Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

I just got the paper copy in from the library today. I started another book while waiting for this one to come in and I'm hoping to finish that one tomorrow, so I can start back up on this one the next day. I hope some of you are still reading!

I think this was such an appropriate book to read this week given Remembrance Day on Nov. 11th (here in Canada). I am usually squeamish about reading war books but I am so glad I got to read this one. I liked how the author (view spoiler)[ didn't make the protagonists "superhuman" spies - they were scared, they cried and had breakdowns but did their best for a cause they believed in. And the antagonists weren't just evil bad guys, all of the German/French interrogators were given backstories and made human even though they did horrible things. (hide spoiler)]

This book reminds me a lot of Trapeze which I read last year and didn't particularly like. I will definitely recommend this one to others. It also inspired me to get back to reading All the Light We Cannot See which I started a few months ago but stopped reading when things got too intense...

I finished the book. I was kind of confused in the first part but the second part was real good. I finished reading it today and was pleased with the book.

For those of you that are listening to it, how is that going?

Andrea wrote: "This book reminds me a lot of Trapeze which I read last year and didn't particularly like. I will definitely recommend this one to others. It also inspired me to get back to reading All the Light We Cannot See which I started a few months ago but stopped reading when things got too intense... "

I will put my rely in a spoiler since I will bring up a few parts from the book.

(view spoiler)[I found a semi-connection with the book The House of Dolls. I mean the books are very different from each other but it's the whole element of having to have these undressing games. She'd have to strip her clothes off then earn the outter clothing first and have to take it all over to add the under clothing. When being interviewed but the American she was asked if she was raped because she stopped her periods. The Germans did have Joy Divisions/Doll Houses/Pleasure Houses. They'd take the prettiest girls and make them their sex slaves. So, I did have that sense of fear for her. (hide spoiler)]

RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I found a semi-connection with the book The House of Dolls."

You inspired me to hunt this book down.

I am gonna try to finish in a day.

Well, just to warn you. The translation is very bad so the book doesn't flow that well. I love the band Joy Division and learned many years ago they got the name from the German Joy Division based on House of Dolls. I was like gosh I need to get this book. I found it for free on Open Library and read it. It's really boring, slow like molasses in the first half of the book. Then they get shipped to the concentration camps and you learn a little about the actual Doll House. Freaky stuff, made of nightmares. I mean I never knew how bad this stuff was. Check it out on Open Library. That's if you want to read it.

I just started this book today. Do you all mind if I join in?

Welcome.

Thanks, Sarah!

I put it aside for a bit and I'm just getting back to it today, so I'll join you in the discussion too. I'm glad there are others still reading it to discuss with!

I started last night and I'm up to 50% now. This is actually my second time through the book. I love it just as much as the first time I read it.
I can't wait to read the comments from those of you who are reading it now :).

For those who have finished it:
(This is a spoiler for the end of the book!)
(view spoiler)[
I had forgotten the scene where Maddie and Queenie were talking about their fears and they both acknowledged that not killing someone when they asked you to would be a horrible thing that would always haunt you.
I didn't remember that conversation the first time through. It makes the "Kiss me Hardy, kiss me quick" scene even more powerful. (hide spoiler)]

I am 80% - will probably finish today. I like the book so far, but the other two I just finished I liked a lot more - and were both five star reads for me, and I just couldn't put them down.

But things are starting to get really interesting now at 80% and can't wait to see what happens.

Wow, Amanda! Speedy!

I'm at 60% now, finally made it to Part 2. I was actually a bit surprised that (view spoiler)[ Julie was really who she said she was! I was sure she was lying.

That letter to Captain von Linden threatening him if he is nice to Julie was pretty scary. Oh, and what an interesting interview she had, huh??

I'm really looking forward to reading Maddie's part now and seeing what happens. (hide spoiler)]

This one was interesting to me, yet a bit slow to start. I'm definitely curious about what will happen in part 2 though!

Sadie wrote: "Wow, y'all are reading it so fast! I hope it gets better. The beginning is a bit slow for me, and I keep putting it off to read my other books."

I did the same thing. I finally put aside my other books and decided to finish this one before picking up another. I've been reading that part 2 is a different pace, so we'll see.

I started the book this weekend...can I still join the buddy read?

Ya! Welcome Jaclyn.

Jaclyn wrote: "I started the book this weekend...can I still join the buddy read?"

I started it this last weekend too, Jaclyn.

I'm having a bit of a problem with the narration, so I've just been reading it a little at a time, and fitting it in where I can.

So I have finished. I gave it three stars. I felt there was the same voice throughout the book. Also I thought it was good, not great. I was glad to be finished.

Yeah I feel it's been a slow start and I'm having trouble getting into it. It's just hasn't hooked me yet. But I've heard it gets better once it gets going.

Somewhere in part 2...about 78% (view spoiler)[ So, this spoiler refers to the conversation Kittyhawk had with Penn, the interviewer: I was surprised at how much information Verity was able to relay to Penn without getting caught! She's quite smart and quick. I would have stammered and not known what to say, plus my facial expressions would have given it all away. I'm sure when she said, "I'm looking for Verity" I would have busted out in tears and said, "It's me!! It's me!!" getting us both killed. Quite impressed with her calm and quick thinking throughout, not just at the interview. (hide spoiler)]

Kristie said "Somewhere in part 2...about 78% (view spoiler)"

I agree! (view spoiler)[ I think that was the point at which I really realize what an amazing spy Queenie was. I can't imagine having to think that fast and calculate every word and movement, without having the enemy see you do it. She must have been so smart as well as brave to pull that off. (hide spoiler)]

Okay, I can't even remember the last time I abandoned a book, but I'm so done with this one.

Maybe I'll pick it up again at some point.

Oh no, jingles! That doesn't give me confidence that it will get better! But I see all these hidden spoilers so it's making me very curious at least. I think it's just going to take me awhile to finish.

I'm hoping to finish today or tomorrow. I'm looking forward to the ending. I think it's going to be the best part. We'll see.

I stayed up late to finish it last night. This was my second time reading it and I still loved it. I think the first time through is always going to be the best, though, because of the things that happen in the last section.

Kristin wrote: "Kristie (~ Gaildis, of the Elves ~) wrote: "Somewhere in part 2...about 78% [spoilers removed]"

Oh I know! [spoilers removed]"

She is!
(view spoiler)[
I don't think it quite hit me how good of a spy she was until the part where she used her skills on Von Linden. You could see how easy it was for her to manipulate him for a few minutes. Even after that she could manipulate him because she had his daughter's name. That took a lot of intelligence and bravery. (hide spoiler)]

88% or so (view spoiler)[ OMG! I can't believe Maddie had to shoot Julie! That's so horrific. I feel so bad for her! And that jerk talking about not giving her water because she's a "collaborator". If it wasn't for her being there the resistance never would have shown up to save his sorry butt! I feel bad for Julie that she is being remembered as a collaborator and a coward when she was so brave. (hide spoiler)]

I really think it's my frame of mind right now, Jaclyn. I think if I give it a while and come back to it later, things will be quite different.

I'm glad to see you are hanging in there.

Kristie (~ Gaildis, of the Elves ~) wrote: "88% or so [spoilers removed]"


I really wish (view spoiler)[ Maddie had throttled him even more. Then I feel bad because he obviously had a difficult time of it. I wish they had at least realized that Julie was not a traitor.
That scene with Julie was so heartbreaking, but I think Maddie did the right thing. (hide spoiler)]

Amanda wrote: "Kristie (~ Gaildis, of the Elves ~) wrote: "88% or so [spoilers removed]"


I really wish Maddie had throttled him even more. Then I feel bad because he obviously had a difficult time of it. I w..."

(view spoiler)[ I know. I think she did the right thing too, but it was so heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]

I finished! I liked it, but didn't love it. I wish the story had picked up a bit sooner cuz it felt like the book was almost over by the time things got going.(view spoiler)[At the beginning, I also that Julie was was really Maddie. And I thought there would be more to von Lindon. I hate that Maddie had to shoot Julie, but I agree she did the right thing. Very sad. (hide spoiler)]

Finally came back to this one and finished! I see why everyone says to get to part 2, but overall I was still a bit disappointed in this story. I enjoyed the structure and untangling the plot was very fun, especially later in the book, but it had too many details that distracted from the story. I really wish the editor had helped trim the fat, especially in part 1, because with tighter pacing this could have been an extraordinary book.

That shocking bit toward the end, (view spoiler)[when Maddie has to shoot Julie (hide spoiler)] was so crazy that I was frantically flipping pages to see if I misread it!

Amanda wrote: "I started last night and I'm up to 50% now. This is actually my second time through the book. I love it just as much as the first time I read it.
I can't wait to read the comments from those of..."

Thanks for pointing out the scene from your second read through. I love when authors can bury little nuggets like that, and I missed it completely through my read!

Finished today! I thought this was really good. It started out just ok for me, but I ended up liking it more the more I read.

Yeah, it definitely gets better as it goes along. But I agree with Logan that the first part could be trimmed up quite a bit.

I'm starting this book today - finally!

Yeah Sheila, enjoy!!

I've been reading this book and thought most people had finished. Sheila, we can at least chat up. I'm going to try hard not to read any spoilers until after.

So far I'm about 40% in. And so far it's not what I expected from the preview I read when deciding if to purchase. I actually didn't like Queenie at first and did not purchase. But now that I have read a bit more, that sneak peek was a let down. There are levels to the book. I am reeling from the dual aspect of the book and it has me questioning the first statement. And not sure how I feel about the light and humorous writing as she struggles to cope with reality of what is happening.

I had started this book some time back but didn't get time to read it. I also thought that everyone had finished this book. Would be great to chat with you two June and Sheila about this book.

Sounds good. I just started it and am at about 15%. I'll post a spoiler when I get to 25%. Does that work for the 2 of you?

Sounds great Sheila.

Please forgive if I misspell names don't hit locations correctly. I am listening to the audiobook version of this. So I just finished the third cd out of 9 so I am assuming I am at about 33%

(view spoiler)[

I'll admit that I am a bit confused with all the characters. Do we even know the first name of the narrator/POW/writer? Are Maddie and Brodett the same person? Someone set me straight here. Very interesting what Maddie has had to go through to be able to fly again during the war years. Is Brodett committing treason with her writing? Giving out codes? Or by giving a narrative. How about Drumty?? What is her place in all this. Interesting to see the war through the eyes of these young women. What about Queenie, does she really have it as all together as she seems? Love all the initials for things. The FD was my favorite. Fag Directional. Turn left after 2 cigarettes. (hide spoiler)]

OK I have read to 66% now

(view spoiler)[

Now at least we know who the POW/narrator is. It's Julie/Verity/Eva/Queenie. Plus now I get what happened. Maddie and Julie's official papers got switched so that Von Linden thinks he has a pilot as prisoner, not realizing that he has a spy instead. Didn't quite understand what the interview was supposed to prove. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[

Not quite the ending I had hoped for. I was hoping that Julie and Maddie would meet and live happily ever after. That certainly isn't the way it ended. (hide spoiler)]

I'm still slogging through the book. Sheila I can't believe you finished it already.

I'm about 48% in and wondering if the narrator is really Queenie. She knows quite a bit about Maddie and her flights, so I'm tempted to think the narrator is Maddie. But not sure if Maddie knows French or German. Now I can't remember if it is French or English that the narrator is writing in? Can someone remind me please. Looks like I may be re-reading this one, just to see what I missed first time around.

EDITED: I've had a little time to think, and narrator is more likely to be Queenie. Just think that is not her real name. Plus given what she does and how much info she has on VL and Engel seems to make Queenie the narrator. But now I'm more curious if the capture was truly an accident. Who is really gathering the info?

Was reading some of the earlier comments and noted that they wondered about the underlinings? I saw them but vaguely wondered about them. Didn't realise it was a clue. Now I'm going to have to re-read this book. Even if it is cleared up, I want to see the other clues I missed.

Oh! I am still stuck but that's largely my fault as I am juggling too many books right now! Hope to finish this by mid week at least!

Srividya wrote: "I had started this book some time back but didn't get time to read it. I also thought that everyone had finished this book. Would be great to chat with you two June and Sheila about this book."

Feel free to join me. I probably won't finish til Wednesday or Thursday.

June wrote: "I'm still slogging through the book. Sheila I can't believe you finished it already.

EDITED: I've had a little time to think, and narrator is more likely to be Queenie. Just think that is not her real name. Plus given what she does and how much info she has on VL and Engel seems to make Queenie the narrator. But now I'm more curious if the capture was truly an accident. Who is really gathering the info?

I thought whoever is doing the writing is writing in French or English so that VL would need it translated. I never thought about the fact that whoever it is might have been planted to gather info rather than to give info. Good observation June.

I finished it today.

The second part is better and explains more. But given the circumstances, not surprising. The twists here were unexpected. But on looking back the clues were always there. Queenie is really brilliant. To keep her head on in such circumstances.
Maddie is different but so ballsy even though she doesn't realise it. She had a difficult part.

A good book overall. May actually re-read. Trying to decide if this is better than The Book Thief which I also read this year. The Book Thief may have the edge for me.

Srividya, how far have you reached? I'll still will chat with you even though I'm done.