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

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

Hi! The spreadsheet seems to not like me! I can view, but when I tried to put in a book, it kept giving me an error message!

I can cover books from China, Mexico and Ireland… I have Imperial Woman The Hacienda Dreamer's Pool, respectively…



That’s about as far in the future as I can plan ahead for now! I get all my books from the library - - I have 109 books out from my library right now! I am so excited, but I’m all over the place!!

Aloha!
I’m Lauri from Hawaii & am very excited to play! I think Towers is my very favorite challenge! I’ve done a bunch of them so far. BUT I still can’t do a link to save my own life. So…

My shelf is nbrc-tt-2025

I will read practicality anything, but I have a 100 page rule. I give something new a hundred pages & if I still hate it, I’ll give it up. I may put it aside & revisit it later. I am very much a mood reader. I always have a bunch of books going at any one time & skip around between them. Weird, I know, but what can I say?

My first love is historical fiction, followed by mysteries & cozy mysteries. I also enjoy paranormal & chick-lit.

🏯What are your favourite places in the world?

I haven’t been anywhere really! I don’t even have a passport! Hawaii is very beautiful. The Big Island is our favorite. We live on Oahu. We also enjoy California because Disneyland & all our relatives that live there.

🏯 What are the places you would love to visit the most?

I would most like to visit Europe in general - primarily Spain, Italy, France, Portugal. It’s my dream to go on an Alaskan cruise someday. I just want to go before I’m too old to enjoy it!

🏯Preferred mode of travel?

Gotta be by air to get off the island. But then cruising for sure.

🏯Desert Island question: if you were allowed to take the (all) books of only three authors with you, who would they be?

Agatha Christie, Isabel Allende & Janet Evanovich (no judging!)

I am already making stacks of books (Towers, if you will) around the house and at work of the books I want to read! The planning is almost more fun than the reading. Almost.

Artisanal cheese shop??! Are you kidding me? I’m from Hawaii. The closest we come is Safeway or Whole Foods! I’ve never met a cheese I didn’t like. If I have to, I will drink Moscato or Prosecco. A Mimosa can be nice, too. Since I’m a Philistine, I ask for a splash of grenadine in it….

On a more bookish note, I’m trying to clear what I’m currently reading out & get ready for Towers but making - well - towers of books in the order I plan to read them. OCD poster girl!

Preeti wrote: "

"
So cute! And that’s pretty much me, if I were little & furry!

Jenny wrote: "Keely wrote: "Just dropping in with the bombshell that is I don't like cheese... or wine. I've tried a few gins but I'm not much of a drinker unless it's a special occasion."

I have a bumper stick..."

Hmmmm….. My Mom was from Wisconsin. Maybe that’s where I get my love for cheesy goodness? For all things dairy, really. Maybe someone will invent cheesy ice cream?

Oooh! No gin for me, either! Yuck! I am much more of of tequila or vodka person. When I go out, I love a nice frosty umbrella & fruit drink. At home, I’ll stick to Coke. No beer, no whiskey, thank you very much! When I was little, my parents let me try both as they had their drinks of choice. That put me off both for life! I don’t know why some adults seem to think it’s funny to do that to young children… not amusing at all really.

Shelby wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "I'll take your wine (and also your cheese) 😊🧀🍷
Although on my recent trip to the Hunter Valley I was told you shouldn't have white wine with cheese, and Muscat actually goes very w..."

I want to join your book club! Where are you? I’ll move there!
In my last RL book club, we used to try& make themed meals to go with that month’s selection. We had everything from tater tot casserole to chocolate layer cake! Delicious and educational…

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "I'll take your wine (and also your cheese) 😊🧀🍷
Although on my recent trip to the Hunter Valley I was told you shouldn't have white wine with cheese, and Muscat actually goes very well with it. Comp..."

Welll….I don’t like any wine at all (Everyone GASPS) I drink Coke with my cheese! So ghetto!

Yaaayy!! This may be my favorite team challenge of them all!

Lauri’s Spot!
2025 TBR Tackler
Spear Tackle 26 Books - 2 books from each page
0 / 26

1) Good in Bed
2) Jane Slayre: The Literary Classic with a Blood-Sucking Twist
3) The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee
4) Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn
5) Miss Chopsticks
6) The Legend of Sheba: Rise of a Queen
7) The Snow Fox
8) The Shiksa Syndrome
9) The Library at Mount Char
10) Cold Sassy Tree
11) The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend
12) Orphan Number Eight
13) Murder in the Place of Anubis
14) The Darling Strumpet
15) The Secret Chord
16) Fates and Furies
17) The Healing
18) Lending a Paw
19) Black Flower
20) Blue Asylum
21) Suck It, Wonder Woman!: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek
22) Peace Like a River
23) This Book Is Gay
24) Between, Georgia
25) To All the Boys I've Loved Before
26) Fangirl

Lauri’s Spot!
We’ll start out gently…
0 / 25 of my TBR of 16,372 (Yikes!)

1) Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman
2) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
3) Peter the Great: His Life and World
4) The Killing Dance
5) Industrial Magic
6) Avalon
7) Genghis: Birth of an Empire
8) People of the Owl
9) The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon
10) The Diary of Lady Murasaki
11) The Last Concubine
12) The Language of Threads
13) Yo!
14) The Agüero Sisters
15) Sacred Hearts
16) Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
17) Spying in High Heels
18) Pardonable Lies
19) Lion in the Valley
20) Latte Trouble
21) Last Writes
22) Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter
23) A Crafty Killing
24) Sew Deadly
25) Twenties Girl

Hello! Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

I just finished The Spellshop for BOM & answered the questions. I still can’t do a link and don’t know where to mark it as BOM….
My DQ msgs are as follows: #168, 169, 170, 171 & 172

Just want to get us more credit….

DQs Day 5, Chapters 30-36

19. Although it seemed like all conflicts were resolved at the end of the last section, Radane’s (ex-)fiancé comes back and is looking for her. Were you surprised the story was taking another twist? What do you think about how all of that resolved?
I think that bit was perfect. It showed that there was still some kindness left in the empire after all.

20. Radane ends up returning Kiela’s parents’ cookbook to her and even fixed the torn out page. What would be in your parents’ cookbook?
Lots of casseroles from my mom & lots of quick stir fry stuff from my dad.

21. On Sunday I was at my friends’ place and had some of her stepmother’s raspberry and elderflower jam, which was delicious. What is your favorite flavor of jam?
It’s actually jelly, but I love guava strawberry!

22. The revolution was successful, Radane is free, Kiela gets to do her spells with the coven, the merhorses foaled, Kiela und Larran are getting married… everything is just peachy on Caltrey! How did you enjoy the book? What is your rating? Are you going to pick up more from Sarah Beth Durst?
I gave this a 5-star rating! It was so beautiful, cute, and cozy. Very imaginative! I will definitely look for more of her books.

Day 4 DQs

14) What were your thoughts when Kiela was teaching Eadie, Bryn, and Ulina how to make the pine cones? Particularly the way she tried to disguise that it's actually a spell?
I wasn’t quite sure she should be trusting them all with her secret. She must have had quite strong feelings to trust them with her secret.

15) Well these chapters were a whirlwind. What were your thoughts throughout the twists and turns?
I enjoyed every minute of this book, but some parts were very surprising and worrisome!

16) I loved loved loved the scene where Caz and Meep were threatening Radane. It made me laugh so much that the spider plant was being so much more aggressive than the actual human. If you had been in that scene, would you be more like Kiela (the good cap) or Caz (the bad cop)?
Definitely bad cop!! She would never have made it out of the cave with me!

17) Radane confisticated Kiela's family cookbook. What family heirloom do you value so much to keep protected?
I have a few pieces of jewelry that my mother gave me.

18) What are your thoughts on the Cozy Mystery genre that this book is a part of? How often do you find yourself reaching for a cozy book?
I had no idea that this was considered a cozy mystery! I love the genre, but in truth this one didn’t seem like a mystery to me at all.

DQs Day 3
Ch 14 to 21

9) I'm enjoying the variety of people and creatures (for lack of a better word) in the story. Do you have a favorite? Is there one you'd dream up and like to see wandering the island?
I really like Caz & Meep! They’re so smart and funny. I also like Bryn & Eadie.

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
I am not good with plants at all. Maybe something with flowers?

11) Do you think it is remotely realistic that Kiela can keep her activities secret? And with the trouble at the center of the empire, would any of those in power notice or care?
I would have to say not a chance! I don’t think anyone left in power would even care a bit!

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
I don’t think she’s really trouble. I definitely don’t think Larren would be interested in Radane at all, but I could see where Kiela would be a bit jealous.

13) Previous questions have touched on this but I'm thinking Kiela has avoided sharing what's happening with the revolution as a trauma response. If she doesn't talk about it then she can almost ignore it? It makes me wonder what happened to her parents. Like the library became her home/only place she felt safe after losing them and then it literally burned before her eyes. Anyone have thoughts about why she still isn't sharing to the point of literally running away?
Guilt, maybe? Like if she had spent more time with her parents, they’d still be with her. I believe her self-esteem level is so low, she doesn’t value herself much. Plus all her life-losses. She’s scared to take a chance with anything new.

DQ Day 2 Chapters 8 - 13

6. There's more information released here about magic use and its impact on the world. What do you think about this?
It seems as if they want to control magic use and not let just anyone learn or cast spells. Hmmm….. seems like a power play to me.

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?
It seems pretty sketchy and not at all well thought out! Jam, really?

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
I like them at lot! Kiera is so socially awkward, it’s pretty funny!

DQs Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if she were stranded on a desert island, which books would she most want to have with her?"
Now I'm putting you the same question limiting your possibilities to
- 1 complete works of an author
- 2 book series
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction

I would have to say standalone books from different genres. Plus non-fiction would be most helpful!

2. While it's only explained sketchily, a little politics, history (?)
of the Empire is mentioned, alongside some curious species, flora & fauna (winged kitties, anyone?) What do you think of the world-building so far?
I am totally loving this world! The various mythological creatures / fantastic talking plants + flying cats are awesome. They could also represent the many different types of people in our world and show us how to be more tolerant and accepting of others who may be different than ourselves…

3. It's mentioned several times how Kiela keeps herself to herself in the Library (apart from Caz's company). Do you think such an almost complete isolation described here is possible even in such a vast Library?
I think it IS possible because of the vastness of the library. There are many librarians and patrons, but because of the library’s size, it would seem easy to avoid others.

4. I found it a bit disturbing that Kiela doesn't tell anyone on the island that she came away because a revolution has broken out in the capital (I understand her keeping silent about the books). It IS supposed to be a big deal after all and one would think they will learn about it eventually. A bit later some excuses are offered. Do you think they are sufficient or it's just a usual plot-driving tool?
I think it’s Kiera’s naïveté and aversion to people that she tries to hide at first and then not talk about her past to others. I thought she should have warned the islanders immediately. But, hey, that’s just me…

5. I really liked the idea of Kiela & Caz sectioning the garden and naming them after book genres. Which genres would you name parts of your real or hypothetical garden? :)
I am no gardener, but I would think fantasy, romance, adventure, paranormal - - with no room for horror!

Hi! I’m still here and still reading. We’ve had a few family health problems. Sorry for my absence. I just finished The Road Trip yesterday. I can’t figure out how to list the BOM DQs… still can’t do a link! My DQ responses can be found in the thread #s 240, 241, 242, 243 & 244.
Hope they still qualify!

DQs Day 5- Now - end to the first line "Marcus's nose is bleeding..."

19. What were your thoughts of Addie and Dylan trying again? Was your triangle prediction accurate from the previous days Q's?
I SO would NOT have given him another chance! I probably would have left him on the side of the road - - especially since he was with Marcus!

20. Did you feel Rodney's punishment of being tied up during the wedding was a good alternative to calling the police? What would you have done?
Police all the way! No patience for crashes OR crazy stalkers.

21. While most of you disliked this BOM greatly, hopefully some enjoyed it. How did you Read the book, by Audio, physical book, electronic, or a mix of some?
I read the paperback version and it was a mighty struggle!

22. Was you happy to hear that although this book was addressing depression and spiraling out of control, they also addressed therapy and how it has helped? What was your reaction of hearing that Marcus and Dylan were no longer as close as they used to be after therapy?
Therapy and medication usually do help over time. But the patient needs to be open to it and willing to let it work. It’s a good thing the two guys aren’t joined at the hip anymore. I really thought they were going to come out at gay / bi / pan or something else and Addie would be devastated. She got the really raw end of the deal.

DQs Day 4- Now - Then first line "It's just a sprained ankle..." - last line "Don't contact me again."

15. We’re over halfway through the book. Have your impressions of the characters changed?
Not too much. I still like Addie and Deb! Dylan is pathetic & Marcus is soooo f-ed up. I like Kevin a lot and Cherry & Grace. Rodney is purely bizarre!

16. Rodney’s motives now become clear, how do you see this plot line panning out?
It could go a lot of ways really. I just don’t see Cherry blowing off her bridegroom and running off with any time soon. WHY did she sleep with him? Pity?

17. We learn more of Marcus’ issues and his apparent need to destroy Dylan and Addie’s relationship as well as destroy any chance of them getting back together. How do you predict this relationship triangle will be resolved?
Murdering Marcus? Drugging him, sticking him in a crate and shipping him off somewhere? Purely wishful thinking on my part. I really don’t know where this is going.

18. Etienne is chasing Addie for extra-curricular activities. What are your thoughts on this?
Slimeball! And he works with children! Hope they get rid of him.