Cat’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2015)

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

DQs: Day 5 - Ch 32 - 38

20. In this section, Ursa relates what happened to her and her mother, but does it in a way that still works with her alien construct. Were there any aspects of the story that surprised you? Were you still hoping the alien part of the story was real? What was your take on Ursa’s origin story?

I never thought she was an alien. Initially I thought she had just run away from abusive family, but the first visit to Effingham kinda put paid to that. The whole rape attempt was extra, and not expected!

21. Part of Ursa’s healing involves integrating her little girl and alien parts. Jo suggested that the alien could be the soul of Ursa. What is your take on Ursa’s assertion that “It’s more like the other way around: Ursa is the soul of me, the one who came from the stars.” How do you think this idea plays into the title of the book?

I thought that it was more that the adults, grounded (earthy) were the forest, meeting the magical thinking of Ursa

22. One of my favorite aspects of the book was the idea of Ursa the alien giving off quarks that touch people’s lives - how all of us affect and are related to each other from a scientific standpoint., even if we can’t predict what the outcome will be. What are your thoughts around the quark idea? Just positive thinking?

The power of trying is strong! Giving positive thoughts / visualisation a name maybe makes it less "woo-woo" to the adults, so it's easier for them to buy that being active leads to good things happening?

23. A primary theme of the book is around the power of love - familial love, love of nature, chosen families - building nests with others to live. What did you think of how all the different families came together? And what about Lacey’s transformation from harridan to helpful - believable or just hopeful?

Lacey's transfrmation was shockingly sudden (a bit like Gabe's sudden comfort with frolicking in the world), but I was glad that she was able to reframe her thoughts.

24. One part of the book that really resonated with me was Jo’s decision to “enter the darkness” with her dying mother, to be there fully with no regrets. That is the kind of emotional bravery I aspire to - shedding the self-protective shell to embrace a fuller loved and loving life. What aspects of the book struck a note for you? Do you believe that sometimes bad things happen to make way for better things next?

Agree - the being brave and putting yourself out there to lead to better things, even if there is pain involved is a good message to try and live by

25. What are your final thoughts on the book? Favorite moments or themes? Who else wants to adopt Ursa?

links for participation token:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 4
Day 5

Sammy, what did you think of Fledgling?

384 pages
272 pages

Current total: 1,269,823

yup! her quarks resulted in the former owner of the house getting married and selling the house to Jo.

by Jo. they were being funny.

209 pages

Current total: 1,268,857

I finished a book that fit the last two books in AHOOL, so spun the Greek wheel, hoping for Cerberus.


Sorry. got a snek :(

Python
1 100 to 175
2 features twins
3 Author name (first or last) starts with a letter in SWORD
4 character is pregnant
5 mentions some type of championship games (World Cup, Olympics, World Series, etc)

but happily, that meant I could slot Mel's English Air into a task :)

112 pages

Current total: 1,267,944

I love the group think recs! thank you all! :)

another one I thought about was Journey to the River Sea - set in Brazil / on the Amazon, under 18, but a British writer

Lexi wrote: "The Head of the Saint is Brazil and under 18"

and looks utterly bonkers! shall investigate further - thanks :)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "How about something by Silvia Moreno-Garcia


oooh! good reminder :)

I've also got by Isabel Cañas who's Mexican-American.

yeah, I quite like him too. but doesn't get us the two-fer :(

Group think / Recommendations!

Any suggestions for
- set in Latin / South America / Philippines / Guam

with bonus points for under 18yo MC :)

ETA: and double bonus if it's by an author from the country in question.

demerits for Isabel Allende, with whom I struggle. sorry.

350 pages
478 pages
333 pages
192 pages

reporting 1353 pages

Current total: 1,257,717

Enjoy it? I know we found other funerals, but were there any?

DQs Day 4 ~ Ch 23 to 31

15. George encounters Gabe and Jo by accident at the campus. What did you think about Jo’s attempt to make Gabe talk to George? Even more curious, what did you think of Gabe’s reaction to the talk he had with George?



16. Jo did a great job of keeping her cool and coming up with a plan to get Ursa and her out of the cabin when the men showed up. Did you see this coming? Or were you expecting a different outcome than men sneaking in guns blazing?

I was shocked at the guns blazing, and a little bit impressed by Jo's sneaky thinking

17. Gabe and Jo could be in trouble with the police, but it seems for child endangerment instead of killing two people/intruders. Gabe is trying to be the sensible one by telling Jo to contact a lawyer. What will happen? Do you think Jo and Gabe will be charged with a crime and if so, what?

I was surprised there was not much done about Gabe's shootings. I suspect that something child related will be attempted, but there is a bit of a defence in that they did attempt to contact, and Deputy Dawg was negative and unhelpful

18. Whew, there was a lot going on in this section. When they returned to Effingham and stopped for dinner, I was pretty sure that we were going to encounter trouble! Ursa….She is obviously in the middle of something big and bad. After learning that Ursa is under police guard (or protection, maybe?), what do you think is the real story? (Or do you agree with Tabby’s thought that the government knows there is an alien in Ursa’s body?!)

No aliens! I think she's under protection, not guard, but precisely why is a bit opaque..

19. Gabe seems to have lost his reluctance to be out in the world. Were you surprised by this? What do you think brought about the change?

It was a quick shift, which actually annoyed me a bit. The power of love solving everything mental health related is not a great message.

Except no, I'd put it elsewhere.

Let me look to see if my next book has aliens, so I can shift about

No aliens, but picking up a short book set in America

I just finished this month's BOM which I think is the right page count and is defo set in States. Not a red cover though

Jenny wrote: "Coming over to compliment this new team on the team name and the picture at the top, and here I am being maligned. "Roped Sammy into it". I mean really.
As if I would do something like that."

Perhaps you'd prefer seduced??