Nancy’s Comments (group member since Dec 31, 2012)

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

Welcome Erin, Beth, Paula and Sheila!

I've never played Battleship before and even though I've read the rules, I'm not sure I understand. So once we get tasks we start reading? That's the main focus of this challenge? To try to complete tasks to sink the battleships and get the most points?

I can't wait!

I've read Hidden Bodies. I'm on the Tapirs.

Finally read a book that I can use for the mini challenge!

Book Link:
Finished: 06/14/16 | # stars:3
Land animals in title (max 2 per book / 20 pts each): 1 (20 pts) The Dog Lived and So Will I
Land animals in the book as characters (max 5 per book / 10 pts each): Seamus 1 (10 points)
Land animals mentioned in the book as characters (max 5 per book / 5 pts each): 0
Land animal(s) on cover (max 5 per book / 10 pts each): 1 (10 pts)

TOTAL: 40 points

My shelf is titled WOBBLE Challenge

I've read This is Where I Leave You! I'm on the Tapirs.

Is there any easy way to see what books members of the other land teams have read or just ask in this thread?!!

I just finished The Lilac Girls.....has anyone besides those on my team (The Tapirs) read it?!

Wow Ange, your Scandanavian trip sounds amazing! I love to travel, though haven't been able to do so as much since having children!

Carmen, have fun at Niagara Falls! My parents were just there this week. I've been a couple of times already but would like to take the kids soon!

Finally finished one of the books I was in the middle of reading. Unfortunately, not a lot of land animals though!

Book Link: Lilac Girls
Finished: June 10, 2016| 5 Stars
Land animals in the book as characters (max 5 per book / 10 pts each): Rabbits (a specific group of girls at the camp were referred to as "lapins" (French for rabbits) since they had to hop around and were used by the doctors for their experiments- 10 points (hope this counts!)

Oh wow! Great job guys!

What is your favourite land animal and why?

I love chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas, etc. I find their intelligence (and cuteness) so fascinating. I do have two pet cats that I love though.

Any part of WOBBLE you are most looking forward to?
Any hobbies other than reading?

The whole thing. I haven't participated in a NBRC challenge in so long. It will also help in getting me to read more!

Any hobbies other than reading?

Blogging, watching Netflix, scrapbooking and playing tennis.

Moonlight Reader, I've done a couple of NBRC challenges, but most of them were awhile ago. Things should definitely pick up once the challenge begins. There will probably be a lot of discussions regarding what books people are reading that will fit the requirements of each challenge.

I'm not sure if I will have time to read a book for the land animal challenge. I'm trying to finish up my current reads before the challenge begins!

Hi everyone! I am excited to participate in the Wobble Challenge. It's been awhile since I've participated in a NBRC challenge! My name is Nancy. I live in the suburbs of New York City. I have two kids, 10 and almost 8. Can't wait for this challenge to begin!

I haven't been very active in this group for awhile and haven't done a challenge in a long time! I'm excited to join this one! I hope to get lots of summer reading in!

Chapters 9&10
Comments and Questions

23. Do you think it will ever become possible in the future(maybe hundreds of years from now) to have your head transplanted to another person's body? Technology has a history of coming up with unusual devices people would not imagine could exist.

I'm sure it will be possible....but it seems really creepy, except for instances like giving quadriplegics a chance to move.

24. Here's my main thought for this section, who should be the identity of the person with a head transplant? The one the head belongs to(10% of body) or the one the body belongs to(90% of body)? The head seems to win. A good reason to define/judge people by their personalities and actions rather than their looks.

I think the head. That is where the brains/memory is stored. A new body gives people the ability to prolong their lives and continue to live and have new experiences but the brain allows them to remember their past.

25. Then, a chapter I really should not have reread while recovering from being sick. I am very glad for modern medicine. Would you try any of those remedies? Fresh gladiator blood for epilepsy? Mummy elixir? A cup of urine from a public latrine? These were all prescribed for medical issues found in my family.

I wouldn't try any of those remedies...not sure there was ever any proof that they even worked!

Chapters 7&8
Comments and questions

18. Roach explores the concept of "when" is someone dead and the soul has gone. Were you surprised that the heart can keep beating on its own for a minute or two outside of the body? Do you agree with the current belief that death occurs when there is no more brain activity?

I was surprised that the heart can keep beating outside the body, but I've learned a lot from reading this that I didn't know before! Yes, I agree that death occurs when there is no more brain activity. You're not really living if you're just a shell of organs.

19. Thoughts on the experiment with cheek cells "feeling" pain when separated from the body?

Skimmed over this part.....

20. A lot of this section reminded me of the Unwind books (highly recommended btw!) and the idea that organ donation can also transfer consciousness. According to neuropsychologist Paul Pearsall, over 150 anecdotal cases have been documented. You can freak yourself out with some cases here: www.paulpearsall.com/info/press/index...
This website is referenced in (UnSouled)

OMG...I'm actually reading Unsouled right now along with this book. As I was reading the chapter in here, I was thinking that this is addressed in Unsouled!

21. We are getting into the home stretch now. What are your thoughts on the book so far? Are you still finding it enjoyable/fascinating/interesting?

I find this book to be interesting in parts but also a little too detailed/boring in other parts. I'm learning a lot and am glad that I finally had a reason to read this book!

Chapters 5&6
Comments and questions

12.Dennis Shanahansaid the hardest thing about examining Flight 800 was that most of the bodies were intact.
"Intactness bothers me much more than the lack of it."
Do you agree this would be harder?

Yes. It's much easier to see "a leg" versus "an injured leg attached to a person."

13. The explanation of how regulators put a price to a human life when determining cost/benefit analysis of safety features was sobering. Your thoughts?

This chapter and the book in general has brought up so many issues that I have never thought about. It was definitely sobering to hear that some safety features are nixed because they're too expensive.

14. What do you make of the theory that our reactions to being shot are psychological rather than immediately physiological?

Honestly, I kind of skimmed over this chapter, so can't really answer this.

15. So where cadavers are not available, or where a country doesn't allow them for ballistics research, human tissue simulant is used. Do you think there is benefit in using cadavers when an alternative is available? Has your opinion changed while reading the book?

Again, I thought it came down to cost. Cadavers are much cheaper than creating human tissue, if I'm not mistaken. From a scientific perspective, even though they can create human tissue stimulant, I don't think anything can ever substitute for "the real thing."

16. Should family members know what happens to their loved ones cadaver? Would you like to know and have veto?

No, I think it could be too traumatizing and raise too many questions for the family. I think it should just be a yes/no do you want to donate the body to science/research.

17. The research into the Shroud of Turin was interesting. Especially all the volunteers for crucifixion! Did that surprise you?

Didn't read this part yet!

Chapters 3&4
Comments and questions

7. Were you surprised to learn how cadavers are used for forensic science? I have seen documentaries about the University of Tennessee's "anthropology research facility" and I remember they often receive more body donations than they can use. If you are interested in finding out more about their work here is the link: http://fac.utk.edu/

I have to say that this chapter kinda grossed me out! One would assume that cadavers would need to be used to study forensic science, but this chapter was a little too detailed for me! I have to say that Roach lightens the mood with her added humor, which I find enjoyable!

8. I was eating my lunch while listening to the part about purification of bodies. Bad idea!! Will you ever eat rice krispies and chicken soup again without thinking of that passage?!

I know! Unfortunately, she was a little too descriptive in her writing for me!

9. The author says the smell of corpses is"dense and cloying, sweet but not flower-sweet. Halfway between rotting fruit and rotting meat." what do you think of her descriptions? Are they important to satisfy our curiosity? Does it help to make a non fiction book more accessible?

As gross as I'm finding certain passages, I definitely think Roach is trying to make the subject more accessible to people who will probably never experience such things in their lives.

10. I was really interested in the description and history of embalming which explained why it is popular in North America. Over the years I have seen American TV/Movies with "open caskets" and references to embalming (e.g. Six Feet Under!), but it is not very common here in Australia. Your thoughts on this passage?

I'm finding a lot of this book informative. I didn't really know much about the history of embalming. It's really making me think more about the possibility of cremation or donating my body to science though!

11. I had not considered cadavers would be used as crash test dummies, but it makes perfect sense! I was disturbed by the thought of child cadavers and understand why they are not often used despite the "logical argument". Comments?

I always thought that only "crash test dummies" were used, so again, something new I learned. I do see the usefulness of human cadaver. Though, I'm not sure how many people are like Deb though and think "I want to work with cadavers when I grow up!"

I'm going to try this one at Level 2. Hopefully, this will be motivation to get a bunch of books read off my shelves!!

Level 2: 21/65

2014
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2013
1. Melissa Explains It All - Melissa Joan Hart
2. Rush - Maya Banks
3. And the Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini
4. Fever - Maya Banks
5. Cross My Heart - James Patterson
6. The Reason I Jump - Naoki Higashida
7. Out of Breath - Rebecca Donovan
8. Unsouled - Neal Shusterman
9. The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty
10. Roomies - Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando
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13.



2012
1. Barely Breathing - Rebecca Donovan
2. Hopeless - Colleen Hoover
3. Wonder - R.J. Palacio
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2011
1. Reason to Breathe - Rebecca Donovan
2. Wife 22 - Melanie Gideon
3. Perfect - Ellen Hopkins
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2010
1. Fatally Frosted - Jessica Beck
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2009
1.

2008
1. Helping Me Help Myself - Beth Lisick
2. Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich



2007
1. The Arrangement - Suzanne Forster


2006
1. Motif for Murder - Laura Childs


2005
1.

Introduction and Chapters 1&2
Comments and questions


1.This is one of the more unique BOMs we have had! Why have you decided to read this book?

I have had this book on my bookshelf for awhile now! Not even sure where/how I had heard of it. But I am so happy to be finally reading it.

2.The subject of death and cadavers is a sensitive one and taboo in many cultures. In the introduction the author states “death makes us helplessly polite.” I could also imagine Roach being criticized by some for writing on this topic. Your thoughts?

I agree that the subject allows for Roach to be criticized. I don't think the subject of death is as sensitive as the cadavers part is.

3. I was surprised when Roach referred to her mother's body as “my mother's cadaver” and “it”. Is that her coping mechanism?

It seems like it - that she can't accept the idea of her mother being dead.

4. So I felt a bit lulled into a sense of security with the Introduction and then we go straight into a room of sawn off heads in roasting pans! Did anyone else get that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach? As the chapter went on it became easier to cope with the subject matter.

I thought that this chapter was well written in the fact that I didn't get grossed out. As squeamish as I am about blood and guts, I wasn't grossed out while reading. Roach made a good point of how important it is for physicians to get hands-on practice. I actually was horrified at the idea of students learning/getting their first hands-on experience during actual surgeries!!

5. This section had me thinking about if I would donate my body and why I haven't really wondered about it before. Have you?

I agree, that I had never thought about it before. I didn't realize how in need schools are of cadavers. It's not something that you really see advertised. "Wanted: human cadavers!"


6. There were so many surprising parts to this section I had never even considered before (like how today's students learn to perform pap smears!). I loved the description of the memorial service for the cadavers. I think it is so important for the students to remember these were people. Did you like the history provided? Are there any parts of these chapters that really stuck out to you?

I have to say that chapter 2 kinda bored me to tears. I wasn't really interested in the history of cadaver stealing and historical cultural misunderstandings. I did find it touching that the students have the memorial services for the cadavers though.