Preeti’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2021)

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

Insiyah wrote: "Preeti, can you add The Woods to your shelf please?"

Done. Sorry for the bother!

I have volunteered for the last BOTM - The Tainted Cup. I read it last year and wanted to read it again before I move on to the 2nd book in the series so this is perfect timing.

Volunteering for Team Sky Tower!

The "meatball" book for Sweden has been completed and updated on the spreadsheet.
I have only 3 books left till I hit my max so I am going to concentrate on some loooong books.
Please ignore this... I was looking at the wrong column. 🤦🏻‍♀️

The snow on the cover book is completed and updated.

I am reading a book that works for WW38 snow on cover.
I will also be starting Mr Friends by Fredrik Backman which works for WW35 Author born in Sweden.

Insiyah wrote: "Preeti wrote: "Is anybody reading anything for the Iceland "nature on cover (no people)" task? If not, I have a book that works for it.

"

Kylie had read a book that ..."

Excellent!

Is anybody reading anything for the Iceland "nature on cover (no people)" task? If not, I have a book that works for it.

The Iceland book is done and updated on the spreadsheet.

I am almost done with a book by an author who was born in Iceland. I will add it to the spreadsheet by the end of day.

Preeti’s BOM Participation Post:

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 3

Chapters: 8-10

12. When Norma tells her mother she's pregnant, Norma notices fear in her other'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.)

I think it was more Lenore being worried that Norma would go through a horrible time like her. I doubt if the timeframe allowed for any other worries as shown by the fact that Lenore and Frank could get away with the story of the “Italian” ancestry.

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?

While I think it was more likely to have been coincidence, a part of me truly hopes that there is something out there trying to correct all such wrongs and that this was just one such example.

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 think this showed the extent of his selfishness and self-absorption and most importantly that his family recognised it and chose to prioritise his daughter’s life. I think they realised that at the time she was better off not being affected by Joe’s personality defects. I found it a great character arc, while we are sympathising with Joe for his losses, we also recognise his weaknesses and watch him learn to grow past them.

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?

Hearing that statement made me feel this was more Lenore trying to reassure herself.

Day 2

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!)

It makes their relationships more understandable. While I think a little benign neglect is good for every child as it teaches them to be self-sufficient, I think this was taking it to an extreme.

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 it was a good idea to include Joe’s POV as we get to see how this one event affected so many people in so many different ways. That said, I think a third or even a fourth POV would have helped this book more dimensionality. We see how this affected Ruthie/Norma and Joe and their families to a certain extent but seeing it through the eyes of somebody on the border or even outside the immediately affected group would have rounded out the storyline.

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?

This was a horrifying scene which served to show the fragility of the lives of those involved as well as the callous treatment they faced. It makes sense that the author included it because it showed the levels of suffering that Joe and his family went through and how that affected Joe’s life in particular.

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 recognised as Ruthie?

June was my least favourite character in the book. She seemed to want to enjoy the perks of being an aunt without any of the responsibility of realising how much her aiding and abetting Lenore with her actions would affect Norma.
I get the feeling she was only trying to be the cool aunt when she encouraged Norma but realising that secrets would be revealed if and when Norma was recognised made her pull her back.

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?

It is and should be a difficult read. I don’t think there should ever be a situation where we read about such injustices and are not affected by it. That said, I felt like the author glossed over many parts and sadly they ended up becoming a bit cliched. I wish the conversation around this had felt more substantial in the book.

Day 1

Chapters: 1-3

1. What expectations do you have for the book based on the blurb or other description of the book?

I am very intrigued by this book particularly after having read this line in the GR description, “Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.”
I have seen many books use this type of plot where it is not so much who-did-it as we are already made aware of that, but instead the why’s and the what-happened-after’s. These, if handled well, are amongst my favourite plot structures.

2. How reliable do you the think the 2 narrators are?

Right from the start, we are aware that the two narrators are talking about from the start. That in itself lets us know the narrations might be slightly skewed. I think each is going to be believe that they are telling the truth but that it is going to be affected by the filter of their points of view.

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?

This to me is a sign that Joe has internalised much of the racism around him which is something that happens to members of many subjugated groups who start to accept and agree with statements putting them down.

4. How much is Norma dreaming vs remembering? What do you think the dreams foreshadow?

I think her dreams are her subconscious making her aware of her life before she became “Norma”. I think that these dreams are also to let us know that Norma is realising that more has happened in her life than she remembers.

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?

Initially, I thought she was paranoid about Norma being kidnapped. However, after reading a bit more I felt it was more her fear that Norma would find out what had really happened and Lenore is trying to reduce the chances of that happening.
I think the “baby doll” thing is her projecting her desires. Lenore is subconsciously pushing her loss of having and holding a baby in her arms into having Norma be attached to her baby dolls.

6. Why did Joe act so clingy when he returned from his first "guide" with his dad?

After Ruthie’s disappearance, Joe once again became the baby of the family and so was treated as a child for even longer. I think that going on the “guide” with his dad exposed him to the way his father was treated by the clients and the racist slurs he had to deal with. It made him lose a bit of his innocence and so wanting to hold on to it, he chose to act out and regress to his child state and become clingy.

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "The Chipmunks have finally found the source of that stink in Chaos Towers, and have immediately jettisoned it into the nearest handy tower... How quickly can you clear it out?

Stinking Bishop

Lau..."

😋🤩

June

📚 : 266 - Jun 4
📚 : 272 - Jun 5
📚 : 315 - Jun 6
📚 : 248 - Jun 9
📚 : 348 - Jun 10
📚 : 225 - Jun 11
📚 : 288 - Jun 13
📚 : 432 - Jun 15
📚 : 322 - Jun 16
📚 : 313 - Jun 17
📚 : 388 - Jun 19
📚 : 368 - Jun 20
📚 : 324 - Jun 24
📚 : 609 - Jun 25
📚 : 417 - Jun 26
📚 : 228 - Jun 28
📚 : 330 - Jun 30

My Jun Page Count: 5693

Running Total: 1,056,977

New Group Total: 1,062,670

Preeti’s BOM Participation Post:

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 6: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Day 6

Chapters: 32 - The End

24. Lots of big reveals here in the last few chapters! We learn the truth about Jodi's relationship to Margaret, as well as some vital information about Hayden's family history. What did you think of those reveals? Did you have any theories that ended up being right, or did they surprise you?

I was not surprised by any of the revelations, all of which I had been expecting. I did find them to be quite abrupt and sudden and wish they had been blended into the storyline in a better fashion.

25. Alice finally has the hard conversation with her mother about how out of place she feels in the family and how she feels like her mother doesn't like her as a person. How did you feel about the conversation? Did it feel realistic to you? Was there anything left unsaid you wish would've been addressed?

Alice’s letting her mother know that she has felt unloved and out of place is a good starting point to the much needed dialog between them. The conversation reflects Alice’s vulnerability and Angela’s defensiveness and while not going to the depths it should have, particularly the cause for Angela’s seeming distant, it was a good start on the road to rebuilding their relationship.

26. Emily Henry, the author, said that the song that best encapsulates this book is "The Last Great American Dynasty" by Taylor Swift. I personally think there was a part that specifically felt like "marjorie" by Taylor Swift (when Alice talks about all the things she should have done when her dad was alive). If you had to pick one song that fits this book — either the book as a whole or a specific part — what song would you choose? Do you like when authors provide songs/playlists that go with their books?

“The Last Great American Dynasty” is an excellent selection fitting as it does the scandalous lives of Margaret and the Ives dynasty as well as the novel’s themes of legacy and storytelling.
Like the book, “My Tears Ricochet” by Taylor Swift delves into themes of grief, betrayal, and the haunting weight of past relationships. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac is all about change, self-reflection, and the passage of time and this aligns with Alice’s journey of self-discovery and her attempt to reconcile with her mother while dealing with her father’s loss. It also resonates with Margaret’s story as she reflects on her past loves and losses and having to navigate life’s inevitable changes.

27. "I welcome her to this great big beautiful life" — the epilogue finally reveals the significance of the title. What did you think of the ending and how the author wrapped up the story? Is there anything you wish had been done differently?

While I liked the idea behind this line and it reflecting Margaret’s acceptance of her legacy and Alice’s embracing her life and where it has taken her, I found the ending to be very abrupt and rushed. I would have liked to see a smoother and more in-depth look at Margaret’s final reveal.

Day 5

Chapters: 26 - The Story

21. In the previous story…Margaret regretted the next set of interview questions with Alice…stating it was time to recall all her worst mistakes.
Was it a mistake to go to Cosmo’s concert instead of being at home during Gerald’s final hours? Was it something with Laura/Dr. David? Again, later she indicates she regrets every decision she made. What do you think? Why does she feel this way? What were the bad decisions?

Margaret had to make many decisions through her life and she has felt guilty for making what she believes to be the wrong choices. Margaret’s self-blame reflects her struggle to reconcile her public persona with private pain.

22. Margaret keeps referring to trust. In chapter 27 she makes a reference to trusting people who wear bright coloured clothing vs not. Why would someone like Margaret, with so much experience, call out the colours in clothing as a reason to trust someone? What are some of the things that make you trust one person vs another? Why?

I think having been made to feel betrayed in the past, Margaret has developed her own litmus test to gauge the authenticity of the people she comes into contact with. My guess is that she is equating bright colours with openness versus guardedness. I think that having become extremely wary after a lifetime of manipulation, this focus on bright-coloured clothes is a defence mechanism that she has developed.
For me, my trust in a person is based on consistency, empathy, transparency and honesty.

23. In one of the last chapters in this section, we find out that Hayden knows details about Cecil, and Alice doesn’t; after deciding together, Alice point blank asks Margaret if she knows anyone else on the island.
Do you think Alice and Hayden have broken their trust/the NDA terms with Margaret by discussing Cecil together? Should they have handled this situation differently?

I think that their discussing Cecil definitely broke the NDA but was perfectly understandable seeing how much Margaret manipulated both of them. That said, the way they went about it was not well handled. It could have been handled in a better way, by seeking clarification without revealing their discussion. This part felt like it went entirely against the personas that had been developed of both characters.

Day 4

Chapters: 21 - The Story

16. So the title, Great, Big, Beautiful Life... your thoughts on who this actually refers to? Do you think it has any significance to the plot at all or is it just a catchphrase along with the bright cover art to lure in the reader?

While the title might refer to Margaret whose glamorous yet tragic larger-than-life story is the main thread of the novel, it felt like a lovely tagline that the author came up with and wanted to incorporate in the book one way or the other. It felt much too generic but that is the feeling I also got with the author’s other works.

17. Half way through the book and I realized that the only interviews the reader is privy to with Margaret is through Alice's eyes. Why has Emily Henry written it this way? What is the deal with Hayden? Is there actually a contest at all? And is there more to him not wanting to take his relationship with Alice to 100% physical? Is there going to be a twist, anyone think they've worked it out?

This was the first thing that had me thinking Hayden and his family were involved somehow in the whole Ives drama. At this stage, I was even more convinced that while Alice was there for the genuine reason of writing Margaret’s book, Hayden had been brought in for other reasons which will be revealed eventually.
I think Hayden not wanting to take his relationship with Alice to another level is just another sign of his insecurity and his fear of being vulnerable around others.
There is definitely going to be a twist but I get the feeling I already know what it is. A part of me is hoping I am wrong and that the ending turns out to be more captivating than what I am envisioning.

18. Wow, nearly makeup, storm sex occurs, another near miss! What do you think about all the extended foreplay without getting to the main event? Do you like how Emily Henry writes an intimate scene? Are they important or interrupting the flow of the storyline?

I think the extended foreplay was a sign to show how much the chemistry between Alice and Hayden has developed and expanded. They do at the same time reflect Hayden’s emotional barriers.
Whether they are important or interrupt the flow of the storyline, I think, depends on the individual reader. I found that they did enhance the storyline’s emotional stakes but were at times disruptive to my enjoyment of the book.

19. One of the themes of the book is family relationships, the good, the bad and the ugly. How does the parts about Alice and Hayden's family and especially the relationship with Alice and her mother contribute to the overall story?

The family relationships in this book are central to the book which highlights the impact they have had on each of the characters. Alice’s strained bond with her mother has led to her feeling alienated and consequently searching for validation throughout her life and career. Hayden’s family history has led to him developing a more guarded nature and it was fascinating to watch his budding relationship with Alice making him more open.
The biggest impact is that of the Ives family’s complex saga which reenforces themes of love, loss, and reconciliation.

20. What are your favourite parts of the book? The Alice and Hayden relationship or the slow reveal of the Ives' story?

My favourite part of the book was the Ives’ story which was very compelling with its historical sweep and mysteries. I also greatly enjoyed the slow reveal of Margaret’s secrets, particularly those linked to the present.