Feb Book Club Discussion - The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

[ufcasey]

Next month's book is "The Nickel Boys" by Colson Whitehead
I've updated the book calendar for the entire year here:
pandce.proboards.com/thread/560725/book-club-reads-2020-welcome


This month's book is "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" by Abbi Waxman
I don't have any internet discussion questions so feel free to discuss whatever you want about this book!

ETA: Actually I just found some, so feel free to answer these if you feel like it, otherwise just say your thoughts about the book in general

1) Nina is perfectly content with her books and cat. Let’s discuss why Nina is so withdrawn from the world. How did her upbringing influence the person she’s become? Can you relate to Nina? Are you as obsessed as books as she is?

2) What did you think of her relationship with Tom? Do you think they’re a good match? Are in they in it for the long haul?

3) Let’s talk about Nina’s new family! What did you think of all the different dynamics? How would you have reacted if you were Nina?

4) Why did Nina’s mom not want Nina to know about her dad? How would have things been different if she knew about her family the entire time?

5) How did Nina grow as a person from the beginning of the book to the end of the story?

[ufcasey]

Tagging people who may have read it:
meowmaps, aurora, travella, pandora89, staceymcgill, krystee, dontlook, tacokick

[tacokick]

I read this as an ARC so it’s been a while!


1) Nina is perfectly content with her books and cat. Let’s discuss why Nina is so withdrawn from the world. How did her upbringing influence the person she’s become? Can you relate to Nina? Are you as obsessed as books as she is?

I liked Nina but I didn’t relate to her too much. I do love to read but it isn’t as much of my whole life/personality as it was for her. I did like her backstory, it was pretty different!


2) What did you think of her relationship with Tom? Do you think they’re a good match? Are in they in it for the long haul?

I think I liked them together! Their getting together seemed dragged out to me.


3) Let’s talk about Nina’s new family! What did you think of all the different dynamics? How would you have reacted if you were Nina?

I thought it was a neat twist on the usual family drama. I think it would have been a shock but she did seem to get at least one new family member/friend out of that she really liked.

4) Why did Nina’s mom not want Nina to know about her dad? How would have things been different if she knew about her family the entire time?

Nina’s mom was a strange character! She didn’t want her to know her dad but also wasn’t very hands on. What was a point of that? It seemed very selfish to me.

5) How did Nina grow as a person from the beginning of the book to the end of the story?

Nina did really open up to people and experiences towards the end.

[abs]

This is generally my kind of genre but I could not get into this one. At one point I found it kind of offensive and set it down. Never picked it back up. This was months and months ago though.

[meowmaps]

I read about 50 pages and just couldn’t get hooked. Also, despite being introverted and bookish, Nina does have a pretty active social life. I related to her a little until she listed all of her various book clubs, trivia nights, etc. I actually love trivia but I haven’t had a group for many years now. I can really relate to wanting to hang at home with my cats though.

[dontlook]

I’m sorry to hear a few of you didn’t like the book.

I enjoyed it. Nina was the most outgoing introvert I know lol.
Her newfound family members were exciting and added an interesting plot to the story.
Her mother confused me the most. Maybe bc the mom was detached she didn’t think Nina would care if her mother or father were around. It just seemed like she would have at least wanted Nina to have some parental involvement, although I’m sure the affair made things messy.
I think Nina and Tom have a good shot at making it. All the family stuff probably has open her up to be ready for a relationship.

[tacokick]

Feb 26, 2020 15:37:28 GMT -5 abs said:

This is generally my kind of genre but I could not get into this one. At one point I found it kind of offensive and set it down. Never picked it back up. This was months and months ago though.

What was offensive about it? I thought it was pretty fluffy but I’m a little foggy on the details now.

[travella]

I enjoyed the book in the beginning. I could relate with Nina to a degree (while I don't suffer from anxiety or love books and trivia to that degree I do like books, find many people exhausting, and I love office supplies /planning). I had hoped the story would go somewhere new, but it didn't.

When she stated adding a bunch of new people into her life I lost interest. At that point it felt a lot like all the other books about a quirky socially inept introvert that seem all of rage right now (Eleanor Oliphant, Rosie Project, Evie Drake Starts Over...) and I lost interest. The book was just a rehash of the already worn out storyline. I gave it 2*in the end.

[aurora]

My loan is next up! But that means I'll be late to the discussion since I haven't started it yet.

[CrazyLucky]

I loved the book. It was a quick and easy read. I somewhat relate to Nina in that I'm an introvert, but I don't know if I have much in common besides that. I loved her inner monologue. I love how something as silly and dorky as pub trivia was this major competitive thing. There were several inane things that just made me laugh. Trading obscure facts with a six year old, breaking grammar rules with the nephew, the really clever insults she zinged her niece with.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Feb 26, 2020 17:57:58 GMT -5 travella said:

I enjoyed the book in the beginning. I could relate with Nina to a degree (while I don't suffer from anxiety or love books and trivia to that degree I do like books, find many people exhausting, and I love office supplies /planning). I had hoped the story would go somewhere new, but it didn't.

When she stated adding a bunch of new people into her life I lost interest. At that point it felt a lot like all the other books about a quirky socially inept introvert that seem all of rage right now (Eleanor Oliphant, Rosie Project, Evie Drake Starts Over...) and I lost interest. The book was just a rehash of the already worn out storyline. I gave it 2*in the end.

I felt pretty similar, although I did finish the book.  

There were times when I felt like Nina was relatable.  I'm a bookish introvert with anxiety, but I felt like the portrayal of Nina's anxiety and introvertedness were really inconsistent and they were mostly used as a crutch to fit the 'fad' of this type of book rather than to portray a realistic person.  

I also felt like so much of the stuff with her family...i.e. the recognizing every little similarity, the making instant connections and plans to be in each other's lives long-term, and especially the instant bond with the cousin who previously hated her were all unbelievable.  

One of the plot points that bothered me the most was that her mom just hired a nanny for her and left.  What kind of nanny works 24/7 and raises a child as if she's her own???

And finally, the ending with Liz and Meffo 'finding' each other and the happily ever after was just too much for me.  Even though Nina didn't care much about money (because in her perfect world, who really needs to?), how is her buying in to the bookstore going to save it in the long run?  If they don't change the business, they will just continue to lose money and still eventually go out of business, no?

If I wasn't reading this book to discuss it, it probably wouldn't have bothered me so much.  It could have just been a quick, fun, light read.  But when I thought about it critically, for me it didn't hold up at all.

[rainbowchip]

1) Nina is perfectly content with her books and cat. Let’s discuss why Nina is so withdrawn from the world. How did her upbringing influence the person she’s become? Can you relate to Nina? Are you as obsessed as books as she is?

I imagine having your mother just dump you off on a nanny for months at a time would cause some attachment issues.
I do think she is more like me than any character I've read before. She loves books, tv, and movies and that is basically her whole life. I can totally relate to that.

2) What did you think of her relationship with Tom? Do you think they’re a good match? Are in they in it for the long haul?

It seemed like it was mostly physical. And the whole "she has books he builds bookshelves so they are the perfect match" thing was so corny! That she never actually asked him what he did was not realistic.

3) Let’s talk about Nina’s new family! What did you think of all the different dynamics? How would you have reacted if you were Nina?

I find it odd that so many of them were the same person basically. Just going from my (somewhat large) family, none of us are have even remotely similar personalities.

4) Why did Nina’s mom not want Nina to know about her dad? How would have things been different if she knew about her family the entire time?

I'm not sure about this one. I guess maybe she was punishing him for being a cheater??? It surely wasn't in Nina's best interest to not know her father.

5) How did Nina grow as a person from the beginning of the book to the end of the story?

I don't really think she did. Other than she let a boyfriend into her life.


General thoughts
My oldest friend's name is Nina but it's pronounced Nine-ah. I struggled a lot with Neen-ah.

The whole part about the car annoyed the crap out of me. My husband owns an 84 Trans Am which is the same body style as Nina's KITT car and there is no glove box in that car! So it couldn't have flown open to have the letters fall out. Second, the learning how to drive a stick thing was all wrong.

The ending was horrible. Way too short and tied up.

Her handwriting sucked! It took me about half the book to figure out it said "work" and not "none". Also, for someone who supposedly schedules everything she sure didn't have much on her calendar.

I gave it 3 stars but that's only because I liked all the book, movie, and tv references.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Oh, one more thought about why her mom didn't want her to know about her dad. Maybe she was afraid if she knew her dad and the rest of her family, Nina would sort of get 'absorbed' into her dad's family, and therefore her mom wouldn't be able to convince herself she was still being a mom to Nina. Her mom seemed pretty selfish and self-absorbed, so I can't really imagine a reason that doesn't benefit her primarily.

[wesleycrusher]

This book was meh for me- honestly the book was pretty un-memorable. Nina's character was inconsistent and for someone who is so bookish...I don't think she read all that many books. I didn't connect enough with the character to care much about the romance or family issues.

[scribellesam]

I liked this book not as much as I thought I would - as others have pointed out, her character and particularly her social anxiety was very inconsistent and that annoyed me. One minute she’s running away from Tom at the movies like a child, then she’s trading zingers with her bitchy family members in a conference room like it’s no big deal five minutes later? It did not seem realistic.

[mrspez07]

I read The Bookshop of yesterdays a month or two ago and found them to be really very similar. Both taking place in “quaint” but changing LA, family scandal, ultimate ownership of the bookstore.
I enjoyed Nina’s as a light quick read. Definitely some story holes and jumps that seemed weird (the car? Her mom?)
One of my favorite parts was the trivia competition and teams. I liked the quirky names and competiveness. I thought that was a somewhat unique twist to the bookstore genre/storyline.

[Nonny]

I'm a month+ late on this, but I had to come in to say that I actually really didn't like her relationship with Tom. It bugged the hell out of me when she fainted at the festival and her family was trying to be all familial and offered to take her home, but Tom had to be all aggressive and possessive about being the one to give her a lift. 

Then when he actually took her home he got all butt hurt about being told to (politely) to leave - they'd been on like 3 dates and weren't really in much of a relationship, if she wants you gone so she can deal with her mental health you be respectful, peace out, and talk about it later. You don't be all petulant and ignore texts because someone you are in a brand new relationship with wants some alone time. Hell, I've been with my H for over 21 years, and sometimes I want him to leave me alone. 

[ufcasey]

Also a month late on this, but I didn't like this book. And while this wasn't my review, I thought it pretty much nailed everything that was wrong with the book (warning it's a little long):

www.goodreads.com/review/show/3083853380?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

[aurora]

I finally finished! It was definitely fluff. I don't expect to remember it much beyond this book club discussion.

I did like the book references throughout.

Some of the plot seemed pointless. What was the point of the car, really? Why did it matter that Liz was way behind on the rent for the store?

I thought it would be a good twist if she forgot Tom and went for the auto shop guy where she got the car.

[aurora]

Mar 31, 2020 8:41:52 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Also a month late on this, but I didn't like this book. And while this wasn't my review, I thought it pretty much nailed everything that was wrong with the book (warning it's a little long):

www.goodreads.com/review/show/3083853380?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Wow, that's an impressively vehement review someone took the time to write!

[dontlook]

Apr 3, 2020 22:25:59 GMT -5 aurora said:

Mar 31, 2020 8:41:52 GMT -5 ufcasey said:

Also a month late on this, but I didn't like this book. And while this wasn't my review, I thought it pretty much nailed everything that was wrong with the book (warning it's a little long):

www.goodreads.com/review/show/3083853380?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Wow, that's an impressively vehement review someone took the time to write!

That person *really* hated this book. Wow!

[ufcasey]

Apr 4, 2020 12:30:33 GMT -5 dontlook said:

Apr 3, 2020 22:25:59 GMT -5 aurora said:

Wow, that's an impressively vehement review someone took the time to write!

That person *really* hated this book. Wow!

Yes they did haha! I only disliked it but I thought the review brought up a lot of good points.