Jackie’s Comments (group member since Jul 10, 2011)

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

Thank you, Melinda and Judy, for a fantastic job as captains!!!

Done!

Completion Post

Title: The Girl with the Cat Tattoo
Author: Theresa Weir
Pages: 166
Date read: 8/21
Letters: G, T, W
Tag: No
Task: Read a book with MPG Contemporary

Planning sheet updated

I'm done unless we need a specific letter. If so, I could probably find something short and quick.

Completion Post

Title: Mortal Coil
Author: Derek Landy
Pages: 604
Date read: 8/21
Letters: S, G, T, E, W
Tag: Ireland
Task: Read a book with MPG Horror

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: Portrait in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Pages: 347
Date read: 8/20
Letters: E, N
Tag: Ireland
Task: Read a book set in the future

Planning sheet updated

Melindam wrote: "Jackie wrote: "I'm currently reading one that has Ireland for tag and I'll finish it before the deadline. Do we need more tags? If so, I may change my last book (that I haven't started yet) to one ..."

Okay, off to look for tags, :)

I'm currently reading one that has Ireland for tag and I'll finish it before the deadline. Do we need more tags? If so, I may change my last book (that I haven't started yet) to one that has a tag.

Completion Post

Title: The Screwtape Letters
Author: C.S. Lewis
Pages: 228
Date read: 8/19
Letters: S
Tag: Ireland
Task: Read a book recommended by someone in your team

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: The Buccaneers' Code
Author: Caroline Carlson
Pages: 320
Date read: 8/19
Letters: H, W, N, T, O, G
Tag: No
Task: Read a book set on a boat / ship - 65,183 words

Planning sheet updated

I should have four more finished.

Completion Post

Title: Poirot's Early Cases
Author: Agatha Christie
Pages: 272
Date read: 8/18
Letters: A, H
Tag: No
Task: Read #31+ in a series

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: Deathbed & Breakfast
Author: Bart J. Gilbertson
Pages: 266
Date read: 8/17
Letters: G, E, S, A
Tag: No
Task: Read a book set in a hotel

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls
Author: Beth McMullen
Pages: 256
Date read: 8/17/20
Letters: A, H, T, I, S, G
Tag: No
Task: Read a book with MPG Espionage - 56,803 words

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: Nine Perfect Strangers
Author: Liane Moriarty
Pages: 453
Date read: 8/16
Letters: N, W, T, H, S, Y
Tag: No
Task: Read a book set in Australia

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: White Nights
Author: Ann Cleeves
Pages: 392
Date read: 8/15
Letters: W, A, H, T, S, E
Tag: No
Task: Read a book with MPG Thriller

Planning sheet updated

Completion Post

Title: Pachinko
Author: Min Jin Lee
Pages: 496
Date read: 8/14
Letters: I, S, Y, H, N, G, A, T
Tag: No
Task: Read a book set in Japan

BOM:
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Planning sheet updated

DQs Day 6, Book 3 Chapter 12 to end

26. In chapter 12, we go back full circle when Sunja returns to Osaka to visit her dying mother and sister in law. I especially noted how after 40 or so years, Sunja is still at fault for her stunt with Hansu, her mother still blaming her for how the older man used her and considering her lucky that Isak even married her. I found that passage extremely sad, especially how it relates to today's society and views on women. What did you think of it?
This just seemed so out of character for Sunja's mother. She always seemed supportive and I can only assume that it was due to age and illness.

27. Having read about Hana and how she first took advantage of Solomon and then ended up in Tokyo working as a hostess, I instantly felt bad for her. Do you think she went so far because of her family shame or do you think there was anything else that drove her to that point? And what did you think of Phoebe's reaction to Solomon trying to help Hana?
Hana just seemed like a lost soul. I didn't like the way she used Solomon but felt sorry for her.

28. What did you make of the ending? How do you think the family fared on, what happened with Solomon? I would have loved to glimpse into the lives of Noa's children as well. If you could have changed anything about the ending, what would you change?
I actually liked the ending better than a lot of the book. I would have liked to know what happened to Noa's children as well. I thought the ending with Sunja at Isak's grave was very moving.

29. Why do you think the author chose the title for the book as such?
It makes sense. Pachinko was a constant almost throughout the entire book. And it apparently was run primarily by Koreans in Japan. Also, it was the vehicle that allowed Sunja's children to become successful.

30. Considering how long the book was, do you think its pace was good? Overall, did you like/enjoy it? Would you have cut out anything since it's so long? How did you rate it?
Too slow for me. I love historical fiction but this one was not that enjoyable. I rated it 3 stars because it was a good story, just not for me.

DQ Day 5- Book 3 chap 3 - 11

21. We start this section with a tragedy of Yumi’s death, which brings about the reentry of Hansu into the family’s life again. This is the first time that we see Hansu physically violent with one of the female characters when he hits the woman who was in the car with him from the bar. We later see that he changes her life for the worse. Have your thoughts about Hansu changed throughout the story? And did this scene change any of your feelings towards him?
No, I haven't liked him from the start. The more we learn about him, the more I dislike him.

22. Noa continues to be a character that really compels me, I really loved when he said he noticed Risa’s handwriting before he noticed her, “he could detect that there was a kind of dancing spirit in the hand that wrote such elegant letters”. This is whimsy that I haven’t seen from him, and Noa indicates throughout the story that he can’t be his true self. Who do you think his true self is?
It seems that Noa was torn throughout his life with his shame at being Korean. He couldn't accept himself.

23. Mozasu seems to be getting the support he needs as a single dad, and even his old friend Haruki is back and has a wife, Ayame. In this section, we see a sexual awakening in Ayame and a chapter is dedicated to this new character and her feelings about sex. How do you think this section connects with the rest of the story?
Honestly, it seemed out of place. I'm not sure why the author included it.

24. Hansu finds Noa and I was very surprised that he and Sunja went to see Noa. During Sunja’s discussion with Noa, he says that being Korean is terrible to him. We then find out he committed suicide after his interaction with Sunja. Why do you think he choose that time to take his life, what were the precipitating factors, did you see it coming?
I guess he thought that it would come out that he wasn't Japanese and that his life would be ruined.

25. We close this section with Etsuko, who seems to have been struggling with self worth and who she is now in relation to her family and her life with Mozasu and Salomon. She indicated that being a mother was what defined her more than everything else and even if she hadn’t done it well, it was who she was. Motherhood is strong theme throughout the story, what key things have you learned from this cultural and historic perspective on motherhood during this generational span?
Definitely the motherhood theme is prominent. Choices that mothers make have long-term and often unexpected effects on their children. It seems that all of the mothers in this book love their children deeply and sacrifice much for them.

DQ - Day 4

16. This section focuses on the next generation of the family, namely Noa and Mozasu. Personally, I thought it was interesting how the previous generation focused on the women (Sunja and Kyunghee) who were submissive in nature compared to their male counterparts. Whereas, the new generation, Noa and Mozasu, felt like the submissive characters compared to the female counterparts. What are some of the similarties and differences you noticed between the two generations? Why do you think the author decided to shift the gender roles of focus?
I think it's just the fact that the next generation is sons. The family saga continues.

17. Noa finally learns the truth about who his father is. Did you think it was normal for him to take his anger out on Sunja, rather than confronting Hansu? Do you feel Hansu would track down Noa and coerce him to go back to his studies? Or would Sunja finally get the courage to stop Hansu from meddling in her son's affairs?
I think Noa felt desolated at learning that Hansu was his father because he considered him a bad person, even though he was willing himself to take his money for school, etc. Sunja was the person that he would naturally blame. It really annoyed me that he couldn't see Sunja's side. He needs to grow up.

18. Akiko is a free spirit and is not shy to speak her mind. In one scene, she references to George Eliot's take on Jewish people persecuted unfairly. This was one of my favorite scenes because of its reference to classic literature. There is a quite a lot of symbolism to her argument. What were some of the other passages from the story you stood out for you till now?
Nothing in particular stands out.

19. John is an interesting character introduced to the story. What are your thoughts of him? Do you think he would play a more active role in Yumi and Mozasu's life?
John is an interesting character but I doubt that he plays a very big part.

20. The section ends in a bitter sweet manner for Noa, where he finds himself working in Pachinko, just like his un-educated brother. Why do you suppose the author took this route to bring Noa down and put him in the same level as Mozasu?
I think Noa needed to be brought down and by running away instead of facing his situation, he actually brought it on himself. Of the two brothers, I definitely think that Mozasu is the better person.