Lexi’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2016)

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

Ann wrote: "Can we use the plural of a word? I have bananas in a book"

Yes you can

I’ve got a Mongolia book I can finish tonight if you don’t want to rush the Fiji one. I’ll also check in before I finish.

Countdown clock can always be found at the top of the books tab in the planning spreadsheet until the end of the round. Judith is very clever that way.

I’m sure Erin’s book has other food words if you want to keep reading for ube. It’s a very good focused book.

Suzanne wrote: "It's an excellent book! I probably won't re-read it, but I for sure recommend it (and the next in the series)."

I nominated it as a re-read and will listen to it as an audio the second time. I greatly enjoyed the second book as well. Also, yay, for more points.

Ann, The Map of Salt and Stars is less than 30% in Jordan. It is about 50% Asia and 50% Africa so you could use it for Mini 2 but no single country. I checked my copy, as I have read it.

Thank you, Suzanne

Suzanne, can you hold off your Honduras book until the next itinerary? My Honduras book is due at the library tomorrow so I need to read it tonight.

We finished Russia and are off to Turkey next:

WW259 Author born in Turkey
WW260 Red and White on cover
WW261 character goes to a market
WW262 letters KEBAB in title (any order)
WW263 character goes to the beach
WW264 train on cover
WW265 T
WW266 U
WW267 R
WW268 K
WW269 E
WW270 Y

We'll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

A cat a day keeps the doctor away….

Discover this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats in the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation.

Tucked away on the fifth floor of an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Nakagyō Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can be found only by people who are struggling in their lives and who genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, and occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout these pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a hardened handbag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha learns to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients grapple with their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.

Morning all, we have also started the next itinerary so Suzanne, feel free to finish your book now. Also, Suzanne, I think I have four of your books in this itinerary. Do you have any sense of which ones you will read next?

Maria Jo wrote: "One more question: for The Berry Pickers, how long do I have to finish that for the BOM points? I believe it is usually a month, but not sure whether I'm remembering that correctly."

You have to finish reading and answer the questions by 16 July.

Whoops just read next comment. I’ll switch Fiji for Tanzania and then we will get a new one after Erin’s Congo.

I’m still at work but Suzanne please take my Tanzania spot with your book. It is really slow reading so I’m happy for a break.

Only the non-theme BOM for August will be part of this challenge.

I nominated The Tainted Cup, which is a re-read for me but one of the best books I read last year and the second one was just as good this year.

Ube has a mild flavor and you can also eat it fried. However, it gives baked goods a beautiful natural purple color, which is partly why it is currently very popular. I don't tend to use it as most recipes end up too sweet for me but I like it fried like a french fry.

Pho is also delicious.

DQs Day 5 Chapters Fourteen - Seventeen

20. Well, I think we all knew that we were going to end up with Norma turning out to really be the lost girl and her being reunited with her biological family. Do you have any thoughts you'd like to share on that reunion? Or a comparison you'd like to venture between what we know of both of Norma's families?

I have been thinking about the presentation of adoptive families in fiction especially fantasy recently. There is a short story that really turns most of those tropes on their head that I read recently that did a really good job with the adopted family as the “true” family. I guess it was always going to be an non-sympathetic since she did kidnap a child.

21. Aunt June stays true to her word. She promised to help find Norma's real family and she managed to find the article that would bring this family reunion about. Do you think the conflict between the two women was well handled? From the moment Norma gave in to her anger and yelled at June to the moment where June told her that going to meet her family was not something for her to intrude upon.

I liked Aunt June as well and found her and Alice more believable than Norma.

23. All in all, were you satisfied with the book? The story - did you enjoy following along Norma's and Joe's lives? The writing - did you enjoy the way the words flowed over the page, painting a world and its landscapes without however overusing words? Or maybe that's just my opinion - that it flowed nicely and pulled the reader along like a boat gently rocking on water.

I knew if I re-read it I would drop it to 3 stars and I have. Norma just didn’t see realistic. She seemed a little too dumb/trusting on her adoption. Also, I understand it is her own decision on pregnancy, but a father is allowed to want to have children too. The whole thing just came off as dismissive of his grief/desire to have children.

24. Would you read another book by this author? Do you maybe have recommendations for Native American literature that you'd like to share with the group?

Probably not. I have and enjoyed Tommy Orange, Firekeeper’s Daughter, and Marrow Thieves. I really like Darcie Little Badger, especially Elatsoe. The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America is really good for non-fiction.

Welcome back, Suzanne

DAY 2 QUESTIONS - CHAPTERS 4-7

7. "But sometimes I think that sadness drilled down deep and some of it might just be there for good"
"now get lost and leave me to my book."
"There was love in that house but none of us really knew what to do with it."
In chapter four we learn more about Norma's parents and life in their house as she grew up. Does learning about Lenore's past make you more sympathetic to her? And how about their parenting style, I can't imagine ever telling my children or grandchildren "to get lost" because I wanted to read a book. (Ok, I'm sure all parents might have thought it at times, but saying it to a child is a definite no no in my book!)

It is harsh and definitely neglect. I am not sure about more sympathetic as I feel like she is purposely stupid. Even without assuming stolen, it is clear she was adopted and would not be to far to suggest she might have siblings out there that could recognize her.


8. In juxtaposition to Frank, Lenore and Norma, we have alternating chapters about family life from Joe's POV. Thoughts and why does the author structure the novel this way?

I tend to like Joe’s side better as I just read to get through Norma’s on this second one. It really shows regardless of socioeconomics how much she missed out on being loved.

9. Chapter 5 - the horrible incident with Frankie and Charlie. How did you feel reading about this injustice? Could anything been done to avert this tragedy? How does Amanda Peters' writing the scene add to the heartbreak?

It is sad and at some point on a second read, this books feels a bit like tragedy piled on tragedy. You get kind of tired of it as I have been reading lots of tragic books lately and some do it better. Humor often makes the tragic more so in contrast.


10. What you think of Aunty June and her role in the story? Why does she encourage Norma to interact with the Indian protesters only to pull her back when she is recognized as Ruthie?

Also getting on my nerves a bit more in the second reading. She should be braver and at least talk to Norma about being adopted. I think she was trying to tell Norma about her history but also might have just be assuaging her own guilt.


11. Joe seems to be a tragic figure as the story of his life is revealed. How he has responded to racism and trauma make you feel when reading this book? Are you enjoying the story or does it make for uncomfortable reading?

I feel bad for Joe and he makes poor life choices but also doesn’t have the support net to help him make better choices or held legally when things happen so there is no closure.