Amy’s Comments (group member since Nov 02, 2015)

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

Panic by Lauren Oliver
408 pages
Finished 1/7/16

Comments: Dodge, Natalie, Heather, Bishop

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts
448 pages
Finished 1/5/16
Goals: None
Comments: Turned into a movie, murder takes place, character is a writer (Tessa), characters get pedicures, character has a first experience (Willa), character gains independence (Lily), characters are Willa, Tessa, Lily, Nate, Ben, Adam, Ham, Jim. Set in Montana. Western romance.

Wildfire Kiss by Claudy Conn
219 pages
Finished 1/4/16

Comments: 1800s, Lady Barbara, Wildfire, historical fiction

Happy New Year all!

November 9 by Colleen Hoover
307 pages
Finished 12/31/15

Comments: Ben, Fallon, L.A. and New York, writer, actress

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand
Pages: 321
Finished 12/29/15
Goals:None

Comments: food, restaurant, Fiona, Thatcher, Nantucket, traveler, assistant manager, published 2005

Discussion Questions 23rd December

33. This section opens with some graphic fight scenes, which I found slightly incongruous but incredibly vivid. What did you think?
I noticed a few instances in this book where the plot started to seem incongruous, and I agree that this part felt like that as well.

34. The reveals about the Wood, first marrying into humanity to try a different save her people then being bricked up alive... Does that change how you feel about the Wood? How?
I did feel quite sorry for her!

35. The Wood Queen's sister helps defeat the Wood Queen... I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Lilyana (sorry if I got the spelling wrong, am absent from my copy of the book) to watch her sister's pain and then try to stop her. What do you think? Should she have been more active in helping her sister?
I was glad that she did what needed to be done, and I don't think there were any other options left.

36. The ending; satisfying or a cop-out? Did you think the Dragon would behave like that?
I didn't fall in love with this book, so I don't have strong feelings about the ending. I was just glad to be done.

Sorry, I have been kind of MIA lately during the holidays! I just finished a few books this week, and one of them had cookies on the cover for our holiday goals. I'm not sure if anyone has gotten to that one yet, but it didn't look like it.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
435 pages
Finished 12/26/15
BOM: answered DQs

The Sugar Cookie Sweetheart Swap by Donna Kauffman
400 pages
Finished 12/27/15
Goal: Cookies on the cover

The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz
Pages: 400
Finished: 12/25/15
Goal: No

Comments, Sweden, Mikael, Lisbeth Salandar, journalist, hacker, autism, computers.

Dec 22 DQs for Chapters 24-27
Team Poseidon

29. Alosha mentions Ragostok… and then casually brings up that he is her great-great-grandson, and the only child of her line to show magic in the area. She also mentions Ballo’s history -- that he was a monk, living in a monastery and illuminating manuscripts for forty years before anyone noticed that he wasn’t aging. These are MINOR characters, but from the brief glimpses we’ve been given, we have fleshed out backstories and deep characters, even just from a few sentences. What tiny part of Novik’s Uprooted world so far has made you think “Wow, she’s really sucked me into this world she’s created!!!”? It could be a character backstory, a setting, a description… anything that made you think Novik was a master of pushing her world and her creation into your imagination. (Or perhaps you're thinking the opposite?)
Unfortunately, I'm still feeling the opposite about this author. The book started off interesting to me in the first chapter, but I lost that interest quickly and can't seem to get it back!

30. The Wood has taken most of the royal line now, and only Marek, Stashek, and Marisha remain. Did you see this quick turn of events coming? I sure didn’t. Any guesses on the Wood’s goal in all this? Not just for this battle, but overall. What is behind the sentient Wood? What is driving it? Why is it so BAD??? Did you expect that the queen *IS* the Wood and that it had found a way to hide?!
I didn't see that coming, either. I thought that scene was better than most, although I'm still not sure what the Wood is up to in the long run. I do think the Wood is hiding in the Queen!

31. We see even more spells from Agnieszka in this section. What’s been your favorite spell so far? One of my favorite things about this book is the magic system that Novik has set up. Nothing is set into stone, and the rules are completely unclear (unlike so many fantasy masters who write the “best” magic systems, like Brandon Sanderson for example, where rules and limits are vital), but it feels so coherent and complete! Do you like the magic in the book or do you feel like it’s too vague?
Usually magic in books is my favorite part of the book, but this one isn't selling me on it. I liked when she made a sword for Kasia, though.

32. Another thing I love about this book is how Agnieszka continues to defy the traditions and push the limits. She might just have it in her to be the one to show the magical world that the limits they’ve placed on themselves are why they’ve been unable to beat back the Wood for good. Do you think she’ll be able to overcome these obstacles? The more that is thrown at her, the more we see her think on her feet and adapt… just like the Wood has seemed to do. Do you think that Agnieszka and the human world will get their happy endings? What predictions do you have on whole will make it to the end and if the Wood will be defeated for good (or will it end with the Wood being seemingly defeated and then the classic "oh wait, something more could happen" type ending)?
I really hope everyone gets their happy endings in this book. I think they can figure something out since she is back with Sarkan now.

Dec. 21 Discussion Questions
Chapters 18-23

24. The book has been set so far in Agnieszka's village, the Tower, the Wood, and now the Court. Which setting has been your favorite to read about? Why?
My favorite section so far has been at the Court, only because it's held my attention much better than the rest of the book. It's finally getting more exciting to read!

25. Agnieszka has really been struggling with the etiquette required at court, and with trying to get her point across about sending an army to fight the Wood. Would she have fared better with the Dragon by her side, or would he have made it worse? Should she have joined up with the Falcon, like he wanted her to?
I think having him there would have made everything worse. I think he would have given her tips, but I think she would have rebelled anyway. No, the Falcon seems fishy to me.

26. Alosha made a great point: Why don't the people living in the Valley simply pack up and leave? Do you think there is something in the river or air that lures them to stay? Or is it more of a case of them not wanting to leave where they were born and have lived for generations?
I think it's a little of both, maybe. I can get not wanting to move away from where you're used to and just following along with what others do, but I also think there must be something else keeping them there, too.

27. What do you think is behind Queen Hanna's surprising recovery? Is she actually cured, or is the Wood still somehow controlling her?
I really think there's still something going on with her as well. I don't think she's fully cured.

28. How do you think the title of the book fits in with what has happened so far?
I think it works well. They're all getting uprooted from their normal lives and are trying to uproot the Wood.

Discussion Questions Dec-20
Chapters 14-17 Pages 187-239

18. They don't seem to have much of a plan going into the wood. I was surprised that they even managed to find the Queen, much less that quickly. What are your thoughts on their preparations and planning?
I've noticed with this story that all of a sudden something will be happening, and I feel like it comes as a surprise because there isn't enough information leading up to those moments. It may just be me not being interested enough in some of the scenes, though and missing things. I definitely felt like they could have developed a stronger plan.

19. Kasia seems to be turning into quite the hero. Do you think this was who she always was or did the wood change her to be like this?
I think this is who she is. She was the one that was on a mission to deliver the news of what was going on in Dvernik and to seek help, and I think she's doing this now because she expected her life to be spent with the Dragon, and now she feels like her whole life plan has kind of stopped short and she needs to feel like she's making something of her life.

20. What are your thoughts on the rescue of the Queen? Was it worth losing 28 men? Do you think she will recover?
I thought it was a dangerous plan and right now I'm not sure it was worth it. i'm hoping it will turn out to be worth it, though! I think they'll find a way to heal her further.

21. They made it to the city and the townspeople seem to rejoice but the King does not. Why do you think he doesn't seem pleased with things? It made me think that he might have had something to do with the Queens situation.
That wasn't my first thought with the king, but it's very possible.

22. Do you think Agnieszka will be recognized? What do you think her animal name will get to be? They all seem to be predator animals but she's a healer so maybe it will be different.
I have no ideas on this yet!

23. We're halfway through now. Any predictions for the rest of the book?
No ideas on this either. I'm finding it hard to stay focused during quite a few of the scenes in this book, so I'm hoping it picks up again and we start to learn more about the Dragon's past and Agnieszka's future.

Dec 19 / Discussion Questions
Chapters 9 - 13

12) The Summoning is a truth spell. Were you surprised to find out that both Agnieszka and Kasia had secret hatred and jealousy towards each other? That doesn't seem to be normal feelings between two best friends...
I think jealousy is normal between two close friends to a point. I've never been so jealous that I hated someone though, but I do think most of their feelings about one another were very realistic, and I'm glad they showed that it went both ways.

13) Agnieszka and the Dragon work another spell together, but this time things get pretty romantic, even ending in a kiss! Do you think it's their magic alone that's making them attracted to one another? Will they end up together in the end?
I think the magic helps, but there must be some sort of attraction there that I'm totally not seeing. I don't really like the Dragon at this point as far as relationships would go, so I hope he changes his personality around her and gets over himself if they are to end up together.

14) Is it a good idea to go into the Wood to find Queen Hanna? What do you think 20 years of being corrupted in the Wood has done to the Queen (if she's even alive)? Would you be willing to play the hero and go into the Wood to find her?
I understand Prince Marek being so desperate to find his mother again, but I think he needs to think about the bigger picture like the Dragon was trying to explain to him. I think after being there so long, she won't be herself at all anymore. I think they should do whatever they can to burn the forest, though.

15) I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but it seems as if every time Agnieszka is thinking, the Dragon always answers her. Do you think he is able to read her mind/thoughts?
I haven't really noticed.

16) The Dragon doesn't seem to be as cruel and violent as everyone believes him to be... so where do you think the nickname "The Dragon" came from?
He's not cruel or violent but he also doesn't really try to stop people from thinking that, and he is kind of a rude person.

17) If you could put a face to the Dragon, what would he look like?
I have a picture of him in my head, but not something I would be good at describing.

December 18 Chapter 5-8
Pages 62-123

1) Agnieszka finds herself back home to help when one of the villagers is infected by The Wood. How do you think the town felt that she came to their aid instead of The Dragon? There is barely any mention of a reaction from the town. If you were living there how would you have reacted?
I would have been really surprised since the other girls he's taken have never come back to visit before their 10 years were up. I think I would have asked more questions.

2) The Dragon should not have been able to recover from the sickness of The Wood. How do you think Agnieszka was able to save him? How do you think she knows the flow and pace of the spells when she has never seen them before? Why do these spells feel familiar to her?
This was interesting to me. I feel like she is just really strong with healing magic, and I'm hoping we find out why.

3) The Dragon and Agnieszka seem to be working closer together. How do you feel about their relationship? Do you enjoy seeing The Dragon struggle to perform the same spells that Agnieszka seems to do easily? What do you think they were both feeling when they performed the rose spell together?
I think the Dragon is so rude and that makes me not interested in them having any sort of relationship like that. I'm glad she can do spells better than him.


4) How do you think Agnieszka is able to free Kasia from The Wood? Do you think Agnieszka was strong enough to defeat the hold The Wood had on Kasia or do you think The Wood let Kasia go on purpose?
I think the Wood let her go.

5) Do you think The Dragon will be able to help Agnieszka to save Kasia? If so, do you think Kasia will have any lasting effects of being trapped in The Wood?
I've already read what happens with Kasia, so I'll hold off on commenting!


6) There is reference to this book as being a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. Now that you are 8 chapters in do you feel this is a good reference for this book? Why or why not.
Not really. maybe slightly with her having to live with him and him being kind of rude, but other than that, I don't see a big resemblance.

December 17 - Chapters 1-4

1. Did you have any thoughts/feelings before starting the book that have changed now that you've started it?
My thoughts on this book have changed quite a bit back and forth. I saw it was going to be a BOM, so I placed a hold at my library even though I wasn't loving the description of the book. It came in to me with perfect timing, though, so I gave it a shot, and the first chapter was really great! I was excited for more! I started to get bored once she made it to the Dragon's mansion, but thankfully at the end of this chapter, it seems like it's starting to pick up again.

2. Why do you think the Dragon takes a girl exactly every 10 years?
I'm guessing there's a curse he's under.

3. How are you liking Agnieszka?
I think she has her moments of getting on my nerves and is not someone I could really see myself being friends with, but she also hasn't had a lot of interaction with others, so I'm hoping that gets better as the story goes. I'm glad she has a little spunk in her.

4. Were you surprised to learn she had magic?
I put two and two together when she touched the fireball and then he used her hand to do a spell over the food. It wasn't too surprising, but I hope it gets more exciting!

5. Are you looking forward to reading more?
Yes, I'm hoping these next couple of chapters make me like Agnieszka more. I'm also looking forward to finding out the background story of the Dragon.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
292 pages
Finished 12/15/16
BOM - Answered DQs
Goals: None

Discussion Questions
Dec 16 Chapters 9-12 Page 217-end

30. At what point in the book did you suspect that Lydia’s death was a suicide and do you think that had an effect on your reading of the book?
I thought from close to the beginning that it was probably suicide. I think it made me sad for Lydia that she couldn't be herself around her family and had to act like someone else.

31. Some posters have mentioned now that the book became predictable and/or repetitive as it went on. Agree or disagree?
I agree. I felt like there wasn't ever a moment that really surprised me.

32. When Nath ends up under the water, this quote, “he’s already learned how not to drown.” (p 290) is stated. What do you think this means?
I think he's so used to being ignored and pushed away from his family which feels like he's sinking and going "under" but he always keeps his head up and remembers that it won't be forever as long as he can get away.

33. We had a high suicide rate at the high school where I taught. We could not pin down only one reason that this happened so much at our school. What do you think is the major cause of teen suicide?
I can't claim to know this at all, but I feel like feeling worthless, lonely, or making other people disappointed are a few reasons I would think of that teens may commit suicide.

34. Was the ending realistic and did you like it? Why or why not?
I think it's slightly realistic, and I had hoped that Hannah would eventually get her family's attention, but it was so sad to me that she had to lose her sister to gain that. I just never really liked any of these characters. Hannah was my favorite and even she wasn't talked about that much. So I would say overall, I wouldn't read it again or recommend it, but I was able to finish it!

Discussion Questions
Dec 15 Chapters 7-8 Pages 158-216

25. Nath and Lydia seem to be very close up until a bit before her death. How much of the fact that Nath was going off to college do you think impacted what happened to Lydia?
I think that had a lot to do with what happened to Lydia. She was upset that he was leaving her when he seemed to be the only one that could understand what she was going through.


26. I've often joked when our eldest does something ridiculous that "Oh well, this one's ruined, we'll try again with the next." However, the Lee's seem to have actually taken that to heart. Why do you think it was Lydia that they focused on?
Lydia's mother was so excited that Lydia was smart and interested in all of the same things she was as a child (or so she thought) and she wanted to help shape her into being her best self. I think she had good intentions but didn't realize how wrong it was of her to push so much on Lydia without actually getting to know her daughter for real. Her father saw someone who could be popular and fit in with the crowd, and he wanted her to be that since he never could.

27. Do you think Lydia mentioned she was failing at physics just to put attention back on herself? Does she hate and crave the attention?
I don't think it was ever about getting attention. She didn't want to tell her family but ended up having to.

28. The affair has been found out! Or at least very strongly confirmed. What do you think the fallout will be?
I strongly hope that James feels guilty, as he should.

29. Thoughts on Jack? Thoughts on what really happened?
So Jack was someone who would be mentioned and then I'd forget about him again and again, so I didn't have much opinion on him. I have finished the book though and have opinions now that I'll save for the final questions!

Dec 14 - Day 3 Discussion Questions Chapters 5-6

18. Hannah has made a promise that she will find out what happened to Lydia. Do you think she feels guilty for not speaking up about what she saw the night Lydia disappeared?
I think she wishes she had went looking for her.

19. In Chapter 5 when the police stop to update the Lees, James seems embarrassed when Officer Fiske mentions Lydia's lack of friends, and Marilyn just talks about Lydia's school work and intelligence. Do you think this foreshadows something, or is this just fitting in with the theme of the book? Do you think the police are looking into Lydia's parents as suspects? Does their suspicion have merit?
I think it's both of their personalities shining through. James gets embarrassed when he realizes how much his kids take after him, and Marylin is so obsessed with Lydia becoming a doctor that she sees what she wants to see. I think they may be a little suspicious. I don't personally think they killed her, but I do think they may have pushed her to her breaking point.

20. Marilyn finds Lydia's hidden contraband. Do you think Lydia was really using these items, or were they placed there to gain attention?
I think she was using them. She hid them well, so I don't think she really wanted her family to find them. Her mom had said her room usually smelled like cigarette smoke, so that wasn't surprising.

21. There seems to be some familial violence like Hannah being under the table when her parents are fighting and James slapping Nath when he asks about astronauts. Do you think this has always been this way, or only during stressful times like Lydia's death and Marilyn leaving? Do you think the violence plays a part in Lydia's death?
I think it only happened during stressful times, which is still not ok! Especially when James hit Nath. I'm really starting to like him less an less as a father, and I didn't even like him to begin with. I think it may have been another reason Lydia was fed up with living - her parents were putting too much pressure on her and even her siblings.

22. Even Marilyn, who was studying to be a doctor thinks of a "man" when she hears the word doctor? I work in the ER as a nurse. The male nurses are still mistaken for doctors and our female doctors are mistaken for nurses. Is anyone else guilty of thinking this way?
I've grown up around female doctors and male nurses, so I don't find it difficult.

23. Marilyn finds out she's pregnant with Hannah so she gives up on her schooling again. Do you think Marilyn resents Hannah because of this? Do you think this is why Hannah seems to be ignored by the rest of the family?
I think that's definitely possible, especially in Marylin's case. I'm not sure why James would ignore her since Hannah is the reason he got his wife back.

24. During the scene where Nath pushes Lydia into the lake she seems to accept death and let herself drown. What do you think of this scene? Was she unhappy back at this point in her life?
I think this may have been the reason she went back to the lake. She always remembered the feeling of relief and wanted to finally feel that again. That's just me guessing!