Does anyone else think it would be a good idea to have this thread where we can just talk about whatever we want without it confusing new visitors. Having looked through the last few threads, most of them have just a few  posts relating to the book and then we start rambling on about something completely different. In other forums they put OT as the subject, but we can't do that or people will think it's about Odd Thomas, and then they really will get confused. How about some suggestions for the title. Maybe we could have it stuck at the top like the welcome to newbie thread.

Well I guess I'll come here then for my reaction to Amber=precious jewel. That's definitely a step up from being fossilized tree resin as reported in Jurrasic Park .  If I want to seriously overanalyze that definition I can take it as indicating both strength and fragility in different respects. Which seems appropriate, but I know that's not why I got that name so...

my mother had some dream while she was pregnant (before she even knew i was going to be a girl) that had a young girl in it that had golden brown hair. somehow that reminded her of the color amber and that's what name she chose for me. she also decided based on that that she didn't need to find out my sex because she knew i was going to be a girl.