Audra’s Comments (group member since Dec 28, 2013)

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

Looks like another good one!

"Amy wrote: "The weirdest part of that experience was seeing the hair that was still on the body because that was one of the aspects of those bodies that still looked really human."

That was something I noticed about my brother. Although he was extremely cold, the hair on his hands made it feel like it was still him there.

@Nancy, totally agree with what you said about it being important for physicians to get hands-on practice! I was horrified as well and would never want to be under the knife of someone that has never done the procedure!

1.This is one of the more unique BOMs we have had! Why have you decided to read this book?
Growing up I was very interested in anything CSI, love murder mystery books, and read a few on body farms. I always had this book on my list never got around to it.

2.The subject of death and cadavers is a sensitive one and taboo in many cultures. In the introduction the author states “death makes us helplessly polite.” I could also imagine Roach being criticized by some for writing on this topic. Your thoughts?
I was extremely nervous to read this book since I tend to be a little more queasy after my brother's passing but I have been pleasantly surprised by Roach and her writing that makes the reader comfortable. I think the humor that she has definitely helps, but I like how she address objectivity as well.

3. I was surprised when Roach referred to her mother's body as “my mother's cadaver” and “it”. Is that her coping mechanism?
Yes, I believe so. I hadn't thought of it in this exact way before, but I have to agree. When the life leaves a person they aren't there anymore, just a shell.

4. So I felt a bit lulled into a sense of security with the Introduction and then we go straight into a room of sawn off heads in roasting pans! Did anyone else get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? As the chapter went on it became easier to cope with the subject matter.
I really enjoyed the introduction, and it gave me a sense of security as well. Yes, the sawn off heads was a quick transition... but I used the episode of Nip/Tuck where they do the exact same thing, but the doctor hallucinates and the head talks to him, to help me out with that chapter.

5. This section had me thinking about if I would donate my body and why I haven't really wondered about it before. Have you?
I haven't wondered about it before, and was pretty set on the fact that I didn't want to be cut into pieces. But the way she has addressed those issues really makes me rethink my decision on donating my own body!

6. There were so many surprising parts to this section I had never even considered before (like how today's students learn to perform pap smears!). I loved the description of the memorial service for the cadavers. I think it is so important for the students to remember these were people. Did you like the history provided? Are there any parts of these chapters that really stuck out to you?

No joke, angel wings have been earn for the professional pap smear lady, no thanks! I did enjoy the memorial service for the cadavers. I had many friends that had to take anatomy and phys. during college and had to work with cadaver/parts. I didn't have to with elementary education, obviously, so I often wondered how respectful college students were to the cadavers. The donation part really stuck out to me because my great-uncle donated his body to science and it took them 2.5 years to fully use his body and send back the rest in cremation, which I thought was crazy! May be morbid, but I actually thought maybe he finally got that nose job. It was also interesting to read about the body snatching. Read books about it before, but never that people were purposely killing people to earn money from it.

17. David meets Roland, another character from various legends and often met in popculture (King's Dark Tower series). Does his story have some "hidden" or "different" meaning here?
Guess I'm not familiar with the King's Dark Tower or Roland, I think this is the first time I'm hearing of him?

18. We find out more about the Crooked Man and his earlier encouters with David. He tries to make a bargain with the boy. Do you think that David will finally agree to it?
Yes, I think it is very possible that David will agree to it. That or he will find the other children that were lost and they will get back together... however, I'm not sure that they are all heads mounted on the crazy lady's wall.

19. I really like those "tales" delivered by some characters. It is like a story within a story each time. What do you think of this writing technique? Do they serve any special purpose?
Just to draw the other characters all in together and to show the possible dangers coming in the story.

20. David has some doubts whether he is still alive. What do you think this "land" he is travelling about could really be?
Possibly just a dream if it is not just a fantasy novel.

21. We have the episode with the Beast attacking the village. Have you come across similar descriptions in other stories/books?(I have read at least one similar story, in The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett). What was your opinion of Roland's plan and its delivery?
I think it was a very good plan, he obviously has experience in fighting off interesting creatures.

This is definitely starting to seem like the adult version of the fairytale mashup books that my sixth graders have been obsessed with lately!

I sure hope the Woodsman is still alive!

And I loved the scene with the dwarfs! I think the author is having a little fun making fun of some of these fairytale characters. And Snow White as obese and depressive? Ha!

7. David has a horrible fight with his step-mother. I wonder if this other world is somehow causing problems in the family to make David want to run away?
Hm, wouldn't have thought about that. It is interesting however that it's the "evil step-mother" who seems to cause David's problems... much like any other fairytale.

8. David sees two kingdoms when he has the attack. I wonder if the kingdoms are in two different worlds or the same one?
Not sure on that either. Maybe they are showing him where he needs to go.

9. The German bomber hits as David runs into the garden. Do you think his house was hit? Will his family have survived?
I don't think that the house was hit. There has to be something for him to come back to when he has learned his lesson.

10. The writing style of the book seemed to change for me when David entered the woods. Did you feel that too?
Yes, much more of a fairytale than realistic fiction. Especially during the Woodman's tales.

11. Do you like the twist to the fairytales? What story would the Woodsman be from?
The Loups fairytale was just crazy. In fact, I have a book that is from the library and someone had already written in "sick" to the margins, haha. I can't remember which fairytale that the Woodman is from.

12. The Trickster (crooked man) is preventing David from getting home and there seem to be a few references to children disappearing. Why would the Trickster need children?
The Trickster has to also be the bookseller! Trickster needs children because he needs to have more stories for other children to be scared of.

At this point I can tell my fantasy reading is super rusty!

Amanda wrote: "Chapters I-V
Comments and Questions

1. I love the description of books. What do you think of the writing style so far?
Me too! I really love how stories are described as living - as needing reade..."

I like what you said about someone using his mom's voice to lure him in! I don't read enough fantasy books to make those connections so fast, so it's good to get a little extra help. :)

Zonnah wrote: "Susan wrote: "I think David only sees him because the crooked man only allows David to see him. "

Interesting, I can't wait to find out if you are right. It does make since that he may be causing ..."

Interesting thought about the crooked man being the bookseller! I'm thinking you are probably right.

1. I love the description of books. One of my favourites is:
"Once someone started to read them, they could begin to change. They could take root in the imagination, and transform the reader"
What do you think of the writing style so far?
I am also enjoying the way books are described. I always tell my students that we may read the same book but we are all going to see it a different way because of imagination. The writing style is different from what I'm used to somehow, but now that I'm getting into it I'm enjoying it more.

2. Although we knew from the synopsis his mother dies, it was still very sad. This struck a cord with me:
"...while the grown-ups exchanged stories of a mother he had never known, a strange creature with a history entirely seperate from his own..."
I remember that exact feeling when my father passed away. Were you able to relate to David?
I think we can all relate to it in some way. When my parents talk about when they were kids it always surprises me. It's like they are different people, but then again we all would be! But after my brother's death I heard a lot of stories from his friends that reminded me of this too.

3. So the time setting is during WWII and David's father is a code-breaker. I wonder if that will become more relevant to the story?
I'm sure it will be! I'm a sucker for anything WWII.

4. David starts having "attacks" once Rose entered their lives. He is reading fairytales that are changing and his room is becoming part of the "natural world" with ivy and bugs. Is it possible there is something connected to the house as Jonathan Tulvey and Anna disappeared from there before? Or is it something to do with the books which came from a bookseller who now can't be found?
I'm thinking it would have to be the books. That doesn't really explain why he can hear them at the doctor's though.

5. Is the crooked man and the magpie the same? Why can only David see them?
I think they are the same, just like the book said about the bad guy always turning into an animal. I'm assuming David sees them because he is the one that is reading the books. Also, many books only allow children to see things because they have more of an imagination or have the ability to believe.

6. Do you think his mother alive in a different realm or is just imagining her voice?
I think that is just her voice. Her actually being alive in a different realm like the fairytale characters doesn't make much sense.

Susan wrote: "40. I was surprised when Felicity showed up, too. However, knowing how close she & Tess were growing up, I'm not surprised that Tess talked to her. I don't think I could have allowed her to talk ab..."

Good point about whether or not it was her secret to tell! I am glad that the secret is out... but it should have had to be JP to tell it. But I could see how it the scene of the book and the relationship between the characters the author had to make that choice.

Linda wrote: "35. I think Cecilia will have her good days and her bad days.

36. I also love the relationship Tess and Lucy have in this book. Lucy seems to have a lot of insight into her daughter so she's de..."

Oh, that hand holding on the plane! Pretty sure my jaw-dropped and then my eyes rolled. It was just weird and very selfish of them.

Linda wrote: "Hi Everyone,

Before we started posting answers tomorrow. I just wanted to thank you all for sharing your personal experiences and your thoughts on this book. I've tried to read all of them, even..."

Very much agree! I got much more out of it being able to talk through all of these ideas. This was my first buddy read and I'm very pleased with the experience! I will have to do this again.

And I've already picked up another book by this author and have 2 more requested to be held at the library. :)

40. I was so surprised when Felicity just turned up.And now it seems Will wants to try again as he wants another baby. If you were Tess what would you do?
Uh, no. No woman should be telling me that my husband wants another baby but is to scared to ask me... especially the woman he "loved" 3 days before! It's even more irritating that Will and Felicity called it off. It proves it was all a waste of time to begin with!

41. Did you like the scenes with Rachel and the family at the park? I was so glad when Rachel finally gave Rob a nice memory of him
At first things at the park seemed kind of iffy because Rachel kept thinking they were doing it wrong. But it ended up working out in the long run which was a relief. And I loved those moments when Rachel finally woke up and realized how much she missed with Rob. It was great to see his reaction to what she remembered when he was little too. He definitely needed that.

42.Poor Polly. Were you surprised that Rachel decided to try and hit Connor?
Not at all! As soon as I saw all the characters shift towards the park and then that phone call that came while Rachel was in the car I knew she was going to make a run for him. I just didn't see Polly getting in the way. It's sad to see that this is going to be the penance that really gets through to JP.

43. It took Rachel telling Cecilia the truth for her to then be honest about what happened with Janie. Are you glad Ceclilia told her?
Yes, I just wish it would have been sooner. It will definitely be interesting to see how this all plays out in the long run! Are they going to keep each other's secret or create such a commotion everything is out in the open?! I just don't know, but I can't wait to find out!!

Zonnah wrote: "Lol, I just wanted to say that ending tomorrows section at chapter 49 is soooo hard. I am trying so hard to not finish the book."

Uh oh! Thanks for the warning. :)

Zonnah wrote: "Allison wrote: "I'm interested to know what the flashback to young Lucy and her husband is about however."

Me too!"

Same here! I need to reread that one.

@Allison - I agree with you about JP. This whole issue with being claustrophobic seems ridiculous to me! How can that be your first concern about going to jail?!

Carmen wrote: "I'm currently not done yet finishing up with yesterday's chapter so I don't know if anything has changed but I just wanted to say that even though it may be to early to start dating I do think that..."

Both Connor and Tess didn't go into this with the idea of dating. She wanted a quick fix to get her mind off her failed marriage. I can't say what she did was right but she's on her own to make her own decisions since Will is the one that left her for Felicity.

I guess we predicted correctly that Janie's point of view during the attack would be shared. I'm glad it wasn't too long but man, it was still tough to read. What did you think of this flashback?