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

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

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.

I am very impressed, everyone. We are on to our 5th itinerary for mini 1. Again, I move my books around as I read them so feel free to read any hard or medium countries and we will move things around.

You are awesome, thank you. Did you like Old Drift? My mom and I read it together when it came out and it is quite a story.

You did and I missed it, thank you

Steven wrote: "Just finished the upcoming October Daye book. Now begins the long wait until next year, especially after that last reveal. *cries* It's on the spreadsheet."

Do they visit a palace in the book? The synopsis mentions royal vaults being looted so I wanted to ask.

Ann, when you have a chance, can you add The Old Drift to your tower team shelf? I am waiting to finish one of my books until you are done so we can start the next itenerary.

DQs for Day 1

1. What expectations do you have for the book based on the blurb or other description of the book?

This is a reread for me, but I think the publisher did the book by calling it a mystery. It is entirely clear what happened by the end of the first section.

2. How reliable do you the think the 2 narrators are?

Both are children so you have gaps on memory, but neither are attempting to hdie something from the reader.

3. Chapter 1 opens with " The day Ruthie went missing the black flies seemed to be especially hungry...Indians made such good berry pickers...something sour in our blood kept the black flies away". How does this establish Joe's view of the relationship that exists between the whites and the Mi'kmaq?

I think that might be overreading into the start and Joe’s view at the time considering the age. It is a good sentence for setting the scene and the relationships is much better seen in how the family’s treatment by the man who hired them and the police’s entire dismissal of the missing child.

4. How much is Norma dreaming vs remembering? What do you think the dreams foreshadow?

This is a reread for me but as everyone else said, the author doesn’t hide that she is remembering her family before she ended up with her current family. I don’t think that is foreshadowing since it is backwards and not forwards.

5. How do you explain Lenore's paranoia about Norma being out alone? How do you account for the incongruity of her insistence that Norma likes to play with baby dolls when she sees Norma choosing other playthings?

Clearly she stole the child and is worried that the same will happen and that someone will figure it out. Also, she wants Norma to stay young and controllable.

6. Why did Joe act so clingy when he returned from his first "guide" with his dad?

I think he is just a kid and the family has gone through a lot already.

Suzanne, another team used People of the Book for Bosnia so feel free to go ahead and read it for Mini 1 if you still want to

Hi all,

I looked through what other teams are reading for hard countries and wanted to suggest two for people who may not like historical fiction or harder topics as much in their books:
The Expats - thriller set in Luxembourg
Starter Villain - Sci-Fi/fantasy supervillain story with talking cats - I might even consider a re-read, great book and set over 50% in Grenada

Thank you, Diane, I found tasks for both and you are right, the second one worked great as an E for the E in FRANCE

I just moved the next set of my planned Mini 1 books over to the planning sheet. If there is a country that you really want to read, let me know, and I will remove mine. Other than Kuwait, Philippines, and Somalia (1 of the 2), I am happy not to read one as I have a lot planned.

We have room so feel free to finish it

Another one:

Madagascar Tree
500 to 650
MPG Adventure
Set on a tropical island
A fake, hoax, or forgery is important to the plot
"sacrifice" in text

Back up for Judith