August 2022 - The Secret of Clouds

[Cherie]

Roz, I have been wanting to read Tuck Everlasting for the longest time! I even have a copy on my Nook tablet. Unfortunately, it is too short for most of our challenges. I think I have been waiting for a "short book" challenge to come along. :o)
I have the Lois Lowry book on on my TBR list too. I have read many of the others.

[Jenn]

I am only two chapters in, but have to admit that I am having a really hard time getting into this one. (view spoiler)[From the bits of conversation that I can see, it sounds like the historic timeline might be better, but I’m just not there yet 😞 I am finding it very over the top wordy-descriptive, I know it kinda fits her profession, but something about it is making my eyes cross 😵‍💫 (hide spoiler)] I am not ready to give up completely, but I think I will have to come back to it.

[Cherie]

I just got to chapter 64.

[Marnie]

I finished. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. I think the short chapters made for a quick read but there were parts of the story that I wish the author dug a little deeper.

[Janice, Moderator]

Jenn wrote: "I am only two chapters in, but have to admit that I am having a really hard time getting into this one. [spoilers removed] "

Don't give up on it Jenn. The story gets more involved the more you get into it.

[Cherie]

I finished it last night (early this morning) before I went to bed.
I liked it but like Marnie, I did not love it. There were definitely parts that I liked better than others. I felt that the ending was a little drawn out, but I think I understood why it was that way (view spoiler)[ She had to show the passage of time to get to the letters at the end. It felt, at times, that her angst and grief over Yuri's death was a little over the top, but I have never experienced a child's death either, so I do not know. The "hardship" over trying to have a baby is real, but I thought it distracted from the story. I think, without the Author's notes at the end and it might have been a little harder to understand the cloud thing. I kept wondering when it was going to be woven into the story. I was glad to see that Katya and her husband were able to have another child. It felt like Maggie was a good teacher, and I really liked some of the book and writing discussions. I thought the letter idea was an interesting part of the story and I liked the art teacher. All of the food talk made me hungry! (hide spoiler)]

There are several books mentioned that I really want to read now,

[Cherie]

Roz - I think The Velveteen Rabbit was also mentioned in the story.

[Kira]

I started this one tonight and I must say, this is a great pick. I am loving the story so far. I get the feeling that I might just need to have my tissues ready because this might get sad.

I am upto Chapter 5 and (view spoiler)[ I love how Maggie is trying to connect with Yuri, she is genuinely interested in giving him the school experience he is missing because of the sickness. Her reluctance at the start was completely justified but I liked how her mom helped her overcome it. Bill seems supportive so far which is great as well. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

I have now read upto Chapter 20

(view spoiler)[Katya and Sasha’s story from when they were in Ukraine is so attention grabbing that I am kinda wishing we had more of those chapters instead of Bill and Maggie’s. I am leaning towards agreeing with Bill on Maggie’s, not obsession per se, but more than usual interest in Yuri. He does have a captivating personality but I can’t imagine anyone putting off their personal life for a student realistically. But then I also don’t know anyone in teaching field so there might be that. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Upto Chapter 40

(view spoiler)[phew there is some serious foreshadowing about things going wrong with Yuri in the near future and to be quite honest, I am scared. I’ve grown attached to the characters and I just don’t want anything bad to happen but it is looking inevitable. Katya and Yulia’s conversation has me afraid, the way she says that nothing can be done indicates that Finn and Maggie’s wish might not come true.

On the other hand, i am not sure what is up with Daniel, what role is he going to play in the book? Since Maggie and Bill’s relationship is getting rockier, has he been introduced as another potential romantic interest? I wish there’s not much focus on that particular sub plot, I am enjoying the current storyline and if anything, I’d like to read more about the Chernobyl disaster. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Kira wrote: "I have now read upto Chapter 20

[spoilers removed]"

I'm glad you are enjoying the story, Kira.

I suspect that Maggie's (view spoiler)[interest in Yuri was influenced a lot by her childhood friend. To me she's a very caring person, and Bill should encourage her. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Upto Chapter 58!

(view spoiler)[There is so much happening in the book that it's getting difficult for me to keep track. I am still the most curious about the Chernobyl disaster but it doesn't seem like this book would provide any more details of that and I am now going to research books that are specifically about Chernobyl.

I loved how Maggie persuaded Katya to allow Finn's visits, seeing Yuri happy fulfills my heart. Maggie breaking up with Bill upon realising that it wasn't working out showed that she was indeed mature and I am happy for her. I don't know how things with Daniel will turn out to be but I am glad that Maggie is following her heart.

Yuri coming to school was totally unexpected! When he gets scolded by Maggie for leaving school uninformend and he says that it's the first time he felt like a kid, my heart was just about ready to burst. I can't even begin to imagine his pain and the way he must long to spend time with kids his age.

Oh and I also hope that Katya starts dancing again, she has devoted her entire life to Yuri and I want her to have something for herself as well.

Yuri is helping Maggie learn a few very valuable life lessons and I am dreading something bad happening. But this isn't a fairytale and I think I should prepare myself to get my heart broken. (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

Janice wrote: "Kira wrote: "I have now read upto Chapter 20

[spoilers removed]"

I'm glad you are enjoying the story, Kira.

I suspect that Maggie's [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I agree with you Janice. I was under the impression that she was neglecting her personal life but having read ahead now, I think I have a better understanding of her relationship with Bill and now I am actually a bit disappointed in him for how he seemed to belittle her job at the Christmas dinner by calling it "practice for the future" (hide spoiler)]

[Kira]

I finished it.

(view spoiler)[What I feared really did come true..I just wasn't expecting it to happen so suddenly. But I should admit, the letters were beautiful, not just Yuri's but every letter that was included in the book had me wondering about all those kids and where were they now. Sasha and Katya had a daughter! I loveeed the meaning they gave to her name. I wish Yuri was there as well with his little sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

I thought the book gave us a lot to think about. I also wish (view spoiler)[more time had been spent on Chernobyl. Maybe she didn't want it to be a major factor in the story. It was needed for the background on Yuri's health and she wanted to keep the story on the characters of Yuri and Maggie. I would have loved for Kataya to be more fleshed out, and that could be the subject of another book perhaps, only Richmond doesn't tend to do series.

I like that Kataya had another child. I thought she would be fearful to try. My mother-in-law lost a child who was 6 months old. She said she got pregnant shortly after with my ex-husband and I recall her telling me that having another child was very healing. (hide spoiler)]

Would you read other books by Richman? I really liked The Lost Wife.

[Katrisa]

Kira the book Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster was a great book detailing the Chernobyl disaster

[Katrisa]

Janice wrote: "I thought the book gave us a lot to think about. I also wish more time had been spent on Chernobyl. Maybe she didn't want it to be a major factor in the story. It was needed for the background on Y..."

I would totally read a book about Katya!

[Laura (Lclwags)]

I've read 6 chapters so far and I'm enjoying it. I kept thinking the 1986 date had some significance, but it took me reading your comments to realize it was Chernobyl!
Maggie - (view spoiler)[ I'm already attached to her character. I have a lot of respect for someone who has the courage to change their path when they realize it isn't the direction they want their life to be going. Like a few of you said, I'm not sure she and Bill are going to last, unless they really work on it. They seem to want different things from life. He wasn't excited to move, he didn't love the house like she did. It seems like he supports her though. I'm anxious to see how the bond with Yuri continues to develop. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

I quite enjoyed Maggie's character as well. Too bad there aren't more teachers like her. She seems to have a special gift that rises above. I had some really good teachers, and some who shouldn't have pursued the profession.

[Laura (Lclwags)]

Well I sat down Saturday to read and am now through Chapter 38! The chapters are short enough that it's so easy to say just 1 more chapter over and over. I brought the book with me and plan to read over lunch. I need to know how this ends, even though I'm pretty sure it will be heartbreaking.
Katya - (view spoiler)[ I agree that her story is fascinating and I want more chapters from the 1980s. I was so anxious reading about the warm water and them opening the windows. I just kept thinking they need to get out of there! I didn't realize the anti-Semitism was so prominent still in the 80s. I'm sad she stopped dancing even after her ankle healed. I hope she is able to take it up again or at least share her story with Yuri. (hide spoiler)]
Yuri- (view spoiler)[ He is so smart and insightful! I think it's great that Maggie was able to bring Finn to visit and that Finn was kind enough to go. It seems to be having a positive impact on Yuri's demeanor. I hope he gets to watch Finn play a baseball game. I love the letter from the past project! I am anxious to know what Yuri wrote, but I fear it will be read by Maggie if Yuri doesn't make it to graduation. Just realized Yuri would have been my age. I was class of 2005 and he class of 2006. I definitely don't recall having a language arts teacher like Maggie! (hide spoiler)]
Maggie - (view spoiler)[ She and Bill seem to be growing even more apart. I hope they just both agree to part ways. I think this story will have enough heartache already. I'm unsure how the music teacher will play into the story. There do seem to be hints that he would be a better fit for Maggie's family. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Laura (Lclwags) wrote: "Well I sat down Saturday to read and am now through Chapter 38! The chapters are short enough that it's so easy to say just 1 more chapter over and over. I brought the book with me and plan to read..."

Re Yuri - (view spoiler)[ Does that give you a different perspective - him being close to your age? (hide spoiler)]

Katya (view spoiler)[ I'm starting to prefer standalones, but I would enjoy reading another book focused on Katya and her story. (hide spoiler)]

[Roz]

I agree with you Janice about Katya. Her story was a bit thin (or a lot thin).

[Laura (Lclwags)]

I finished chapter 57 last night. Yuri (view spoiler)[ being able to attend classes made me so happy! I can totally understand his point of view. Life is meant to be lived and shared with friends and loved ones. If I'm remembering correctly, cell phones weren't common then and texting was expensive! I remember getting in trouble in middle school for going over my allowed monthly texts and having a huge phone bill. It wasn't as easy for kids to stay in touch remotely. Although nothing beats face to face connections, as we all know from the last several years.
Maggie seems to have found someone who shares her joys in life and I love that for her. From the very beginning it was clear music and food were very important to her and she needs someone who feels similar about those things. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura (Lclwags)]

Kira wrote: "Upto Chapter 58!

There is so much happening in the book that it's getting difficult for me to keep track. I am still the most curious about the Chernobyl disaster but it doesn't seem like this boo..."

Kira I totally agree! Yuri saying (view spoiler)[ it was the first time he felt like a kid was so impactful. I also hope Katya gets involved in ballet again and feel we are about to have our hearts broken. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura (Lclwags)]

I finished a few days ago, but haven't been on the computer to add my spoilers. I think like many have mentioned, I liked it, but there were things I wish had been better. Katya's story (view spoiler)[ was a bit disappointing, since we don't see much of her for 6 years and never learn what all she did in that time. The daughter's name was so sweet and meaningful and I'm glad they were able to have a healthy child.
I wanted Maggie's childhood friend to come back into the story. Maybe at least a paragraph about how Yuri helped her deal with her friend's passing.
I knew Yuri was going to die, and I still cried when it happened. So heartbreaking for a child to die so young.
The cloud thing was very underwhelming to me. I waited all the way to the end of the book for the big reveal and it felt weak to me. It was a cute idea, but not one I thought the book should be named after. Maybe I had just built it up in my head thinking Yuri would say something profound in the letter. Overall I did enjoy the book and Maggie! I wish there were thousands of teachers like her in the world to help make kids lives better, even if just for one school year. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Good comments, Laura. I guess (view spoiler)[I was underwhelmed by the cloud thing because I'm hard pressed to remember it. I think the consensus was that Katya's story was underdeveloped. We all want more of her story. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Yes, Laura, good comments! I agree with all of your comments.