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

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

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Date completed: 18 June 2016
Pages: 377
Goal read for: E-6 - Read a book shelved as young adult at least 10 times.
How it fits: If we're looking specifically for the words "young adult", it's been shelved as such 124 times.
Other info: It would work for F-4, of course. It could also work for C-4, as the audiobook is narrated by a man.

Yup! I actually have a rare weekend when I don't have any other plans. I've been tearing through The Lightning Thief. I should be done with it by this evening!

Can I just say, we've only just started and you captains are already rocking it. Thanks for being willing to put in so much work to make this challenge flow smoothly!

Now let me go bury my nose in a book :D

I read quite a bit of YA, as well, so I think we'll be good there :)

I can read for E-6 or F-4.

I agree, I think we should go with strategy!

Claudia wrote: "I'm curious are any of you who have now read the book interested in watching the TV show and seeing how it compares to the book? I'm not going to lie i didn't enjoy the book all that much but i thi..."

I didn't care for the book and it kind of makes me want to avoid the show. I was curious about the show before I read this book, but now... not so much.

Discussion Questions for: June 11
Chapters 37 - 41 (The End!)


60. Towards the beginning of chapter 37 Claire kills a young English soldier as a way to protect them from being identified and followed. Do you think this was the best option for their safety at the time? It seemed to be more difficult for her to do compared to the previous men she has stabbed. Do you think it was a nature of the situation and her experience as a nurse that made it harder for her?

It was probably the only way they were going to escape alive. I think killing the young solider was harder on Claire than killing the man that was actively trying to rape her, though. I think she feels justified in both cases, but feels less justified when it comes to the soldier. After all, he was just doing his job. I would have done the same thing, though.


61. One of the most difficult parts of the book for me to read was when Jamie describes in detail how Jack Randall tortured him. Do you think this was important to the story line? After describing the night he asks Claire to leave him and go back to Scotland. Do you think that was fair of him to ask?

I don't think it was necessary to go into that much detail... We already saw the effect of his tortures. I don't know if we really needed a play by play. Maybe it was so we could see why Jamie is so damaged by what happened? Although I had no real issue seeing why he was so scarred. I don't think it was fair of Jamie, but I understand his request. He's suffering from PTSD and Claire is just too much of a trigger. Though that can, apparently, be cured by a drugged out, naked, fist fight... Didn't really get that scene.


62. Claire comes up with a way to help Jamie face his demons by putting him in an almost hypnotic drug induced lucid dream state, believing that this is the only way he will survive since he has no will to live. Do you think this was the best way to handle the situation? What would you have done in her shoes?

I find the more I read this book, the more harshly I judged anything Claire did. I thought this whole part made absolutely no sense. I also thought she should have amputated the hell out of his hand once it became infected. She was in a safe place where the reasonably could have performed a decent amputation. Probably would have healed much more quickly. Well... I guess Jamie is lucky it was Claire and not me watching over him.


63. Do you think that Father Anselm's words to Claire about the young soldier she killed helped to ease her conscience? He mentioned that even the Holy Mother Church understands murder in defense of oneself and their family.

I think it eased her mind a little, but I think she still carries a little bit of guilt about that death.


64. Father Anselm makes this statement that I feel may be helpful to Claire but many readers may not agree with. (view spoiler)
Do you think this makes her decision to stay easier to bare? Do you agree or disagree with what he says?

At this point, I agree with him. Like he said, she's been missing for a year. Frank has probably already given her up for dead. I don't know if he'll have moved on already, but I'm sure the pain is starting to heal a little. I feel like it would be cruel for her to go back now. Not to mention the fact that Jamie is completely wrapped up in her, now, so it wouldn't be fair to him, either. Besides, she already made her choice.


65. Father Anselm offers Claire his opinions on her situation "Had you remained in your own place, your actions would still have affected what was to happen, no less than they will now." and "Your knowledge of the future is a tool, given to you as a shipwrecked castaway might find himself in possession of a knife or a fishing line. It is not immoral to use it..." Now that we have more of the story to reflect upon do you think that Claire was brought back in time for a reason? Do you think it was a fluke or freak accident? If there was a purpose what would you guess that she was meant to accomplish?

I don't know if she was expressly brought back for a purpose. Maybe she is going to save some important person's life by warning people about the failed uprising? At this point, I'm inclined it was a freak accident and I'm not sure I'll be continuing the series to find out otherwise.


66. Claire catches Jamie shedding a few tears after looking at his semi-healed hand. His response to her was not what she was expecting: "I was crying for joy, my Sassenach," he said softly. He reached out slowly and took my face between his hands. "And thanking God that I have two hands. That I have two hands to hold you with. To serve you with, to love you with. Thanking God that I am a whole man still, because of you." Do you think that her diligence in caring for Jamie (even when he is being stubborn) has and/or will impact their relationship?

Of course! How could it not? I mean, I know I would be deeply touched by anyone taking that good care of me. I'm sure it will only bring them closer.


67. Jamie takes Claire to a hot spring. Do you think this was an important event for them or symbolic in any way? Regardless, it sounds very relaxing. Have you ever been to a natural hot spring?

It sounded like it was lovely. I see that their sex drive is back in full swing. I'm surprised they didn't do it again stumbling back up the stairs at the end. /sarcasm I haven't been to a hot spring, myself, but it sounds like it would be very nice.


68. The last paragraph of the book is as follows: "I have a gift for you too," I said suddenly to Jamie. He turned toward me and his hand slid, large and sure, over the plane of my still-flat stomach. "Have you, now?" he said. And the world was all around us, new with possibility. It implies that Claire is with child which makes their assumptions of her being barren false. Do you think this will be a hindrance with their plans for the following year? What are your feeling about her announcement? Do you think it was a nice way to end the novel?

Kind of felt that was coming. They kept mentioning her barren-ness so much, I felt like it was leading to something. I thought they would have to do something special, though, for her to get pregnant. It seems... sudden. Pregnancy can be like that, though. It happens when you least expect it! It will be interesting to see how this will effect their plans to go to Rome. Interesting for someone else to see, I should clarify. Her "announcement" wasn't much of one, but I'm happy for them. I thought it was a sweet way to end.

Welcome to Amy and Heather!! Good to have you on the team :)

Strategy-wise, I'm all for giving the chart a go as opposed to randomly picking. After the first round, we'll have a better idea of what we're working with, so having some sort of strategy behind it seems sound.

DQs for June 10 - Chp. 34-36


56. Claire mentions the lack of newspapers and other types of mass communication making it much slower to get news in this time. With how connected we are today with our computers and cell phones, I would be going through serious Internet-withdrawals. What modern convenience would you miss most if you were swept back to the 1700s?

Probably freedom since I probably would have been a slave back then... But on the less depressing side of things, I'd miss running water and proper, physical hygiene the most. People were freakin' gross back then!


57. And Dougal is the baby's daddy! Seems like most everyone guessed that correctly. But the fact that Collum and Leticia did that on purpose to give Collum an heir -- ick. This reminds me of a similar custom in The Handmaid's Tale, but that was pure fiction. I'm wondering if this sort of thing really went on if someone wasn't able to sire their own child. For any historical fiction fans or history buffs, had you previously heard about this type of thing happening?

I had never heard of this type of thing happening, but it's honestly not that surprising. People back then were obsessed with their legacy. Collum would know that, if he didn't produce a son, his line was in danger of dying. I wasn't too shocked to learn that it had been his idea.


58. Oh Claire and her darn flimsy rescue attempt! She just put Jamie in an even worse predicament, basically making him have to rescue HER! Ugh, she really gets on my nerves sometimes. But picturing the second rescue attempt with the cows running loose was very comical. Do you think Randall is really dead, or will he show up again to sicken us some more?

Yeah, that "rescue" attempt was just... not good. Yet another example of modern Claire thinking she can do whatever and it will be fine! I know she felt she had to do something, but that didn't seem well planned at all. Of course, I probably couldn't have done much better. Really, though, my main issue with that whole section (regarding Claire... there are other, more disturbing things...) was her wolf fight. I mean, really? You really expect me to believe that's how that fight would have gone down? Give me a break...

Also, I don't think we've seen the last of BJR. Unfortunately.


59. When Lady Annabelle was watching Claire perform her healing ministrations on Jamie, it made me think that maybe she is inspired by Claire's knowledge and would like to learn to be a healer herself. If you went back in time, would you try to help nudge the community into more modern, "civilized" ways of thinking, or would you try to fly under the radar so as not to disturb the timeline?

Fly under the radar, most definitely. It's fine for Claire to use her medical skills as needed, but to try and throw modern ideas at people would likely land her in a witch trail... again. Also, can she stop yelling out things from modern life? John Wayne was the first and most relevant reference you could think of, Claire? Sigh... I'm going to chalk that one up to the stress. Claire is really irritating me in the last parts of this book.

I think that's a good strategy, since we'll get more points for hit squares. We would want to get the bonus points there, I would think.

As for a guess, I'm gonna go with E2

Too true! We're really close to the mountains, too, so I'm excited about that. I also have a friend that moved there with her husband, so it will be awesome to see her again. Of course, they'll be moving in January to Germany! I would love to go back overseas.

Chris wrote: "Are you going to Kirtland? Albuquerque is a wonderful place to live, with lots to do."

Heh, not so much. We're going to Holloman, which is out in the middle of nowhere. My husband has family there, so that's going to be nice, but we're pretty far away from most everything. Not going to lie, though, I like being out in the middle of nowhere. The only thing that is making me sad is that the closest Target and Barnes & Noble is an hour away :(

Sandy wrote: "Kerri wrote: "Ahhh, WOBBLE is almost here :D

I would like to say that I'm moving cross country in July. The move itself should only take a couple of days and we should have internet fairly quickly..."

My family and I are moving to New Mexico :) I'm excited to be heading back to the Southwest!

As I said, I'm usually a one book a week gal, but I'm going to try and keep multiple books going. I can guarantee at least one/week, though. I'm gonna try out audiobooks for this road trip we're about to undergo, so I might get even more in that week!

Ahhh, WOBBLE is almost here :D

I would like to say that I'm moving cross country in July. The move itself should only take a couple of days and we should have internet fairly quickly, so I don't expect it will effect my participation here. I'll still be able to check in from my phone and update from my hubby's laptop while we're on the road. And I'm only a book a week reader, so I'll definitely still be able to get my one book in that week!

@Sandy I'm glad your pup is okay!

I love challenges because they push me to try books/genres I wouldn't have picked up left to my own devices. I'm excited to see where this challenge takes me! Excited to start reading with you guys!

I'm super pumped for this! I'm planning on clearing a lot of books off of my TBR list during this challenge. Of course, knowing me, I'll probably add on as many as I clear off, lol.

Erika wrote: "Charlie, I am currently reading A Walk in the Woods and loving it. Its travel related non fiction. Geography of Bliss was fantastic too"

I absolutely love this book! His other stuff is pretty good, as well. The only one, so far, I haven't been able to get through was A Short History of Nearly Everything. It was kinda dry to me... I might give it another try here soon.

I'm going to be adding a lot of books to my TBR. These all sound very interesting! Thanks for all the recommendations :)

Charlie wrote: "Kerri wrote: "Q: Which genre do you wish you read more of?

Non-fiction, definitely. Any suggestions?"

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks has been my favorite NF book the past few..."

I've actually read that one :) It's one of the few non-fiction books I've read and I loved it! Any others like it?