Chava’s Comments (group member since Dec 19, 2013)

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

Nanci wrote: "Chava,
How much of the timeline is at UCLA? Usually they’re looking for 50% or more."


oh...no definitely not that much. I've put the book somewhere else and I found another U book.
Thanks, Nanci!!

Hi all,
I am almost finished with a book and part of it is set at UCLA. Would that count as a U?

No problem. Just PM when you are

Anyone interested in reading Forbidden with me?

Nanci wrote: "Good morning, team! Well at least in the US...many of the rest of you are slumbering away! :)

Time for Round 4! I know we are low on the totem pole compared to other teams, but hey it's a good t..."

Good night from me, I'm about to tuck myself in at 00.20am!
Have a good one, team!

Ambi wrote: "While we are waiting on Navi, Thea, Chava and Cyndee to finish their books, do you want to choose between

SPELL OUT - Christchurch (NZ)

OR

DETOUR - Read a book where the ISBN10 number has exact..."


I've finished. Sorry I forgot to update the spreadsheet.
Happy to do either task

Jessi wrote: "@Chava, will you add A Loyal Character Dancer to your wheel shelf for me please"

Done!

Hi,
I've answered all questions for the BOM Dear Martin. Messages #52; 109; 112; and 155 - not sure how to link the answers in the spreadsheet though. Could someone help with that?

I also finished my X book - updated on the spreadsheet.

DQ Day 4
Chapters 19 - end

16. What do you think about Justyce going to see Martel. Do you support him going or disapprove. I know he later regretted it, but I can't help feeling he went to fit in. Or maybe to become more like "his kind"
I think he was feeling angry and disillusioned by what he sees around him, that he made an impulsive decision. I can understand it, I just hope it doesn't come back to bite him.

17. During these chapters there was the scene with the police at Justyce's graduation. Do you think it was wrong of the police officers to approach him in front of all his friends and family. Should they have waited until he was done talking to them to approach? It's definitely a difficult situation cause I can see it being argued from either end.
I think that was totally unacceptable. I recently saw a Netflix doco about the sexual assaults on USA university campuses. The universities don't allow the police to come question any of their pro-athletes (read football players) when they are in the football area. I think this was totally racist, they could have come to him at his home afterwards.

18. During the conversation with the police, Justyce stands up to his mom and asks her to treat him like an adult. He also mentions that if he went along with his mother's idea and refused to talk, he would've appeared guilty. What did you make of these two confrontations? Also, we get the behind the scenes reasoning about why Justyce's mom doesn't approve of him dating white girls. What is your opinion on her reasoning? I personally understand what she's saying, but not all white people are alike just like not all black people are alike.
I can understand all their reasoning. I think intergenerational trauma is powerful and until we as white people start listening to our brothers & sisters of colour and we start making right the wrongs that are still being done based on racisist history, none of this will change.

19. While hanging out with S.J., S.J. says, "Jus, I think I hate everything... Why can't we all get along like butterflies." To that quote Justyce thinks to himself that all the butterflies "look exactly alike." What do you make of this quote? Why do you think there is so much hate around people looking different (doesn't only have to be about race, but defects, disabilities, other differences as well)?
I think it's something we are taught. Look at very young kids, they don't care about the colour of another person's skin. Once they notice it, see how grown ups respond to them, that's when that changes. Racism & discrimination is learned behaviour. We get it taught by society, the news, commercials, movies, and sometimes our own family. Think about it, 10 years ago how many people of colour did you see in commercials, how many people with a disability (when it was NOT for a disability service)? Only recently we have that a bit more. Companies who advertise want the 'perfect' image, disability and people of colour don't fit in that picture for them and it's super harmful. It inadvertently tells people that those people aren't good enough.

20. I thought that Justyce's last letter to Dr. Martin was the most meaningful. He mentions that maybe the issue is that he doesn't know what he was trying to achieve by his "What would Martin do?" project. I found it very resonating when he mentioned Doc asking him "What would Martin be" and he couldn't find an answer. What did you think of the last letter to Martin? How do you think Justyce has changed throughout the book?
Jus has really matured throughout the book and I think he has come to a more balanced view of the world.

21. I personally think that by the last chapter Jared changed the most thoughout the story (which actually surprised me a lot because in the beginning I thought he was hopeless). He went from a racist to actually caring and being Justyce's friend. Did your opinions change on Jared at the end of the book? What about the other characters?
I think he's a typical white teenage male who grew up and started to see what else is out there. No, things didn't change for me. I think I just recognised the growth in him as he grew up.

Midu wrote: "When does this round end?"

There's a tracker on the first page

Day 3: Chapters 15-18

12. In chapter 16 we see Justyce have dinner with Manny's parents to commemorate Garret Tison's indictment. What do you think of Justyce being invited over and what they talk about? Did you have any thoughts about Manny's parents giving Justyce the watch and his reaction to it?
I think Manny's parents are trying to keep some kind of normality or link with how it used to be. Jus was such a big part of Manny's life & they are trying to hold on to that, I think.
I think the watch is in line with that, they want Manny's memory to live on.

13. Justyce sees Quan at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Centre and a lot is said between them. What do you make of Quan's upbringing and his view on life now? Is there anything that stands out between what is said between them? Quan not saying that he killed the cop or the advice that he gives to Justyce? Do you think that Quan's advice will have a positive or negative effect on Justyce?
I think this will not change how Jus sees himself in the world. I think what Quan says, gives the read an insight in what life is like when underprivileged and kids of colour don't get the same opportunities as Jes did.


14. We see a few media releases in this part:
"Transcript from evening news... More on this story as it continues to develop"
"Tison Indictment... A trial date has yet to be announced."
The news report in chapter 18 with the photo released of Justyce in his Thug Life costume. We also see the reporters mobbing the funeral party at Manny's funeral:
"Mr. McAllister, how's it feel to be the Boy Who Survived?
Justyce, do you think there will be justice?
What's it like knowing it could've been YOU in that casket?"

What do you think of the coverage of the event by the media? Are they siding with the police officer more than Justyce? Are they reporting the story correctly or making things worse? Do you think the author's portrayal of the media is similar to real life? Will the media ruin his chance at going to Yale?
I for one do not like the reporters at the funeral and that last question is especially nasty.
When I read the last question, I feared that in the book Yale would pull their offer due to the media attention. I think the media has a lot to answer for in all these things. We as the public only hear about issues and incidents through the media and it really depends on the media outlet how something is told. I remember a story in my own community. I knew the people involved, I knew what had transpired. However, the media made it a whole different story by focusing on other things that had nothing to do with the story.


15. Chapter 18 goes through a lot. We see Justyace spending time with Doc to avoid making the call to Trey and the gang and isn't writing to Martin anymore SJ speaking to him again and she apologises. She also calls Jarod about the release of the photo. What are your thoughts on all these and the character development of the teens?
I think Manny's death has given some of the white kids a new perspective and shown what life is like for kids like Jus and Manny. I think they have had to grow up.

DQ Day 2; Chapters 7 - 14

7. Let's start with Sarah-Jane. Justyce and her definitely had feelings for each other, and they didnt shy away from closeness until Jus was about to kiss her after the debate (lbr which was bad timing). Why did SJ suddenly give Justyce the cold shoulder, what are your thoughts? What's going through her head?
I think she just got cold feet. She's a teenager, their are weird creatures with massive feelings that they don't know what to do with yet. I don't think there was a racist undertone there, at least I didn't feel so when I read it.

8. It sucks that it took being drunk for Justyce to call out Manny but it's finally done! "They're my friends" was the dumbest excuse ever, but at least Manny finally woke up shortly after Blake's party and the fight Justyce and the guys had.
It's hard sometimes to stand up for what's right. It might not be safe, depending on where you are or who you're surrounded by. Do you judge Manny for not being able to stand up for himself and everybody else his 'friends' made fun of sooner? Was there ever anything you needed to work on first in order to be able to stand up for it?
I think he is so eager to fit in, that he lets things slide just to be liked and to be with a group. Adolescence is hard and it is all about cliques and fitting in. I think he only does himself injustice by not standing up for himself and against the blatant racism of his so called friends.
It took me a while to stand up for myself with authority figures, but I am working on that and getting better at it every time I am having to do it...for me and for others.

9. It seems like Manny didn't only call Dr. Dray to check on Justyce after the fight, but also his mama and Mela. It confused me a little since he doesn't like Mel and how she treats Jus. And it hasn't even been mentioned again (so far). What did you make of this? Do you think Mela will end up playing a big part in the rest of the book? And did you ever have a teacher who was as involved in his students lives as Doc is?
I like that the teacher is so involved, but I don't think that reflects what really happens in most school environments. Teachers, especially male ones, would be too scared of possible harassment claims or getting themselves in situations that would possibly look like they are indecent.


10. Manny's dad tried to keep all signs of racism and how he could be mistreated from him for as long as he could whereas Justyce's mama has prepared him ever since he was little. They also grew up in two completely different neighbourhoods and surroundings. What are your thoughts on the parents' different ways of bringing up their sons? Do you think there's a right way to go about this?
Well, my husband grew up being told about the 'dangers' of being Jewish and I wasn't. I wasn't prepared for the anti-semitism that came my way in university and at work until I met him and others in my community (I didn't grow up in a Jewish community) that I learnt that this was a common occurance. My husband on the other hand grew up in a community and has much thicker skin about it and better retorts too.
We have decided to raise our children with a love for everyone and a curiosity about other people's ways of living. However, they are not sheltered from the fact that in some places my boys should not wear their skull cap openly, or speak Hebrew to each other. It's a hard reality, but unfortunately, that's the times we're living in.

11. 😳 that's one way to end today's chapters! My heart is still racing. What do you think happened, who got shot? And be honest, did you keep reading or take a peek just to find out what happened? (I'll be honest I did take a quick peek :x)
I finished the book....so yes, I know who got shot and what happened. So I'm not going to answer any more LOL

I finished my X book and starting another :)

How many of the DQs do we have to answer for the BOM to get the points? I did day 1 (message 52). I read the book last round, but I'd like the team to get the points for it

DQ Day 1
Chapters 1 - 6


1. We meet Justyce when he's trying to do a good deed by helping is drunk ex-girlfriend. This scene sets quite the mood for the upcoming chapters and (I assume) the rest of the book. Do you like our main character so far? Do you like his inner monologue, portrayed in the letters to Martin?
That incident gave me goose bumps and definitely made me want to read the rest. Yes, I felt I could really relate to him. I felt so much anger about the injustice of the situation.

2. Let's talk about the girls - Melo and Sarah-Jane. The ex-girlfriend (sort of?) and the debate partner. Let's also factor in the other important female in Justyce's life, namely his mother. What do you make of each of them? And what to you make of their interactions with Justyce? And more importantly, what are we supposed to make of Justyce's interactions with them in light of his mother's statement not to bring a white girl home?
I struggled with Justyce's mother and her blatant racist views, but then I thought about how many times white kids would hear that from their parents about not bringing a coloured boyfriend/girlfriend home.
I really like SJ. I am not a fan of Melo, she feels shallow and just not right for Justyce.

3. Jared is our token white boy who thinks all is right with the world when clearly it isn't. The equality discussion was interesting, I found, because Jared's logic is sound. And yet at the same time, it isn't at all. What example would you give Jared, where you speaking in SJ's stead, to show how wrong he is?
I didn't feel what he was saying was right, but I might be biased as I have friends who are POC & I see that things are not right with the world. I can walk into a store as a white person and be left alone, they walk in and they are followed.

4. The Equality Brigade was quite the spectacle! Literally. Disguised as a klansman to portray equality. I can't help but wonder if Blake is an idiot of epic proportions or if there was a message he would have liked to show the world including his friends, especially considering the fact that the "costume" was the genuine thing. What did you think of this brain child of Jared's?
I think they are bloody idiots and it did not do their idea of equality any good. I thought it actually played on horrible stereotypes and was just a terrible display of racism.

5. Justyce as well as his best friend Manny are black boys stuck in a rich white school. They each have their own issues to deal with in regards to this situation. Manny, the rich black guy, who is considered one of them, and Justyce, the poor black guy, who is more and more often questioning his place in this world, the place he is trying to carve for himself. Do you think Manny should have acted differently in the lounge scene when he was peer pressured into drinking to equality? Knowing full well what happened to his best friend not too long ago?
I think Manny is desperately trying to fit in with boys who don't see him as an equal. He tries to act a part, he will never be able to play due to his skin colour. His 'friends' will never fully accept him.

6. Short mention of Trey and his friends needs to be made. The Black Jihad gang, one of whose members shot Officer Castillo. Personally, I can't help but wonder if someone shot him to take revenge on the crap he's probably pulled for quite a while - Justyce certainly wasn't the only one - or if it was a shooting gone wrong. That thought aside, Trey makes Justyce (and maybe also Manny) feel like he's turning his back on his own people. Do you think he is right in telling Justyce this? Is Justyce right in questioning the things Trey tells him and wondering whether there may not be a grain of truth in it? Should Justyce have stayed at the party regardless or was it better to leave (with the others) when he did?
I think I can't answer this question as a non POC. However, I doubt you can 'turn your back' on your own people by attending a certain school or living in a certain part of a city. Your culture, heritage, history, etc goes with you wherever you go

I am listening an X book, so excited to have found one!! I should have it done by tomorrow.

I finished mine and updated the spreadsheet. We're ready to move on

Either is fine for me

I finished Buried (yesterday) and Scrublands (today). Can someone update spreadsheet?

Thea | (unapologetic_bibliosmia) wrote: "Is that the right detour, because that was the last detour too? I’m happy to do either spell out :)"

Sorry! I keep messing up with reading the sheet.

Still would like spell out. No idea where to get a book with Roman numerals....