Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

The Opposite of Everyone


"Quirky and appealing characters, an engaging story, and honest dialogue make ...
Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide
Author Biography

Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

Created: 11/19/16

Replies: 6

Posted Nov. 19, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3444

Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

Kai used to tell her daughter that "Kali destroys only to renew, to restore justice, Kali brings fresh starts.... Your name literally means 'Hail to the Mother,' over in India." Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?


Posted Dec. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
renem

Join Date: 12/01/16

Posts: 292

RE: Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

In the beginning of the book, Paula states that her mother Kai, often told her she was named after the mother goddess who brings hope (and springtime). If you use that reference, Paula has lived up to her namesake by offering hope of a new home and family life for her younger siblings.

My name means born again or reborn. Having a hard time finding out what I wanted for my life, I was always going in new directions and exploring new experiences.


Posted Dec. 03, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lois Irene

Join Date: 01/20/16

Posts: 76

RE: Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

I interpreted the "Hail to the Mother" meaning to be a very self- centered name for a mother to give her daughter. While certainly self-absorbed, there was more going on with her than just that.
Kai was in enigma to me - almost unbelievable - yet close enough to some old hippies that I knew that she rang true. I never knew anyone who was so obsessed with the Hindu stories. While the Hari Krisna was always around, free spirits speaking of Hindu gods and goddesses were not known to me. I am 63 and went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill, which had an abundant assortment of all hippie types at the time I was there.
I was named for a great-aunt who never had children. While my name, Lois, was never popular or considered cute, I did value the female family tradition that was in the name. I certainly tried to be a "name-sake" she would be proud of.


Posted Dec. 04, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyl

Join Date: 04/21/14

Posts: 39

RE: Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

I was named after family members, as were my siblings. Nancy was a very classy aunt-in-law and Louella (which my sister tells me is a great Southern name) after the sweetest aunt in the world. I tried to be classy, but I think sweet was more important.


Posted Dec. 04, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cynthiaa

Join Date: 04/14/11

Posts: 112

RE: Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

I think she lived up to her name. In the beginning of the book, I got mixed up about who was who between the mother and the daughter. That was because their names were so similar.
I was curious as to the grandma renaming her Paula and the mom not knowing it until she got out of prison. Or maybe she did and couldn't do anything about it.
I wonder how that grandma could produce a daughter like Kai when she was so strict. That is probably the answer right there.
Yes my name has meaning. Cynthia means goddess of the moon. Greek word for Mount Cynthus. Sometimes I think am a goddess.Hee hee


Posted Dec. 04, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
julianna

Join Date: 10/10/13

Posts: 41

RE: Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

Yes she lived up to her name. I agree with cynthiaa in terms of confusion between names of mother and daughter. I think the grandmother changed her first name because she thought the her given name was inappropriate. I don't know what my mother chose my name but I have researched its origin and it inspires me to be strong.


Posted Dec. 13, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Windsong

Join Date: 05/07/13

Posts: 105

RE: Do you think Paula lived up to her namesake? Does your name have a meaning, and if so, has it influenced the person you’ve become?

In the sense of its Hindu meaning, yes.
My two sisters, age 20 and 22 when I was born named me for the actress Janis Paige. Every time I am asked my first name, I automatically spell J A N I S. There were three of us in my graduating class with the same name, but their mothers spelled it as everyone else does, J A N I C E. That spelling set me apart from the other two so that individuality is very much a part of me. Janis Paige had stunningly bright red hair. No resemblance to me whatsoever. On a side note: I looked up the popularity of my name of girls born that year. It was 77th and is now on a list of names that are most likely to be extinct since less than 1% of girls born in the last decade were given the name. It is right up there with Myrtle.


Reply

Please login to post a response.