Apoorv ’s Comments (group member since Mar 26, 2014)

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

Completion Post
Week 7 - TERRACOTTA

Book Read: Daisy Jones & The Six | Taylor Jenkins Reid
Date Read: 31-Jul-2019
Pages: 368
Fits:

T: Author - Taylor Jenkins Reid
E: Character - Eddie Loving
R: Character - Rhodes, Warren
A: Character - Artie Snyder
C: Character - Camilla Dunne
O: Character - Opal Cunningham

BOTM Discussion Post

Discussion Questions
Day 1 - Part 1

1. This is a different type of book than I usually read. The interview formatting is interesting. What do you think of the formatting so far? Is anyone having trouble following it? I am reading it, but it reads like a podcast transcript to me so far.
I like the different approach, although I'm finding it very dry. Its fun to see the perspective jump ship every couple of sentences, but that might make the story less personal and more formal interview-y!

2. A main focus of the book seems to be the agency of the women in the music business. The two quotes that stuck out to me were “ I am not a muse. I am the somebody,” and “men often think they deserve a sticker for treating women like people.” What are your thoughts on this theme and quotes?
Oh! More power to this theme. I am SO elated to see head-strong women depicted so forthcomingly. My only concern is that I don't want the author to make strong seem rude - for the character to be strong, they need not be brazen or brash. That definition of strong bothers me in general, and certainly in literature.

3. Daisy’s parents are absent and extremely unobservant. She is very young when introduced to drugs, alcohol, and sex. The interview style presents what is really horrific in Daisy’s description of parental neglect, drug use at a very young age and statutory rape, as far as I can tell, in a fairly detached fashion. Anyone else react this way to this section?
I honestly cannot find an iota of empathy for parents who can't look after their kids or provide them with the attention they deserve. If you can't handle a kid, don't bother producing them - but if you do, it becomes your responsibility to ensure that they are loved, cared, and looked after.

4. The end of this section focuses on Billy and Camila. What do you think of their relationship and the choices that Camila makes? Do you think Billy will stay sober?
Billy is a very on-the-edge character. I'm glad that he is realizing his responsibility towards the girls in his life, especially when Camilla is showing so much maturity and strength given the circumstances. Billy sobriety is going to be a big question, but he will come through hopefully given that he does love Camilla and the girls!

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Discussion Questions
Day 2 - Part 2

5. During the making of Daisy’s first album, I appreciated her quote, “Being given things versus earning them. I was so used to being given things I didn’t know how important it is for your soul to earn them”. Do you think that Daisy will continue to think this way and work hard for the music she wants considering her increased drug use and drinking?
It saddens me to see smart, intelligent people make stupid decisions in life. Or people who have SO MUCH to give, and they squander it over something so fleeting and banal. Daisy seems like one of those to me! She is so freakishly talented, but she is almost careless about it. She is unaware of the grandiosity of her craft, and only seems to care about things like drugs and alcohol. She can reach the stars without even actually trying, but I fear she is going to squander it away.

6. During the studio session for Honeycomb, Karen sums it up best as indicating that Billy wrote it as a song of security, and Daisy changed it to a song of insecurity. What do you think of the continuing duality between Billy and Daisy? Will it be good or bad for them moving forward?
It will be electric and just as devastating. Sometimes the power between two people is so strong, that it is almost more harmful than pleasant. I fear that between Daisy and Billy. Two big trees seldom grow next to each other.

7. Daisy is changing the dynamic of The Six when she joins the band
and states, "You’re only in charge of me as much as I’m in charge of you." Do you think this equality approach is going to work?
Not with Billy for sure. But then if anyone has the command to demand her worth, its Daisy! Plus, she is certainly not all talk and no game - she is a powerhouse, and Billy, being the astute man, will notice that and will have to back down! I am especially glad that there is no typical female bitching session between Karen and Daisy - that's healthy in many ways!

8. I'm a complete sucker for stories that have lyrics in them, are you enjoying the lyrics in this story? Do you have any favorites so far?
As am I! I love how that gives the story a very nice distinctive flavour! And the lyrics of 'Honeycomb', 'Remember Me' are lit!

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Apoorv and Nicole your books would be for week 7. Time ran out before you posted."

Done!

Completion Post
Week 7 - TERRACOTTA

Book Read: Baby Teeth | Zoje Stage
Date Read: 26-Jul-2019
Pages: 304
Fits:

A: Character - Alex Jensen

Discussion Posts
Part One

1. Living in southwest United States, I'm very familiar with droughts and water rights, so this hits close to home! Do you enjoy dystopia novels that have an element of truth to them or do you prefer pure fiction? Why or why not?
As grim as it may sound, I've grown to like Dystopia as a genre. Especially those that have a dash of reality attached to them, because things are real and people should be aware of all possible outcomes to their near future. I personally diligently try to be aware of the way the planet is shaping and all the possible scenarios our future can be affected - climate change, water shortage, rise in the ocean levels is ALL REAL and hitting us faster than we expect or understand. So, if there are books, fiction or non-fiction, that bring the topic to the table, I'm all for it.

2. Kelton discusses three types of people, sheep, wolves, and herders; do you believe humans truly fall into these roles during challenging times?
Absolutely! Human beings, can very easily be the best thing on the face of this earth and just as easily be the worst! It is human nature to be selfish, we all are in some or the other way - and when calamity strikes where 'we' are in danger, it all comes to the fore. We are all of this in one, its really what we choose to exhibit in a given situation that shows!

3. What do you think of Kelton and Alyssa as the MCs of this story so far?
I like them so far! It's a little tropy, but nothing that will take away from the impending doom in this novel. Hopefully, the characters get fleshed out in due course.

4. Near the end of this section, Kelton's dad tells a neighbor, "as if your lack of foresight is my fault", how do you feel about this, do you agree?
He was terse, but not incorrect. I can't blame him at all for being prepared - for thinking ahead and having the knowledge to work out a way. I positively dislike people who mooch off of others to hide their fallacies. Ofcourse, its not easy to be prepared for a calamity, but being aware of that and knowing what to do than just go ahead and expect others to help you, is rather lazy!

5. I'm enjoying how the vignettes add a little something different to the story, the reporter and the family at the airport offer a different lense about the events, what are your thoughts?
It sure is an interesting perspective shift. Although, I would like them to be more regular than situational to just be a tool to push the story along when things get stuck narratively.

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Discussion Posts
Part Two

6. The power plant vignettes at the beginning of part two are intriguing. We have the activist assuming the water is destined for the wealthy, the water guy just trying to do his job, and the plant manager trying to keep the power on and take care of his workers. With which side did you sympathize?
While I understand that I am at a vantage point where I get to see all the sides of the story, but it has always been difficult for me to sympathize with people when they behave like savages. It is just something that I have a hard time digesting. Not to say, that maybe in that situation, that level of do-or-die desperation does creep in, part of which is also because people can't in any way trust the government or applicable agencies to do anything, because they really don't! And when one's hands are tied and death is impending, I guess one bites!

7. Why do think the author has both of Alyssa and Garrett's parents go to the water desalination center at the beach? Do you think the events on the beach are realistic or over the top?
This is where the novel seemed a little unrealistic to me. I would have preferred one parent to go out while the other stays with the kids, especially when they aren't that old. But then this is a YA book, and the adults needs to go away for the youngsters to shine. So, eh!

8. Kelton states, "Things are gonna fall apart pretty quickly now... Critical services shutting down, unreliable communication--any minute now it'll all give way to urban Darwinism." Do you think the view is too pessimistic, too optimistic, or on track? Why?
Absolutely on track. It is a relatively good assessment of how the situation will escalate.

9. Jacqui comes into the story in this section as a new main character. What do you think of the addition of her character? Have you changed your opinion of either Alyssa or Kelton now that we have reached the halfway point?
It is an interesting take off from Alyssa's monotone! She is obviously not the lead, but would certainly add some zing to the tale.

10. I have a few problems with the mob scene and the events as they play out at Kelton's house at the end of the section. Did the sequence of events seems reasonable to you? Why or why not?
It was certainly not unlikely or unforseen! It was sort of obvious given how stupid Alyssa was to go and paint a bulls eye on the house! All of it was essentially to propel the kids into a heroic situation of self-defense and fending for themselves, so definitely was a tool that the authors used - but it certainly wasn't a happy turn of events!

Completion Post
Week 6 - BEIGE

Book Read: Dry | Neal Shusterman - Jarrod Shusterman
Date Read: 24-Jul-2019
Pages: 390
Fits:

B: Narrator - Barber, Jenni
G: Character - Garrett

BOTM Discussion Post

Completion Post
Week 6 - BEIGE

Book Read: Less | Andrew Sean Greer
Date Read: 22-Jul-2019
Pages: 273
Fits:

B: Character - Brownburn, Robert
G: Author - Greer, Andrew Sean

Yeah. These spreadsheets since there is so much carry over in terms of formula can act up at times - but the Mods do a staggering job keeping them in check!

On a cursory look, for Week 5, we are missing about 16 books. That should certainly account for a few more points!

Also, Caps, not sure if it is too late, but the formula's on the summary sheet for Week 5 seems to have gone wonky - we certainly have read more than that. Hopefully more points!

Let's do this, Chava and Paula! :D
Yaaay!

☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Is anyone in the team joining the The Floor is Lava challenge? If so would any of you like to join Plethora and I?"

I'm down for the challenge Carmen if you are still looking out for teammates! This certainly seems interesting!

Completion Post
Week 5 - CHOCOLATE

Book Read: Red, White & Royal Blue | Casey McQuiston
Date Read: 19-Jul-2019
Pages: 423
Fits:

C: Author - Casey McQuiston
H: Character - Henry
O: Character - Oscar
A: Character - Alex Claremont-Diaz
E: Character - Ellen Claremont

Completion Post
Week 5 - CHOCOLATE

Book Read: A Very Large Expanse of Sea | Tahereh Mafi
Date Read: 15-Jul-2019
Pages: 310
Fits:

O: Character - Ocean
A: Character - Amna
T: Author - Tahereh Mafi

Completion Post
Week 4 - COFFEE

Book Read: The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy | Mackenzi Lee
Date Read: 11-Jul-2019
Pages: 450
Fits:

C: Character - Callum Doyle
F: Character - Felicity Montague

Completion Post
Week 4 - COFFEE

Book Read: A Dog's Purpose | W. Bruce Cameroon
Date Read: 07-Jul-2019
Pages: 319
Fits:

C: Author - Cameroon, Bruce W.
E: Character - Ethan Montgomery

Fright Week Words
Blood - "... and even their blood mixed with fur and saliva." - Page 25
Scream - "... and people would yell and scream for no reason." - Page 132
Terror - "He felt full of the same lonely terror." - Page 114
Shadows - ".I usually shied away from them, slinking in the shadows..." - Page 88
Bone - "... I would strut up to Coco with a rubber bone..." - Page 39
Dark - ".Padding along quiet streets after dark." - Page 286
Woods - "... something very odd had occured out there in the woods..." - Page 92
Night - ".That night I slept under the covers..." - Page 146
Cat - ".Bailey, I want you to meet Smokey the cat" - Page 70
Hide - "... would you do me a favour and go hide somewhere" - Page 227
Death - "I hope he wouldn't cry over my death" - Page 146

Completion Post
Week 3 - BROWN

Book Read: They Both Die at the End | Adam Silvera
Date Read: 28-Jun-2019
Pages: 373
Fits:

R: Character - Rufus Emeterio


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Book Read: Inherit the Dead | Jonathan Santlofer, Stephen L. Carter, Marcia Clark, Heather Graham, Charlaine Harris, Sarah Weinman, Bryan Gruley, Alafair Burke, John Connolly, James Grady, Ken Bruen, Lisa Unger, SJ Rozan, Dana Stabenow, Val McDermid, Mary Higgins Clark, CJ Box, Max Allan Collins, Mark Billingham, Laurence Block
Date Read: 03-Jul-2019
Pages: 288
Fits:

B: Author - Bryan Gruley
R: Author - Rozan, S.J.
W: Author - Weinman, Sarah

I'm totally participating, but I totally was out of stable network connectivity since I'm backpacking here in Alaska this week. I have a book read for Week 2, but I'm not sure if I'm still allowed to post for that week.

I thought I did mention about my travel at the start of the week, but I apologize for the tardiness.

Should I still post for that week or continue with Week 3?

Completion Post
Week 1 - UMBER

Book Read: Catch a Tiger by the Tail | Charlie Cochet
Date Read: 20-Jun-2019
Fits:

M: Character - Maddock, Cael
E: Character - Ethan Hobbs
R: Character - Rosa Santiago

=> Tagged SHAPESHIFTER 123 times <=

Seems like we all need RL to just shut-up and let us read!

Eldarwen wrote: "
Wait... are you saying this isn't normal behaviour??
You're making me doubt my own sanity here *grin*."

Now! Now! Who said anything about normal? And Sanity? :P
Alien words! LOL! :P

We are all a bunch of crazy coo's playing a wheel game! *teehee*