Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

Steven wrote: "I recognize quite a few of you from previous challenges and am excited to play again. Hoping it resparks my reading mojo, which has been off-kilter for a bit.

I'm Steven. I live in North Carolina..."

I'm still very jealous of that meet up by the way.

Oh, and be sure to tell Sonia I chose this tower in her honor. It's in Portugal :)

Steven wrote: "I'm working on catching up on all the tasks and goals of this Tower Teams, but I did finish a book so I'll post it here!


384 pages

Judith and/or captains, I believe..."

Yep, from June 7th on. You are a boost player not a replacement for a no show so I did it that way for those additions.

AND HELLLLLLLLLLOOOO My friend!

I saw you on the reserve list and 100% stole you. HEHE

DQs Day 5
Chapters 26 - 31/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?

I think when you have a lot of tragedy in your life, hindsight tricks you into thinking "if I'd made a different choice" for this, that, and the other, your life could of been different. I think she blames herself for a lot of what happened to Laura with the cult situation. Because the easiest person to blame (and the hardest person not too) is almost always yourself.

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

Maybe because bright colors make you stand out instead of blending in to hide? Not being afraid to be seen? I don't really know about the color thing. What makes me trust someone is generally them having an overall kindness and proof that they mean what they say/have actual follow through.

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?
No, I wouldn't of been able to not discuss that anyway. Holy cow. And Hayden just told her to pursue it after she found out about the picture. He didn't tell her anything she didn't already figure out on her own.

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 4 - CHAPTERS 21 - STORY 26

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?
I'm guessing the phrase will pop up at some point being said by Margaret and maybe even the title of her biography. It sounds like something she'd want to call her book. I think that's the point of this book, that people need to remember you have a great, big, beautiful life and to go live it.

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?
There's always a twist otherwise this will be a boring story with no plot. I don't really know what it is though and haven't put any time really in trying to figure it out.

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?
Makes it less crass maybe? That this relationship already has more of an emotional foundation than her benefits situation with Theo or whatever his name is?

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?
Even if you grew up in a loving family, dynamics are still complicated and nothing is a simple as it may seem looking in through someone's front window. People are people and things are always far from perfect.

20. What are your favourite parts of the book? The Alice and Hayden relationship or the slow reveal of the Ives' story?
I'm enjoying both for different reasons.

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/...

Sonali Dev was born in India and wrote some popular books like Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors and Recipe for Persuasion.

New Country: United Kingdom! Lots of letters this time :)

Author born in UK
Red, White, and Blue found on cover
Character drinks tea
features a royal character
umbrella on cover
mentions the Beatles
U
N
I
T
E
D
K
I
N
G
D
O
M

New Mini 2 Task

MPG Travel

Cathy M. wrote: "I finished my spa book - time for a new country :)"

Awesome, country logged and new destination requested!

I have How the Penguins Saved Veronica that seems to work for Antarctica.

I have to get through a few books with library returns coming up soon. But if no one else has something they want to read before then, I'll grab it

This team is amazing!

I was able to get the cheese spelled with our banked books yet again!

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?”)
They are interesting but I love hearing family stories but they aren't something I would seek out in the tabloid sense. I enjoyed the Freddie/Bernie dynamic and I think she was likely very good for him.

12. Who exactly is Jodi? Will she be a part of the BIG REVEAL?
I'm sure she ties in somehow just not really putting a lot of effort into figuring out how.

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?
Yes and a bunch of other stuff on top of that. You can't help it. The goal is to find the line between being protective enough and letting them navigate problems/life themselves so they can figure it out.

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?
Maybe it's something in the nonverbal delivery of those stories or lived memory versus family lore memory. I don't really know.

15. Think the visit to Alice’s family will go well? Think we will meet Hayden's family also?
There's generally a balance in these stories so I'm assuming we'll meet his family at some point. I think her family visit will reveal more about the complicated family dynamics she's navigating especially since her father's death.

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

Cathy M. wrote: "I finished the BOM - I ended up loving it! I'll definitely be checking out more book from Emily Henry.

I'll start the book I found for spa - but found that it also works for tango in text. I'll li..."

Yay! it always makes me happy when people the BOM and doubly so when it's my nomination.

Though to be fair Susan recommended it!

Cathy since you finished it already, I had put mine on a mini 2 task it worked for (tagged book 10x). I'm behind so I swapped it for yours so we can get a new mini 2 task.

hehe!

Team,

The mods are taking a look at team reading levels and are going to be distributing the remaining reserve players this weekend.

Most people seem to be on track with your reading and sign up. However, if you feel your estimate is significantly off, please let us know and provide a reason as to why your sign up was inaccurate (new to challenges, real life got a lot more complicated, suddenly a lot less complicated).

I cannot promise the sign up will be changed, but mods will take it under consideration. We'd need to know ASAP because any re-distributions are happening this weekend.

Thank you!

Also, one of the tasks on the Mini 2 is "tagged Journal 10x"

it came up in discussion in the captain's group. due to the few number of options meeting journal 10x, we are also allowed to use tagged diary 10x.

I'll get going on this latest spelling and see where we are letter wise!

nice find!

Newest cheese spelling is complete!

I was surprised we had enough O's and U's but we did! GO TEAM :)

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?
It wouldn't surprise me if she's telling them different parts of her family story. And I wonder if the lies are breadcrumbs that lead to the real story if they are smart enough to figure it out.
As for Laura, I honestly just assumed she was dead. Margaret is like 80 so her sister having already passed away didn't seem weird.

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?
There are a lot of parallels between different characters looking for parental pride and acceptance. Like others I'm wondering if there is a biological connection between Hayden and the Ives family but I haven't thought much about it.

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 don't think there is some large nefarious plot of Hayden's. I just don't think he wants to be a total douche canoe? There are both hoping for the same job so not the best start to a potential relationship. I can understand not wanting it to get messy and distracting.

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?
Sure and it makes them seem more like real characters instead of cardboard cutouts.

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?
Not really. There's some royal families from like the way back when that are interesting because they are so messy. But more of a celebrity type dynasty? No, I could really care less.

10. Bonus question: So… anyone else feel like they’re reading Evelyn Hugo 2.0?
I mean the blurb made me think of the book and there are certainly parallels in the set up. But the characters are very different and that book had a lot of social commentary of the struggles of being queer and a celebrity in that particular time period.

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

@Rosemarie, please join us any time you have interest in one of our BOMs (we typically have 2 per month!)

And yes we comment on each other's responses when we are so moved to or reference them in our own answers to the questions

I'm glad you are enjoying the discussion :)