Nancy’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2012)

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

So I've read up to page 286 so far. I honestly don't remember/understand a lot of what happened in the story to answer the questions for this section but did want to comment on some scenes that stick out in my mind:

I assume witches have more than two nipples? When Agnes and Newt finally do the deed and the "earth moved" for everyone then she gets showered and dressed and tries to count all of her nipples.....I'm trying to imagine, how manyd did she possibly have?!!

When Madame Tracy is doing the seance with the group and we discover that she has it faked down to a science, but then she's really overtaken by Ron, who speaks to his wife. Also very funny!

Skuzz and the other bikers trying to pick out their new biker names.....LOL!!!

And I was totally grossed out when Hastur arrives as a maggot....that scene really made me gag.......I HATE bugs!!!

So, I may not totally be understanding the story in its entireity but I am definitley enjoying bits and pieces!

Questions and Comments for the sections entitled Thursday and Friday

13) I love Adam's friends. Did you notice when Adam thinks things, things happen? The Lost City of Atlantis returns with live people. Was the Witch army due to his Spanish Inquisitions wish? (Spanish Onions - lol) Remember Adam's statement that Nuclear Power plants should be done away with? The lemon drop was pretty telling. So could Adam be coming into his powers? Could that have been what he did to make Anathema happy?

Yes, I think he's coming into his powers....but does he realize that he has these powers? Like when he made the statement about the nuclear power plants and then the reactors emptied did he know that it happened?

15) What did you make of the missing aura?
I think like others have said, because he's the antichrist....not really human??

16)So Anathema shows herself again. She gives Adam some occultist magazines and "changed his life." I wonder why the hell-hound didn't want to go into Anathema's house?

Animals tend to have this inner sense that things are awry before humans do.....maybe he could sense that something wasn't right.

17) What did you think of Sable's line of diet foods? Sounds like the authors are not too thrilled with fast food restaurants. Another known evil?

I thought the fast food restaurant was so funny. No, the authors def. don't think highly of fast food!

19) 6 double 6 phone number? Wouldn't that be 666?

Yes!

Lisarenee wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Ok, this is not a comfort genre for me and I have been totally lost. Now reading the questions/comments that others have posted I'm going to do a reread of the first section and then ..."

Definitely yes!! I didn't answer any of the first set of discussion questions since I hadn't a clue what was going on. But yes, after reading everyone else's responses I've gotten a better understanding of the book and the Wednesday section was much easier to read.

Questions and Comments for the section entitled Wednesday

7)So as Sara mentioned above I was wrong about Anathema Device. She does appear to live past her 11th birthday. She also runs into Crowley and Aziraphale and her significant part (at least so far) is that she inadvertently loses Agnes Nutter's book of Prophecies in the back of Crowley's Bentley and it comes into the possession of Aziraphale. I wonder if we'll see her again?

Yes, I think we'll see her again. She seemed really intent on finding that book.

8) Scarlett is now nicknamed Red and going by the name Carmine Zuigiber and is now a journalist like she wanted. Carmine, by the way, is vivid color of crimson so I love how these guys still keep their names in a manner of speaking. After finding out war keeps breaking out wherever she goes, could she be some sort of horseman of the apocalypse? Isn't one war? Could Sable with his starvation plan be famine? I may be way off with this one as we only have three colors. I guess Mr. White might be death if it holds true??? I've read a lot of apocalypse novels so that's where my mind is gearing to.

Your explanation sounds good to me! Would never have picked up on what you did! :)

9) What did you think of the hellhound? The build up of the name being so important only to be named Dog. Oh, the horror. lol

I thought it was funny that the dog kept changing based on what the boy said he wanted.

Ok, this is not a comfort genre for me and I have been totally lost. Now reading the questions/comments that others have posted I'm going to do a reread of the first section and then try to comment/answer them! :)

Like others have mentioned, I was reading it through Gemma's point of view. Since she was telling the story I put myself in her place.

Questions and Comments for the Sixth Section by Mary:

1) Were you surprised at the depth of Ty's feelings for Gemma, that he would give her up to potentially save her life? What did you think of the ring he gave her?

I wasn't surprised that Ty would save Gemma's life. He's been following her for so long I don't think he could bear it if she died.

2) Did you expect Ty to go with Gemma on the plane? Do you think Gemma realized the consequences at the time of grabbing onto his hand?

I didn't expect Ty to go on the plane with Gemma. It would definitely be "game over" for him if he did and he was willing to do that for her. I don't think Gemma realized the consequences of grabbing his hand. At that point she did end up caring for him and she was scared.

3) "And it's hard to hate someone once you understand them." Do you think the author's intent was to make the reader experience Stockholm syndrome, in a way? Gemma seems adamant that she doesn't have it, but is she in denial? Or is it just more complicated than that?

I don't know much about Stockholm syndrome, but it seemed like Gemma had it. However, based on that statement alone it can be said for a lot of things.....maybe not hate someone once you understand them, but you can pity them/sympathsize with them.

4) What are your own feelings about Ty?

I thought Ty was a crazy pscyho. I know he meant well and thought he was saving Gemma....but abducting her to go live with him alone in the desert.....who does that?!!! And if she didn't get bit by the snake, I don't think she'd ever be rescued!

5) Do you think Ty lied about Gemma's mother and father wanting to move? And Gemma's friends? Was it all manipulation?

I forget if when Gemma confronted her mother if she denied the accusations or just blew the question off and didn't answer her......I'm thinking that he wasn't lying.

6) What do you think of Gemma's decision to tell the truth in court? Do you think she chose wisely? Do you think she ever truly considered giving an alternate story on what happened with Ty? Why/why not?

I think she had to tell the truth in court to heal properly and aknowledge what she went through. By making excuses and lying she'd be giving Ty the opportunity to do something like that again.

7) What would Ty's reaction to this letter be?

I'm not sure. I'd hope he would finally see how wrong he was to do what he did and understand what Gemma was going through.

8) What's next? Will Ty get a shorter sentence because of Gemma's testimony? Will he try to see Gemma when he's out of prison? Where would you have the story go?

I don't think Ty will get a shorter sentence. That was a pretty serious crime that he committed. I definitely think he will attempt to see Gemma when he's out of prison. But I think that her parents will possibly move somewhere else, maybe give her a new start. Since he was following her for so long and she has so many different memories of Ty in different places in the neighborhood I think it would be harder for her to heal.

9) What did you think of the book overall? How did you rate it? Any thoughts not covered in the DQs?

I loved this book and gave it 5 stars! I am so glad I joined the group and the read! I had never even heard of it before. It reminds me of the book Still Missing by Chevy Stevens.

EASY (10/10) Completed 5/25/13
Current number read: 15

My list:

Fiction:
Where We Belong - Emily Giffin ✔ 2/11/13
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan ✔ 5/25/13

Mystery/Thriller:
Defending Jacob - William Landay ✔ 4/10/13
One Breath Away - Heather Gudenkauf ✔ 5/27/13

Romance:
Bared To You - Sylvia Day ✔ 1/25/13

Memoir/Autobiography:
The End of Your Life Book Club - Will Schwalbe ✔ 4/17/13

Nonfiction:

YA Fiction:
Easy - Tamara Webber ✔ 4/28/13
The Fault In Our Stars - John Green ✔ 6/17/13
Slammed - Colleen Hoover ✔ 7/11/13


Historical Fiction:
The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Stedman ✔ 3/29/13
The Secret Keeper - Kate Morton ✔ 3/28/13

Humor:
- Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops - Jen Campbell ✔ 5/29/13
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? - Maria Semple 6/13/13

YA Fantasy & Science Fiction:
The Selection - Kiera Cass ✔ 5/12/13
Cinder - Marissa Meyer ✔ 6/7/13

Had previously read the following books before the start of this challenge:

I'm going to try this one too!

Start Date: January 8. 2013

A. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (1/13/13)
B. Bared To You - Sylvia Day (1/25/13)
C.
D. Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs (2/7/13)
E.
F.
G. Girls in White Dresses - Jennifer Close (1/17/13)
H. Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich (1/10/13)
I.
J.
K.
L.
M. My Friend Leonard - James Frey (2/8/13)
N.
O.
P. Push - Sapphire (2/4/13)
Q.
R. Reached - Ally Condie (1/14/13)
S. Stolen - Lucy Christopher (1/7/13)
T.
U.
V.
W. Winter's Bone - Daniel Woodrell (1/8/13)
X.
Y.
Z.

Questions and comments for section 5 by Lisarenee

1 So it seems like Ty really did a lot of planning for living out in the middle of nowhere. The creepy crawlies were used to make antivenom. Interesting that this guy with little to no education seems pretty intelligent. His spelling, however, is quite atrocious. Makes you wonder what he could have been with the proper upbringing and education. Any thoughts on this?

Some people aren't "book" smart but are "street" smart. It seems like Ty became knowledgeable by living, probably by trial and error, rather than reading/studying.

2. What did you make of his nightmare? Definitely sounds like the guy could use some counseling. Seems his being taken was quite traumatic. Too bad he doesn't realize he did the exact same thing to Gemma.

I was thinking possibly PTSD, but did he have those nightmares previously and Gemma never heard, or was that the first time. But yes, very ironic that he was traumatizing Gemma.

3. "Creatures aren't so dangerous when you understand them." Do you think knowing what makes Ty tick makes him appear less dangerous?

Yes. I think in his mind he really didn't think that he was doing something wrong. I think Gemma at the end started to understand and like him, knowing where he was coming from.

4. I applaud and love Gemma's spirit in such an awful situation. Do you think Ty would stand by their agreement if she wished to go home after 4 months?

Yes, I really think that he would stand by his promise.

5. I don't know if the eBooks have it in them, but my book has the silhouette of a snake on the second or third page of the book. After reading this section I now know why. Do you think this will lead to her rescue?

I finished the book and understand how it's related.

6. What do you think of the stars and the story of the two sisters being pursued by a man? Even if Gemma escapes will she ever truly be free of Ty?

I don't think Gemma will ever be free of Ty. After going through an experience like that she will always have some reminders of him.

Questions for Fourth Section

1. It almost seems like Ty is trying to "tame" Gemma just like he is trying to tame the camel. He seems to think he will be able to eventually break her down. Do you think he will be able to? I hope she can keep fighting.

I think he will be able to break her because I feel like she'll have the "if you can't' beat 'em, join 'em mentality."

2. How do you think having his hopes crushed at not being able to find his mom has affected Ty?

I think it's made him this angry, withdrawn person.

3. Did you think Gemma was going to be able to get away? Did you think using the needle was a good idea or do you think she should have come up with a different plan?

I didn't think that Gemma was going to be able to get away. I don't think she had put much thought into the plan. She was able to get the needle and acted upon it.

4. What do you think Ty is planning to do with those snacks, spiders, scorpions, etc. in the second shed? Yuck!!!!

I had no idea (before reading) what he was going to do with those things!

5. Predictions for the rest of the book? Do you think Gemma will be able to finally get away?

I already finished the book, so I already know!

Questions and Comments for third section by Lisarenee

1) She's sixteen? I thought she was older. I thought she was maybe 18. Were you surprised?

I figured she had to be in high school but I wasn't sure of the age.

2) The whole drunk in the park? Creepy. This reminds me a little of a story about a well known actress. I think she was the pretty blonde in that sitcom Bosom Buddies. Where Tom Hanks and his friend dress up like woman so they can live in an all women's boarding house or apartment complex. Anyway, she told some guy he had good taste or some such thing because he had the same car as she did and he ended up stalking her. Sad when little things such as that can lead to some creepy person becoming obsessed with someone.

3) He was stalking her for 6 years. He knew her friends.*shudder* Sounds like he's giving himself kudos for not having feelings for her when she was younger????? Hello. If she's sixteen now, when did these feelings start because he had to be planning this for some time. Do you think her parents knew about him? Wasn't there something about Gemma's mother being a bit paranoid? Maybe it didn't all have to do with the miscarriages? Perhaps they'd noticed him before?

Gemma didn't even realize that she'd seen him already all of those times until he tells her. Then she realizes that he looked different and was kind of always on the outskirts of things. And since he was stalking Gemma and she didn't realize it, I doubt anyone else noticed him.


4) I think everyone has heard of Stockholm syndrome. Parts of me wonder if Gemma will end up falling victim to this. The guy is gorgeous, she says he looks like a supermodel, and he possibly saved her from being attacked. Do you find all this information about him a bit confusing?

I am a little confused. I thought it was mentioned that when she first saw him she thought he was good looking and her friend wanted to ask him out. And then we find out that he saved her from the attack so not sure where this is going. At some point, if you don't believe you're going to be saved (and at this point it doesn't seem likely) you'd think you'd make the best of the situation.

5) Do you think he lied to her about her parents wanting to send her away and her friend not being comfortable with her because of her feelings about her boyfriend?

No, I don't think that he lied. I think she believed him and thought it possible. They did seem to be preoccupied with themselves.

6) Gemma keeps taking jabs at him like naming the camel Stolen. Do you think it's wise? Do you think you could reason with someone like him?

I don't think you can reason with him. I think the jabs are her way of showing disapproval at what he's done and to show she's not happy.

7) With Ty having interfered with Josh, do you think someone, if they caught her on video with Ty, might think she knew him and went willingly? Could this complicate the search efforts?

I can't imagine what kind of search efforts are going on. She doesn't look like herself and she's in the middle of nowhere in Australia. It seems so hopeless to me right now.

Questions and Comments for the second section by Mary:

1) What did you think of Ty's painting / art project? Did you expect anything like that to be behind the door? Thoughts on his emotional reaction when Gemma fought against him and messed the painting up?

No, I was surprised about that! Not sure why he was SO into it and got made when Gemma messed up his painting.

2) Ty seems to have some deep-seeded anger issues, as well as problems with violence. Do you think his control will snap one day and he'll hurt Gemma beyond repair? Or is he determined to prove to her that he can be trusted?

I don't think he will hurt her. Then he would be alone and it would defeat the purpose of him kidnapping her.

3) Did you expect Ty to agree to let Gemma go? What did you think of his reasoning behind this statement: "I won't stop you. I'll only save you when you get lost."

I didn't expect him to let her go, but he knows that she won't be able to get anywhere. They are out in the middle of nowhere so she'll need rescuing or probably die.

4) When Ty fenced Gemma in and brought her back, did you see the act more as saving, or as capturing? Has your opinion of him changed at all since the start of the book?

I still think that he's a psycho!

5) What did you think of Gemma's dreams? I thought the Hide-and-Seek dream was sad.

Like others have said, they're just very sad.

6) What do you think are in those glass vials? Could Gemma be onto something with the drug theory?

He definitely had drugs at some point to be able to kidnap her, but not sure if that's what in those vials.

7) How did you react to Ty saying he'd watched Gemma for six years?

I thought he was psycho stalker!

8) Thoughts on Ty's story about his early life? Do you think his childhood has something to do with his inability to see Gemma's point of view? Do you think he really is "mad," or just a product of his upbringing?

He's definitely had a very sad upbringing, however, that does not make one kidnap somebody to keep them company. He has to have some sort of mental disease.

9) Does the fact that Ty believes wholeheartedly he "saved" Gemma make him any more sympathetic a character? Why/why not?

I think it's part of his mental illness. From his observations over the years she did not seem happy and he thinks he's helped her. It makes me feel sad for him, but he's still in the wrong.

1) How long do you think Ty planned Gemma's kidnapping? How did he find out so many details about her? Did he follow her everywhere, or stalk her online? She did say "There was a strange familiarity about you. I'd seen you before...somewhere." and "You'd been with me since London."

I've actually almost finished the book and didn't have internet service for a few days so am a couple of days behind.....but it was over many years. This wasn't a random decision for him.

2) "Your only escape route is through me. And that's bad luck for you, I guess, since I've already made my escape by coming here." What is Ty escaping? Is he running from something in particular?

He's had a pretty bad life, basically has no family and has created this new life for himself and Gemma.

3) Are you surprised that he managed to get away with spiriting her away to another country so easily? Do you think this could actually happen today with all the security measures that have been put into place since 911? That's a scary thought.

I was thinking this myself and thought there would be no way that he'd be able to get away with something like this today with all the security measures in place. Although the scary thing is that people probably do know how to get away with things like this and do it.

4) Has anyone tried damper?

I had never even heard of it until reading this.


5) "Camel meat? That's mad," I said.
I caught the warning look in your eyes immediately, saw the way your shoulders tensed. It made me shut up, made me grip hard on the back of a chair."
Do you think he was diagnosed as being mad or am I reading to much into his reaction?

I don't think he was diagnosed with anything, considering his upbringing (or lack of!).

6) What do you think Ty does every day in the other building?

I think he's building something....not sure what though.

Start Date: January 1, 2013
End Date: December 31, 2013
Level: Chef
Complete: 43/44

Breads/Cakes

*Cupcake on cover: Buttercream Bump Off - Jenn McKinlay

C Close, Jennifer - Girls in White Dresses

U Unwind - Neal Shusterman

P Push - Sapphire

C Clarke, Breena - River, Cross My Heart

A Apron Anxiety - Alyssa Shelasky

K Kathy Reichs - Deja Dead

E Evanovich, Janet - Hard Eight

S Stolen - Lucy Christopher

Pastry/Pies

C Celona, Marjorie - Y: A Novel

R Reached - Ally Condie

E Evanovich, Janet - To the Nines

A Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

M Maine - J. Courtney Sullivan

P Pope Joan - Donna Woolfolk Cross

U The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back - Sariah Wilson

F Firelight - Kristen Callihan

F Flowers in the Rain - Rosamunde Pilcher

Cookies/Brownies

C Carl Hiaaasen - Basket Case

H Heads in Beds - Jacob Tomsky

O One Breath Away - Heather Gudenkauf

C Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

O

L Landay, William - Defending Jacob

A Awaken - Kate Kacvinsky

T Ten Big Ones - Janet Evanovich

E The End of Your Life Book Club - Will Schwalbe

C Cramer, Dale - Paradise Valley

H Hopkins, Ellen - Identical

I Interred with Their Bones - Jennifer Lee Carrell

P The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio - Terry Ryan

Dairy

G Giffin, Emily - Where We Belong

E Eleven on Top - Janet Evanovich

L Lev Grossman - The Magicians

A Ahern, Cecelia - The Book of Tomorrow

T The Time Keeper - Mitch Albom

O O'Neal, Barbara - The Lost Recipe for Happiness

Chocolate/Candy

T Those Who Save Us - Jenna Blum

R The Restorer - Amanda Stevens

U Unwholly - Neal Shusterman

F Frey, James - My Friend Leonard

F Frederick, Heather Vogel - The Mother-Daughter Book Club

L Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward

E Evening - Susan Minot

S Stevens, Amanda - The Kingdom

I'd like to join in! I'll add as I go but have a few lined up for the month that I want to get to.

Serious Reader Challenge 2013
38/100

1. Maine - J. Courtney Sullivan 1/1/13
2. Interred With Their Bones - Jennifer Lee Carrell 1/3/13
3. Apron Anxiety - Alyssa Shelasky 1/3/13
4. Stolen - Lucy Christopher 1/7/13
5. Winter's Bone - Daniel Woodrell 1/8/13
6. Hard Eight - Janet Evanovich 1/10/13
7. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy 1/13/13
8. Reached - Ally Condie 1/14/13
9. Girls in White Dresses - Jennifer Close 1/17/13
10. Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman 1/19/13
11. Any Bitter Thing - Monica Wood 1/22/13
12. Bared To You - Sylvia Day 1/25/13
13. Heads In Beds - Jacob Tomsky 1/30/13
14. The Eight - Katherine Neville 1/31/13
15. Basket Case - Carl Hiaasen 2/3/13
16. Push - Sapphire 2/4/13
17. Deja Dead - Kathy Reichs 2/7/13
18. My Friend Leonard - James Frey 2/8/13
19. Where We Belong - Emily Giffin 2/11/13
20. Dark Lover - J.R.Ward 2/15/13
21. The Restorer - Amanda Stevens 2/16/13
22. Buttercream Bump Off - Jenn McKinley 2/17/13
23. Awaken - Kate Kacvinsky 2/18/13
24. The Manolo Matrix - Julie Kenner 2/21/13
25. River, Cross My Heart - Breena Clarke 2/23/13
26. Y: A Novel - Marjorie Celona 2/26/13
27. Blood Red Road - Moira Young 2/26/13
28. Pope Joan - Donna Woolfolk Cross 3/3/13
29. 92 Pacific Boulevard - Debbie Macomber 3/6/13
30. The Book of Tomorrow - Cecelia Ahern 3/7/13
31. The Magicians - Lev Grossman 3/9/13
32. The Kingdom - Amanda Stevens 3/12/13
33. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio - Terry Ryan 3/14/13
34. Remember Me - Christopher Pike 3/15/13
35. The Lost Recipe for Happiness - Barbara O'Neal 3/18/13
36. To the Nines - Janet Evanovich 3/20/13
37. Middle Ground - Katie Kacvinsky 3/22/13
38. Identical - Ellen Hopkins 3/24/13
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Birthday: Sept. 16
Favorite Color: blue/purple/gray
Favorite Food: lobster/bacon
Any pets: Possibly 2 kitten this weekend!
Favorite book genre: contemporary fiction/YA
Finish the line: I know I'm a book addict because... I don't travel anywhere without a book!