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

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

Sorry I fell asleep last night and wasn't able to finish those two books...

I’ve got the Vespa prompt and I’m almost done with “one”. I should finish it tonight

Day 3 Chapters 14-20

11. Whether the stories are true or not, are you interested in the back stories of Margaret’s family? What did you think of Freddy’s first interaction with Bernie? (The one that contained the only laugh out loud line so far “Because of your wardrobe?”)
I am very interested, it's an intriguing story even if she did embellish or completely make it up. Too funny!

12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
Could she be Margaret's forbidden lover??? Definitely! There has to be more to her story.


13. I do not have kids, but Hayden’s list of “what ifs” to worry about was a lot. Do you parents worry about that stuff?
I don't have kids either but I do worry about my cat like that lol She means the world to me. I think I might have a tendency to be a helicopter parent because of the way I treat my cat haha I guess I do worry about my nieces and nephews as well.

14. Why do you think Alice thinks that Margaret’s tales of her childhood are true, as opposed to the stuff about her family before she was around? Do you find her insightful or naive?
The stories seem a little more believable I guess. A little of both

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?
100% it will go swimmingly! 100% of course otherwise it wouldn't be complete!

DQs Day 2
The Story to Chapter 13

5. Margaret is lying – and probably not just about one singular thing. Do you think she’s even telling Alice and Hayden the same story? Personally I’m also really curious where Margaret’s sister Laura is – to me it feels like she might be key to the whole story… anything specific that made you perk up?
No, I think she's telling a different angle of somewhat the same story to each of them. Laura has got me wondering as well. I feel something big happened between her and Margaret causing Margaret to want to go off the grid.

6. Similarly, it was kind of an aside but I thought it was interesting when Margaret mentioned the Ives family’s rivalry with the Pulitzers. Is it just a random coincidence that Hayden is a Pulitzer-prize winning author who now also gets to talk to her? Especially since she requested him? And he has a bunch of family issues too?
It might be a jab to the Pulitzers that she was able to get him to come but on the other hand the ones who might recognize this are probably all dead at this point. I think his having family issues is just a way to make him an opposite to Alice.

7. I was a little shocked when they were already kissing 25% in – and then not surprised when Hayden rejects Alice. Do you think he’s telling the truth when he says “I’m not going to hook up with someone whose dream job I’m about to take from them”? Or is there something else going on?
I think Hayden is a good person and doesn't want to devastate Alice IF he wins the job. I personally think they are both going to win and it will be a collaboration.

8. We get quite a bit of detail on Alice’s job and research process as a journalist: what she’s searching for, working with fact-checkers, etc. Do you enjoy these types of details, i.e. minutae of characters’ jobs and hobbies?
I do because it gives insight to what it takes to do a job like that thoroughly.

9. I’ve been to Hearst Castle, but long before I actually knew anything about him. The Ives family seems to be quite obviously inspired by him (and I guess he was name-dropped for plausible deniability). Is there a specific family dynasty you’re really interested in?
I enjoy learning about most families and history.

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?
I guess you could say that it does have some shades of it. It's been some time since I read it so it's not fully clicking that they are super similar.

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 to 7

1.) Emily Henry is a popular contemporary romance author and a fair few of her books have been previous NBRC BOM selections. Any expectations for this book going in?
I think it's going to be a great book. I have liked every one her books that I have read so far with Book Lovers being my favorite.

2.) What are your first impressions of Alice? And sending that drink to Hayden?
I think she seems a little naive but very kind and wants to do small acts of kindness for others. She seems like a good person.

3.) Would you agree to the month long trial or tell Margaret she's a nutter and move on to something else? Why do you think Margaret is doing things this way?
Hard to say I probably would not be happy about the situation but if it was something I was truly invested in I might be ok with it. No real idea.

4.) After learning a few tidbits about Hayden's family and how he grew up, did your opinion change a bit on his character?
Not so far I don't know all that much about him yet. He has to be the opposite of Alice otherwise it wouldn't be rom-com lol

I started going through my shelves and found a “one” book. I’ll add it to the spreadsheet in a bit

Absolutely! I’m still going to look as well 😉

Thanks Vicky, I was going to do some research on that myself today

Finally finished the Turkish author book! Sorry it took me so long...

DQs Day 3

12. When Norma tells her mother she's pregnant, Norma notices fear in her mother's eyes. What do you think that fear was about? Do you think she was remembering her own past experiences and worrying about Norma, or was she fearing that this would lead to Norma finding out the truth somehow? (Thinking to all of the bloodwork and stuff that comes from this, though admittedly not sure in the time frame if that was as much of a concern.)
That she was losing her and/or because she has had a bad time with pregnancies that Norma will as well and have the same heartbreak she did.

13. Ruthie was from Nova Scotia and went missing in Maine, yet Norma and Ben ran into each other in Boston of all places — somewhere his family would not be expecting her. Later, when they need some time away, Norma's husband takes her to Nova Scotia, where she feels some familiarity and connection to the land. Are these crossovers just coincidences, or do you think that in the grand scheme of the story, something more (fate, a higher power, etc.) is leading them to each other?
I definitely feel the universe was trying to tell her something. Fate wanted her to know her story.

14. We get the backstory in this section on why Joe didn't know he had a daughter at first. Knowing what we know now do you agree with his family's decision to keep him in the dark? Have your opinions on Joe changed with this piece of backstory revealed?
I don't agree. I always feel that everyone good or bad deserves to know that they are a parent it is then up to them to decide what to do with that knowledge.

15. "I would learn to love the little one." What a strange thing for Lenore to say when broaching the topic of adoption — especially considering Norma's circumstances. What did you think when you read that — especially seeing how Lenore treated Norma growing up?
I thought it was weird considering her own situation with Norma. She had to learn to love Norma even though she was the child she wanted and craved. The fact that she would learn to love an adopted baby was almost an admittal of what had taken place with Norma.

DAY 2 QUESTIONS - CHAPTERS 4-7

7. "But sometimes I think that sadness drilled down deep and some of it might just be there for good"
"now get lost and leave me to my book."
"There was love in that house but none of us really knew what to do with it."
In chapter four we learn more about Norma's parents and life in their house as she grew up. Does learning about Lenore's past make you more sympathetic to her? And how about their parenting style, I can't imagine ever telling my children or grandchildren "to get lost" because I wanted to read a book. (Ok, I'm sure all parents might have thought it at times, but saying it to a child is a definite no no in my book!)
Oh it would be a definite no in my book as well! Yes and no-I can understand where she came from but I also feel that she needs to overcome. Their parenting style was weird, not normal at all at least to me, very overbearing, helicopter parents.

8. In juxtaposition to Frank, Lenore and Norma, we have alternating chapters about family life from Joe's POV. Thoughts and why does the author structure the novel this way?
I think she wanted to show the differences between the two families lives.

9. Chapter 5 - the horrible incident with Frankie and Charlie. How did you feel reading about this injustice? Could anything been done to avert this tragedy? How does Amanda Peters' writing the scene add to the heartbreak?
I felt angry that something like this could happen. She did a good job of making the scene very heartfelt.

10. What you think of Aunty June and her role in the story? Why does she encourage Norma to interact with the Indian protesters only to pull her back when she is recognized as Ruthie?
I liked June, I think she helped to balance out the parenting style of Lenore and Frank. She was a little crazy in a good way and gave a sense of normal to Norma's weird life.

11. Joe seems to be a tragic figure as the story of his life is revealed. How he has responded to racism and trauma make you feel when reading this book? Are you enjoying the story or does it make for uncomfortable reading?
I am enjoying the book, in fact I enjoyed it so much I finished it lol I think Joe is sad and angry, it's a lot for him to take in.

DQs for day 1

Some of these questions will lead to possible spoilers. Please be sure to hide any spoilers

1. What expectations do you have for the book based on the blurb or other description of the book?
No real expectations, I think I had it in my TBR for awhile and I think I marked it TBR because it was going to take me out of my usual genres.

2. How reliable do you the think the 2 narrators are?
I have no reason at this point to believe that they are unreliable, it's the beginning of the story.

3. Chapter 1 opens with " The day Ruthie went missing the black flies seemed to be especially hungry...Indians made such good berry pickers...something sour in our blood kept the black flies away". How does this establish Joe's view of the relationship that exists between the whites and the Mi'kmaq?

4. How much is Norma dreaming vs remembering? What do you think the dreams foreshadow?I don't think the dreams are foreshadowing anything, they seem like they are repressed memories something we all have.

5. How do you explain Lenore's paranoia about Norma being out alone? How do you account for the incongruity of her insistence that Norma likes to play with baby dolls when she sees Norma choosing other playthings?
She's probably afraid that something will happen to her since she is an only child. She wants to keep Norma a little girl.

6. Why did Joe act so clingy when he returned from his first "guide" with his dad?
He saw his Dad who is an authoritative figure in his life lose his power.

The book I’m reading right now works for book tagged book 10x or more. I thought I put it on the spreadsheet but maybe I didn’t. I was 1/2 asleep when I updated last night after work 😂🤣

Vicky wrote: "For the author born in Turkey several teams have read Labyrinth Or books by Orhan Pamuk."

I found an author that was born in Istanbul according to Wikipedia-Ayse Kulin. She has a book that looks very interesting but I won't be able to get to it until Tuesday-ish because I'm going to cap out today but I will go ahead and claim the spot

Thanks Vicky! I will keep that in mind. I am going to hit my cap this month but the next book I’m going to read is going to take me a bit longer. It’s also my last library book so I’ll have a little more choice on finding books that fit harder prompts

You can find it on the spreadsheet on the last tab. I think it’s called reading stats

5 books over whatever you put down for what you read in a month. Mine was 8 so my cap is 13

When does the new month start? The 17th? I’m reading my last book before I’m capped for the month 😩 I know I can start something else and just not finish it but I don’t want to mess anything up by posting that I’ve finished too early

ChrisP wrote: "It is good to be here. I look forward to reading with you. Looks like wires got crossed and I missed a couple of days. I read obsessively and like to compete. I haven't participated in a TT in a lo..."

Welcome Chris! I hope you have a fun time with our team. Happy reading!

Shelby wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "Could someone please add more rows at the bottom of the main tracking sheet? Thank you!"

Fixed Rebecca. Spreadsheet had gotten locked on a sort somewhere, but should be back to nor..."

Thanks Shelby!