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

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

Alysa wrote: "A few days ago, this happened:

My daughter, age 7: What does that key ring mean?
Me: The one that says ‘sonic screwdriver’? That is something from a show called Doctor Who.
Her: I know Doctor Who!..."

That is hysterical! I used to work at a preschool (10 years!) and have a compilation of things kids say.... Hope to publish someday.

I am an office assistant in the medical records unit of our state hospital. (Yes, mental hospital.) I mostly deal with requests for information from other hospitals, probation officers, social security, disability, case managers, etc. it's always super busy & I do like it because I feel as though I'm helping people. I would appreciate a quiet day every now and again, though!

We sure are all scattered over the world, aren't we? This is so cool! Maybe I won't be the only one awake late night...
With so many talking about university & exams, I fear I am very ancient indeed! I don't do audiobooks at all as I have nowhere to listen to them. I work only 5 minutes from home, so there's virtually no commute. I also think I'm the type of person who learns best by reading or writing words on a page.

So let's keep the ball rolling with a question or thought per day. I'll start off with:
What do you do for a living?

I really enjoyed TT! I was on Team Hermoine. I like how all the books you read count for some points. Wheel seems a bit more constrictive, but I love it, too. I didn't join in Quidditch & only read one quick book for the maze. It's really too bad that a full-time job gets in the way of reading!
I don't normally do ebooks. I get all my books from the public library. It requires a bit of pre planning on my part, but it's the planning I love best. I always have a bunch of books on hand to go through...

Ok thus far... Maybe a stupid question, BUT do the October BOMs still count if we start them earlier than 10/27? I think I'll need more than 5 days to read them....

I'm ashamed to admit that I have never watched Nightmare all the way through! I hope to remedy this this year. I have no idea who Oogie Boogie is!!

I can read The Best Man to Die in the 1st week. It has the word blood in the text on page 34...

I can see our spreadsheet but have never been able to successfully manipulate any of them! So sorry to be a bother. You can put me down for that for sure though.

Hello, everyone! I'm Lauri from Hawaii & am so excited to be here! I think this will be my 2nd Wheel outing. I love the holiday twist the game has taken. Hope to get to know everyone in the coming weeks...
Off to check my books now!

Hi everyone! Can't wait to play! My team thread is still locked, too... 😞🙁😱😦

I'm really excited for Wheel! I promised myself NOT to do anymore big challenges this year, but I just couldn't stop myself!! I normally read horror in October, heartwarming in November and Christmas in December. Hope my reading plans fit nicely into Wheel! Can't wait!!

City of Lost Souls
Cassandra Clare
Finished 8/30/18
Page count: 534
Series: Mortal Instruments #5
Cast of characters: Clary Fray, Jocelyn Fray, Jace Lightwood, Jonathan Morgenstern, Sebastian Morgenstern, Magnus Bane, Luke, Simon, Maia, Jordan, Isabelle Lightwood, Alec Lightwood, Maryse Lightwood, Amatis, Aline Penhallow, Helen Blackthorn, Camille, Raphael, Lilith

Witches' Bane
Susan Wittig Albert
Finished 8/30/18
Series: China Bayles #2
BOM: No
Cast of characters: China Bayles, Michael McQuaid, Ruby Wilcox, Constance Letterman, Bubba Harris, Leatha Bayles, Pam Neely, Mary Richards, Judith Cohen, Dottie Riddle, Sybil Rand, Gretel Schumaker, Andrew Drake, Bob Goodwin, Pauline Perkins, RuthAnne Landsdowne, Billy Lee Harbuck, Vida Plunkett, Helen Jenson, Jerri & Rita Greene, Fannie Couch, Angela Sanchez, Blackie Blackwell, Brian McQuaid

Into the Water
Paula Hawkins
Finished 8/30/18
Page count: 386
BOM: Yes!
Comments: Msg. #95, 100 & 104
Cast of characters: Julia (Jules) Abbott, Lena Abbott, Danielle (Nel) Abbott, Josh Whittaker, Katie Whittaker, Louise Whittaker, Alec Whittaker, Nickie (Nicola) Sage, Sean Townsend, Helen Townsend, Patrick Townsend, Erin Morgan, Mark Henderson, Robbie Cannon

Steven, I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

DQ: Part Three (P.243 to end)

1. How are we feeling so far? I know at this point, I was 100% invested in this story and totally annoyed that I had little to no answers thus far. How about you? Do you love the mystery? Is it driving you nutty? Have you thrown the book?
I personally love a twisty, convoluted plot! This one was excellent. The writing style was a bit choppy, but that probably kept everyone even more off base...

2. Mark. Mark. Mark. Personally, I hated him the first moment he was mentioned. He just struck me as phony. Now, that you've really had a chance to get the full brunt of his story- how do you feel about him? Innocent bystander that was sucked in? Man in love/lust? Or did he deserve alllll the things that come his way?
There is NEVER any excuse for an adult having sex with a child! Children don't have developed enough brains to make critical decisions like that. He deserved all he got.

3. Let's talk Robbie Cannon for a moment. Jules has quite the revelation in this part of the book. Did you feel it was needed for the story?
Not really. I guess that it did help to illustrate the anger she felt toward her sister, but I don't think bringing his adult character out for a confrontation had all that much bearing on the rest of the story.

4. This book, much like Girl on the Train has a whole mess of fantastic female characters. Did you have a favorite? (Team Lena here! )
I kind of like Erin & Nickie actually. I was more annoyed by Lena.

5. Erin seems to be completely blindsided by the twists and turns of this case. If this was you, would you continue to be a police officer/detective or run for the hills?
Definitely continue on. Maybe not in the small villages.

6. And now, the biggest question of all, did you see that ending coming? I was 100% shocked and am still recovering even two weeks after finishing this book.
I was convinced of Patrick's guilt the whole time! Anyone who can drown an animal? It's just one small step to drowning people! I knew that Sean was a bit off, but I didn't think he was a murderer. At least Helen can be free from the madness and get a cat now!

Everland
Wendy Spinale
Finished 8/29/18
Page count: 312
BOM: YES!
Comments : Msg. #28, 94, 95 & 107
Cast of characters: Gwen, Joanna & Mikey Darling, Pete, Bella, Smeeth, Jack, Gabs, Mole, Pickpocket, Dozer, Pyro, Lily

Discussion Questions - Day 3, pgs 152-226

13. So Jack is Hook's step brother. Were you expecting that? Guess it makes sense as to why he knows all about the palace etc How do you think he ended up with the lost boys? How much of his story do you think Pete knows?
I was so shocked to find that out! I think that Jack was probably trying to escape Hook & the Marauders & stumbled across the Lost Boys. I don't think Pete knows about it at all really.

14. When Hook picks up Gwen's dad's dog tags and reads the name, do you think he has made the connection between Gwen and the Professor ( assuming our guess that the professor is Gwen's mother is correct) ?
I don't know if Hook has made a connection between the professor and Gwen yet!

15. It's sounds like Jack is like a male version of Cinderella and perhaps the true ruler of Germany. Did you expect him to betray the lost boys. Why do you think he wants to go back to Germany with Hook?
I don't think I buy the Cinderella bit. Jack and Hook both had an unfortunate childhood. I really didn't think he'd betray the Lost Boys! And so spectacularly, too. I assume he wants to return to Germany because he thinks Pete will kill him...

16.The Horologia virus was sent to England from Germany. When Queen Bloodred chose to bomb the weapons factory. Do you think she did it on purpose in order to release the virus or was she trying to stop England finding a cure?
Probably a little of both. She is completely ruthless.

17. We now know for certain that the professor IS Gwen's mother. Given Jack's apparent betrayal and the fact that Gwen is the immune, do you think Pete will believe Gwen didn't know all along? Do you think Hook might try to convince Pete she did in order to get him to had her over?
Yes to both questions!

18. How do you think this is going to end? Do you think Pete can save the lost boys? What do you think will happen to Hook? Given this is book 1 of a series, do you think this will end with a cliff hanger?
A) I have absolutely no idea how it will end. I think a cliffhanger is definitely in order!

Discussion Questions - PART TWO - Day 3 & 4

1.Mark found the bracelet that Nel was wearing in Helen’s desk. Did Helen have something to do with Nel’s death or at least knows what happened?
Can't quite figure it out yet. I'm thinking that Patrick may have had something to do with it...

2. Lena is angry that the officers are not asking the correct questions. Why isn’t she willing to tell them what they need to know? Why does Lena refuse to betray Katie? What are Josh and Lena hiding?
Maybe that Katie was pregnant by Mark? Maybe that Lena had had sex with Mark, too? Maybe that Lena & Katie were lesbian lovers? These are all wild speculations, of course. But still.

3. I am curious about Patrick. It seems there’s more to him than just an old man with lapses of memory. He tells Helen that he never moved because he has work to do. What work does is that?
Crazy sauce, totally. Was his wife a witch, perchance? Does he need to eradicate witches or other strong females? Maybe he needs to keep everyone from finding out the truth to save his wife's memory & reputation...

4. So, we find out that Patrick’s wife was Nickie’s sister. I am curious of the secrets that she knows, especially since it seems like she does have a real gift with ghosts. It seems no one takes her seriously. Will the officers listen/believe her?
It doesn't look as though they will unless she can seem more lucid or give them concrete evidence.

5. Jules is dealing with issues of her past now that she is home. Is that skewing her views when she saw Robbie at Nel’s funeral? Also, with finding the letter LS on the mirror, do you think it is a ghost or Lena messing with Jules?
I like the ghost idea best, although it is probably Lena.

Just finished my last 2 TWT tasks! Still working on 2 BOMs & wanna finish a couple more long ones.... Good luck everybody!

Every Which Way But Dead
Kim Harrison
Finished 8/28/18
Page count: 501
TWT: Order of the Phoenix-Task 1-Clean Up Headquarters
RAB with pixies or fairies
How it fits: MC Rachel has a pixie sidekick named Jenks