Nanci’s Comments (group member since Jan 29, 2016)

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

Completion post

Book: Made in the U.S.A.
Author: Billie Letts
Pages: 355
Date read: 12/6/2018
Letters:
C and A- Cash Abernathy (character)
D-Dub (character FN)
L-Lutie (character FN)
E-Essie (character FN)

Task #12 Gold writing on cover and set in summer

Laura wrote: "Well, I’m kind of partial to most of what we do at AMMP. Our sister group, Game Night, has some great challenges as well."

I'll check that out!

Laura wrote: "Nanci wrote: "What is the elephant challenge??"

Nanci, are you a member in AMMP (A Million More Pages)? The White Elephant Party is a challenge we have every year around this time. But it looks li..."

Yes, I am, and yes, it's closed. I'll try to remember to look for it next year. Tammie has been telling me about some other challenges too. If you or anyone else has challenges you like I'd love to know about them. Thanks for your response!

What is the elephant challenge??

Vicky wrote: "And also I don't know how we missed adding Nanci's book! I've done that now so we're covered for that task. Woo!"

Awesome! I will get that one read today!

Completion post

Book: Varina
Author: Charles Frazier
Pages: 356
Date read: 12/5/18
Letters:
C-author's FN (Charles Frazier
D-character's LN (Jefferson Davis)
Task #11- water on cover

Tammie wrote: "I am also reading

It's a 'life telling' story and the setting is during all seasons I'm sure. Will this work for? Read a book with a green or..."

I have a book that Vicky told me fits, (it has gold writing on the cover) but I think Apoorv didn't mark it on the SS because at that time he was wanting others to have a chance to claim tasks. If your book works for it too, go ahead. Mine might fit for something else too.

Amanda A wrote: "Completion

Book: About That Kiss by Jill Shalvis
Date Read: 12/4
349 pages
Letters: A, E
Character: Elle
Tasks: Character has a dog that came from a shelter - Kylie's dog, Vinnie, ..."

I thought A Dog's Purpose was sweet. I listened to the sequel too, but not as good as the original.

Tammie wrote: "Laura wrote: "I should have my books for my claimed tasks done tomorrow. Is anyone working on a genre book for us?"

@Laura ... I don't see that it's claimed on the SS and I don't recall anyone in ..."

Those are two of my favorites also!

I just got it from the library. Excited to discuss it!

14. We are halfway through. Do you have a favourite of the stories so far? Is there one you are particularly looking forward to reading?
I finished the book. My favorite was Star of Bethlehem.


It's a yuletide miracle

15. Marigold's apartment was a suprise. Have you ever lived somewhere with things piled up around you like that or where you had boxes unpacked for months?
No. I'm a neat freak. Every time we move I can't wait until all the boxes are unpacked and everything is organized.

16. I thought this story had a nice style. Have you read any books by Stephanie Perkins? What did you think?
I've never read any of her books. It had an easy reading style.

17. I was trying to picture Asheville in my mind and ended up doing some google-ing. Have you ever been there or somewhere like it?
We only live about 5 hours from Asheville, so we've been there a few times. It is lovely and has something for everyone...mountains and outside activities, lots of breweries and eateries, art and book stores, and The Biltmore for culture. If you have a chance to visit, you won't be disappointed!

Your temporary Santa

18. This story was the most unusual for me. I felt like there was a lot more going on than what I understood (like the nasty sister and the strange interaction with the mum in the hallway). But I find that a lot with Levithan books! How about you?
Again, not familiar with the author, but yes the story was a bit odd to me too, although I liked some of the questionable humor. It was strange how the mom reacted to Santa. Maybe she knew it was her son's friend, or perhaps her husband used to dress as Santa??

19. I like how he is Jewish and his parents gave him the story about Santa and how "you can wave to him as he flies past if you want". Did your parents have any unusual Christmas stories or traditions?
I chuckled aloud as I read that sentence! How cool that his parents found a way for their son to feel a part of the story of Santa. I think my traditions growing up were all fairly within the norm. With our own children, my husband would run through our woods on Christmas Eve in the dark with a red flashlight and we would tell the kids Rudolph was on his way. It would help them scurry up to bed right away! Of course there was a time or two when my husband injured himself by tripping in the dark or getting jabbed by a tree branch! Haha!

20. Did you ever see Santa? When did you stop believing?
There was certainly a time or two when my siblings and I heard hooves on the roof, but I never did see him. I was the youngest of 5, so I was afraid to stop believing and everyone worked hard to make sure I didn't stop, as they were afraid there wouldn't be any more presents!

Apoorv wrote: "megan wrote: "Is there a short story where the couple celebrates Hanukkah?? I was hunting for a book to fit this task, but if this takes care of it thenI won't keep searching ."

Yup, there is!
So..."

Sorry, Megan. Just seeing your question. It wasn't a major part of the short story, but yes, as Apoorv noted, there was a small part in the story of the couple celebrating Hanukkah in a slightly makeshift way, as they were short on supplies.

Vicky wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Here's another link for a comment I made for the BOM.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

Thanks!

Here's another link for a comment I made for the BOM.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Never quite sure...do I need to post a link here each time I comment, or does posting one or two satisfy?

Angels in the Snow

8. Shy puts up a good front that everything is just fine when he is actually starving and lonely. Haley's invitation to dinner seems to be exactly what he needs. Why do you think he is making choices that are clearly making him miserable?

Shy doesn't want Haley to find out about his true background. He feels if he is honest and admits to being hungry, Haley will see the rest of his true self.

9. Haley asks Shy about his meals, invites him to dinner, and then brings muffins which she puts straight into the refrigerator without giving Shy a chance to stop her. Do you think she suspects that he doesn't have any food? What did you think of her solution of fixing dinner and then dragging him up to her apartment to eat it?
I think Haley had suspicions that something was going on with Shy. The writing sounded like Haley was really surprised when she discovered his fridge and cabinets were empty, so no, I don't think she knew he didn't have any food. It was clever that she got him up to her apt for dinner.


10. In the end, it turns out that Haley wasn't completely honest, and she confesses her deception to Shy. What do you think initially motivated her to deceive him? Why is she telling him the truth now?
I don't think she felt she knew him well enough at first to tell him about the breakup. Maybe that was some of the reason she played the game with him, so that she could eventually feel safe to share with him that she broke up with her boyfriend. She now feels comfortable becoming romantic with Shy and wants him to know she no longer has a boyfriend.



Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me

11. Given that Natalie has lived at the North Pole since she was a baby, did you find it odd that she seemed so completely alone at the party and separate from the elves?
Not at all. As a teenager she was becoming aware of how different she was from the elves and wanting to have experiences with human boys.

12. What did you think of Santa as a dad: the dress, the dance, the fact he can't be lied to?
We never think of Santa as a dad, yet here is a person who in many ways has many fatherly traits...giving, loving, selfless, funny, knows about his children and whether they've been naughty or nice. I thought the author did a good job of representing him as a dad.

13. The end of the story was really open ended. Do you think Flynn is right that she will go away someday and stop believing or do you think she will stay at the North Pole?
I think that statement was referring to how children stop believing in Santa at a certain age and the magic dissipates. I do think eventually Natalie will go away and live her life more fully with other humans. It will be very sad for Santa and the elves, and Natalie will miss them too, but I think she knows its the decision that she needs to make to live her life fully.

SandyC wrote: "Becoming by Michelle Obama
426 pages
Read 12/3/18

Characters:
C - Craig Robinson
D, A - David Axelrod
L - Laura Bush

Task: Read a book that has a birth"

Sandy, how did you like this? I'm thinking about reading it.

Completion post
Book: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories
Pages: 321
Date read: 12/3/2018
Letters:
C-Carter(author's LN) Ally Carter
A-Ally (author's FN) Ally Carter
N-Noel (character in "Midnights" short story)
D-David (author's FN) David Levithan
L-Laini (author's FN) Laini Taylor
E-Elspeth (character in "The Lady and the Fox" short story)
Task:
It fits a ton! Use it wherever you think is best!

Here's my comment on the BOM My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Midnights
1. Mags and Noel meet at a New Years Eve party and we read dialogue from 4 consecutive celebrations. To me, it’s pretty obvious Noel is interested in more than a ‘friendship’ relationship with Mags. What are your thoughts about why Mags is so reluctant?
I think Mags valued their friendship so very much that she didn't want to take a chance on changing their relationship and then possibly losing what they had.

2. Not sure, but Noel appears to have some experience with other girls…Natalie, Amy, Alicia…while Mags doesn’t interact with other boys. What’s keeping Mags from other boys and if Noel really likes Mags why is he kissing/dating other girls?

Mags seems to be a very level-headed sensible girl and I don't think she's interested in being with other boys, just to have a boyfriend. If she's going to be with a boy as a boyfriend, she wants it to be real and meaningful. As far as Noel kissing other girls, that just seems to be part of his carefree nature. I didn't get the impression he was at all serious about the other girls...just like he did it for fun and in the moment.

3. It seems that Noel is really the one open to different things and specifically change vs Mags who appears likes things status quo. One quote ’everything was the same and everything was different’… what does this mean to you?
Noel professes that he likes change, but then rather freaked out when he came home from college and thought Mags was the one who changed so much. To me, the quote means while everything looks the same (same house for party, essentially the same people, etc.) things are different. Going away to college changes people...it forces people to be independent, sometimes for the first time in their lives, and can impact attitudes and thinking. So while things "look" the same, they can be "different.

The Lady and the Fox
4. The man (Fenny) is outside standing still…in the trees always at Christmas, always in the snow… What do you think about this man? He says he’s where he’s supposed to be…he’s only allowed to come when it shows…why do you think he’s supposed to be there?
This story was so completely different from the first story that it took me awhile to get into the swing of it. I wasn't sure of his purpose at first.

5. Fenny gives Miranda the Fox Damask from his coat as a present and she fixes it so the fox is no longer chained and returns it to him one year later, again as a present. Is this ‘fox’ magic? Would he have been able to be free of the lady had this not occurred do you think?
I thought this part of the story was very clever. The fox was chained, just as Fenny. I didn't feel the fox was magic. I thought it was Miranda's way of letting Fenny know he could break free too.

6. The fact that Miranda’s mother is in jail is one aspect of this story that requires ‘imagination’. What does her mother have in common with Finny (the man in the snow) and/or the lady? Do you think her mother is really in jail in Thailand?
They were all in "prison" of some sort. Yes, I do think her mom is really in jail.

7. The book was written in a ‘different’ style. If you were going to put a label on the style, what would you call it and why? Does Link’s style remind you on another author you’ve read…if so, who?
Fantasy or magical style. I don't read much fairy tale/magical genre, so it's hard for me to compare. I didn't care for this story.

Tammie wrote: "Have we decided on 'candle'?"

I was wondering too, Tammie. ;)