Paula’s Comments (group member since Apr 18, 2016)

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

I have 2 books I could finish by tomorrow or early friday.
And I'll leave The City of Brass for next one because it works for Desert =)

Completion

Book: Emma
Date: 19 july
Pages (default edition): 474
All data on SS

Trinia wrote: "Completion Post

His & Hers by Alice Feeney
Date Read: 7/19
Added to SS"

Trinia, it seems that the edition you reviewd is different from the one you shelved, please, check that out =)

july 16
144 pages

july 19
226 pages

Current Total: 848,370

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 thought she got scared because of the moment, there in front of everyone. I would shy away too in her situation.
But I liked they way they interacted, and I was expectant to see how they did in the competion.

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?
As I said previosly, I didn't judge Manny to hard on that, I know it isn't always easy to confront your friends, I imagine it is harder if they're long time friends.
I remember when I was in 6th or 7th grade, I used to stand up against bullies when they attacked my friends, but when they were bullying me, it was harder, I don't know why. It took me a long time to speak up for myself.

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 thought that Melo was at the party and saw what happended, and that was why she called him.
I never had a teacher like that, they were mostly on another level.

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?

I believe Mr. Julian had hope that things could be different for his son, considering the neighbourhood and school were he lived.
In an ideal world the conversation shouldn't be necesary, but considering, I believe kids must be warned or at least told to behave the best way they can.

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 didn't stop reading, in fact, I kept reading till the end after that.

Completion:
book:Dear Martin
Date: July 19
All data on ss

Lauri wrote: "Hey Teammies! Sorry to be such a slug, but I've been a bit preoccupied. We have 20 cases of Covid at the hospital where I work! There are 10 cases at a construction company building a new unit on o..."

That last part is so infuriating, I'd totally rant too, they should provide testing, specially if it's a health facility.
I hope you stay safe!

DQ Day 1
Chapters 1 - 6

First of all I want to say, I haven't been this angry while reading a book in ages! But I'm liking this reading experience.

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?

I like Justyce, I believe he has a lot to learn before reaching his goal of being like Martin (as he calls him haha). But from the beginning I couldn't help to think that it was a big mistake for him to go and help his ex in the middle of the night (it's awful to think like that, I know) and I surprised myself thinking he should go home, because it was obvious it would turn out in a BIG misunderstanding, where only him would result damaged. (I believe he should've called Melo's father.)
I like the letters too, I already highlighted so many things.

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 don't like his mother attitud. And I also don't like Melo. I believe SJ is a little too much, but I like the way she expresses herself.
And I think SJ is super concious of the racial discrimination issues in the world, because of what her grandparents suffered. I believe she's a little too passionate, but I like her energy. I hope Justyce can overcome his issues with her being a white girl.

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 just want karma to do its thing and give Jared a lesson. Jared represents so many REAL people that it makes me more angry, I could agree that things aren't as bad as in the past, but you can't say that everything is equal nowadays. You can see it in the access to health care, or to education.
Here in Chile, the discrimination against inmigrants and against our indigenous group is so infuriating, that I was particularly mad while reading that discussion and wanted to join SJ.
I'm not sure what example I could make from the context of the USA. But from my reality, we see that things aren't equal all the time. Almost two years ago there was a case of police brutality against a mapuche guy (main indiginous group in Chile), who was thought to steal a car, and the police shot first and asked later, the guy died, and a minor was badly injured (that's simplifying the event a lot) and that was only because he was a mapuche who lived in certain comunity. The case is pretty similar to the Sherman case told in the book.

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?

The klansman costume used to "portray equality" was a huge nonsense. I believe in tolerance, but there are limits. You can't accept people wh think like that, with that violence. I think Blake probably comes from a family were that way of seeing the world is normal or the rule. He actually said it was genuine, that leads me to think I'm right.

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 know these are young people, and they don't always have the courage to confront their friends, so I try not to judge Manny so hard for being uncomfortable.
But I do believe he needs to learn how to raise the alarm and to tell his friends they are wrong, I believe is important to educate those who are around us. And I hope he learns during this book.

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 Trey see the world as a dicomtomy, white or black, bad and good.
Also, I found the gang name so unfortunate, I didn't like them using "jihad" as part of their name.
Finally, I believe it was it was right to leave. The safer choice for all of them.

Updated to here!

14 july
497 pages

Current Total: 828,995

hahaha I hadn't noticed, I'll check right now

Completion
The Kiss of deception
Date read: 14 july
Pages: 497
all data on ss

Cathy M. wrote: "You totally should! They are still so good the 2nd time around! And it's funny, didn't remember everything that happened so there have been little surprises along the way."

I'll never forget the role the cows play in that book

11 july
416 pages

Current Total: 818,646

Completion

La Casa del Propósito Especial
Date finished: 12 july
All data on SS

Cathy M. wrote: "I'm excited for this new round's books! Especially the space onea.

And might have to do a re-read of Illuminae if I can fit them in because they were so good!!"

I hope you do, the Illuminae books were awesome and I loved that series!! I just can't manage to read them in so little time hahaha.

Just in time Lucy, added
I'm going to check us in!

Another O would be helpful, because we have what we need to finish our 10th completion =)

Jodie wrote: "I think I made it right under the wire with this one!

Please add

Lab Girl
read 10/07/2020
pages 290
letters - H, J
task - 122 - read book with building in title ( a lab is a bu..."

Added!

Wow Tati, I hope everything turns out well with your job situation

yess thats goood =)

I updated the current word post with the shelves linked, for an easier search, it's here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...