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

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

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I have an author I like to read and have a few left in her series that I can read for Author's name starts with X, but it's her last name. But her books are only around 100 pages. Is ..."

Perfect!

I also have an 800+ page book I want to read, so would that count for any of our page counts? I can also do 500-599 book but not sure I can do both at the same time.

I have an author I like to read and have a few left in her series that I can read for Author's name starts with X, but it's her last name. But her books are only around 100 pages. Is the page requirement 100 or 125 pages for this challenge?

I plan to read for 59. Read a book featuring pirates (or privateers)
if nobody else is because I am reading Vengeance of the Pirate Queen this week for another challenge anyway.

Beth, I was only going to read it because I had it on my TBR shelf, but it's not truly my kind of book. I went ahead and started it last night so I'll finish it for us. Thanks :)

Louise, should I read the X title book? If so, do I just post it in the BOOKS tab and then you place it in the best spot?

Louise wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I'm a little confused. I think I added 3-4 books I planned to read on the BOOKS tab but they're gone. Are we not doing regular books now? I got lost somehow."

I was updating, and had..."

OH lol OK thanks :)

I can read Xoe: Vampires, and Werewolves, and Demons, Oh My! 212 pages for book title starts with X.

I'm a little confused. I think I added 3-4 books I planned to read on the BOOKS tab but they're gone. Are we not doing regular books now? I got lost somehow.

We just need the ghost one to finish that monster. I'm reading 2 books for the newest Echnida monster. I'll have to read the 500+ pages book first and the other one second because my E book will be due for Coast Busters tomorrow.

I have added all of my books as of right now. I kept adding TT shelf and would find a couple books NOT on it. I would double check and they were marked but not on my shelf still. That being said, as of now all of my books are on my TT shelf so hopefully they stuck!

Louise, I checked my shelf and all of my books are on the SS, so I must have already updated. I do get behind at times depending on my schedule so sometimes I add several books at once to the SS, so I'm sorry if that causes any inconvenience or confusion. I'll also be adding some books today after I add their read dates, etc.

Louise wrote: "Vicki please add The Diamond Thief and Mystic Evermore to your shelf. You also seem to have books on your shelf that aren't on the spreadsheet. Can you add them plea..."

I got behind! I added the 2 books to my TT shelf (sorry...AGAIN!), and I will look and see if I still need to add books that you said are on my shelf but not the SS. I did get interrupted when I was adding books when my daughter, her hubby and five of her 6 kids were headed to the lake and their car broke down so I had to go pick up all of them but her hubs who waited for AAA.

Question: What is "free choice" listed as part of the page numbers?

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 18

10. I've noticed Carlota's perceptions are often described using non visual cues: she hears a lot, and even smells Montgomery behind her bedroom door but then dismisses the idea. After her attack, she finds herself noticing that "Her fingers, in the mirror, looked very long, the nails almost too sharp and the eyes...". Do you feel Carlota ever questions her own nature as a human/hybrid or is she too ingenuous to do so? Do you also feel the author is using alternate senses and, if so, as clues for the reader or red herrings?

I believe she is hybrid, and I seriously doubt that she questions things because she appears to accept things as they are.

11. For much of this part, I felt Montgomery was conflicted regarding his feelings for Carlota. He "writes" to his wife using what I felt was a brotherly perspective only to realize, a few lines and drinks later, he could not resist kissing her if she were there in that moment. What did you make of this change of heart and do you find his various missteps bring something to the story?

Whether or not I agree with it, it makes sense to me that he's fallen for her because he still misses his wife and is lonely. Carlota is young and pretty and he knows her, but I think he feels it's a conflict of interests so he's hesitant.

12. We're already halfway through the story - Doctor Moreau and Montgomery are both complex characters. Am I alone in thinking Carlota and her hybrid friends deserve to be more thoroughly fleshed out and layered?

No, I would agree with you.

13. What did you make of the scene where Carlota loses her virginity by the cenote - did her reaction seem natural to you or did you find yourself questioning her fearlessness? In your opinion, if Carlota is herself a hybrid, what effect might that have on their progeny?

Good question...I was totally taken aback! I don't question her fearlessness because she has seemed pretty fearless throughout, but perhaps part of that is due to her naivety. I would assume they would be hybrid as well.

14. There's a storm brewing as the hybrids plan to join Juan Cumux and Carlota attempts to retrieve her father's notes and formulas. Do you think the hybrids will remain subservient once they remove themselves from Doctor Moreau's influence or could the story turn dark?

I think it has to turn dark and there's no way it'll have a HEA ending. I don't think the hybrids will stay subservient at all. I think they might turn against Doctor Moreau in anger and God knows what darkness will rise up!

Thanks, Jenny :)

Louise wrote: "@Vicki - please add The Lonely Hearts Hotel to your shelf please :)"

Added...sorry about that!

Hey, Jenny and Trisha, I had a book that I could post but thought I had already used it. So I was uncovering the lines that were covered but now I don't know how to cover them back up. But I was able to add a book for unfinished series and a couple others, so that's good! :)

DQs: Day 2, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).

The jump didn't bother me. I do feel like Carlota has grown some, even though she maintains that general essence of being innocent and naïve, which I think will always be a part of her personality. Whether or not I like books with jumps depends on the book and how well it works for that particular plot and characterization.

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?

I do generally like having more than one POV so that I can understand each character more. Plus, there's always two sides to every story (or more), so I like to get both sides (or more if appropriate). At this point, I am enjoying both POV's and don't really prefer one over the other...yet.

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?

I generally like love triangles, but in this case I don't care for them but they could grow on me.

9. So far these feel very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?

I love historical fiction, but I generally don't care for true horror nor sci-fi, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But I guess I agree in general.

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer?

I am a huge dog lover, so it would definitely be a dog...laze around all day, nap whenever you want, get "massages" for free, and (hopefully with the right owner) be loved on all the time.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 5

1. Have you read the original Island of Dr Moreau book? Or watched any of the films? I only saw the 1996 movie, so, in my head, I keep seeing Dr Moreau as Marlon Brando, Val Killer as Montgomery and Fairuza Balk as Carlota.

I can't say for certain either way. If I did read the original or see the movie, I don't remember doing either one. Who knows?

2. In the movie, Fairuza was one of the hybrids, although here, she only has "treatments" with jaguar genetic code. Do you think it's just a ruse from the doctor and she is actually the first hybrid?

I definitely think that's a possibility but he's done so much experimenting that he might have experimented on others first.

3. Montgomery's past was a sad one. And he looks like just a drunk with some natural instincts to protect the innocent. Were you surprised he was considering not to accept the job, and then when the incident happens and he needs to kill the hybrid he decides to stay?

I wasn't surprised at all. I think he's playing a major role in the plot so I am curious to get some insight into that mind of his. I'm sure we're going to learn a lot more about him.

4. I'm a bit disappointed that he didn't explain exactly how his studies came to be. In a scientific point of view, how is it even possible? We're in the 1870s... way before in vitro fertilization or genetic advances... and he manages to separate and mix genomes, or as called in the book gemmules? Not to mention that the original story was written way before cloning was a thing....

I'm not sure what your question is, but it's definitely a puzzle as to how he did what he did. I can only say it's because he's such a genius and also referred to as a "mad scientist" so who knows how he went about it.

5. So, hybrids are dangerous. Specially when they're still developing, and their animal instincts are overpowering the human ones (in theory, since we had no idea what the level of brain maturity the developing hybrid was). Back in the movie, there is a rebellion and it doesn't end well for humans. Do you think it will be the case here?

I have a feeling it will not end well for humans, but I am not making any true predictions at this point.

And a bonus, Am I the only one that is sad that we're jumping 6 years? I wanted to see the fall out from the incident.

I don't think I am sad...more like maybe a little disappointed...,but I am interested in finding out more about it and I think we will.

Louise, I have quite a few books to add that I will add to the SS in the morning. I should be able to keep on top of the books now that I am back home and hopefully have no problems with our internet!! lol

I just got home from visiting my siblings and some nieces and nephews in Florida VERY late last night so I haven't talked with my kids, but I don't think they have any set plans yet. Guessing if we do anything this year it'll be spontaneous.

I added a bunch of books to the SS, but I'll add the Spell Out options tomorrow. I'm too overly tired tonight.