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

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

Is there also a penalty for under-reading?

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
Date: 7/31
Pages: 384
Rating: 5 stars

Thanks everyone for such a fun team! I really enjoyed this one.

Eldarwen & Stacie, you two rock! Eldarwen, your sense of humor brightened many of my days! I appreciate all that you both did on my behalf!

What a creative, fantastic story!

Read: 7/25
Pages: 382
Rating: 2 stars
Jackonary: This is a HOT ménage between two estranged brothers, Doc and Archer, and a woman (a Little) named Caley. Set in Montana, the brothers go to a cabin to work out their differences and Caley becomes their savior in a way. BDSM involved, spanking, and other such things.

Read: 7/24
Pages: 373
Rating: 5 stars
Jackonary Takes place in Destiny, a small town in Ohio. Focuses on Mike Romo's little brother Lucky who's returned after being gone for 16 years. Family didn't know where he was and had made some bad choices, such as he joined a motorcycle gang. When he goes back to Destiny and meets Tessa who is battling Crohn's disease, they strike a fancy with each other and the rest is history. Sweet, sexy romance.

Read: 7/24
Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 256
Jackanory: Nonfiction book of a man who murders his parents in 1992 in Silver Spring, Maryland. He remembers doing it but has unsure recall and wonders if he imagined he did it. 10 or so days later he turns himself in to the police in Florida and is arrested and goes to court. He's put in Perkins Psychiatric Hospital for the mentally ill, so much of the story is about how the mentally ill were treated as well as Brian Brechtold's fight to be heard...he doesn't want to be force fed pills, for example. He plugs his ears at night due to all the noise, not because he's mental.

Read: 7/23/21
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 132
Jackanory: A woman was kidnapped in book 1. In this book (2) she feigns submission in hopes to get more "privileges" but she finds out has cameras on her in every part of the house he's allowing her to go in, including the bathroom. So his "acts of kindness" are not at all! He rapes her and is very evil in all of his actions towards her...huge cliffhanger!

Nanci wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Wow, Vicki! Way to come through and add a ton of read books! You pulled us way up in the rankings! :0"

I did? Thanks! :) Well, maybe that makes up for slacking in this ..."

Thanks so much, Nanci :)

Nanci wrote: "Wow, Vicki! Way to come through and add a ton of read books! You pulled us way up in the rankings! :0"

I did? Thanks! :) Well, maybe that makes up for slacking in this challenge this month.

I've had a hellacious RL going on lately and haven't posted all my books though. I've read but just haven't had time to update and do all my reviews.

Eldarwen wrote: "Vicki, you have approximately a gazillion books on your read shelf (but not on your TT shelf). If you read them for TT, could you please post completion posts for them when you get the chance so th..."

I will for sure. I got so behind on my reviews and when I looked at our list of what we needed on the SS I didn't think any of mine fit so didn't think we could use them. I'll probably not get to many of them until I'm back from vacation but should I still post books even if I don't have anyplace to post them for a task because most of our tasks are finished?

Eldarwen wrote: "Vicki wrote: "If no one else has claimed it, I'll do task #117 MPG Espionage and read Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy"..."

OK thanks :)

If no one else has claimed it, I'll do task #117 MPG Espionage and read Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy

Nanci wrote: "Thanks all! The procedure was a complete success and they were able to resolve my arrhythmia issue that I've had for 38 years. No more meds and a nice healthy heart! I feel fantastic, but will foll..."

Nanci, good news so congratulations! :)

Eldarwen wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Completion Post


Title: Our Last Echoes
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Read: 6/26
Pages: 394

TASKS:
201 Onomatopo..."

So sorry...yes! Done!

Completion Post


Title: Our Last Echoes
Author: Kate Alice Marshall
Read: 6/26
Pages: 394

TASKS:
201 Onomatopoeia

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.