Alana’s Comments (group member since Oct 17, 2017)

Alana’s comments from the Diversity in All Forms! group.

Sarah wrote: "I listened to this as an audiobook not too long ago. Everybody I've known who has read it has been blown away.

My personal gripe is that I think the author, Skloot, inserts herself too much into t..."

I agree, there were points where it felt a little bit much. But at the same time, I feel like she felt herself pulled in by the nature of what she was exploring, that dealing with the daughter and all of her paranoia made it essential that she really get to know her on a personal level, and it was difficult for her to get some of the details without being quite as involved in the story as she was. So it's kind of a good and bad at the same time kind of situation.

I just finished this tonight (prior to going to my in-person group) and I'm still mulling it over in my brain, feel emotionally exhausted after reading it. I was impressed with how Backman tried to get into the heads of almost everyone, to get the complete perspective on who/why of the whole thing. Very powerful.

NancyJ wrote: "The way we can prevent stereotyping in our own brains, is to expose ourselves to a wider variety of people. I would love to see more authors present different characters, so that we don't assume if you're X, you must also be Y. I would love to read a story perhaps about a school or community center for kids on the spectrum, where we could see that people with the same diagnosis all have their own individual personalities and characteristics."

I like this idea!

I loved it! I get SO tired of the plethora of WWII fiction out there (yes, it's important to remember the Holocaust, etc, but I don't want to read so many books about it), and I was afraid I would feel that way about this one, but it was just so beautifully written. I usually listen to audiobooks while working on housework, but when I read this, it was just so amazing, I just sat down in front of the fireplace and listened to it until the end, I was mesmerized! I haven't loved a book that much in a long time.

I honestly don't remember whether I liked this book or not, which tells me it didn't make a huge impression. I do remember that I read it and a vague outline of the story... but that's about it :-(

aPriL does feral sometimes wrote: "It is hard to get through that first part, I think, Mariah. People either skim it or read a few pages and walk away for awhile. Then, it is easier emotionally after the arrival of Shug."

Agreed, I had to set it aside for a bit. So shocking, it was difficult.

I don't have a lot of experience with autism (a couple at our church has an autistic son, but I don't know them that well, so I don't know what they might think of this book), but as far as just perspective on someone whose mind operates differently from mine, whether culturally, etc, I found it to be eye-opening. I put things in neat little boxes in my own mind and have pre-conceived ideas about people, etc, so any stretching beyond my own perspective is always a good thing, I think.

I listened to it and I think that made a big difference. I could understand much better than trying to read (I find that a lot when reading books with a strong dialect, too, for example, or when there's not a lot of punctuation, like in The Road).

I was actually surprised by the second half, because (view spoiler)[I figured they wouldn't escape until the very end. (hide spoiler)] I liked the fact that it addressed the psychological trauma that Ma dealt with (view spoiler)[and the reactions of her family, the media, etc (hide spoiler)] which were probably fairly realistic.

I really liked this book as well. It's very heavy reading, especially about the first five chapters. I almost gave up on it actually, because it was so depressing. But then they start getting into the hope; programs and individuals that are making a difference, what they are learning about what works and what doesn't, etc, and it becomes more of a way of promoting that we CAN make a difference, at least for someone, or a few people, if not everyone all at once.

I read this last year sometime I think, and I remember being unimpressed by it. I didn't see any reason for Bernadette to leave her family (I get the society things, but your family?) and felt all the characters were pretty boring. Maybe just wasn't resonating with me when I read it, not good timing?

I don't know that I felt there were caricatures, since I think there are persons like that in ANY of the major world religions. There's always someone who is more extreme and violent, so regardless of where or when it was set, I think you could have had a similar story. The key is the boy who grows into a man and dealing with a lot of emotional baggage and guilt and having to process through all of that through his whole life. And also comparing "what would I do?" in a similar (or at least comparable) situation?

I listened to her narration of this book (albeit at a slightly faster speed). I adore her voice, it's so melodic. Her story is incredible, it's amazing who she was able to become! I was horrified at many things that happened to her, because it sounds straight out of fiction.... the truth is so awful sometimes!

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End is AMAZING. Every person should read it, since we will all at one point face in either ourselves or someone we care about, death and/or serious illness. It is from a doctor's perspective from years of dealing with families and has great insight. We read it for an in-person book club and all were blown away by it.

It's funny, I had tried to read The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, which is also in that quirky, Swedish style, and I couldn't finish it. But for some reason, this had my attention the whole way through. I think because Ove reminded me of Carl from "Up".... the cranky old man that really does have a heart and you can't help but love. It's adorable!

I found her first-person perspective fascinating. I think due to the cultural restrictions, she was incredibly blessed to have her father who believed in women's education so much. I don't think her story would have been possible otherwise.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and it was excellent. I had no idea of some of the issues still going on in South Africa... my naive brain somehow thought that had ended after Mandela was elected, etc. I know so very little, it's embarrassing!

I just read this for my "in-person" book club a few months ago and it was absolutely fascinating, I hope everyone loves it!

Hi! I've been a member of the group for awhile but haven't posted yet, been doing some other reading and hadn't had a chance to check out the threads yet. I live in Colorado and enjoy my mountains! I enjoy lots of non-fiction and learning about other cultures (I happen to be reading a book from a local author about refugee high-schoolers trying to transition to life in America that is very eye-opening!) so I'm looking forward to reading with you all!