Week Two Mid-Week Question

[Debbie]

For our mid week question Ang brought up a great topic when she stated she at first thought they were close but was changing her mind.
I never thought they were close and in fact thought that this trip was made more revealing because of it.

What do you think?

Thanks Ang, these discussions are so eye-opening to me and it always reconfirms that old saying that no two people read the same book.

[Karen]

A comment by Claire to Nicole (sorry no ability to cut and paste) where Claire and Nicole were talking about Nicole playing ball in high school, Claire told Nicole that Jen sat in the bleachers every game to watch Nicole play. Mole never saw her, she was focused on the ball, but she knew Claire was up there.
It was an eye opener about the Nicole Jen relationship as far back as high school and about the mix of their group.

[April]

From the beginning I got the feeling that Claire was the common thread that tied all these girls together. Claire seemed to have separate friendships with each of the women we've met and while the others knew each other, they weren't particularly close. It was Claire's idea to seek out old friends when she and Jenna started off on their road trip and thinking back, Jenna seemed very uncomfortable around Nicole at the beginning of the trip and didn't really want her coming along with them. I've loved watching these women become closer as their trip has gone on and I think they have formed bonds that will last forever.

[Edie]

Ditto everything from Karen and April. Almost from the beginning,I got the feeling that Claire didn't REALLY like Jenna. In high school, wasn't Jenna simply latching onto Claire's popularity? Sort of acting as Claire's lacky? It was almost as if Claire used Jenna in high school--but in a nice way, allowing or inviting her into situations where she could be helpful to Claire and at the same time do something that others might notice her talent. But after a while, I suspect that Claire, like most teens would, would have gotten tired of dragging someone else along and that Jenna would have simply been left on the fringes of every event. She seems to feel she was.

And having said all that, when I read the blurb about the book and actually began my reading, I, like Ang, thought I was going to be reading the adventures of BFF's from high school.

[[deleted user]]

I agree with April in that Claire is the common thread among all the ladies. It reminds me of when I was in school. There were those friends that I grew up with and bonded with early on in elementary school and maybe even before. Even now, if I run into one of them somewhere, it doesn't take long until an older version of our younger selves seeps out. Then as I entered high school, the circle grew and friends of my friends entered the picture. I considered and still consider them my friends too, but it's still different. That being said, without Claire in the mix, I don't think it would have been the same.

[Karen]

But it is the adventure of the Byrd from high school. They just brought along the big pink elephant that they keep dancing around, not to say anything abit their own individual flocks of pink flamingos swirling around their heads.
Communication just isn't any of their strong suits.

[Karen]

friends not Byrd. auto correct. grr

[Ang from OZ]

Karen wrote: "friends not Byrd. auto correct. grr"

I was thinking Karen, that you must use your phone to type messages. Your Auto correct always makes my name "Ang" to "Any" I giggle to myself every time :)

[Ang from OZ]

I just thought from reading the blurb that the book would be about high school BFF's. But as I read I can now see that it isn't the case. The characters were all connected in some way back in High School, but I wouldn't say they were best friends. And I can see that Jenna and Nicole weren't really friends at all. Its nice to see that these two have built on a friendship now throughout the story. I think Nicole has actually given Jenna a bit of back bone. And perhaps that is why she isn't being such a meek little mouse anymore.

[Karen]

Yes, our internet is down so I am stuck with the phone. This mode of participation has restricted my participation because I get so frustrated fighting the auto correct.

[Debbie]

Karen wrote: "Yes, our internet is down so I am stuck with the phone. This mode of participation has restricted my participation because I get so frustrated fighting the auto correct."

I appreciate any and whatever way you can be with us Karen. FIngers crossed for the net to be fixed.!!