Karen ⊰✿’s Comments (group member since Sep 23, 2012)

Karen ⊰✿’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Sammy wrote: "Also a big fan of all things Princess Bride. And I thought this book was all kinds of charming."

Sure is 😊

Marla wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: " Marla wrote: "Our kids also loved listening to As You Wish. I think we have listened to it more than they have watched the movie at this point 🤣"

I have been wanting to watch The..."

It is great to watch it after listening to the book. I hope you can find a copy 😊

Marla wrote: "Finished 3 more in June

21. The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny (6/15/24) ~ added 3/30/19 ★★★.5
A man no one recognizes is found dead. Strange story with a fairy tale woven through i..."

Our kids also loved listening to As You Wish. I think we have listened to it more than they have watched the movie at this point 🤣

Our flight which was meant to land in Ho Chi Minh City at 2030 ended up landing at 0030 and then it took 45 minutes to get the bags 😴🥱😬

Had a full day tour today so although we got into bed after 0200 had to leave at 0830 but it was so amazing. My best day in Vietnam so far. Chu chi tunnels and Meekong delta.
Having a wine at the rooftop bar now and will have an easy day tomorrow 😊

Eldarwen wrote: "I keep seeing that Sanderson book everywhere hehe. Hope you enjoy it!

And continue enjoying that lovely holiday of yours! :-)"

Hard not to enjoy his books! I keep having the reserve become available and then I push it to the next person as I’m already reading something. This time I decided I just need to download it and get started.
We have been delayed by over 3 hours at the airport so it’s good to have books at the ready :)

Hi all,

I am at Hanoi airport while we wait for our (delayed 🥲) flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Have spent the last 3 days on Halong Bay on a boat with no internet, BUT I did finish my books for the mini :)
- book 5. Stephanie is so much fun. So inappropriate and definitely aged but hillarious
- MPG Nature. Great to re-read and I went looking for what Katz (Bill's friend) is up to and found he died last year which is sad, but also very cool he has been immortalized in this way.

Next up is what I had queued already and not needing to download on audio 😊 and also from NetGalley on my kindle

Omg I go to Thailand and Vietnam and look what happens!
Who is left? 😬

Haha
I had that same thought about Santangel, Lisa!

BOM Participation Tracking Post

The Familiar
July 2024

Day 1- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2 -https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3 -https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 5

16.) Were there any surprises about the supporting characters? Did they get the endings you expected? That the characters deserved?
I really liked the development of Valentina.
The Aunt I was sad about, but I guess not everyone could have a good conclusion.

17.) Did the ultimate point and outcome of the tournament leave you satisfied? Or did the whole thing seem like a bizarre waste of everyone's time, money, and life (literally in some cases)?
It was very anti-climactic. I guess it moved the plot along, but the fit with the story wasn't 'quite right'.

18.) Luiza and Santangel's ending. Was it what you were hoping for? Satisfying? Remind you of how a different series ended the storyline for lead MCs (view spoiler). Would the ending of worked if the magical system had been more defined? I still don't have a handle on the parameters of Luiza's magic. Maybe there isn't any?
Yes very much like the spoiler. I still liked it though ;)
I think with Luzia, she didn't even understand her magic so it made sense that it wasn't spelled out to us either. I was surprised but happy with the HEA ;)

19.) What did you end up rating the book? Would you recommend it to others?
I enjoyed it. Not as much as her other books but I was engaged throughout, and mostly gave it 4 stars for the character development

Andy wrote: "and finally, when you hear they are making tv series and all you feel is the fear... do not ruin it!

Lessons in Chemistry - have not watched any of this - is it worth watching?

and most important..."

I watched the first episode and decided I didn't need to watch it. Not that it was bad, but I didn't *love* the book and so decided to move on.

Agree re: murderbot. Not sure how that will work on screen

Andy wrote: "interested if this happens to anyone else?
two tv series I have really been enjoying but not watched in a while, not finished, not abandoned, just not sure when right time to pick them up again

Si..."

oh I loved the Silo tv series. Thought that was a good adaptation! My husband hadn't read it so there were a couple of bits I expanded on for him that I think were probably just too hard to show on the screen

I haven't watched 3 body problem, but I didn't enjoy the book so much...

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "When is a TV series ever better than the book?

The only book I can think of is Anna Karenina. Reading that is like pulling teeth. I'm not really a fan of the storyline but it does film well with ..."

I agree with all of those.
I do enjoy AK but I skip over the endless farming passages haha


Boy Swallows Universe I thought was better on screen than the book. Same with Nine Perfect Strangers (moriary’s poorest novel but made a good tv show)

Unlike E I actually enjoyed Shadow and Bone TV series. It mixes up all the books and changes things so you do need to read them first and then watch the show as though it is “inspired by” rather than an adaptation 😬

DQs
6 July Chapter 34 -44

12. Have you read any of Baduga’s books before? I’m finding this quite different for her dipping into HF. Your thoughts if you have read the others? If not, are you interested in picking up some more of her books?
13. Many of the characters are changing from what they were first presented as. If there anyone you are finding you like more than you did originally?
14. Do you believe there will be a HEA here? Or is Luzia doomed?
15. Bardugo’s family were expelled from Spain during the inquisition and she said in a People interview “This was something I was passionate about learning about, because it's my own family's history”. Do you think this adds to the story that she has a personal connection ? Is there anything in your family history you wish you could research more?

I hope you do, Lisa. I love her books 🥰

Sounds good E!

I finished the Familiar and started my Nature book on the plane last night. Will update properly when next on a computer

I’ll also put A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail into my audible downloads as I’m almost done with the BOM.
I’ve read it before but I enjoyed it and I only have it free from audible until 27 July so I can re-read for Nature if no one else has something to fit

Day 3 DQ's Chapter 24 - 33

9. We keep hearing how people smell. Luzia of orange blossoms, Perez of plums and amber. Why do you think the author keeps mentioning this? Do the smells mean more than just an odor?
There is definitely significance, especially how he keeps commenting on Luzia's scent. I'm assuming it has to do with their different magic and hopefully we will find out soon

10. We are over halfway through the book. What has been your favorite part/scene/person/line so far?
Santángeli is my favourite. Great complexity/mystery to his character

11. Valentina and Marius seem to be rekindling their marriage, finding love where there wasn't before. Why do you think the author is adding that part of the story when she could have left it out?
Redemption? Everyone deserves love? Magic is more than 'tricks'? I'm not sure but I find it quite sweet

11. Now we are over halfway and know more of Luzia, the competition and this world. Why do you think the publisher and possibly the author chose this cover over any other possibilities? If you could remake the cover, what would you want it to look like?
The cover is interesting to me with the scorpion ( Santángel ) sitting at the sleeve cuff. Does that mean she plays him (or vice versa) or she becomes the new scorpion?

I can read for #5. It will take me a few days but I can do it before the cut off

DQs Day 2 Chapter 13 - 23

5. Luzia’s refranes combine elements from diverse cultural traditions, creating a powerful form of magic tied to her Jewish heritage. Does the portrayal of Luzia’s magic suggest that blending different cultural traditions enhances personal power and resistance, or does it emphasize the delicate balance and possible loss of identity in such a blend?
I thought it was more about the mixture making her stronger. They keep alluding to how she doesn’t quite know her capabilities yet

6. Characters like Valentina and Hualit demonstrate varying levels of ambition and moral compromise on their paths to security and success. Is pursuit of personal safety and financial security a justifiable reason for ethical compromises, or should ambition be tempered with moral integrity?
when you don’t have that kind of security and safety I think it is understandable to do what you feel you have to do to gain it for you and your family

7. Have you done other reading set in late-16th-century Spain? If not, are you having any problems following the political intrigues and social mores? What’s your favorite time period to read for historical fiction?
I don’t think so - well not that I specifically remember. I’m enjoying it so far. I’m not sure I have a favourite period but I feel I’ve had my fill of WWII books for a while

8. What do you make of Santángel? At one point we get the line, “And Santángel would be free.” Free from what, do you think?
he is my favourite character and I want to know more! Clearly he struck some kind of deal and hasn’t been free for a long time

Nosy bonus question. Are you reading this book for historical fiction, for fantasy, for romance, and/or for DQ points for your BG team? 😉
I love the author so would have read it anyhow, but I am reading it at this moment for points ;)