The Cornerstone Readalong! Week One's Questions Answered.

Hey guys! It's week one of the Cornerstone Readalong! This is my second reading of the book and having just finished the sequel, Keystone,  it has been cool stepping back and revisiting  the book that started it all:) So let's get to this week's questions courtesy of Candace over at Candace's Book Blog!

1.)  Right away we learn a bit about the fact that Nalena has to buy massive amounts of paper for her mom and that her mother is a bit of a paper hoarder.  What was your initial reaction to this?  Do you think there might be more to her mothers paper obsession?  What do you think it is that she's writing down, is she really just a crazy lady that has a compulsion to create characters and plot details?

Initially I thought that Nali's mom was really just a hoarder (which by the way, really freaks me out, I blame it on that TV show.) But as I read on I came to the conclusion that her scribblings must allude to something MORE. 

2.)  We meet Garrett.  Okay, breathe for a moment... Now we meet him and we see him through Nali's eyes and she's very wary at first, despite his good looks (or because of it).  But he seems so genuine, and he says he understands her mothers paper hoarding.  And then he saves her from the crazy person in the woods.  And then makes her hand and arm feel better. What are your thoughts about Garrett so far?

I'm kind of a cynical person by nature, so my first thoughts are along the lines of "he seems too good to be true." But, trying to insert myself into the mind of Nali, a teenage girl who is an outcast at school, lacks self esteem and has one dysfunctional home life, I completely get how she could fall for him, even though she believes he couldn't possibly be interested. I think Garrett is a really good guy at heart, but...cynical mind at work here, I feel that there is more to the story than he is letting on. Mysterious guys are the best, are they not?

3.) We meet Cora and Nali describes her as a bit of a fair-weather friend.  Only showing up when it's convenient and never really being a true friend.  Have you ever had a fair-weather friend?  How did it make you feel?

Oh, Cora. Poor, sniveling, snotty Cora. She DOES seem like a fair weather friend, or at least a friend who has trouble censoring herself (gosh, she really says everything she thinks doesn't she?)  I really never had a fair weather friend back in school, I guess I was lucky, but with Nali's issues with insecurity and all the bullying she puts up with from her schoolmates, I could see how it would push her even further into her shell and make her even more untrusting of people in general. 

4.) Nali is teased and called The Waste at school because of her mothers paper hoarding.  She's constantly made fun of and put down.  Do you think you would be brave enough to stand up for yourself?  And if you were to see someone being teased would you jump in and stand up for them?

Would I be brave enough to stand up for myself? I'd like to think "yes" but again, putting myself into the mind of a teenage girl who has the home life that Nali's has? Probably not. It seems like it would be easier, and maybe less painful, to just close up and retreat into myself. Is that the right way to handle it? No. But is it realistic? Unfortunately, I would say yes. 

Which is why it is so important to have a strong support system , friends and family who can back you up. So to answer the second part of the question: would I jump in and stand up for someone I see being put down? YES. It's such an important thing to stand up for people who may not be able to stand up for themselves!

5.)  When Regina is picking on Nali in class she suddenly feels these rings go around her body and then seems to step outside of it.  Later when she's attacked she seems to have a sort of super speed that helps her dodge blows.  Do you have any idea what might be going on?  If you could have any ability what ability what you choose?

When that whole scene played out I had NO idea what was going on, it's a pretty unique super power, isn't it? Because Nali is a fast runner, and because Garrett seemed to possess some super speed, I thought I was beginning to see some sort of connection between the two. But still, at this point, I had no idea what was up.

If I could choose any super power or ability? That's tough. I think maybe speed or invisibility. I love reading about kick butt heroines, but in reality, I'm a big wuss. I'd turn tail and run, which would be made much easier if I was lightening fast or could disappear in the blink of an eye:)

So listen up guys! Author Misty Provencher recently decided to revamp her covers of Cornerstone and Keystone and reaction has been mixed. 

Old School

VS.

Hot n' Spicy

&

Old School

VS.

Hot n' Spicy

Some like the old school covers and some like the new spiced up version. Misty wants you, the readers, to weigh in. All this month Misty will be polling readers to see which cover they prefer. Interested in throwing in your two cents? Head over to Misty's blog and cast your vote! Check out the voting widget in her right hand side bar to join in. Come October, Misty will take the results and make her decision. Always wish you could have a say in what cover goes on a book? Now you can!