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

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

I know I probably seem MIA and I kind of have been. I will take the next few days to add any books I wasn't able to do while watching my grandchildren and dealing with some RL issues that take place with little to no notice for me, so my apologies but I have had to prioritize. I will get my books posted as soon as possible.

Completion Post


Book: Dumplin'
Author: Julie Murphy
Date Read: May 19
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 371

Tasks
#4 1st in series
#21 MPG Romance
#25 Spell out EIGHT E Character Ellen
#28 Spell out EIGHT H Character Hannah Perez
#29 Spell out EIGHT T Character Thomas, Patrick
#81 Spell out BEES B Character Bo Larson
#82 Spell out BEES E Character Ellen
#84 Spell out BEES S Character Sammy
#96 MPG Coming of Age
#107 Characters in costume
#111 Spell out CLAY C Character Cotter, Bekah
#112 Spell out CLAY L Character Loraine Larson
#113 Spell out CLAY A Character Amanda
#160 Spell out KIDBY D Character Dickson, Willowdean
#161 Spell out KIDBY B Character Bo
#164 MPG Young Adult
#169 Spell out LILAC L Character Larson, Bo
#171 Spell out LILAC L Character Loraine Larson
#172 Spell out LILAC A Character Amanda
#173 Spell out LILAC C Character Cotter, Bekah
#223 Black cover
#224 Single person on cover
#225 1st person POV

Day 2 DQ's Message #169

Day 3 DQ's Message #175

DQ Day 3
Chapters 21 to 33

11. For someone claiming and trying to be body positive about herself, Willowdean sure isn't giving anyone else any slack. Her description of Hannah, like with others, was just mean. Do you think the author is projecting Willowdean's insecurities on how she sees herself onto others?

I'm really not surprised at all that she was mean about Hannah. If she thinks she's worse looking than herself, it's like she has someone that she "can" be mean to and feel almost right in doing so. It reminded me of in Of Mice and Me when Crooks is so mean to Lennie. It's because he knew he could and Lennie was one person he could be mean to and get away with it.

12. What did you think about the incident Patrick kneed in the balls incident? He didn't seem like Mitch's best friend saying that (honestly, maybe Patrick and Willowdean should date). What did you think about her mom's reaction and the resulting blow up between mom & daughter?

Well, I wouldn't tolerate that kind of behavior in real life, but he definitely deserved it and when you're a dick like he's known to be, something like that and worse is eventually coming your way. I was really sad for Will that she didn't feel like she could tell her mom because she was afraid her dream would then be gone...her bubble burst. I don't like her mother for how little she supports Will. She should be her #1 fan in all areas of her life.

13. Did anyone else want to high five Ellen for calling out Willowdean on her crap? What did you think of their argument? Do you think the rift will be repaired? If so, do you think a Dolly Parton sing-along (thanks Cat) will be part of their healing process?

I think the argument was long overdo and probably could've been minimized had they discussed more earlier on and communicated their issues. I think the rift can be repaired if they orginally had a true bond. A Dolly Parton sing-along sounds fun but they might want to totally start anew if they make up.

14. Based on the blurb, Millie's attitude and pep talk while at the restaurant is what I would of expected from Williowdean. What do you think of these girls deciding to enter the pageant? What did you think of Millie's pep talk?

Willowdean's entering the pageant might have given Millie the impetus she needed to enter also, but that's hard to say. "Misery loves company" so perhaps knowing that another heavy-set girl was entering gave Millie more confidence/courage to enter even though she's "not the type" so to speak. Going against society is not an easy thing to do, so I applaud both of them.

15. Thoughts on Mitch? Where do you think his and Willowdean's relationship will go? Do you think she'll crush his poor soft heart?

I have a feeling that they'll friend zone their relationship and it will be mutual. I hope that they develop and maintain a good relationship because Mitch isn't such a bad guy after all.

DQ for Day 2
Chapters 11-20

6. Picking up on the previous grief question to turn it around towards Willowdean and her mother. Will seems to think (I'm paraphrasing here) that her mother is a heartless cow and wants to use Lucy's room all to herself without any consideration whatsoever for anyone else. I can't help but wonder though if the mother isn't somehow trying to be close to Lucy - her own sister - by setting up a craft room in Lucy's space. Everyone deals with grief in their own way, and while yes, I agree with her (unlike Will) that the dusty old things will eventually need to go, I feel like she's trying to find a way to cope at the same time.

I hadn't really considered that but I guess it's a possibility.

7. Will and Bo. Thoughts? More particularly, Will's reaction to finding out that Bo will start going to the same school?

I thought it was a bit absurd but it kind of fits her personality.

8. The more I read, the more I wonder how Ellen and Will are (still) friends with the way they talk to each other. According to Will, they are drifting apart because Ellen is having sex and because of Callie (she doesn't quite say it but it is definitely there). Their interactions however do make me wonder, a lot. I feel like they're friends more because it's a habit than anything else. They're both dependent on each other - Will because she doesn't seem to have other friends and can't stay in the pool alone? Ellen because she needs a back-up when she goes to pick up her pay check?) What do you make of their friendship now that we know more. Irreparable rift? Habit? Undying friendship?

I think it's habit/familiarity...it is what she knows. I don't think Will has the confidence she needs to know that she can make other friends and they've known each other so long it's hard to acknowledge they're not the besties Will thought.

9. And this inevitably brings me to Will's interactions with Callie. It seems like Callie is at least trying, even though there is the fat-girl-issue, but she isn't completely ignoring Will, unlike Will herself, who barely manages to be civil to the girl. Sure, I completely understand the jealousy of thinking that someone is stealing your (best) friend from you, but it isn't helping Will's case that she is basically being a douche to the girl.

I see your point of view. I don't think Callie is being genuine but time will tell.

10. Did anyone else have that moment of "oh shit, something really terrible is going to happen on the date" when Ellen and Tim tell Will that Patrick Thomas is Mitch's best friend. Or is it just me who thinks that there is a very obvious lack of mobbing and finger-pointing? Not that this is a bad thing, on the contrary! Though I do find it odd since Will has A LOT of issues and basically hates people who are not Ellen (and Bo).

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "lack of mobbing and finger-pointing" but I didn't necessarily expect something awful to happen. I think she's also so used to having been bullied that she is kind of prepared to deal with those things if they do happen.

Completion Post

Book: The Bad Muslim Discount
Author: Syed M. Masood
Read: May 17
Pages: 354
Rating: 3 stars

Task
#26 Spell out EIGHT I Imtiaz Faris
#27 Spell out EIGHT G Character Dr. Ganni
#28 Spell out EIGHT H Character Hafeez Bhatti
#29 Spell out EIGHT T Title
#81 Spell out BEES B Character Bhatti, Hafeez
#84 Spell out BEES S Character Safwa
#88 Set in large city Set in Karachi and Fremone
#95 Features a grandparent Naani Jaan
#113 Spell out CLAY A Character Anvar Faris
#123 Sea on cover
#145 Spell out TRUTH T Title
#149 Spell out TRUTH H Character Hafeez Bhatti
#153 MPG Historical Fiction
#159 Spell out KIDBY I Imtiaz Faris
#161 Spell out KIDBY B Title
#162 Spell out KIDBY Y Character Dr. Yousef Ganni
#167 Title includes adjective - Bad (adj.)
#170 Spell out LILAC I Imtiaz Faris
#172 Spell out LILAC A Anvar Faris
#190 Spell out SKY S Character Safwa
#192 Spell out SKY Y Character Dr. Yousef Ganni

BINGO
G6 Footnotes "It didn't [have] ... footnote to footnote (120).

Day 1 DQ Respones Message #51

DQs Day 1 - Chaps 1 - 10

1. What do you think of Willowdean? Does she feel like a sufficiently real person?

I definitely like her and I think she's very realistic at this point.

2. What you you think about her relationship with Ellen? They are starting to keep secrets from each other now - do you think that this is the start of a drifting apart or will they stay close?

That's very hard to say but I hope they stay close and communicate their true feelings about things; however, I do think they'll drift apart at least for a time. I think there is some conflict between them that might not be addressed

3. Bo is interesting - the opposite of Will in terms of being reserved in comparison to her chattiness, but with something lurking in his backstory. Do you want to have a guess at what's up with him? Would anyone NOT have done the same as Will and followed him to the abandoned school in the hopes of more making out?!

I have no idea what's up with him, but for some reason I don't fully trust him. Of course, there are people I do think would've chosen differently, but I never have followed anyone to an empty school. It's too creepy and I wouldn't have trusted him 100%.

4. Will claims ownership of "fat" when she introduces herself to Bo. How successful do you think she is in her aim to stop it from being an insult?

I don't think that was very successful at all and she would make a lot of people feel uncomfortable pointed out her weight. I think it might have the opposite effect she wants.

5. Lucy has clearly been a big influence in both Will and Ellen's lives, and yet they haven't been talking about her at all since her death. Do you think this is a normal reaction to a sudden death? Would you be like Will's mother, and get rid of everything, or keep it?

I think there is no "normal reaction" to death. I think sometimes people don't understand their own reactions. When my mother and father died, I kept things of theirs so I assume I'd have kept things like Will's mother did. I know I couldn't possibly get rid of everything.

Crazy House by James Patterson
Date Read: May 13
Pages: 354
Rating: 4 stars

Tasks
#4 1st in series
#27 Spell out EIGHT - G Character Greenfield (Cassie & Becca)
#28 Spell out EIGHT - H Character Helen Strepp
#67 Focused on siblings (Cassie & Becca are twins)
#81 Spell out BEES - B Character Becca
#884 Spell out BEES - S Character Strepp, Helen
#100 Butterfly / moth on cover (dragonfly work?)
#111 Spell out CLAY - C Title
#112 Spell out CLAY - L Character Mr. Lewis
#113 Spell out CLAY - Character Allen, Nathaniel
#137 MPG Fantasy
#146 Spell out TRUTH - R Character Rebecca
#160 Spell out KIDBY - D Character Diego
#161 Spell out KIDBY - B Character Becca
#164 MPG Young Adult
#172 Spell out LILAC - Character Ms. Ashworth
#190 Spell out SKY - Character Strepp, Helen
#229 MPG Mystery
#225 1st person POV - Cassie and Becca both have 1st person chapters

BINGO
C5 Butterfly - Dragonfly on cover is also in the phylum "Arthorpoda" and both are in the class "Insecta"

Eldarwen wrote: "Dumplin' DQs are ours! :-D

For Equal Rites, we have not been lucky. But it's nice that we get one set for this month :-) A few extra points!"

That's fantastic!

Completion Post


Book: What the Hell Did I Just Read
Date Read: 5/07
Rating: 4 stars

Tasks:
#12 MPG Humor
#46 Flames on Cover
#64 Skull on Cover
#107 Character dresses in costume - Amy dresses as Ulala (a Space Girl)
#108 Character has an X in their name - Sax Cocksman
#118 Title has all the letters in D-E-A-T-H
#135 MPG Paranormal
#137 MPG Fantasy
#138 MPG Horror
#160 Spell out KIDBY - D (Author's FN - David)
#223 Black Cover
#224 Single person on Cover
#240 "Moist" in text - "John thrusted his staff into the moist -" pg. 58
#241 Last book in a completed series

Eldarwen wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Completion Post


Book: The Year of Fog
Date Read: 5/04
Rating: 3 stars"


Can you put this on your TT shelf, please?

Thanks!"

I'm so sorry I just now saw this. I added it to my shelf and will try to add all my books in the future.

Nanci wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Completion Post


The Lost Orphanby Stacey Halls
Date read: 5/5/21
Pages: 352
Rating: 4 stars

Of c..."

Thanks, Nanci :)

Completion Post


Book: The Year of Fog
Date Read: 5/04
Rating: 3 stars

Tasks:
#34 MPG Family
#68 MC travels somewhere requiring a passport - Abby (MC) needs a passport
#114 Spell out CLAY: Y from title
#123 Sea on cover
#143 Letters F-A-T in title: The yeAr oF Fog
#145 Spell out TRUTH: T from title
#146 Spell out TRUTH: Author's LN - Richmond
#148 Spell out TRUTH: T from title
#149 Spell out TRUTH: H from title
#162 Spell out KIDBY: Y from title
#192 Spell out SKY: Y from title
#215 Garlic in text: "Buried on a garlic farm in Gilroy" (85).
#225 1st person POV
#229 MPG Mystery

BINGO
D3 Water on cover
F8 Blackboard being erased: "Dr. Thomas Swayze...drew a circle on the chalkboard" (9).
H1 The MC is a photographer

Nanci wrote: "Completion Post


The Lost Orphanby Stacey Halls
Date read: 5/5/21
Pages: 352
Rating: 4 stars

BOM- I answered the discussion q..."

Nanci, since you'd already done this and it's the same book I read, I hope you don't mind that I copied this one and just switched it up a wee bit.

Completion Post


Book: The Lost Orphan by Stacey Halls
Date read: 5/05/21
Pages: 352
Rating: 5 stars

BOM- I answered the discussion questions for Days 1, 2. 3, abd 4
Tasks:
#20 Bess and Lyle get married
#28 Spellout letter H (ALN: Halls)
#29 Spellout letter T (Title: "The")
#84 Spellout letter S (AFN: Stacey)
#88 Set in London
#97 MPG Historical > Historical fiction
#112 Spellout letter L (Title: "Lost")
#116 MC Elizabeth (Bess) goes by Eilza and doen't divulge who she really is when getting a job as nursemaid
#145 and #148 Spellout T (Title: "The")
#149 Spellout letter H (ALN: Halls)
#151 Letters in title spell out LOT The LostOrphan
#153 MPG Historical Fiction
#155 Charlotte used a horse attached to carriage to get to church
#167 Lost is an adjective
#169 and #171 Spellout letter L (Title: "Lost")
#190 Spellout letter S (Author's FN: Stacey)
#224 (Single girl on cover)

BINGO
A3 Bess buys clothing for Clara (Charlotte) and saves them in a trunk for when she "collects" her.

*NOTE: The "official" page count for the BOM is 400, so I'm not sure if, in this post, I put 352 or 400.

DQ Day 4 - Chapters 14-18

15. Knowing how Alexandra's parents died and seeing her state of mind after being surprised by Dr. Mead, Eliza, and Charlotte in masks, has your perception of Alexandra changed in any way?

I don't really feel differently about Alexandra, but I do feel bad that she went through such a horrible experience.

16. What do you think of Bess running away with Charlotte? Looking at her reasons do you think she is being selfish or doing what is best for Charlotte?

I'm conflicted about Eliza taking Charlotte. Being a mother of 5, I totally understand but I don't think she was truly considering what what best for Charlotte. Otherwise I think she wouldn't have gone about it the way she did.

17. What do you think of Lyle and his willingness to help Bess escape with her daughter? Do you think he will remain in Bess's life?

I hope he remains in her life. I think he's a good friend to her.

18. Was anyone surprised by Ned's theft of Eliza's money or subsequent betrayal of Bess? What kind of deal do you think he made for himself in exchange for information about Bess?

I wasn't surprised at all because I never saw anything that showed him to be a man of integrity.

19. Charlotte certainly went through a lot in a short time during this section. How well do you think she handled the reality of being on the run with Bess? What do you think her reaction will be to being returned to Alexandra?

I think Charlotte handled it all very well. I would think she'd be conflicted. On the one hand, she's only 6 and every child loves their mother and to her Alexandra has been her mother. So I think she's going to be happy in some ways but not in others. What's sad is knowing that Alexandra is not capable of being a good mother to her emotionally or mentally.

Eldarwen wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Completion Post


Book:Redemption
Page Count: 416
Date/Rating: 5/03/21 ★★★★★

Can you add this to your TT shelf, please?

Thanks!"

I'm sorry. I inadvertantly had duplicates of this book. That happens to me so often but I don't know until something doesn't show up correctly. I've fixed it.

Thanks, Stacie ;) I figured that's what happened but I wasn't 100% if maybe I had done something wrong. I only had to do 3 DQ's which I finished so I'll probably finish it. I am really enjoying it!

One more question: who is -Faust-Eric that my book was used for? Just curious since I've never heard of him.

Captains, I have a question. I posted a couple things for the BINGO but noticed neither was used, so I simply wanted to know if I did it wrong or the reason why not. Perhaps because you used it for -Faust Eric (?) and I'm curious what that is...a character from Discworld? Just trying to figure out the challenge a wee bit better. Thanks :)

Also, when I am finished with the DQ book do I post it in this thread or does it only count for the DQ's?