Michelle’s Comments (group member since Sep 19, 2013)

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

Oops, I'll fix. That was probably my typo!

Elize wrote: "Nanci wrote: "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 aut..."

I wondered about the cover, too! It's like they hired an artist and said, this is the title and it's about three women's experiences in WWII. Draw something for me?

Ok, moving right along on this one! I'll try to spoiler things until you get caught up.

Still loving Devon and his brother West. He's so great, and while I get that Kathleen is in mourning, she should let herself be happy.

I am not sure how I feel about Helen (view spoiler)[ and Winterbourne. He seems ok, but she seems lukewarm about the whole arrangement. Maybe she's just reticent. I want to like them together. Maybe something will happen to make me love them as a pair? (hide spoiler)]

Opinions, team!

Jenny came up with a fun essay for our history of magic class. What do you all think?

The Wrath and the Dawn woke up the drowsy sleeper. Her name was Hermione Granger and her case was Terminal but there was still hope Behind Her Eyes because What Doesn't Kill Her will make her stronger.Of All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue she thought. She was worried about her friends Harry and Ron. She wondered where they were? All of a sudden there was a huge ruckus - The Sound and the Furyseemed to be all around her. Harry and Ron had found a way to cure her. "How did you do it?" she asked. "Never Mind", they said, we have to get out of here before You-Know-Who finds us.

Books:
What Doesn't Kill Her
The Wrath and the Dawn
The Sound and the Fury
Never Mind
All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue
Terminal
Behind Her Eyes

I might be down for Seeker, but need to see the dates for play.

Or possibly keeper or beater. I don't think chaser.

Team Draco Malfoy

1) Molly Weasley. She is a fierce mother, she doesn't stand for nonsense, and she loves completely. She opens her home to everyone and is generous to a fault. What a fantastic character!

2) Minerva McGonagall. Strong, stern but you can tell how much she cares about Hogwarts and people in general. She is so lawful good! I love how she is practical and also doesn't stand for nonsense. See a pattern here?

3) Luna Lovegood. She is completely ok with being who she is. This is so rare. I love her confidence and I also love her relationship with her father. Unique individuals who aren't swayed by the outside world. We need more people who march to their own drummer.

Day 3 Discussion Questions
Chapters 16 - 26

Q15. We hear now of some of the experimental operations carried out on the "rabbits" How do you think the girls are managing to get through it and still help one another?

I love their strength and survival instinct. The experimental surgeries are simply awful, though. To think this actually happened is atrocious and I can't wrap my brain around it. I think it might be easy to simply give up in, though. You would really need to have strong faith and will to survive.


Q16 Caroline, still in New York, but no longer with a job in the French Embassy starts to sell war bonds. How do you feel about her character development?

I like Caroline's character, but I still can't understand what is driving her. She seems like a saint. She's one I understand the least of the three. I don't agree with Herta, but I can see how that's all she knows.

Q17 I am concerned that we are now over half way through the book, there have been some floral references but as yet we have no idea WHO the Lilac Girls are and WHAT their association is. Do you have any ideas on either the Who or the What?

No clue. I assume all three women will end up together somehow. Maybe Caroline creates some sort of post-war tour and Herta and Kasia are featured for their experiences to raise money for the orphans?

Q18 Herta arrives at your front door - knowing what she has been involved in what would you do?

I am holding onto hope that she will see the light and reform. If she came to my door at this point in the book, I would probably tell her how awful I think she is for being a part of this.

Q19 this is more of a general question. There are a LOT of Historical Fiction books that focus on WWII What is there in this book so far that will make it stand out for you?

I love the different storylines of the three women and seeing it through their perspectives. I love most WWII historical fictions, and I can tell I will love this one.

Still no new details on Quidditch. Since we are working with the other teams we might need to take turns, and that’s ok. I will be traveling over the next couple of weeks so I won’t be able to help with round 1 for sure.

Maybe we will hear more this weekend.

Let’s talk about Quidditch one more time so we are ready when our house thread opens up.

Jenny is going to get a list started for us. Who wants to play, and what positions are you interested in?

We don’t have to use the color sites , though! So we can use our best judgment.

Devann, your HP book is approved, so go for it!

And...just like that, I'm totally, head over heels for Devon. I take it back.

I will update tonight. I'm sucked in.

Devann, let's find out. I feel like it might not be but let's double-check.

Teddie wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "I wonder if/why the numbers 7,1, and 3 are significant to Rowling. Just in the first 5 chapters of the first book they appear twice, once as Harry's birthday 7/31 and once as the v..."

Ah, that makes sense.

Colleen wrote: "Sorry - where is the link/spreadsheet that tells us what we've covered? I have looked & can't find it."

Colleen, it should be in the first posts in our team thread. But we haven't placed any books yet, so we have options for everything!

I started it, but decided to read instead of listen. It's good so far. Not sure I love Ravenel much yet. He's described as charming, but he's kind of a jerk.

I do love how strong Kathleen seems, though. Going to read more tonight.

Discussion questions set 2 chapters 9-15

8. (Chapter 9 - Herta) - Herta arrives at the re-education camp and realizes that they are killing the prisoners. She also meets Fritz again, someone she knew from medical school. She says she’s going to leave because of what they are doing at the camp. Do you think she will leave?

I don't think so. She needs the money to support her family. Plus, when you get too close to bad things, you can quickly become immune to them. It's awful, but like Fritz told her, the first one is the worst. Then you get used to it.

9. (Chapter 10 - Caroline) - Paul returns to Paris, and then Hitler invades Paris. Paul gets a call in to Caroline. Do you think they will ever see each other again? How would you feel if your loved one was in the middle of a war zone?

I think she will somehow end up in Europe to look for him, but maybe he will end up dead? Totally guessing but this seems in line with the other sad things happening in the book.

10 (Chapter 11 - Kasia) - Kasia and her family are caught by the SS and sent on a train to a camp. Kasia feels bad and thinks she brought this on herself. Do you think they are arriving at the camp where Herta works? Should Kasia feel guilty about bringing this arrest on everyone?

Well, honestly, a little. She is the reason everyone was caught. I do think they are all going to end up in the same place, but I'm not sure how Caroline will tie in.

11. (Chapter 12 - Caroline) - Caroline takes on a top secret mission in locating all the camps - re-education and extermination. Do you think she might find Paul in one of them?

No, I don't think so. I think Paul is dead. But I do think this is how she will tie into Kasia and Herta.

12. (Chapter 13 - Kasia) Kasia and her family are taken to the same camp where Herta works. Her math teacher is murdered in front of her and she is assigned to pull her to the pile of dead people. She must be facing such desolation and hunger. Have you ever felt this same sense of isolation, hopelessness and anger? How do you think you would handle it?

That scene really upset me. I had to put the book down for a while. I like to think of myself as a survivor who would compartmentalize and try to live at any cost, but I can't tell if that is true.

13. (Chapter 14 - Herta). Herta and Kasia’s mother Halina are working together now at the clinic. They seem to forming some kind of friendship. How do you think this will play out with Herta being German and Halina being German/Polish?

Nothing good will come of this friendship. It will be bad for both of them. Maybe Herta will slip up and give her secret information.

14. (Chapter 15 - Caroline) Caroline finds out that Paul and Reena are on the list of prisoners in Paris. She continues to support the orphaned children in Paris by selling some of her family silver. She stands up against anti-semitism in the shop. I really like this character’s gumption and willingness to stand up for what’s right. Have you ever been in that situation? If so, what did you have to do?

I found it sad that she was the one giving everything up for the orphaned children. And I did like the way she stood up to the shopkeeper. More people should be like this today.

Here! Team Draco.

I love Jim Butcher. Not sure why I was having a hard time with this book.

I'm here. I am going to start this one tonight.

Had to set aside Lilac Girls. It's a little depressing and I need some fun historical romance to lighten my mood!

Hi mods!
Thought I requested this but forgot to come back.

Can we have a thread for starting June 7?

I think that looks turquoise as well.