I am another late starter. This morning I was reading through my latest issue of RealSimple and decided to go online and check out the book club. This month's book sounded good so I bought the Kindle version and just finished the third chapter. So far it has been a real page-turner and everyone's posts so far have really given me some things to think about. I agree, Lily is a fantastic character. Thinking back on risks I've had to take, I definitely did not have the same attitude as Lily. I guess the biggest risk I took in my younger years was leaving my home in Virginia to begin graduate school in Louisiana. It was 1978, I was 21 and had no place to stay; so upon arriving, I got a room at a Holiday Inn and started combing the newspapers for rooms to rent. Shy and quiet, I was as terrified as I have ever been. So funny when reading about Lily's adventures - off conquering the world at 15!! But I don't get the impression that she would have necessarily called herself a risk taker, she was just living life the only way she knew how. Like Maggie, I was horrified to find out that Lily's education had literally gone to the dogs and I couldn't help but think how differently I would have reacted to that. She was angry, but never seemed to feel sorry for herself. In fact, that's probably one of the things I like best about Lily so far - she never wallows in self pity. She reacts to things ("ONCE I STOPPED SMACKING myself in the head about being so gullible about that crumb bum") then got on with her life. Wish I had a nickel for all the times I let myself mope! Looking forward to the next few chapters at bedtime tonight!