Nistha’s Comments (group member since Apr 16, 2023)

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

I should be finished with Faye's Spirit today. It is a strange one involving horny ghosts haha

Righty thanks a lot, that's what I thought as well.

Quick question on the BoM DQs (apols if already been answered). Do we need to answer it within the month tbe BoM runs? i.e for Starling House the last day to answer would be the 2nd July?

BoMs give me a good chance to read something I have to considered. And to be fair, the 2 BOMs and the backroom I have read (currently reading) so far in this challenge weren't really that bad. They were more average.


I am a bit scared to start Wishing Game after all the reviews haha. But it was on my TBR so might as well give it a try.

I feel the same about the July BoMs - not very eager to read them 🙆🏻‍♀️

DQs Day 2 - Chapters 8 - 13

6) The narration is using dual POVs: 1st person for Opal, 3rd person for Arthur. Does it work for you? Do you think this suits the story?

I quite like to get different povs and so far it hasnt been repetitive. Moreover, I find Arthur more exciting than Opal

7) Opal goes to the Library to find out more about Starling House and finds her mother's phone number among the Gravely family's documents. What implications can it have? Do you think it could be a hint about Opal's parentage?

Well, offcourse, the book just puts us in the dark and slowly enlightening on all the mysteries

8) After Bev's story about the relationship between Eleanor Starling and the Gravely brothers, we get a totally different perspective from what Nathaniel Boone went through. What do you think about the Gravely family and their "hold" over the town of Eden? What do you think Nathaniel may have discovered in the dark?

They have a hold - being rich but also something sinister going on.

9) Finally we learn some more about about Arthur's role (warden) and his connection to the House. What do you think about their "relationship"? What is your opinion about Starling House as a sentient being? Could it be good or evil?

I believe the House itself is not evil but some dark forces lie in it. I feel the house will ultimately lead to some place which has all the answers and would need to be destroyed. The House itself binds people - so could be evil also but I would like to think it is not so far

10) On "characters not communicating"
In Chapter 12 we find out that Opal has not told Jasper about the fact that she arranged for him to go to a different school and she actually managed to put together the fee for the 1st year already. Opal doesn't tell his brother about her working in Starling House and she doesn't tell Arthur about her spying on the House for Elizabeth Baine and getting more and more demands.
What do you think of all this?

I don't really like Opal - she seems oversmart to me. Arthur, I feel, on the other hand, his own reasons and secrets

Done with my first battle book I Stop Somewhere! Woohoo! It was a 4 star read which is pretty good (though it was a depressing and heavy read - reminded me of Lovely Bones)

Hahah! Sometimes I feel I need such palette cleansers when I keep reading good books. And well some books are so bad that its good!

I started both of my battle books and surprisingly one is fine while other is good. I actually thought Fayes Spirit would be horrible but so far its not written that badly. I stop somewhere is quite good so far though its very dark and brutal.

I started with my first battle book (the longer one)... want to get these out of the way to avoid last minute panic haha.. So far its going good. I am also trying to get Starling House done - I am around 1/4th done, it is also going interesting so far.. These are books I wouldn't have otherwise picked up so hopefully they go well till the end.

1.) Have you read other books by Alix E Harrow? Was this on your tbr list before it was a BOM selection? Any expectations going in?
I haven't actually and to be honest I did not have a lot of expectations as well. But.. the book has captivated me so far, I am invested

2.) Did you read the footnotes as you went along? Find them helpful? Annoying?
I have ignored them - like how I usually ignore footnotes in general

3.) The discussion of E.Starling's book being too scary for children reminded me of some interviews with M.Sendalk when the Where the Wild Things movie came out several years ago about books, etc that scare children (when children are the target audience). His response was basically children should be scared sometimes and there's nothing wrong with that. And has further said, it's better to have a book full of fears than one pretending there's nothing to be afraid of. What are your thoughts on this topic?

I have enjoyed horror movies growing up a lot. I like the fact of variety of content being out there. Offcourse, they would give me nightmares but I used to get a lot of kick out of these horror movies/books.

4.) What are your thoughts so far on Eden and Starling House? Has the author done a good job so far of creating an atmosphere and setting for a good gothic story?
I think the author has done an incredible job. There is the aura, the mystery, the characters, the myth - very well

5.) Any favorites so far in our motley cast of characters? Opal, Arthur, Jasper, Bev, and Starling House

I want to know more about the history of Starling House and why Opal is so into it. Also some background on Arthur would be great!

Perfect!

I am on my phone but I can do I stop somewhere by TE Carter unless anyone else wants to

Fayes spirit

I can do Faye's Sacrifice or Faye's Spirit

Hmm I can also do
Faye's Spirit

(not great ending/easy letters)

Is the ending fey or fay?

I found some options but not sure of the availability, but just listing in case helpful

The Nyogtha Variations
Enyo's Warrior
Nyoongar People of Australia: Perspectives on Racism and Multiculturalism

Christina wrote: "Nistha wrote: "I could also do Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (its shorter) but I am open to picking up next battle books also.."

If you don't mind I'll do Eeny Meeny as I actually have acces..."

Offcourse! Go ahead, I can pick up something else

I could also do Eeny Meeny Miny Moe (its shorter) but I am open to picking up next battle books also..

Gwen|| Bookish Blondie wrote: "Wish me luck as I start a 1,348 page book. :)"

Gwen you are a reading ninja!