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

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

Steven wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Steven wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Can you all recommend your favourite easy reads? I want a list of stuff for those days where I'm struggling to read."

Let's see...

Stormlight Archive b..."
Yes, dear. We have played together before. You are also my friend, but I expect you must be SO busy!
I love the paranormal, the outrageous & strange. I'm a sucker for bad puns in titles & can't sit still & settle down to read one single book all the way through!
I loved the last Gunnie Rose with its focus on the little sister, although I did miss Gunnie & Eli. Good luck getting your hands on the newest one!

Steven wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Can you all recommend your favourite easy reads? I want a list of stuff for those days where I'm struggling to read."

Let's see...

Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
October D..."

OMG, Steven! You just may be my long lost twin! I swear I LOVE anything by Charlaine Harris! Also Nora Roberts... If the woman wrote an instruction manual I would read it!

Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~ wrote: "Don’t be alarmed if you see me reading 4 or 5 books at once. I tend to juggle a lot. So I’ll be starting with The push as I’m hosting a buddy read on Instagram starting 1st, and I’ll be starting th..."
Me, too, Gem! More like 5 - 12 books at a time! Especially at the beginning. I’m all over the place!

I’m starting with Golden Son, The Man Who Died Twice & Marked in Flesh. I’ve got a few chunksters in mind, but I make no promises there! I have ordered them from my library, so at least that’s a start! I have attempted to read A Clash of Kings at least 3 times over the years with no luck. Maybe this will be my year!?

Sadly, no pets here. (Our building doesn't allow them except for the ones that were 'grandfathered in.' Makes me mad when I see a new puppy!) I grew up surrounded by all sorts of animals, and I would really like both a cat and a dog. Someday maybe....

I hope this year's Wheel is a little earlier -- in autumn. I just couldn't handle December last year. I enjoy that one too!

Jillypenny wrote: "Can anyone tell me what our team name means/refers to?"
I'm SO glad you asked the question, Jill! I was feeling a bit ignorant here -- thinking that this was some book series that I had somehow missed out on! Duh! The answer was so simple, but Google was no help this time!

Aloha, all! I’m Lauri from Hawaii and I’m excited to play TTX! I think this is my 4th or 5th time playing! This has got to be my favorite challenge.

My shelf is nbrc-tt-2023

Sorry, but I can’t do a link to save my life! I will ask for help with the spreadsheet. Can’t do those either…So thank you in advance!

I’m an old married lady with 1 adult son. I read obsessively and I’m all over the place. I am a serial book starter, especially on Saturdays. I’ll start a whole bunch of new books & see which ones I’m feeling most.

I work full time at the State Hospital (yes, read mental hospital) in the medical records unit. I deal mostly with release of information. I feel as if I really get to help people move on with their lives. It’s super-busy, so my lunch break reading is extra-special to me & the library is my happy place.
I enjoy paranormal, mysteries, action-adventure & chick lit most of all, but I will read just about anything. I know a few of you from other challenges & I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you!

I just checked and I’ve done the last 4 years! This has got to be one of my favorite big challenges! Can’t wait!

Tower Teams??? YES, please!

Thank you so much to our awesome Captains! And thank you for putting up with me. I honestly just enjoyed the reading & I was able to read for some other challenges & still have the books work for TT. I'm also glad to have gotten some old books off my TBR as well as some chunktsters!
Great game everyone! I had so much fun!!

And the last
Completion Post!
The Burning God
R.F. Kuang
Finished 8/14/22
Page count: 622
Added to my TBR 10/16/20

Completion Post!
The Incas
Daniel J. Peters
Finished 8/14/22
Page count: 1057 baby!!
Added to my TBR 2/4/16

And yes, I am extremely proud of this one AND it was excellent!

Eldarwen wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Completion Post!
Coming Home
Rosamunde Pilcher
Finished 8/13/22
Page count: 728!!
Added to my TBR 5/31/16
And yes, I am rather proud of this one!!"

Ooops! Sorry! It’s there now.


Can..."

Completion Post!
Coming Home
Rosamunde Pilcher
Finished 8/13/22
Page count: 728!!
Added to my TBR 5/31/16
And yes, I am rather proud of this one!!

Completion Post!
Malibu Rising
Taylor Jenkins Reid
Finished 8/12/22
Page count: 369
BOM? Yes! (July)
DQs in Messages 162, 259, 260, 261 & 262
(I still can’t do a darn link!)

Completion post!
Kitty Kitty Bang Bang
Sparkle Abbey
Finished: 8/9/22
Page count: 281

Day 5
20 Jul 2:00 AM - 7:00 AM

17. I love how the author describes how the party goes feral starting with that awful Vaughn Donovan. Have you ever been to a party where things spiralled out of control?
I went to manycrazy parties in my misspent youth! It was always a raging success if yo could totally drunk/high and make it out of there before the cops came…

18. I fist pumped the air when Nina tells herself to stop being a doormat and goes to find her dad (or as she says, her "f&*(ing nothing"!!). That whole scene where she confronts him felt so cathartic. I loved the line "It would not be her that bent and broke anymore." How did you find it?
I totally loved that part! too. I was waiting for her to stand up for herself finally. I wish I has a friend like Tarine, too.

19. There are always many sides to a story. Why do you think Mick came to the party? If he was your dad, would you have forgiven him? Would you have wanted to see him again after the party?
Family relationships are insane and no one’s is ever perfect. But Mick was sooo egotistical and phony! It’s like he expected the kids to actually be grateful he finally showed up! We need to take a look at Freud here, I think! I not only would not have forgiven him, I would have had him forcibly ejected from my property! End of that story.

20. The party changed the siblings in lots of different ways. How do you think their lives will be different now?
I think that pre-party each sibling behaved in a certain way, sticking to their assigned roles. Now, everything is out there for the world to see. They will each take on new roles and hopefully share more and be candid with each other,

21. Final thoughts on the book? Would you read more by the author?
I am hoping for not only a sequel to this one, but maybe spin-offs on each individual Riva! I’ve already been looking for more by this author. I’ve loved everything I’ve read so far!

Day 4

59% 11:00 PM
80% 01:00 AM

13. From the four siblings, I was surprised to find out that Kit had been sending the party invitations to his father for the last few years. I would have expected it from Nina and Hud first. Was it a surprise for you too? What do you think the future relationship (if any) will look like between Mick and his children? I feel he is quite an unredeemable character so it could go towards many different directions.
I was definitely surprised to learn Kit was sending party invitations to Mick! Maybe Hud, but not Kit. Unless she just wanted to see what would happen?? I even wondered if maybe Jay would hurt Mick or even kill him…

14. Now that we know the story between Brandon and Nina and her reaction to his mistress' appearance, I can finally see the fire awakening in Nina. She has a chance to not commit the same mistakes as her mom. Do you think that she will finally stand up to herself and what she wants or will she fall into old habits? We haven't seen the last from Brandon, what do you think he will do to try to get Nina back?
I am sooo hoping that Nina will kick Brandon to the curb once & for all! What a total ASS! I think he’ll just go have a pity party (read bender) because no one wants him now.

15. Nina has taken very well the situation with Casey. How do you think the others will react to the news?
Nina was very sweet and supportive of Casey. Don’t know if I could’ve been as nice. They should make her take a paternity test. I know she says she doesn’t want money or anything, but c’mon. Seriously? I expect Kit to be jealous, Jay to be suspicious & Hud to be nice.

16. I am worried about the fate of some characters. Now that we are getting closer to the end, do you think everyone will have a HEA or the story is leading toward some heartbreak and bittersweet ending?
There can be no happily ever after here. Too many characters with too many possible endings!

Day 3

41% 5:00 PM
59% 10:00 PM

9. The Riva house on the beach and Nina's husband's place on a cliff are described several times in the book as the most important settings. Do you find the houses and Malibu as appealing places?
What would your own dreamplace be like? And where would it be?
Malibu has always appealed to me, BUT with all the fires and rich white people, it’s definitely a no go. I’m born & raised in Hawaii & still live in a smallish town on Oahu. It’s now starting to get crowded, the rents & housing prices are absurd. I think I’d like an oceanfront (but not cliffside) home maybe on Kauai where it’s nice and quiet!
10. As we are moving forward in the story, the siblings characters may be getting fleshed out a bit more. What do you think of Nina? Does it seem like she's following in her mother's footsteps in her choices?
Definitely. She doesn’t want to be like June in quite that little woman way, but I believe that your parents are either a shining example OR a horrible reminder. Nina is definitely in the prime caretaker role.
11. Connecting to the previous question about Nina: while TJR is handing out information concerning her husband and their marriage rather sparingly, how do you see Nina's choice and their relationship? Any impressions on what Brandon is like?
Nina seemed almost grateful for Brandon’s attention and care. Maybe she was hoping for a helpmate with her siblings & relief from worrying about money & life all the time…

12. What do you think about the relationship between Jay and Hud? How do you think Jay will react when he learns about Hud's betrayal especially as he seems to have found a real love interest?
I really like Hud! Maybe more than the other Rivas. He shouldn’t have to live in Jay’s shadow all the time. I know it’s bros before hos, but the heart wants what it wants. Maybe Ashley is not the best choice for a life partner, but there it is.

I’m working on these, just FYI…
Coming Home, The Incas, Malibu Rising & The Burning God. I promise to finish ALL of these before the end. There may be a few surprises as well!

You know, I tried reading the Galbraith series, but it really fell flat for me! Nothing will ever come close to Harry for me! It was just so magical! I remember reading the first four books aloud to my son when he was in elementary school….. Good memories!