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

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

I will definitely read both July BOMs. I don’t think I like these battles very much!

I concede defeat! Not even Oboe Obituary is an available title here. Go for it, y’all!

So… we need a book that starts with OBO, correct? Any other options?

Teddie, drinker of the bitter invention of Satan wrote: "

I'm finishing up Big Jack later this evening.

@Lauri - you good to finish Network Effect before the end of the round?

And are you all ready for the next round of
"
Yup! I’ll finish tonite or tomorrow for sure. Love me some Murderbot! Oh, the snark!

Just finished my #19 book The Council of the Cursed today. Will finish up both my #5’s & #6 by deadline for sure!

I’m going strong with all my books — should finish Watchers today (paranormal). I’m all over the place! I’ll finish all of them before deadline for sure. I just started The Familiar a few minutes ago. It’s pretty good so far. I was always fascinated by the Inquisition! (and Conversos) I’m German, Irish, Spanish, Portuguese & Native American. I gotta do my DNA!!
Gotta have a lot of interesting history there somewhere…

Sophie wrote: "My copy of network effect has just come in from the library (not my planned book but a helpful coincidence). If no one else can read anything I'll keep the task and swap the books."
Lemme know about that #5, Sophie.....

I am currently reading Network Effect #5 in the Murderbot series for a wall, but can easily add another. I can read Eaves of Destruction for another #5...

Sophie wrote: "Wall 2
1 Marty
2
3 Marty
4
5 ?Lauri
6 ? Lauri
7 Cecily
8 Cecily
Window 3.5 Cat

Wall 3
12 Suzanne
13 - Gone Tomorrow (Sophie)
14 - Cross Country (Cecily)
15 - Purity in Death (teddie)
16 - Peace T..."

Okey dokey! I can take Paranormal with Watchers - halfway done.

And #5 with Network Effect & #6 with A Midwinter's Tail for sure! Can't add them till I get home though...

&

I finished the BOM The Wishing Game! My DQ comments can be found in messages #132, 169, 187, 201 & 213.

If someone could give us credit for BOM…

Thank you kindly!

DQs Day 5 — ch 24-end

18. Jack and Lucy have an emotional discussion about dreams — and how giving up on dreams can be a relief as it’s one less thing to worry about. Do you think there’s any truth in this? Can giving up on a dream ever bring relief?
I definitely think giving up on a dream CAN be a relief, especially if it’s something you’ve dreamed of in childhood. In all likelihood we’ll never be princesses, astronauts or president. Not ever. But in elementary school they tell us we can be whatever we want. As adults we realize some dreams can never come true, as sad as that may be.

19. We finally got to meet Angie and learn her side of the story! Were you surprised by what she had to say? If you were Lucy, do you think you would be able to forgive her after hearing her side?
I wasn’t surprised at all. Their parents were the screwed up ones, not the sisters. There are three sides to every story: yours, mine and the Truth. I would totally forgive her. I’m an only child, and generally glad of it, BUT there would have been times that I would’ve been glad to have a sister.

20. Lucy mentions that she and Jack are planning to start a nonprofit to send books to foster children, but just as she’s about to say the prospective name, she gets cut off. Why do you think the author chose to leave that out? What name do you think the author had in mind, if any?
Not sure there. Maybe something with Clock Island in the name? It was a grand gesture and a wonderful thought, though.

21. In the end, even though the contest ended unlike how any of them predicted, everyone still got their wish. Since this book is all about wishing — is there anything you wish was different about the way the book ended, or are you happy with how it all wrapped up?
Nope. I loved the ending. Jack the Mastermind came through for all his kids! So wonderful that Hugo & Lucy fell in love, too! Happily ever after all around!!

Teddie, drinker of the bitter invention of Satan wrote: "Go Lauri! :)

Well, I would say definitely #19: The Council of the Cursed - I'll add that to our planning sheet.

Then all we need to finish Wall 2 is a #12 or a #20 - anyone have one of those?"
On it! Thank you!

So… I wasn’t kidding, right? Direct me O Captains and I will read whatever you wish!

Yikes! Are you ready??

Here’s what I have:

#0: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

#1 : An Absolutely Remarkable Thing
Apocalypse Cow
Beartown
Buried in a Bog
Fangirl
Hooked on Murder
Loved
Mistress of the Art of Death
Orphan X
Prince of Thorns
She Who Became the Sun
The Sparrow Sisters
Strange Angels
Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos
Love & Gelato

#2: The Betrayal
Four Aunties and a Wedding
Gunpowder Green
The Iron Daughter

#3: Anne of the Island
Hawaii Time: Cat Cozy Humor Mystery
Heretic
The Last King of Texas
Murder in the Secret Garden
One Feta in the Grave
One Hot Murder
A Second Chance
The Singapore School of Villainy

#4: Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice
The Last Devil to Die

#5: Eaves of Destruction
Network Effect

#6: A Midwinter's Tail
#7:
#8: Blue Moon

#8.2: Messenger

#9: The Grave's a Fine and Private Place
Talking God

#10: King's Mountain

#11: I Shot the Buddha
#17: The Cat Who Blew the Whistle
#18: Lightning Strike
#19: The Council of the Cursed
#22: Raspberry Danish Murder

Melindam wrote: "I also have Ballad from the Hunger Games, but thought to use it for the door task as it was used for shelter by another team."

I’ve got Ballad, too, if we want to double up for some reason…

I just finished BOM Starling House and still can’t do a link. But my DQ comments can be found in the following messages: 241, 248, 277, 290 & 298. If someone could please get us credit…
Thank you!

DQs Day 5
Chapters 27 - Epilogue

21. Wow what a ride! What were your initial thoughts and feelings after finishing the book?
LOVED it! I was totally amazed that Opal was able to talk to Eleanor.

22. An integral part to the book is the way the story of Starling House is told through many different viewpoints, with truth and lies and rumors and heresay and opinions often woven together. Did you find that you learned more about Starling House through each story? Did this type of story building and layering work for you? Why or why not?
I thought that it was really well done. Small towns & small minds cling to gossip & rumour. You really had to pay close attention. I wish the author went into even more detail about the beasts.

23. In the ending battles, the MCs were fighting beasts of nightmares and of their own making, inside dreams. Do think it's hard for good dreams to win out against nightmares? Explain your thoughts.
I rarely have nightmares, but dream almost nightly. Some dreams are recurring. I can even wake up, drink water, go to the bathroom & they return to the dream again. So yes, dreams can win!

24. A major theme in the book is wants and needs, and how they seemingly twist into each other if you want hard enough. In this theme exploration, what was the message you got from the author, and did it resonate with you?
My husband always asks me,”Do you need it or do you just want it?” My answer is invariably YES! Gotta want it before you need it. So yes, it totally resonated with me.

25. Would you recommend this book? Explain.
I definitely do recommend this one! Love magical realism and a happy ending. Everything didn’t turn out perfectly, but is anything ever really perfect? They saved the town and got rid of Baine and ended up together. Gravelys be damned!

Oh BOY! I have tons of series books! Just let me know what numbers we need and I’m there!

DQ's Day 4 Ch. 18-23

14. Lucy's winning streak comes to an end and she loses the riddle to Melanie. How do you think this is going to affect her and the way she is playing the game? Do you think she still has a chance to win? What do you think she is going to have to face as far as her fear?
It shouldn't change her method of playing at all. I'm guessing that her greatest fear is being left all alone.

15. Jack's riddle comes back again "Two men on an island and both blame the water...". We find out what it means in this section. How awful for him to see 'fan' letters that depict children going through such terrible things and how horrible for those poor children begging for help. Jack tried to help this girl and it ended with the worst possible outcome. Do you think Jack should have done something different? How would you have reacted if you were Jack?
With his money & ability to buy connections, he should've been able to help her more. He was too worried about his own reputation to go the extra mile for Autumn. So tragic! How did she manage to run away even that far?

16. We also learn why Jack started writing his Clock Island books and the life he faced as a child. Does this change your opinion on Jack in any way?
No. It makes me like him all the more because he tried to help children in bad situations. children are the most powerless of all people. They deserve to have hope and love.

17. Lucy learns that Christopher is going to be going to a new foster home and tries to leave the island, but Hugo stops her. We also learn more about Lucy's past. Each person seems to have gone through some terrible event in their lives and these books have helped them through it. Do you believe books have that power? Are there any books as a child or an adult that have helped you through a tough time in your life?
Definitely! Books are transformative. At the very least, they give your mind a place to escape to. At best, they can be an inspiration to a goal or dream. This book is definitely going to be placed on my 5-star shelf!!

Teddie, drinker of the bitter invention of Satan wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I'm curious if anyone knows what Lauri meant when she said, "I'm out...sorry" Did she leave the team or was she saying she was out for reading battle books? "

I took as Lauri is just..."

Sorry for the confusion, Teddie! I just have a hard time finding books in time for a battle. I really wanted to, but every time the letters we had to use came up, I was either too late or I just didn’t have anything to fit. So when the last one came up, I just said I was out. I will never quit on my team!!