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

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

I am a serial book starter. I read multiple books simultaneously. Right now GR tells me I'm currently reading 54 books! I won't go into all of them, but the best of this crop are: The Poppy War, It, Death of a Pumpkin Carver, Give Me Your Hand, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, The Cabinet of Curiosities & The City of Brass. Call me crazy, but I'm obsessive and this is just how I roll!

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Today's Question:
And so... What are YOU reading right now?

Around the World was my first-ever group challenge back in the day. My group did 2 whole spins...
Right now I'm doing the Twelve Towers, Cleaning Out the TBR Closet & a bunch of others. Never mind the ones I'm doing with other groups!! I suck at going back and updating. I probably only do that quarterly.
My biggest problem this year is that I was on vacation at Christmastime & pretty bored, so I signed up for a whole bunch of challenges, but I didn't write them down the way I normally do. So now it's pretty much hit or miss. I do love the big group challenges, though. Since reading is such a solitary activity, I feel as if the challenges connect us with others. And they're just fun!

Karen (or anyone!) please put me down for one more book Forever Odd for the letter O - MC's name is Odd Thomas. I just picked it up from the library today!

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