Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Aug 13, 2015)

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

Sonia wrote: "Oh gawd don't... don't say it. I can't read Neil Gaiman, don't ruin TJ Klune to me."

Oooh I've always been so embarrassed because I should like Neil Gaiman's books, and I've tried and tried but I just don't. And now - yay - there is someone else :)

I loved House in the Cerulean Sea though - so hopefully you will too.

One of my current books I thought only fit for MPG Mystery, but...they just pulled out and served a cheeseboard! Bingo!

Oh oops yeah I meant April for when I read those books. I guess words are hard :) And TIME is hard.

Sadly I've read both BOM for July in May. Boo! I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and have no idea why it's classified as YA. No teenage love, in fact no teenagers in the book! I think people will enjoy it!

Thats a lovely cake! And beautiful fish too!!

How fun! I love the creativity of the complain people. I've dressed up at cons before but it wasn't super elaborate. It was fun though.

Oh that's fantastic! What was your topic? I'd totally sign up for that AND the games class.

Oh Applied History of Toys and Games sounds pretty great! I would totally want to take that.

My husband took a Science Fiction literature class - I was always jealous of that one. They talked to Ray Bradbury and others via conference call.

That nothing is so hard for the parents too! And so is teaching them hard for the parents. My granddaughter only had to go online a couple months - we had 4 adults in the house and her and I'm pretty sure she "won" most of the stubbornness contests :) I don't know how people with multiple kids did it. Wow it has been a tough year+.

Sammy wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "That makes sense to me. Thanks for the quick answer! In the US the Community College often takes the place of the first two years of University, vs. high school. But yes, people liv..."

Lol yeah I think there are lots of those classes. I DO like them as fill when they need more credit. I know at our Uni they can take rock climbing and billiards and bowling and dutch oven cooking. No degree, but those are probably good stress relief.

We will have live only classes in the fall! I'm so excited - the past year I had to teach every class live AND on zoom AND recorded. I didn't get a lot of interaction between students because I was just to overwhelmed to figure out how to do it. (Although many of them really liked zoom and REALLY liked that the class was recorded.) Sigh...I maybe still should provide that - the only bright side is that my grandson is so impressed I have my own YouTube Channel. :)

That makes sense to me. Thanks for the quick answer! In the US the Community College often takes the place of the first two years of University, vs. high school. But yes, people live at home generally. So a totally different experience.

I often feel bad seeing people take basic math classes that don't even count towards a degree at our university when they are SO much cheaper at community college.

Captains, will a Community College setting work for "set at a university"?

I hope everyone is having a good day! And Sonia, I hope that headache goes away sometime - that's way too long!

Oh nice - I'll check the US site just in case. Thanks!

I agree with you all - I would be shocked if he finishes the series. It's too bad, but I'm glad I got an ending of sorts with the tv shows.

I do the same thing as you Sammy, and try to stick to series where I'm pretty confident the next book will show up in a timely manner. But I'm also guilty and get sidetracked with other shiny books, and then don't finish series like I should. I've been working on that though.

Oh wow - that's not NEARLY enough. Maybe 3 hours a day!

Besides the obvious physical illness this past year, mental wellness has also taken a hit in so many ways!

Sammy - that is so great! Alone time is precious - and alone time with books and by the seaside....sounds like bliss! I hope it refreshes you in every way!

DQs Day 3: The Tree That Is Our Life - Wild and Free (59%)

11. Regarding the system error, that occurred when Nora tried to return to the library after that speech. Do you think Nora could have trouble returning to the library from one of the next lives that she visits?

It worries me - I feel like given that error, she may only have a limited number of future chances.

12. But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. (p. 151) Do you think Nora is going to "find the meaning of life", "be happy forever in a parallel life", or "will want to die and leave the library forever"?

I HOPE she'll find that life has its ups and downs and is still worthwhile. But I don't know if that'll happen. Plus, it seems like currently if there's a down, she's just sent back to the library instead of working through it. I did feel glad that Nora discovered with the polar bear that she really wants to live.

13. Are you surprised about Nora meeting Hugo, another Slider, as he calls people like them in the in-between?

Yes! That surprised me. I kind of thought this was unique, but I don't know why I thought that. And boy, I'd be SO tempted to be like Hugo and try lots of different lives.

14. For Nora it's a library, for Hugo it's a video store. What do you imagine would your variant of the in-between be? (And obviously you are not allowed to say library now, because I'm guessing most of us would go with that answer. Be creative and let me know what else you would feel comfortable with.)

For me, I think it'd be a video game if it wasn't a library. Or a set of video games.

15. We finally get to see Nora's life as a rock star. In what direction do you think this will go? Is it going to be the life Nora is happiest with and stays the longest/forever? Or do you think that she's going to leave it rather soon again

I think she'll leave it pretty soon. There are too many parts she seems super uncomfortable with.

For Jackanory, one of my current books is set on an island, so I can take Island location if that one isn't done yet (it looked still open?)

Another book talks a lot about how the house is set by a cliff. She goes to her bedroom and part of the room is right on the cliff overlooking the ocean. But, alas, the picture on the cover doesn't even show water. They opted for a cute dog instead :)

DQs Day 2: The Penultimate Update - Peppermint Tea (39%)

6. Were you surprised that Nora's second choice was related to her cat? What did you think of the outcome?

Sometimes it's those "little" things that nag at us the most. I LOVED the outcome because it showed how often people feel guilt or failure that is totally unwarranted.


7. How did the reality of Nora's Australia line up with what you imagined it would be like?

It seemed so great at first and then disintegrated quickly :( I feel like she was feeling guilty about what happened there too, and again, it wasn't her fault.

8. What did you think about the similarities between Nora's life in Australia versus her original life?

It feels like no matter where she is on the globe, she doesn't want to really do anything Thanks, depression.

9. On the surface, Nora's life with a swimming career seems to be the most successful so far. Do you think the positives will outweigh the negatives this time around?

I don't think they will just because Nora herself hasn't changed yet.

10. Any predictions for how Nora's speech will go in the next chapter?

Badly! Mostly because in this life Nora doesn't even know who she is now and is totally unprepared.

Thanks so much Steven!!

Kaley that sounds like a good decision. I love the diversity of likes and dislikes with books and authors. Life is so much more interesting with diversity!