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

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

Good points, Keli.

I'm happy to contribute to the team and play Quidditch, but I know I don't want to be the seeker. Way too much responsibility and since this is my first time, I'm not even sure what half of it means. I guess I could be a beater, as long as I get team support with people advising me what I should be reading, until I get the hang of this game. If someone else wants to be a beater, then I could be a reserve player. Carmen, you can decide.

Judy wrote: "Nanci wrote: "I added my most recent completed book to the BOOKS READ thread. Carmen, please note my comment about the herbology thread. I'm not sure if that's correct. Am I the one who needs to re..."

Thanks for the answer, Judy!

I added my most recent completed book to the BOOKS READ thread. Carmen, please note my comment about the herbology thread. I'm not sure if that's correct. Am I the one who needs to read the second hardcover book to complete the task, or can anyone read a hardcover to complete it? I mostly only read hardcovers, so not a problem.

Completion post


Book: The Wife Between Us
Author: Greer Hendricks
Date Read: 5/28/18
Pages: 352
Rating: 4.5 stars

Classes:
Herbology
Dragon hide gloves (to protect from bites): Read two hardcover books. (I'm planning to read another hardcover book after this one).


Spells:

V-Vanessa; N-Nellie; A-Aunt Charlotte; R-Richard; E-Emma; S-Sam; K-Kate;

Jane wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Oh, I was just being facetious, Jane. I would love to canoe on a lake in Sweden! Hope it's not too hot for you, but at least you could maybe go overboard and take a dunk if it is. I d..."

I always say SUP is easier than it looks. Everyone falls a few times learning, but once you get it, it's not hard. Surfing on one on ocean waves is tougher, but our lake is generally calm. I fell in love with it a few years ago and since we live on a lake where I can use it a lot, my husband bought me one last year. My favorite thing to do is go out when it's still a bit dark and watch the sun rise. Heaven!

Jane wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Sounds like a really rough holiday...canoeing on a lake in Sweden. Really??!! Have a great time! Sweden is so beautiful! .."

I'm not expecting it to be rough at all apart from the he..."

Oh, I was just being facetious, Jane. I would love to canoe on a lake in Sweden! Hope it's not too hot for you, but at least you could maybe go overboard and take a dunk if it is. I do that a lot on my paddleboard, but it's easier for me to get back up on my board than it would be to get back in a canoe. Have a blast!

I added my 5th and final discussion question answers thread to our books read thread for the BOM Lilac Girls

Discussion questions, set 5: Team Moaning Myrtle

29. What did you think about the relationship between Caroline and Paul? Was it a satisfying ending?

I did not realize until the author's notes at the end, that Caroline Ferriday and Herta Oberheuser were real people along with all the Ravensbruck staff that was mentioned and Caroline's mom and dad. Even though I read this book just over a year ago, I forgot that from the first reading, so reading this at the end was a double whammy for me. As we learn in the author's notes, Caroline's relationship with Paul Rodierre is based on fact. His physical handsomeness, however, is the author's imagination. My guess is the ending was factual. It fits with Caroline's personality to me that she never did try to reinstate their love affair or carry it further. It sounds like her joy in the end, came from her relationships with her "rabbits" who she wrote felt like daughters to her. I'm ok with not having neat, tidy endings to everything in a book. I think it makes a book more realistic.

30. Which story was the most interesting to you, Caroline, Kasia, Herta? Why?

All three stories were interesting to me and I definitely feel the story would not have been as impactful without all three perspectives. Kasia's story was the most touching to me and I liked how the author gave her the courage at the end to face Herta on her own, which eventually was responsible for Herta losing her license to practice. Yay, Kasia!

31. “Lilacs only blossom after a harsh winter.” What did you think about the explanation for the title of the book?
I thought it was a good explanation for the title of the book, but I think the real impetus for the title was when the author visited Caroline's real home in Connecticut and the impact the lilacs had on her. She learned of Caroline Ferriday through the article titled "Caroline's Incredible Lilacs". The author has been "a longtime fan of all things lilac", which is what drew her to read the article and learn about Caroline, in the first place. She then carried the article with her for many years and when the right time presented itself began work on the novel. I remembered this from my first time reading the book. It was killing me not to say anything when earlier in the thread everyone was wondering about the significance of the lilacs. Now we know! I still am not sure who the three women on the cover are supposed to be...Kasia, Zuzanna and their mom before they were prisoners (but they don't look like teenagers)? Kasia, Caroline and Herta...wouldn't fit with the story to have their arms around one another? Kasia, Suzanna and Kasia's daughter? Three anonymous "rabbits" after their surgical repairs? Curious to see what you all think.

32. Many years later Herta wore Halina’s ring. Do you think she cared for Halina more than she would admit? Or do you think Herta was too cold hearted to really care about another person?
I still think Herta had romantic feelings for Halina, but she would never admit that since it would have been so taboo and she probably could have lost her license or even her life if she admitted it, even after the war. She wouldn't admit it to Kasia, but she did make the one omission saying she would bring back Halina if she could.

33. Did you learn anything about WWII and the years after that you did not know before? If so, what?
Of course. Everytime I read a book about WWII I learn so much. This book gave me a clearer vision of how Poland was affected by the Nazi regime and also I didn't know about the rabbit experiments.

34. Kasia got closure about her mother’s death. And in the end Kasia did positively identify Herta. Did you like the ending to the book? Would you recommend this book to others?

Yes, I liked the ending and thought it was in keeping with the book. I would like to have seen Herta not only lose her license, but also have to return to prison for the remainder of her life. I understand that couldn't be done, since this book is based on fact, but I sure wish she would have been punished more in real life. Yes, I recommended the book to many people my first time reading it and I'm recommending it again during this second reading. To me the sign of a great book, is when you reread it you still read it word for word. I don't even want to reread most books, but this book was so good even the second time around that I just loved reading every word!

maria helena wrote: "In case you haven't seen it, there is a survey posted in the Leaky Cauldron and if we answer it we get 5 extra points :-)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"

I looked at the survey, but since I don't read HP someone else will have to take this one for our team.

Jane wrote: "I will be going away for my holiday now for just over a week. I will be reading but as I'm going to be canoeing on a lake in Sweden I'm not sure if I'll be able to post my books. I'll try my phone ..."

Sounds like a really rough holiday...canoeing on a lake in Sweden. Really??!! Have a great time! Sweden is so beautiful!

Jane wrote: "Nanci wrote: "OMGosh, Jane! Thank you so much for your detective work! I removed the Tower Team shelf and moved the books to the correct one that's in message 60. So glad you figured it out!

Carm..."

Oops! Ha! Yes, thank you Judy! (The other "J" name on our team.) :)

OMGosh, Jane! Thank you so much for your detective work! I removed the Tower Team shelf and moved the books to the correct one that's in message 60. So glad you figured it out!

Carmen, it should be correct now. If not, please let me know.

Also, Carmen, I'm letting you decide where to use my books. Hope that's ok.

Carmen, you can see the books on my shelf here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Nanci you currently have no books in your tower shelf so please add them."

That's odd. I have tagged them to my Tower shelf and when I look at my books it shows they are on my Tower shelf. Any ideas of what I can do?

Completion Post
Book: Lilac Girls
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Read: 5/24/18
Pages: 487

Spell Letters:
L-title
M-author's FN
K-author's LN
C-character Caroline
H-character Herta
P-character Paul

BOM: links to DQ:
Set 1:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Set 2:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Set 3 and 4:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Set 5:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Nanci wrote: "☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Just an idea. If anyone is interested in reading the book , it's a good book and reads quic..."

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Nanci wrote: "☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I got and starting it now. So more extra points :)"
I've been reading it and answering the discussion q..."

I just finished Lilac Girls today. I will post it to completed books, and I'll post the links to my discussion questions there too.

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Nanci wrote: "Just an idea. If anyone is interested in reading the book , it's a good book and reads quick and would link with my book, The Alice Network."

I can do ..."

That's great. Is there a date I need to have completed The Alice Network? I haven't started it yet.

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "I got and starting it now. So more extra points :)"
I've been reading it and answering the discussion questions. I should finish it in the next day or so. So it's ok for more than one person on the team to read it?

Discussion questions Set 4
20. (CH 27 - CAROLINE) AS THE WAR STARTS TO WIND DOWN, CAROLINE LEARNED THAT PAUL WAS STILL ALIVE. WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT HER RUSHING TO FRANCE TO SEE HIM? HOW DO YOU THINK PAUL FEELS ABOUT CAROLINE?
Initially I was not happy that Caroline and Paul were having an affair. However, as the story progressed, and if I am to believe Paul's side that Rena was unfaithful to him, then the affair started not to bother me as much. I was not surprised that she rushed to France to see him. She loves him very much. It appears Paul feels the same about her, but I still have some mistrust.
21. (CH 28 - KASIA) KASIA SEEMS TO BE STRUGGLING MORE THAN ZUZANNA TO BEING BACK IN POLAND. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
Poor Kasia. She feels so responsible and such a huge amount of guilt associated with her mother and sister. I just think she can't stop blaming herself.
Q22 (CH 29-30 - CAROLINE) HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN CAROLINE CAME BACK TO PAUL'S HOUSE TO MOVE IN? WHAT ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS ASKED TO DO? WOULD YOU DO IT? AND WHY DO YOU THINK SHE ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO HELP?
I felt bad for Caroline. She's a good person and I think she had to help them be reunited because she has a helper personality.
Q23 (CH 31-32-33 - KASIA) WHERE YOU SURPRISED AT WHAT KASIA FOUND WHEN WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL AND HOW THINGS EVOLVED FOR HER? DO YOU THINK SHE'LL FIND HER HAPPINESS?
I sure hope Kasia will be happy. I figured at some point the author would reunite Pietrik with her, so I wasn't that surprised.
Q24 (CH 34 - HERTA) WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS FOR HERTA? HAVE THEY CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE BOOK?
At the very beginning when the butcher was raping her, of course I felt bad for her and what an awful situation she was enduring. As I learned what she was doing in the camp, my feelings changed towards her drastically. She had options to leave, but she didn't want to do "boring work". In some sick way she enjoyed the surgery, just for the fact she was doing surgery and getting her ego stroked by the other doctor telling her what a great job she was doing.
25 (CH36 - CAROLINE) - CAROLINE HAS STAYED IN FRANCE AND IS DOING HER VOLUNTEER WORK IN PARIS. WHY DO YOU THINK SHE WON'T READ ANY OF PAUL'S LETTERS? WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE TURN OF EVENTS AT THE END OF CHAPTER 36?

I thought it was out of character for Caroline not to read any of Paul's letters.
27 (CH 37 - KASIA - PART 3) 10 YEARS HAVE PASSED. WHY DO YOU THINK KASIA'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER FAMILY ARE WHAT THEY ARE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HER AT THIS POINT IN THE STORY?
Kasia just can't forgive herself. I think it's important for the reader to remember that while 10 years might seem like time to move on, Kasia has been through so many life changing horrible situations at such a young age.
28 A LOT OF TIME WAS COVERED IN PART 2 AND THEN INTO PART 3 - DID YOU FORSEE ANY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS? DO YOU THINK WE'LL LEARN WHAT LILACS MEANS TO THE STORY?
Oh yes. Some surprises along the way. Paul having a daughter was probably the biggest one for me. When I read Rena had died, although there was no evidence, I wondered if the author was using foreshadowing. I always thought Pietrik would come back to the story, so that was not as surprising. I recall the first time reading, wondering about the title. I don't want to say anything about that yet.