Vicki’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2018)

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

Whoever (Ashley?) went through my mini-book tasks and added some things for me, thank you. I only got so far last night and was planning to add those today after my husband went to work. I didn't mean to cause anyone extra work, but thanks for saving me some time. :)

Angie ☯ wrote: "Well, GR hates me!
I had a lovely LONG post all ready and poof - pink screen and it's all gone!"

Oh no! I hate it when that happens! I've gotten used to copying it before trying to post it when it's take a while. I'm so sorry that happened to you. :(

Lol I use Libby all the time so I am going to look for it. I don’t remember ever seeing it before, but maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention.

DQ Day 2 Chapters 8 - 13

6. There's more information released here about magic use and its impact on the world. What do you think about this?

I find it interesting and it's piqued my interest regarding their world. What I'm really curious about is why the Kiela has to be so secretive about the work she's doing to heal. For now, this doesn't make much sense to me...I'm hoping to find out more.

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?

I have ambiguous feelings about this, only because I think the Jam idea is rather brilliant; however, I'm not so sure how the locals will feel about her use of magic. I really do hope that it works out and she can make money and make things better for all.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?

YES! Absolutely, I do. I think they're adorable and innocent. Although they're not 100% innocent, at the very heart of their little romance I think they are. I love their pairing.

Roe wrote: "OMG I got a skip the line for Spellshop!!!!!"

Never heard of that before. I assume it's exactly like what it sounds like, but how does it work? I random "draw" so-to-speak?

@Megan, you have your name down for 'tagged nonfiction 10x' on the Admin mini-tab but no book. Do you plan to read for that task or was your name placed in error?

DQs- Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if she were stranded on a desert island, which books would she most want to have with her?"
Now I'm putting you the same question limiting your possibilities to
- 1 complete works of an author
- 2 book series
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction

Seriously?!? lol
- 1 complete works of an author ~ (so not a fair question) I'd bring Ruta Sepetys' complete works AND Karin Slaughter's complete works

- 2 book series ~ I'd have to bring James Patterson and his series of the Women's Murder Club series

3 standalones ~

Historical fiction/Thriller:

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Probably my favorite read of 2024 & I'd reread it.

Historical fictiol/Magical Realism

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman because I already bought it but haven't read it and it's rated well by GR

3. Nonfiction:

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown

2. While it's only explained sketchily, a little politics, history (?)
of the Empire is mentioned, alongside some curious species, flora & fauna (winged kitties, anyone?) What do you think of the world-building so far?

I like the world building so far and hope to see it developed even more as the plot builds.

3. It's mentioned several times how Kiela keeps herself to herself in the Library (apart from Caz's company). Do you think such an almost complete isolation described here is possible even in such a vast Library?

I do think it's possible but highly unlikely.

4. I found it a bit disturbing that Kiela doesn't tell anyone on the island that she came away because a revolution has broken out in the capital (I understand her keeping silent about the books). It IS supposed to be a big deal after all and one would think they will learn about it eventually. A bit later some excuses are offered. Do you think they are sufficient or it's just a usual plot-driving tool?

I definitely feel like it's more of a plot-driving tool than anything else. The excuses are just that - excuses!

5. I really liked the idea of Kiela & Caz sectioning the garden and naming them after book genres. Which genres would you name parts of your real or hypothetical garden? :)

What a fun question but also a bit thought-provoking. My husband grows a vegetable garden every year with both success and "disaster." So, my first genre would be mystery because we have visitors that eat up some of our veggies & fruit...likely birds on our fruit trees and some furry being eating some of the veggies. I would call our tomato section that has a huge variety of sizes, colors, and types HEA and Second Chance Romance because I swear my hubby has a love affair with his tomatoes. I say "second chance" because he always gives a new tomato more than one chance. The last one I would call nature/natural disasters/nonfiction because they leave a true story each year because there are a couple every year that even though he keeps trying, they just don't produce wel and become a disaster every year.

While I love a nice garden, my knowledge is insufficient, so there would definitely be a "Mystery" section of my garden where plants I don't know the names of would grow.
The trees and bushes where birds are nesting would be called "espionage" maybe? :)
Roses and other plants whose name I know would be planted in the section called "Classics" and I guess fruits and vegetables would be in the "cookbooks" section. :)

Ashley wrote: "Round 2 has started, so feel free to read your heart out! Countdown on the SS"

I save a FEW pages for this round to start. :)

OMG, thank goodness! lol I just now hurried up and did them. lol Next time I'll know. My husband just got home from work and asked if I mind if he watches his race (he's always so considerate that way) and I said, "No, I have to spend time on Goodreads updating today because I messed up on my team challenge and cost us points and I feel terrible." I know we've all done that, but it feel so bad when you inadvertently cost points, so I'm really glad I didn't! Thanks, Ashley.

When can we start reading for Round 2? Do we have a countdown clock anywhere?

DQs Day 3: Then - Then 58%
first line "Marcus changes completely..."
last line "...serious chat about your future"

11. "The sound of teeth against a spoon when someone's eating soup, insects that scuttle, people who don't listen, RATS, and when uncle Terry says 'WOMEN!'" - what a random list of pet peeves (Are they even pet peeves? Rats?? And uncle Terry 'all on his own'???),,, What are some of yours?

I have one major pet peeve and it's waiting on someone who should have been on time. I don't mind waiting in a car, for example, while someone is shopping or doing an errand etc.; however, if someone is just taking their sweet time knowing that I'm waiting and kind of anxious to get going and they have no real reason (not doing an errand etc.) then I hate waiting on them. (Don't know if I was clear.)

12. Dylan's (and Marcus') trip through Europe has become much more than just that, ending up in Asia, trying to figure out what to do with his life when he's already been handed it all on a silver platter. His dad is a douche and clearly wants to dictate Dylan's life while Dylan just keeps running away from his problems. Lucky he has all this money (his dad's I would assume) to just throw away. Can you relate to him in any way? Do you feel bad for him?

No, I can't feel sorry for him. I cannot stand taking forever on doing something, so I don't. I like to get things done ASAP. So I can't relate to him really. I don't tend to get depressed, but I can get upset emotionally momentarily. So I don't get him.

13. "Nowadays we date, we shop around. If we really like someone we spend more time with them. Then we move in with them a few years down the line. Then, maybe, if we've lost the will to live or whatever it is that compells people to settle down we marry them. We don't rearrange our lives because of a good shag."

"Addie, she's not right for you (...) Stop that! Don't you see what you're doing? You're turning her into something she's not. You don't understand her. She's not your beautiful muse, Dylan. She's messy and dark. And raw. She's a disaster waiting to happen. She's got power. And she doesn't even know it yet you know. She's like,,, she's untapped. (...) She's not right for you. Okay?"

Did Marcus already know something we didn't at this point? Did something happen between Marcus and Addie back in France? And then the way Marcus took care of Dylan after getting too high, in the bathroom.... Do you think he (not so?) secretely has feelings for Dylan? Or is he just jealous?

I do think that Marcus wants Dylan to himself in some fashion. And if that's the case, then, yes, I do think jealousy is involved. I don't think you can want someone all to yourself and not be jealous if/when they spend time with others.

14. Rodney thinking Deb has drowned in the river and actually LOOKING FOR A BODY IN THE WATER!!! had me laugh out loud to be honest, but only because of how frickin ridiculous this book is. Definitely expected something more cutesie and wholesome for some reason. Being almost two thirds into the book now, how do you feel about it so far? Is it meeting your expectations?

Honestly, I've finished the book and probably gave it more stars than it deserved, but I figured 3 was fair (rounded up from 2.5). I thought it would be a lot more fun and funnier to read. It seemed so disjointed and in parts random and not my cup of tea.

DQs - Day 2 - 17 Oct
Then - Now 38%
first line "Can't the girl find..."
last line "shitshow of a strategy"

6. The author goes for the switching POVs and timelines method. How do you like these in general? And do you think it is a good fit for this book?

I'm glad you asked "in general" because I do if done well. Sometimes it just doesn't work for me, and for this book it didn't work. It made so much seem rather random to me.

<7. We get to meet some more characters along the way in the "THEN" section: Dylan's uncle Terry, his brother, the mysterious Grace and other friends whose dynamics to Dylan and Marcus should shed some more light on their characters and motivation. But do they? Do you feel like you are getting to know them better? Or understand them? (Or care?)

To be honest, not really. Maybe in future settings/scenes but not as of yet.

8. What do you think about Dylan's and Addie's past relationship in France? Do you like it/find it convincing? What about their sudden meeting in the present and the insta-lust after all the emotional baggage they seem to be dragging with them?

First of all, I dislike insta-lust almost always, so I didn't like that aspect. But as for France, a vacay lay and attraction was fine. The attraction seems to still be there but why? lol

9. I'm not really sure I'd call this book a "romance" though it certainly offers the trope of second-chance. Do you have any favourite romantic trope(s) or one that you especially dislike?

Not sure if it's a trope, but I don't like insta-lust where it's wham-bam-thank you-man. There has to be an element of actual romance to it or it's not romance but pure sex without emotion...not for me.

10. Any guesses what part Rodney may play in the plot or do you think he's just some kind of "filler" character?

No idea, but he seems more like a filler to me.

Ashley wrote: "Vicki! I know you're still adding discussion questions for "The Road Trip", but can you mark it read on your shelf please? Thank you!"

Did I get mine fixed in time? I have NO idea what happened but (blaming my husband on this one) we are organizing/getting rid of a ton of books which is so hard for me but we really are overloaded. So hubby kept coming and stopping me asking me to help him because he doesn't know which books go to where: I have a couple friends taking books to sell for a church fundraiser, the library at the high school I used to teach at, and a couple friends, daughter and granddaughter who want books and then the leftovers so to speak are going to Goodwill or or out front in a box marked FREE. We've already gotten rid of about 3 boxes that way. Anyway, I'm so sorry to the team if I messed up by not marking it. I am also trying to get my DQ's all done but I was thinking I had until the end of the time period for the BOTM to be read so was going to finish today. I still will but I might've lost us those points too. :( Not a good day yesterday for doing it all right.

Ashley wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Can bonus words have (for example) plural endings? ie. quilt or quilts"

Plurals are fine :)

Vicki wrote: "Where do we put our BOTM? The only tab I found for them is VIEW ONLY."

BOM..."

Thank you for answering all of those questions! I feel a bit like an idiot because I looked all over for where to put the BOTM DQ's, but I was looking for a different tab. lol

I hope you're feeling better and that the new meds help!

DQs Day 1
Now - Now last line "...reach out and touch her."

1.) Is this your first book by O'Leary? Only reading for points and that lovely 'O' letter for Wheel-a-thon or was it already on your tbr list?

I had never heard of this author nor of this book. I definitely added it just for the points for Wheels. Didn't even know our word (I don't think) when I added the book.

2.) Road trips. Love them, hate them? If you've gone on a road trip before what are some must have for the journey?

I've definitely been on road trips as a youngster, as a married woman with five children, and now as a grandmother and only with my husband. All have been different. As a child we took games, played "I spy" and looked for the "bugs." As a mother with her kids I made sure they had games (not technology then), books, things to play with (depending on their ages, my oldest was 9 years older than my youngest). And now, hubby and I travel peacefully...I listen to my audiobooks while he listens to his music using his earbuds so it works just fine. Of course, we do some talking as well, depending on moods, etc.

3.) Deb's comment about never having a baby obviously proved untrue. Do we think the baby daddy is going to make an appearance in the story? Or do you think it's a no name person who isn't relevant to the book?

I assume he is going to show up somewhere. He's obviously important in some way or another. He IS the baby daddy.

4.) The flagrant unconcern about money by half the characters is a bit gross. Do you think that's at the root of Dylan and Addie's split? Or do you think it's the mysterious Grace? Marcus especially seems to not know the whole breakup story. Any guesses to why Dylan didn't seem to tell him the truth?

I don't think I have enough information to say the money or Grace is at the root of their split. I have no idea why Dylan wasn't transparent with Marcus. I am curious to know if that's just a flaw in his character/he's not totally honest, or if he had what he considered to be a logical reason.

5.) Initial impressions of the cast of characters

So far none of them actually resonate with me, so I don't think too much of any of them at this point. I kind of like Addie but I'm not in love with her character. Hopefully they'll all grow on me but I really don't care for Marcus.

Can bonus words have (for example) plural endings? ie. quilt or quilts

Where do we put our BOTM? The only tab I found for them is VIEW ONLY.

Last, can we work on the 3 different mini-challenges simultaneously? So if one of my books works for Admin but another works for Gardening and they're both read the same day or week, would that be all right?

Ashley, I am SO sorry you're dealing with health issues right now. Obviously your health is far more important than a challenge/captain duties so please take care of yourself. I hope the new prescription works for you!

Ashley, is there something I need to do to my first X book highlighted in yellow, line 53?

Update: I see what I did. I marked the 2nd book as read instead of the 1st one. I discovered the error just now when I went to add my other read books from yesterday and today...my other X book being one. I fixed the date on that one in line 53. I assume that is why it was marked.

I posted my X book.

BTW my X book is almost finished.

I have an X book I am reading! If we can use ALN