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

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

DQs Day 1 Chapters 1 to 8

1) Was this book on your TBR before it was announced as a BOM and were you hypnotized by the beautiful cover art? Were you familiar with Ojibwe culture prior to reading this book?
Wow -- that's actually 3 questions! I had never heard of this book before it was a BOM, and yes, the cover art is stunning. I knew a little bit about Ojibwe culture before starting this book.

2) Several social issues have been touched on so far including racism (including within race (skin tone) and within families for biracial children), enrolled v. descendant tribe membership, substance abuse, illegitimacy, and mental health. Does the author seem to be pulling this off so far or does it seem like too much to have it work for the story?
Racism is very real, even within the same ethnicity. Illegitimacy doesn't seem to be as big of a deal now as it once did. Everyone has some degree of mental illness! If a person says that don't have some psychosis or neurosis, they're lying! (I work at a mental hospital...) Substance abuse is very real and I consider it the most serious problem. I think the author is doing a great job thus far. I'm very worried about Lily.

3) Characters. Any favorites so far? Does anyone else want to be adopted by Granny June, or is that just me?
I do like Daunis, but also Levi, Jamie and Lily. I really like Aunt Teddie, Uncle Art and the twins, too.

4) The author weaves tribal culture into the story and makes it an important aspect of Daunis's life. Including having her work in the tribal language into her interactions with the kids. Language is such an important part of culture, loosing a language means more than just a loss of vocabulary words. Are you enjoying this aspect of the story?
I like this aspect very much! I'm trying (and most likely failing) to sound out the words.

5) The quote "when someone dies everything becomes past tense, except for the grief. Grief stays in the present." really hit home. How did you react to this statement, did is resonate with you as well?
Yes, it definitely resonates. My mom passed in 1998 & I still miss her every day. I'm better, but it will never go away completely.

Annalisa wrote: "Another request - please acknowledge that you have read this message.

1. If you are claiming tasks and need them added to the ss please put that in your post. Apoorv and I will acknowledge it one..."

Got it! And you guys are doing an awesome job!

Still working on Shadow of Night, Killer Cruise, Mort & Firekeeper's Daughter. I may be able to cover an I & a U for spellouts too!

I'd like to take #117 MPG espionage. I have No Tomorrow

Completion post!
Bless Me, Ultima
Rudolfo Anaya
Finished 6/14/21
Page count: 290
Fits task #96 - Coming of age
How it fits: Antonio grows up, starts school, learns the healing arts from Ultima, a curandera (healer) & learns about life



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

Apoorv wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Apoorv wrote: "Would BINGO square D6 work? Chess was integral in the book. It was a game Nina always played with her school librarian & guide to the Midnight Library"

That totally wo..."

That was a stretch! Thank you.

Could I please claim task #124 - set on a water-based transport? I have Killer Cruise

Completion post!
As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust
Alan Bradley
Finished 6/10/21
Page count: 392
Fits task #204 - #7 in series. It's #7 in the Flavia DeLuce series



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

Apoorv wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Hi gang! How is everyone doing? I was just checking the spreadsheet & I had previously claimed task #136 - MPG Witches. Now it's blank again! Could someone please put me back in? I'm ..."

Would BINGO square D6 work? Chess was integral in the book. It was a game Nina always played with her school librarian & guide to the Midnight Library.....
OR
We can do task #194 Recommended by Team Cheery Littlebottom. And that's all I can come up with!

Hi gang! How is everyone doing? I was just checking the spreadsheet & I had previously claimed task #136 - MPG Witches. Now it's blank again! Could someone please put me back in? I'm reading Shadow of Night & should finish by this weekend.
Thank you!

Completion post!
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
Finished 6/5/21
Page count: 288
June BOM

Can't do a link, but see my discussion msgs #30, 84, 124, 125 & 148



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

Day 5 - The Game - end

21. Even though Nora loved her life with Ash and Molly she still returned to the library. Were you surprised that she didn’t stay? Did you want her to stay in that life?
I totally freaked! I thought it was a wonderful fit for her & that she was doing great & was happy.

22. When Nora reconnects with her brother Joe she finds out that the reason he had been avoiding her was nothing to do with her decision not to continue with the band. I think that Nora’s experiences in her other lives helped her to accept that this was the truth. Her old self was so wrapped up in thoughts that she was responsible for other people’s happiness I feel she may have thought he was just trying to be kind due to her suicide attempt. What are your thoughts?
Everybody thinks the world revolves around them. It's human nature. We have to be reminded often that it's not all about us. Everyone is on their own exclusive journey. Even the people we love don't really know what's going on in our heads and vice versa.

23. Were you happy with the ending? Where would you like Nora’s story to go next?
I did like the ending, although I found it a bit "underwhelming." I'm glad Mr. Bannerjee helped Nora and they connected on a new level, also that Mrs. Elm was still alive & Nora went to visit &'play chess with her. Sometimes small things really do make all the difference.

24. Nora got to experience so many lives and possibilities - different careers, different relationships and the chance to live in places all over the world. If you were able to experience another life what would you want to experience?
Easy! Successful novelist with homes in several different countries! Or maybe a travel blogger -- 5-star all the way!

25. Did you enjoy the book? Was there anything in the story that resonated with your own life? Is there a message you will take away with you?
I did enjoy it, but it was a quiet story about a quiet life. You need to be happy with what you have. Ambition & drive are all well and good, but an unrealistic longing will only lead to heartbreak.

Bonus: While reading the story certain parts reminded me of films and TV shows I’ve enjoyed. Films like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Sliding Doors’ or tv shows like ‘Sliders’ and ‘Quantum Leap’. Are there any films, shows or books that you were reminded of?
I kept thinking of "It's a Wonderful Life." It's one of my favorite Christmas movies! I try to watch it at the beginning of December and then again right before Christmas. It's all about attitude. And gratitude.

Completion post!
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
V.E. Schwab
Finished 6/6/21
Page count: 442
Fits the following tasks:
#56 - characters go to the cinema - how it fits: Addie and Henry go to the movies

#194 - recommended by Team Carrot Ironfoundersson

#223 - black cover



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

Annalisa wrote: "I fixed the issue with Well Met."

Thanks for ALL your help! Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. I know I ask for a lot of help, but I've never been able to manipulate theses spreadsheets. I think my iPad is just too old... Or maybe I'm just too old!

Erin wrote: "Okay so I just finished Well Met for task 107 - characters in costume. And when I was looking in the spreadsheet I noticed Lauri also read Well Met for task 21, but on the task page..."

Thanks for noticing! I was wondering what happened there...

Discussion Questions - Day 4: Ryan Bailey - A Pearl in the Shell (79%)

16. What were your thoughts on the interview Nora did? Did she handle it well? What do you make of her thoughts on life in this interview compared to the speech she gave as a champion swimmer?
I thought she did a wonderful job, considering. It must've been so hard to process the information she was only just learning & giving coherent answers to the interviewer. This turned out much better than her not-so-motivational speech!

17. Nora tries for a simpler life working at animal shelter. Did you see this as a life for Nora at all during the book? Do you think she will incorporate this into her chosen life? If not, what will she take from this life if anything at all?
I didn't think it was a total departure from her character. After all, she had cared for Volts. It was Dylan that I thought didn't seem like a good fit for her. I think she is a naturally good caretaker, so maybe she will have pets or even a child in subsequent lives.

18. In 'The Many Lives of Nora Seed', we are given a large summary of all the other lives she tried. Did any stand out to you? Did you think any of these lives would have suited her? Do any relate to what you would want to experience or have thought about experiencing? I was amused by the life where she only ate toasts and like hearing about her lives abroad. Though was a bit concerned with all the lives she chokes on something.
The line about toast totally cracked me up! I could see her being a chess master or a researcher. Maybe a blogger or teacher. Crazy cat lady would still fit!

19. The life with Ash was the one I was waiting for when reading. What do you make of it so far and what do you think will happen? I thought she would stay in this one and was intrigued about the family life she had built.
I thought so too! I thought that would've been the end right there! She'd even made up with her brother and had a terrific little girl! Oh, AND the was a Professor at Cambridge writing a book! I mean, seriously, what could be better?

20. What are your thoughts of Mrs Elm as her guide? Do you think she does a good job or could do something better? What advice would you give if you were in her position?
I loved Mrs. Elm! She reminded me of so many school and other librarians I've known. She was also quite a good therapist! They don't tell you what you should do, they just help you examine your own thoughts and feelings / actions. I don't think anyone could have done it better.

DQs Day 3: The Tree That Is Our Life - Wild and Free (59%)

11. Regarding the system error, that occurred when Nora tried to return to the library after that speech. Do you think Nora could have trouble returning to the library from one of the next lives that she visits?
Yes, I think that was a definite red flag. We really don't know how this all works,

12. But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. (p. 151) Do you think Nora is going to "find the meaning of life", "be happy forever in a parallel life", or "will want to die and leave the library forever"?
I don't think anyone will ever know the meaning of life. It's meant to be a perpetual mystery. I'm hoping that Nora will find happiness in a parallel life instead of wanting to die!

13. Are you surprised about Nora meeting Hugo, another Slider, as he calls people like them in the in-between?
That was a bit surprising, but if we're to embrace this premise, it only stands to reason that there would be others.

14. For Nora it's a library, for Hugo it's a video store. What do you imagine would your variant of the in-between be? (And obviously you are not allowed to say library now, because I'm guessing most of us would go with that answer. Be creative and let me know what else you would feel comfortable with.)
It would have to be a library or at the very least a book store! My book covers would be blue, though...

15. We finally get to see Nora's life as a rock star. In what direction do you think this will go? Is it going to be the life Nora is happiest with and stays the longest/forever? Or do you think that she's going to leave it rather soon again?
I'm thinking a simple life would be best with not a lot of public scrutiny. Happily married with a cat, primary school teacher, mother, crazy cat lady...

DQs Day 2: The Penultimate Update - Peppermint Tea (39%)

6. Were you surprised that Nora's second choice was related to her cat? What did you think of the outcome?
No, not particularly surprised at all! That was the creature she was most attached to in her "root life." Volts lived, but as all cats, he was pretty indifferent to humans.

7. How did the reality of Nora's Australia line up with what you imagined it would be like?
I was amazed that she was an Olympic Medalist. Everyone can have dreams growing up, it's true. But apparently she was good enough to have made it on an Olympic level! Just competing is a huge honor, but Nora had actually WON! Just because you get what you wish for doesn't necessarily mean you'll be happy.

8. What did you think about the similarities between Nora's life in Australia versus her original life?
She was still alone, still being medicated, no real connections... Fame and fortune don't make you a better person.

9. On the surface, Nora's life with a swimming career seems to be the most successful so far. Do you think the positives will outweigh the negatives this time around?
Nope, not at all. Antidepressants are never good. I've gone down that road till I was so numb! The house could've burned down around me & I wouldn't have cared. Probably wouldn't have even noticed...

10. Any predictions for how Nora's speech will go in the next chapter?
I think she will have a ginormous panic attack & run out of the room!

Could I please claim #96 - Coming of age? I have Bless Me, Ultima



I also plan to read all 3 of the June BOMs!

DQs Day 1

1. Were you planning to read this book before it became a BOM? If so, what drew you to it?

I actually was waiting for this to be available from my public library since early December & just got my copy in May!

2. What do you think of Matt Haig’s writing style (and those short chapters!) and how he has set the story up so far?
I am enjoying it -- makes it go so fast though!

3. What are your thoughts on Nora? Are you attached to her yet?
I kind of feel sorry for her so far. I haven't formed an attachment as of yet & am sensing mental illness here,

4. If you were somehow able to, would you want to see all of the different outcomes that could have played out in your own life? Or would you rather just leave things as they are without ever knowing?

Nope! Definitely not! Way better off not knowing. Que sera, sera!

5. What did you think about Nora’s first glimpse at a road not taken? Were you surprised by which book she chose to open first or by how quickly it disappointed her?

It was sad, but not unexpected. We all want someone to love and for them to love us back. Obviously he was absorbed in his dream & just expected her to roll along with him...

You see, doing one thing differently is very often the same as doing everything differently...
Truth!