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

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

Completion Post!
Tales of Burning Love
Louise Erdrich
Finished 6/29/23
Page Count: 452
Chipmunks - bed on cover



Could someone please mark this as completed for me on our spreadsheet? Thank you!

DQs Day 4 - 18 June
Chapters 9-11, 32%

14) What do you think the cards symbolize for the yellow card man? I'm starting to think it could be like a warning, but I'm also connecting him to Al. They both died at the same time. Now that the yellow/orange/black card man has committed suicide am I alone in worrying that Jake may never make it back - and therefore not be able to reset things if he makes a mistake?
I didn't even see a correlation to Al at all! And they were both suicides, too. Smarticle! I thought Jake might mysteriously disappear into the past. The way back to 2011 may just not be there when he needs it.

15) Jake originally thought Carolyn's accident wasn't his to fix, but ended up fixing it anyways. What do you think the reasoning behind this was? The stay at the cabin in the lake sounds magical and relaxing. Do you like to canoe? And have you ever played cribbage?
Jake is just an all-around good guy. A truly nice person. It's almost like "Hey, I was in the neighborhood, so I just thought I's stop by and fix this." Look how sweet he was to the Cullum family & baby Jenna...
I have never canoed like on a lake. Living in Hawaii, we use outrigger canoes on the actual ocean. It's a rush! I don't go now that I'm old...
I am a killer cribbage player. When I was in my teens, we'd play for hours -- days even!

16) Jake seems to be enjoying his time in the past a lot more than last time. Do you think there is a reason for this? Do you think you would be happy living in the past knowing what would happen? The general feel in this section is that of simpler and more trusting time. But how is it that nobody is even a little suspicious of a new guy, with such an oddly specific bet and other strange behaviors?
I would love to go back to simpler times! I was born in the 60's & it was much less scary than times today. We got my son a cell phone when he was just 10 years old so he would be able to call us to check in after school or in an emergency. I didn't get one till I was in my 40s!! Still don't like to use 'em. I think everyone just trusted in their fellow man & what you saw was exactly what you got. That's how it was so easy to have multiple wives/families & all that cold war espionage... now we's Google someone faster than you can scream criminal background check!
The specific bet was a dumb move. Good thing "George" trusted his hunch!

17) How do you feel about Harry dying in Vietnam? Is Jake right in feeling he wasted his time saving Harry or do we know too little about Harry's life to reach a conclusion? Should we be judging at all, and if so, based on what criteria beyond life and death?
God is the only one who knows what will happen in someone's life and why. You shouldn't mess with fate. I have a baaaad feeling about this...

Bonus: (we had a fantastic team discussion with this one) I suspect that that event was one of those where so many people remember where they were that day/moment, how they felt, etc. Any others you all can think of?
I remember the Space Shuttle blowing up & watching it over and over on TV & crying. I didn't even know what had happened at first! Same thing with 9/11. I was home from work for both events & just watched & cried & cried...
Oddly enough, I had a good friend whose birthday is 11/22/63. She HATED her birthday!! But there are some things you just can't change...

DQs Day 3 - 17 June
Chapters 7 - 8, 26%

10) We find out more about Frank Dunning. He is portrayed as a smooth talker and good looking. Do you find this stereotypical of someone who will go on to murder most of his family? It always seems to be someone no one suspects. Jake's opinion of him obviously isn't very good. Do you think Jake would feel differently if he didn't know what Frank was going to do?
Sociopaths are often thought of as charming - - at first. After awhile a bit of their true nature shows itself. "He seemed like such a NICE young man." HA! I work at a mental hospital. I've heard it all.... Jake may have been taken in if he never knew the backstory thanks to Harry's essay. Eventually, they show their true colors. By then, it's usually too late.

11) Jake plans how he is going to stop Frank. Would your thought process have been the same as Jake's? How would you plan to change the event?
I think I would've tried to convince Mrs. Dunning to run and take the children. That's the woman's way. Run to safety, hide the children.

12) There is something off about Derry. The place itself feels weird and the people act strange. Would you stay somewhere where you don't feel welcome? Would you investigate more into what was going on?
If it wasn't for the job Jake came to do and the experimental nature of 'practicing' for Dallas, I don't think he would've stayed very long himself! I definitely wouldn't have. I think Mr. King is going to wrap all these stories into a giant conspiracy & have Derry leave earth as an alien world or something spectacular like that...

13) Well, stoppping Frank didn't go to plan but he did get stopped. What do you think the consequences of changing the event will be in the present, if any? Do you think he will go back and try again? If so, what do you think he will do differently?
No. Dead is dead & Dunning deserved to be dead. The best thing he did was father those children. Poor things. It was all played out very strangely. Can't wait to hear Al's take on all this!

Completion Post!
Invitation Only Murder
Leslie Meier
Finished 6/25/23
Page count: 240
Blue cover
Fits the following spellout letters:
B - CFN Bill
F - CFN Fred
I - title
L - MC Lucy
M - CFN Mike
P - CFN Parker
S - CFN Sara
T - CFN Taylor
W - William
Z - Zoe



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

Sophie wrote: "Thanks for the update Lauri!

I hope you feel lots better soon.

I've done some shuffling so the Paranormal book is covered, but the Malaysian book will definitely be helpful.

Okey dokey! It may come round again. I lurve the paranormals!


New Tasks
X-Files..."

Steven wrote: "Finished Golden Son for the Chipmunk task!"

You are inspiring, Steven! My copy of Golden Son keeps glaring at me from the stack! I keep thinking, maybe tomorrow… *sigh*

I found a book set in Malaysia! Could you put me down for A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder, please? Should be a fairly quick read!



Thank you!

I can take paranormal with either Flame in the Dark, The Rise of Magicks or Blue Moon. Whichever one I finish first!

I admit that Tales of Burning Love is coming along rather slowly. I don’t like any of the characters at all. At least I’ve passed the halfway mark now!
I’ve been home sick this week & keep falling asleep. I also left 11/22/63 at work, so haven’t been able to make much progress there either! I will finish both up this week.

Completion Post!
Rules at the School by the Sea
Jane Beaton who is in reality Jenny Colgan!
Finished 6/24/23
Page count: 288
Fits the following spellout letters:
A - CFN Alice
B - CLN Brown
C - CLN Carruthers
D - CLN Deveral
E - CFN Evelyn
F - CFN Felicity
G - CLN Gifford
H - CFN Harold
I - CFN Imogen
J - CFN June
K - CLN Kellen
L - CLN Liston
M - CFN Maggie
O - CLN Offili
P - CLN Pribetech
R - CLN Rhys
S - CFN Simone
T - CLN Trebizon-Woods
U - CLN Ulverton
V - CFN Veronica
Z - CFN Zelda

Almost all the letters in the alphabet!



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

Oh no Sophie! Prayers for your son & your family!

Completion Post!
Feed
Finished 6/22/23
Page count: 599

And there we have my 500 page book #1, as promised.

Also has a grey cover and fits the following spellout letters:
A - CFN Andres
B - CFN Buffy
E - CFN Emily
F - title
G - ALN Grant
H - CFN Heidi
M - AFN Mira
R - CLN Ryman
S - CFN Shaun
T - CLN Tate



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

Day 2 DQs
Chapter 4 - 6 or 18%

#5. How did you feel when you read Harry Dunning's essay? What would you have done if you had the power to enact change in the past?
It was traumatic! Even just reading about it. I was glad Jake gave him an A+ for his effort. Can you imagine how hard it must've been for him to write about that Halloween?

#6. Money is a big deal in any timeline. Would you be able to acclimate to the past in terms of financial transactions as well as Jake? Do you think Jake acclimated TOO quickly?
Maybe a bit too quickly. But it was all explained to him in detail, so maybe not. I couldn't believe the payphone wouldn't accept a modern dime!

#7. Fashion is also an issue in the past. Do you think Jake is having an easier time of it because he is a man? What would be the most challenging fashion change for you to get used to? Is there something you would love to be able to wear?
Men definitely have it much easier (except perhaps in the renaissance!) I remember my mom wearing a girdle & stockings with garters. Don't think I would care for THAT at all!!

#8. There are a lot of interesting nods to older Advertising terms and slogans that King uses to help the reader recognize the timeline change of the past. Which one stood out to you the most and why?
Texaco for sure. I'm a little bit too young for some stuff. I found a reference to Moxie in a different book by accident. Sounds like horrible stuff!

#9. If you have read any past King novels, some of these chapters have a lot of connections to early books about Derry, Maine, and surrounding locations. Did you find any Easter eggs from previous stories? If you haven't read earlier King novels, what about Derry seemed to stand out as unique to you?
Derry always crops up in his stories, doen't it? I sure hope Pennywise doesn't turn up!! I thought it was amazing that he ran into Richie & Beverly. They were so helpful, too. Some of the few genuinely nice people there.

Day 1 DQs: ch1- 3

1) I have only read a few of Stephen King's books. Is this your first book by the author or are you quite familiar with his storytelling?
I’ve read almost Mr. King’s entire catalog& loved almost all of them! Not so much The Gunslinger though…

2) What do you think about the character Jake so far? Would you have gone along with what Al wanted and took the initial step back into the past, or would you have not humoured him and tried to get him help?
I like Jake very much! He’s not perfect, but he’s ‘Everyman.’ He’s a stand up kinda guy & wants to help his friend. I think he’s intrigued by the possibility of going back in time, even as he thinks it’s a crazy idea.

3) I am not sure how I would feel if I just stepped back into the past the way Jake and Al have, but I am really curious about how the time travelling works in this story. It seemed that Jake was somewhat calm about it. How do you think you would feel if it was you?
I’m naturally (probably too) cautious. I don’t think I would have gone! I’d talk to his home care nurse & let her know Al’s batshit crazy!!

4) I think it is clear that Jake is going to pick up Al's mission to try and stop the JFK assassination. Would you choose to continue Al's mission? Also how much do you know of the history surrounding this event?
I definitely would NOT have gone back in time to stop Oswald! I know a bit about the assassination, but I was just a month old at the time…

Completion Post!
Going Rogue
Janet Evanovich
Finished 6/16/23
Page count: 324
Blue cover
and apparently not much else! But I loooove Stephanie Plum!



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

Completion Post!
Undercover Bromance
Lyssa Kay Adams
Finished 6/16/23
Page Count: 338
Chipmunk task - (tin) hat on cover



Could someone please mark this as completed on our spreadsheet for me? Thank you!

Completion Post!
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Talia Hibbert
Finished 6/12/23
Page count: 384
Romance
Fits letter E for Crayola Towers - character Evie



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

Welcome, Sofie!

Completion Post!
The Spanish Love Deception
Elena Armas
Finished 6/10/23
Page count: 487
Pink cover
And will fit letter R for Crayola Towers



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

Steven wrote: "Lauri, 11/22/63 is a great book! Hopefully you enjoy it!"

I am enjoying it! But it’s so damn huge! That’s why the chunksters take me so long to finish. They’re not like a paperback that I can just stick in my bag and go… I tend to read at the grocery store, bank - - any place I have to wait in line. Chunksters are just not convenient to carry around.