CiCi’s
Comments
(group member since Jun 25, 2018)
CiCi’s
comments
from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
Showing 21-40 of 382
Completion PostRound #: 1
Book: Leave the World Behind, by Rumaan Alam
Pages: 256 pp
How it Fits: Tagged Thriller by 195 users; Tagged Mystery by 132 users
Nouns Chosen:
1. Swimming pool (cover)
2. Diving board (cover)
3. World (title)
4. Vacation (precis)
5. New York (precis)
Adjective called: Dainty
Noun Selection Post:
Round #: 1
Noun: Vacation
I'll try!
TITLE: October: Creature FeatureDURATION: October 1, 2020 - November 30, 2020
OPTION 2: Spell-it-out
LEVEL: Bats (9-16 books)
COMPLETED: 4/13
Selkie (3/6) (view spoiler)
Mermaid (1/7) (view spoiler)
Completion PostI didn't meet my goal, even with an extension gift card and am now just finally updating, but I'm still proud of what I did.
Original Post
by AnonymousRead: August 11
Pages: 272
Works for:
A - Title;
A - Author
Tags: No tags
Task:
52 - Read a book with text only cover
I was able to get a copy of Pachinko & will do discussion questions too.
Completion Post
by Nic StoneRead: July 28
Pages: 210
Works for:
D - Title;
S - Character (Sarah-Jane Friedman);
N - Author;
S - Author
Tags: No tags
Task:
62 - Read a book with MPG Young Adult
Discussion Questions
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
DQ Day 4Chapters 19 - end
16. What do you think about Justyce going to see Martel. Do you support him going or disapprove. I know he later regretted it, but I can't help feeling he went to fit in. Or maybe to become more like "his kind"
I disapprove as I find it hard that Justyce didn’t know that no good would come of a visit. I would agree in his decisions to do so is to feel like he better fits in with the way people may see him.
17. During these chapters there was the scene with the police at Justyce's graduation. Do you think it was wrong of the police officers to approach him in front of all his friends and family. Should they have waited until he was done talking to them to approach? It's definitely a difficult situation cause I can see it being argued from either end.
I don’t know police protocol & timing for questioning, but they had to have known where he was. A graduation doesn’t seem like the best place to question anyone & I think it could have been delayed to a better time.
18. During the conversation with the police, Justyce stands up to his mom and asks her to treat him like an adult. He also mentions that if he went along with his mother's idea and refused to talk, he would've appeared guilty. What did you make of these two confrontations? Also, we get the behind the scenes reasoning about why Justyce's mom doesn't approve of him dating white girls. What is your opinion on her reasoning? I personally understand what she's saying, but not all white people are alike just like not all black people are alike.
The confrontations are big turning point in his character. It’s obvious he’s learned from his mom but knows how it really is in the real world & how his actions & behaviors would be perceived. I too can understand his mom’s reasonings about him dating a white woman, but I don’t necessarily agree with it. I believe that people are people & can love who they want.
19. While hanging out with S.J., S.J. says, "Jus, I think I hate everything... Why can't we all get along like butterflies." To that quote Justyce thinks to himself that all the butterflies "look exactly alike." What do you make of this quote? Why do you think there is so much hate around people looking different (doesn't only have to be about race, but defects, disabilities, other differences as well)?
I think for a lot of hate, the underlying cause is their own fear & inability to take responsibility for their own actions. It’s easier to ignore something or someone because they don’t understand or are afraid. Not all black people are criminals, not all white people are racists, not all native americans are alcoholics, etc. These are the common stereotypes because we are afraid to ask questions about people & their situations.
20. I thought that Justyce's last letter to Dr. Martin was the most meaningful. He mentions that maybe the issue is that he doesn't know what he was trying to achieve by his "What would Martin do?" project. I found it very resonating when he mentioned Doc asking him "What would Martin be" and he couldn't find an answer. What did you think of the last letter to Martin? How do you think Justyce has changed throughout the book?
I think his last letter was insightful & shows that even though this was an experiment, the reality is that not much has changed since Dr. King.
21. I personally think that by the last chapter Jared changed the most thoughout the story (which actually surprised me a lot because in the beginning I thought he was hopeless). He went from a racist to actually caring and being Justyce's friend. Did your opinions change on Jared at the end of the book? What about the other characters?
I think Jared has turned a corner & I hope that he continues with this plans. I’m glad that SJ & Justyce were able to talk through their feelings & are moving on with their relationship. They have a good understanding of each other.
Day 3: Chapters 15-1812. In chapter 16 we see Justyce have dinner with Manny's parents to commemorate Garret Tison's indictment. What do you think of Justyce being invited over and what they talk about? Did you have any thoughts about Manny's parents giving Justyce the watch and his reaction to it?
I think Manny’s parents are trying to do their best in a situation that is heartbreaking. Keeping a relationship with Justyce is a way to keep their son’s memory alive as they were best friends. I think it was a sweet gesture to give the watch to Justyce, but I was a little disappointed in his reaction. I would hope that if he was uncomfortable, he would speak his mind, but it’s impressive that he was able to realize that receiving the watch may have been more for Manny’s parent’s healing than his.
13. Justyce sees Quan at the Fulton Regional Youth Detention Centre and a lot is said between them. What do you make of Quan's upbringing and his view on life now? Is there anything that stands out between what is said between them? Quan not saying that he killed the cop or the advice that he gives to Justyce? Do you think that Quan's advice will have a positive or negative effect on Justyce?
I didn’t think any good would come from the visit with Quan. He seemed to be nonchalant about the incident with the cop, it was unsettling. By sending Justyce to Trey, it most likely would put him on the same path as Quan.
14. We see a few media releases in this part:
"Transcript from evening news... More on this story as it continues to develop"
"Tison Indictment... A trial date has yet to be announced."
The news report in chapter 18 with the photo released of Justyce in his Thug Life costume.
We also see the reporters mobbing the funeral party at Manny's funeral:
"Mr. McAllister, how's it feel to be the Boy Who Survived?
Justyce, do you think there will be justice?
What's it like knowing it could've been YOU in that casket?"
What do you think of the coverage of the event by the media? Are they siding with the police officer more than Justyce? Are they reporting the story correctly or making things worse? Do you think the author's portrayal of the media is similar to real life? Will the media ruin his chance at going to Yale?
I for one do not like the reporters at the funeral and that last question is especially nasty.
Things people say & do will most likely shock me the rest of my life. The reporting asking Justyce about his feelings as the Boy Who Survived is appalling. Everyone is intitled to privacy & respect. It’s hard for me to judge if the media is reporting correctly or fabricating because they weren’t there to witness everything firsthand. I’m a firm believer of facts & the importance of factual reporting. I don’t read something & think it’s 100% the truth.
15. Chapter 18 goes through a lot. We see Justyce spending time with Doc to avoid making the call to Trey and the gang and isn't writing to Martin anymore SJ speaking to him again and she apologises. She also calls Jarod about the release of the photo. What are your thoughts on all these and the character development of the teens?
Again, I think Doc’s relationship with Justyce is that of a surrogate father figure. He’s a good sounding board for Justyce & really causes him to think through things when he’s struggling. I figured at some point, SJ & Justyce would make up & talk through their awkward interaction.
DQ Day 2; Chapters 7 - 147. Let's start with Sarah-Jane. Justyce and her definitely had feelings for each other, and they didnt shy away from closeness until Jus was about to kiss her after the debate (lbr which was bad timing). Why did SJ suddenly give Justyce the cold shoulder, what are your thoughts? What's going through her head?
Who knows what teenagers are thinking!? Albeit it wasn’t the best timing for their first kiss, SJ may have been afraid it only happened during the heat of the moment & maybe doesn’t reflect Justyce’s actual feelings for her.
8. It sucks that it took being drunk for Justyce to call out Manny but it's finally done! "They're my friends" was the dumbest excuse ever, but at least Manny finally woke up shortly after Blake's party and the fight Justyce and the guys had.
It's hard sometimes to stand up for what's right. It might not be safe, depending on where you are or who you're surrounded by. Do you judge Manny for not being able to stand up for himself and everybody else his 'friends' made fun of sooner? Was there ever anything you needed to work on first in order to be able to stand up for it?
Alcohol has a way of giving people courage, but it might not always be the best time to have hard conversations. As outsiders, we are able to observe & judge others behaviors & comments, but in Manny’s situation, these are the friends he’s had his whole life. How’s he to know that those situations he’s in are truly inappropriate. I guess the whole point I’m trying to make is that it’s easy for me to have opinions about how both Manny & Justyce should respond, but I’ve never been in a situation like this.
9. It seems like Manny didn't only call Dr. Dray to check on Justyce after the fight, but also his mama and Mela. It confused me a little since he doesn't like Mel and how she treats Jus. And it hasn't even been mentioned again (so far). What did you make of this? Do you think Mela will end up playing a big part in the rest of the book? And did you ever have a teacher who was as involved in his students lives as Doc is?
I didn’t make the assumption that Manny also contacted Melo & Justyce’s mom, hence the multiple phone calls. I think Melo knew of the altercation at the party & wanted to reach out to him. The student teacher relationship in this book is very unique & maybe characteristic in schools where students stay in dormitories on the property. These teachers end up as a segregate parent & it there’s a special connection between these two.
10. Manny's dad tried to keep all signs of racism and how he could be mistreated from him for as long as he could whereas Justyce's mama has prepared him ever since he was little. They also grew up in two completely different neighbourhoods and surroundings. What are your thoughts on the parents' different ways of bringing up their sons? Do you think there's a right way to go about this?
As a non-parent, I don’t feel I can comfortable judge anyone else’s decisions on parenting. I think that everyone does the best that they can. I however would lean towards Justyce’s mother’s approach. I don’t believe that keeping things from a child that could affect their future is a wise choice, but would hopefully be able to provide the guidance & support to deal with those things that aren’t great.
11. 😳 that's one way to end today's chapters! My heart is still racing. What do you think happened, who got shot? And be honest, did you keep reading or take a peek just to find out what happened? (I'll be honest I did take a quick peek :x)
Oh, I couldn’t go to bed without finishing the book after this chapter! My guess is that only Justyce was shot.
DQ Day 1Chapters 1 - 6
1. We meet Justyce when he's trying to do a good deed by helping (h)is drunk ex-girlfriend. This scene sets quite the mood for the upcoming chapters and (I assume) the rest of the book. Do you like our main character so far? Do you like his inner monologue, portrayed in the letters to Martin?
I wasn't expecting the book to start this way, knowing it was considered YA. I know high schoolers drink, but Melo’s condition seemed to require more help than just Justyce. What I can’t quite understand is why this responsibility falls on him. As the develops in the next couple of chapters, it lends to his positive and humble attitude, which is why he probably felt the need to help out Melo. I think the letters to Martin will get much more interesting throughout the book, but I find myself wondering how Dr. King would have responded to such a letter if he were alive today.
2. Let's talk about the girls - Melo and Sarah-Jane. The ex-girlfriend (sort of?) and the debate partner. Let's also factor in the other important female in Justyce's life, namely his mother. What do you make of each of them? And what to you make of their interactions with Justyce? And more importantly, what are we supposed to make of Justyce's interactions with them in light of his mother's statement not to bring a white girl home?
He definitely has a lot of women in his life, albeit their importance to him. So far, Melo doesn’t seem to have any redeeming qualities regarding their relationship & Justyce’s future. Sarah-Jane or SJ seems to have a similar mindset & willingness to understand Justyce’s situation, but they haven’t had the chemistry before? As for his mother, I’m indifferent to her. She obviously loves her son & wants him to make something of himself without the maternal coddling.
3. Jared is our token white boy who thinks all is right with the world when clearly it isn't. The equality discussion was interesting, I found, because Jared's logic is sound. And yet at the same time, it isn't at all. What example would you give Jared, where you speaking in SJ's stead, to show how wrong he is?
Jared’s character is frustratingly so many people I grew up with & have conversations with. Being from the predominately, white Midwest, the message was that things are equal, just those struggling have to try harder, which supports Jared’s logic. I however disagree to some extent. I absolutely don’t believe that people of different races, genders, backgrounds, etc. are truly treated equal & I most likely won’t see that happen in my lifetime. I have hope that the world can change but know that it must start with me. The self-control that Justyce had to sit through that discussion is inspiring.
4. The Equality Brigade was quite the spectacle! Literally. Disguised as a klansman to portray equality. I can't help but wonder if Blake is an idiot of epic proportions or if there was a message he would have liked to show the world including his friends, especially considering the fact that the "costume" was the genuine thing. What did you think of this brain child of Jared's?
Why would any of them think this would be a good idea? How is dressing as a klansman a good way to symbolize equality? I know the author was intending to send a powerful message here & I feel that my frustration with this scenario is proof that we need solutions.
5. Justyce as well as his best friend Manny are black boys stuck in a rich white school. They each have their own issues to deal with in regards to this situation. Manny, the rich black guy, who is considered one of them, and Justyce, the poor black guy, who is more and more often questioning his place in this world, the place he is trying to carve for himself. Do you think Manny should have acted differently in the lounge scene when he was peer pressured into drinking to equality? Knowing full well what happened to his best friend not too long ago?
I wouldn’t say they are stuck in a rich white school. In Justyce’s case, he seems very thankful for the opportunity, but it unfortunately comes with the over privileged type of people that are Manny’s friends. I think Manny’s being uncomfortable, or Justyce being able to hear that in Manny’s voice reflects that he feels what his friends are saying & doing is wrong, but he doesn’t know how to confront that in his privilege situation.
6. Short mention of Trey and his friends needs to be made. The Black Jihad gang, one of whose members shot Officer Castillo. Personally, I can't help but wonder if someone shot him to take revenge on the crap he's probably pulled for quite a while - Justyce certainly wasn't the only one - or if it was a shooting gone wrong. That thought aside, Trey makes Justyce (and maybe also Manny) feel like he's turning his back on his own people. Do you think he is right in telling Justyce this? Is Justyce right in questioning the things Trey tells him and wondering whether there may not be a grain of truth in it? Should Justyce have stayed at the party regardless or was it better to leave (with the others) when he did?
I think this interaction is powerful in the argument that equality needs every individual involved. A vein of this argument is us versus them. Trey’s comments is from the perspective of someone who is black & didn’t have the same type of changes Justyce has. I think by him questioning what Trey is a big step for Justyce’s growth.
by Leslie CaineRead: July 25
Pages: 368
Works for:
I - Title;
S - Character (Steve Sullivan);
L - Author;
D - Title;
G - Character (Erin Gilbert)
Tags: No tags
Task: 126 - Read a book with stripes on the cover
by Bridget BartonRead: July 21
Pages: 297 pp
Works for:
E - Title;
S - Title;
C - Character (Charlotte Lumley);
S - Character (Sebastian)
Tags: No tags
Task:
56 - Read a book with MPG Romance
by Ann BrasharesRead: July 19
Pages: 336 pp
Works for:
S - Title;
C - Character (Carmen Lowell);
R - Character (Tibby Rollins)
Tags: 2 - Summer
Task: 156 - Read a book with MPG Chick Lit
I'm still in if we go forward.
by Agatha ChristieRead: July 13
Pages: 240 pp
Works for:
C - Title; E - Character (Elise Grandier); I - Character (Inspector Japp); C - Author
Tags: No Tags
Task:
#101 - Read #11-20 in a series
Laura wrote: "CiCi wrote: "Is there an easy way to search for shelves to find books with those tags?"Check out posts #706 & #707 - both have instructions on how to find tags."
Thanks!!!
Is there an easy way to search for shelves to find books with those tags?
I was only able to get one more book done for this word.
by Robyn PetermanRead: July 10
Pages: 334 pp
Works for:
U - Title; R - Author; P - Author; A - Character (Astrid); E - Character (Ethan)
Tags: No tags
Task: 143 - Read a book with a four word title
Laura wrote: "CiCi wrote: "Sorry team... life got a little real for a hot minute & I'm slacking.
by Alex NorthRead: 7/3/2020
Pages: 355 pp
Works for:
A - A..."
I liked The Guest List. It had modern Agatha Christie vibes and read really quickly because you wanted to know what happens next.
