Louise’s Comments (group member since Aug 29, 2015)

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

Thank you all for joining us on our TT madness. Thank you to Melissa and Karen for helping to Captain.. This was fun and I’m shocked at how much I read

Countdown to end of Wheels

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Vicki wrote: "Just to double check, if we read a book prior to new tasks being posted for Wheels, it cannot be used for those tasks right?"

We are able to use banked books for wheels

There is a little over 24 hours left in the challenge. Please make sure all books read are on your TT shelf and on the tracking sheet

DQs Day 6: Chapter 32 - end

24. Chapter 32, though! How did you feel about the heart-to-heart on the parapet? Did it fill you with fluttery lovey feelings, or did it fall flat? Are you loving “Vioden” (Xadlet?)??
It was definitely needed and probably best at the point when they are both at their most vulnerable

25. Xaden has Violet join his special group for the War Games, and we find out about all the secrets that EVERYONE has been keeping from her. Do you think she overreacted to these revelations or is her reaction warranted? How do you feel about Dain’s betrayal? Surprised (hint hint - NO)?
I think her reaction was warranted but understand why she was kept in the dark, especially how Dain betrayed her trust.

26. Anyone crying yet? I know I was losing it through a lot of the last 15% of the book. What are your thoughts on the major losses we see during this battle? Any thoughts on the battle itself (or the enemy themselves)?
I wasn’t crying but the losses made me sad

27. That CLIFF-HANGER of an ending had me stunned! What did you think of the sudden appearance of (view spoiler)? Was it too much, or just enough?

It definitely left the way open for a sequel. I’m hoping this reconnection will allow Violet to rebuild her trust in Xaden and her dragons.

28. What are your overall thoughts on this book? Will you read the next one?

I really enjoyed it and am keen to get started on the next

DQs Day 5 - Wimbledon 1995 & The 1995 US Open

18. Nature vs nurture. Carrie has her issues with tennis, but her real struggle is with relationships. How much of that do you think is due to who Carrie is innately as a person and how she was raised?

Carrie has been brought up with tennis as her focus and the only strong relationships she has are ones that have developed over time.

19. I don’t know much about tennis, but I found myself really enjoying the matches as they are described. I got so pumped up while Carrie was playing! Did you find all the tennis terms, both during and after matches, to be a hinderance or did you enjoy getting immersed in the sport through Carrie’s eyes?
I really enjoyed the tennis references and it really helped reading most of this during Wimbledon

20. Carrie Soto, the star of our novel, has been seen previously in a TJR novel where she was a minor character. TJR seems to enjoy connecting her books which makes me wonder… could her next book be about one of the minor characters we’ve come across in Carrie Soto is Back? And, if so, who do you think it would be?

I would like to see Nikki or Bowe in their own novels

21. ”But right now, in this moment, I love this drugstore cologne more than I love the smell of Wimbledon grass or California oranges or the rubber of a freshly popped can of tennis balls. This drugstore cologne is my home.”

I really loved this quote and it made me start thinking about some of my favorite smells. What are some scents that you love? What scent would be your home?
I love the smell of cut grass and the fresh smell that lingers after a summer rain shower

22. And, finally, how did you like this book? What was your rating? Would you consider reading more from this author if you haven't already?
I have read a number of books by this author and will seek more out.

New Wheel tasks

Read a book with the letters SEEKER in the title and/or author name
Read a book with the letters KEEPER in the title and/or author name
Read a book with the letters BEATER in the title and/or author name
Read a book with the letters CHASER in the title and/or author name

DQ Day 3 Chapters 14-20

10. So we are half way through the book. Thoughts and feelings? Loving it? Hating it? Ambivalent?
I have to admit I’m really enjoying it. I have to remember to stop.

11. Jeremiah gets killed pretty quickly as his signet shows. Do you agree that power can't be allowed?

Mind reading power although seemingly useful on the surface is open to misuse. I’m not surprised he was killed.

11. What's the deal with Andarna? Why do you think 2 dragons have bonded with Violet?

I’ve read ahead a little bit and know who/what Andarna is. Both dragons chose to bond with her as she showed courage against the odds in defending the smaller dragon.

12. If you coul choose a Signet what would it be? https://www.julesbuono.com/fourth-win...
Definitely mending.

13. Were you surprised about Amber's betrayal? How about when Xanden completely believed Violet but Dain didn't

I was surprised by Amber as she didn’t come across as someone who would break the rules. I’m not surprised about Xanden/Dain. Dain doesn’t want Violet in the rider class and would do anything to move her to another group.

Beth wrote: "I am hoping to finish Shelter (500 pages) and Fairy Tale (600) pages this weekend."

Fantastic

Chipmunk Tasks

"Top 10 Books 2017 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2017"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"

10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Creativity and Chaos! Read a book with three Cs in the title and/or author name

"Top 10 Books 2013 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2013"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"
"10 Commandments - ""Don't lie"" - Read a book with miscommunication as a plot point"

Ten Tallest Towers 8 - Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre - Read a book set in, or by an author from China

X-Files - Read a book by David Duchovny, or an author named David

X-Rays - Read a book with author initials in MARIE CURIE

X-Men - Read a book with characters with super powers

Random 10 - Read a book by a female or non-binary author

X-Men - Read a book with the word Wolverine in the text

@Skye please add Smoke on the Water to your TT shelf

@Jessica please add The Summer I Found Myself to your TT shelf

Melissa wrote: "Melissa wrote: "And we just finished the rainbow towers - go team! We bumped up into 7th.

New 🐿️X-Files - Read a book by David Duchovny, or an author named David
(Although I think we've had this b..."

I’ll add another one when I’m home

Saar The Book owl wrote: "131 - X Books - Read a book where the author name contains 10 characters (exc spaces)

I'm currently reading Dry by Neal Shusterman and that can work for this task."

Unfortunately the authors name has 14 characters

DQs Day 1, Chapters 1 - 6

1. As someone who grew up with the Pern books, I love diving back into a world with dragons and dragon riders. And this one has extra bonus Gryphons, apparently!
Do you have any first impressions of the main characters (Violet, Dain, Rhiannon, Xader) and the world building? Do you want to know more?

I don’t tend to read high fantasy novels but do enjoy dragon books. I have no real first impressions of the MCs at this point

2. What do you think of Violet’s mother and sister? Any idea about why her mother chose to order her to the Rider Quadrant instead of the Scribe Quadrant?
Not sure why Violet’s mother ordered her to the rider quadrant. No doubt we will find out.

3. The brutality of the selection process and the casual acceptance of murder is something else. What do you think the purpose of it is? (If there is one beyond societal norms.)
Would you have given your boot to a stranger?
I think it’s to weed out the weakest ones without expending valuable resources. I probably would give my boot to a stranger

4. So this is a world at war, but at the battle briefings at least, they don’t seem to know why the outer provinces are currently attacking the borders. Any ideas about why this is happening?

Really haven’t a clue

5. Do you think that Violet will survive and get chosen by a dragon? If so, any predictions on what kind?
It would be a short story if she didn’t survive

New Tasks
133 - "Top 10 Books 2013 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2013"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"

134 - "10 Commandments - ""Don't lie"" - Read a book with miscommunication as a plot point"

135 - Ten Tallest Towers 8 - Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre - Read a book set in, or by an author from China

Amy the book-bat wrote: "I read a book for best of 2017, but it got used in a spell-out instead"

As it was more than 500pages we would not have been able to claim it for page towers if we used for a chipmunk task.

Film 10s - The Last Ten Days - Read a book that shares a title word (singular day is OK) NOTE: THE can't be used

Update
We have 1 week to go and are currently in 8th place.

We still need the following

Page Towers
400-499 - 6/30
500-599 - 6/20
600+ - 3/10

Rainbow Tower
We have completed 16 Rainbows and have 1 partial with only 1 color needed to complete.

Don't Feed the Chipmunks

105 - Top 10 Books 2017 - Read book from the GR "Best of 2017" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)

111 - 10 Commandments - "Remember the special day" - Read a book with a day of the week in the title

121 - Film 10s - Ten Little Indians - Read a book that shares a title word (singular indian is OK)

122 - X-Rated - Read a book with a bed on the cover

125 - Film 10s - 3 1/2 Minutes 10 Bullets - Read a book that shares a title word (NOTE: 3 and three are deemed to be the same, as are 1/2 and half. Singular variants OK)

126 - Random 10 - Read a book where you can see ten fingers or toes (or combination) on the cover

127 - X-Rays - Read a book with bone(s) on the cover

129 - 10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Creativity and Chaos! Read a book with three Cs in the title and/or author name

130 - X-Rated - Read a book with MPG Romance

131 - X Books - Read a book where the author name contains 10 characters (exc spaces)


Wheel Tower
W11c -Read a book with stationery on the cover

W12c/W12d - "Read four books that have one of the following MPGs. Each book must have a different MPG (i.e. can't use Romance four times)
MPGs: Dystopia / Young Adult / Historical Romance / Guilty Pleasure / Dark Fantasy / Contemporary / Horror"

W13a - Read a book that would be sorted into Gryffindor House
W13b - Read a book that would be sorted into Hufflepuff House
W13c - Read a book that would be sorted into Ravenclaw House


W14 Task Set: TT8: Discworld Tasks
Read a book featuring a witch or wizard
Read a book with MPG Crime
Read a book with the letters MOIST in the title
Read a book featuring DEATH or the Grim Reaper or equivalent
Team Towers

16 Completed

New Chipmunk Tasks

10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Creativity and Chaos! Read a book with three Cs in the title and/or author name

X-Rated - Read a book with MPG Romance