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

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

Paris wrote: "Just updated the spreadsheet with my last 2 books.

I'm currently reading A Man Called Ove

Would this cover work for 'cover has only men (one ok) PLUS something blue' (the sky is b..."

I loved A Man Called Ove 🥰 - I hope you do as well!

I've got "66 Features a necromancer" covered ✔ with The House in the Cerulean Sea. It just became available for me to borrow at the library. I did have to look up necromancer though🤣😂

Carrie wrote: "Or does this rule mean that it can?
Thoughts?

Books count that are started after your team thread is created. Provided the book is started during your challenge period, it can be used at any point..."

I definitely think any book that was read after we started this trip can be used at any time. Would be crazy 😲 if we could go all the way back to 2018 but it does read that way!

While on vacation last week, we were in a state (Tennessee) that had just lifted its mask restriction. None required indoors or outdoors. We did need to wear them while indoor at National Park buildings because federal buildings still require masks. Masks required on the plane and when we got back home to Pennsylvania. It's different state by state in the US but things seem to be returning to normal.

I got my 2nd vaccine shot 2 weeks ago - woohoo!

Alyana wrote: "Discworld is not my kind of book too.
I am enjoying tower teams but I find Uno more exciting, maybe too early to say but let's see."

UNO looks interesting - maybe in the next round I'll patriciate🤷‍♀️

I see that most of us are participating in Tower Teams - looks like it is me, Carrie, Snow, Pooja, Alyana, April and Shy. This is the first time I've done this challenge. I've never read a Discworld book and don't think I will🤣 - not really my kind of book👎📚. PLENTY of other options!

It's been fun so far - week one done - many more to go!

Sophie - I had a wonderful vacation, thanks for asking. It was great to get away. The weather was good most days and we were able to do almost everything we had planned. Lots of hiking, good eating and visiting some tourist attractions. Also got some reading in😊. So many emails at work when it got back though😏

I found a "Bingo Lingo" sheet on another team's SS which has a great explanation and options for the images. Do you want me to add it to our SS?

DQ Day 3: Ch. 11-13

11. Do you think the author has been able to give Bess and Alexandra individual voices? Do you like books with multiple points of view?

The author has made the individual voices work well. I'm listening to the audiobook and 2 narrators were used. I usually like books with multiple points of view as long as there aren't too many.

12. What do you think ‘Eliza’ and Agnes were talking about in the kitchen? Do you think either Agnes or Maria know that Charlotte came from the Foundling home?

I'm not sure what they were discussing. I'm not sure if Agnes and Maria know or not, but they should have known something was odd and noticed she was never pregnant.

13. I think that Alexandra will get much worse re her fears of the outside after the mask prank. Do you think her thoughts about ‘Eliza’ will suffer because of it?

Absolutely

14. Do you believe that Dr Mead was telling the truth about not knowing about what happened to Alexandra’s parents? Why has he lied about who ‘Eliza’ is?

He may not have been lying. He may not think Alexandra is safe.

DQ Day 2: Ch. 6-10

6. Were you surprised to find out Daniel had a wife? I personally was super surprised as I originally believed him when he said he was single. What do you think of the way Daniel died?

I was not terribly surprised. Bess only saw him twice and didn't seem to have a commitment.

7. How do you think Alexandra Callard knew about Bess and her daughter?

I think Daniel told her. She seemed to know he had "activity" outside his marriage. I don't believe she knows who Bess is....

8. What do you think of the way Alexandra and Charlotte live? Do you think Alexandra keeps Charlotte home to stop her from being recognized or because she is truly scared of the real world?

Alexandra has some issues and is passing them on to her daughter - it is not healthy

9. "Eliza" has been fired on her first day. What do you think of Alexandra's reasoning for firing her? Do you think part of Alexandra knows that she is Charlotte's real mom?

I didn't understand the reason for the "firing" - seemed weird. I don't think she has any idea who Bess really is.

10. Do you think Bess will find a way to still see her daughter? How?

I'm ahead here in the book and know already

Alyana - all I need done is picture & description. Everything else is ready to go.

I'm expecting a crazy day at work- just got in from vacation last night. It was wonderful being away. The Great Smoky Mountains and areas around them are beautiful. Flying was not a problem thanks goodness...

Good morning team - looks like #1 is the winner so I set up the SS. I'm having trouble adding a picture to it😢 I'll get it to work though!

DQ Day 1 - Chapters 1-5

1. How are you liking the writing style ? Are you enjoying the story so far?

So far so good

2. After reading that opening scene, what do you think of the practice of the Hospital taking babies based on a lottery (the coloured balls in the bag) ?
It was a unusual was to determine the future of a baby but life was different then

3. At some point Bess says that "knowing she [Clara] could be anywhere instead of nowhere at all was torture even more exquisite." Implying that not knowing where her child is is worse than knowing she's dead. What's your opinion ? Or would you rather not know ?

I would rather not know and pray for the best

4. What do you make of the child's father, Daniel Callard ? Everyone keeps asking Bess if he's really dead. Do you suspect there's more to Daniel than we've been told so far ?

I didn't originally but do while I am answering this question because I am further in the book

5. Time for your theories ! Who do you think claimed Clara on the 28th of November 1747, the day after Bess gave up her baby ?

Not what I was expecting....

Option 1 is my choice 😉

My library does have The Lost Orphan🙂. Thanks Sophie for letting me know it had another title!

@Carrie, I just finished Where the Story Starts by Imogen Clark that can fill the “I”. I’m on vacation/out of town until late Thursday & may not be able to access a computer. If you could fill in the SS for me I’d appreciate it😉

I finished my first book today😊. I’m still on vacation until Thursday 😍 but will have reading and/or listening time available. Lots of hiking on this trip. Haven’t seen any bears 🐻 or elk yet😳.

My library system does not have The Foundling😢 so I can’t read that one.

Hello team - I'm very excited - I'm traveling tomorrow - yeah! A one week vacation, actually getting on a plane. My husband & I are going to the Great Smoky Mountains - 5 days in the Gaitlinburg TN area and 2 days in the Asheville NC area. This is a trip were supposed to do last May. Looking forward to it😍

What is everyone going to read first??"

I'll be on vacation when this starts so I already listed some books on the SS. I won't have computer access while I'm away. I'm excited to be traveling again. Last May my husband & I were scheduled to go to the Great Smoky Mountains🏞 but the trip was obviously cancelled😢. So we are going there now on Thursday for a week😀. We've both already been vaccinated💉 and will be getting on a plane for the first time in over a year.

My first books will be:

Thinner
Infinite Country
The Lovely Bones
Housekeeping

Recommendations from me:

The Green Mile
The Red Tent
The Outsiders
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Shack
The Glass Castle
The Night Circus

Carrie wrote: "Looks like almost everyone prefers 1 and 3 with 1 being first preference. Spell it out it is!

Bernadette, would you mind setting up a spreadsheet for the next round when you get a chance? Thanks! ..."

I have updated the SS. Are we going with Hiroshima or Hiroshima, Japan? I set it up for Hiroshima for now.