Maritza’s Comments (group member since Jun 08, 2014)

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

✿ Claire ✿ ~ Foxgard wrote: "I finished it too :)

I think I liked it better than book one.
I wasn't a big fan of Peter in book 1, and I liked him slightly better by the end of this book. (even though there were moments I wan..."

Loved it. Not the ending I would have like but there is still hope.

I wonder if Johnny will make an appearance. He sounds like a better potential match for Lara Jean. By the way I love the sister's classic names.

Thanks Laura.
I have never used that with my dad. I wouldn't dare.
I don't know if I like Peter for Lara Jean. He plays with her emotions too much. I have to see if he is being genuine.

Laura wrote: "Finished

I enjoyed book 2 as much as book 1. I like that we see more of Kitty's character. She is a sassy 10 year old. Lara Jean really is a great older sister to Kitty. ie- baking cakes, pancakes..."

Yes i really like the relationship between the sisters and the 3 of them with their dad. Does book 1 deal with GoGo and Josh's relationship (i have it on order in the library).

By - Vivian Wood
535 pgs
Read - 06/17/18****
1st half of Banishing Charm

Gosh I was hoping that friendship, past or present meant something and that friends would not humilate you like that (talking about who posted the video). But then i forget that these are young pre-adults who don't think about consequences.

This is my first book in series but am loving the gang so far. I love the sisters relationsnip.

I will read and for summoning or banishing charm. But not until next 2 weeks. Wait will that work with tattoos or not? Are they considered objects? Maybe not?

Shannon wrote: "Maritza, how’d you like your first BOM?"

I really enjoyed the book as historical fiction is something that interest me. How can people hurt each other so and justify it? It wasn't too extreme compared to Night and some others i have read but still a little hard to read. Will read something lite next.

By - Martha Hall Kelly
496 pgs
Read - 06/13/18****
BOM - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Characters - Kasia, Herta, Caroline

DQs Day 5 Chapter 38-47

29. What did you think about the relationship between Caroline and Paul? Was it a satisfying ending?
I'm not mad it ended like that. For the time it was a lovely relationship and it ended the way it should.
30. Which story was the most interesting to you, Caroline, Kasia, Herta? Why?
Kasia. I have always wondered how the prisoners felt and went about their lives after. I don't know if this is a fair representation but it gives a slight glimpse.
31. “Lilacs only blossom after a harsh winter.” What did you think about the explanation for the title of the book?
Short and concise explanation.
32. Many years later Herta wore Halina’s ring. Do you think she cared for Halina more than she would admit? Or do you think Herta was too cold hearted to really care about another person?
She probably did care for her but was more worried about herself.
33. Did you learn anything about WWII and the years after that you did not know before? If so, what?
I never knew of those experiments.
34. Kasia got closure about her mother’s death. And in the end Kasia did positively identify Herta. Did you like the ending to the book? Would you recommend this book to others? 
I did like it and was glad she was able to move on.

DAILY QUESTIONS - SET 4
CHAPTERS 27-37 - PART 2

Q20. (CH 27 - CAROLINE) AS THE WAR STARTS TO WIND DOWN, CAROLINE LEARNED THAT PAUL WAS STILL ALIVE. WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT HER RUSHING TO FRANCE TO SEE HIM? HOW DO YOU THINK PAUL FEELS ABOUT CAROLINE?
She has wanted to reunite with him for so long i am happy for her. I think he was infatuated with her.
Q21. (CH 28 - KASIA) KASIA SEEMS TO BE STRUGGLING MORE THAN ZUZANNA TO BEING BACK IN POLAND. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?
I think she feels guilty for everything and does not feel she should be there.
Q22 (CH 29-30 - CAROLINE) HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN CAROLINE CAME BACK TO PAUL'S HOUSE TO MOVE IN? WHAT ABOUT WHAT SHE WAS ASKED TO DO? WOULD YOU DO IT? AND WHY DO YOU THINK SHE ULTIMATELY DECIDED TO HELP?
I was happy for her and hoping she would get a HEA. I thought with her background that asking her was the perfect way to use her skills and connections. Its in her nature to help especiallyfamilies.
Q23 (CH 31-32-33 - KASIA) WHERE YOU SURPRISED AT WHAT KASIA FOUND WHEN WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL AND HOW THINGS EVOLVED FOR HER? DO YOU THINK SHE'LL FIND HER HAPPINESS?
I don't think she feels as if she should be happy after so long. Maybe she'll find self acceptence.
Q24 (CH 34 - HERTA) WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS FOR HERTA? HAVE THEY CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE BOOK?
I don't like her and she no redeeming grace in my eyes. I have grown to hate her even more.
Q25 (CH36 - CAROLINE) - CAROLINE HAS STAYED IN FRANCE AND IS DOING HER VOLUNTEER WORK IN PARIS. WHY DO YOU THINK SHE WON'T READ ANY OF PAUL'S LETTERS? WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THE TURN OF EVENTS AT THE END OF CHAPTER 36?
She won'/t read them because she loves him but does not want to interfere in his marriage.
Q27 (CH 37 - KASIA - PART 3) 10 YEARS HAVE PASSED. WHY DO YOU THINK KASIA'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH HER FAMILY ARE WHAT THEY ARE? HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HER AT THIS POINT IN THE STORY?
I feel sorry for her that she can't accept love or kindness from those arlund her.
Q28 A LOT OF TIME WAS COVERED IN PART 2 AND THEN INTO PART 3 - DID YOU FORSEE ANY OF THE DEVELOPMENTS? DO YOU THINK WE'LL LEARN WHAT LILACS MEANS TO THE STORY? 
I really like the progression of the story and i feel the title will be explained by the end.

Lilac Girls 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?
Some still have hopes of freedom. They are relying on each other and hoping for better things.
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?
She is so naive thonking she is helping those children.
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? 
Im thinking its the three main characters.
Q18 Herta arrives at your front door - knowing what she has been involved in what would you do?
Closed the door and go about my business after telling her i want nothing to do with het after the horrors she has done.
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? 
Knowing that this was someones true story.

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? 
No she won't leave. She is too ambitious and longs to do what her male counterparts do.
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?
No I don't think they will. I would bs devastated and feel as if a part of me were missing.
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?
Yes i think the camp is where their story comes together anc we will experience it from both views. She should feel guilty as her ignorance of youth led her and her famiky there.
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 and if she does it might be too late.
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?
I have never felt like that thank God. I don't know maybe a little better if i had family with me.
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?
At some point Herta will have to turn on her because of their backgrounds.
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? 
No i have never found myself in such a position. I lead an uneventful life.

Awesome I all over the place just wish I could read more. It’s like The Twilight Zone - not enough time.

Geri wrote: "Will these books work for the water spell?

and

If these will fulfill the water spell, I’ll go ahead and read them soon."

Oh I have the second book I started reading. If I can help ill finish reading something in the water

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS SET 1
CHAPTERS 1-8

1. LILAC GIRLS IS MARTHA HALL KELLY'S DEBUT ... WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE?
--- To me Lilacs are calming and very fragrant. Maybe this title speaks to calmness after the storms.
2. IN THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS, WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE GIRLS AND THE PLACES AND TIMES THEY LIVE IN?
--- To me these are ordinary girls going on about their business without knowing what is to come.
3. WHY DO YOU THINK THE AUTHOR HAS BEGUN THE NOVEL IN THREE DIFFERENT ...?
--- Maybe to show tnat as they are going on with their normal activity something will happen to unite them.
4. DO YOU THINK PIETRIK HAS ROMANTIC FEELINGS FOR KASIA AND WHAT DO YOU IMAGINE HAS HAPPENED TO NADIA AND HER MOTHER?
--- I think he thinks of her as a good friend and may have deeper feelings he is unaware of. Are they in hiding, have they been taken..i don't know.
5. DESPITE HERTA'S POLITICAL BELIEFS DO YOU FEEL ANY SYMPATHY FOR HER IN HER SITUATION WITH HEINZ?
--- Not right now.
6. PAUL SEEMS TO BE THE EPITOME OF THE SAUVE, URBANE FRENCHMAN. DO YOU SEE ANY FUTURE FOR HIM AND CAROLINE?
--- No
7 ALREADY I AM FINDING MY EMOTIONS ENGAGED BY THIS NOVEL. SADNESS, ANGER, INDIGNATION AND HORROR FOR WHAT I KNOW IS TO COME. HOW IS THIS BOOK AFFECTING YOU SO FAR? 
--- As with all things Holocaust I feel anger and dispair that humans can do this to each other.

Shannon wrote: "Maritza wrote: "Working on Lilac Girls and have Red Sister. Would volunteer for questions but i cant always get books in time."

Fantastic Maritza!! I’m going to joi..."
No both are new authors to me.

Working on Lilac Girls and have Red Sister. Would volunteer for questions but i cant always get books in time.

Will see what i find