Kerri’s Comments (group member since Sep 29, 2015)

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

August 17
Comments and Questions
Part Two (chapters 11-24)

6. Two years have passed and the opening line of this part really surprised me! Have you enjoyed the development of Evie's character?

Yes! She's really holding her own and I love it. I mean, she's still not getting the treatment she deserves and most of the time she has to hold her tongue, but when she doesn't, it's the best. It's obviously to see, though she still doubts herself sometimes, that she has way more confidence than when the story began.

7. Four births and only two live babies. This was such a reminder to me of how lucky I am to live nowadays or I probably would have been another statistic (both my kids were born via c-section). I got quite teary with the births described here. Your thoughts?

Even though Evie is super hard on herself with both the deaths (well... all three including the one mother), I saw it as just a product of their time. Evie did everything she reasonably could in both situations. Sure, she could have refused to let that idiot doctor use the forceps and done it herself, but who's to say that would have helped? Still, I think it's good that Evie took those losses so hard. That's what a doctor, in my mind, is supposed to be like. They are supposed to be compassionate and the loss of any patient should hurt like hell. Those scenes made me really thankful to be a mother in this day and age.

8. Lovely romance with Lil and Leo! Have you ever played matchmaker?

I have not, lol. I've had friends come to me for advice with relationships, but I've never actually set two people up.

9. Given all of the obstacles, do you agree with Evie's choice to be a Doctor?

Hell yeah! She's obviously smart (top of her class, boom) and has the compassion and drive. And the need for female doctors, especially in obstetrics, is very apparent. It just makes sense.

10. I was quite disappointed with Evie going away with Tom seeing how she has watched so many "fallen" women herself. The big reveal at the end of this section seemed a bit inevitable. Your thoughts?

I think she and Tommy were being safe (she mentioned using rubbers) but it did seem kind of reckless, especially in her position. She already had a feeling she wasn't good enough for him, considering her chosen profession and side job, and then you're going to add a possible illegitimate child? That being said, if in her shoes, I probably would have done the same thing. Love can blind you to stuff like consequences.

11. So we now know Mary's parentage! If I was Evie I would take the father's letter and go and talk to her mother and have them adopt Mary. But perhaps those are just modern sensibilities. Do you think it is at all possible for Evie to be able to be a single mother of two in this time period?

Evie couldn't even convince her parents that medical school was doable for her. There's no way she'd be able to convince them to adopt Mary. They would probably just disown her again. It's going to be hard for Evie to be a single mom of two. It's hard these days and the world is far more enlightened than it was back then. As a doctor, I think money won't be the complete issue, but the stigma is going to be a bear.

12. Predictions for the end?

I don't see Tommy giving up on Evie easily. He's going to come back, she's going to try to convince him that she's not good enough for him, he's gonna call bull, and they're, somehow, going to end up together. Maybe he'll give up Presidency of the bank? Or just marry her and to hell with the consequences. I don't know, but I'm excited to find out!

@Samantha - Good luck with classes!

@Aminko - Congratulations on your new job! What will you be doing?

August 15
Comments and Questions
Part One (chapters 1-10)

1. I *loved* the meeting with Thomas in the tree and how he gave Evie the seed of an idea about being a Doctor. What are your feelings towards Thomas?

I like Thomas a lot. I feel like he's trying so hard to be the man his father expects him to be (and doing rather well), but he has a rebellious side, just like Evie. It's just that he's a man and is more free than she is to express it and less likely to face much harm when he does. Still, he doesn't try to impose other peoples' ideals on Evie like everyone else seems to be doing in this book. For that, he is awesome.

2. Mrs Whitman seems quite "enlightened" for the time seeing that she lent her dowry to her husband to set up the bank ; and she is also quite the romantic! Do you think she will continue to play a vital role for Evie?

Ahh, one of my favorite characters! I do think she will still play a vital role for Evie. I think she's basically taken over for her mother, who is horrible. Just. Horrible. I think she'll be there for, at least, moral support, if not more concrete support.

3. So guesses on baby Mary's father? My money was originally on Charlie, but then I started wondering if it is Evie's father :o

I still think it's Charlie, but I don't think Charlie is the gentleman that sent the baby to New York and keeps showing up at the orphanage. I would guess Thomas (since he seems to try and take care of his idiot brother a lot), but he's in London right now. The gentleman visiting could be Mr. Whitman... trying to take care of his youngest son's child. I'm still pretty convinced Charlie is the dad, though.

4. Thoughts on Viola? She seems to have had her sights on Charlie. Would they make a good match?

Ugh, Viola... I knew she had a thing for Charlie, which is fine. Evie didn't want him, anyways. But the way she treated her sister for some gross man is just inexcusable. I thought Viola was just the quiet sister, but she's turned into a real... witch *coughs* I don't think Viola is going to be very happy with her choice, in the long run. Charlie certainly won't be happy. That marriage is doomed.

5. Your initial impressions of the book? The writing style / historical references / language used?

I've fallen for this book quite rapidly. It's great! And the audiobook version is just amazing! I don't know who picked the narrator, but she is fantastic. I really like the style and the language. It makes me want to slip into a flapper dress and go party with Evie and Lil at Chumley's :)

Sounds good!

This is a great book. I'd like to join in for the discussion!

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
Date completed: 14 August 2016
Pages: 447

Characters: Daniel Burnham, John Root, H.H. Holmes (his actual name is Herman Mudgett, but he's most commonly known as H.H. Holmes... I wasn't sure which name to use), Frederick Olmsted, Patrick Prendergast, Benjamin Pietzel, Carter Harrison, George Ferris, Sol Bloom, Minnie Williams, Anna Williams, Louis Sullivan
Possible letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, L, M, O, P, R, S, W

Cover color: Black
Text color: Yellow
Items on cover: City (white)
Colors in title: White
Colors in text:
red - pg 17
orange - pg 252
pink - pg 97
green - pg 75
purple - pg 181
blue - pg 3
brown - pg 75
black - pg 18
white - pg 20
gray - pg 79
gold - pg 161
silver - pg 238

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Date completed: 11 August 2016
Pages: 192

Characters: Alex, Georgie, Pete, Dim, P.R. Deltoid, Dr. Branom, Dr. Brodsky, Joe, Billyboy, F. Alexander, Z. Dolin, Rubenstein, D.B. da Silva
Possible letters: A, B, C, D, G, J, P, R

Cover color: Black
Text color: White
Color in text: Orange
Items on cover: Orange (fire), grey/gray (drawing)
Colors in text:
Red - pg 13
Orange - pg 25
Pink - pg 14
Green - pg 108
Purple - pg 5
Blue - pg 196
Brown - pg 38
Black - pg 11
White - pg 114
Grey - pg 207
Gold - pg 50
Silver - pg 69

Finders Keepers by Stephen King
Date completed: 9 August 2016
Pages: 528
Series: Bill Hodges Trilogy

Characters: Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, Jerome Robinson, Barbara Robinson, Peter Saubers, Tina Saubers, Linda Saubers, Thomas Saubers, Morris Bellamy, Andrew Halliday, John Rothstein, Freddy Dow, Curtis Rogers
Possible letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, P, R, S, T

Color on cover: Possibly brown
Color of text: Red
Items on cover: Brown (tree)
Colors in text:
Red - pg 4
Orange - pg 102
Pink - pg 75
Green - pg 107
Purple - pg 109
Blue - pg 10
Brown - pg 41
Black - pg 14
White - pg 98
Gray - pg 150
Gold - pg 60
Silver - pg 221

No problem! I've been getting lucky that the colors we need are corresponding to books I already want to read :)

Ohh, A Clockwork Orange is on my TBR. I need to read it for another challenge, too.

I'm definitely down for this BOM!

I'm exciting to dig into this book :)

@Sandy - Thank you!

@Samantha - Glad you had fun at the wedding. That travel experience sounds pretty crappy :( I love flying, but it's never fun when you have delays and all that other stuff. Glad you made it back safely! Now it's time to gear up for your wedding :D

I finished reading White Fang and I realized that was the last book I needed to reach my 2016 Reading Challenge goal! WOBBLE has definitely been a big help with that. I don't think I would be even halfway done if it weren't for this challenge pushing me. I'm gonna blow my goal out of the water this year ;)

White Fang by Jack London
Date completed: 8 August 2016
Pages: 195

Characters: White Fang, Bill, Henry, Grey Beaver, Beauty Smith, Weedon Scott, Matt, Judge Scott
Possible letters: B, F, G, H, J, L, M, S, W

Color of cover: Black/grey
Color of title text: White
Color in title: White
Colors in text:
Red - pg 19
Green - pg 173
Blue - pg 60
Black - pg 5
White - pg 26
Grey - pg 12
Gold - pg 135

That is fantastic that you got your pup back safe and sound, Chris!

Man... That's a rough one!

@Samantha Aww, congrats to your brother! Lots of weddings in your family this year!

I could read White Fang if no one else has a book with white in the title. It's pretty short, so I could have it done by the end of the weekend.

As for the Olympics, I'm sad because this will be the first time in years that I'll be missing the Opening Ceremonies! We decided against getting cable when we moved since we mostly just watch Netflix anyways.

My copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child just arrived in the mail! It's definitely next up on the TBR pile.