bamaace83 ’s Comments (group member since Dec 11, 2018)

bamaace83 ’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Lol, she's just keeping us on our toes. At least we aren't dodging flying objects at the moment. I think some of our hearts were already pumping from the Olympic countdown clock and seeing another one may have been like a there's no way moment. I mean I may or may not be speaking from experience over here.

Leaving my comfy ship to come over with a couple non-fiction recommendations. Given what has been happening in the United States recently, I just finished Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption with a 5 rating and once my circle of friends hands over White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism then I'm sure that it will receive just as high of rating.

Swimming over from Watership Down to give sports recommendations. I already noticed that several people voiced my thoughts about Beartown and Us Against You. Two of my all time favorite books. Before the world of Goodreads, I read Bleachers and I really enjoyed it.

That does make sense. Let me go find those threads.....done!

I would be slightly intimidated writing questions myself. I think it would be hard to make sure to have good information in the questions and also get good discussion from them. I really love the book Five Feet Apart. I've worked with that population of kids for years in the hospital setting and it just touches a special piece of my heart. I work with another population now but both populations still intertwine at times. I'm sure that y'all will knock it out of the park on questions and I'm going to re-read the book since it's been a year and so I can add more points. :)

Navi wrote: "Greetings from Team Pants! I've come to request recommendations from you all 😊 Lately, I’ve been in the mood for some great nonfiction. Any favourites? I don’t have a genre preference – biography, ..."

If you haven't read it yet, I just finished Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. It was so good and a great read during this time that we are having in the United States right now. A few of my local friends have been passing around White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism and I'm next on the list so I'm really looking forward to that one also.

Sammy wrote: "Hello there Rabbits!

Having just finished The Art of Fielding (a book I can heartily recommend!), I am left in the mood for more sports-themed books, so have come to see if any of ..."

I always recommend Beartown and Us Against You if you haven't read them yet. They are so good!

I'll definitely ask for suggestions next time. I tend to get myself in some situations at the last minute sometimes....

That's a good point! I may end up doing a switch out situation before these two weeks are over. Oh that's good because I couldn't figure out how to change that.

Discussion Questions - Day 3 - Parts 5 & 6

9. 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?


I really enjoy the different point of view changes. I think it is allowing us to get a little deeper into each character.


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 don't think the setting matters that much. They are missing out on so much history and sites because they can't get over what is bothering each one individually. I mean the sites, the food, everything! I would put my problems aside to really pay attention to the surroundings.



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?

I think Paros is able to make these connections because the characters aren't going to him for help with their problems like the other two. He's just there as a lending ear and confidant. I hope he helps both of them. I want Regan to realize that Matt is a pig. Cord is going to need to come out to his family.



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 think his flirting was harmless. I think it's just his mannerisms. I really hope that it's a foreshadowing that all of his family will learn who he really is.

Angie ☯ wrote: "bamaace83 wrote: "I finished Jetsetters this morning and now just need the questions to catch up with me. I liked the story. It was a fast read and I liked learning about all the characters. On to ..."

Yes, there were a few surprising parts. I was like oh! We can't talk about it just yet because we are ahead of the game. Okay, I figured out how to change the words to day 1 on my link but I can't figure out how to add day 2 and day 3 to the same line. I'm going to finish my day 3 questions right now. I also forgot about reading for the injustice battle rounds so I'm scrambling to find the shortest book possible that counts to get it read before the deadline tomorrow. Of course none of my current wheel books fits the four tasks that I was assigned.

Yeah, special one here. I got one hyperlink in there but when I tried to rename it and stuff it went away. I promise I do use spreadsheets at work but you wouldn't know it with my struggles over here. Message 137 and Message 142. I haven't done day 3 yet.

Discussion Questions Day 2: Parts 2 - 4

5. 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 really like Paros. I want to see her develop a relationship with him. She needs a good man after the flashbacks we have been seeing of Winston. I hope he is able to help her express feelings to grow closer to her children.



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 have a bad feeling that Cord is going to go on a downward spiral. I'm not sure if he's going to recover the same this time. I think being around his family is going to make it worse. I don't think Charlotte will react badly. I think his father's drinking and behavior when he was younger has made Cord not open to letting people around him know the real him.



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?


I really want to know why Winston chose her bathroom. I think Charlotte didn't want anyone else to know exactly how bad off Winston was. It was all about the public appearances. I have no idea but someone needs to call her out on her crap.



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?

Matt is such a jerk! I think he's probably spent all their money, or has a secret family on the side, or has several girls on the side. That PI has came up with something juicy! Nope, I don't like Matt at all. Not one bit.

I finished Jetsetters this morning and now just need the questions to catch up with me. I liked the story. It was a fast read and I liked learning about all the characters. On to book 4!

I'm so not good with hyperlinks. I have posted my responses for day one and two questions but I just don't know how to put that in the fancy spreadsheet.

Discussion Questions - Day 1


1) 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 hadn't heard of this book before. I do like stories like this and it's a good break from what I normally read. I think I would've put it on my TBR and read it at some point if I didn't want the extra points in wheels right now. I think it's going to be a good story.




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?


I really like Charlotte. I think it's going to be very interesting to learn about young Charlotte and more mature Charlotte. Character wise, I actually think I like Cord. I want to know more about him.



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?


Oh, there has to be a story behind this but I haven't a clue what it's going to be. Maybe she sees too much of herself in Regan and wants better for her?



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?

I think we are going to find out all the secrets, one by one. I hope Regan stands up to her husband. I hope Cord invites his fiance' and becomes more open with his family. I hope Lee finds herself. I want Charlotte to be happy. I think Lee will be the first to go. I want Regan's secrets to come out first.

I'm planning on reading The Jetsetters. I should be able to start it tomorrow. I've finished two of my books this weekend and need to get everything upgraded. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption was super good. Growing up in Alabama, I really enjoyed reading this story based on the EJI especially given the times that we are in right now.

Yeah, I don't like those either. Nope, not for me. I think it's the same reason. They are just creepy.

I got delayed with my reading last night so I'm about to finish my first book today and starting the second. Good thing those clowns didn't keep you up! I hate clowns. I probably would've dropped the book and had to come back to it later this week.

Us being competitive, who would have thought? I'm still recovering from being knocked off my broom and holding on for dear life as things were thrown at my head on Saturday. I know that I'll have a few more books to add to the mix.

Alright, I'm up to 6 pre-planned and then I'll have a few more during those two weeks but don't want to get to far ahead in case one of my other many challenges that I seem to get involved in needs a book that doesn't fit one of those.

Cool, thanks! I'm trying to balance shorter, medium, and a couple long books so I don't get myself in a situation where I picked all 400 plus page books and am like oh crap what did I just do to myself!?!