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

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

DQs Day 5
Chapters 19 - 23

19. In this section there appears to be a love triangle developing. Was this what you expected. Where do you see this going?

20. Dara lets Nahri know about the King’s marriage plans for her. He lets her know that they can’t be together. Are his reasons valid or should Nahri put up more of a fight?

21. Ali and Nahri both have a hidden agenda and are using their “friendship” to achieve that. Do you think they are aware of each other’s objective?

22. We learn that Ali has a separate agenda that the King is not aware of? Where do you see this heading?

DQ Day 4
Chapters 15 - 18


14. Nahri meets the king of Daevabad for the first time but doesn't seem to have a lot of further interactions with him. What do you think the king's plan is truly? He offers her everything but doesn't ask for much in return - yes, he revealed to Ali that he wants to marry her to Muntadhir, but is that really all?

He is definitely looking for more from her maybe to entrap her and use her to control her people.

15. Prince Ali, fabulous he.. Were you surprised at this further development in Ali's character? The extreme hatred he displays towards Nahri? For some reason, whenever I read the passages from his point of view, I feel he comes across more like a brat rather than a hate-filled person, yet that seems to be what he shows most often when Nahri is around. He now feels he is a murderer, which, granted, he now is. He also realises that his father has been testing and playing him, and will now use him to his own ends. Do you think the poor boy will finally start growing up?

He definitely comes across as very entitled. I think he will eventually have to grow up.

16. What do you think will be the outcome of Dara's quest in the middle of the desert with a future king and a contingent of warriors, who may or may not be hell-bent on killing the Afshin? Are they going to find the ifrit before their journey comes to an end?

I think they will find answers to some questions but end up with more.

17. Nahri's first patient! And what a patient that was! Did this first true test of her skills - towards someone she does not know or care about - live up to your expectations?
She is new to her powers and needs training and guidance. She handled it well considering

18. Any predictions on who Nahri's father might be? I have to admit, I thought it was the king himself. But would he really want to marry his daughter to his son? Hm. What do you think?

I don’t think the King is Nahri’s father but I do think he knows who it is!

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

I’ve read the trilogy and I’m still confused 🤣

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

I knew nothing of Suleiman it does help to place the location of the book

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

I’m liking the character Dara, his backstory gives him some depth.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?
I think he has a good and bad side and only time will tell whether his bad traits outweigh his good traits

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Louise wrote: "We have a new task

"Top 10 Books 2018 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2018"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"

If you have read anything in June that fits ..."

I really enjoyed that book. 😀

We have a new task

"Top 10 Books 2018 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2018"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"

If you have read anything in June that fits let us know

🐿️ Chipmunk 🐿️ update

3 - X-Rated - Read a book with three people on the cover

4 - Solve for X - Read a book with author initials in TEN

6 - 10 Awards - Read a book that won the 10 Awards - Read a booker award - Louise

12 - X-Files - Read a book by Gillian Anderson, or an author named Gillian

13 - X-Rays - Read a book with MPG Science - Tati

14- Ten Tallest Towers 10 - China Zun - Read a book set in, or by an author from China

15- X-Rays - Read a book with a chemical element in the title

16 - 10 Awards - Read a book that won the international 10 Awards - Read a booker

17 -X Books - Read a book where the author names contains an X

19 - 10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Wacky Ideas! Read a book with MPG Humour

@Dawn can you check Guava Flavored Lies the page count and edition you have linked differs to what is on your shelf.

@Jessica please add Mother In the Dark to your shelf

Beth wrote: "OK, one more dumb question. If I listed a book in May but then dawdled and didn't finish it, should I just make a new line in the June tab or should I somehow find the old one?"

If you listed a book on the tracking sheet it will still be there. We have only hidden the books completed in May

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5


1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

This is a reread for me but I’d never encountered this conflict in fiction before


2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?
I think I’ll like the ability to understand and speak any language that I hear.


3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?
Having recently finished the trilogy the world building makes more sense to me now. I can remember being a bit confused when I first read it.


4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?

Nahri is my favorite character

Beth wrote: "Books we started in May but finish in June can be used for June towers, right? Or are they just adding to the page count?"

They can be used for the page towers and the rainbow towers

Melissa wrote: "Yes! I can do that. When are the questions due?"

25th June

BOM - 11/22/63

Date Chapters %ages MPDQs
15 June 1 - 3 9% Qulit
16 June 4 - 6 18% Neeznaa
17 June 7 - 8 26% Ti
18 June 9 - 11 32% Ashara
19 June BREAK DAY
20 June 12 - 13 41% Jeih
21 June 14 - 16 50% Zeng
22 June 17 - 18 58% Dez
23 June 19 - 22 68% Deka
24 June BREAK DAY
25 June 23 - 24 74% Sip
26 June 25 - 27 84% Damara
27 June 28 - 29 91% Deset
28 June 30 - 31 100% Kumi

Each team has been given a day to write DQs for this BOM from the thread I can see myself and Melissa volunteered. Melissa are you ok to do the DQs for this one?

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Louise wrote: "Happy Sunday everyone. Hope you’re both feeling better soon Karen and Maritza. Had a slow reading weekend trying to get everything organized for my week away. Going on vacation on th..."

We’re off to South Devon with the Dogs. The weather is looking promising so should have a few good dats.

Melissa wrote: "Louise wrote: "Happy Sunday everyone. Hope you’re both feeling better soon Karen and Maritza. Had a slow reading weekend trying to get everything organized for my week away. Going on vacation on th..."

I take my tablet with me and have books downloaded on my phone. So much more portable than lugging around a lot of paperbacks

Cindy wrote: "Hope everyone is having a good weekend. My baby girl is getting over hand foot and mouth disease so I haven’t been able to read very much. I have started listening to a book that is 600+ pages and ..."

Oh that’s no fun, hopefully she’ll recover quickly

Happy Sunday everyone. Hope you’re both feeling better soon Karen and Maritza. Had a slow reading weekend trying to get everything organized for my week away. Going on vacation on the 10th and have lined up a number of books to take with me.

Chipmunk Tasks Open
X-Rated - Read a book with three people on the cover
Solve for X - Read a book with author initials in TEN
10 Awards - Read a book that won the 10 Awards - Read a booker award
"Top 10 Books 2014 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2014"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"
X marks the spot - Read a book with a map in it
X-Files - Read a book featuring aliens
"Top 10 Books 2015 - Read book from the GR ""Best of 2015"" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"
X-Files - Read a book by Gillian Anderson, or an author named Gillian
X-Rays - Read a book with MPG Science
Ten Tallest Towers 10 - China Zun - Read a book set in, or by an author from China

Don’t forget books used for Chipmunk tasks cannot be used in the rainbow tower, crayola tower or page tower.

Melissa wrote: "I'll do the complete name one - I'm reading a biography of Jim Thorpe."

Just finished a book that works for this.

Melissa wrote: "I’ll start a Booker Prize winner this weekend, after Ursula"

I’ve managed to borrow Holiday from the library 🎉🎉