Rebecca ’s Comments (group member since Sep 03, 2016)

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

Just finished Day 3 questions. I put the link in column Z because I didn’t want to modify the ss and end up messing it up. I hope I didn’t create a bundle of work for anyone

Discussion Questions - Day 3 - Parts 5 & 6

9. Structure: "The Jetsetters" is divided into nine parts with an average of five different chapters (other than Part 1, which had nine chapters) in each part. Each chapter has, as yet, indicated a point of view change. What do you think the different parts are designating, if anything? How is it affecting your reading of the book, if at all?
Maybe the flow of the story. They are really designating anything for me other than unfolding the story of each character bit by bit. I like it. It doesn't bother me at all. I think because they have secrets it's good to see how they are working these secrets out in their minds.

10. Setting: So far, the Perkins have visited, in some capacity, Athens, Rhodes, and, most recently, Malta. How has the Mediterranean setting impacted both the story and the characters, if at all? And how do you think the story and characters would have been affected if the cruise was traveling through a different setting (say the Perkins boarded an Alaskan cruise line), if there would be any?
I don't think the setting has impacted anything. They could be anywhere in the world on vacation and still be harboring the secrets they each have.

11. Minor Character (Paros): As a follow up to question eight (since I am biasedly refusing to discuss Matt at any great length if I can help it), Paros has positively influenced both Charlotte (in feeling seen and admired) and Lee (in reconnecting with her family after coming to some big personal realizations). Why do you think Paros (and not Charlotte's recently deceased friend Minnie or Lee's one-time therapist) has been able to make these positive influences? Do you think this will continue and Paros will positively influence Regan and Cord in some way? If so, how?
Paros is a complete stranger that someone she feels she'll never see again. Sometimes it is easier to come clean to a stranger. I think he will influence the others in time which also help his relationship with Charlotte.

12. Minor Character (Kiko): Kiko's character has been used to further characterize the children indirectly: signifying Regan's meticulous mind (a mind that is plotting a murder, ha!), Lee's reformed ways rejecting the advances of men, and Cord's attraction towards men. Is Charlotte's character also indirectly characterized via Kiko? If so, how? (Also, I was so dismayed because Cord was my favorite character and his engagement to Giovonni was so cute and yet many of you predicted that Cord would be outted by being caught in a compromising situation by his family! gasp! So I ask you...) Was Cord's flirting with Kiko harmless, or was it a foreshadowing of a similar situation to come later in the novel?
Maybe in that she doesn't really know them anymore. I thought it was unusual that they all decided to go to a stranger's house. I was expecting something major to happen while they were there. Cord needs to get his act together before he blows what he says is the best thing that ever happened to him.

Ok thanks I’ll make sure I do 3. I didn’t want us to lose out on these easy points. I’m almost done with the book. It’s actually better than I thought it might be

I just did the questions for the first two days of the BOM for The Jetsetters and linked my comments on the spreadsheets. Do we need to do any more than the two days? I'll be honest I really don't enjoy answering discussion questions it's just not my thing but in the interest of extra points I am more than willing to do them. Also, in past Wheel-a-thons we had to reply to a couple of people. Do we need to do that as well?

Discussion Questions Day 2: Parts 2 - 4

5. We get more flashbacks to Charlotte's early life in Paris, and start to get an understanding of why her family isn't close or communicative - she herself was brought up to repress feelings. Will her current crush on Paros blossom into a full relationship? How will her fascination with Paros help or hinder her main aim of this holiday - to reconnect her children?
I think she will have a relationship with Paros, it almost seems inevitable, it's a little too convenient almost. I think will both help and hinder. The relationship will make her happier and therefore able to be more understanding of her children's problems.

6. Cord: he jettisons a year and a half of sobriety very easily, though I did enjoy how the author then used his drunken ramble through the ship to show off some of the glorious absurdities of massive cruise ships. Will Cord be able to pull himself together over the cruise or is he going to self-sabotage any happiness he might have had? Do you think Charlotte would react badly to his coming out of the closet? Any guesses on how he gets outed?
I think Cord will finally come to terms with his demons, with his past and present and all the unhappiness he has. He doesn't realize or come to terms with that for as happy as he thinks he is he is actually just as massively unhappy. I think Charlotte would be surprised but I think she would be understanding just from the description of her wanting to put him to bed the one night. I think he'll drunkenly blurt it out.

7. Lee: We get confirmation that Winston did commit suicide, and chose to do it in her bathroom (what a $*!@$!). Why would Charlotte make her lie to her siblings about how he died? And why does no one call her out about her lies about her career?
Charlotte wanted to hide it from them. Suicide is not an easy thing to understand when you're a child. It's not easy to come to terms with as an adult either. She was also probably embarrassed. No one really knows what is going on with Lee right now. They are also all so wrapped up in themselves that they just don't care about calling her out on it.

8. Regan: plotting murder! The plot thickens! What do you think the private detective has turned up? I assume it must be worse that infidelity, because you don't hire a PI unless you suspect infidelity, right? ('cos of course we have all thought about having our partners trailed rather than just, y'know, communicating with them!) Do you find the flashbacks to Matt rescuing Regan from the artist teacher (shades of Charlotte again!) make him more likeable?
I have no idea. Embezzlement, an affair, abuse, who knows? It makes him likeable for that time period not necessarily in the present.

Discussion Questions - Day 1


1) This is not a book I would’ve picked up on my own, and from the beginning I felt very strongly that I’m not the target (age) group, so I’m extra curious how I’m going to feel about this. Had you heard about this book before it was chosen as BOM? What were your expectations going in?
No, I had never heard of the book or the author before it was picked for BOM. My expectations from the description were gave me the feeling that it might be along the lines of an Elin Hilderbrand book.


2) I was surprised to see that the POVs rotates. Somehow the blurb made me think the whole book would be from Charlotte’s POV. Whose POV are you enjoying the most so far? Who is your favorite character?
I don't have a favorite yet it's too early in the book and the characters aren't well developed yet. If I had to pick one I would have to say Charlotte.

3) While Charlotte is supposedly the closest to Regan out of all her kids, their POVs show that they actually resent each other the most out of any of our four main characters. I can understand where Regan’s coming from, but Charlotte’s dislike of Regan so far is quite a mystery to me. What do you think is at the core here?
All I can think of is that she was the last one at home after Winston passed and she has a love/hate relationship with the fact that she wasn't able to provide the life for Regan that the other two kids had.

4) What do you think will happen on the trip? Will they even do the whole thing? Who will be the first to pack their bags and run back home? Which secrets will come out first?
I think that secrets will come out and feelings will be hurt. I don't think any of them will leave and come all the way home. I think Regan will be annoyed by her husband and want him to go home. My guess is that Lee will spill the beans first but it's hard to say.

Just finished Broken Harbor, started The Jetsetters and will be doing the first set of questions shortly and also reading Love by Roddy Doyle but not sure where that will end up on the spreadsheet. I should be able to read it quite quickly because it's basically a conversation. Still trying to land a copy of Five Feet Apart.

Amber wrote: "They posted the words for round 2. Our next word is Sea Kayaking."

A lot of the same letters as this round so if someone isn’t able to finish a book it should be easy to move it to the next round

Do we need to answer BOM questions for 2 or 3 days? I think in the past it has been 3 days if I remember correctly.

Shannon wrote: "how do you link the BOM evidence to your post specifically?"

I think all you have to do is copy the link and link it like you would a book on the spreadsheet. I would double check your link though to make sure it comes up with your answers and not another page.

Donna wrote: "Have you ever read one of those books that are super zany and wild? You can't rush through it but you honestly don't know if you like it or not. It's just really crazy and odd. Some parts are laugh..."

I have that happen all the time. It's almost like you're reading in slow-motion. It's so good it's bad. You find yourself going slow through the really great parts and wishing you could skip the bad parts. When you finish it you don't quite know what to rate it because it wasn't good but it wasn't necessarily bad either. Taking a break should help. Very usual for you to be stuck on a book for 3 days you're a very quick reader.

We’re under way 📚!

Tammie wrote: "Wheel officially starts at 4PM-Central, tomorrow - Friday
link to countdown -> https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I haven't seen anything to the..."

Thanks Tammie! This will work out perfectly because I’m going to finish my book I’m reading right now today. I have a lot going on in the morning/early afternoon tomorrow so this will coincide time wise starting a new book Whoohoo

I’m sure this has been answered somewhere and I looked through the rules again but what are the beginning and end times for each week?

I just checked my holds and I am next on the list for both of the BOM's. I'm hoping that I will have them very soon.

Thanks Tammie!

Donna wrote: "Everyone! I have created checkbox lists in the task tab. Anyone who wants a separate tab can have their own as well. Please let me know and I will add it while I am working in the SS. Link is in ms..."

Could I please have a separate tab? Thank you!

Tammie wrote: "MPG means 'main page genre'.
If you look at the primary page for your book...on the right side there is a list of genres. If the challenge says MPG...it means it must be listed on this page.

@ A..."

Participating in the discussion for BOM gets us big points!

Tammie wrote: "Hi all! Looking forward to another great Wheel adventure!

I've done this challenge several times. It's fun!
My husband and I are empty nesters...I'm a Realtor so my schedule is dependent on my c..."

J.R. Ward is great! I devour her books. I cannot put down any of her books. Her writing style is one of the best.

Hello Everyone! I'm excited to meet you all.

Sorry for the delay of introducing myself. I took yesterday off from Goodreads after Donna and I had an exciting Quidditch match on Friday and Saturday. Before I forget my wheel shelf is:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I enjoy reading almost anything not always too keen on High Fantasy or Sci-Fi but I'm going to try them again. Maybe I just haven't found the right books yet. I think this is my third time playing wheel and it's always been a good time.

Some of my favorite books are:

Pretty much anything by Jenny Colgan.
This was a real surprise!
Fantastic vampire series!
Wonderful classic
This was another surprise. I had a friend recommend it and he didn't think I would enjoy it but I loved it.
If you like romantic comedy this series is hilarious!