Fiona’s Comments (group member since Sep 25, 2023)

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

246 pages

Current total: 1,151,906

Keli, I don’t know this author yet but I’m taking over DQs. I’m scared now 😂😂

400 pages

Current total: 1,153,562

I'll take over Day 2 for Melindam (3P)

I will hopefully finish A LOT more 😂😂 but I’m on leave so plenty of time

410 pages
786 pages
276 pages

Current total: 1,149,004

📚 A little update: Books left to read until hitting cap📚
Mel 3
Fiona 17
Sophie 10
Vi 4
Lori 9
Claire 2
Lauri 6
Ingeborg 3
Louise 7
Kari 3
MH 7
Andy 10
Denise 3
Keli 6
KayLynn 4

all done, Andy ☺️

Sorry for being MIA, I’m visiting my parents and my laptop died on me 🥲 and well, we know how great the app is 😒 I’ll be back home tomorrow evening.
I have next week off as well, so I already planned two 24 hour readathons to catch up on my reading 😁
Hope everyone is enjoying their vacations!
And I agree with Claire, this is a really great team 🥰

We had a discussion about this in the Captain's group and if I remember correctly, minotaurs are minotaurs and not bulls, so it would not work unfortunately.

Mel or Sophie, please correct me if I'm wrong :)

307 pages

Current total: 1,115,488

KayLynn wrote: "I FOUND A BOOK WITH A CAMEL ON THE COVER THAT I ACTUALLY WANT TO READ!!!


Ok. Sorry to yell. That one has been haunting me for days.
I'm already sign..."

ALSO, I was on the bus when I saw your message, so I hadn't checked the book, but now I did and turns out that I've read it and it was pretty good!

that’s really good, thanks KayLynn!!

DQs Day 3

12. When Norma tells her mother she's pregnant, Norma notices fear in her other's eyes. What do you think that fear was about? Do you think she was remembering her own past experiences and worrying about Norma, or was she fearing that this would lead to Norma finding out the truth somehow? (Thinking to all of the bloodwork and stuff that comes from this, though admittedly not sure in the time frame if that was as much of a concern.)

I don't know about bloodwork (although sure, possible), but more like what if Norma asks Lenore about her pregnancy? How it was? What to do? Or maybe asks for photos of Lenore being pregnant? What if the baby shows strong Mi'kmaq traits that really can't be explained away with an Italian grandfather?

13. Ruthie was from Nova Scotia and went missing in Maine, yet Norma and Ben ran into each other in Boston of all places — somewhere his family would not be expecting her. Later, when they need some time away, Norma's husband takes her to Nova Scotia, where she feels some familiarity and connection to the land. Are these crossovers just coincidences, or do you think that in the grand scheme of the story, something more (fate, a higher power, etc.) is leading them to each other?

I can imagine that their connection was still strong and call it intuition or what not, it was destined to happen like this.

14. We get the backstory in this section on why Joe didn't know he had a daughter at first. Knowing what we know now do you agree with his family's decision to keep him in the dark? Have your opinions on Joe changed with this piece of backstory revealed?

I understand his family's decision. I also understand why Joe stayed away although I wish that he came back earlier than he did.

15. "I would learn to love the little one." What a strange thing for Lenore to say when broaching the topic of adoption — especially considering Norma's circumstances. What did you think when you read that — especially seeing how Lenore treated Norma growing up?

It feels like Lenore is a bit delusional. Somehow it feels like she gaslit herself into thinking that Norma is her biological daughter.

Very heavy on the comfort reads.. the heatwave completely fried my brain, I have a constant headache and getting dizzy spells, so at least physical reading is not it at the moment.
Will be on another long train ride on Saturday (I won't sleep!) and will catch up then

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!)

I did not like Lenore AT ALL. Absolutely no sympathy for her whatsoever. She was a bad person and a bad mother.

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?

Surely to just show the past as they remember it to eventually end up as a family again.

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 was heartbreaking to read. Charlie was a good person, helping Frankie, and then he had to pay for it. That was really sad.

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?

I think June felt guilty for keeping the secret all this time and tried to nudge Norma in the right direction. When Norma got recognized, June probably got scared, came back to her senses.

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 felt really bad for Joe. To go through everything he went through must've been hard. I wasn't uncomfortable, just sad hearing his story.

Keli, can you please add a read date for Justice for all?

Claire, can you please add a read date for De gentleman uit Peru?

DQs for day 1

1. What expectations do you have for the book based on the blurb or other description of the book?
I usually go into books as blindly as possible, so I'm not able to form any opinion prior to reading. So, no expectations.

2. How reliable do you the think the 2 narrators are?
I think they are reliable within their capacities. Obviously they are recounting their life stories, so it is quite subjective, but I do think most of it is reliable.

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?
All I can think is that this is a good setup for what happens way later in the book (view spoiler)[when Joe talks about something sour, bad being in his blood and that is why he completely loses his cool in some moments (hide spoiler)]. I'm unsure what it says about his view on the relationship.. maybe it's to establish that the whites think they're better than the Mi'kmaq?

4. How much is Norma dreaming vs remembering? What do you think the dreams foreshadow?
I'd say it's really all remembering but she puts it off as dreaming since she can't make sense of it. It obviously foreshadows that she must be Ruthie, so much was clear from the beginning.

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?
I immediately thought that Lenore must have kidnapped Norma. It was blatantly obvious. Therefore, Lenore must be worried that someone will come to get her back. With the dolls and toys however.. I don't know, I don't think I paid a lot of attention to that.

6. Why did Joe act so clingy when he returned from his first "guide" with his dad?
I don't have an answer to that really.

Melindam wrote: "Claire,

could you please add Moordgids voor lieve meisjes and Wij leugenaars to your TT shelf, please?

Thank you.

I added We were liars to the sheet as it was on your shelf."

Claire, can you please add a read date for Moordgids voor lieve meisjes as well? Thank you :)

Cheese done!