Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2012)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl)’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

DQs Day 6
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.

DQs Day 5
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.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "To the Xtreme - Starts with T No - 46 in Mini 2 - "

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. 😁

To the Xtreme - Starts with T No - 46 in Mini 2 -

I just started which will take care of Mini 2 - No 49 - Moon in title

I'm going to read this one which should fit a quite a few Mexico boxes.



And I can also read another Xtreme Ops if needed.

New monster incoming and its a classic - Frankenstein's Monster

Oh that's tough, Karen. Hope they can find some answers for your little guy and he is feeling better soon.

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

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "If anyone can get it starts with "They". I did the amazon sample/preview.
Unfortunately my libraries don't have it 😶"

Neither does mine.

Oh, those chipmunks!

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.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Thanks all!

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.

If no one has an already read X - I've got this on stand by X series - Xtreme Ops. Its on my kindle - ready to go, now or at a later date.

- CFN North Archer

- CFN Victor and ALN . Veletzos

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/...

DAY 4 - CHAPTERS 21 - STORY 26

16. So the title, Great, Big, Beautiful Life... your thoughts on who this actually refers to? Do you think it has any significance to the plot at all or is it just a catchphrase along with the bright cover art to lure in the reader?

17. Half way through the book and I realized that the only interviews the reader is privy to with Margaret is through Alice's eyes. Why has Emily Henry written it this way? What is the deal with Hayden? Is there actually a contest at all? And is there more to him not wanting to take his relationship with Alice to 100% physical? Is there going to be a twist, anyone think they've worked it out?

18. Wow, nearly makeup, storm sex occurs, another near miss! What do you think about all the extended foreplay without getting to the main event? Do you like how Emily Henry writes an intimate scene? Are they important or interrupting the flow of the storyline?

19. One of the themes of the book is family relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. How does the parts about Alice and Hayden's family and especially the relationship with Alice and her mother contribute to the overall story?

20. What are your favourite parts of the book? The Alice and Hayden relationship or the slow reveal of the Ives' story?

Let me know, if we need the X. I've got a series on ice for this purpose starting with X and they are quick reads.

Jenny (friend)
8405 books | 290 friends
see comment historyDay 3 Chapters 14-20

11. Whether the stories are true or not, are you interested in the back stories of Margaret’s family? What did you think of Freddy’s first interaction with Bernie? (The one that contained the only laugh out loud line so far “Because of your wardrobe?”)
The backstories are fine, I quite like past and present juxtaposition of the two narratives. The Bernie and Gerard story was quite interesting but could have been expanded, I felt we got to find out more about Gerard's POV than Bernie. For example what did she really think about the affair with Nina?
And the resulting secret love child grenade.
12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
Not sure about that one, we will see.

13. I do not have kids, but Hayden’s list of “what ifs” to worry about was a lot. Do you parents worry about that stuff?

Yep, I remember saying to my son when he was having his first baby, "You don't know what fear is till you have a kid!" Seriously you've got to keep this sort of stuff in perspective.

14. Why do you think Alice thinks that Margaret’s tales of her childhood are true, as opposed to the stuff about her family before she was around? Do you find her insightful or naive?

Maybe because this was actually about her living memories and not just family legend. Alice is a mixture of naivete and intuition especially when it comes to her writing she is a lot more cluey.

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?

This is a mystery, I think who Hayden's family is will be part of the reveal at the end.

Dromes is history!

Incoming monster is Albert and Celie from the Colour Purple (Bad Romance)

Let the hunting begin.

Good work Natasha.

I should be finishing those final books in those monsters in the next week.

So look out for new monsters incoming...