Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s
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(group member since Sep 26, 2012)
Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s
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from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
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The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters - Indigenous Peoples Themed BOM June 2025 (starts 16 Jun)
(242 new)
Jun 14, 2025 01:51PM

Not too many days to go Richard, about 5 I think.
Maybe you could start them, but not finish them till after the new month? Is this allowed?



Fantastic effort, Richard. You are a reading machine, hope you enjoyed all of your books for this round. 😊
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry - Adult / Non-fiction BOM June 2025 (starts 2 Jun)
(238 new)
Jun 07, 2025 11:28PM

Lisa' posts for book tokens -
DAY 1 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 2 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 3 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 4 - DQS - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DAY 5 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6 - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry - Adult / Non-fiction BOM June 2025 (starts 2 Jun)
(238 new)
Jun 07, 2025 11:23PM

Chapter 32–end
24. Lots of big reveals here in the last few chapters! We learn the truth about Jodi's relationship to Margaret, as well as some vital information about Hayden's family history. What did you think of those reveals? Did you have any theories that ended up being right, or did they surprise you?
Seems a lot of us guessed Hayden had a familial connection to Margaret, although it was a bit of a stretch how is happened. The book was running at 3 stars till the reveal, there was a lot of drama but somehow the ending did work for me
25. Alice finally has the hard conversation with her mother about how out of place she feels in the family and how she feels like her mother doesn't like her as a person. How did you feel about the conversation? Did it feel realistic to you? Was there anything left unsaid you wish would've been addressed?
Mmmm, I'm not into all that reflection how what your parents did or did not do in your childhood, unless they are actually violent or emotionally abusive. I don't think Alice's mother was either of those, sometimes you just have to let parenting styles go. But it worked for Alice so I suppose it was ok.
26. Emily Henry, the author, said that the song that best encapsulates this book is "the last great american dynasty" by Taylor Swift. I personally think there was a part that specifically felt like "marjorie" by Taylor Swift (when Alice talks about all the things she should have done when her dad was alive). If you had to pick one song that fits this book — either the book as a whole or a specific part — what song would you choose? Do you like when authors provide songs/playlists that go with their books?
27. "I welcome her to this great big beautiful life" — the epilogue finally reveals the significance of the title. What did you think of the ending and how the author wrapped up the story? Is there anything you wish had been done differently?
I knew the title must have meant something more than a frivolous phrase. It certainly was teasing me throughout the book. The ending actually worked for me and I didn't mind the story but didn't love it. Too much drama and introspection bordering on narcissism. Again, Emily Henry is fine when reading but pretty much forgotten a couple of weeks later. And that's fine if you're after an easy read.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry - Adult / Non-fiction BOM June 2025 (starts 2 Jun)
(238 new)
Jun 07, 2025 10:31PM

Chapters 26 - 31/The Story
21. In the previous story…Margaret regretted the next set of interview questions with Alice…stating it was time to recall all her worst mistakes.
Was it a mistake to go to Cosmo’s concert instead of being at home during Gerald’s final hours? Was it something with Laura/Dr. David? Again, later she indicates she regrets every decision she made. What do you think? Why does she feel this way? What were the bad decisions?
I guess she thinks this is the moment where her relationship with her sister changed. She became enamored with Cosmo and because Gerard died things weren't the same with Laura. A lot of this part of the book seemed to be a drama over nothing, people make decisions sometimes good sometimes bad and Laura also made many decisions which guaranteed her own fate.
22. Margaret keeps referring to trust. In chapter 27 she makes a reference to trusting people who wear bright colored clothing vs not. Why would someone like Margaret, with so much experience, call out the colors in clothing as a reason to trust someone? What are some of the things that make you trust one person vs another? Why?
It seems trust and the lack thereof has been a casualty of the Ives' girls upbringing. It seems a pretty silly statement neither of the girls make wise decisions as is revealed later on in the book.
23. In one of the last chapters in this section, we find out that Hayden knows details about Cecil, and Alice doesn’t; after deciding together, Alice point blank asks Margaret if she knows anyone else on the island.
Do you think Alice and Hayden have broken their trust/the NDA terms with Margaret by discussing Cecil together? Should they have handled this situation differently?
No, because it was a third party which I think at that time they didn't know Cecil's relationship with the Ives. The premise of then competition between Alice and Hayden is a fairly weak plot device but it does become evident why Margaret set it up this way later on in the book.


Thanks. I discounted it as an article (I am crap at grammar) but google tells me ..."
I thought it was a verb, haha, anyhoo it works that's the main thing. 😁


And I can also read another Xtreme Ops if needed.

It's our 40th Wedding Anniversary this weekend so spending it with our nearest and dearest. Children, partners and grand children, Feeling very blessed.


Unfortunately my libraries don't have it 😶"
Neither does mine.

I finished the X book - but too late.( Very sad face)
It's on the spreadsheet, it doesn't fit any other tasks for now, but it does have the U and X, so hopefully can be used later.

Just
X
O
to go.
Lisa, would be great if you can read your X book"
No problem, I'm 20% through it, will be finished by tomorrow.

