Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Synopsis
Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont for the brightest thinkers, inventors, and artists. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. "A place" he said, "where learning is a game."

Shortly after the school opened, his wife and daughter were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym, Truly Devious. It became one of the great unsolved crimes of American history.

True-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

r

I'm in. Team Hermione Granger. :)

Hey, everyone *waves a teammate Elen*

I'm in and I am also on Hermione Granger :) Just trying to figure out this challenge. LOL

I already picked up my book today, so I am ready!

Hi Vicki and Elen! The book is available on Hoopla. So I can read it at any time. Looking forward to reading this!

Hoopla? Hmmm...sounds interesting. Is that a free book site?

I'm looking forward to this one, which I decided to read based on 2 things: the title (the word "devious") and the beautiful blue cover. I haven't read the synopsis yet and most likely won't.

In for Team Hermione Granger.

Vicki wrote: "Hoopla? Hmmm...sounds interesting. Is that a free book site?

I'm looking forward to this one, which I decided to read based on 2 things: the title (the word "devious") and the beautiful blue cover..."

Hoopla and Overdrive are digital websites that my library uses. There is no waiting on Hoopla, just a limit of 8 borrows a month.

Looking forward to reading this too!

Hey Vicki and Elen! Are we still on to start soon? I may be a day or two late to start. But I will be reading this book.

Geri wrote: "Hey Vicki and Elen! Are we still on to start soon? I may be a day or two late to start. But I will be reading this book."


Geri, I just got the book from the library, so I definitely will be reading. I really hope to start tomorrow, but probably I will start 1 day later.

Great, Elen! I will start tonight for sure. And should be ready to discuss the first few chapters tomorrow.

Elen - Have you started the book? I started last night. I hoped to get farther. But was too sleepy and only listened to the first 5 chapters. I am finding it interesting. The characters are interesting. Writing is good too. (view spoiler)[ Haze Major was a real jerk to Stevie! I do like how the book alternates from the past to the present. (hide spoiler)]

How are you liking the mystery?

I started the book and I am 50% (15 chapters) done. I want to read, read and not stop, but it's too late here so I have to have some sleep.

I love the book, it's so smooth and well written that I just can't stop and want to read and find out everything.

(view spoiler)[I am really curious who really kidnapped and killed Ilsa and Dottie. And what happened to Alice, is she alive or dead??!!
Also, is Hayes death accident or murder - I feel that it's murder. And I hope that Stevie will find out everything - I really like to think that. (hide spoiler)]

I really like the idea of school: (view spoiler)[It's free for everyone - rich or pure - you are in. Also, getting into school without application, but with your talent and creativity, is worth a try. (hide spoiler)]

I agree about Hayes - (view spoiler)[he is the real jerk and he just thinks that he is high above everyone. (hide spoiler)]

I really like the past mystery and the present one too. And I have the feeling that they are somehow connected maybe??

Geri, What do you think about school? Characters? Mystery?

I really like the fact that all of them have some "cool or even weird" talent.

I finished a bit a go but am interested in what you all think.
(view spoiler)[ I found the middle dragged too much with relationship drama and not that much focus. It could have used a editor. The end is fun though but then it is left with major cliffhangers so I was annoyed at that. Having a series is one thing but not finishing a book is just annoying. (hide spoiler)]

Elen wrote: "Geri, What do you think about school? Characters? Mystery?

I really like the fact that all of them have some "cool or even weird" talent."

I finished chapter 14 so far. It’s getting more interesting. I like getting to know the characters better. They each have different talents and backgrounds. I agree, Elen, that the school is unique. It would be great if a school like this existed. (view spoiler)[ Stevie is suspicious of David Eastman. I do wonder if he will have anything to do with the mystery. Stevie suspects that someone in the present had something to do with the murder and disappearance from the past. I think that there may be a connection too.

The messages sent by Truly Devious are driving me crazy! LOL I can’t figure out what they mean. Dottie underlined a sentence before she died. I wrote it down but it’s driving me nuts figuring out why she made note of it. “Sherlock said “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.” (hide spoiler)]

I will read more tonight.

Lexi wrote: "I finished a bit a go but am interested in what you all think.
[spoilers removed]"

I’ll read your spoiler when I finish!

Geri wrote: "I finished chapter 14 so far. It’s getting more interesting. I like getting to know the characters better. They each have different talents and backgrounds. I agree, Elen, that the school is unique. It would be great if a school like this existed."


(view spoiler)[David - I think he is a son of Edward King. Why? Stevie said he is too familiar for her and he doesn't talk about family anything. [I am in the chapter where David meets her parents]

SAME!! I want to understand Truly Devious letters but I can't her hang of them - Whyyyy??

Dottie - “Sherlock said “I consider that a man’s brain originally is like a little empty attic and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose.”
Man's brain - someone smart, maybe even from the school.. student??
little empty attic - okay, maybe it shows that they have to look for more important, obvious things and not at everything that they see or hear. Attic - place where is everything unnecessary.

(hide spoiler)]

Elen, I read through chapter 26 last night. Interesting theories about David and Dottie! (view spoiler)[ what do you think about David and Stevie’s relationship? I did not expect them to be attracted to each other. For some reason, their relationship isn’t really working for me. David said his parents are dead. Somehow I don’t think we know everything yet.

Hayes was a real user! He likely made plenty of people angry. And now it does look like he was murdered. If he did not put the dry ice there, who did? (hide spoiler)]

Geri wrote: "Elen, I read through chapter 26 last night. Interesting theories about David and Dottie! "

(view spoiler)[David and Stevie - at the beginning of the book they were teasing each other and after that I thought about them being together, but it doesn't work for me at all - ughh

Heyes was real people user - everyone did something for him - homework, project, test etc. That's not okay at all, but that was his charm.
(hide spoiler)]

I really liked that this book mentioned some books, like Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Earthsea Cycle.

I finished! I really liked the book - writing style is beautiful, the story is well written and you want to read non stop. Yes, this story is not like Agatch Christie has, but it's more for nowadays kids :)

(view spoiler)[I wasn't expecting that at all. Cliffhanger is not cool, I need the second book asap!!
Dottie, Isla are dead because of two students... And they were somehow connected to Ellie. Are they her grandparents? I need answers!
Ellie murdered Hayes, that was unexpectable. Ellie - flower, artsy girl, but that kind of people are most likely murderers in reality.

David is Edward King son, but why he came to school at this point.

What do you think about ending? Girl and boy who murdered Dottie and Ilsa - most likely? Ellie? (hide spoiler)]

Elen wrote: "I finished! I really liked the book - writing style is beautiful, the story is well written and you want to read non stop. Yes, this story is not like Agatch Christie has, but it's more for nowaday..."

I finished too! The book description said this would be like an Agatha Christie novel, but this was nothing like an Agatha Christie book, in my opinion. The characters were a little too superficial for me too. I wish they were better written. (view spoiler)[ The ending was terrible! I hate cliffhangers! LOL I don’t think Ellie actually killed Hayes. I don’t think the murder has been solved at all. Too many questions left like why would someone want Dottie dead?? And why did they kidnap Iris and Alice? This book doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. (hide spoiler)]

Well, thanks for reading this with me, Elen! You were right about David and his father! Good guess!

Lexi wrote: "I finished a bit a go but am interested in what you all think.
[spoilers removed]"

I agree, Lexi with all your points! (view spoiler)[ The characters were too shallow in my opinion. They did not come to life for me. I did not like the relationship between Stevie and David. And the ending was terrible. I agree a book needs some closure, even if it is a series! (hide spoiler)]

I think I'm just a wee bit late, but I'm going to read the spoilers as I get to them and add my own comments anyway. Sorry everyone!

Okay, normally I don't mind a cliffhanger, but not that kind of cliffhanger. What the heck was that? It seems like it's the kind that says you have to buy the next book.

Overall I liked the book, but I felt that the (view spoiler)[romance, making out between David and Stevie was thrown in there but for what? It just seemed totally unnecessary. (hide spoiler)]

Ella (view spoiler)[ how did she know about the panel? And where did she go? If she left on her own why did she run if she's innocent? (hide spoiler)]

David (view spoiler)[is most definitely involved I think, but I'm not sure he was the killer. (hide spoiler)]

Larry (view spoiler)[ seems like he could be the killer and it's always the detective or killer. LOL (hide spoiler)]

I have to admit that I am going to read book 2 asap.