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

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

Day 3: Chapters 15-18

12. In chapter 16 we see Justyce have dinner with Manny's parents to commemorate Garret Tison's indictment. What do you think of Justyce being invited over and what they talk about? Did you have any thoughts about Manny's parents giving Justyce the watch and his reaction to it?
Honestly, this part made me cry. It was sweet of them to still want him in their lives. I think seeing him may have made them even more sad about the loss of their son. They really cared for him. I think that Mr. Rivers may have even wanted to help Jus by being a male role model because he didn't have a dad.

13. Justyce sees Quan at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Centre and a lot is said between them. What do you make of Quan's upbringing and his view on life now? Is there anything that stands out between what is said between them? Quan not saying that he killed the cop or the advice that he gives to Justyce? Do you think that Quan's advice will have a positive or negative effect on
Justyce?
Quan's upbringing was unfortunate, but he had no choice in the matter. I think it's pretty common, actually. Justyce was lucky in his intelligence, perseverance & his Mama. Quantico told Justyce what he believes to be truth. He had a message for him & thought he was really helping.

14. We see a few media releases in this part:
"Transcript from evening news... More on this story as it continues to develop"
"Tison Indictment... A trial date has yet to be announced."
The news report in chapter 18 with the photo released of Justyce in his Thug Life costume.

We also see the reporters mobbing the funeral party at Manny's funeral:
"Mr. McAllister, how's it feel to be the Boy Who Survived?
Justyce, do you think there will be justice?
What's it like knowing it could've been YOU in that casket?"

What do you think of the coverage of the event by the media? Are they siding with the police officer more than Justyce? Are they reporting the story correctly or making things worse? Do you think the author's portrayal of the media is similar to real life? Will the media ruin his chance at going to Yale?
I for one do not like the reporters at the funeral and that last question is especially nasty.
I think some reporters oversensationalize lots of stories. This was particularly horrid. At his damn graduation yet! He worked so hard to achieve his diploma & they had to go & ruin the moment with their ugliness! Please note that Mama Bear wanted to eat the reporters alive!

15. Chapter 18 goes through a lot. We see Justyce spending time with Doc to avoid making the call to Trey and the gang and isn't writing to Martin
I think the letters to Martin were a cathartic experience for Jus. Even though Dr. King couldn't answer, just the act of writing his thought & feelings was helpful.

DQ Day 2; Chapters 7 - 14

7. Let's start with Sarah-Jane. Justyce and her definitely had feelings for each other, and they didnt shy away from closeness until Jus was about to kiss her after the debate (lbr which was bad timing). Why did SJ suddenly give Justyce the cold shoulder, what are your thoughts? What's going through her head?
I wasn't quite sure why she turned away from Justyce & didn't go in for the kiss! I think she had second thoughts because she actually saw him (suddenly) as being a black man! She could jeopardize her future by pursuing a relationship with him.

8. It sucks that it took being drunk for Justyce to call out Manny but it's finally done! "They're my friends" was the dumbest excuse ever, but at least Manny finally woke up shortly after Blake's party and the fight Justyce and the guys had.
It's hard sometimes to stand up for what's right. It might not be safe, depending on where you are or who you're surrounded by. Do you judge Manny for not being able to stand up for himself and everybody else his 'friends' made fun of sooner? Was there ever anything you needed to work on first in order to be able to stand up for it?
Manny did the best he could under the circumstances. If he rejected his white friends, he would've been all alone except for Justyce. Also, he was used to a life of privilege, unlike Justyce. I had some less than desirable friends in high school. I did some of the things they did, but never really did hard drugs. I just walked away from them, though. I never made a stand and told them they were headed for trouble. I think it's always much harder for males.

9. It seems like Manny didn't only call Dr. Dray to check on Justyce after the fight, but also his mama and Mela. It confused me a little since he doesn't like Mel and how she treats Jus. And it hasn't even been mentioned again (so far). What did you make of this? Do you think Mela will end up playing a big part in the rest of the book? And did you ever have a teacher who was as involved in his students lives as Doc is?
Melo was a piece of work! Although she's wealthy, I think she's headed down a path of self-destruction! Maybe Manny was so worried about Jus, he was trying to cover all bases. I hope Justyce gets rid of Melo! She's nothing but trouble! Mama is just Mama. No one cares more for Justyce than Mama.
I think Doc is so interested in the students because he cares. It's even more like a mentorship because they're black like him. Also because Jus is a boarder. I've never had a teacher like that!


10. Manny's dad tried to keep all signs of racism and how he could be mistreated from him for as long as he could whereas Justyce's mama has prepared him ever since he was little. They also grew up in two completely different neighbourhoods and surroundings. What are your thoughts on the parents' different ways of bringing up their sons? Do you think there's a right way to go about this?
It's hard to prepare children for the harsh reality of life. My son is Filipino & white. When he went to California for school, he was suddenly "Mexican." I told him it would be like that, but couldn't fully explain it. I just told him if someone started speaking Spanish to him, to tell them he was from Hawaii. It had been my experience that when we were in California, people would think my husband was Chicano. He can't speak Spanish, but I can. They say some very unkind things because you don't answer in Spanish! Like you think you're too good for them. I shocked the hell out of a lot of them by saying my husband was Filipino & we were from Hawaii! The Hawaii card never failed...
I think you should prepare them & discuss how to act in potentially dangerous situations. It's hard to do without scaring them...

11. 😳 that's one way to end today's chapters! My heart is still racing. What do you think happened, who got shot? And be honest, did you keep reading or take a peek just to find out what happened? (I'll be honest I did take a quick peek :x)

I kept reading. I actually read the book in two great leaps on my lunch hours at work. I knew Justyce couldn't have died, because that would have ended the book right there.

DQ Day 1
Chapters 1 - 6


1. We meet Justyce when he's trying to do a good deed by helping his drunk ex-girlfriend. This scene sets quite the mood for the upcoming chapters and (I assume) the rest of the book. Do you like our main character so far? Do you like his inner monologue, portrayed in the letters to Martin?
I really, really love Justyce. He is smart, sensitive and sweet despite the crap world that surrounds him.

2. Let's talk about the girls - Melo and Sarah-Jane. The ex-girlfriend (sort of?) and the debate partner. Let's also factor in the other important female in Justyce's life, namely his mother. What do you make of each of them? And what to you make of their interactions with Justyce? And more importantly, what are we supposed to make of Justyce's interactions with them in light of his mother's statement not to bring a white girl home?
I get this. I really do. Living in Hawaii, we didn't (still don't) have too many black people here. I had a couple black girlfriends when I was younger, but I would never consider dating or even dancing with a black guy. Why? Because my father would have literally killed me! I believe you get your opinions about race and other things from your parents. You have no choice in the matter until you are old enough to form your own opinions. Although Melo was half black, she was rich & privileged. She was hot & appeared white. Still acceptable to Justyce's mama. SJ, on the other hand, was just white. Mama couldn't stand that thought -- ever.

3. Jared is our token white boy who thinks all is right with the world when clearly it isn't. The equality discussion was interesting, I found, because Jared's logic is sound. And yet at the same time, it isn't at all. What example would you give Jared, where you speaking in SJ's stead, to show how wrong he is?
I would have told him exactly what had happened to Justyce when he was trying to help Melo, only substituting Jared in his place. The police officer would not have treated a white boy in the same manner.

4. The Equality Brigade was quite the spectacle! Literally. Disguised as a klansman to portray equality. I can't help but wonder if Blake is an idiot of epic proportions or if there was a message he would have liked to show the world including his friends, especially considering the fact that the "costume" was the genuine thing. What did you think of this brain child of Jared's?
Extremely poor taste! The KKK is very real & the image is terrifying to this day. How he could even imagine appearing like that in public is totally beyond me!

5. Justyce as well as his best friend Manny are black boys stuck in a rich white school. They each have their own issues to deal with in regards to this situation. Manny, the rich black guy, who is considered one of them, and Justyce, the poor black guy, who is more and more often questioning his place in this world, the place he is trying to carve for himself. Do you think Manny should have acted differently in the lounge scene when he was peer pressured into drinking to equality? Knowing full well what happened to his best friend not too long ago?
He could have just walked out. I'm sure he didn't want to call attention to his difference, his blackness. He didn't want to stand out or stand up for himself. Peer pressure is a strong and terrible force.

6. Short mention of Trey and his friends needs to be made. The Black Jihad gang, one of whose members shot Officer Castillo. Personally, I can't help but wonder if someone shot him to take revenge on the crap he's probably pulled for quite a while - Justyce certainly wasn't the only one - or if it was a shooting gone wrong. That thought aside, Trey makes Justyce (and maybe also Manny) feel like he's turning his back on his own people. Do you think he is right in telling Justyce this? Is Justyce right in questioning the things Trey tells him and wondering whether there may not be a grain of truth in it? Should Justyce have stayed at the party regardless or was it better to leave (with the others) when he did?
It was far better for Justyce to have left the party when he did. He could've ended up dying that night for displaying "allegiance" to the white guys. Trey might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he stands up for what he believes in, as misguided as that may be.


(Disclaimer: there were about a million things I wanted to throw out here but I tried to focus on a few key points. Phrasing me be a little odd at times, sorry about that. I had a hard time trying to condense it or trying to make sense of the feels and thoughts these few pages have created.)
You did a great job! I could go on and on here...

I'm still plodding along with Illuminae & The Atomic City Girls as buddy reads, so not sure if I'll finish either this week. I'm starting Dear Martin tonight & should finish Troubled Waters by Tuesday...
Happy reading, everybody!!

Completion Post!
(At long last...)

Codename Villanelle
Luke Jennings
Finished 7/19/20
Page count:
Letters:
C - Janie Chou
A - character Anne-Laure Mercier
E - character Eve Polastri
V - character Villanelle

Task #158 RAB written in 3rd person POV
How it fits: duh! It's written in 3rd person POV...🤓



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

Cathy M. wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Hey Teammies! Sorry to be such a slug, but I've been a bit preoccupied. We have 20 cases of Covid at the hospital where I work! There are 10 cases at a construction company building a..."
Don't laugh too hard, but I work for the State of Hawaii Department of HEALTH! Hysterical, huh? They said that because we have the lowest infection rate in the country, they're limiting the amount of testing kits they send us. The hospital says that they need to save their allotment of testing kits for incoming patients! The majority of our patients are homeless & come straight off the streets after committing a crime. And yet, not one of them has tested positive!
Our unions are protesting the current conditions and procedures and are also fighting for more hazard pay...

On a happier, bookish note: I am almost finished with Codename Villanelle & am halfway through with Troubled Waters. I am working on Illuminae and The Atomic City Girls, but am doing them as buddy reads with friends, so I am not complete them for this round...

Hey Teammies! Sorry to be such a slug, but I've been a bit preoccupied. We have 20 cases of Covid at the hospital where I work! There are 10 cases at a construction company building a new unit on our campus. They put themselves on lockout till everyone could go be tested. The folks who were negative came back to work, the rest are quarantined at home.
The other 10 people are hospital staff! Some are direct care & 4 are non-direct. The sucky part is that they all had to go on their own to get tested on their own time & their own dime! We are a hospital! We may be a psychiatric facility, but we have medical services. If every incoming patient can be tested for free, I think they should extend that service to high-risk staff.
Then if you test positive or even display symptoms, you need to stay home. BUT you need to use up all your vacation, sick leave & leave without pay before they will even consider using federal or state funds to pay you. No happy campers here at all!
**Official end of RANT**

I also found Codename Villanelle to give us a V!

I really miss going in to browse my library! I normally would just walk around the shelves randomly looking for Y titles or T authors for a challenge or a new funny title in cozy mystery... Now I have to search and THINK and then order and hope it's available in a timely manner. *Sigh*

I actually have a bookmark that says "It's not hoarding if it's books!"

For planning purposes: I'm still on the waiting list (#12!) for The Sun Down Motel so hopefully I'll get it before the end of the month! I have Dear Martin & will start soon & do the DQs when they come up. I also have Troubled Waters for a T & am working on Illuminae ...

Hope everybody is enjoying their books as much as I am!

Double Completion Post!
Fool Moon
Jim Butcher
Finished 7/9/20
Page count: 401
Letters:
C - setting Chicago
M - character Karrin Murphy
S - character Susan Rodriguez
Task #26 - city scape on cover



LaRose
Louise Erdrich
Finished 7/9/20
Page count: 372
Letter: L - title
Task: #7 two timelines
How it fits: the story goes between the present and the previous century explaining the mystic name Larose that reoccurs in one family



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

I'll finish up LaRose for an L & Fool Moon for either a C, M or S by deadline.

Completion post!
Odd Hours
Dean Koontz
Finished 7/8/20
Page count: 283
Letter: O - title
Task #86 - # 4 in series



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

Tina ❣ wrote: "The tags aren't too bad for this round!

The Sun Down Motel has been tagged as flower so I might hold off finishing the book until round 3.

I think we'll be okay with V's and Y's. I agree that th..."

I'm reading Illuminae! Just started it...

Tina ❣ wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Completion Post!
The Dovekeepers
Alice Hoffman
Finished 7/5/20
Page count: 504!
Works for the following letters:
Z - character Zara
M - location Masada
A..."

Oops! All fixed.... I may have too many shelves!

Completion Post!
The Dovekeepers
Alice Hoffman
Finished 7/5/20
Page count: 504!
Works for the following letters:
Z - character Zara
M - location Masada
A - author Alice Hoffman
S - character Shirah
Task #38 set in the Middle East
Takes place in Israel



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

Trinia wrote: "Completion Post The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
Read : 7/3/20
Entered on SS"
Did you like it? I'm picking it up from the library tomorrow! I just couldn't resist that title...

I can start on LaRose & Odd Hours to give us another L & O each!
Why is planning so much more fun than actual reading??

I must say that I am really enjoying all my books, especially The Dovekeepers. Don't know why I put it off for so long... It's a chunkster, too!

How's everybody doing. I'm taking off today & Monday to help make a nice long 4th of July weekend. Hopefully I'll get a lot of reading done! I have a 'Library Takeout' appointment this afternoon & I can pick up Dear Martin for our BOM...

Have a great weekend!