Eldarwen’s Comments (group member since Feb 21, 2015)

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

Finished #32.


Book: The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley
Date Read: 7th September
Rating: 4 stars


Unfortunately, this book suffered from being an in-between challenges read and the fact that it is quite a chunkster so I didn't take it everywhere with me. But the fact that I only read it in bits and pieces did in no way diminish my enjoyment of the book. I may not have remembered every tiny detail from the beginning of the story, but I was always sucked right back in whenever I picked up the book. Even if it took me several years to finish. Terribly long actually...

I'll try not to let the same thing happen to the rest of the books in the series, which I'm definitely looking forward to reading.

Finished #31.


Book: Forgiven by Jana Oliver
Date Read: 3rd September
Rating: 4 stars

An enjoyable series. I just always leave several years in between books haha. I should read the rest a tad closer together ;-)



This month, I'm going to try and get through a few books on my currently-reading shelf because that has been getting a tad out of hand last year, so I'm going to be able to stay above the line, yay!

That word should be banned again......

I'll unfortunately not be able to join the BOM, but thanks Lisa, I've added it to my TBR. It sounds like an interesting book and I might not have come across it without it having been a BOM nomination :-)

Sammy wrote: "what, the body snatching? 😄"

Hahahaha

After 10 years of this challenge, it was bound to happen some time hahaha

Keely wrote: "Yay, I got just above the line!! I wasn't sure if I would make it or not."

Lotus captains rock ;-))

Awww, look at me above that infamous line!
Hahaha

Finished #30.


Book: Wolfsherz by Wolfgang Hohlbein
Date Read: 26th August

Added this upon joining GR, can't even remember when or where I found this copy. But for a change I listened to the audio version because it was David Nathan who read it - the German voice of Johnny Depp and Eric Dane, and a rather nice voice to listen to.

It's only when I was half-way through that I realised it was a shortened audio edition, but frankly, that was long enough still ;-) An ok story that turned bloodier than I would've expected of Hohlbein, but reading over 600 pages of this would've been too long, so I'm actually glad I got a shortened version.

Day 5 - Chapters 31 - end

18. First off, what did you think of the reveal and resolution? Any thoughts on the late theme of "Kieran is less of a dick than he was back then", and it's impact on the crimes?

I can't remember quite at point I began thinking "fuck, I think it was him", but that came crashing in as a thought that should have been obvious for so long for so many reasons. But that's what I like about these kinds of books. So many theories swirling around in my head, so many options for the murderer and yet, there is always that one person you forget until suddenly, there is the thought and then the reveal is already just around the corner. I liked it. I found it incredibly sad and I hadn't realised just how twisted his mind was until he spilled the beans to Kieran.

Kieran being less of a dick was practically a must after what he had been through. Thinking that his selfish thought of wanting to get in some sexy time with his girlfriend despite the risk he was running and this costing two lives... it would've changed anyone - anyone decent in any case. As for his behaviour before the storm having an impact? Of course it did. But there is also the fact that teenage boys are teenage boys. Is it cool? No. Will it ever change? Probably not. There will always be the cool ones who razz their friends for not getting any, there will always be those who lie about their conquests, there will always be those who will do whatever it takes to be part of the cool gang. It sucks, but it's part of growing up in a way. As long as at least some of them learn from their mistakes and realise that they've been utter assholes...

Not saying Kieran's behaviour had anything to do with what happened. It was and always will be Sean's decision, but it certainly didn't help that Kieran and Ash were the way they were. Teenage boys with a shy bestie.

19. There's a lot of truth-telling in this section, from the copper, as well as Verity, Mia and others. What do you think about the view presented that keeping secrets is the cause of more pain later? (and that telling the truth can be near-instantly healing, as with Verity and Kieran)

It depends on the truth/secret as well as on the lies. Leaving Trish to think that the backpack washing up was awfully convenient was a terrible thing to do. It would certainly not have made the pain any more bearable over the years, but at least she wouldn't have tortured herself for years, and in turn she wouldn't have tortured the ones around her for years either. Verity and Kieran should have aired their little truths years ago. They would probably have had a better relationship. Those two are also completely different things. Some pain will not go away, whether you've been told truth or lie. Some truths make the pain worse as well. Though in theory, telling the truth is always better than hiding behind a lie.

20. The author made a comment "Places like this, they need to be tight-knits to work. Once the trust is broken, they're stuffed" Do you agree with this?

Small places work better when they're more tight-knit. People are more willing to help out when someone is in trouble. But they also know far more than they should about everyone else. It can turn toxic when the situation goes bad, as it did with Liam in this case. So I guess what I'm saying is that yes, I think I agree with George's statement.

21. Linked to that question, the other books by Harper that I've read have been much more distinctly Australian in location, whereas this - to me - felt like it could be any coastal community. What did you think of the setting? If you haven't, will you read more of Harper's work? If this isn't your first - how did it compare?

I agree, it could have been any kind of coastal community. As for the writing, I enjoyed it as I always do her work. I've read all of her other books - unless I missed one - and they were all good. I remember starting with The Dry and while reading, I felt my skin itch from heat and drought, even though I was sitting comfortably on my couch. I like the atmosphere she creates in her novels.

I find this novel had far more grey areas in terms of guilt and perspective on behaviour etc. It had more potential for making the reader think, and potentially stop and consider certain things.

Ah, Lauren... the challenge has been over for almost a week ;-)

Day 4 ch 24-30

9) What did you think of the speech Bronte’s mom gave at the community meeting? More effective than a tearful statement?

Whatever works for the parents, I'd say. Some people react to tears, others react to a firm statement. Guess it depends on the audience. And frankly, it shouldn't really matter how effective it is. What should matter is that it was heart-felt, even if she basically accused the entire community at the meeting of having killed her daughter.

10) There’s been a lot of mentions of George ripping out all of the landscaping Ash did at his grandmother’s house. Do you think this leads to anything (like Gabby’s missing body) or just distracting small town drama?

I really, really wondered how many skeletons he would dig up in that garden! Wouldn't that be convenient haha.

11) The community forum proactively spilling all the small town tea is a bit “fun” as an outsider. Like watching a bad soap opera or reality TV. But these are people’s lives and it’s a bit sad and destructive. Do you follow or participate in any local community online forums?

Nope. I'd joined one shortly, but left fairly quickly again because most things were non-sense. Important information is distributed through different channels anyway, so there's no point reading up on the rest.

12) E brought this up and I agree. What are you thoughts on Kieran’s relationship with his parents?

Since Kieran and Mia first set foot into his parents' house, I found their relationship to be really odd. Of course, there would always be a death lurking between them, but damn. I felt like there was never a single honest word coming out of Verity's mouth and it was always this therapy-style speech. I've read on so I'm not going to say more.

Day 3 DQs, Chap 17 - 23

13. Liam tells Kieran, "You kind of ruined my life, you know?" Do you agree with that? Should Kieran accept that responsibility?

No, I don't agree with that statement. I can absolutely see where Liam is coming from - I can't imagine what it can do to a person to lose a parent so early in life and under such difficult circumstances no less, but that robbed him of a father, it did not ruin his life.

14. Would you be following the EBOCH chat? Would you be posting and, if so, what would your posts be about? What would your screen name be?

I probably wouldn't be able to help myself to follow it irregularly because I sometimes find it fascinating how weirdly people can react to certain things and how they suddenly let their true colours show, but these kinds of things always piss me off rather quickly. It's why I avoid most social media. People are assholes, even more so when they can hide behind a screen.

15. Were you surprised when Kieran said that it could have been Liam's car he saw speeding along Beach Road that Saturday night? What reason might he have had to do that, other than thinking it was a way to assuage his guilt for "ruining" Liam's life?

It was plausible. And then he was doing a life-long friend a favour by helping point the blame away from the guy's nephew.

16. What did you make of Trish's throwing out those rock-filled backpacks into the ocean?

I felt sorry for her. Under different circumstances it would probably have been an interesting experiment but at least it was same way for her to cope with the fact that she felt the police didn't take her concerns seriously about the backpack appearing rather conveniently.

17. What were your thoughts about Liam leaving the dive group behind? Was Kieran justified in being angry with him for doing that?

Absolutely justified. Liam was supposed to have been one of two people looking out for everyone else and he just up and disappeared without letting anyone know, except for George who was a bit of a newbie at deep-diving and not exactly qualified to help out others should something happen underwater. Not the behaviour of someone who is supposed to help out with a business. Hearing the later conversation between Liam and Sean, it was understandable though, if not exactly a very good move.

I feel a tad like I've scared everyone away with my questions haha ;-)

Just putting a statement here that keeps jumping out at me while reading: Kieran and his parents have a very, very odd and difficult relationship.

And another thing where I agree with Judith: Ash gives off odd vibes. I can't quite reconcile him with the teenager he was supposed to have been. It doesn't fit somehow.

Having read today's part, my money is currently on the same person as the murderer, Judith.

DQ Day 2
Chapters 9 - 16


5. Does anyone else sense the irony in the fact that Liam is now being considered a murderer after he's been saying the same thing about Kieran for 12 years? Lyn, the waitress, certainly seems to have no qualms in saying so. Red herring or no? But more importantly: was he right? It is a bit of a difficult question, I know, but I keep wondering. Was Kieran at fault the day of the storm? Was it his fault Finn and Toby died? (And it isn't as though Liam is the only one to think that Kieran killed Finn. Brian seems to feel the exact same thing. So does Kieran himself even.)


6. Another mysterious death! What happened to Gabby that infamous day of the storm? Freak accident? Suicide? Elaborate and cruel way of disappearing to somewhere else? Murder? If the latter, who did it? The fact that Kieran's dad has been out and about both times screams red herring as well. Or do you think Brian had something to do with at least one of these deaths?


7. In chapter 14, I was quite surprised to come across this piece of writing: "He knew it for the same reasons Mia did. Because that was life. Because whatever else might come the way of grown men, they didn't wind up strangled to death in the surf. Kieran had no problem walking around Evelyn Bay now for the same reason that he didn't think twice about taking short cuts through unlit parks, and felt no need to quicken his pace when he heard footsteps on the pavement behind him at night. .... from thirty years of lived experience he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't coming for him. Mia knew all this too."

Quite true, isn't it? Though are we certain that Kieran can really walk around as carefree as he thinks? What if it really was Liam after all and Bronte was a practice run? She didn't want to go out with him - according to Lyn the gossip - and he killed her because he was frustrated? What if he realised he enjoyed it and decides to kill Kieran in belated revenge for killing his father?! Though it seems just as far-fetched as one of the tourists to have suddenly made a reappearance just to kill Bronte (as Verity and Ash suggest), doesn't it?


8. Chapter 16 ends with Kieran giving in and asking Liam what happened the night Bronte died. Liam obviously is irked by it, thinking he knew all Kieran wanted to do was ask. Had he not asked, Liam would've been pissed as well. Can't seem to win with this guy. So what do you think really happened?

Melindam wrote: "...for congarutaltions."

Are you ok? Did the cheese not become you? ;-))


Sorry hehe, but this is an awesome typo *grin*

Day 1
Prologue - 8

1. The prologue implied a women survived but perhaps would actually turn into a victim if the person watching her was gonna do it, right now. Did this prologue intrigue you and make you want to get right into the book. Or does it bother you, as it seems like the ending wasn't real?

It could be read in both ways. Either he was the one going to do the killing, or he was going to do the saving? What if the woman was intending to drown herself and he grabbed her before she could finish the job? It also isn't quite certain if it is going to happen or if it already happened. In the meantime, we know that two men were killed 12 years ago, but what about before that?! Maybe what happened 12 years ago was in relation to this woman and whatever happened (or not) to her? Olivia and Mia are in the know as well, not just Sean and Kieran... so many questions!

2. Liam blames Kieran for killing his dad even though Sean is still his friend. Do you think Liam is misguided or the friends hid something from everyone else?

That is something I've been wondering about as well. It is a tad odd that Sean and Kieran are still friends after Sean's brother (and Kieran's) were killed by Kieran, but we don't know what really happened, so... I'm not sure he is entirely misguided, but I'm sure he (along with many others probably) doesn't know the whole story.

3. Bronte was scared she heard something/someone on the beach and then is found on the beach dead. She is in her work uniform, do you think she was murdered on her way home or on her way to work?

From the way the body was described, it sounded like she'd been in the water for some time so my guess would be during the night. Then there's the neighbour who heard talking from the beach and the fact that Liam was seen with her after closing time, and so he maybe was the last to have seen her?! (dun dun dun hehe)
So either he had something to do with her death (wouldn't that be ironic), he saw what happened (should have said something then instead of leaving her), he's lying dead in a ditch somewhere himself, or he was gone and someone grabbed her after Liam left, potentially whoever/whatever she heard at night had something to do with this. Though who knows?

4. It's to early for guessing, but do you like to try and figure out the killer/ ending? Or do you prefer to avoid looking into clues to much and just go with the flow?

For me, that depends entirely on the book. With some books, I try to get it all figured out before we get there, with other books, I just go with the flow. I do like coming up with theories though as to what might have happened and who might have done it. I find this works well with Harper's books - as demonstrated by my answer above haha.

It's a regular team challenge over in "Game Night" (a sister group of "A Million More Pages").

You can read up on it here:
- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It started yesterday.

Ah, but that's what Sundays are for :-)