Zuza’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2018)

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

Are we using the Tracking Sheet for planning? If so, I don't seem to have access.

Hi everyone,

my name is Zuzana. I am from Czechia (or The Czech republic) and live near Prague.

I listen to all kinds of music, but mostly Pop I would say.

My favorite genres are anything YA and Mystery, but if a synopsis sounds interesting enough, I am sure to put that book on my never-ending TBR.

My shelve is wheel-a-thon-8

I did too 😁 I couldn't resist. It will be my 1st UNO.

CHALLENGE DONE ✔

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
message 16

Reading Challenge: TBR Tackler Challenge
Duration: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Level: No Suspension 27+
Read: 8/27

Level: No Suspension 27+
Read: 8/27

1. #661 Weave a Circle Round by Kari Maaren
2. #831 Shadowland by Meg Cabot ✔ Dec 26, 2023 ★★★★
3. #411 Side Quest by Christopher Kerns
4. #451 The Private School Murders by James Patterson
5. #734 Cipher by Sean Jenan
6. #213 Who's That Girl by Blair Thornburgh
7. #386 The Countdown Conspiracy by Katie Slivensky ✔ Sep 17, 2023 ★★★★★
8. #321 The Memory Agent by Matthew B.J. Delaney
9. #113 Don't Say a Word by A.L. Bird
10. #303 How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller
11. #2319 Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards
12. #1677 Monster by C.J. Skuse
13. #1065 Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister ✔ Feb 22, 2023 ★★★
14. #1422 That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger ✔ Jan 21, 2023 ★★★
15. #2078 Bad Girl Gone by Temple Mathews ✔ Nov 28, 2023 ★★★
16. #2565 A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw ✔ Oct 19, 2023 ★★★
17. #1777 My Box-Shaped Heart by Rachael Lucas
18. #1870 How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore
19. #1615 Malice by Pintip Dunn ✔ Dec 15, 2023 ★★★★
20. #2034 Snap by Belinda Bauer ✔ Feb 25, 2023 ★★★

What a great team! I had so much fun. Big thanks to our captains.

I answered the BOM DQs and updated the tracking sheet (BOMs).

Qs Day 5: Ch 29-End

18. Stealing a quote from day 4: ‘Sometimes, even when you start with the last page and you think you know everything, a books finds a way to surprise you.’ Did this book surprise you? If it did, was it in a good or a bad way?
It didn't not surprise me. It was exactly what I expected it to be.

19. Libby’s big secret surprised Nora. Was it what you expected? What are your thoughts on her keeping it secret and using the list to try to win Nora over?
No, I didn't expect it. By this point I think I completely forgot about her sister. I think she just didn't know how to say it, she was afraid what Nora would think of her.

20. What about Nadine and the cat? Did you appreciate this side story? How did you feel about how it played out in the novel?
Like I wrote before, there was a cat? I don't remember a thing from this book in a book.

22. I loved Nora’s interaction with Clint, what about you? Do you think she overstepped? Do you think it influenced the ending?
It's a good thing she did it. He needed to hear it. It definitely influenced the ending.

23. The ending. It is very much a Happily Ever After. Nora gets almost everything. Was it too HEA or just right and did you like it?
It was too HAE for sure. But I knew it from the beginning, it's that kind of book. I am somewhere in the middle of (not) liking it. It was nothing special.

Day 4 - DQs Chapters 21 - 28

14. One of the most prevalent plot devices in romance books is misunderstandings being a primary driver in the conflict between MCs. I hate it because most of the issues could be resolved with one 15 minute conversation. Does this plot device annoy anyone else? Did you find it refreshing then that Nora cleared the air a bit in the library with Charles? At least before the grabby-hands started ;)
Yes very annoying. But if there was no miscommunication there would probably be no book 😆. It was refreshing finally someone wasn't afraid to say something.

15. Were you surprised at anything revealed by Nora and Charles during their tent conversation? Did the tension with Shepard make even more sense with some backstory?
I don't think so. I probably forget everything when I closed the book, so it wasn't very memorable to me.

16. Any guesses on why Libby needed a lawyer's number? Do you think it's a divorce? I'm hoping that's a red herring and it's something with their dad or a basic need like wills for her and Brendan.
Didn't know. But I was sure it wasn't because of divorce. There were no hints that something like this would happen plus I feel like that's not what the story is about.

17. Any guesses as to what Nora will do about the editor job? Do you think Charlie will stay in his hometown, or will he make it back to NYC
I was sure she would take that job and he would stay in his hometown. It would be too easy to end it like that right away, where would the surprise be.

Day 3 Questions Chapter 14-20

10. Charlie and Nora make a bet that Nora can finish everything on the list but Nora is a tad doubtful but she's determined to push through for her sister. Have you ever made a bet where you're bound and determined to win but knowing deep down inside that you may be doomed from the start? (For example: If I took a bet where I had to do a tower of doom thingy at an amusement park, I'm going to need a blindfold, some alcohol, and some prayers, and not necessarily in that order!)
Hahaha. No, no bets for me. At least I don't remember doing anything like that.

11. We are starting to learn more about Frigid but I still want to know what the book is really about. Why do you think the cat has to stay?
There was a cat? 🙈

12. Libby is a little bit of a hot/cold person. She can turn her emotions quickly and I'm not sure if all of that is due to the pregnancy. Any ideas on what has her so upset at times and why she needs to distant herself?
Because she was keeping a big secret. And she felt bad for it, that's why she acted like that. Probably.

13. Finally, we end this section with Nora and Charlie in Charlie's childhood bedroom. This is a two part question. One, do y'all still have bedrooms at your childhood home? Mine got repurposed after I graduated college but I always think it's interesting who still has one and who doesn't. Second, Charlie immediately sensed something had happened when he saw Nora in the room. What do you think of the progression of their friendship and do you think Nora will start to open up and lean on him more?
I left that room behind when I moved. So sad but that's a life I guess. She is slowly finding a way to her feeling for Charlie and think she will open up when the time is right.

Day 2: chapters 6 - 13

6. So, "Frigid", the book within a book being written by Dusty and edited by Charlie. Fan fiction or a brutal hatchet piece?
Fan fiction. Probably.

7. We get more of the backstory of Nora's life. Does this history give you hope for her future as well as explain her current attitude towards love?
It was s bit clearer why she felt that way about love. But I was sure there were still things we didn't know about. Of course she would change her mind eventually.

8. Libby is at too much of a loose end - setting up a fake dating profile for Nora & everything!? What do you think this says about the sisters and their relationship?
I think they love each other and wanted each other to be happy and have everything they might want. She just doesn't now how to show it so she did this crazy thing. I guess she isn't first or last who has done something like that.

9. So we've seen the failing business to be saved, been on a date to a karaoke night - are you enjoying seeing the Small-Town Romance cliches (and I loved that the song mutilated was the theme for that classic Small-Town, Second Chance Romance, Sweet Home Alabama!) being subverted?
Kind of. It was fun reading it.

DAY 1 QUESTIONS!!! prologue – 5 21%

1. The book opens up with the quote: When books are your life-or in my case, your job- you get pretty good at guessing where a story is going." Where do you think this story is going? Is this your first Emily Henry Book? Do you think it will be like any of the others if you have read them before?
This was my second book from this author and I wasn't really a fan of the one I read. I was thinking it was definitely going for a happy ending and was hoping I would like it more than the first one.

2. Nora feels like she is losing Libby. She begins to notice all that they no longer know about each other, from Libby getting her ex's name wrong to the moments she has missed in the children's lives. Have you ever felt this way with a family member or friend? Did you ever do anything crazy to try to force the relationship back to what it used to be? How far do you think she will go to get this back with Libby?
I always believed people come and go for a reason. I never tried to save a friendship when it was obvious that we grew apart. These things happen. I would say she would do anything to save their relationship. She really cares.

3. Have you ever visited a place after reading about it in a book? If so, was it as you expected it to be? If you could visit any real place from a book, where would you go?
No never, I just imagine what it would be like. I would probably visit the French Alps resort nothing but snow for miles and miles (Shiver by Allie Reynolds).

4. I loved the list so much and the banter between the sister over it. What is your favorite item on the list? What would you do to fulfill it?
Ride a horse probably. I really enjoyed Nora's comments on the list.

5. My favorite scene so far has been when Nora sends the message " What about Bigfoot erotica? .... As soon as I hit send, I snap to my senses. Why of all the words available to me is this what I said?” What’s your favorite scene so far?
I liked the scene when she realized that the manuscript is about her 🤣. And closed second would be when she barreled into Charlie in the bar.

Christina wrote: "Zuza if you could still answer 3 sets of DQs that'd be highly appreciated ;) https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Sorry, totally forgot. I am going to try answer them. But there was some discussion about entries from our team. Would that be a problem?

Ushashi wrote: "No problem, Cris! We'll move some books around.

Do we have any mention of the food/drink items for the following books? (just want to have all options open):
>A Desolation Called Peace
>Six Crimso..."

Yes, there are food/drink items mentioned.

I also finished one with a lot of food/drink items mentioned in it and I am close to finishing another one for the same prompt.

Going to update the tracking sheet.

Christina wrote: "ohhhhh it was Zuzana who read it during TT!!!

@Zuzana hope you'll have a chance answering the DQs then :)"

I will take a look at these DQ, hopefully I remembered enough from that book 🙈

I will add a few books this weekend too.

Work has been crazy these past two weeks, didn't have much of a free time to read, but I am going to be on vacation for the next 14 days so I plan to read a lot 🙂

Ushashi wrote: "Zuza, can you please put the reason for the cat prompt for Silent Companions?"

Done 🙂

On the main page of the Illuminae book I read, one of the listed genres is "Adventure" - would it work for the MPG Adventure?

Ushashi wrote: "Zuza wrote: "And we have another monster slayed! Just finish my book and updated the xsheet."

Great. Monster still has some life left though. Suzanne is reading for the last prompt on that one."

Ushashi

Right, then almost slayed! 😁

Alyana wrote: "Zuza wrote: "Alyana wrote: "I just finished Close To Home and I was looking at the cover, is there a lightning from behind?

"

Hard to say, I just see flames"

The orange part are flames?"

Or not? 😅. Maybe the white think on the window could be a lightning