megan’s Comments (group member since Jun 26, 2015)

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

Alysa wrote: "The 1950s one will be tricky for me. There is not much I would like to read from those days."

I think Lolita is from the 50's and it's been on my TBR list since 2015.

Mary, Mary, Just a bit contrary wrote: "I just read it again and we do have to completely spell out LAVA if we do that task. But as Craters we only need to make 2 of those books be previous BOM or books another team has read. For zone 2 ..."

I'd gladly read a past BOM. My copy of Dry might just be available by then. lol.

In general I’m not a big fan of fantasy. I can do science fiction, but need a break because I get worlds and universes mixed up. Especially with so many made up places and creatures and names. With shifters twice, retellings, alien and now space opera, I have read more fantasy these last two months than I did the 12 months prior.

DQs Day 3

11. The description of them unpacking - pictures on wall first - is so true to me: pictures on the wall, books on shelves and the rest can wait. Do you unpack like that? More widely, did you enjoy the information about the family settling into the new neighborhood?
Love the info on how the family settles. It’s a reminder that Rosie is the mom even though her career takes her away from the home. When I unpack, it’s by whatever box is on top and closest. And it’s just take everything out of boxes and distribute at random.

12. Rosie is having difficulties settling into the new job, and the senior partner's slightly wonky (but oh-so-real) view about how flexible working actually functions. Do you enjoy that Frankel is bringing in adult life issues wider than just parenting a trans kid?
Yes, it makes Rosie’s situation relatable.

13. Roo.... poor Roo. What did you think about his video project when you first read about it? How did you feel by the end of the section? Any thoughts on how Roo's story will pan out?
I wanted to ground him for a year. He needed to better explain what his thought process was, whether he thinks it through and explains to them or even writes it out. I’m actually surprised that the teacher didn’t require a written portion of the video for clarification. Freshman aren’t the best at expressing themselves verbally, but thanks to a text and computer driven world, a simple memo about what went into the project and why certain things were chose could have greatly helped. Roo’s father is a writer, maybe he needed to think it through on paper to express the opinion. I have a feeling that Roo himself might be gay and this is his way of dealing with it. Being gay would put him in competition with Poppy and it’s a losing game.

14. The last chapter has a discussion about gender pay equality, and Rosie realizes that Poppy had no idea about this, and wonders if they have done her a disservice by sheltering her too much from equality issues. Do you agree? Do you think it's realistic that Poppy wouldn't know?
I think it’s realistic that she wouldn’t know. Her mother is the bread winner after all. But, it’s a topic that should have been discussed with all the kids, not just the daughter. A son needs to know that these inequalities exist and learning them from a parent at an earlier age will help keep naysayers from making an impact.

15. I find the narrator's voice slightly odd: it veers from a high-level view down into intimate POV, and chucks in a whole load of Ominous Warnings of Impending Doom. Are you enjoying the writing style?
The impending doom can get annoying. It’s why I was up so late reading. Frankel did it on purpose. I don’t mind the high-level vs intimate points of view. The author brings us where we need to be at the time in order to deliver the story. It all weaves together to create a detailed bigger picture.

DQs Day Two

6.) The adults in this book have a wide range of reactions to Claude. You have the fun Mr. Tongo, the principle, Victoria Revels, Miss Appleton, the gun totting Nick, the horrible Cindy (who risks a kid's life like that!?!) and their reactions to Claude vary drastically. Thinking about these characters, I keep going back to the quote "At home Claude is loved no matter what. At school, sometimes it feels the opposite: you are not loved no matter what."
What do you think about this quote, is it true? What does the reactions of the older kids and adults versus the younger kids say about society?
It's true if you have a loving, supportive family. In this case, it’s mostly true. Clause/Poppy’s brother’s don’t seem to have a problem with the family secret. It reflects how the family thinks, but also how children think about things like same sex marriage and gender denies. Someone has to tell them it’s wrong or unnatural, for kids to think that way. Imagination lets having two mommies or feeling like a boy one day and a girl the next day seem normal.

7.) In this section we learn where the title comes from. Do you agree with Penn's statement?
No. Change will come sooner or later. Accepting the status quo means you are just another person not pushing for the change you want to see in the world. This isn’t how it always has to be. Baby steps can change that.

8.) Claude chooses his new name, and as new names are wont to do, a new identity. Were you surprised at his choice? Do you think it was a good choice? Or a foreshadow of danger ahead?
It’s a great choice. Claude is a very observant kid and knows how much the name Poppy would mean for his mom and grandmother. I don’t think it is foreshadowing, but I could be totally wrong.

9.) Do you agree with Rosie's decision to move the family? Do you think problems will crop up with Roo in their new home with how attached he was to life in WI?
Yes, I agree. If it doesn’t cause much drama and they are financially able to make such a drastic change, then they should make the changes necessary to protect their child. Having a broody teenager is just part of the ballgame. But, Roo will need some extra attention after the move takes place. It’s easier for younger kids to adapt to new environments and Roo is old enough to think his life in WI was perfect.

10.) What are your thoughts are keeping Claude/Poppy's gender secret in their new home? How do you think the truth will come out? When it does, what do you think will happen to Poppy?
I don’t totally agree with the secret. Maybe not tell kids but tell their parents. Notify the school, but make sure the information remains between the parents, superintendent, and maybe guidance counselor. They moved to Washington for the open mindedness. Assume that open mindedness will offer protection. American’s know gender dysmorphia exists, so we have no reason to act stupid. It’s been in the news and I’m sure weekly religious services. Keeping it a secret might be seen as deception and more difficult to forgive.

It can be tagged "space-opera" right? or no - ?

I’m here! Didn’t know team posts had been created.

Alysa wrote: "Jenny wrote: "That sounds so dramatic. I know what I am hoping for- Space Opera, but I am resigned to getting Suspense again. You?"

Haha, you got your wish!

Our Week 7 word is Brown (Space Opera)!"

Ugh

Day 1

1. Did you have any preconceived ideas about this book before you started, what where they?
Not really. I had no idea what it was about until I got the book. My mind went to work building this cute family that looked like the movie version of Wonder, but with a bunch of boys. Open minded parents = open minded children, so the bunch of boys shrug off anything that the outside world would have trouble with.

2. Rosie shares with us the continued pursuit of having a daughter and possibly having a version of her little sister Poppy in that daughter, what was your reaction to that?
While her sentiment is nice, no one should keep having children hoping for a certain sex. It’s a set up for heartache. I would never want to be the child who finds out they exist because their parents wanted a boy, and I ended up being just another girl.

3. What do you think of Rosie and Penn's parenting style so far?
I’m a fan. They are laid back and open with their kids and allow them to be themselves. That their kids are obviously intelligent makes this style of parenting work for them – typically something people claim would be different if they were raising boys vs girls.

4. I'm loving grandma, she doesn't even blink twice when Claude wants a bikini; what do you think would help Claude most, letting him wear bikini and dress in public or restricting him to only wear those at home?
Letting Claude takes those exploratory steps are helping him discover who he really is. Starting at a young age means less is being suppressed, which could explode if not addressed.

5. It breaks my heart when Penn shows Rosie the drawings Claude has made of the family, where he is getting smaller with every drawing. What should they do?
Whatever they need to get their Claude back into the spotlight. Asking for help as a parent seems like the best first step.

Jenny wrote: "Yet another child not named Eustace Clarence Scrubb. Oh well, Victoria Anne is a beautiful second choice. Teehee.
Congrats again, Nancy.

My family didn't do family names either, Christina. My dad..."

Hahaha my nephew is Jasper because he was conceived in Jasper National Park in Alberta. They went to Banff National Park on the same trip, but gladly did not stay in the actual park.

I have a Study In Charlotte from the library as well. Got it just in case we’d need another retelling and it’s been on by TBR list for a while. I chose to go with The Wrath and the Dawn for more page points. It too has been on my TBR list for way too long.

I posted my competed What Remains Day 3 question link to the spreadsheet. And I was able to put a hold on the ebook for Dry from my library. It says it should be available in a few days, so hopefully I can fit it in this week for more BOM points.

Can I be removed from the list please?

I haven’t read any Lord of the Rings books either. None of the movies either. Well, I read The Hobbit for school when I was in the 8th grade. Other than that I didn’t really have much interest in them

32892628-megan
7-8 books over two weeks

Donna wrote: "searching for a team

Id: 43244109-donna

I am gonna go with 8 books for 2 weeks. I can read more but I just moved and I have a lot going on. Plus I am in multiple challenges."

I'll be on a team with you Donna!

Jenny wrote: "Megan, you have half an hour left. Are you finishing the Alice Pendlebury book?"

Done

I'll have time to listen to another book tomorrow if we need one for Galaxy. Should I look to fill the A or Y opening, or are there enough people who don't think they will have time to finish their books that that last half filled Galaxy will shift to other open spots?

And even if it’s raining in France, you’re still in France! French rain. A very chic, formal rain.

I voted to respin to change things up, but forgot about the BOMs. We could hold out until the following week for those, right?