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

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

Day 2 - chapters 4 - 8

5. The Boat Shift segment was intense! The description of the changes to the island were very evocative (and reminiscent of Annihilation, as Frankie mentioned). Are you going to be able to walk in the woods the same again? How effective are you finding the fungal horrors?
Well, actually I never walk in the woods, so I was fine with it! It did creep me out, though.

6. Welch. First, during the Boat Shift segment; Did you believe/agree with Welch at the first reading? And by the end of this section, looking back, do you still agree? Would you have done what Hetty did, and complied with the rule of silence? Then we discover Welch is communicating with someone (with a familiar voice....) about receipt, replacement and returns. By the end of this section we can guess at "receipt", but who / what is being returned?? Were you surprised by the reveal of Welch being in on "it"?
Having no real knowledge of Welch, I had no feelings about her one way or the other. Nothing would surprise me right now. I think Welch is tough because she has to be. She didn't really give Hetty a choice in the matter. She would probably be eliminated if she spoke out.

7. Hetty has a big revelation about Reese "I've spent my every day since I met her telling myself the wrong thing. Telling myself over and over that she was cold, when maybe she was burning the whole time" I actually judged Hetty a lot at this point, for being so blinkered and oblivious, but I did like the adjustment she made during the conversation. How do you feel about Hetty, Reese and Byatt? Are they becoming more credible characters yet?
The whole triangle seems a little stilted to me. I want more details, please.

8. We have a switch in POV to Byatt. What do you think of this choice by the author?
I think it gives us more insight into the events that have transpired thus far. I'm hoping we hear from Reese next.

9. The Byatt segment shows medical stuff happening. What do you make of that? Are they curing or creating?
It really seems more like experimentation! No one clearly cares about these children, so why not use them as Guinea pigs?

10. "Just before a flare-up, there's a moment. Hard to describe, hard to pin down, but for me it almost makes it worth it. The pain and the loss, all of it a fair price for this. This strength, this power, this eagerness to bare my teeth>" What do you think this quote means? Does it hint at reasons for the Tox? At future developments in the story line?
Foreshadowing, definitely. Exactly as to what? No one can be sure yet! At the end we'll all say 'ahhhh....'

DQ’s Day One: Chapters 1-3

1. It’s interesting to see the dynamic between the main girls (Hetty, Byatt, Reese). They can fist fight over food one minute, but still be best friends the next. Reminds me of my sister & I. LOL. Have you ever had this kind of relationship with someone?
Personally? No I have not experienced anything like this. I'm an only child & I see myself as more reticent -- a bit more like Reese's character really.

2. Byatt sneaks out of the room when she thinks Hetty is sleeping, then crawls up in Reese’s bunk when she returns. Where do you think she snuck off to? & what did she mean when she said to Reese, ”If you know something...”? Reese shuts down & kicks her out of her bunk. Wonder what their secret is?
Not too sure at this point. Are they really lesbians or just pretending? Lots of teenage angst here!

3. Hetty says, “And I’ve wanted boys, and I’ve wanted girls, but I’ve never wanted anyone enough to miss them, enough to pluck them from the slideshow of my old life and bring them here.”
People have different ways of handling emotional stuff like this. Some people (like Hetty) believe thinking or talking about your loved ones or past life would only make the situation harder to deal with emotionally. Put yourself in this situation. How do you think you’d cope with missing your old life/family? Would you be like Hetty & shut down emotionally to prevent more pain? Or would you be like the other girls, laughing & sharing stories of your old life?
I would definitely talk about my family & old friends. Sure, it would hurt a bit especially at first, but it's healthier in the long run. My parents have been dead for over 20 years already. At first I never mentioned them, but little by little I started talking about them & sharing my feelings. It gets much better over time. The hard part in the girls' stituation in our story is the uncertainty of it all, the not knowing what has become of their loved ones.

4. Personally, I’m really enjoying the book already! I love the writing style, the world building, & the characters. I know we’re only a few chapters in, but how are you liking it so far? What aspect of the book do you like best at this point (writing, world building, characters, etc.)?
I'm a big fan of dystopia in general. I think the author is doing a great job of building upon the fear & hopelessness of it all. The animals are really freaking me out as well as the different ways the girls can get sick and either live or die terribly...terrifying!

Hello, Dear Captains...
Or any team member... Could you please see my msg. #698 and add The Scam to our spreadsheet for me?
I appreciate all of you and Happy Halloween!

Suzanne wrote: "

It wasn't the most pro costume - but it was a great night to socialize the puppy. He now thinks answering the door is the most fun thing ever."

LOVE it! He's adorable.... Oh, and you are too, of course!

Completion Post!
The Scam by Janet Evanovich
Finished 10/29/19
Page count: 286
Works for purple cover or contemporary. It's also MPG Mystery



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

Hello ladies! I'm baaaack! Vegas was awesome -- we got to see Journey in concert! They were amazing! We had sooo much fun, but I'm so tired. Just back from a birthday/anniversary party for our good friends. So now they vacation is officially over & we have to go back to work tomorrow **sigh**

I apologize for not assisting with any books last week! I just couldn't get in any reading time in at all!

This week I hope to redeem myself by finishing The Scam, Hexed, Wilder Girls for BOM, and possibly Gideon the Ninth to still qualify for BOM because my copy came in at the library!
I'll take a look at the Wrath challenge as well...

For this coming week, I'm planning on working on Wilder Girls for a bingo & BOM, but probably won't finish by Sunday. I'll be traveling Tuesday - Sunday & the fluffy books I've chosen are: The Scam, Full Tilt, Death Perception, Hexed & Vegas Nerve. I'm not sure if any of them have animals in them, but I'm sure there will be at least a few. I'm bringing my iPad, but not sure how much time I'll have to post... Still so tired, not nearly ready or even packed up yet, but today I got a mani/pedi!! Yaaaaayyy!

Double completion post!
Down to the wire!

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney
Finished 10/20/19
Page count: 344
Works for YA

Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon by Nancy Atherton
Finished 10/20/19
Page count: 232
Green cover




Coukd someone please add these to our spreadsheet for me? Appreciate it!

Completion Post!
Dracul by Dacre Stoker
Finished 10/19/19
Page count: 497
I say it works for LUST because I've wanted to read it ever since I heard about it, but couldn't get my hands on it till now -- just in time for Halloween!

5 fabulous stars, btw! I think it's better than the original Dracula... Just saying.



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

Suzanne wrote: "Lauri I hope you totally enjoy your vacation!

Ha I loved the Pokemon comment Karen - way to look on the bright side."
My son was into hunting Pokemon -- he'll be 27 this year! It was cool except not while driving! Sometimes he'd make me capture one if I was a passenger! 😄

Have fun at the beach, Karen! I feel exactly the same way about Waikiki Beach as you do about Bondi, I think.

*Sigh* Gideon had to go back to the library because people had requested it! I reordered, but am 10th on the list now... I still hope to finish it at some point during the challenge, but I don't know if I'll make it in time for BOM.
On a lighter note, I got my copy of Wilder Girls and have started it. Seems like it'll be a pretty quick read, too.
How is everyone doing on this fine Saturday? I'll be spending a chunk of my day at the laundromat washing blankets and quilts, but I'll be reading as I wait for my laundry! I'm on vacation officially now. I don't go back to work till 10/29!! Yaaaayyyyy!

I'll finish Dracul tomorrow for sure and possibly Revenge of the Witch. I also have Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon for a green cover which should definitely be completed by Sunday! Having waaayyy too much fun here! I haven't even begun to look for animals for next week yet!

I know the books with high page counts yield more points, but I need to see some results! I've started the whopper Fall of Giants and while it is interesting, the size is daunting! I am so easily tempted to read YA or a cozy mystery... So far I am most intrigued by Dracul! I will hopefully finish this up this week...
Next week I'll be on vacation in Las Vegas!! So excited! Not sure how much reading will be accomplished, though. For sure I should finish one or two waiting around the airport and on the flights. I've planned on light fluffy reads for the trips. I really don't like ereaders, so I actually travel with several library books! Am I certifiable or what?

This week I'll be working on Dracul, Fall of Giants, Gideon the Ninth, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The Girl With All the Gifts, and Revenge of the Witch. Also my copy of Wilder Girls did come in, so I'll make a start on it. I must admit I am not really enjoying Gideon so much, but hope to finish & join the BOM discussion for maximum points.

How is everyone doing so far? Any fabulous finds? Or real turkeys?? I'm still having fun! Love the planning and book-starting most of all... And, of course, the chatting!

Completion Post!
Zom-B by Darren Shan
Finished 10/12/19
Page count: 217
Works for: red cover, young adult or dystopian

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

Logan wrote: "Whoop! First book finally done. Hoping to finish before the week times out."

Love this series, Logan! I may have to revisit it during this challenge...

Completion post!
Crime Seen by Victoria Laurie
Finished 10/11/19
Page count: 282
Can work for any of the following:
Lust - red cover or lustful item on cover (high heels) or guilty pleasure (cozy mystery #5 in series) , genre: contemporary

Captains, please use wherever you feel it would help our team most! Could you please add it to the spreadsheet for me?
Thank you!

I will definitely finish 2 books by Saturday. I have tomorrow off as well as Monday, so I'll jumpstart next week! I love vacation!!

Both have red covers & 1 is YA AND Dystopian....... sigh, so many options..... The Captains can decide where to put them after I've finished.....

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "well this is embarrassing. Reading through some other team threads I realised that there is a winner category (Vanity) for reading books that match your sin (so for us envy). lol
Now I'm not sure i..."
I got a bunch of YA! they're faster reads even if the page count is high. And we already know I skip all around! ...

Hi gang! Just checking in... I'm enjoying myself tremendously, even reading before work & on my lunch hour. Who cares if people think you're weird, right? I'm especially liking Dracul so far...

As always at the beginning of a new challenge, I'm reading crazy -- jumping from book to book. That's just how I roll.

Today's question: is this book brown enough?