Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

People tag things in strange ways

Anyone have a U in any book they've read so far? That's likely the hardest letter in this spelling and I'm not sure we have one of those on hand.

Edit: I was able to fill out the spelling for everything but the U with banked books

I'm working on the new spelling to see what letters we may have left after what I can figure out from our available books.

Will report back!

New Mini 2 Tasks

Read a book with the sky on the cover
Read a book that is on the Best Unknown but must be Known books List

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Maria Jo wrote: "Just posted my first completion. I did finish it yesterday, but after Canada opened, so idk if it can be used for one of those tasks because the options are pretty slim! I had to finish it to get i..."

It actually worked for a Mini 2 task, it was tagged Friendship 31 times. So it worked out great :)

Melanie wrote: "Can anyone who has read the current BOM (What the River Knows) tell me if the comparison of "The Mummy meets Death on the Nile" in the description is accurate?

This one isn't my usual genre but Th..."

Umm, no that description is not accurate in my opinion. And I think it is a book that does better when you don't think about it too hard.

Meaning I probably wouldn't of been as annoyed by things in the book if I wasn't answering (or writing) questions about the book and could of just merrily read the book without thinking too hard.

Cathy and Ann have read it though and might have other opinions.

Did some conferring and the main reason itinerary 1 hadn’t been entered was more of a GR issue with not showing a read date.

It can be used for itinerary 2.

As an FYI based on other questions on the captain group we’ve settled on the time period of after WW2 and before 2000 for Post Modern.

Umm, Melanie we’ll get back to you.

Ann, FYI

I moved your A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to the Canada spelling and placed a book that needed a home in the Spain spelling.

Itinerary 1 is complete!

Books for itinerary 2 can be finished at any time

Go team and Happy Reading!

😂, I would never want to deprive you of reading something with such a title.

It has pretty high ratings though so I hope it turns out to be a cute romance even if that moose looks a bit derpy.

Judith's BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 6 - May 23
Part Four, Chapter 30 - Epilogue

23. I’m having a hard time being impartial with questions, as I feel like the last part of the book descended into mayhem and confusion without a solid roadmap, simply to forward action, some random, some meaningful. Is this book magical reality - where did the magic bits go? Is it historical fiction - or did an exotic setting just get used as a backdrop for a romance? What are your thoughts about the last part of the book compared to the first parts?
This descended into full blown hot mess express. There were interesting parts and some fun parts and maybe with better direction from an editor it could of been with a clearer direction. I'm wondering if it's one of those things that really should of been one book and they decided to go for the duology so 'random things' needed to happen to make enough filler for 2 books.

24. Do you think the characters stay true to themselves, or grow or change? Which characters do you find multifaceted vs 2-dimensional? Which characters are still too shrouded in mystery and secrets to know who they are?
Isadora is still the most interesting character to of popped up. And there is something more going on with Sterling and how he fits in. At this point I feel the worst for Ricardo. But I'm not sure I care much about the majority of the characters.

25. Let’s talk about Elvira. Do you find it plausible that she, another naïve girl traveling solo, was able to get to Egypt from Argentina to find Inez at the perfect time? And after just being betrayed by her mother - HER MOTHER - do you think it likely that Inez would let her cousin meet an unknown man alone? How did you react to Elvira’s fate, and do you think it was consistent with the tone of the book?
There was some implied violence in the beginning of the book. Like menacing but nothing really all that bad. And suddenly people are getting parts of their heads blown off willy nilly. That level of violence tracks with a smuggling underworld, but didn't match the level of on page violence for the rest of the book. And no, Elvira would not of made it to the hotel, homegirl would of been human trafficked and never seen again. Inez was slightly believable because it was just one ship ride and then Whit met her at the docks. I get she pulled a runner but still.

26. Any guesses as to where Inez’s father is, or thoughts on whether he’s still alive? Do you think he has the magical sheet Whit is searching for?
I'm guessing he's still alive and him being dead makes too much sense. Either Teddie's guess is correct or he's snuggled in Cleopatra's sarcophagus and when they go back to her tomb, he's going to pop out like a jack in the box and say "boo".

27. How did you interpret the final cliffhanger dialog in the Epilogue? Has it been Porter or Whit - or both - Inez has been interacting with? Twins? Are you planning to read the next / final book?
I'm guessing Whit is after Inez's fortune for some reason. Maybe his family is one of those bankrupt members of the peerage? I will read the next one mainly because I already own it. I bought it before I read this one, I need to stop doing that.

Teddie. Your answer to 26 🔥 😂

Also, you might be onto something. I will be reading the second because I bought it first not realizing it was the second one.

I’m expecting a telenova of nonsense

DQs Day 5
Chapters 24 to 29

18.) Now that we know the death of Lourdes was greatly exaggerated, do we think Inez's father is actually dead? Do you think he sent the ring to Inez to hide it from Ricardo or from Lourdes?
As much as it would be nice to find out Inez isn't an orphan. I hope he is dead because finding him alive would have this story reach a level of cornball I'm not sure I can handle.
I am actually wondering if he sent the ring to Inez because he knew she was sensitive to magic and to get it away from Lourdes.

19.) Any guesses as to why Whit doesn't want to go home and why his family might want him home so badly?
Originally I was thinking it was to honor the betrothal because in those times that was actual legal contract type stuff. But the bit about his sister needing him and in the letter about his mother being at her wits end makes me think something else is going on. But to be honest I'm trying to figure out why it matters to the story and why I should care about those details.

20.) Anyone actually surprised that Lourdes is the actual family traitor?
Nope. Part of me is just like Inez is TSTL. The other part of me is reminding myself she's like 17 and thought she was orphaned by parents she'd put on a fantasy pedestal. Ran away from home and was surrounded by people she didn't know, couldn't trust, and didn't trust her either. And poof, her mom is alive. We'd all do something dumb for our no-longer-dead mother's approval I think.

21.) Do you like the additions of Inez's drawings in the text?
They were a fun surprise.

22.) Thoughts on Cleopatra's real death . . . asp bite or poison?
The author clearly did a lot of research when writing this book, so thumbs up on that. I'm in agreement with Whit, she was too smart to take the chance that she may survive the asp. My vote is poison.



DQ Links

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 5
Chapters 24 to 29

18.) Now that we know the death of Lourdes was greatly exaggerated, do we think Inez's father is actually dead? Do you think he sent the ring to Inez to hide it from Ricardo or from Lourdes?

19.) Any guesses as to why Whit doesn't want to go home and why his family might want him home so badly?

20.) Anyone actually surprised that Lourdes is the actual family traitor?

21.) Do you like the additions of Inez's drawings in the text?

22.) Thoughts on Cleopatra's real death . . . asp bite or poison?

Discussion Questions Day 4
Part Three - Chapters 18-23

14. Inez and Whit are either flirting or fighting. What do you think of their dynamic? Are you rooting for them to end up together?
Eh, it's predictable but I don't find them to have a lot of chemistry really. Everything is so cloak and dagger and whatnot. And I feel like she can't trust him and he lies to her every time they have a conversation. I think it would be a lot more interesting for her to take up with Isadora to be honest.

15. What do you make of Whit’s backstory ? Knowing that he is bound to Ricardo by a life debt, do you find it easier to trust him?
It explains some things. But no, not really. I want to start singing "No Scrubs" by TLC, tell Inez to run off with Isadora and adopt cats.

16. We get quite the shock when Inez’s mother shows up in her tent! Do you believe she is telling the truth about Ricardo or is this some kind of double cross?
I think this is shady as all get out but I don't know why. Maybe at this point I just think Inez is dense and everyone else is lying straight to everyone else's face?

17. Finally, a discovery! We’re about 2/3 through the book. Any guesses where this is headed? What are you hoping happens to Inez at the end?
I'm guessing a huge clustereff, that's where this is headed. Sterling has to show back up at some point since he still has the ring. I'm guessing he'll show up and steal the treasure? Or trying to. With all the fire power, I'm also guessing there'll be a shootout. From there I'm going with a cliffhanger since there's a sequel.


DQ Links

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

New Mini 2 Task

Read a book where two people with different religions interact

FYI - to those reading it, the BOM will work for both of the remaining letters.

I should be done with it tonight or tomorrow