Melissa’s Comments (group member since May 12, 2019)

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

Yes! This is the mini-challenge!
I came down with COVID two days ago, and I'm kind of limping along.. Sorry to not be clearer on that one! I haven't even read about it yet, but I hope to do so tonight.

Briana wrote: "Checking in to say I'm still here. I just haven't had a moment to read since I did a maze task last week. End of year commitments are insane and I forgot that with covid in full swing the last two ..."

Thanks for doing a maze task!!

5. Shea is trying to explain the taps being turned on and the cupboards being opened by themselves through telekinesis. If you had experienced what she did, do you think you would have tried to explain things logically or do you think you would have believed it was ghosts and left it at that?.

Nope, No logic there! Maybe I would have found someone to take the ghost away? Or gotten the heck out of Dodge.

6. After getting a cat, Shea calls on Michael to ask for advice on how to care for it, through the conversation she thinks about wanting to meet him. Do you think they will end up together or perhaps just remain as friends? Could Michael be interested as well?
I don't know? It's either a romance, or he's someone weirdly tied up with her past trauma. He's important, I think!

7. Mr. Greer’s former secretary tells Shea Ms. Greer wasn’t competent and that she was "sent away somewhere when she was eighteen". Do you think she was crazy or do you have any other theories?
Yeah, that part was a little icky for me. We've come a long way with understanding mental illness. It's not about being "crazy" it's a lot more complicated, and many folks live with mental illness every day, and they do just fine. I hope they don't continue down that road of her being "crazy" because that sets my hackles up.

8. While listening to the recording of Beth’s interview Shea hears a voice in the background whispering “I am still here” and poor Winston gets spooked. Did you find this scary? Do you think cats/animals have a feel for the supernatural? If it were you, would you come back to the house after hearing that?
Yes! That was scary, and yes, I think animals know things we don't!

9. Finally, in order to get in the mood for more scary stuff. Have you or someone you know have any scary/ghostly experiences you might like to share?
There is a person who takes ghosts out of peoples houses who lives sort of near here. I've only heard of the results, (that they are miraculous), but I've never met him before.

I'm going to try to finish a bunch of books I was holding onto for the maze.

There will be a new mini coming out to each of the separate teams soon! It starts on June 15th for reals.

Phew! I think we're winding down the maze. We had a long time where we had to backtrack, and so we did not get first or second place (which I think had points?) . This is not for lack of trying! The people on the maze were so quick to read and post!! We are finishing up the maze soon.

DQs Day 1: Chap 1-11

1. Have you read the The Sun Down Motel by this author? If so, does it change your expectation for this book? Either way, what are your expectations for this book?
No, I've not read anything by this author!

2. The MC writes about cold cases and is in her late 20s and divorced. I have read quite a few horror/thriller/mystery books recently where the MC is a recently divorced, usually a bit older, woman. Have you experienced this as well? Why do you think authors might make this choice? Why do you think the choice was made for this book?
That's a good question. I wonder how they would factor in a married person - would the married person try to take over the investigation? I'm not sure.

3. This section includes the start of the interview. Did it go the way you expected? Any one comment really stick out to you?
I wasn't expecting the blood coming out of the sink!

4. What do you think about the ghostly occurrences in this section? How do they add to the story (or maybe detract)?
I like it - it bends the genre between horror and mystery.

Mary C wrote: "Oh good then we're getting maze points. I looked in a couple times over the weekend but someone was already covering the latest task. Also hubby works most weekends and he was off most of this past..."

lol
How was the Republic of Doyle? I haven't tried that one yet.
Went to see the new Downton Abbey though :)

I've been slightly obsessed with the maze, so I've been reading mostly for that....

Mary C wrote: "I finished book of cold cases and will do more questions tomorrow and post a link to my participation."

Nice!
I just started it.

Keely wrote: "Just dropping in for an update. We acquired yet another kitten. One of the siblings of the older kitten we had already. This one is very aggressive and I'm getting overwhelmed looking after all the..."

This sounds like a lot! I'm sorry it's kind rough now. I think it's a good idea to give it a couple of days and see how it goes.

Finished
A great mystery!

The maze! is amazing! Those folks can read! If you are finishing a paranormal book today, check out the thread - that's their prompt today.
I'm still working on a prompt from like 5 moves ago..... :)

Finished The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge
Good for lots of points :) I'm glad I didn't have to rush it though.

Tory wrote: "Hi there. Checking in again. It's been a hectic couple of weeks with work and school, but I should have something done in a couple days. I'm in the middle of several books.

I keep running into [bo..."

You should totally read it - put on your "this is a classics" hat though. I LOVE the witch in the book. And the cat is way cool.

I also read on at least 1.5 - I was on 2x for a bit with David Copperfield. At one point, one of the characters rages in a very melodramatic way against another character. I think it's supposed to be like crying out on the moors, HEEP..... HEEP..., but on 2x it sounds more like a little chick - like cheep! cheep!

lol

Mary C wrote: "I read the book for the Maze task 3. Wasn't sure where to note that on the spreadsheet so I put it in the box for mini-challenge reasoning. I lucked out in it being super slow at work today. I list..."

Wow!! Nice work! I started reading a book about rocks, lol. I'm glad you found and read this one so quickly!

The people on the maze thread are flying through books! I think we're good to chill. Today's challenge is a book with amethyst in the title or text. If you come across that, and you're cruising through the book, let me or the thread know :)

Heather wrote: "Melissa wrote: "What are folks thinking of reading for June? Our June mini doesn't start until June 15th, so we have some time to chill and read or focus on the maze :) The first task has been clai..."

The Master and Margarita is one of my favorite books ever!

Sounds good!