Laura..devouring books like crumpets’s Comments (group member since Mar 20, 2021)

Laura..devouring books like crumpets’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Zuzana wrote: "Rest and Rejuvenation quest sounds like a ton of fun. It's a greatconcept. It just need a reward readjustment. Wouldn't you consider adding that any book read for the quest equals 1 XP in addition ..."

Yea, I mean im not really over familiar with this world Yet.... ha ha ha.... But your rewards sound good!!!

Lorna wrote: "Got a few to add this evening when I can get to my laptop!

Hope you’re all having a good Monday ♡"

Having A great week so far!!! Hope you all are

I have finished All my books up until polo

Deanna wrote: "@Laura, can you please add An Off-Piste Christmas to your towers shelf and add a read date to King's Cage? Thanks!"

Hey added Off Piste christmasa to shelf, its showing me Kings cage has a read date of June 5th, Im not sure why you cant see it xx

Finished The savior and An off piste christmas

Completed

Finished

I tried the first chapter..... nope not for me..... a turtle flying around, with a world on his back... I can't see it sober..... pratchett must have had a whole reefer to think that up.......

Have finished Island fever And Witch's Cauldron!

Finished Dumplin and Vampires Kiss

25. Willowdean, oh Willowdean. You are your own worst enemy. First she breaks Mitch's heart because she is finally (somewhat) honest with him, and then she lets her insecurities get in the way of Bo sharing his feelings. Have you ever let your insecurities and other people's opinions stop you from doing something?

I think Everyone has and is a little insecure about something.... I used to love doing theatre (Pre Kids)... But i was only really ok if i didn't look at the Audience or stage lights so bright i couldn't see them.....

26. Will sees Ellen crying, but lets the moment pass. Later on the judges ask her about loyalty during her interview and she has some some hard realizations about her friendship with Ellen, and finally gets her moment to apologize. Did you think their make up scene was realistic? Have you ever had a friendship end on bad terms?

Im usually pretty Passive... I have fallen out with a few people over time, but its usually over something big.... I can forgive but nor forget certain friendships will never be the same.

27. Will digs deep to find her confidence and walks the stage in her swimsuit. That takes courage, regardless of your body shape or size! No way I could do it. And then she goes completely off script for her talent and does her best Jolene (great song, btw). Do you think her mom did the right thing by disqualifying her? If you had been the pagent director, would you have let her compete?

Her mum.... She has to abide by the rules but i think she could have tried to find a loophole for Will

28. Will and her mother have a nice moment when Will is helping her get dressed. What do you think about their mother-daughter relationship? Do you think they are finally beginning to understand each other?

Yes....

29. Willowdean leaves the pageant after Millie is named second-runner up. It makes me a little crazy that they leave it unknown. Who do you think is crowned the winner? Did you like the ending?

Yea it doesnt Matter who Won i think will Gained acceptance.

DQs Day 5: Chapters 44 - 51

20. Willowdean and her mum seem to briefly reach an understanding over the dress fitting but after the alterations are made they come to blows. It’s the first time that her mum tells her she expected her to lose weight and she fights back. Why do you think this is?

I think Will is Gaining more confidence in who she is and that you have a right to be happy whatever size you are!


21. After the talent show Willowdean seeks help from the entertainers at The Hideaway, where they were shown how to walk in heels by pretending to walk the sobriety line. Why did she go to them and have you ever tried to walk the sobriety line, drunk or sober?

Yea i have had to walk the line..... :-/
I think She feels with them she has her Aunt with her too in a way.


22. Willowdean is invited to Bo’s to study where she meets his stepmum properly and they discuss astrology. Is what she is told accurate from what we know of her? Does your star sign reflect you?

I think her characteristics are right but she has to be able to see it herself... My Mums a Leo and they are stubborn!!! Im a Capricorn Earth sign i love woods, i Love order to things, no necessarily overly tidy, but i like order,,,,


23. Bo lays his cards on the line with Willowdean and says he doesn’t want their relationship to be a secret, he wants to do it right. She is reluctant to give him an answer but accepts Mitch’s offer to be her escort to the pageant. Is this right? What do you think is going to happen? What would you do?

No this is not right she needs to expain to Mitch whats happened, Maybe try to confide in him more than Lie


24. The slumber party brings out a few secrets. Will this change how Willowdean perceives herself and the other girls? Knowing Hannah’s reasons for entering do you think she will go through with trying to ruin it?

No i dont think she will....

DQ Day 4
Chapters 33 to 43

16. Dolly Parton night was a surprising treat for the girls! Definitely a different experience. It felt to me like it could have been a healing point or turning point for Will in more ways than one. What do you think about the scene, did it add anything special to the book, and do you think it will hold significance in some way later in the story?

I love how it showed her a little of a side of her Aunt she didn't know, and how highly she was regarded.

17. I’m almost over Callie and Ellen myself at this point. Friends fight, but this has really blown up. When Callie approaches Will in the bathroom with her mini speech and says that she knows Ellen has always “been good to Will”, what do you think her point was with the speech? Was she truly angry on her friend’s behalf when she went into her admonishment on how wrong it was for Will to be upset that Ellen was entering the pageant? Do you think she’s trying to help Will in a twisted way with her rude advice, or do you think she’s just trying to rub salt in wounds? Would you keep trying to speak to Ellen and make up after the rebuff she issued at Harpy’s after two months when Will tried again to make up?

She said she could make herself happy with a little effort... I dont think she was being completely bitchy, Will actually sounds pretty her hair ect, Maybe she just giving her some tough love.


18. Mitch and Bo affect Will in different ways, but it’s pretty clear Will is using Mitch in more ways than one. She has him to hang out with on weekends when Ellen is gone, and she went from having a dance partner where she rested her head on his chest throughout several dances before pulling away from him immediately when they get outside so he doesn’t “get the wrong idea”. Mixed signals overdose! Do you think she doesn’t realize what she is doing, that she is subconsciously using him, or do you think she isn’t considering his feelings enough? What do you think is going to happen between them?


I like Mitch he seems to really care about Will, Bo must be confused... I dont want mitch to get hurt it seems hes been holding a torch for will for a while. But Bo isnt Bad either the way Will has treated them both is wrong.

19. The Sadie Hawkins dance seems important in Clover City. I had heard of a song about it, but had no idea it was an actual dance at a school. What do you think about the traditions of finding inventive ways to ask people to the dance? Were you surprised that Bo was finally grabbed up for a date? What did you think of Will’s attempt to ask Mitch immediately afterward, and her creativity in doing so?

We never had school Dances.... I think they tried to do a prom but hardly anyone went i think about 50 went in a year of like 300 i didn't... they don't really do that kind of Thing in the channel islands.... Sooo i dont really know what to say to this, I dont think i could ask a boy out.... i wouldnt know what to say lol. But permanent marker seems fun.

Completion Post


Rivals - Jilly Cooper
5 star 19th May

215 (Garlic bread in the oven) 93%
146) Spellout R
221) Mc Taggie cooks and caters for dinner parties around the area
119) Rupert and Declan become friends and Neighbors
44) "Mummy shouted at her all the time" 62%


Princess Ballot - Jaymin Eve
19th May 3 star

219) Gown on cover
224) Single person on cover
119) Mc starts new school and has new Friend

11. For someone claiming and trying to be body positive about herself, Willowdean sure isn't giving anyone else any slack. Her description of Hannah, like with others, was just mean. Do you think the author is projecting Willowdean's insecurities on how she sees herself onto others?

I really do not like the Main protagonist Willow so far.... i completely agree considering she is "Happy" with herself shes got alot to say about others.


12. What did you think about the incident Patrick kneed in the balls incident? He didn't seem like Mitch's best friend saying that (honestly, maybe Patrick and Willowdean should date). What did you think about her mom's reaction and the resulting blow up between mom & daughter?
Side note: to anyone with teenagers, we are here for you.

If it was my Kid being bullied.. and they stuck up for themselves I would be the first to congratulate them.... Yea i didn't get Patrick saying that to mitch.....

As for the mum... If my kid was really overweight and i had lost my sister recently to not living such a healthy lifestyle, I would encourage him/Her to become more active and eat healthier.... But i dont think i would use a nickname like dumpling on them....

Like i said i really dont like will so far and think she was onfair to call her mum out on wiping old peoples asses that puts the food on the table for will

13. Did anyone else want to high five Ellen for calling out Willowdean on her crap? What did you think of their argument? Do you think the rift will be repaired? If so, do you think a Dolly Parton sing-along (thanks Cat) will be part of their healing process?

I Hope Dolly brings them together...Will has been Vile to everyone, she needs to understand the world doesnt revolve around her.

14. Based on the blurb, Millie's attitude and pep talk while at the restaurant is what I would of expected from Williowdean. What do you think of these girls deciding to enter the pageant? What did you think of Millie's pep talk?

I think every girl is beautiful, and every girl should be able to enter the Pageant, Millies pep Talk was good.

15. Thoughts on Mitch? Where do you think his and Willowdean's relationship will go? Do you think she'll crush his poor soft heart?

Im so confused... Why shes broken up with Bo over nothing when its him she wants... I feel shes leading Mitch on a bit....

Lorna wrote: "Hey gang, hope you’re all okay :)

Sorry for being quiet, I’ve had a really busy week at work! Will check back in tomorrow and update my books xx"

My kids have finally gone back to school after being off sinnce november.... No homschooling beach audio book walk lololol

DQ for Day 2
Chapters 11-20


6. Picking up on the previous grief question to turn it around towards Willowdean and her mother. Will seems to think (I'm paraphrasing here) that her mother is a heartless cow and wants to use Lucy's room all to herself without any consideration whatsoever for anyone else. I can't help but wonder though if the mother isn't somehow trying to be close to Lucy - her own sister - by setting up a craft room in Lucy's space. Everyone deals with grief in their own way, and while yes, I agree with her (unlike Will) that the dusty old things will eventually need to go, I feel like she's trying to find a way to cope at the same time.

Im sure she must really miss her sister and feels closer to her working there, but maybe she is trying to be strong for Will and Take an approach on things that me be healthier, not keep a room as a shrine.

7. Will and Bo. Thoughts? More particularly, Will's reaction to finding out that Bo will start going to the same school?

I think She is being a bit melodramatic... she quits her job, and agrees to go on a date with someone else all because Bo didn't tell her he would be joining the school.... How was Bo meant to Know he had to tell her they dont talk about anything too personal.

8. The more I read, the more I wonder how Ellen and Will are (still) friends with the way they talk to each other. According to Will, they are drifting apart because Ellen is having sex and because of Callie (she doesn't quite say it but it is definitely there). Their interactions however do make me wonder, a lot. I feel like they're friends more because it's a habit than anything else. They're both dependent on each other - Will because she doesn't seem to have other friends and can't stay in the pool alone? Ellen because she needs a back-up when she goes to pick up her pay check?) What do you make of their friendship now that we know more. Irreparable rift? Habit? Undying friendship?

No I think Ellen is alot more Mature and Will is still very childish... but i think she will grow and catch up with her, hopefully they dont loose their friendship.

9. And this inevitably brings me to Will's interactions with Callie. It seems like Callie is at least trying, even though there is the fat-girl-issue, but she isn't completely ignoring Will, unlike Will herself, who barely manages to be civil to the girl. Sure, I completely understand the jealousy of thinking that someone is stealing your (best) friend from you, but it isn't helping Will's case that she is basically being a douche to the girl.

I think Callie is just another friend to Ellen a different part of her life than Will is.... Will so far is comming across as very selfish and self - obsessed... she rarely makes an effort with anyone expects everyone to Pander to her.... Callie has been ok to her i dont see the issue.

10. Did anyone else have that moment of "oh shit, something really terrible is going to happen on the date" when Ellen and Tim tell Will that Patrick Thomas is Mitch's best friend. Or is it just me who thinks that there is a very obvious lack of mobbing and finger-pointing? Not that this is a bad thing, on the contrary! Though I do find it odd since Will has A LOT of issues and basically hates people who are not Ellen (and Bo).

Mitch seems a bit awkward... i didn't think there was anything malicious about it.

I love Chicagoalands vamps..... Mary I have the same... And at the moment Im trying to read the books but with a decent page count... Usually I mix it up with shorties and mid reads.... But want to get the team points also.... Still can't go wrong with jilly cooper lol

Deanna wrote: "Laura..devouring books like crumpets wrote: "Michelle wrote: "List it all, Mary, and we can juggle things even if they are already placed.

Laura, we will need links to your three comments in the ..."

ok Thanks

Michelle wrote: "List it all, Mary, and we can juggle things even if they are already placed.

Laura, we will need links to your three comments in the Dumplin’ thread to get the points. If you look on the sheet, I..."

thats what i dont get... dont we have to answer like 6 different MPDQs or just 3?
i just commented on 1 - 10 today as i just finished chapter 10