Edi’s Comments (group member since May 04, 2016)

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

Keli wrote: "I'm a little bit behind, family and Easter festivities meant i couldn't read for 2 days. I'll post my questions tomorrow night (GMT) or the 19th. I'm so very sorry."

It's okay. No worries. I'm also behind on the reading :P

DQs 3 Fast & 4 Vigil

7. Dr. Standish recommended they force feed Anna. Lib does not agree. What do you think?

I'm so conflicted with this one. I think Anna should be fed but I wouldn't be able to do it myself. I wouldn't even be able to watch.

8. We learn that Anna's brother, Patrick, died of a digestive ailment and her parents put Anna in his bed to warm him. He died by morning. What effect would this have on a child, do you think?

Patrick is probably the reason Anna is fasting. She seems to think it will save him from punishment. She was clearly affected by her loss.

9. The potato famine and the idea that fasting and not asking for more is an admirable thing has been mentioned. Could this explain the fascination with a little girl who does not eat? Any other reasons?

Yeah I think the potato famine is the main reason everyone is fascinated with Anna. Who wouldn't want to live without having to depend on food? Especially in a place where food is scarce.

10. What are your thoughts about the journalist, William Byrne? Why do you think he was able to recognize Anna was starving when Lib, a nurse, did not?

I like William but I really don't know what his intentions are and what his relationship with Lib will be.
Lib was probably blinded or in denial about the girl's condition. She also didn't seem to have experience with this type of starvation where the person retains a lot of fluids.

11. Sister Michael gives her reason for not helping Anna as she is "just a nurse". What do you think of her statement? This statement was echoed by the doctor when Lib tried to alert him to Anna's decline. Do you think Lib should have done things differently?

Seems like nurses back then didn't get to asses patients. Poonam has a good answer for this one.

12. I found all the theories about how people can live without food interesting. A person was actually a changeling, a young girl absorbed menstrual blood, and the evolution to a reptilian physiology. Did you find these interesting too? Are there other aspects of the book you are enjoying?

They're interesting but so absolutely frustrating when someone's life is wasting away for no good reason besides a doctor's curiosity and delusions.

13. Anna attended a sermon about fornication, took the host from the priest and refused to eat after. Do you think this has something to do with why she won't eat?

It has to be why. I just don't know how one can lead to another. I just hope nothing horrible happened to Anna because she's just a child. I like her even if she frustrates me to no end.

14. After finding out how Anna has been fed for months, do you think Anna understood what was happening? Why do you think she refuses this "manna from heaven" now?

She wouldn't have accepted it all along if she understood. I think she refuses it now because she wants to die.

1. What are your opinions about the main character Lib Wright? Do you think her treatment of Anna is too harsh?

I don't think Lib is too harsh. I'd be harsh with a child starving herself too. However, she's going to have to befriend Anna if she wants to figure out why this is all happening.

2. Do you believe Anna is a scam or is she telling the truth? Also are the O'Donnell family and Sister Michael trustworthy?

I'm not sure what to believe with Anna. Maybe it is a scam but the child just doesn't know it. She seems too happy for someone starving herself so she must believe what she says, but she has to be getting food somehow.
I don't trust the family or the sister. The girl's symptoms means she's clearly not okay but they don't seem to care and that really disturbs me.

3. Religion plays a large part in the story. We learn to know Lib's point of view on religious practices and way of thinking. Do you think that's all it is, Anna fasting due to her religious upbringing or do you think there's more?

I think there's more to it than just religion, but I have no clue what it is.

4. Dr. Standish diagnosed Anna with hysteria. Do you believe that's the case? What about Lib's observations of swelling, fluid retention, coloured spots etc on Anna's body?

The swelling and spots are really disturbing and I think it's more than just hysteria.

5. Considering the end of the second chapter, do you think Lib's attitude towards the O'Donnell family will change?

I think she's going to be influenced by them. She might get sucked into some of the religious ideas since she mentioned believing Anna for a moment.

6. How do you like the pace and writing style so far? Any thoughts about the setting?

I really like the pace of the book, but the writing style is taking me a while to get used to. It sucks me out of the story sometimes.
The setting make the story a little eerie because Lib is in the middle of nowhere and it sometimes feels like she's surrounded and being watched by the townspeople.

Just got the book in the mail :D Will be joining the discussion

Finished the Rose Society by Marie Lu. It's a sequel

I really tried, guys, but I really cant make myself finish The Monstrumologist I still have 3/4 of the book to go and I'm already tired of "Snap to, Will Henry. Snap to!" on every page.

I'm currently reading The Rose Society which is 2nd in a series. Almost done with it.

Finished:
Title: the young elite by Marie Lu
Pages: 355
1st in a series
I think it would fit for card 3 "bribe the stable master" because Teren bribes violetta and another kid for information

Going to start The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
1st in a series
Works for card 1
horror genre
Card 5
spell it out R

Finished:
Royal Assassin

pages: 675
Second in a series
published 1997

not really sure what to read next. Do I keep reading series?

Finished:

title: Wildwood
Pages: 560
Read: 10/7/16
Reason: contains a map

Oh I just remembered I have the audio book for Wildwood (sorry I can't put links I'm on mobile) the paperback definitely has a map of the woods

I can read The Royal Apprentice by Robin Hobb but how long do we still have until the end of this event? I might not be able to finish it

Finished:

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods
Pages: 417
Reason: lightning on the cover

I can take "lightning on the cover." I just checked out "Percy Jackson's Greek Gods" by Rick Riordan, and Zeus is holding a lightning bolt.

Finished:
Some kind of happiness by Claire Legrand
Reason: House on the cover
Pgs: 374

Finished: Assassin's Apprentice

Labor 5 task 5 (Main character is a thief)
Pages: 448
Read: sep 16
Reason: main character steals from the prince to give to his king

@Joanne

You can make two different spreadsheets. One just listing the book and the "possible labors" on another column and then the member reading it.
On the page you already have, you can put us down for a labor now, and move books around later referencing the other spread sheet.

I have two books I want to read soon.
1. Some Kind of Happiness
L1T1 title starts with an S
L4T1 House on the cover

2. Assassin's Apprentice
L5T3 has at least 5 different covers


L5T5 main character is a thief (He steals a letter from the prince to give to the king)

L6T2 someone is murdered (assasin's job)

L12T4 someone is injured severly (Burrich has a infected wound on his leg because of an animal attack)

I know I wasnt planning on finishing anything today, but my phone was dead all day and I had a very long break between classes. It's okay if we don't use them.

Finished two books today but I don't think they fit any squares.
Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
220 pages

Made You Up by Francesca Zappia
448 pages