Trinia’s
Comments
(group member since Mar 29, 2015)
Trinia’s
comments
from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
Showing 521-540 of 2,503
Jun 21, 2020 08:54AM
GREAT QUESTIONS JUDY!!!
Discussion Questions - Day 1
1) From what I know, this book is the novelization of the movie. While this doesn’t happen too often, I’ve read a couple books before that were only written after a movie/series (e.g. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet). Have you ever read a book like this? What did you think? Was it successful? Did this experience influence your expectations of this book?
~~~ I think I've have read 1 or 2 before for a challenge, but cannot for the life of me recall the titles. I am a strict "must read the book first" kind of reader, so It is not ever my way to watch a movie first (even if it came out first). Rarely does a movie do a book justice~ my one exception was Life of Pi~ The cinematopgraphy was spectacular!
2) Stella and Will, wearing face masks & using copious amounts of hand sanitizer before it was cool. All jokes aside, this is an oddly timely reminder that face masks do make a difference to prevent the spreading of diseases. I knew next to nothing about CF before starting this book and I’ve seen very mixed reactions to the representation of CF so I was wondering… do you have any experience with CF and therefore expectations? (If you don’t feel comfortable answering, feel free to just skip this question!)
~~~When my boys were younger at age 4 (they are 18 now), we signed them up to play soccer. The coaches son had CF. He was an excellent player and rarely did we see him have to sit out. The mom was diligent with medicines (she was a nurse) and keeping him healthy. I'm happy to say I follow her on FB and currently they have "found" a new medication that is ground breaking and can give him a longer life! The researchers are working hard at finding a cure, and it seems like they are getting closer every day.
3) "If I’m going to die, I’d like to actually live first.“ This quote from Will’s POV reminded me of the countless bucket list stories and made me wonder whether this will go in that direction. Yet while Will takes more of a Devil-May-care attitude, Stella is very cautious to follow the rules. Do you think Will’s attitude is going to influence Stella as they got closer (literally?!). Will she also take more (dangerous) risks?
~~~I think it will work both ways. Stella will get Will to take his disease more seriously and Will will get Stella to have more fun.
4) Stella is a "tech nerd", even programming her own app. Most MCs in YA books have artsy, "girly" hobbies (sorry for using that terrible gendered stereotype), if they have any prominent hobbies at all. Books about artsy people are among my favorites and I’m always on the hunt for more. While I like traditional hobbies, some of my favorite books (e.g. With the Fire on High) have non-mainstream hobbies and I am actually quite excited to learn more about this aspect of Stella’s story. Have you read any other books where the main character had a prominent hobby that wasn’t drawing/painting/writing/theater/an instrument?
~~~I can't say I have.... I would have to go through my list. Seems I tend to be drawn to Fantasy, where the Female is a strong and independent character. Especially the YA's , I'm always impressed when the MC doesn't fall head over heels for the handsome hero. Can't say I would be like that as a teen ;D
5) Stella’s parents are recently divorced, in what she calls the “most ridiculous divorce of all time”, and she worries a lot about them. It both breaks my heart and confuses me slightly why it is so far being kept from us what happened - we only know that Stella believes both parents are unhappy after the separation. So… what do you think happened?
~~~So, I swear I have not read ahead or watched the movie but I am seriously thinking it has to do with her sister, Abby? (listening to the audiobook and forget her name).... where is the sister???? I have a terrible feeling that she died and it tore the family apart. I think Stella's disease actually gave the family a common battle and kept them together....
Busy girl Beth! I too started Five feet... it’s entertaining so far. And how weird with the 6 feet apart! And mask wearing.
I need to do today’s questions.
Today is Father’s Day in the US, so I will probably have to skip the reading to spoil my hubby and spend time with the boys. My twins took a job this summer that takes them out of town mon-fri, so we only see them on the weekends. With the grey skies it might be a Star Wars movie marathon kind of day 😆
No worries Diane , I can re-enter it 😉 thanks for letting me know , I probably would have thought I was losing a few brain cells 😜 ya know every day getting a little older ☺️
Completion Post 
(version I listened to)Book: Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War by Mary Roach
Date Read: 6/17/20
Entered on SS 😁
Ooh! The Vanishing Half, I’ve been hearing a lot about that one..
@Tina- yes! That is the narrator, I didn’t realize we could use them. I listen often, so I’ll keep that in mind. And can you tell me, do I link to the Audiobook version or the default version?For the task, I think I’ll go with the chair on deck (40) , as that probably won’t pop up again for me.
Thank you!
Jun 16, 2020 12:15PM
Discussion Questions - Day 3 - Parts 5 & 69. Structure: "The Jetsetters" is divided into nine parts with an average of five different chapters (other than Part 1, which had nine chapters) in each part. Each chapter has, as yet, indicated a point of view change. What do you think the different parts are designating, if anything? How is it affecting your reading of the book, if at all?
~~~Wow, tough question... It is impressive how neatly compartmentalized the book is , I didn't really thing about it. But it seems like each part is a different trek along the path of their travels. Prologue and part 1 is preparation, Part 2 Getting on the boat and Greece, etc... I'm listening to the audiobook so I might have my details mixed up but it seems like the author neatly divided her locations and stories into sections or parts. Interesting point!
10. Setting: So far, the Perkins have visited, in some capacity, Athens, Rhodes, and, most recently, Malta. How has the Mediterranian setting impacted both the story and the characters, if at all? And how do you think the story and characters would have been affected if the cruise was traveling through a different setting (say the Perkins boarded an Alaskan cruise line), if there would be any?
~~~I would say the culture and meeting the "locals" has affected the characters. The warmth of the Malta tour guide and other characters has maybe loosened their chips on their shoulders a bit. And being on beaches versus being bundled in parka's definitely changes a person's temperment.
11. Minor Character (Paros): As a follow up to question eight (since I am biasedly refusing to discuss Matt at any great length if I can help it), Paros has positively influenced both Charlotte (in feeling seen and admired) and Lee (in reconnecting with her family after coming to some big personal realizations). Why do you think Paros (and not Charlotte's recently deceased friend Minnie or Lee's one-time therapist) has been able to make these positive influences? Do you think this will continue and Paros will positively influence Regan and Cord in some way? If so, how?
~~~ Paros is an interesting character, he is very different from the family and that seems to make them comfortable , not to mention that he is handsome. I am not sure if it's the secondary characters that are so great or if it's the fact that the main characters are so cold and closed to each other that makes other characters seem that much kinder and warmer. I'm just enjoying the interactions :)
12. Minor Character (Kiko): Kiko's character has been used to further characterize the children indirectly: signifying Regan's meticulous mind (a mind that is plotting a murder, ha!), Lee's reformed ways rejecting the advances of men, and Cord's attraction towards men. Is Charlotte's character also indirectly characterized via Kiko? If so, how? (Also, I was so dismayed because Cord was my favorite character and his engagement to Giovonni was so cute and yet many of you predicted that Cord would be outted by being caught in a compromising situation by his family! gasp! So I ask you...) Was Cord's flirting with Kiko harmless, or was it a foreshadowing of a similar situation to come later in the novel?
~~~ I don't think Kiko will be that much of an impact. I think he will be gone once the cruise moves along.
Completion Post 
Book: The Cherry Cola Book Club
by Ashton Lee
Date Read: 6/16
Entered on SS
I read the audiobook version. The default version is the link (not cover) above. Page count should be 255 pages. Let me know if I need to link a different version, I know audiobooks don't show correct page numbers.
Paula wrote: "Exactly, the rule says it has to be tagged, so if tiger or tigers isn't in its tags at least once, it won't work for that"Darn, Can't believe no one tagged that one Tiger... oh well.... I'll keep looking
I have a question about the tags... Tiger specifically. I have been wanting to read
and thought how perfect , Tiger is in the title. But I haven't been able to find it tagged on the shelves. Does that mean it's not eligible for the tag, even if it has Tiger in the title?
Jun 15, 2020 08:51AM
Discussion Questions Day 2: Parts 2 - 45. We get more flashbacks to Charlotte's early life in Paris, and start to get an understanding of why her family isn't close or communicative - she herself was brought up to repress feelings. Will her current crush on Paros blossom into a full relationship? How will her fascination with Paros help or hinder her main aim of this holiday - to reconnect her children?
I don't think it will bloom into anything. She is just enjoying the view.
6. Cord: he jettisons a year and a half of sobriety very easily, though I did enjoy how the author then used his drunken ramble through the ship to show off some of the glorious absurdities of massive cruise ships. Will Cord be able to pull himself together over the cruise or is he going to self-sabotage any happiness he might have had? Do you think Charlotte would react badly to his coming out of the closet? Any guesses on how he gets outed?
I do worry about his sobriety ruining his home life... but possibly on the cruise it will give him the chutzpa he needs to talk to his family about all of their issues. I don't think his "outing" will be a big deal, he seems pretty obvious to them all and I bet it will be just a casual convo, "yep, we knew that".
7. Lee: We get confirmation that Winston did commit suicide, and chose to do it in her bathroom (what a $*!@$!). Why would Charlotte make her lie to her siblings about how he died? And why does noone call her out about her lies about her career?
This is brutal! But I am guessing this is yet another secret to be revealed on the ship. I don't think anyone calls her out on her lies for fear that they will also be called out.
8. Regan: plotting murder! The plot thickens! What do you think the private detective has turned up? I assume it must be worse that infidelity, because you don't hire a PI unless you suspect infidelity, right? ('cos of course we have all thought about having our partners trailed rather than just, y'know, communicating with them!) Do you find the flashbacks to Matt rescuing Regan from the artist teacher (shades of Charlotte again!) make him more likeable?
I wonder if Matt is gay, maybe that's why it would seem like such shocking news. and yes, Matt seemed like a good guy back in the beginning... makes me wonder what went wrong :/
To all those joining in the The Jetsetters BOTM , the Daily questions are up! Have a great reading day everyone :D
Jun 14, 2020 06:48AM
Discussion Questions - Day 11) This is not a book I would’ve picked up on my own, and from the beginning I felt very strongly that I’m not the target (age) group, so I’m extra curious how I’m going to feel about this. Had you heard about this book before it was chosen as BOM? What were your expectations going in?
~~~I briefly heard about this book, mostly because it was picked up by Reese Witherspoon for her audiobook club. Going into this book I expected a story about a dysfunctional family.
2) I was surprised to see that the POVs rotates. Somehow the blurb made me think the whole book would be from Charlotte’s POV. Whose POV are you enjoying the most so far? Who is your favorite character?
~~~So far I'm just trying to get to know each character. My favorite is Charlotte because she seems so quirky, yet she raised her children mostly by herself so I feel that she in some ways is a strong woman.
3) While Charlotte is supposedly the closest to Regan out of all her kids, their POVs show that they actually resent each other the most out of any of our four main characters. I can understand where Regan’s coming from, but Charlotte’s dislike of Regan so far is quite a mystery to me. What do you think is at the core here?
~~~I don't know either, but it seems there's some Envy. From the outside Regan's life seems perfect, yet she's not truly happy.
4) What do you think will happen on the trip? Will they even do the whole thing? Who will be the first to pack their bags and run back home? Which secrets will come out first?
~~~Ha! I am expecting a screaming shouting fist flying battle. The sisters will come to blows over Matt. Cord will come in the middle and be the referee. And both the girls will attack mom Charlotte. I predict in the end they will part friends. I don't see anyone leaving because they are on a boat which would make it difficult. Secrets... first? no idea! but it will be fun to watch (read/listen).
That’s a good idea about writing questions as you go Suzanne, I started Jetsetters because I downloaded it on Scribd, out of fear that it would not be available in time, but stopped after Part 1.
Beth wrote: "I was so tired last night once I finished the book that I didn’t *GASP* start another one and now I don’t know which one to read HELP"
Check out Amy Harmon on KU !
~ Includes audiobook
~ " 
~ "
~ "
~ ebook
~ ebookany of hers really.... you get the idea ;D
