KayLynn’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2025)

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

DAY 2 QUESTIONS - CHAPTERS 4-7

7. 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?
Sympathetic, sure. But her past doesn't excuse what she did to Ruthie and her family. Lenore and Frank were very different parents. Lenore was paranoid that her secrets would catch up to her and that she would lose Norma. Frank seemed alot more stable and easy going. He seemed to be fully convinced they would never be caught and didn't worry about it. His primary focus was appeasing Lenore.


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 like this style of writing. It unfolds the story from multiple angles bit by bit. By the end of the story we have a much more dimensional view of what's happened than in a one POV book.


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?
I honestly felt sick. I cannot believe that people treat other people like that. And the fact that no one even tried to report it to the cops was heartbreaking. Joe's family learned when Ruthie went missing that the local cops didn't care and wouldn't help.


10. What do 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 recognized as Ruthie?
Out of all of the characters so far, June baffles me the most. She knows about Ruthie/Norma and how Lenore actually acquired her. She haven't said as much but it would be impossible for her not to. Yet she hides the secret and goes along with the whole mess.
I'm sure she encouraged Norma interact with the Indian protestors because she knows her real heritage and wanted her to connect. She would never had suspected that someone would recognize Ruthie and just happen to be there, so far away from where she had been kidnapped. That scared the hell out of her.


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?
At this point, I'm not sure Joe IS responding to racism and trauma. He pulls it inside and pretends it doesn't exist. He keeps alluding to what a horrible person he is and how he's done terrible things but the only thing we know now is that he left his wife and didn't know about Leah until she was grown up. That felt more like another instance of avoidance that he's done for everything else so far.

DQ - Day 1
1. What expectations do you have for the book based on the blurb or other description of the book?
I read the blurb weeks ago and had forgotten most of it. I reread the blurb after I read the prologue and was excited that it sounded like a thriller.

2. How reliable do you the think the 2 narrators are?
How reliable is anyone's memory or telling of a story? Memory is fallible and they were both so young and impressionable. I'm sure they are telling events as they recall them, but accurate? It's hard to say.

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?
Even being so young, being told your blood is sour has to make you feel pretty crappy. He knew things were different for his family, for sure.

4. How much is Norma dreaming vs remembering? What do you think the dreams foreshadow?
I think it's both. I think she's dreaming about her memories. I'm sure at some point she will realize her "dreams" are in fact memories and that the person who went to visit Mae and Joe in the prologue is actually her, finding her remembered family.

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?
Lenore knows damn well how easily a child can be snatched when out alone. That's how she came about having Norma (who is obviously Ruthie). She is severely mentally ill and cannot handle her child growing up. She kidnapped a child because she couldn't handle the loss of her own and then she tried to keep her small so she wouldn't lose her again as she grew up.

6. Why did Joe act so clingy when he returned from his first "guide" with his dad?
I think perhaps he realized how white people saw the Mi’kmaq people. They were a kitschy gimmick instead of actual human beings. I also think he didn't want the same life for himself that his dad had.

I found one I wouldn't mind reading if no one else has one. Plus Jackson Hole / Yellowstone National Park is only about a 5 hour drive, so I've been there multiple times. It's always fun to read a book that takes place somewhere you've already been!

Keli wrote: "I see the film industry task has been claimed. Mine does work for that. I’ve finished it and the Ilona Andrews book. Little less than halfway through the weird.

I’ve started the Gabon book but it..."

You're welcome to take the film industry slot. I haven't finished that book yet and I'm sure it can fit elsewhere.

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Stinking Bishop"

This cheese name strikes me as particularly hilarious.

Looks like we are done with Egypt!
Go Team!

Keli wrote: "I really need to get into discworld. I am loving my Ilona Andrews, though. It’s exactly what i needed. I am being bad at finishing up books atm. I have another 100pages on my Mae West, so I decided..."

Oooh! I love Charlie Holmberg! I've met her in real life (she lives near me) and she's super nice too! I hope you enjoy it!

Claire wrote: "I can read one for mid level anf top level. Since I have only one task I have to do left, I’ll do both and the task for Spain.
When does the cap end as I see I get nearer to my max?"

I also have some books I can read for midlevel, but we can always add anything I read to the next set if Claire finishes first.
I have a bunch of books slotted to be read already. I average about one a day, but that still puts me a few days out.

Fiona wrote: "ALSO, I was on the bus when I saw your message, so I hadn't checked the book, but now I did and turns out that I've read it and it was pretty good!"

Yay! Good to know.

I FOUND A BOOK WITH A CAMEL ON THE COVER THAT I ACTUALLY WANT TO READ!!!


Ok. Sorry to yell. That one has been haunting me for days.
I'm already signed up for way more books than I think I'm supposed to be, so if no one else has a camel book, I'll read it once I've knocked out a few of these other books.

Keli wrote: "KayLynn wrote: "Keli wrote: "Okay read date added. Little update on reading, so I know where I am at. Been so busy lately, I miss the days of doing nothing.
Will have Cats Cradle done tomorrow and..."

I haven't read one. The Hot Zone is as well. Or at least the origins of ebola in the African Jungle. Ebola is freaking horrifying.

Keli wrote: "Okay read date added. Little update on reading, so I know where I am at. Been so busy lately, I miss the days of doing nothing.
Will have Cats Cradle done tomorrow and Mae West biography Friday. I..."

Is that ebola book perhaps The Hot Zone?

Denise wrote: "KayLynn wrote: "Denise wrote: "Melindam wrote: "Denise wrote: "I'm about to finish up Shopgirls. I'll list character names, etc for the spell-it-outs and let a captain decide what ..."

So much FOMO. I sorta want to make my own challenge with cities then. That sounds fun. Maybe after this one is over.

maria helena wrote: "Denise wrote: "I have the same issue. I also cannot get the notifications of new posts to work. "

I think maybe I'm having the same issue. I thought it was me being careless, but perhaps I can blame it all on GR.

Denise wrote: "Melindam wrote: "Denise wrote: "I'm about to finish up Shopgirls. I'll list character names, etc for the spell-it-outs and let a captain decide what we need most.

I haven't liste..."

Wait! Is there a challenge that has cities as tasks? Tell me more!

Melindam wrote: "KayLynn wrote: "The book I'm reading for 'author born in India' The Candid Life of Meena Dave also has turmeric, naan and mango in the text. I'm guessing turmeric is going to kind o..."

Perfect. It shall be done.

The book I'm reading for 'author born in India' The Candid Life of Meena Dave also has turmeric, naan and mango in the text. I'm guessing turmeric is going to kind of hard to fill.
Thoughts? Should I switch it to one of the foods?

Denise wrote: "One of the series I read has a character that specializes in baking with Ube. When I get a sec, I will actually verify that the next one in this series has that word in it, but I am 90% sure it wil..."

That sounds delicious. Now I want to make them!

Melindam wrote: "

Hello You Lovely Team! ❤️😊
Unbelievable as it is, we are actually halfway through the challenge!!
And you are doing a fantastic job, reading like hell little angels in Pagoda paradise. 😉
I..."

We are awesome!!

Melindam wrote: "I haven't fixed tbe formulas for all words. Will do it now for Chipsi M. :)"

You are the best!