woke up tired, cold, and cranky.

It's 12 PM at ..."

On a scale of 1 to Old Man Ove cranky, how cranky are you?

*Waves Hello*

Darren,

when you get a chance, could you add a read date to Duel Identity?

Thank you!

edition that you read

Take care of yourself Melanie! Get lots of rest

Game Changer




All it takes is one hit on the football field, and suddenly Ash’s life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it.

Impossible though it seems, he’s been hit into another dimension—and keeps on bouncing through worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own.

The changes start small, but they quickly spiral out of control as Ash slides into universes where he has everything he’s ever wanted, universes where society is stuck in the past…universes where he finds himself looking at life through entirely different eyes.

And if he isn’t careful, the world he’s learning to see more clearly could blink out of existence…

Because I still haven't managed to read this, and there are only 5 queer tags so it doesn't work for the Wheel bonus.

Tallowwood



Cold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.

Sydney detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone — and that’s exactly how he likes it. His work is his entire life, and he’s convinced a string of unsolved cold-case suicides are linked to what could be Australia’s worst ever serial killer. Problem is, no one believes him.

Senior Constable Jacob Porter loves his life in the small town of Tallowwood in the middle of the rainforests in northern New South Wales. He runs summer camps for the local Indigenous kids, plays rugby with his mates, has a close family, and he’s the local LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Indigenous Liaison Officer.

When human remains are found in the camping grounds at Tallowwood Reserve, Jake’s new case turns out to be linked to August’s cold cases, and Jake agrees they’re not suicides at all. With Jacob now firmly in August’s corner, they face one hurdle after another, even when more remains are found, they still can’t seem to gain ground.

But when the body of a fellow police officer turns up under the same MO, it can’t be ignored anymore. August and Jake must trace the untraceable before the killer takes his next victim or before he stops one of them, permanently.

It's fine to be from the same team this go. Points aren't accumulated this time for Wheels like they are for most NBRC challenges because the game is only 5 weeks this year.

We'll get a bonus for the BOM prize for participating, which is picking a BOM theme.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Does it need to have a minimum amount of tags, otherwise you can still use it? Or the mods can make an exeption, because it means the same?"

There needs to be 10 tags