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

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

Completion Post!
Five Feet Apart
Rachael Lippincott
Finished 6/24/20
Page count: 288
BOM? YES!
I can't do a link, but my posts for discussion are: #101, 102, 210 & 211...
Works for letter R - author's 1st name Rachel
Task #56 - MPG Romance



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

Day 4 Questions - Chapters 16 to 21

15. We get to find out about the title in this section. What did you guys think about the new rule, and the reason behind it?
I was happy to think Stella was loosening the reins just a little bit - - enough to let Will a little closer.

16. Did you all like Stella and Will’s first date? Do you think you would have the self control to stay away from the love of your life?
I loved their first date! They're adorable. I know I would definitely have the self control to keep away from my love if I knew they could kill me with a kiss...

17. They spend a page or two discussing the afterlife. Do you think their takes on it made sense to the characters? Realizing I am wading into murky waters here, did you want to discuss your own views? (Optional, teehee.)
I don't think anybody's take on the afterlife is too weird, simplistic, or otherwise. If you believe you're going to meet Jesus, you will. If you believe you'll be stuck in purgatory indefinitely, you will. If you think you're going to end up in that scene from "Ghost," you will.
I am an eternal optimist and a fatalist. Both sides of my nature are constantly at war with each other. Death is just another adventure. We won't know what will happen till we get there. Don't be in a hurry to get there!

18. Abby. We find out why happens to her here. What did you think of this reveal? Was it a satisfying explanation of the missing sister story to you?
I had no idea about the nature of her death. I just figured from the beginning that she had died. I thought it was truly tragic that she died "living for Stella."

19. Chapter 21 is a bit of a rollercoaster. The birthday dinner is pretty cool. Did you like what Stella and all set up? Then, Poe. This hit me more than any of the other "feels" in the book. How did you take this? Discuss...
The birthday dinner was amazing! It was sweet to see how the friends all came together to celebrate Will's birthday. Poor, poor Poe! In the midst of celebration & happiness, to be brought down like that. It was so sad that he was going to get back with Michael & never got the chance...

Day 3 Questions
chapters 10 - 15

10) I can't imagine the stress of trying to balance the knowledge of a fairly terminal prognosis with trying to be hopeful to live. I mean, we all know our days are numbered, but when you have an idea of what the number might be, you can either try to suck the marrow out of every day or curl up and try not to care enough to let anything hurt you more. Who do you think will have a bigger effect on the other, Will or Stella, and what do you hope will be the outcome, from a personal growth aspect?
I hope that Stella will loosen up a little bit to allow more joy into her life and that Will will begin to fight harder for his own life! Stella is a force of nature, though. I think she will have the bigger impact on Will

11) Maybe I'm too cynical, but I kept feeling like Abby was used as the personification of the idea that "See, you never know how long you have to live, so..." and not flawed enough to be a real person. Did anyone else feel that way or am I being a meanie?
You are definitely not a meanie! My Mom always used to say, "Live fast, die young and leave a good looking corpse." She died of a massive heart attack at age 67. I bought into her philosophy when I was younger, but then after we lost her, my outlook totally changed. I think they should have fleshed out Abby's character more instead of using her as a symbolic lamb.

12) I loved Barb's parental takedown. Do you think the shift in Stella's parents will last?
Oh, I hope so! It's hard for a marriage to survive with a terminally ill child. It's even harder to have a strong family unit after losing a child.

13) Reflecting on Barb's story of Amy and Trevor: would you choose a much shorter but immediately fuller life, or a longer lifespan though it may be less vibrant?
I don't know, really. As I a se, I am becoming more and more cautious especially about my health. Right now with this pandemic, I already told my husband I'm not going to travel until they have a viable vaccine.

14) Poe says "It's my sickness...it's my problem." While it's admirable to strive for self-sufficiency, a main message of the book seems to be about how it's imperative to open up and do the work to nurture healthy, supportive relationships. What is your take on this? When in crisis, do you distance yourself or reach out?
I am fortunate to have a loving, supportive husband. If it weren't for him, my life would have been totally different. I think I am more apt to withdraw and remain quiet than reach out...

Ok, really? WTH is a Zoomcall!? Off to look for Os...

Day 2 Questions

6 . 'I wonder how many strings she had to pull and how much money she had to throw away to get me into this trial'
This quote caught my attention because in the UK we don't have to pay for treatment, even in a clinical trial in the UK. Did it catch anyone else's notice?

In America healthcare can be expensive. Some people can't afford medicines or even the basics. Will's mother seems especially forceful & they probably are very rich.

7. Are you surprised at how quickly Stella has become attached to Will? I wasn't expecting this strength of reaction to him not taking his treatment seriously. Did you think it was in character?

I thought it was a little bit weird that she became his advocate and was so willing to help him. I would've thought that she would've avoided Will like the (pardon the expression) plague.

8. Wow Will's mum is controlling. I'm not surprised he's ended up rebelling from taking his treatments. Do you think you'd react like Stella (perfectionist, controlling about treatment and planning for the future) or Will (fed up, rebellious and living for the moment) to being in this type of situation?

I would be more like Stella, but would probably have my rebellious moments. That vest sounds like a pain in the ass!

9. Masks, lots of hand washing, staying 6 feet (or roughly 2m) apart, limited places you can go… The recent pandemic is giving me more insight into some of what this must be like than I'd had before. How are you coping with the changes?
I'm a GP trainee so have been at work throughout with a massive shift to remote consultations. That bit is easier compared to entertaining a 2 year old without any of the friends/family/groups as distractions!

I work at a hospital, although I'm not direct care. We have to wear our masks, do temp. checks daily. I do a lot of sanitizing & mostly stay home when I'm not at work. I miss travel & spending time with extended family. I've already told my husband, that I'm not traveling again until they have a viable vaccine.

Discussion Questions - Day 1

1) From what I know, this book is the novelization of the movie. While this doesn’t happen too often, I’ve read a couple books before that were only written after a movie/series (e.g. The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet). Have you ever read a book like this? What did you think? Was it successful? Did this experience influence your expectations of this book?

Nope! I had no idea - - I only picked it up because it was a BOM.


2) Stella and Will, wearing face masks & using copious amounts of hand sanitizer before it was cool. All jokes aside, this is an oddly timely reminder that face masks do make a difference to prevent the spreading of diseases. I knew next to nothing about CF before starting this book and I’ve seen very mixed reactions to the representation of CF so I was wondering… do you have any experience with CF and therefore expectations? (If you don’t feel comfortable answering, feel free to just skip this question!)

I never met anyone with CF before. I find it oddly echoes our current situation happening right now with Covid19...

3) "If I’m going to die, I’d like to actually live first.“ This quote from Will’s POV reminded me of the countless bucket list stories and made me wonder whether this will go in that direction. Yet while Will takes more of a Devil-May-care attitude, Stella is very cautious to follow the rules. Do you think Will’s attitude is going to influence Stella as they got closer (literally?!). Will she also take more (dangerous) risks?

I think that Will doesn't expect to live very long. Young men often have that 'blaze of glory' mentality. Stella is in a bit of a different situation being a good candidate for a transplant. I hope she doesn't take unnecessary risks and that they both beat the odds.


4) Stella is a "tech nerd", even programming her own app. Most MCs in YA books have artsy, "girly" hobbies (sorry for using that terrible gendered stereotype), if they have any prominent hobbies at all. Books about artsy people are among my favorites and I’m always on the hunt for more. While I like traditional hobbies, some of my favorite books (e.g. With the Fire on High) have non-mainstream hobbies and I am actually quite excited to learn more about this aspect of Stella’s story. Have you read any other books where the main character had a prominent hobby that wasn’t drawing/painting/writing/theater/an instrument?

I enjoyed With the Fire on High! It was truly inspirational!

5) Stella’s parents are recently divorced, in what she calls the “most ridiculous divorce of all time”, and she worries a lot about them. It both breaks my heart and confuses me slightly why it is so far being kept from us what happened - we only know that Stella believes both parents are unhappy after the separation. So… what do you think happened?

I'm thinking that her sister, Abby, died somehow. She doesn't mention her in the present tense, but only as a memory. Maybe she had CF, too. Often marriages don't survive a terminally ill child or the death of a child.

Cathy M. wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Double Completion Post!

A Longer Fall
Charlaine Harris
Finished 6/18/29
Page count: 291
Task #42 - RAB with a map
How it fits: there's a map just befor..."

Added! Thanks, Cathy!

How's everyone doing? I am loving all my books so far! Here's a shout out for The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story. It's non-fiction, but fascinating! There's even a bit in there about disease through history & how pandemics happen. This was published in 2017 & they even mention Dr. Fauci by name saying they were expecting a global pandemic any time in the the near future... Just look what happened!

I've started Five Feet Apart & am looking forward to the DQs. I've also started a cozy mystery Through a Glass, Deadly which should be quick & am going to start Where the Crawdads Sing tomorrow. I've been wanting to read that for quite awhile now! I finally was able to pick up my holds from the library this week. They're still not open, but have set up "Library Takeout" where you place your order & make an appointment for contactless pick up through a giant teller-like window they've set up in the doorway. Pretty cool!

Double Completion Post!

A Longer Fall
Charlaine Harris
Finished 6/18/29
Page count: 291
Task #42 - RAB with a map
How it fits: there's a map just before page 1 showing a reimagined North America!
Works for the following letters:
R - character Lizbeth Rose
E - character nickname Eli
D - character Donald Barton
I - character Prince Ilya Sararov
N - character Nellie Mercer
G - series Gunnie Rose #2



The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story
Douglas Preston
Finished 6/19/20
Page count: 328
Tagged Indigenous!!
Task #185 - set in Central America
How it fits: set in Honduras
Works for letter: D - author's 1st name Douglas



Could one of our beloved captains please add these to our spreadsheet for me?
Thank you!

Leslie Ann wrote: "Completion post
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
6/17/20
Added to ss and shelf"

Leslie - here's another of my favorite series! I love Precious... I want to find out what J.L.B. stands for, but I've never seen it explained anywhere!

How's everyone doing? Looks like we're coming along nicely... Here's my update: Eragon had to go back to the library today, but I'm ordering it again. I was really enjoying it so far! I'm almost finished with The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story (which is awesome for a non-fiction book!) and am about to start A Longer Fall & Where the Crawdads Sing... I am having a blast with the reading and the planning!

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "COMPLETION POST



Letters R and E

Completed 17 June 2020
Shelf and S/S noted"

Lisa, this is my favorite series! Now I save the new ones for taking on vacations!

Completion Post!
The White Tiger
Aravind Adiga
Finished 6/14/20
Page count: 321
Letter A - author's name Aravind Adiga
Task #76: book set in India
How it fits: story is set in India
Tagged Tiger



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

Tina ❣ wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Completion Post!
Kitty Goes to Washington
Carrie Vaughn
Finished 6/13/20
Page count: 342
Letter: N
Character: Kitty Norville
Task #74 - City name in title
H..."

Oops! I forgot! I was so excited to finish... Doing it right now!

I also started Eragon today! (Did I mention I'm a serial book starter?) I've been meaning to read it for quite some time now & it's a chunkster, so why not now? I make no promises, but, hey, it's an E book title!

Completion Post!
Kitty Goes to Washington
Carrie Vaughn
Finished 6/13/20
Page count: 342
Letter: N
Character: Kitty Norville
Task #77 - City name in title
How it fits: Washington in title



Could someone please add it to our spreadsheet for me?
Thanks so much!

I have a weird question... Are these tasks just for round 1 or do they remain for the entire challenge? I have been accused of having adult ADD before, but the jury's still out on that one!

Tina ❣ wrote: "Is anyone planning on reading The Motorcycle Diaries or has already read it?"

I've only ever noticed the movie before! I've just ordered the book from my library. It only has 175 pages, so it just barely qualifies for Wheel. I always try to read the book for whatever my team name is for any challenge. Hopefully I'll learn something new!

Beth wrote: "COMPLETION POST
Book: Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi
Date Read: 6/12
# of Pages: 309
All letters it works for & how it fits
A: author- Aminah Mae S..."
Oh, you overachiever you! Way to go!!

Suzanne wrote: "Tick tick. We have family visiting so I've used up my waiting-to-read time setting up an ice cream challenge. I put 13 kinds of Ben & Jerry's in numbered cups (they each get a set of 13 cups) and a..."
Oh Suzanne! That sounds like so much fun! Let us know how it went...