Denise’s Comments (group member since Mar 31, 2021)

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

I'm about to finish up Shopgirls. I'll list character names, etc for the spell-it-outs and let a captain decide what we need most.

I haven't listed this, but please use it if you think it is allowed...the book is about the employees of a trendy upscale department store. The majority of the book takes place inside the store. The name of the store is I. Magnin. I wasn't sure if that would work for a location or if it needed to be the city (which is a much less useful San Francisco. lol)

Claire wrote: "Denise wrote: "Since the start of the Uno challenge, I've been really struggling to get GR to save my changes when I switch editions. I had to save and re-save Flat White Fatality 3 or 4 different ..."

Sorry it's happening to you, too. I'm relieved that it's not just me though. I always question my sanity and think it's operator error.

Since the start of the Uno challenge, I've been really struggling to get GR to save my changes when I switch editions. I had to save and re-save Flat White Fatality 3 or 4 different times before it would switch off of the default edition. I think I logged out and back in, then switched it and it finally saved.

Melindam wrote: "I confess I had to look "ube" up as I didn't know this was the English name. :)

Always learning something new ... 🤭"

I had to do a little research, too. I thought they were just purple sweet potatoes, but they are actually a type of yam. So then a few years ago we decided to go to an international market and buy a few of each to see if we could tell the difference. They are similar in taste, but not quite the same. (This was the same trip where we bought the ingredients for the Ube Crinkles.) We're such nerds. 😂

One of the series I read has a character that specializes in baking with Ube. When I get a sec, I will actually verify that the next one in this series has that word in it, but I am 90% sure it will. The MC is known for her Ube Crinkle cookies...that I actually made when we were stuck at home in 2020. They were pretty good!

Mel, do I have any completed books that haven't been allocated? I'd be happy to check them for words in text if that's helpful.

Fiona wrote: "thanks Mel 🥰
I just hope my eye won’t look any worse tomorrow than it does right now (thankfully only the slightest bruise) because I don’t want to look like someone hit me 😭"

Oh nooo! Those little things can hurt so bad! I hope the headaches goes away. Just rest. The books will still be here when you feel better.

Melindam wrote: "OMG, a Jane Austen tribute lego set.

That's my upcoming birthday present sorted. 😅

https://aukro.hu/lego-vip-promotional......"

Whoa! That's fun!

I just have to share this little story from my day...

I was traveling fairly close to home and had a minor car issue. I stopped by the "mom and pop" mechanic in this little town to get it checked out and had about an hour to myself. I wandered down the street into their library and they had a library cat! It was the sweetest, friendliest cat I have ever met. It was absolutely begging for some attention, so I sat and read my book and snuggled my new cat friend. He's an orange tabby and his name is Cheese! Seriously! It made me think of this group. Cheese and reading just go hand in hand. And what started out as kind of a stressful morning, turned into the nicest hour. I am absolutely going out of my way to visit this little guy again soon. 🐱

Aww... that's kind of sad. I feel like we just started. But look at us go! 🎉🥹

DQs Day 3 Chapters 14-20

11. Whether the stories are true or not, are you interested in the back stories of Margaret’s family? What did you think of Freddy’s first interaction with Bernie? (The one that contained the only laugh out loud line so far “Because of your wardrobe?”)

I think the stories of Margaret's family are the best part of this book, so far. Freddy and Bernie are interesting characters.

12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
I'm not sure. I don't think she's just an employee. At first I thought she was Margaret's romantic interest. Then I thought maybe a family member or someone she's taken in as "chosen" family.

13. I do not have kids, but Hayden’s list of “what ifs” to worry about was a lot. Do you parents worry about that stuff?

I do worry about stuff, but I think there are a million kinds of people and a million kinds of parents. Our levels of anxiety differ. I agree Hayden's list was a lot. :)

14. Why do you think Alice thinks that Margaret’s tales of her childhood are true, as opposed to the stuff about her family before she was around? Do you find her insightful or naive?

Both? Alice is intelligent, but also views the world through rose-colored glasses.

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?

I think Alice's visit will be ok. She seems like a glass half-full type of person, so I'm sure they can make it work. I don't feel super invested in Alice and Hayden. Not sure we'll meet Hayden's family. (Not sure I want to)

KayLynn wrote: "I've been prepping my garden and trying to get my tomato plants outside instead of inside where they have been living the past few weeks. Time to plant those babies and let tomatoes take over my li..."

We moved ours out a few weeks ago. I hope they survive this crazy weather.

We are over 100F here again today, but we do at least have AC. So I'll be grateful for that. Will probably get some reading done because I want to leave the house as little as possible.

Even worse today. 🥵

Lauri wrote: "Behold the Dreamers was an excellent book, but a bit deep. I can’t fathom moving to a new and alien country because I want a better life for myself and my children! It was almost li..."

Now or Never was good!! 🤐 I liked the Gabriela Rose book, too.

My IRL book club just chose My Friends as its next read tonight!

KayLynn wrote: "@ Denise and @Vi regarding First Time Caller

I haven't read that but I have read other books by BK Borrison. Always a delight although not always without the drama.
I get what you're saying, Deni..."

It drives me crazy in real life, too. lol

Vi wrote: "It was a good reading month for me too.

Archangel's Ascension hit harder than I was prepared for - the series is getting to an end and the author took into a direction that I didn..."

Oh, I might check out first-time caller. I like non-idiotic romance! I really hate the miscommunication storyline followed by 3-4 chapters of each character wallowing in their own misery, but refusing to call the other. Any of that in this one?

Melindam wrote: "It was a very good month, reading-wise.

I found my Monaco book very boring, but most books were either outstanding or really good.

My highlights were

- [book:The Lumumba Plot: The Secret Histor..."

😂Gandalf😂

DQ #2

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?

I think she's definitely either lying or lying by omission to each of them. Possibly not giving them the same pieces of the story? I assumed Laura was probably dead, but I guess that hasn't been stated. I feel like she's important as well.

6. Similarly, it was kind of an aside but I thought it was interesting when Margaret mentioned the Ives family’s rivalry with the Pulitzers. Is it just a random coincidence that Hayden is a Pulitzer-prize winning author who now also gets to talk to her? Especially since she requested him? And he has a bunch of family issues too?
Well that went right over my head. I didn't make the connection at all. I assumed she chose him because of his previous successes.

7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?

Ugh. I was surprised by this, too. I don't really love them as a couple. I think he probably believes he's being a gentleman, but it was a jerk move to imply that he was about to get the job, even if Margaret did request him. She's keeping Alice on for a reason. Maybe she impressed her.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?

No. I'm not really being drawn in by these characters, honestly. I'm a little interested. I don't hate it. But I think it could have been a shorter book.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?

There aren't really any that I'm especially interested in. I think when you have wealth and power, it's easy to hide the truth, so it's hard to verify information. I suppose if I had to choose, I'd say I'm interested in the Kennedys and I've recently become a little interested in the Hiltons, after Paris testified about some of the things she endured.

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?

Well, I haven't read it. So, no. :)