Shannon’s Comments (group member since May 21, 2018)

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

Do you guys think this book could be used for a title color? I mean it looks black but also green/blue to me...

Kirsten wrote: "Vi wrote: "Cris (The Biblio Blonde) wrote: "Question on colors... this book has different shades of pink, but adds up to well over 60% pink. At a glance it's definitely pink. Can I use it for a rai..."

Haha Kirsten, that's what I was gonna say!

Janeylou wrote: "Completions

Warlock Academy
T.C. Orton
150 pgs
27 may
Fits ..bright purple cover

How to Save a Life
[autho..."

Thanks Janeylou! Ill add them now :)

Happy belated birthday!!

Found out I have a dry socket. They put a medicated patch on it and I already feel so much better. Getting back to reading now:)

Hey guys! Havent been reading a lot as ive been in quite a bit of pain. Going back to the oral surgeon tomorrow and hopefully he can help and ill be back to reading

@Cris I see that you have a book finished already for the "Feed the Chipmunks" challenge. Unfortunately, the challenge requires books to be finished after June 1st but you could find a different mini to put it under

Also. Thanks for all the wishes for a fast recovery for my wisdom teeth! Much appreciated!

Just finished . Can honestly say I hated the book. Was hoping it would get better, but unfortunately it never did

I got my wisdom teeth out today so not sure how much ill be reading but ill try my best

This is a bit of a stretch but I'm reading Never Ever and in the book Wylie brings her brother to essentially a neverland and convinces him to stay to prevent him from being sent to jail. Do you think this would work for Electra who saved her younger brother from being killed by sending him away?

I also added "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau" to my shelf. Must've forgotten. Thanks for the reminder Suzanne!

Cris (The Biblio Blonde) wrote: "Oh Nanci, too funny! Hope you can get the right version. After a bunch of failed starts, I am on a great streak of learning Spanish with DuoLingo. I’m still at rookie level. So I probably could hav..."

I love DuoLingo! Im currently in a competition with my friends to see who will break their streak first! Im learning Italian!

Shannon DQ Participation Post

Day 1 5/16: Link
Day 2 5/17: Link
Day 3 5/18: Link
Day 4 5/19: Link
Day 5 5/20: Link

I just finished "The Daughter of Doctor Moreau." Definitely wasn't a big fan of it although it got a bit better at the end when there were a few plot twists thrown into play. Made it slightly more interesting and less "yawn"

DQs Day 5 (Chapters 26 -End)

19. Earlier, Eduardo seemed like a fine person to me despite Montgomery's reservations. In these last chapters, he had a stark change in character or his true nature came out. Did you expect him to turn out like this? Do you think he might have been a good husband to Carlota if she were not a hybrid?

It was sort of a situation that seemed too good to be true. I also originally like Eduardo, but I thought that he may just be acting to entice Carlota. Unfortunately this turned out to be true. I also don't believe he would've actually married her. I think he might've gone through with the marriage and then divorced her somehow (it was the 1800s so I'm not sure how marriages work exactly) Im just thinking back to how Iridrio was talking about leading her on for a season or 2.

20. Dr. Moreau was not a great father throughout the book but his last moment touched my heart. Do you find his love for Carlota redeeming enough for his character? Or would you categorize him as a villain?

I originally thought that maybe he wasn't the worst person ever... that was until Carlota found his journal. I have no clue why he would give her keys to a journal that talks about her and the rest of the hybrids in the worst possible way. It was almost as if he wanted her to hate him. I definitely categorize him as a villain.

21. Carlota became more jaguar-like as the story drew near its end, and she finally embraced that part of her in the climactic scene. I somehow expected her physical changes to be more lasting and prominent afterward and maybe have a lifestyle closer to a jaguar which evidently didn't happen. Anyone else had an odd expectation like this or something else that you expected to happen?

I also expected this, but maybe it's moreso that she has less control over it or something. Maybe in the future the effects will become longer lasting the more "episodes" she goes through.

22. How do you feel about the relatively open-ended epilogue? Do think Carlota would be reunited with the other hybrids? Will Montgomery come back into her life at some point? Do you think Moreno-Garcia kept the option for a sequel open?

I do think Carlota will be reunited with the hybrids. I was so beyond disappointed in Montgomery when he left her. I was hoping for a happy ending for the both of them, but I understand his reasoning. I think the option for a sequel is definitely open although this could be a stand-alone book as well. Guess that's up to the author.

DQs: Day 4 Ch 19-25

15. Welcome to the penultimate set of chapters! A lot of revelations came to light in this set of chapters: did any of them surprise you? If so, which ones?

One surprise I had was that Lupe came back. I didn't think she would because she seemed so distant with Carlota recently.

16. Montgomery and Carlota finally seem like they are going to make love but Montgomery stops this from happening. Do you think he made the right choice? Why or why not? Also do you think they’ll still get together in the end?

I think he did. I understand his reasoning as he doesn't want to get his heart broken again and he realizes that Carlota is just in pain from Eduardo. I fully respect that decision. I hope that in the end they do end up together though. Maybe after all Lizalde's men are dead :P

17. It looks like Dr. Moreau is going to die by the end of the book. In the original novel and adaptations Dr. Moreau is a villainous figure. Do you think he is portrayed as a villain in this book or do you think he has redeeming qualities?

I don't think Dr. Moreau is even going to last another two chapters and I HATE that. I wanted more repercussions for him. It seemed too coincidental. As soon as Lizalde's men start coming, he falls over from a probable heart attack... I think that Dr. Moreau is definitely portrayed as a villain. Especially with everything. he did to the hybrids and lying to them. The only real redeeming quality he has is he tried to protect the hybrids from being taken to Lizalde's hacienda to work and he protected and nurtured Carlota.

18. Carlota is given a key to the laboratory. What do you think she will find there? Also any predictions for the end of the book?

I predict it will be too late by the time she looks. Or she will find notes on every hybrid (their weaknesses and strengths). I predict that there will definitely be an uprising against Lizalde's men. There doesn't seem to be any way around this

Leslie Ann wrote: "Just finished the Daughter of Doctor Moreau. Starting The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest . I didn't really love the Doctor Moreau book. It was okay, but had to force myself to keep reading."

I also am struggling with this book. It seems to be heavier in romance than I like, but I also understand that the romance does have an important part in the story. Still, I wish they talked more about the hybrids... maybe I just haven't gotten far enough yet.

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 18

10. I've noticed Carlota's perceptions are often described using non visual cues: she hears a lot, and even smells Montgomery behind her bedroom door but then dismisses the idea. After her attack, she finds herself noticing that "Her fingers, in the mirror, looked very long, the nails almost too sharp and the eyes...". Do you feel Carlota ever questions her own nature as a human/hybrid or is she too ingenuous to do so? Do you also feel the author is using alternate senses and, if so, as clues for the reader or red herrings?

I think that Carlota is a hybrid and her father is lying to her. I noticed the signs first when Montgomery was outside of her room, but brushed it off. The next time was when she got sick. I was sure she was a hybrid at this point. There's too many signs pointing towards it for her not to be a hybrid. I just don't understand why her dad hasn't told Montgomery or Carlota about it.

11. For much of this part, I felt Montgomery was conflicted regarding his feelings for Carlota. He "writes" to his wife using what I felt was a brotherly perspective only to realise, a few lines and drinks later, he could not resist kissing her if she were there in that moment. What did you make of this change of heart and do you find his various missteps bring something to the story?

I think Montgomery is truly in love with Carlota, but he is trying to avoid it because he is hired by her father as a caretaker. Not to mention the very large age gap between Carlota and Montgomery. I think that drinks bring out true emotions and that's why he had a change of hearts. I think his missteps make him a flawed character, but at the same time I think he can truly be a great guy.

12. We're already halfway through the story - Doctor Moreau and Montgomery are both complex characters. Am I alone in thinking Carlota and her hybrid friends deserve to be more thoroughly fleshed out and layered?

Yes, I truly wish they were. It is so focused on the romance, which I am now understanding is an important part of the story, but give me more hybrids please!

13. What did you make of the scene where Carlota loses her virginity by the cenote - did her reaction seem natural to you or did you find yourself questioning her fearlessness? In your opinion, if Carlota is herself a hybrid, what effect might that have on their progeny?

I thought Carlota was very easy going in this scene. I think she is a hybrid which could contribute to her fearlessness, but I also think she is 100% a hopeless romantic. I think Montgomery was right on the money with that statement.

14. There's a storm brewing as the hybrids plan to join Juan Cumux and Carlota attempts to retrieve her father's notes and formulas. Do you think the hybrids will remain subservient once they remove themselves from Doctor Moreau's influence or could the story turn dark?

I think that the story is going to turn dark. I think this is going to be caused by all of Dr. Moreau's abuse throughout the years. He doesn't seem like a great guy and the hybrids are tired of his treatment.

DQs: Day 2, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).

I do think that Carlota is acting a lot more mature now. She seems to think things through more, or at the minimum, consider the consequences more. I usually do like books that have time jumps because it gives you the backstory. This time jump semi introduced the book and Montgomery, but I am hesitant as to whether it was necessary for this book.

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?

I was originally confused because I didn't realize it changed perspectives. I was like, "this literally just happened. What?" But I'm not a fan of this method with this book. It is nice to know what the characters are thinking in some cases, but in this book especially, I think the author does a good enough job of telling us in the first perspective what all the characters are thinking. It just seems repetitive.

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?

I do not like Isdrio? He seems really boring and annoying to me. I do, however, really like Eduardo. I am nervous that he is putting on a show and that Carlota's reason for liking him is that he's attractive. I did like the dance scene with him though. He seemed genuine in that. Montgomery I don't know whether to like or absolutely hate him because my god is he messing up big time. But then he will show up to protect Carlota (like I have no clue what side to choose). I think Montgomery should give up his drinking and then I would like him better.

9. So far these feels very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?

I feel like the its moreso a science fiction with the inclusion of science and hybrids, but there's also the romance which might be why I'm struggling to read the book (I'm not a big fan of romances). I hope that it gets more exciting going forward.

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?

I would probably want to be a jaguar or cheetah hybrid. That way I'd be super fast and travel would be so much easier. I also think jaguars and cheetahs are beautiful animals.