Gwen|| Bookish Blondie’s Comments (group member since Jan 24, 2022)

Gwen|| Bookish Blondie’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

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?
It's working for me so far! I enjoy getting both their reactions.

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? It's clear there's a connection between Opal and the House since it seemingly wanted her to find all this information out about her mother. Perhaps the house is just messing with her for its own amusement, but I wouldn't be shocked if one of the Gravelys was her dad.

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?
Classic tale of those in power keeping power by any means necessary including resorting to pacts with fiends/devils. I think the family did some dark and sinister things and the hold is a supernatural one. I think Nathaniel discovered the underdark and the inhabitants.


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?
This began to give me Saw vibes where the killer put a warden in with the victims to get them to do what the killer wanted. Arthur clearly has a role and is being told to do things by the house. So far he's seemed creepy and also seemed fine and that alone is enough to make me creeped out, so kudos to the writer for keeping us thrown off.

It's amazingly creepy and satisfying when a thing that is not sentient becomes sentient and has a mind of its own. I like stories like that.

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?
Opal acts like she's 12 and her stunted emotional growth and terrible reasoning skills makes the lack of communication frustrating and annoying. It's not a positive character trait. It's a trait that leads to unnecessary drama and death. It's stupidity.

) 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?
No. This is my first novel by the author. I am expecting a gothic horror story.

2.) Did you read the footnotes as you went along? Find them helpful? Annoying?
Yes, I read footnotes as I go along. I think they're mostly innocuous
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?
Fear is a normal human emotion. Children are scared even when we try to protect them from it, so I don't think there's anything wrong with exposure to it.

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?
Very good creepy vibe so far. I definitely feel my Poe hackles rising in a good way.

5.) Any favorites so far in our motley cast of characters? Opal, Arthur, Jasper, Bev, and Starling House.
Opal is every annoying teen right now and Arthur is a bit too creepy, leading me to believe he might be a red herring character. Jasper is definitely the most interesting of the ones mentioned.

Ashleigh wrote: "Ooh I might be able to read that. Let me see if I can get it from the library.

EDIT: Got it, I'll put myself down for it on the ss."

Mine doesn't work as well as that one, so I put yours in for one of the horns one in the cornucopia sheet.

Done!

Harvest is both a noun and a verb. It’s either what is gathered or what you do to gather. I don’t think it matters as long as the actual word is used.

It was only 154 pages. I can do those in about 90 minutes.

First book for the mini done!

Christina wrote: "Judy wrote: "Christina wrote: "Judy wrote: "Nistha wrote: "I have Circe which I can potentially read for Crete (have been putting off for a while)."

Unfortunately, Circe is only set on Cr..."

I also posted a GoodReads list of books set on Crete above that may better suit the task. Also, as an aside, as a social studies teacher, if a book is set during the Minoan period, it will be in Crete. The Minoan civilization (one of the first Greek civilizations) started in Crete, so those stories are likely 100% of the time in Crete.

Gwen|| Bookish Blondie wrote: "My review of Salt and Brooom:

How anyone liked this trash is beyond me. She butchered Jane Eyre. This is seriously one of the worst things I've ever read. This should be deemed cruel and unusual ..."

Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time. I adore Jane. So, it makes sense if you hated it, you'd enjoy this one. I'm the exact opposite.

My review of Salt and Brooom:

How anyone liked this trash is beyond me. She butchered Jane Eyre. This is seriously one of the worst things I've ever read. This should be deemed cruel and unusual punishment. If you could sue for trauma from poorly written books, I'd sue her.

I HATED SALT & BROOM.

15. I personally haven't read Jane Eyre and therefore can't compare the two books which makes me feel a bit regretting, but then again so many of y'all don't seem to like this as a retelling. Do you think you'd feel differently about the book depending on whether you've read Jane Eyre or not, and do you want to pick up Jane Eyre now if you haven't yet? What if you hadn't been aware of this being a retelling and the characters had different names?
I find it hard to believe that anyone who has read Jane Eyre would like this novel. Had I not already read Jane Eyre, I still would not like it, because it's not a well written book.

16. I was secretly hoping that Agnes had romantic feelings for Antoinette and that she was more involved in the last part of the book, but alas it was Dr. Poole. No big surprise there. Has your opinion of him changed in any way after he "confessed" and tried to help Jane and Edward? And if you could bring someone back from the dead, would you do it? Theoretically you wouldnt be aware of any consequences, but logically I think we've learned that there's always consequences...
The author tried too hard to make a Snape like character and honestly by the end I simply didn't care at all. No, I wouldn't bring anyone back from the dead based on how many movies/tv shows I've seen with the repercussions.

17. Jane came back for Edward and saved him of course, and now they're living happily ever after. How do you feel about them as a couple, and is there anything you would have changed about these last couple of chapters as the author or simply just a fan of the original work?
I was never a big fan of Rochester/Jane in the original novel and only love the novel because of Jane. At the end of this novel, I don't care at all for anyone in it. So, if a meteor came and killed everyone I would've been fine. I say that to say, I don't care about their romance at all.

18. Was this your first book written by Sharon Lynn Fisher, and do you think you'll be reading more by the author? Were your original expectations met? Anything else you want to add?
I promise you it's my first and last. I will never read anything she writes again. She butchered Jane Eyre and that's unforgivable.

Bonus for everyone but especially those who have read Jane Eyre before: I challenge you to say at least one good thing about Salt & Broom - other than "it ended!!" IT WAS SHORT!

11. What do you think about the revelation in the garden/the haunting? Did you see it coming, and do you think there are others involved with the “curse”?
Yes, because I've read the original story. This was always bound to happen. I found the reveal completely underwhelming, though.

12. What do you think about Mr. Rochester sending away Jane and the staff? If you have read the original, how does this change Jane’s agency, and do you like the change? Either way, why do you think the author made it Mr. Rochester’s choice?
This is classic, "I'm going to make everything worse by pretending to protect people, but I'm not actually going to, I'm just going to whine and simper like an overgrown manchild.

13. Have you ever visited an Apothecary’s Garden? Would you be interested in seeing one? Do you grow any herbs or are you interested in growing any? I grow herbs on my farm, so I don't need to visit one. I currently have: cilantro, mint, lemongrass, garlic, dill, thyme, rosemary, and basil.

14. What do you think about the scene with Miss Ingram? What does this tell you about Mr. Rochester’s character and did that seem consistent with his character so far? Did his explanation make sense to you?
I am not sure how this author managed to write a version of Rochester that is a bigger asshole than the Bronte's, but it was consistent. Not much of how Rochester acts in this novel makes sense. He's not believable as a human that exists.

6. Jane gives Rochester a black-coloured thumb-sized stone to keep with him as a protective talisman. Do you believe in talismans? Please tell us about an object that you keep with you as a talisman?
No, I don't believe in talismans, but some family members are Catholic and keep different saints with them.

7. Between some of the chapters narrated from Jane’s point of view, we get chapters from Rochester’s point of view. What do you think of these “interludes”? Do they help or distract?

The dual POV in my opinion is a trend that I like in novels, especially ones where the actions of each character affects the other. I didn't mind this at all.

8. We are introduced to Dr. Poole. What did you think of this character, particularly regarding Jane meeting him in the poison garden? Were there any changes in your opinion after reading Agnes’ conversation with Jane about the late Mrs. Rochester?

He's off. He's almost immediately shown as untrustworthy or shady. And the conversation really solidified that for me.

9. We have been told several times about a curse on Thornfield. Then Jane follows Rochester to the graveyard where his family members are buried. At this point Jane says “This was a story of heartache. Everyone in Mr. Rochester’s family had died before their time, especially the females. Then his wife had done the same.” Do you think there is a connection between the curse and the early deaths?

I think it's trying to show that the curse is what's leading to the deaths and in my opinion, it's a cop out to cover up other misdeeds. Personally, the book tries to hard to make the connection making me think it's just a cover.

10. We have been given information about Jane and her origin? What do you think of this twist in the tale?

Not too shocked, but it does paint a picture of the treatment of Jane early on.

Bonus: The author has used several of the same names as those of characters from Jane Eyre. Other than Jane, Rochester, we have Brocklehurst, Maria Temple, Mrs. Fairfax, Poole etc. What do you think about authors using the same names in retellings?

I think it's helpful for people who have read Jane Eyre to understand the dynamics of each character and how they fit together. Overall, I am okay with it.

1. A paranormal retelling?? of Jane Eyre - this prompts the question about the original or let's call it the "source for inspiration". What is your relationship to Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë? Have you read it? Loved/liked/disliked it?
Jane Eyre is my favorite book of all time. I read the book once each year.

2. What about Retellings? Is it a genre you like/avoid?
I don't really have a preference either way.

3. Jane Aire as a witch in a school for orphan witches? How do you like the setting of this alternative Victorian world where magic is at least tolerated?
I thought the setting was interesting and added to the overalls suspense of the novel.

4. What are your first impressions of Jane and Rochester?
They are destined to be in a toxic relationship in every universe.
5. What do you think about the occurrences in Thornfield? Are they really caused by supernatural elements or is it human action?
They are seeming supernatural at this point, but could be a mix of both.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

As a reference a list of novels set on the island of Crete

I typically just add books that look interesting to my currently reading and fit them in between the impulse books I read that randomly get recommended on kindle unlimited or on here. But if it it’s interesting enough I’ll read a book in a couple of hours. That’s how I read so much.

I’ve figured out how to add links with titles via the app on mobile in a google spreadsheet.

First click on the share arrow on the book you want. I typically do this from the book information page.

Click on copy.

On the spreadsheet paste the full link in the spreadsheet. Then click on the link. Another toolbar should pop up scroll right to find the edit link option and the title and link bar will appear. Edit the text to the title.

This works on iOS.

I’ve been sick in bed all day with food poisoning and managed to read five books today. I’ll read a few more tonight. Weekends are when I tend to read most and with the us holdiay on Monday I’ll be reading more than normal.

I just read Funny Story last week, so I hope it’s not that one.

20. Cade goes to each of the other travellers and has final words with them. Do you think he learned any new information about his travellers? Or did he learn something about himself?
That he was capable of extreme evil and good and he wasn't one or the other.
21. The journey to The Seven Brothers is full of many challenges. Did this journey remind you of any other quest you've read?
This is just the Hero's journey archetype, so most fantasy stories follow this. It didn't do anything special with it though.

22. We now find out about the Pandorals, how they were using The Seven Brothers as vessels. Quite interesting how this was accomplished. Did this surprise you how they were formed ? What did you think of why they came to acquire the red soil?
Nah and also by the end I didn't care, because I didn't care about the Seven Brothers.

23. It was determined that Cade be the one to use the apparatus. What attunement do you think he chose?
One that required the least out of him

24. What was your overall impression of this story? What was your favorite part of the story? Will you read the next in the series or try one of the author's other series?
This book was not enjoyable outside of Corrigan. The only thing that kept me from DNfing was him, and I would never read any other book in this series or with this author again unless you paid me for the time I wasted doing so.