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

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

Day One: Part One

1. Living in southwest United States, I'm very familiar with droughts and water rights, so this hits close to home! Do you enjoy dystopia novels that have an element of truth to them or do you prefer pure fiction? Why or why not?
I'll be honest I'm not a big fan of dystopian novels. I do like that this has an element of truth though.

2. Kelton discusses three types of people, sheep, wolves, and herders; do you believe humans truly fall into these roles during challenging times?
I would say he probably is correct. I haven't had first hand experience with this per se but everyone has different levels of dealing with a situation. Some are leaders, some are followers and some people freak out and can't handle it.

3. What do you think of Kelton and Alyssa as the MCs of this story so far?
They are likable characters. I haven't found anything annoying about them. They seem like they will develop nicely.

4. Near the end of this section, Kelton's dad tells a neighbor, "as if your lack of foresight is my fault", how do you feel about this, do you agree?
I feel you always have to be prepared to a degree for a crisis. Everyone knew that the water was drying up for awhile and could have stocked up but they chose to ignore this because they probably felt there was no way it could actually happen.

5. I'm enjoying how the vignettes add a little something different to the story, the reporter and the family at the airport offer a different lense about the events, what are your thoughts?
I agree. It gives you a sense of what is happening outside of Kelton and Alyssa's neighborhood.

I’ll move Dry to a Z. I found a Z character in it 😃

I just finished reading two of the BOMS and the questions for this week. I'm going to try to get Dry and Good Omens done for next week. What to read next for this week?...

Day 5
Novice - End
21. As Rosie battles the crisis of being a doctor in a hospital in the middle of a jungle with less than enough resources at hand, Claude/Poppy is thrust into a school to teach English to the kids there, which are very different from what she is used to - much simpler, maybe. If you had an opportunity to go to a place like that, would you take it? Do you think it would be life-changing for you? If yes/no, why?
I don't know that I could do it. I'm such a creature of comfort and a germaphobe. I would like to think that I could go and help others somewhere remote but I just don't know if I would be able to get out of my comfort zone.

22. What did you think of the ending? Did you think Aggie and Poppy would make up? What about Penn selling his fairytale - do you think that is a story that you would read yourself or would read to your children, about Grumwald who was a prince and a princess at the same time?
I said earlier that this is type of book that Penn should be writing and lol and behold that is what he ended up writing and it sold. I don't know that I would read it. I think it would resonate with a certain type of audience though. I thought the ending was ok. It left a lot to the imagination as to Poppy's future. I wasn't sure that she and Aggie would make up but I hoped they would.

23. I especially liked the end chapter where his/her story is drawn out, a metaphor for everything Poppy went through. Did you think it was a good addition to the book? And what about the moral: 'story is the best magic there is'. Do you agree/disagree?
I agree that stories are the best magic. You can write/imagine whatever you want and that makes it magical. I guess it was a good metaphor by the last chapter I was ready to be done with the book.

24. All in all, did you enjoy the book? How would you rate it?
I gave it three stars. It was ok. I got kind of annoyed that it was so drawn out and the POV got to me after awhile.

Day 4 - Who Knows? - Aid Ambiguous


16. Throughout the book Penn has used fairy tales to explore the issues in their lives. Did you enjoy this approach?
I did, I also thought that maybe that should be the type of book he should be writing.


17. All 4 boys admitted to telling Poppy's secret. Were you surprised by this? And how did you feel when it was later revealed how Poppy was outed?
No, because I think they all felt terrible about any little slips they made. They wanted to give Poppy and their parents someone to blame. I was angry because they woman should not have read the file and should not have discussed it with her husband. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree considering how Marnie acts.


18. Up to this point I really enjoyed the scenes with Mr. Tongo. What did you think of his guidance to Penn and Rosie? Do you believe that by sheltering Poppy they hindered her development?
I thought Mr Tongo was a fun character who has probably seen a lot things in his tenure. I don't think they hindered her development in the slightest. I think they gave her the chance to discover who she is and embrace it.


19. On the one hand we have Penn enthusiastically researching vaginoplasty for Poppy's future, but on the other we have Rosie more along the lines of making decisions based on the present. Considering that Poppy is only 10 and taking into account the events leading up to this discussion, which side did you most agree with?
I think as a parent you always want to be able to put a quick fix on any problems your children have. I think Penn thought that by changing Poppy's genitalia that everything would be fixed not necessarily so. Rosie is more clinical in her thinking since she is a doctor. I didn't agree with either one. I felt that it was a discussion that needed to be had between the two of them with as many facts about all the choices and then presented to Poppy to make the ultimate decision. Nothing needed to be done quickly.


20. Unexpectedly Rosie decided to work at the clinic in Thailand and to take Claude/Poppy with her. Did you think this was the right thing to do for Claude/Poppy? For her family?
I think Rosie thinks that getting away with Poppy will give her time to think decide what will make her most happy. I also think Rosie wanted to show Poppy another side of life with different struggles. Give her time to think.

DQs Day 3 - Everyone Who? - Hedge Enemies

11. The description of them unpacking - pictures on wall first - is so true to me: pictures on the wall, books on shelves and the rest can wait. Do you unpack like that? More widely, did you enjoy the information about the family settling into the new neighbourhood?
Books on shelves first the rest can wait. I liked the information it gave insight as to what type of neighborhood they had moved into.

12. Rosie is having difficulties settling into the new job, and the senior partner's slightly wonky (but oh-so-real) view about how flexible working actually functions. Do you enjoy that Frankel is bringing in adult life issues wider than just parenting a trans kid?
I think she had to bring in other issues to show that Poppy wasn't the only thing the parents were dealing with. There are 4 other kids, a job, and life in general.

13. Roo.... poor Roo. What did you think about his video project when you first read about it? How did you feel by the end of the section? Any thoughts on how Roo's story will pan out?
At first I thought he was angry at his parents for all the attention being placed on Poppy but then I started to think there had to more to the story than meets the eye.

14. The last chapter has a discussion about gender pay equality, and Rosie realises that Poppy had no idea about this, and wonders if they have done her a disservice by sheltering her too much from equality issues. Do you agree? Do you think it's realistic that Poppy wouldn't know?
I definitely feel it's realistic that she wouldn't have known she's a little kid and little kids don't worry about those things. In there eyes all things are equal. I don't think they've done a disservice I think they have sheltered her as all parents shelter their children from the outside world.

15. I find the narrator's voice slightly odd: it veers from a high-level view down into intimate POV, and chucks in a whole load of Ominous Warnings of Impending Doom. Are you enjoying the writing style?
It's different-I don't love it but I also don't hate it.

DQs Day 2: Maybe to Rival Neighbor Princess

6.) The adults in this book have a wide range of reactions to Claude. You have the fun Mr. Tongo, the principle, Victoria Revels, Miss Appleton, the gun totting Nick, the horrible Cindy (who risks a kid's life like that!?!) and their reactions to Claude vary drastically. Thinking about these characters, I keep going back to the quote "At home Claude is loved no matter what. At school, sometimes it feels the opposite: you are not loved no matter what."
What do you think about this quote, is it true? What does the reactions of the older kids and adults versus the younger kids say about society?
I agree that at home you are loved and you never know in society. Home is where you should be accepted unconditionally. Maybe others in the family don't agree with you but they still love and accept you. Younger kids don't know any different and it's a beautiful thing. They don't see skin color or demographic all they see is another kid who might be fun to play with. The rest comes later when the parents/society teaches them what they should think (or maybe shouldn't think). Opinions and prejudices are pressed into their little minds when what they had before was true and pure love for another.

7.) In this section we learn where the title comes from. Do you agree with Penn's statement?
I do because life can be a mess and you sometimes just have to roll with the punches.

8.) Claude chooses his new name, and as new names are wont to do, a new identity. Were you surprised at his choice? Do you think it was a good choice? Or a foreshadow of danger ahead?
No, I really wasn't surprised. I knew it wouldn't be a form of Claude and he seems like a very introspective person so choosing Poppy seemed very likely. I think it was an excellent choice. It was the name of a beloved family member and he is choosing to remember her by honoring her and choosing her name. The whole book seemed to foreshadow danger ahead. I keep waiting for the moment when someone finds out the secret.

9.) Do you agree with Rosie's decision to move the family? Do you think problems will crop up with Roo in their new home with how attached he was to life in WI?
I do agree. I think a fresh start was the way to go. She felt the need to protect her baby. I definitely think there will be problems but I also think there would problems if they stayed in WI. He's a teenager-they're moody, broody and problematic no matter where they are.

10.) What are your thoughts on keeping Claude/Poppy's gender secret in their new home? How do you think the truth will come out? When it does, what do you think will happen to Poppy?
I 'm not sure how I feel about this, although a fresh start was why the move took place. Poppy needed to have a chance to establish her identity without all the stigmas of the people around her in WI that were toxic. Someone will slip eventually. It's hard to keep secrets. I think she'll self-destruct but come out stronger.

ay 1: Start - Halloween

1. Did you have any preconcieved ideas about this book before you started, what where they?
No, I went into it open minded. I don't normally read this type of book so I hoped it would be good.

2. Rosie shares with us the continued pursuit of having a daughter and possibly having a version of her little sister Poppy in that daughter, what was your reaction to that?
I understand where she comes from. She's outnumbered by males in her family and she misses her sister.

3. What do you think of Rosie and Penn's parenting style so far?
I think it's great! Embrace the child and their feelings. Even though they are a little person they have feelings and ideas as well. I feel as long as it isn't hurting them or anyone else go with it.

4. I'm loving grandma, she doesn't even blink twice when Claude wants a bikini; what do you think would help Claude most, letting him wear bikini and dress in public or restricting him to only wear those at home?
I think being able to dress however he likes would help him the most.

5. It breaks my heart when Penn shows Rosie the drawings Claude has made of the family, where he is getting smaller with every drawing. What should they do?
Have a talk with Claude, maybe take him to therapy.

Cecily wrote: "Oh awesome!! I just finished The One & Only if you could update the SS for me."

I got you! I was on there already ;-D

Lexi wrote: "I thought I would but I won't get mine done either. I work Saturdays so had to finish stuff tonight for work tomorrow."

How is work going??? How much longer are you in India for? I bet the time is flying by. I hope you having a great time and learning a lot.

Just finished Gemina and posted it on ss. I doubt I’ll finish anything else before the deadline since I don’t have anything else started.

Jenny sent it to me. I either missed or didn’t receive the original one. Thanks Lexi!

Do we have a secret spreadsheet for planning? If so, can someone invite me please?

Sounds like a plan! 😃

Thanks Lexi!

I’m off tomorrow so I’ll finally get a chance to look at the ss and do some planning.

I’m good with the spin but I do think it would fun to do a re-spin especially since we only have two weeks left

Definitely nothing to sneeze at. Great job Lexi!

I finished mine as well. I’ll update the ss as soon as I get home from work. 🙄

Whoohoo!