Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
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Connor, Ellen - Nightfall (buddy read) 24 October 2011
CaroB wrote: "LOL! I think you guys were right, it was the smart thing for her to do, but when I was reading it , I was mentally screaming at her to do something! "You were not alone, CaroB!
~Megan~ wrote: "@ Lisa Kay#1 -- You mean there WASN'T a Xi'an Xi?? I am totally gullible, too LOL!"
I couldn't find anything on the internet; there is a city, which is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China, named Xi'an - but I can't see that it was named after anyone.
Okay, I'm so very bad... but I just couldn't stop at the end of chapter 10!!! O.M.G.!
CaroB’s Questions Prologue – Chapter 51. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting?
Yeah, it kinda reminded me of the world in Kate Daniels series..magic hits and tech goes out. And who doesn't love the idea of a post-apocalyptic world?
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation?
True, when she already mentioned that dying by a single bullet would be better. She should have run or tried to.
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her?
Mason would be the wolf and Jenna the lamb. Maybe Mitch loved Jenna in his own crazy way. I don’t get the last part of the question.
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like?
Yeah, they do feel like they’re the same thing. Dunno how she knew though.
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters?
Mason’s supposedly sexy and Jenna’s confused, that’s all I got right now.
@ Anomander#3 - I like you're answer better than mine; I think you are right.
Lisa, you made me do it! I've kept on reading after chapter 10!! It becomes a completely different book as we read ahead!
LOL! That's okay, my shoulders are broad; you can blame me, Anomander. ☺
I just started chapter 3. >_< Stupid RL, keeping me from my books. Questions will be posted late tonight, sorry!
Finished it!:-) How much did you read, Lisa?
Sans' questions for 6-106. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7?
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from?
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away?
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
Sans' answers to chapters 1-101. What an awesomely dark prologue! It is scary, in that it is so easily imaginable in this “time of prophecy” we currently live in. What do you think of the prologue? A powerful beginning or just another scene-setting?
It certainly caught my attention. I'm waffling on the genre and the prologue is pushing me towards sci-fi.
2. At the end of chapter 1, I’m trying to decide if she’s ballsy or brainless. He unties her legs and she calmly walks into the cabin ahead of him??? WTF! What did you make of her stoicism in such a difficult situation?
Based only on chapter 1, I'd say she's actually pretty smart, doing what she thinks she should to survive.
3. In her father’s crazy-ass letter, the craziest bit had to be “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them” Which animals do you think are supposed to signify Mason and Jenna in that ? Why did Mitch speak of Jenna with affection, why would Jenna not have been told by her mother than Mitch was being sent letters about her?
I'm guessing leopard and kid, respectively, mostly because the wording makes it sound more sexual. I wonder if Mitch knew getting close to his daughter would make it harder for her to accept doing what needed to be done? If she was too busy mourning him, she wouldn't be effective in her fight for survival.
4. Anyone else suspecting a link between the “riot” dogs and the rabid beasts that attacked? How did Jenna know exactly what they’d look like?
Oh yeah. It seems like the "magic" that's taking over the world is waking up pre-cog abilities in people still alive.
5. So far this seems a very plot-driven, action-packed read. But what’s your take on Mason’s and Jenna’s characters from the first 5 chapters?
I wish we could have learned a bit more about them. It seems really short chapters and switching POV makes it hard to get to know these characters.
6. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
It seems like these people need to be part of the story, so I'm glad Jenna let them in. I can understand where Mason is coming from though.
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7?
Oh yeah. Big time. I just have no idea what the significance is.
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from?
I guess it's due to the magic?
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
That one seemed to be pretty human still, so I guess so?
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away?
She seemed to be very strong and accepting of what had to be done. Creepy all around though.
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
Is everyone thinking sci-fi romance, PNR, dystopian horror, an amalgamation of all the above?
Anomander wrote: "Finished it!:-) How much did you read, Lisa?"I tried to be good and finished tomorrow's reading. They restrained myself, but the night is young, LOL!
Lisa Kay’s Answers to Sans' Questions for Chapter 6-10 6. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
Man-oh-man! Such a dilemma! Especially considering the trust issue – who knew who those people were? But, I know it would have been hard for me to keep them out.
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7?
Definitely! Especially the little girl.
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from?
I don’t know. Maybe genetic or a mutation?
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
Yes, weird. I read ahead a bit and have a question here… but I’ll wait.
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away?
I think it was the smart thing to do. She was very near death anyway – like imminent!
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
I don’t know, but I like it! It is like a really fun B rated movie that is a hoot – plus romance!
Who wants to do questions for Chapters 16 – 20?
@ Sans#1 – Yes, I guess this is sci-fi romance. Cool, I needed one of these for a challenge.
#3 – Sans! You guess the same as me! However, I think we are wrong, LOL! Good point about her mourning Mitch.
#5 – I agree; a little more character development/background would have elevated this read.
#6 – Good point about them being part of the story.
#7- LOL! Me neither!
#8 – Magic? Hmmmm. Interesting.
#9 – Yes. Pretty creepy. Especially if you don't like spiders.
#10 – Definitely post-apocalyptic.
Lisa Kay wrote: " Lisa Kay’s Answers to Sans' Questions for Chapter 6-10 6. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do yo..."
The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
Yes, weird. I read ahead a bit and have a question here… but I’ll wait.
Do tell!
Sans' questions for 6-106. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
I know that I wouldn't have been able to leave them outside to there one devices with those nasty things coming. I can understand Mason's thinking, but I think he should have been more understanding at the time.
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7?
For sure! I think I've been proven wrong on my thinking already. I think Penny is going to be VERY important in all of this.
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from?
Maybe some latent special abilities only came to be under duress or something. Or it's some kind of ability they each had prior, but it wasn't as developed?
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
I will admit that this was what I expected just because of the number of the monsters and it sorta just makes sense as far as plot points to me. Freaky still though.
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away?
When I read that she had been bitten, I knew something was going to happen to her, to morph into something not human. I was surprised that things ended for her like that, though I thought it was a very clever twist.
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
Jenna didn't seem at all surprised that she could converse with him at way, so I go back to my answer for #8. Maybe she is aware more than she has let on so far, but I have no idea how Mason's awareness is morphing into telepathy.
Sans wrote: "Sans' answers to chapters 1-1011. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
Is everyone thinking sci-fi romance, PNR, dystopian horror, an amalgamation of all the above? "
I'm with you, Sans. This reads to be a mash-up of several genres. I just hope that it doesn't get to confused with what kind of story it's trying to tell.
@Lisa Kay and Sans#1-I was thinking more Apocalyptic, but I guess that still fits under Sci-Fi
Sans' questions for 6-106. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
Yep, he was just being practical while Jenna was more humane.
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7?
Yep, they do.
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from?
Magic.
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back?
Something like that. It was really really creepy.
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away?
Mason kept saying that Edna wasn't a danger to them. So killing her sounded too cold blooded to me.
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going?
Jenna's being psychic was just a step behind from being able to use telepathy as well.
Sans' questions for 6-106. Things are happening pretty fast. Do you think Mason was right, the other people should have been left to their own devices? Or do you agree with Jenna, that they have to help them?
I think they both had pretty valid points, but in the end, I don't really think they had a choice. It all seems a little pre-destined to me.
7. Do you think the new comers have anything to do with the passage Caro pointed out in question 3, and Jenna remembers in chapter 7? I definitely think they do. I've been trying to figure out who is who, though. I'm thinking Edna would either be a sacrificial lamb or a calf left to slaughter? The little child is the only really obvious one to me.
8. Where do you think this knowledge Jenna and Penny have is coming from? I don't know about Jenna, but there seems to be more to Penny than meets the eye. I think she is going to be very important. And, sadly, I have a bad feeling her mom might not make it. I don't know why I say this, just a feeling I have. I wonder if she knows what will happen to everyone?
9. The demon dogs used to be people? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. What do you think, some kind of zombie werewolf that can't turn back? What if these people are the beginning of a new shapeshifter race? They are just forming and don't know how/haven't evolved to the point where they can control themselves? Maybe they aren't really evil, but out of control. Edna didn't seem evil to me, just scared and powerless in the face of what was happening to her.
10. Thoughts on what happened to Edna, both the transformation and how Mason used her to buy them time to get away? I think Edna was very brave, and I'm glad that Mason gave her a choice.
11. Telepathy too? Where the heck is this book going? I don't know, but I like it! Maybe it's a bonding type of situation between Mason and Jenna, as they seem to be the only two capable of it at this point and only with each other.
@~Megan~ I like your thoughts for #9. I hope they are an evolving race and not evil to be evil.
@ MeganWho are you referring to in #9? The shapeshifting dogs or the six remaining survivors?
And more importantly, did you convince her to read ahead too, Lisa? ;-)
Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 11 – 15 12. How did Penny get in the tangled thicket? Does she have some other undisclosed ability?
13. Ick. The Pit. (Thank God there was a shower!) Are they going to have to deal with that again? Is there something dormant in there?
14. Well, Bob bit the dust. Were you surprised someone else died? How many of these folks will survive? And who? What about Mason’s wounds?
15. What the hell was the “corpse” changing back into a man all about? And where did the body go? Is it still alive or did something else take it?
16. Okay, I’m thinking Mason and Jenna just need to shag and get it over with. Most of the time I like the sexual build-up, but in this instance I’m wondering if it would be best for the both of them – and everyone else. Comments?
17. What was your impression of Dr. Chris Welsh? Mason being jealous of him – plus being an a$$hat over it? I don’t know why, but I thought they were going to get him and bring him back to the cabin.
18. Was there any info in Mason’s flashback that was significant?
19. Will Tru stop cutting himself? Did Mason handle cleaning his wounds right? What about what he said about their needing him for all their survival? What will Tru do if he’s locked up in that bunker for the months of winter?
20. Jenna and Angela have bonded over a bottle of Cognac. Comments?
21. Who screamed at the end of Chapter 15? And why? Did you have to read on? Not every chapter ends in a cliffhanger – just the ones we chose as stopping points!
Heather wrote: "@~Megan~ I like your thoughts for #9. I hope they are an evolving race and not evil to be evil."
+1
Lisa Kay wrote: "Who wants to do questions for Chapters 16 – 20?"I can if no one else has volunteered. This is a very fast read! I was halfway through chapter 17 before I realized it.
Yes, Heather, I think it is a "mash-up of several genres" too. Sci-fi, magic, apocalyptic, horror, and romance.
@ Heather#11 - Yes, she doesn't seem freaked out about her ability to connect with Mason's mind at all. Good point.
@ Anomander#8 - "Magic." Yes, that word keeps coming up over an over. Which is a good think b/c I keep forgetting it. All the other stuff throws me out of thinking about that genre.
#10 - ☹ But she was turned inside out... I wouldn't have wanted to "live" that way.
@ Megan#9 - See my question in post #76.
#10 - Me too!
Anomander wrote: "Lemme know about the questions."I don't understand what you mean? Are you talking about doing the discussion questions for tomorrow?
Sans wrote: "I can if no one else has volunteered. This is a very fast read! I was halfway through chapter 17 before I realized it."Thanks, Sans! Let's see what Anomander meant. I'm in the middle of Chapter 19, and would be farther but got a migraine.
Booooo on migraines! My dad woke up vomiting because of a migraine last night. Maybe it's the change in the weather?
I took an Imitrex, but it is not cutting it.
Sans wrote: "Lisa Kay wrote: "Who wants to do questions for Chapters 16 – 20?"I can if no one else has volunteered. This is a very fast read! I was halfway through chapter 17 before I realized it."
I know what you mean. I'm in Chapter 23, have not been able to put it down. lol
Lisa Kay’s Questions for Chapters 11 – 1512. How did Penny get in the tangled thicket? Does she have some other undisclosed ability?
Magic..I know, I sound like a broken record now.
13. Ick. The Pit. (Thank God there was a shower!) Are they going to have to deal with that again? Is there something dormant in there?
No, it was more of a storage area..meat storage i.e.
14. Well, Bob bit the dust. Were you surprised someone else died? How many of these folks will survive? And who? What about Mason’s wounds?
Nah, its typical of an apocalyptic book or movies.. people die. I did think Angie would be dying too. Nah, Mason's too important and he hasn't done it with Jenna yet.
15. What the hell was the “corpse” changing back into a man all about? And where did the body go? Is it still alive or did something else take it?
I know...so creepy!! Something else took it, definitely.
16. Okay, I’m thinking Mason and Jenna just need to shag and get it over with. Most of the time I like the sexual build-up, but in this instance I’m wondering if it would be best for the both of them – and everyone else. Comments?
True but the violence mixed with the sex..had me worried.
17. What was your impression of Dr. Chris Welsh? Mason being jealous of him – plus being an a$$hat over it? I don’t know why, but I thought they were going to get him and bring him back to the cabin.
I liked the scientist. Nah, Mason thought they'd need the scientist's stored food to survive the winter, I took that to mean they'd be staying with the scientist.
18. Was there any info in Mason’s flashback that was significant?
That he's as damaged as the rest of them?
19. Will Tru stop cutting himself? Did Mason handle cleaning his wounds right? What about what he said about their needing him for all their survival? What will Tru do if he’s locked up in that bunker for the months of winter?
I thought Tru'd come around. He wasn't a bad person.
20. Jenna and Angela have bonded over a bottle of Cognac. Comments?
Fine by me.
21. Who screamed at the end of Chapter 15? And why? Did you have to read on? Not every chapter ends in a cliffhanger – just the ones we chose as stopping points!
Nope, I put the book down like a good girl *winks* I thought the screamer was a newcomer.
Anomander wrote: "Yep, I meant I can make questions too."Thanks, I'll put you down.
@ Anomander#12 – LOL! True, but I think you are right.
#13 – Oh, lord. I think you are right again. LOL!
#14 – “Nah, Mason's too important and he hasn't done it with Jenna yet.”
God! You are making me laugh over all you’re answers, LOL!
#16 – Yes, Mason was getting a little out of control there. I figured it was TSB (Toxic Sperm Buildup).
#17 – Yeah, plus it would have been hell getting back. I just thought they were “rescuing” him.
#19 – True! I like him.
#21 – Sure you did.
Sans started it..her answers to the questions for Sugar Daddy were hilarious!TSB hehehe nah, they both seem to like it.
Sans' answers to Lisa's questions for chapters 11-1512. How did Penny get in the tangled thicket? Does she have some other undisclosed ability?
Teleportation? Unless she just wriggled from out of the blanket?
13. Ick. The Pit. (Thank God there was a shower!) Are they going to have to deal with that again? Is there something dormant in there?
I don't know, buy now I've got flashbacks of The Descent. Can I have a brillo pad and some bleach for my brain, please?
14. Well, Bob bit the dust. Were you surprised someone else died? How many of these folks will survive? And who? What about Mason’s wounds?
I was, actually. I guess the lamb and the fatling, typically sacrificial animals, were Edna and Bob?Ange will probably die, as the rest of you have suggested, but I think that's it. I think Mason will be fine. Unless Megan is right and there is a new race of shapeshifters being bred. Maybe Mason will become one of the sentient ones that isn't out of control?
15. What the hell was the “corpse” changing back into a man all about? And where did the body go? Is it still alive or did something else take it?
Megan's totally nailed it I bet. That one was hanging back, taking in the situation, acted closer to a human than the others did. Like the Lycans in the Underworld series. They couldn't change back at first, but Lucien was the next mutation with the ability to change at will. I think the other dogs pulled the body for food or it was still alive. *shudders* At least this is good Halloween fare.
16. Okay, I’m thinking Mason and Jenna just need to shag and get it over with. Most of the time I like the sexual build-up, but in this instance I’m wondering if it would be best for the both of them – and everyone else. Comments?
WORD, yo. They need to burn off the adrenaline and UST to settle matters between them. I have to say, I'm liking the fact that Mason isn't your typical hero so far. He's not falling all over himself with the insta-love and he's not being an epic asshat about his attraction to Jenna. Well, until he got jealous over Welsh anyway.
17. What was your impression of Dr. Chris Welsh? Mason being jealous of him – plus being an a$$hat over it? I don’t know why, but I thought they were going to get him and bring him back to the cabin.
LMAO!! I totally didn't read this question before I typed my comment to number 16! Mind meld. I don't really trust Welsh yet. Not sure why. Maybe we just haven't been able to get to know him enough. Going back to the cabin would have been a lot more dangerous and it isn't as defensible as the research facility.
18. Was there any info in Mason’s flashback that was significant?
Which flashback? When he was getting stitched up or when Mitch and everyone died? If the former, I don't think so. If the latter, I wonder if Mitch is still alive but one of the demon dogs or a shapeshifter now?
19. Will Tru stop cutting himself? Did Mason handle cleaning his wounds right? What about what he said about their needing him for all their survival? What will Tru do if he’s locked up in that bunker for the months of winter?
I think he will. He's got something else to focus on now and a role model in Mason. Since I read the synopsis of the second and third book, I know Tru is going to play a vital role in the future, just not sure what exactly it will be. I think Tru will get a bit worse during the winter, but with his new support network of fellow survivors (especially Penny), he's going to grow into someone they can depend on.
20. Jenna and Angela have bonded over a bottle of Cognac. Comments?
Booze is the best way to make new BFFs, but it can also give you a false sense of a person. I hope Jenna doesn't become too attached to Agne, especially since we all think something bad is going to happen to her.
21. Who screamed at the end of Chapter 15? And why? Did you have to read on? Not every chapter ends in a cliffhanger – just the ones we chose as stopping points!
LOL! It was Penny, but I don't know why even though I did read through chapter 17.
A question of my own: Is it just me, or is this book not really about Mason and Jenna? It's more of a group story and less of a romance for it (at least as far as I can tell so far).
Anomander wrote: "Sans started it..her answers to the questions for Sugar Daddy were hilarious!TSB hehehe nah, they both seem to like it."
XD I tend to let my mind wander and get a bit nasty at times.
Lisa Kay wrote: "@ MeganWho are you referring to in #9? The shapeshifting dogs or the six remaining survivors?"
I was thinking of the shapeshifting dogs.
@ Sans#12 – I think you may be right about the teleportation. Unless – based on Megan’s theory – she “shapeshifted” into something that could fly or crawl unnoticed.
#13 – I didn’t read The Descent. Sounds like I should stay away.
#14 – Man-oh-man! You guys all think Ange is going to die? I like her. Drat!
#15 – I’m going with still alive. And, no, that hasn’t been revealed so far as I’ve read. Just a hunch. (view spoiler)
#16 – Okay, what does UST stand for? I figure the S is sex or sexual. Maybe the T is for tension…
#17 – We still got it, Sans! LMAO too. I don’t know… I think he is alright, but I’m so naïve sometimes. His radio broadcast was a little wacked out, though. You could be right.
#18 – Either one, but I was thinking about when his was recalling his buddies dying. And I wondered the same thing about Mitch!!! Wow. MM again.
#20 – Okay, I’ll try not to get too attached to Ange.
#21 – I know, but I don’t know either. Must have been some dream/vision.
~Megan~ wrote: "I was thinking of the shapeshifting dogs."Now see, Megan, your answer before got me off on a tangent that even the good guys will be able to shapeshift... thus my question #12 about Penny getting to the thicket.
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#3 - I think you're spot-on regarding the dad/daughter/mother intervention dynamic.
#4 - I hadn't thought about them as government-produced monsters, but I like it!