Bernadette’s Comments (group member since May 28, 2020)

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

Carrie wrote: "Bernadette🌻 wrote: "SS is ready!"

Thanks Bernadette! Greatly appreciated!

I see you are reading Firekeepers' Daughter. I am as well. Are you enjoying it? I like it a lot!"

Carrie, I'm enjoying Firekeeper's Daughter - it was already on my TBR list before Tower Teams but the timing now if for the BOM points.

DQs Day 2 Chapters 9 to 15

6. I thought that the opening scene with Daunis and the gun would show up again towards the end of the book. That’s usually what happens when authors use this kind of device. Were you surprised that it happens not even a quarter of the way in?

I wasn't sure what this question was talking about. I didn't remember anything about a gun at the beginning of the book. I went back to look and realized I totally skipped that first page😲

7. We knew there would be a murder but we’re you surprised that it was Lily who was killed? Did you suspect something bad would happen between her and Travis?

I no thoughts about who would be murdered but there was definitely bad blood between Lily & Travis

8. The synopsis also hinted that Jamie was not all he seemed. I thought he would be something to do with the murder but not that he would be an undercover agent. What did you think it was that Jamie was hiding?

I thought he may have been a drug dealer

9. If you were Daunis would you have agreed to be a confidential informant? I’m not sure I would be brave enough.
Too far from reality to answer

10. Being a confidential informant seems to be very complicated with Daunis being expected to really investigate what is happening rather than just let them know if she comes across anything suspicious. How well do you think Daunis will be able to do this as it’s her own community and perhaps members of her own family that she will be investigating?

I don't think she is actually "investigating" so much as she is observing and passing along information

DQs Day 1 Chapters 1 to 8

1) Was this book on your TBR before it was announced as a BOM and were you hypnotized by the beautiful cover art? Were you familiar with Ojibwe culture prior to reading this book?

Yes, not hypnotized but it's beautiful and no.

2) Several social issues have been touched on so far including racism (including within race (skin tone) and within families for biracial children), enrolled v. descendant tribe membership, substance abuse, illegitimacy, and mental health. Does the author seem to be pulling this off so far or does it seem like too much to have it work for the story?

There are alot of social issues but they usually draw on each other.

3) Characters. Any favorites so far? Does anyone else want to be adopted by Granny June, or is that just me?

Not yet but Granny June is quite a character!

4) The author weaves tribal culture into the story and makes it an important aspect of Daunis's life. Including having her work in the tribal language into her interactions with the kids. Language is such an important part of culture, loosing a language means more than just a loss of vocabulary words. Are you enjoying this aspect of the story?

The language is important but it is hard remembering the phrases that are used.

5) The quote "when someone dies everything becomes past tense, except for the grief. Grief stays in the present." really hit home. How did you react to this statement, did is resonate with you as well?

Grief has many steps and takes time to get over. It is a very true statement.

SS is ready!

@Alyana - you can sort your Want to Read list by Number of Pages and if the numbers in the pages add up t0 five - it's good. 320 pages add up to 5: 3+2+0=5.

How is everyone's Tower Team doing? We are consistently in 4th place.

Alyana - your team seem to be reading machines😳

#3 is good for me. I've got plenty of books on TBR list that fit the bill!

We haven't heard from Pooja but right now looks like (counting everyone's vote on each)

#1 - 4 votes
#2 - 6 votes
#3 - 5 votes

It's close😕. There is a "virtual random thing picker"😂🤣 if we can't decide

Paris wrote: "Would this count as 'cover has only men (one ok) PLUS something blue'

there's a man on it and it's pretty blue... although it's more of a background than a 'something'

[bookcover:Think Like a Mon..."

@Paris, I used a book w/a blue background for that task It works!

Sophie wrote: "

I'm going to try to give a weekly (at least) update of the tasks that haven't yet been filled on here so that we all know where we are up to.

Currently we're back in 4th place - but it's tight w..."

#154 - Yeti is found in The House in the Cerulean Sea so we should be able to get that one since it is a BOM.

#44 - Guards! Guards! another BOM has a dragon on the cover. I won't be reading that one but I'm sure one of you will. I couldn't get into the Discworld books.

I’m good with all three🙄

Great - we need April & Snow to finish up Gran Canaria. I'll setup the SS after we decide what to do at the first stop. Let's travel!!

@Jackie - I had a book for #71 that I haven't read yet (and don't have from the library yet - it's still on hold). I saw you recently added one that fits that task so I removed mine and added yours - if that's OK for you?

Carrie wrote: "Alyana,

Have you heard anything?"

I also had sent a message on June 3rd😒 - she/he must be on a LONG vacation😂🤣

Jackie wrote: "Same for me. Long wait at my library so not very likely that I'll get them."

I've sometimes found that the wait is not as long for the large print version of books. My library also uses Libby for ebooks and audiobooks and the wait often goes quicker. I'll often request a book in all versions and see which one I get first.

Sophie wrote: "Bernadette🌻 wrote: "Sophie wrote: "July BOM have just been released. Lori's nominations have won for both, which means we get nomination points and she automatically gets the first set of questions..."

Yeah!!! Both books were really good. Great choices Lori.

Sophie wrote: "July BOM have just been released. Lori's nominations have won for both, which means we get nomination points and she automatically gets the first set of questions for them both (and more points!).
..."

I already read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and The House in the Cerulean Sea during this challenge. Can I still participate in the BOM questions? It would be shame to miss out on the points.

It's getting harder to find tasks to fit the books I'm reading🤷‍♀️ - not many left.....

DQs Day 3: The Tree That Is Our Life - Wild and Free (59%)

11. Regarding the system error, that occurred when Nora tried to return to the library after that speech. Do you think Nora could have trouble returning to the library from one of the next lives that she visits?

Based on what Mrs. Elm said, she might. She could actually die in one of those lives.

12. But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. (p. 151) Do you think Nora is going to "find the meaning of life", "be happy forever in a parallel life", or "will want to die and leave the library forever"?

Find the meaning of life

13. Are you surprised about Nora meeting Hugo, another Slider, as he calls people like them in the in-between?

Yes - but it makes sense that there are "others"

14. For Nora it's a library, for Hugo it's a video store. What do you imagine would your variant of the in-between be? (And obviously you are not allowed to say library now, because I'm guessing most of us would go with that answer. Be creative and let me know what else you would feel comfortable with.)

My first choice would have been a library. I'm actually on the Board of Directors of my local library. But since I can't choose that, I would choose a yarn shop. I find calm in crocheting.

15. We finally get to see Nora's life as a rock star. In what direction do you think this will go? Is it going to be the life Nora is happiest with and stays the longest/forever? Or do you think that she's going to leave it rather soon again?

Still too early in the book for it to be the life she choses. Seems to be some problems here we haven't been told about yet.

DQs Day 2: The Penultimate Update - Peppermint Tea (39%)

6. Were you surprised that Nora's second choice was related to her cat? What did you think of the outcome?

Silly - I didn't think much about that one

7. How did the reality of Nora's Australia line up with what you imagined it would be like?

Australia was a sad & surprising ending.

8. What did you think about the similarities between Nora's life in Australia versus her original life?

Depression seems to be a part of every aspect of her various lives.

9. On the surface, Nora's life with a swimming career seems to be the most successful so far. Do you think the positives will outweigh the negatives this time around?

I don't think the positives will outweigh the negatives or the book would be shorter😂. You see her thinking about the things in her existing life that don't exist in the "successful" life

10. Any predictions for how Nora's speech will go in the next chapter?

Not well - she doesn't really the life she is currently in. I think she will have a confused audience.

DQs - Day 1

1. Were you planning to read this book before it became a BOM? If so, what drew you to it?

I was. I'm always drawn to books about books and libraries

2. What do you think of Matt Haig’s writing style (and those short chapters!) and how he has set the story up so far?

I like short chapters. If I only have short to squeeze in reading time, there easier to get through.

3. What are your thoughts on Nora? Are you attached to her yet?

She's sad, lonely. I feel sorry for her.

4. If you were somehow able to, would you want to see all of the different outcomes that could have played out in your own life? Or would you rather just leave things as they are without ever knowing?

I might wonder, but things can't be changed so....leave as is

5. What did you think about Nora’s first glimpse at a road not taken? Were you surprised by which book she chose to open first or by how quickly it disappointed her?

I'm not surprised she chose that one first. It seemed to be her most recent bog regret. I am surprised at how quickly it went bad for her. People aren't always who we think they are.