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

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

That sucks, Karsyn! I hope that heals soon.

So close! How awesome is that!

Title: Sabriel
Author: Garth Nix
Published: 6 October 2009
Date completed: 21 January 2016
Number of pages: 352 pages
Goal: None

Points: 40 (pages)

Good job, team!!

I've got nothing, here, so I'm good with using the boon.

We can do this!

Day 7 Chapters 34-39 End

Q34 The girl's father comes to each of them to say goodbye. Did you realise what he had planned ? Did this change your opinion of him?

I didn't really think of it before Vianne guessed. I thought he was going to maybe bomb something, but I didn't think he would confess to being the Nightingale. That was pretty brave of him and I wasn't expecting it from his character. Does it make up for abandoning his kids? I suppose it helps. That's a lot of heartache to try and mend.

Q35 Micheline Babineau said "Some stories don't have happy endings. Even love stories. Maybe especially love stories" Do you agree with this ? Do you like your books to have a happy ending ?

Yes, I do. Love gives us the most potential for joy but, at the same time, the most potential for sorrow. You never know how it's going to turn out, you just hope that the outcome turns out well. I like my books to have endings that make sense, whether they be happy or sad.

Q36 Vianne's reunion with Antoine was not what she had dreamed of. She said she was naive in her belief that staying alive was all that mattered. Antoine said "it's not the forgetting we need Vianne" It's remembering" Do think this is true ?

I think I agree with Antoine. It's like that old saying about those who forget the past being doomed to repeat it. It's better to remember all that you struggled through and endured than to try and suppress it. It catches up with you in the end, anyway. Vianne can attest to that.

Q37 Sophie told her mother is was too late to protect her. Her mother tells her love has to be stronger than hate or there is no future for us. Do you believe this. Could you forgive or forget ?

Love does need to be stronger or the world will just go to hell in a hand-basket. I find it fairly easy to forgive, but much more difficult to forget.

Q38 Isabelle and Vivanne survived the same war in different ways. Did you think one was stronger than the other ? Do you think you could have survived in either of their places ?

They were both strong in their own ways. I think Isabelle was braver, initially, though who knows if that was true bravery or just the rashness of a young, eager girl. Vianne showed her bravery and how far it could reach in the end. I would like to think I would be able to survive. I don't know how realistic that is, though, lol.

Q39 "Men tell stories, Women get on with it " Do you agree with this ?

Eh, I don't like to generalize. There are plenty of women who tell stories and plenty of guys who just move on.

Q40 Vianne kept her one secret. Do you think she did the right thing. Do you think Antoine knew ?

I think she did do the right thing. What good could possibly come of her telling Julien that his dad was, in fact, a sadistic Nazi who raped his mother during the war? Like Vianne said, Antoine was the one who raised Julien and who was there from the moment he was born which makes him his father. I'm not sure if Antoine was 100% sure, but I think he suspected.

Q41 What did you think of the ending. Believable ? Disappointing ? Did you enjoy the book overall ? Would you read more by this author ?

I really did enjoy this book! I'm not sure if I would say the ending was 100% believeable (Isabelle survived long enough to hear Gaeten say that he loved her and died the moment after? Yeah right), but I still enjoyed it. It is historical fiction, after all.

Karsyn wrote: "Morning y'all!

I've added the BOM to your list, Kerri, sorry for missing that one!

How is everyone feeling about the current goals? Should we boon one, see if we get something we can fill in?

C..."

No problem, Karsyn! I'm glad you checked! I've been all over the place this past week and haven't had as much of a chance to check in here. I'm impressed we have all the goals covered. That is awesome!

Title: The Nightingale
Author: Kristin Hannah
Published: 3 February 2015
Date completed: 18 January 2016
Number of pages: 440 pages
Goals: None.
BOM: Yes, participation only

Points: 40 (pages) + 20 (BOM) = 60 points

I did the Six of Crows BOM, as well. Just finished The Nightingale and will be shelving it in a moment.

January 18
Chapters 26-33

Q29. After what happened between Vianne and Isabelle during the Beck issue, do you think that the sisters would see each other again? Or at least find a way to forgive each?

I feel like they have really already forgiven each other. They have both recognized the wrongs they have done to each other and they both realize that they still really love one another. Now, if they ever get to see each other again is another story... Right now, it's not looking so good.

Q30. We see that the Nightingale aka "Isabelle/Juliette" got an invite to France. Did you guess she was the nightingale? If it were you would you have gone to this event? Why or why not?

Well, it is clear Isabelle, but I'm hesitant to say whether the narrator is Isabelle or not. I've been leaning towards yes. I think I would go to the event. First of all, she's dying. It'll be like closure. Second of all, she should be crazy proud of what she accomplished during the war.

Q31. I understand Gaëtan's fear about loving Isabelle but I think Isabelle is right at this point life is short so why waste it denying how they feel for each other. Does anyone else agree or disagree?

I completely agree with you. When your future is uncertain, that is the time to tell the people you truly care about how you feel. I wouldn't want to regret not telling them I love them if something were to happen to the people I love. It's better to get it out there!

Q32. Finally Vianne is doing something to fight against the war even though she is afraid. Do you think she will succeed in helping all the children without getting caught?

I hope so because she gets caught, all those children will be in danger. It seems like she's pulling it off, for now, but her current German "houseguest" is far more cruel and ruthless than Beck. He seems like he already suspects her and she's not very good at lying.

Q33. So much has happened to this point, Does anyone have an opinion as to who will survive this war? or what will happen to any of the characters?

I'm scared for both Vianne and Isabelle. I wish they would both survive, but I feel like at least one of them is going to die. Probably Vianne.

January 17
Chapters 21 - 25

Q24. So much happened in this small section! First, let’s talk about Isabelle. Many people think she’s going on too many trips to take downed airmen to the British consulate and it was risky considering how badly the Nazis were searching for the Nightingale. Do you agree? Was she being reckless and possibly risking the whole operation by taking too many trips? And do you think she’ll continue on with the trips if she recovers from her injury or will she be forced to take a break?

I don't think she is necessarily being reckless, but she should at least take these warnings into consideration. Her impetuous side is starting to show again (trying to hide a downed pilot all by herself...) but I think being wounded will help to ground her. If she recovers, that is. If she does, she'll definitely continue with the mission.

Q25. What did you think of Beck warning Vianne and Rachel about the foreign-born Jews being deported and then obtaining false papers for Ari? Do you think his feelings for Vianne influenced these choices or are they signs of his being a good person in a bad situation?

My views about Beck did a bit if a 180 in this portion. I think he was a decent man caught in a really terrible set of circumstances. He tried to do what he could to help Vianne and her friend, which counts for a lot. I do think whatever feelings he had developed for her helped sway him to do what was right.

Q26. I must admit, I teared up when we lost an innocent life - Sarah. And then my heart broke when we found Sophie losing her innocence when her mother told her the news - “Do you think I’m stupid? She’s Jewish.” What was your reaction to both of these events?

Ugh, that was a rough few pages to read. I cried when Sarah died and I cried when Vianne told Sophie. How terrible to see one child die for no other reason than who she was and to see another child's innocence ripped away. It was heart-wrenching.

Q27. Vianne surprised me in this section! Not only did she attempt to help Rachel escape and then hide her, she also played a part in the death of Captain Beck! Were you shocked by this side of her and how far she was willing to go to protect her sister? Have your feelings about Vianne changed at all due to recent events?

I think she is finally beginning to realize that this is not going to blow over. She can't just keep her head down and hope her and the children will be safe. I wasn't terribly shocked that she helped kill Beck. She was doing what she has done throughout this book: protecting her family. I'm glad to see she has finally woken up to the reality of the situation, though I hope this isn't a fleeting moment of courage.

Q28. With the death of Beck and now knowing her sister has been helping downed airmen in France, do you think Vianne will begin to help as well? Or will she remain more concerned for the safety of Sophie and Ari?

The kids have always been the top priority in her mind, so I think she'll do whatever she needs to to keep them safe. That might, in her mind now, include helping the resistance.

Words

Title: Welcome to Night Vale
Author: Joseph Fink
Published: 20 October 2015
Date completed: 16 January 2016
Number of pages: 401 pages
Goals: None

Points: 40 (pages)

I haven't had any luck finding something with "started" on the first page. I'll keep an eye out, but that one is tough!

Questions for Chapters 17 - 20

19. Were you surprised to find out that Isabelle's dad was working for the resistance?

Actually, not really. I felt like something was up with him and the fact that he had that printing press in the back of his shop was in the back of my mind.

20. It would be so hard to live at a time like this. I would hope that I would have had the courage to help others. Do you think you would have helped, even if it meant risk to your family? Do you have a family story from this time period?

I would like to think I would help as much as I could help. It would be a fine balance of helping how I could but also keep my family safe. No stories from my family history, though.

21. Thinking back to the comparison about love and war at the beginning of he book; the father says, "We are all fragile Isabelle. It's the thing we learn in war." Is this something we learn in love as well? Why or why not?

Most definitely. I think you are at your most vulnerable when you are in love. You expose the whole of your heart to another person and hope they don't mangle it. Before you know the other person's true feelings, you are very fragile, indeed.

22. Bend, Oregon. Hmmmm...... That is where the vignettes set in 1995 take place. Is the pilot Perkins the father of the son in the 1995 story?

That is an interesting possibility! I wonder how that romance would develop.

23. The yellow stars have arrived. I was touched that Sophie offered to wear one. I was also pleased with the way that Isabelle has grown and become a stronger character while helping the pilots. She seems more confident and mature now. Has there been character growth or change that you have noticed or enjoyed?

I am really excited to see Isabelle's character growing and developing. She has definitely matured. She is still brazen, but she isn't as rash and thoughtless as she used to be. Not to mention the fact that she is tough as nails! That hike over the mountain was intense! I think Vianne, on the otherhand, is completely stagnant in terms of growth. She has Sophie to worry about, but she is just not being smart about it.

Go for it, Karsyn :) I'll pick something else up. Maybe I can find something for the "started" goal.

Oh, since I'm almost finished up with Welcome to Night Vale, I was going to start Sense and Sensibility, which would cover our "british" goal. I should be able to get through it in a day or two :)

January 14, 2016
Chapters 12 – 16

Q13. Vianne helped make the list of teachers which took Rachel and other Jewish teachers. She went to Captain Beck about the list, which she thought the names were meant to be “clerical in nature”. She also saw all the food and items the Nazi’s had. What are your thoughts about this scene? Was she naïve? Do you think she is starting to understand there severity of the situation? Is she seeing more of what Isabelle is talking about?

Vianne was definitely naive about that situation. Though she is right in assuming that the Nazis would have gotten the names either way, she still should have suspected there was an ulterior motive. I think she's beginning to understand how bad the situation is becoming, but I don't know if she yet sees it from Isabelle's point of view.

Q14. Isabelle has been distributing tracts for months and she stole the bicycle. Is her behavior being more reckless? Do you think she will be caught for these kinds of behavior? Will she be caught with this new mission in Paris delivering secret messages for the Free French?

I think she's being the same amount of reckless as she always was, but there are signs that she's beginning to realize that there can, in fact, be consequences to her actions. I don't think she'll be caught if she learns to be a little less brash.

Q15. Do you like the timeline changes (In France, then in Oregon)?

They are so few and far between that it's kind of a nice break from the intensity of the main story.

Q16. Now with Isabelle in Paris, Captain Beck is alone with Vianne and Sophie. What do you think will happen with Vianne and Sophie?

I'm hoping they will be ok, but I feel like something bad is going to happen.

Q17. Should Isabelle reopen the bookshop?

It seems like a good front for her and a good way to make a little money. Again, if Isabelle can learn to hold her tongue, I think it'll be fine.

Q18. Which character do you like more, Isabelle or Vianne? Which of the two sisters do you feel the saddest for?

Honestly, I don't know. I don't think I favor either one over the other. I think I sympathize more with Vianne, being a mother, but I find myself feeling for Isabelle and the fact that she's basically been abandoned all her life, as well.

Addition