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

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

Welcome Lucy

DQ set 5 chapter 25 to end

18. That was an unexpected reunion with Òdòdó’s mother. Did you expect that resolution to their relationship? Do you agree more with Òdòdó or her mother's view of which life gives the most freedom?
It was inevitable that this would be the outcome especially as she was told she would need to prove her loyalty to the crown.

19. Aremo fails pretty badly on all accounts! And yet Òdòdó seems to love him regardless. Do you believe in this love? Do you think it would have lasted, on either side?
I think this is a love of convenience rather than passion. I don’t think this would have lasted

20. This is a riff on the Persephone myth. Do you think it was successful? Do you like the changes made or not? Why?
This is on par with other retellins of the Persephone myth

21. The Yoruba culture was very strong. Do you want to read more authentic stories? The afterword talks about bringing Yoruba tales to life. Do you think that worked?

I love the mythology in the book, I listened to the audiobook so didn’t have the afterword

Completion Post

Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi
Pages: 343
Date Read: 10/27
Rating: 4*

Spell Out
B - Narrator LN - Ariel Blake

Mini 1
Retelling

Mini 2
Orange item - dress
Black cover

Mini 3
Decoration - gold flower loc 309 “…I had just traded a gold flower for a fair price…”

Janeylou wrote: "Ok, will see what i can find"

Noticed that you have claimed H02 on the planning sheet """holiday"" in title or text (plural accepted)" the book doesn’t fit using the title, if holiday is in the text we can use that 😉

Posted my last book for this round out this afternoon for bottomless brunch with the girls

Janeylou wrote: "So first we need to decide on holiday ...."

I think so far we are leaning towards Christmas

Completion Post

Kiss My Putt by Tara Sivec
Pgs: 293
Date Read: 10/25
Rating: 3*

Spell Out:
B - CFN Birdie
T - AFN Tara

Mini 4
Hedgehog pg170 I have enough for the purple hedgehog…”

Completion Post

The Lovers by Irina Shapiro
Date Read: 10/25
Rating: 4*
Pages: 456

Spell Out
I - AFN Irina
J - CFN James
T - Title

Mini 1
Historical Fiction ; Romance; Fantasy; Mystery

Caipi wrote: "Completion Post

Book: Undone by Leslie McAdam
Read: October 23rd
Pages: 316
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Spell-Out
U - title
J - Jason Falkner MC
..."

Can you add location and excerpt for Lobster please

Completion Post

The Hanging Tree by Irina Shapiro
Date Read: 10/24
Rating: 4*
Pages: 402

Spell Out
T - Title
I - Author First Name
J - Narrator First Name


Mini 1
Historical Fiction; Mystery; Romance; Horror

Mini 4
401-500 pages

Mini 7
#1 Nicole Rayburn

Completion Post

Unforgivable Love by Sophfronia Scott
Date Read: 23/10
Rating: 4*
Pages: 517

Spell Out
U - Title
J - CLN Val Jackson
O - NLN Adenrele Ojo

• Mini 1
Romance; Historical Fiction

• Mini 2
Yellow text;
Teal text on cover

I’ve got a couple of I’s I can fit in after my U book

Completion Post

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
Date Read: 10/21
Rating: 3*
Pgs: 438

Spell Out
U - Title
J - Narrator First Name - Julia

Mini 1
Magic; Fantasy; Romance; high fantasy; young adult;

Mini 2
Red text; black text; brown item; yellow item;

Mini 7
Rung 3 Title ladder

Completion Post

Triple Crown by Felix Francis
Date Read: 10/20
Rating: 3*
Pages: 370

Spell-Out
T - Title
J - CFN Jeff

Mini 1
Mystery; Crime; Thriller

Mini 2
Red text; black text; white item (railings)

Mini 5
Travel/flat tire/ out of gas/ road trip

Hate cleaning the windows, my collie likes to stare out the window watching passers by so many nose prints 🤦‍♀️

Countdown to end of round

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

Day 2: Chapter 6 - 10

5. It’s always interesting to watch a naive MC try to find authentic connections in a sea of people more practiced at hiding motives and personal feelings. Of those Òdòdó has met so far, who do you think will become allies? Or turn out to be enemies? Why?
I’m not sure, everyone seems to have a hidden agenda

6. Having been so steeped in western traditions where blacksmiths are always big, burly men, I’m loving the whole concept of a female sisterhood of blacksmiths, thought to be witches because of their connection to the Earth. Understanding that they were forced to join due to transgressing the female norms of the time, what is your impression of the blacksmiths? What do you suppose is going on with all the disappearing blacksmiths? Do you think Òdòdó’s mother is with the other blacksmiths or looking for Òdòdó?
I am liking the gender reversal of this trade. I hope that Òdòdó’s mother is looking for her but I believe she has joined the blacksmiths in possibly leading a revolt.

7. “After all what is love but a choice?” This quote from chapter 4 keeps popping into my head, so I’m curious what you all think: Is this true for general love only? Can it really be true for romantic love? Putting aside the retelling aspect for now, what do you think about the growing relationship between Òdòdó and Aremo? Do you think Aremo had an ulterior motive seeking out a blacksmith girl when they first met? (Yes, yes - I’ve gotten a touch cynical and suspicious in my old age.)
I like the quote and love is a choice in all its forms, after all you have to be open to the possibility of love. I think Aremo is trying to secure an alliance with a faction he suspects can be dangerous to him

8. I’m finding Kolo to be more and more interesting as the story progresses. In the vein of “History is written by the victors,” what is your take on Kolo’s reaction to Gassire’s version of how Sangot came to be? What do you think about her tribal scars that opened when she saved Òdòdó? Are you hoping (like I am) that she secretly trained with the Ahosi warriors?
I think she has definitely trained with the warriors or was a warrior

Started to add books into mini 7 for the title ladder based on what people have said they can read from previous BOM’s. As well as the 2nd square.

Don’t forget that the title ladder must begin with the LAST letter of the previous title

It’s frustrating when they don’t work

Eldarwen wrote: "Stephie wrote: "So I added 10 reads to the planning sheet. Some BOMs"

Ok cool :-)

For the BOMs, that is a discussion that needs to happen in the team thread otherwise it's going to be a mess to t..."

Stephie wrote: "Makes sense! So these books are on my TBR that work with the Spell-out

The Travelling Cat Chronicles, The Only Good Indians, Carrie Soto is Back, and We Solve Murders"

I plan on reading Cinderella is Dead. We could build a square with
Top - Carrie Soto is back
Left - Cinderella is Dead
Right- K (Kings of The Wyld/ Kiss me First/ Killers of a certain age
Bottom - D-D (Dark and Deepest Red); D-T (Divergent); D-E (Daughter of Smoke and Bone; Dune; Dorothy Must Die)