Tina ❣’s Comments (group member since Mar 09, 2016)

Tina ❣’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

DQ Set 3: Chapters 10 - 15

9. What do you think of Grace's request for James to runaway and get married as mundanes? Was James right to say no? What do you think of her then turning around the next day and announcing her marriage to Charles? What do think Grace might be trying to achieve

I just don’t understand her motives. I think she’s cold, manipulative, lonely and untrustworthy. Definitely glad he rejected her considering what she did the next days. She expected him to drop everything for her yet gave him nothing as well. No expression of love.


10. The demons know who James is? More they do what he requests of them. What do you think of that? Do you think it is more than just the fact his grandfather was a demon?

For some reason I like the demons speaking to him. But I know it’s not a good thing. Definitely a connection to the grandfather.


11. Ragnor only tells them the information about Gast because they are children and not yet Clave. He then explains he is scooting off to Capri? Does this seem strange to you ? or that maybe something more dangerous they should probably know?

I finished the book a a few days ago and have already forgotten this bit.


12. "Ariadne does not care what I do. Her interests lie elsewhere" Charles & Alistair. Did this surprise you? And do you think Ariadne's interests ie in the direction of Anna?

No it doesn’t surprise me and I think it does.


13. Matthew appears to have a drinking problem? There also seems to be much more about him than meets the eye. Do you think he might be drinking to hide something? Is it me or he he seem also to be somewhat drawn to Cordelia?

I think he is drinking to hide something. It took me a while to see that he was drawn to her.

DQ Set 2: Chapters 5 - Days Past, Paris 1900

6. Following the daylight attack, and the greenhouse scene, it's clear that there's a tension between the older generation and the younger. Will even makes the point that it's just like what he experienced as a young man, but doesn't seem able to fix the problem. What do you think about the politics of the Shadowhunters that we've seen so far? Does this strand work for you?

Ugh there’s always a tension haha. I think it would suck being in the politics there. It would take a lot of time and people to recognise it is and issue and change it which I think won’t happen.


7. We see development in some of the characters over these chapters (Alistair becomes a bit more interesting in the final flashback; Cordelia comes out of her shell), but there are still a lot of unfleshed characters there (imo). Do you think the author can make all these characters "real"? Which character do you most want to find out more about? or just hang out with ;-P

I want to hear more about Anna and Matthew. They’re the most interesting. Chris and Thomas need more character development.


8. We find out more about Grace and James - have your opinions of this relationship changed during this section? Do you want to venture any predictions? James does his shadow walking thing a couple of times here. Is Jem right - is this a skill he should master or is it a dangerous curse?

No. Still not a fan of them or her really. Considering his grandfather is dangerous. I’d stay away but they won’t do that.


9. The last section sheds some light on Alistair's hidden (or developing) personality - moving him from the simple bully from school to (maybe) someone more interesting. Do you have any thoughts on how Alistair will be important to the story?

He is Cordelias brother so he’ll be important. I think there’s more we can learn about him and I want to.

DQ Set 1: Days 1 &2 - Chapters 1 through 4

1) Have you read other Cassandra Clare novels or are you new to the Shadowhunter world? What made you decide to take the plunge and read this BOM? Was it the beautiful cover, did it entice you? Not for nothing, the woman on the cover might want to adjust that sword grip in case she needs to use it.

Yes I have. The whole Mortal Instruments series. I picked it up because it’s for the My Restaurant Rocks challenge!


2) Quite a long cast of characters and POVs, sometimes I wonder why it was necessary. Though I have only read the Mortal Instruments series, so maybe it would be less overwhelming character roster if I'd read everything published prior to this book. Any current favorite characters? Any you are wary of already? I'm also afraid of multiple love triangles and possibly some sort of awful love polygon (number of sides to be determined). Thoughts on that?

No current favourite characters yet! I think live triangles are inevitable in YA *sigh*


3) Holy literary references! Clare uses quotes often at the beginning of sections or chapters, so that wasn't surprising to me. But there are little literary nuggets dropped randomly in conversations. Are you enjoying them? Are you seeing parallels in this story to Great Expectations (Clare has stated this series is a GE retelling)?

I like the references but haven’t read many classics so I don’t understand the references.


4) Are you liking the flashbacks? Do you think they add to the story and/or characters?

The flash backs are okay. I was getting slightly annoyed at them though at the break in the flow for the present.


5) James seems to act very strange in Grace's presence and for all of their attraction and previous kissing, the kiss by the lake seemed to make James repulsed. Do you think this is tied to the demonic presence somehow? Do you think that silver bracelet causes Grace to have some sort of influence over James?

I was under the impression the bracelet acted as a love charm for James and Grace. Made me dislike her because of it.

Carrie wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "Hmm the notifications not working has thrown me a bit.

@CC - Welcome!

@ Carrie - How did you end up liking Chain of Gold? I'm still trying to finish it"


I haven't read anything e..."

It took me a while too. At first the pace she introduced the characters was okay and then I think it was chapter or two where everyone else was introduced. I definitely think love triangles are tiring but I don't think this author will stop with them. I thought it was good in the end. Good for a young adult book. I think I might actually read the next one when it comes out.

I still have some DQ to answer and to add the book to the meals

Do we know when the round finishes? Is it this weekend or next weekend?

Hmm the notifications not working has thrown me a bit.

@CC - Welcome!

@ Carrie - How did you end up liking Chain of Gold? I'm still trying to finish it

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Thanks Carrie.

I did a quick tally up of what we've got so far -

32 completed meals comprising of -

Fish and chips with vinegar - 4
sandwiches - 10
coffee - 4
curry - 3
tea -4
pasta -3
salad ..."

Thanks Lisa! Hopefully we can find one soon

Carrie wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Just a quick question -

If the word vinegar appears twice in the same book, can we use it in two different meals?"

Someone asked that specific question in the prep a..."

That's good to know! I was actually wondering that about vinegar. I'll look out for it in future books.

We could also but the author's name in if we want to distinguish between books.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Tina ❣ wrote: "I'm okay with that Lisa. She didn't respond to me."

Thanks Tina. If she doesn't respond by the morning I'll post in the Looking for Team Mates Thread.

And thanks for doing some of..."

Haha no worries. I have no idea how to describe coffee as I've never really drunk it and tea is more my thing. Hopefully someone can come up with a way to describe it. All I've got so far is 'organic black coffee meant to...'

We need to add a description to our meals in the Shop front tab. I'll make some up on Saturday but feel free to add some in too

I'm okay with that Lisa. She didn't respond to me.

Level 2 (Level 1)

Read: 009/100

101. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black 11/09/20
102. Life in the Garden by Penelope Lively 12/09/20
103. Laws of Attraction by Evelyn Adams 14/09/20
104. Isla's Inheritance by Cassandra Page 15/09/20
105. Too Tempting by Bethany Lopez 18/09/20
106. City Girl, Country Girl: The inspiring true stories of courageous women forging new lives in the Australian bush by Liz Harfull 20/09/20
107. Rebel Pilot, Texas Doctor by Eve Gaddy 24/09/20
108. Redeeming the Biker's Past by Piper Davenport 26/09/20
109. One Last Shot by Julie Archer 27/09/20

Sabrina wrote: "Is there an issue with this thread? I can no longer update my message (n° 40), it keeps saying "There was a problem saving your comment"...."

There's no issues. When you edit your comment, see how many characters you have left in that comment. Look underneath, to the right of the comment box and you can see it there. If it's not that, then I'm not sure what's wrong!

Finished! -> https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Going to level 2 now

Carrie wrote: "Is there somewhere we are supposed to put our links for our answers for the BOM questions?

Tina and Nikk, are you enjoying Chain of Gold? It's the first I've read Clare but after I got familiar wi..."

Good question Carrie. I'm not too sure. I think for now, add a link to the answers in column L, M, N+ in the books read tab. Maybe you can ask in the Q&A thread?

I just started reading it after your reminder! Haha. So far it's okay. I'm going to try read 100 pages a day to get it done before sep 30 but probably won't happen

50 characters are a lot! and probably too much tbh. I

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Nice one Tina.

Is Susan still playing? She hasn't checked in yet."

Not sure. I'll send her a message

Hey guys. Sorry I've been in a bit of a funk the past week.
I finished a short book, added it in and cleaned up the Kitchen Meals tab to make it a bit more clearer. I hope you guys are okay with that. I highlighted a few cells in light pink so we know that it needs to be finished

Carrie wrote: "I'm getting ready to go. Haven't picked my book yet but that's next on the list. I'm going to make a list so I can have a reminder of what words I'm looking for while reading! My library book for t..."

sounds like a plan Carrie. Hopefully the book doesn't get too delayed

Looks good Lisa! The only thing, in the kitchen meals tab, the completion date goes in column C in Date read. For column K, we put in yes or No once for that meal

I still don't know what book to read next. I'm waiting for a genre mood to kick in so I can hurry up and choose a book to read