Amanda ’s Comments (group member since Aug 31, 2025)

Amanda ’s comments from the Challenge Corner group.

Grace wrote: "Definitely tell me when you want to start book 2
and I loved it. I have enjoyed Abby's style in what I read

as for your last question hehe I don't know!"

Will do :)

& I guess bc of the name and the woman on the cover having red hair like Ariel 😂

Also, why did I think it was going to be some kind of retelling of The Little Mermaid 💀

Did you like the first one? This is my first book by this author. I know she's popular

Grace wrote: "I really wana read book 2 in this series Amanda
I read this one not long ago"

okay, I have book 2 as well so once I'm ready to start that one I can let you know, if you want to BR it 😊

okay this is my next read after I finish my current book

I'm starting today or tomorrow if anyone wants to join me :)

oh oops I thought that was what I posted it on lol thanks :)

If anyone wants to join me on to get some extra points for a buddy lmk :) I'm starting today!

Pages: 352
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Word: You
How it fits: "you" in title

Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Pages:352

I'm starting if anyone wants to join me! I didn't see a thread for it already but I could have missed it so if I'm wrong lmk :)

by Blake Crouch
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Buddy:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Pages: 359

Word: T in title HE in author name
How it fits: The in author name

Review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Buddy:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Pages: 336

Word: Witches
How it fits: witches in book title

by Diana Gabaldon
Pages: 1059
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Buddy:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Word: And
How it fits: A in title ND in author last name

Omg I forgot to mention I LOVED this part it, I had the biggest smile reading it. It also made me lol 😂

(view spoiler)[
Although some might really prefer you behave yourself and not climb all over the furniture in joy or all over people in welcome, do it anyway. Some will draw back from you in fear or disgust. Your lover, however, will cherish this new aspect of you—if he or she be the right lover for you.

Some people will not like it if you take a sniff at everything to see what it is. And for heaven’s sakes, no lying on your back with your feet up in the air. Bad girl. Bad wolf. Bad dog. Right? Wrong. Go ahead. Enjoy yourself. "

I like how she emphasized "if he or she be the right lover for you" because YES. My first thought most men would probably be annoyed, and then she said that. I was oh yes exactly!!! (hide spoiler)]

I love how you found the actual word "whammy" 😂

Grace wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I've had a difficult week and haven't been reading as much as usual but I'll be finished with Voyager today and then gonna focus on reading this for the rest of my reading today to t..."

yes there is a lot! I think I'm gonna aim for like 2 chapters a week (give or take)

Chapter 1

I wasn't sure what the structure of this book was going to be like but I like how it's written so far. I like how she uses accumulated imagery and cataloging. It makes the writing really poetic and beautiful. It does make it a bit confusing at times to understand the point she's making, but I found that she will eventually get to a more straightforward explanation. So I appreciate how she uses both!

I was writing notes in my phone as I was reading and its funny, i'm reading your comments now & we literally comment on all of the same things 😂

La Loba (view spoiler)[

"okay I really love this concept
I will have to dig deep and do some research to see what she was talking about with the ancient dissectionists
But it fascinates me how much these dissectionists used to link internal organs with more psyche functions as well"

- I literally thought the same thing. I actually went to search the traditional legend of The Loba. I find it more interesting to have a basic understanding of the stories she's analyzing. Otherwise, I felt like I didn't have the necessary context to appreciate her analysis.

One of the main takeaways for me, was how the use of arts is so strongly connected to our core, instinctual selves. It's something I've already known but the way she describes it just makes you really reflect on how important it is. It is the way to reach "The One Who Knows." It's how to connect with the deepest parts of your psyche.

and again with the river beneath the river:

"She arrives there through deep meditation, dance, writing, painting, prayermaking, singing, drumming, active imagination, or any activity which requires an intense altered consciousness."

- I also wondered if she will talk more about traditional gender roles and how the man impacts the wild women. I'm sure she will. I'm really looking forward to that lol (hide spoiler)]

The Four Rabbinsim
(view spoiler)[

"I LOVE that she said that
I love it more because a baby girl in the womb already has her ovaries and her eggs which means at some point a granddaughter was in the womb of the grandmother
So back to her dream of standing on the shoulders of an older woman, and how this chain of all of us being connected on such an instinctual basic level"

I loveddd this as well and noted it. I envisioned it in my mind. All the past generations holding you up. It's really so beautiful to think about. (hide spoiler)]

I also really appreciated the parts near the end of the chapter around reviving yourself and coming back to life. I think it is so important. I also really liked how she incorporated what people typically say in her sessions "I dont feel good, but I don't feel bad" or something like that. Because yes, that's so common and so much of it is spiritual and I love how she explores that. (view spoiler)[

I loved these quotes that kinda touch on that:

"This is our meditation practice as women, calling back the dead and dismembered aspects of ourselves, calling back the dead and dismembered aspects of life itself. The one who re-creates from that which has died is always a double-sided archetype."

I really loved this one too:

"La Loba, the old one in the desert, is a collector of bones. In archetypal symbology, bones represent the indestructible force. They do not lend themselves to easy reduction. They are by their structure hard to burn, nearly impossible to pulverize. In myth and story, they represent the indestructible soul-spirit. We know the soul-spirit can be injured, even maimed, but it is very nearly impossible to kill.
You can dent the soul and bend it. You can hurt it and scar it. You can leave the marks of illness upon it, and the scorch marks of fear. But it does not die, for it is protected by La Loba in the underworld. She is both the finder and the incubator of the bones." (hide spoiler)]

I was really suprised she didn't touch on the scripture of the Dry Bones from the bible (view spoiler)[ that's immediately what I thought about when she started talking about the bones and revival. It directly correlates with what she's talking about and it goes to show how in almost every culture and religion there is a version of a story with this same symbolism.

I just googled a brief summary to confirm that it is so similar

"In the vision of the “valley of dry bones,” God shows Ezekiel a field full of bones that are completely dried out — symbolizing a people who feel spiritually dead, hopeless, or cut off. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and as he speaks, the bones come together, grow flesh, and receive breath. They rise and become a living people again.

The message is that no situation is too lifeless, broken, or hopeless for renewal. God can restore what seems spiritually dead — whether it is a person, a community, or a nation. It represents."

It is possible she didn't include it because it doesnt speak to women - but it does speak to the metaphor of the bones and reviving what is thought to be dead. (hide spoiler)]

Since my program is a psychoanalytic program - I recommended this book to two of my professors (if they haven't read it already) and I'm waiting to hear back from them lol

that would be so cute 😂

oh lmfao 😅 I thought you were saying you guys actually did one like on zoom or something. I was like, wait I want to join next time 😂😂