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

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

Hey everyone! For all of us in the USA it's a nice long weekend for our Memorial Day holiday on Monday! I'm adding on an extra day on Tuesday so I can just cruise & read to my heart's content. Anyone have any fun plans in store?

Double completion post!

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
Finished 5/26/18
355 pages
5 stars! Loved this story!!
Buddy read/BOM: No
Red cover for potions
Sword on cover
Cast of characters: Sita Bhosale, Anuja Bhosale, Shivaji, Ishan, Nihal Bhosale, Rani Laskshmi, Kahini, Dadi-ji, Maharaja Gangadhar, Avani, Esha-Masi, Jhalkari, Rajasi, Sundari, Arjun, Moti, Heera, Priyala, Kashi, Mandarin, Shri Bakshi, Shri Laskshman, Gopal, Major Ellis, Adesh, Morophant Tambe

Thyme of Death by Susan Wittig Albert
Finished 5/26/18
320 pages
4 stars
BR or BOM: no
Cast of characters: China Bayles, Gretl Schumaker, Peter Dudley, Constance Letterman, Violett Hall, Jo Gilbert, Meredith Gilbert, Rosalind Kotner, Ruby Wilcox, Bubba Harris, McQuaid, Lila & Arnold Seidensticker, Jane Dorman, Pauline Perkins, RuthAnn Landsdowne
Skull on cover

Team Hermione!

Hermione, of course! I mean a bookworm and muggleborn to boot? Dentists for parents? And STILL the brightest witch of her age?? What is not to love? She will always be my favorite!

Harry himself. He had such a horrible upbringing, but still turned out to be a talented and powerful wizard and just a standup guy who cared genuinely about others.

Ginny Weasley -- although a younger Weasley, she turned out to be fiercely loyal and quite a talented witch. Love was slow to blossom between her and Harry, but once it did, it was strong and true! She fought bravely and stood up for friends and family.

Honorable mention : Molly Weasley! Best mother in literature. She was a fierce mama bear protecting her cubs, including Harry! Love her!!

Double completion post!
The Bookseller
Author: Cynthia Swanson
Finished 5/20/18
Page count: 339
BOM / BR: No
4 stars!
Cast of characters: Katharyn (Kitty) Miller, Frieda Green, Kevin, Lars Andersson, Mitch, Missy & Michael Andersson, Linnea Andersson Hershell, Bradley



Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate
Author: Anne Østby
Finished 5/20/18
Page count: 320
4 stars!
Cast of characters: Katrina Vale, Ateca, Mosese, Jone, Litia, Sina Gutormsen, Armand Gutormsen, Lisbeth, Maya, Vilivo, Ingrid, Johnny, Evy, Maraia

✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "Lauri wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "@Lauri you might be interested to know that they are doing a buddy read for , which technically is a compa..."

I haven't heard anything yet. I didn't know it existed until my niece told me about it. One show & I was hooked! At that point, I had only read the first one. I had to hurry up and read the others really quick. I hope they continue on with the show!

I'm kind of strange. (Like you haven't already figured that out!) I'll read anything pretty much. I get all my books from my public library. Then if I really like something, I'll go back and read a series in order. Then I'll hunt down the complete works of the author and go in chronological order. I also like to savor my series. Sometimes I'll only read one book a year because I don't want it to end!

Chapters 1 - 5

I am still as much in love with the whole Wizarding World as I ever was! I was a bit worried that especially this first book wouldn't hold up over time, but I think it does! There is a certain amount of nostalgia involved, but that being said here are my thoughts...

(view spoiler)[ The Dursleys are the most arrogant, narrow minded, downright mean people ever. Could you imagine treating a little boy the way they treated Harry? Dudley could do with a swift kick in the butt! Too bad the Hogwarts crew couldn't have stepped in earlier! Harry had to endure until he was 11 years old!

I enjoyed the scene at the zoo with the boa constrictor immensely! I wish the had done something to Dudley and his evil friend, Piers! I also liked when the Hogwarts letters keep arriving & multiplying! The part where Hagrid finally catches up to Harry in the midst of the storm is just priceless! Hagrid is one of my favorite characters!

I remember being disappointed when seeing the movie for the very first time. Only Ron and Hagrid looked the way I had imagined. Now I will watch any of the movies whenever they're on TV. The phrase 'Harry Potter Weekend' never fails to make me smile... Goblet of fire is my favorite book and movie, although that's where it starts to get dark...

I very much love it whenever it's time to visit Diagon Alley! So mysterious & just a bit dangerous... (hide spoiler)]

✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "@Lauri you might be interested to know that they are doing a buddy read for , which technically is a companion series to Harper Connelly, as we follow Manfred..."

Ooh! I loved the books and the TV show. I'll have to look when I finished them. I gobbled them whole & it feels like it hasn't been 6 months yet.....

Double completion post!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Finished 5/19/18
Page count: 320
BR: yes! Can't do a link to save my life, but my 1st comment is Msg. 805. There will be further commentary as soon as I figure out how to so a spoiler alert! Yikes!
Series: Harry Potter #1
Cast of characters: Harry Potter, Vernon & Petunia Dursley, Dudley Dursley, Rubeus Hagrid, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Ron, Fred, George, Percy & Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, lord Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe & Goyle, Oliver Wood, Severus Snape, Professor Quirell, Argus Filch, Professor Flitwit, Seamus Finnigan, Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey, Lee Jordan, Marcus Flint, Madam Pince, Bane, Ronan, Firenze.
Defense against the dark arts: witchcraft galore!
Cover items: a unicorn



One Foot in the Grave
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Finished 5/19/18
Page count: 357
BR / BOM: no
Series: Night Huntress #2
Cast of characters: Cat (Catherine Crawfield), Liam Flannery, Lazarus, Danny Milton, Tate, Magnus, Ian, Crispin Russell (Bones), Dave, Juan, Don, Denise, Noah Rose, Kelso, Cooper.
Defense against the dark arts: vampires & hunters

Vicki wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Right now I've got going: My Life as a White Trash Zombie,

You are a busy, busy woman! LOL I'm almost as bad, but not quite. I'm reading the following and I believe th..."

Bring your book(s) to the game & look up & wave periodically. I used to read at my son's football games, practices and canoe meets! Bad, bad mother! I get lots of reading time late night. I see you're a night owl as well. I also love to sleep in & then spend another hour or two reading in bed. I had a doctors appt today so took the day off. The dr. was running late & I was secretly happy to have extra reading time!

My Life as a White Trash Zombie
Author: Diana Rowland
Finished 5/18/18
Page count: 320
4 stars! Totally crazy!!
BOM / BR: No
Cast of characters: Angel Crawford, Randy, Marcus Ivanov, Marianne, Derrel Cusimano, John Kang, Ben Roth, Mike Abadie, Nick Galatas, Dr, LeBlanc, Dr. DuPlessis, Allen Prejean, Terry, Zeke Lyons, Ed Quinn, Jerry Powell, Monica Gaudreau, Peter Plescia, Sean, Clive

Right now I've got going: My Life as a White Trash Zombie, One Foot in the Grave, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate, The Keeper of Lost Things, Antigoddess, Delicious and Suspicious and Thyme of Death.

The most intriguing right now are The Keeper of Lost Things and Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate. White Trash Zombie is hysterical! How's everybody else doing?

Sonia wrote: "Yeah. My mom was the same.

Can you believe she once tried to forbid me to buy more Harry Potter books because I got so enthralled by them I'd completely shutdown the world around me?

Sure, I get ..."

My Mom never said no to me buying books! When I was in elementary school we'd get the weekly reader book sheet from Scholastic Books. I'd check off almost every damn book on the list & she'd let me order them all! I was the only kid in class to order like 25 books a month. She'd also buy me books from the store. Sometimes totally inappropriate ones. I read Fear of Flying when I was in 6th grade! She wasn't a reader & never checked on my subject matter! I developed a fascination with witchcraft & voodoo in middle school. My friend's mom was a librarian & she noticed my reading material topics & called my mother! Gotta love it!

Steven wrote: "Lauri, we will all work together to complete the classes - no need to do any one by yourself :) just read something that fits for any slot needed and someone else can read the other :)"

Oh, thank God! I'm so glad I asked! I was freaking out reading all the instructions before I finally asked...

I just started again -- I've read this book probably 5 times now. The 1st time aloud to my son back in the '90s! There's always something new to discover, even as you revisit old friends and places. It is truly magical!

At the risk of sounding stupid...
When we take on a class, are we doing it as an individual or as a group? For example, I think the Potions class sounds very interesting, but I don't think I could find one book in each category. Do we get to break them up and share? Or is this a solo endeavor?

Also can several people perform the same task(s) / attend the same class? Or is it a one shot deal to eliminate that class?

✿ Claire ✿ ~ The Clever Berry wrote: "Lauri wrote: "Still having a blast! Just finished An Ice Cold Grave which could go for an I....

I wish this challenge was one of the 6 month long ones.... I love being able to read a..."
I am loving this series! Did the changing relationship between Harper & Tolliver creep you out just a little? It was weird for me, but I got over it quickly. I think they deserve some happiness together. Think I may just have to read the last book soon. I love Charlaine Harris! Are you a Sookie fan too?

I really like Richelle Mead as well. I liked the VA movie, too! I was sad that they didn't go on with the whole series! I felt the same way about One for the Money, the 1st Stephanie Plum story made into a movie. I would have loved to see the whole series in film!

Still having a blast! Just finished An Ice Cold Grave which could go for an I....

I wish this challenge was one of the 6 month long ones.... I love being able to read anything. It feeds my adult ADD, I think. Doing 3 BRs and started Lilac Girls for BOM. I've ordered the other one, but it's quite popular. Hope I get my paws on it in time...

It's amazing to be so awesome. I've never won anything before, either. Trying really hard & doing your best is all well and good, but winning would be perfect!!

Completion post!
An Ice Cold Grave
By Charlaine Harris
Finished 5/16/18
Page count: 280
BR/BOM: no
Cast of characters: Harper Connelly, Tolliver Lang, Twyla Cotton, Sandra Rockwell, Chester Caldwell, Abe Madden, Tyler Webb, Dylan Lassiter, Hunter Fenwick, Aaron Robertson, Jeff McGraw, Parker & Bethalynn McGraw, Carson McGraw, Manfred Bernardo, Xylda Bernardo, Dave, Harry, Pell Klavin, Max Stuart, Dr. Thomason, Barney Simpson, Doak Garland, Heather Sutcliff, Tom Almand, Chuck Almand, Ted & Nita Hamilton.

Completion post!
Dog on It by Spencer Quinn
Finished 5/13/18
Read for no apparent reason other than awesomeness!
336 pages
4 stars! Delightful! Told from the dog's POV...
Cast of characters: Bernie Little, Chet, Charlie, Leda, Cynthia Chambliss, Madison, Suzie Sanchez, Tim Fletcher, Ruben Ramirez, Damon Keefer, Boris, Harold, Mr. Gulagov, Elena Larapova, Myron, Otis, Dylan McKnight, Anatoly Bulganin, Albie Rose, Nixon Panero,

Cool. But I couldn't wait & started today! It's really good. I'll go slow. I don't know why I waited so long to read this! I think it was the length. I love anything about females with powers -- witchcraft, healers, psychics, midwives. Anything where a woman can take back power from males. Hmmm.....
What's up with that?