Lauri’s Comments (group member since Jan 23, 2016)

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

Completion Post!
How to Sell a Haunted House
Grady Hendrix
Finished 10/20/23
Page count: 419
BOM: yes!
See msgs: 82, 113 & 170
I can’t to a link to save my own life!
Spellout letters:
H - title
L - Louise CFN



Could someone please add this to our spreadsheet for me? Thank you!

Day 3: Chapters 16-22

10. Pupkin is,,, alive??? Okay, no big surprise there to be honest, but we did finally get some interesting background info from Louise and Mark's childhood, even if that's not how Louise remembers it. Do you think she really doesn't remember, has simply forgotten, due to trauma or it just having happened way too long ago, or does she remember but chooses not to acknowledge it? Or maybe Mark misremembers himself and it didn't even happen (that way at least)? They were both still very young after all, Mark especially. Is it possible to remember something that happened when you were only two years old?
I do believe it! If Pupkin could make Louise do his bidding, he is truly evil. I have memories, but more like images of learning (from an older cousin) how to climb out of my crib at age 2. She later confirmed that it really did happen.

11. The second perspective adds a new layer, however it only got added halfway through the book. Were you surprised we got Mark's POV at all, and would you have preferred for it to be there from the beginning of the book? Also, has this last section changed your opinion on him in any way? He did save Louise from Pupkin after all....
Mark needed some redeeming qualities desperately! He was written as a total dweeb, greedy and self-indulgent. This is information I would have appreciated to have from the very beginning!

12. To me, the last chapter feels a bit like a fever dream, definitely like they were on drugs. I personally don't remember which MPGs the book has and don't want to check in case of 'spoilers' now, but do you think there's a possibility the house, our main characters, the puppets, the dolls, Pupkin, everything- isn't actually haunted and none of it is actually happening?? What if it's just a dream (which would be the worst ending ngl), mental problems like Louise wants to believe, or mold in the house that's effecting them like this plus possible drug use from Mark when he was away?
Addiction or recreational drug use would explain so much, really! I suppose it could be possible that it could be a fever dream or something… I don’t care much for horror, but do like Hendrix because of the implausibility of the situations. I really enjoyed My Best Friend's Exorcism!

13. I can't help but wonder how the book is gonna end... If Pupkin is indeed an evil puppet come to life I only see one way it can be destroyed - fire. Do you think they'll end up burning down the entire house (although Hill House (in the show at least) wouldn't let itself be burned down either, so who knows if that would work), or will the dolls and puppets take over? What do you predict will happen in the rest of the book?
I am hoping for Pupkin’s demise, of course. Besides burning, they could always chop him up and scatter the pieces…

Completion Post!
A Hard Day for a Hangover
Darynda Jones
Finished 10/20/23
Page count: 352
Spellout letters:
A - Auri CFN
E - Elaine CFN
H - title
L - Levi CFN
R - Ravinder CLN
Z - Zee CFN



Could someone please add this to our spreadsheet for me? Thank you!

Completion Post!
A Morbid Taste for Bones
Ellis Peters
Finished 10/20/23
Page count: 197
Spellout letters:
A - title
E - AFN
H - Heribert
P - ALN



Could someone please add this to our spreadsheet for me? Thank you!

Mod
DQs Set 2: Chapters 8 - 15

6. Were you expecting those wills? Why do you think both parents were so unfair on the kids?
Not even a little bit! I’m hoping the why will be made known to us. The only other reasoning would be mental illness!

7. Yikes! killer stuffed squirrels! The first violent haunting here, was it effective?
Very effective for me. I’m from Hawaii & we don’t have squirrels at all. I’ve always thought that they were just so cute! Now? Not so much…

8. Despite the various creepy things that Louise has experienced, she's refusing to let her aunt exorcise the house. Would you still be hanging onto rational reasons over accepting family help?
Nope! Excorcise away! It may not help, but it can’t hurt!

9. We've had more insight into the childhood of Mark and Louise. Does this change your opinion of either of them?
Is Louise evil, or perhaps possessed by Pupkin? Crazy? I can’t imagine trying to purposely kill a toddler and then conveniently forgetting the incident as an adult! (Did I mention I work at a psychiatric hospital??)

DQs Day 1 - Ch 1 to Ch 7

1.) What are your first impressions of the family and of Louise and Mark? How pivotal do you think their relationship (or lack thereof) will play in the story.
Aside: I plan to steal and use the phrase "Terminal Assholism" in future. Thank you Hendrix!

The dynamic is weird! It’s like Mark is the golden child even though he seems like a total fuck-up with no follow-through. It’s almost that Louise becomes childlike just by returning there.

2.) The book is organized into sections following the 5 stages of grief. Does this impact your expectations of the book at all?

I’m wondering how many others will actually die now…

3.) Okay. Life size dolls named after her children. Weird, creepy? Would you be excited to have them as part of your inheritance?

Both weird AND creepy! Totally NOT a doll fan, not even as a little girl… I think I would’ve run screaming from the house when I saw them! Why would their mom give Louise the damn “art” and Mark the house anyway? So unfair!

4.) Have you ever experienced a family post-death squabble/fight like the one Louise and Mark had in front of the junk clean out guys?

Totally! Both my family and my husband’s are totally evil and greedy! There’s nothing like a death in the family to bring that to the forefront. My motto is, “I had nothing yesterday, I have nothing today and will have nothing tomorrow.” It’s really up to the deceased to leave their worldly goods to whomsoever they choose. People shouldn’t expect to automatically inherit anything. I tell my only son that I promise to leave him all my nothing!

5.) Did anyone else google Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers? If so, were you surprised to find they were a real organization? Has anyone interacted with them before or a similar organization for other religious beliefs?

Sorry! No puppeteers for me! I won’t be googling them anytime soon!

I should be good to finish all my books by deadline…

Ashley wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Completion Post!
Murder in the Corn Maze
G.A. McKevett
Finished 10/14/23
Page count: 280
Can be used for the following letters:
A - CFN Alma
E - CFN Els..."

Sorry about that! I definitely read the hardcover edition with 280 pages.

Melissa wrote: "I hope you are all having a good weekend :)
I've got to pick up one of those Sunshine Vicram books sometime!"
You really should, Melissa! The writing is hilarious and snarky - - two of my most favorite things!

Completion Post!
Murder in the Corn Maze
G.A. McKevett
Finished 10/14/23
Page count: 280
Can be used for the following letters:
A - CFN Alma
E - CFN Elsie
R - CLN Reid

I’m headed home tomorrow & am working on Murder in the Corn Maze by G.A. McKevettand A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones. Hopefully I’ll have updates to report when I get home tomorrow. I do some of my best reading in airports!

Hi there, Team! Just wanted to let y’all know I’m leaving for Vegas tomorrow & will be there till the 13th. I may be quieter than usual, but I will be reading, especially while on the plane/at the airport. I will bring my iPad with me & will try to check in daily. I haven’t traveled anywhere since before the pandemic & I’m soooo excited!

For round 1 I will claim A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters with a blue cover. I will also read the BOM How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix for participation points…
Could someone please add these to the spreadsheet for me? Thank you ever so much…

LOVE opera! Some of my faves are Turandot, Norma, Aida, Carmen… I used to go to a bunch every year during the season for FREE because my cousin was a make up volunteer for the cast. Sadly, he is no longer with us and it’s so expensive! Also, no one to go with anymore! My husband absolutely refuses. We do love musical theatre, though, and try to go whenever a national road company comes to Hawaii…it’s been awhile now.

Ashley wrote: "It's me! Hi! I'm the problem... oh wait.. that should probably be Team Pop...

I'm Ashley, your extremely hilarious and eloquent Captain, as it is immediately obvious from my intro.... ..anyway... ..."

So sorry about the shelf mix-up! Glad you were able to find me after all...

I would like to be a housecat in my next life. Don't care what kind, just a fat lazy, beloved housecat.

If I could be any kind of dog, I'd pick Golden Retriever or German Shepherd. I think they're so beautiful! I would like to have a Frenchie as a pet...

Sadly, our apartment building does not allow pets! I grew up surrounded by animals & really miss not having even one now...

Aloha from Hawaii! I'm Lauri & am very excited to play Wheel again. I skipped last year because it was too close to Christmas. But now I'm baaaaack...
I work full-time at the State Hospital (yes, read mental hospital) in medical records. I'm an old married lady with 1 adult son. I have a bit of reading OCD & I love planning for these big challenges!

Captains & teammies, I will be asking for help because I can't use Excel to save my own life! Is it okay if I claim /post completion posts in this thread & ask for someone to add it on the spreadsheet for me?

Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

So…. When will teams be announced? The suspense is killing me!

Yaaayyyy! BRING it!

So sign ups on Saturday? That’s sooner, isn’t it????

And, soooooo? What is it? Where is it? And how can we sign up? Pleeeeezeee end the torture!