Tone’s Comments (group member since Nov 04, 2019)

Tone’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Mamacita aka wrote: "I am reading one for #8 in series now will finish in the next day or so."

Nice! I was gonna read a Sherlock Holmes book for this but I'm still waiting for it from my library. But now I won't have to :)

I'm still reading The Iron Daughter for the jester task (33), and The Wee Free Men for several different possible tasks (jellybaby and crivens) :)

Finished The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren.



No new tasks.

Other tasks:
C7, 21, 39, 41, 81, 84, 88, 95, 111, 112, 146, 160, 161, 169, 171, 173, 190.

Added to the tracker :)

DQs Day 2 Chapters 9 to 15

6. I thought that the opening scene with Daunis and the gun would show up again towards the end of the book. That’s usually what happens when authors use this kind of device. Were you surprised that it happens not even a quarter of the way in?
No, because on the back of the book it says that she's taking part in an FBI investigation, and for her to be a part of it the crime must have happened. I was just waiting for it to happen, and I thought maybe it might happen during the first set of DQ-chapters.

7. We knew there would be a murder but we’re you surprised that it was Lily who was killed? Did you suspect something bad would happen between her and Travis?
I was expecting Travis to be killed, tbh.

8. The synopsis also hinted that Jamie was not all he seemed. I thought he would be something to do with the murder but not that he would be an undercover agent. What did you think it was that Jamie was hiding?
I didn't think he would be an undercover agent. I thought maybe it would be something about a dark past or something, because of the way he reacted to the fireworks.

9. If you were Daunis would you have agreed to be a confidential informant? I’m not sure I would be brave enough.
It's difficult to say. I think I probably would have, but there's no way to know for sure.

10. Being a confidential informant seems to be very complicated with Daunis being expected to really investigate what is happening rather than just let them know if she comes across anything suspicious. How well do you think Daunis will be able to do this as it’s her own community and perhaps members of her own family that she will be investigating?
I think she will do fine, but that at times she will have a hard time doing it. It seems like everyone knows everyone in the community, so it must be hard to investigate people you have known your whole life.

Finished The Chase by Elle Kennedy.



No new tasks.

Other tasks:
4, 21, 25, 28, 81, 82, 83, 84, 111, 119, 149, 158, 161, 190, 191, 211, 217, 220, 224, 225.

Added to the tracker :)

Also finished The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien on audio.



New tasks (but not really):
241

Other tasks:
G5, 10, 27, 29, 46, 52, 55, 65, 79, 84, 105, 112, 137, 145, 146, 148, 155, 164, 169, 171, 190, 199, 246

Added to SS :)

Finished The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien on audio.



No new tasks.

Other tasks:
G5, 27, 29, 53, 55, 65, 79, 84, 101, 105, 112, 137, 145, 146, 148, 164, 169, 171, 190, 224, 237

Added to SS :)

Andrea wrote: "Tone wrote: "Andrea wrote: "I plan on reading:
The Wee Free Men to fill C10 - Crivens .
The Captain Class: The Hidden Force that Creates the World's Greatest Teams to ..."

Yup! My version doesn't have sheep on the cover, though :(

Andrea wrote: "I plan on reading:
The Wee Free Men to fill C10 - Crivens .
The Captain Class: The Hidden Force that Creates the World's Greatest Teams to fill 142- One of Sam Vimes'..."

I'm also planning on reading The Wee Free Men, but it can also be used for the jellybaby, I think :)

Finished Rage and Ruin by Jennifer L. Armentrout on audio.



No new tasks:
21, 29, 30, 32, 50, 88, 112, 113, 135, 137, 145, 146, 148, 149, 164, 169, 171, 172, 203, 244.

Added to the SS :)

Finised Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert



New tasks:
241 - last book in the Brown Sisters series.

Other tasks:
12, 21, 23, 25, 28, 29, 81, 82, 83, 95, 101, 111, 113, 119, 145, 148, 149, 160, 161, 172, 173, 186, 194, 221

Added to the SS :)

1) Was this book on your TBR before it was announced as a BOM and were you hypnotized by the beautiful cover art? Were you familiar with Ojibwe culture prior to reading this book?
No, yes and unfortunately no.

2) Several social issues have been touched on so far including racism (including within race (skin tone) and within families for biracial children), enrolled v. descendant tribe membership, substance abuse, illegitimacy, and mental health. Does the author seem to be pulling this off so far or does it seem like too much to have it work for the story?
I have no problem imagining that what is described in this book happens to people every day.

3) Characters. Any favorites so far? Does anyone else want to be adopted by Granny June, or is that just me?
I looove Granny June , she is so cool! And I'm really liking Jamie so far.

4) The author weaves tribal culture into the story and makes it an important aspect of Daunis's life. Including having her work in the tribal language into her interactions with the kids. Language is such an important part of culture, loosing a language means more than just a loss of vocabulary words. Are you enjoying this aspect of the story?
Yes! I'm trying to keep up and understand all of it. I have read very few books by indigenous authors so I'm still very unused to it. I am enjoying it a lot though!

5) The quote "when someone dies everything becomes past tense, except for the grief. Grief stays in the present." really hit home. How did you react to this statement, did is resonate with you as well?
I think it is a beautiful quote. I have been very lucky in life so far and haven't really experienced any loss, so I can't say it resonated with me yet.

Finished Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella on audio.



Unused tasks
181 - Mental Health MPG

Other tasks:
21, 23, 27, 84, 112, 113, 158, 164, 169, 171, 172, 190, 191, 224,

Have added this to the SS :)

Finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig



C8 - Nora lives different versions of her life over and over again instead of dying.
118 - title has all the letters in D-E-A-T-H
137 - MPG Fantasy
146 - spell out TRUTH - R - Character Ravi
149 - spell out TRUTH - H - Author last name Haig
159 - Spell out KIDBY - I - Character Izzy
160 - Spell out KIDBY - D - Character Dan
170 - Spell out LILAC - I - Character Izzy
181 - Mental Health MPG
194 - recommendation from diff team
226 - Midnight in title

DQs:
DQ 1
DQ 2
DQ 3
DQ 4
DQ 5

I have added to the SS :)

I have a couple of books that I'm planning to read that could fit to these tasks:

30 - #8 in series - Guards! Guards! (or maybe His Last Bow if Disworld books are better for the bingo)
33 - Features a clown/jester - The Iron Daughter
208 - Cold Cover List - Half-Blood
241 - Last book in a completed series - Act Your Age, Eve Brown

Hey. I just wanted to check in as I haven't been really active lately. I'm in the process of moving, but I'll be back to reading plenty of books next week!

I think the "Crivens!"-bingo can be covered by reading The Wee Free Men which I'm planning on reading. I probably have more, but all my books are packed away and I'm unsure about what all the covers look like, haha.

DQs Day 5 - The Game - end

21. Even though Nora loved her life with Ash and Molly she still returned to the library. Were you surprised that she didn’t stay? Did you want her to stay in that life?
I wasn't surprised that she came back as I guessed it quite early on. But I wouldn't have been surprised if she had stayed either. But as she said she felt like she kinda stole the life from the other Nora, and it didn't always feel like she belonged. And also when she started seeing the things she did in her old life that had a positive impact on other people now had taken a turn for the worse.

22. When Nora reconnects with her brother Joe she finds out that the reason he had been avoiding her was nothing to do with her decision not to continue with the band. I think that Nora’s experiences in her other lives helped her to accept that this was the truth. Her old self was so wrapped up in thoughts that she was responsible for other people’s happiness I feel she may have thought he was just trying to be kind due to her suicide attempt. What are your thoughts?
I think maybe when you are depressed and sad and everything around you goes bad you might blame yourself a lot. Nora didn't know of anything else so she blamed herself. Joe probably didn't even think that Nora thought like this until it was too late. He was also caught up in his own mess.

23. Were you happy with the ending? Where would you like Nora’s story to go next?
I'm really hoping and also guessing that she ends up with Ash in this life as well. But that she also incorporates some of the things she did in some of her other lives, like volunteering and doing things she likes.

24. Nora got to experience so many lives and possibilities - different careers, different relationships and the chance to live in places all over the world. If you were able to experience another life what would you want to experience?
There are many things that I had to decide when I was younger that would have changed my life if I had chosen differently. Like what High School I chose to go to, or what I chose to study, etc. But I don't really think about it at all. As of now I don't have any regrets, anyway, haha.

25. Did you enjoy the book? Was there anything in the story that resonated with your own life? Is there a message you will take away with you?
I liked the book fine. There were some things I didn't like, and other things I liked. It was very easy to read this book, and I had to stop myself to answer DQ's before I read on. One of the things I didn't like were some of the "loopholes" in the plot that didn't make sense. Like when Izzy was dead in the Australia-life. There must have been some timelines where Izzy was still alive? She was still alive when Nora was in London?

Bonus: While reading the story certain parts reminded me of films and TV shows I’ve enjoyed. Films like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Sliding Doors’ or tv shows like ‘Sliders’ and ‘Quantum Leap’. Are there any films, shows or books that you were reminded of?
Honestly, this isn't my favorite trope so no. I haven't even seen or really heard of any of the examples in this question, even, haha. I have seen the movie "Before I Fall" and that is the closest I guess. I am also planning on reading "In a Holidaze" this Christmas, and it's kind of similar I guess.

Discussion Questions - Day 4: Ryan Bailey - A Pearl in the Shell (79%)

16. What were your thoughts on the interview Nora did? Did she handle it well? What do you make of her thoughts on life in this interview compared to the speech she gave as a champion swimmer?
She has experienced a lot more and learned new things since her speech as a swimmer. I guess that reflects in her interview. I also guess it is easier to talk to only one person, than on a stage in front of a large crowd.

17. Nora tries for a simpler life working at animal shelter. Did you see this as a life for Nora at all during the book? Do you think she will incorporate this into her chosen life? If not, what will she take from this life if anything at all?
I didn't remember anything about the shelter if it was mentioned before. I think she might incorporate it in her chosen life. Depends on which life she chooses.

18. In 'The Many Lives of Nora Seed', we are given a large summary of all the other lives she tried. Did any stand out to you? Did you think any of these lives would have suited her? Do any relate to what you would want to experience or have thought about experiencing? I was amused by the life where she only ate toasts and like hearing about her lives abroad. Though was a bit concerned with all the lives she chokes on something.
Honestly, I skimmed through those. But the ones where she was abroad looked interesting.

19. The life with Ryan was the one I was waiting for when reading. What do you make of it so far and what do you think will happen? I thought she would stay in this one and was intrigued about the family life she had built.
I'm guessing this is Ash. As I said in the 3rd DQ's I think she will end up with Ash. But I'm not sure if they end up together in this version, or in her old life.

20. What are your thoughts of Mrs Elm as her guide? Do you think she does a good job or could do something better? What advice would you give if you were in her position?
I have no idea. I think she does fine I guess? I wouldn't know what to do myself.

DQs Day 3: The Tree That Is Our Life - Wild and Free (59%)

11. Regarding the system error, that occurred when Nora tried to return to the library after that speech. Do you think Nora could have trouble returning to the library from one of the next lives that she visits?
Depends. She had quite a breakthrough in her Svalbard life, where she realized she wanted to live. I think after that she needs to feel really down to not be able to return.

12. But you will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. (p. 151) Do you think Nora is going to "find the meaning of life", "be happy forever in a parallel life", or "will want to die and leave the library forever"?
My guess is that she goes back to her original life and ends up with Ash.

13. Are you surprised about Nora meeting Hugo, another Slider, as he calls people like them in the in-between?
Yes. I didn't think she would do that. But I think it was important to her to find out more about the situation she's in.

14. For Nora it's a library, for Hugo it's a video store. What do you imagine would your variant of the in-between be? (And obviously you are not allowed to say library now, because I'm guessing most of us would go with that answer. Be creative and let me know what else you would feel comfortable with.)
Maybe my grandparent's old house?

15. We finally get to see Nora's life as a rock star. In what direction do you think this will go? Is it going to be the life Nora is happiest with and stays the longest/forever? Or do you think that she's going to leave it rather soon again?
Maybe if she hurries and learns all the songs, haha. I'm curious as to how Joe is in this life. The is probably the life where she feels like she will be closest to him, but we might be in for something a little different I think.

Finished A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas on audio.



C6 - Feyre uses a white mare to get around the spring court
4 - 1st in a series
21 - Romance MPG
29 - Spell out EIGHT - T - Character Tamlin
31 - Retellings MPG
84 - Spell out BEES - S - Author first name Sarah
101 - roses -> sores
112 - Spell out CLAY - L - Character Lucien
113 - Spell out CLAY - A - Character Amarantha
135 - MPG Paranormal
137 - MPG Fantasy
145 - spell out TRUTH - T - Character Tamlin
148 - spell out TRUTH - T - Character Tamlin
164 - Young Adult MPG
172 - Spell out LILAC - A - Character Amarantha
173 - Spell out LILAC - C - Book title - Court
190 - Spell out Sky - S - Author first name Sarah
203 - Feyre has to murder two fey
210 - They celebrate spring Nynsar on the spring equinox (to celebrate the end of seeding the fields)
219 - gown on cover
224 - Single person on the cover
225 - 1st person POV
244 - Tamlin dies

Added to the SS :)

Finished The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien on audio.



G5 - Legolas himself is in the book
4 - 1st in a series
27 - Spell out EIGHT - G - Character Galadriel
29 - Spell out EIGHT - T - Author last name Tolkien,
53 - MPG Classic
55 - from Movies Better than Book Listopia - number 4
65 - Author passed away in 1973
79 - features elves
81 - Spell out BEES - B - Character Boromir
84 - Spell out BEES - S - Character Sam
105 - Several songs in the book
112 - Spell out CLAY - L - Series title Lord of the Rings
137 - MPG Fantasy
145 - spell out TRUTH - T - Author last name Tolkien
146 - spell out TRUTH - R - Author initial J. R. R.
148 - spell out TRUTH - T - Author last name Tolkien
164 - Young Adult MPG
169 - Spell out LILAC - L - Series title Lord of the Rings
171 - Spell out LILAC - L - Series title Lord of the Rings
190 - Spell out Sky - S - Character Sam
224 - Single person on the cover
237 - Frodo and the eight others journey through Middle-Earth to get rid of the ring.
244 - Gandalf dies :(
246 - From Best Ending Listopia number 187

Added to the SS :)