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

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

Hi All welcome to this edition of Wheels. I’m Louise and I along with Fiona and Nistha will be guiding you through the drudgery of life. Whether you’re new to Wheels or a veteran please make sure to read the rules, there is a slight change in this edition.

A couple of housekeeping points, when you drop in make sure to link your Wheel shelf all books completed needs to be on this shelf.

Completions can either be on the tracking sheet or for those not comfortable with using spreadsheets please post here, do not post in both places.

Make sure you check in at least weekly so we know you are still here. Above all have fun

Volunteering for DQs Team Noisy Neighbours

Mini Challenges
These are optional and run through Round 2-4
• The Administrative Mini
Bonus Words in text - COFFEE TABLE; QUILT
- the main character works in an office
- the plot revolves around an office romance
- typical administrative material on the cover
- tagged non-fiction / nonfiction (at least 10x)
- tagged office (at least 10x)
- the main character works in taxes
- the main character works in finance
- the clue to solving a murder is found in paperwork
- cover colour is at least 50% grey
- cover colour is at least 50% orange
- someone is murdered in an office
- the plot revolves around white-collar crime
- the main character needs to know how to handle a budget
- letters GREY in title
- letters TAXES in title
- letters ADMIN in title
- author first & last initials in FILING
- author first & last initials in PAPERWORK
- author first & last initials in SHREDDING
- tagged DNF (or direct equivalent)

• The Gardening Mini

Bonus Words in Text: PIANO; VIOLIN
Prep:
Get the garden areas ready, building climbing trellises and the like.
Read two sets of 5 books that are consecutive numbers in series (eg 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- do not need to start at 1
- do need to be in a continuous sequence (i.e. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 does NOT work)
- do not need to be from the same series
- do not need to be read in order

Tend:
Find books with words in their title (or subtitle) that meet the following.
Germinate: is 6 or more letters long
Plant: is exactly 5 letters
Mulch: contains one of the following digraphs: CH, PH, SH, TH, WH
Weed: contains a double vowel
Water: contains and H and 2 Os
Pest Control: contains two letters consecutive in the alphabet (e.g AB in alphabet)
Feed: contains a double letter
Prune: can be cut to reveal a different word of at least 2 letters (e.g PRUNE - RUNE / AFFAIR - FAIR)
Harvest: that could be a noun or verb (e.g TRAIN)
Deadhead: contains a repeat set of at least two letters (e.g BEGINNING repeats IN)

Bloom:
Read 10 books with colour covers (50%+) to reflect the colours in your flowers.
MUST include 1 brown and 1 green colour.

• Feeding the Family Mini

Bonus Words in Text: VINEGAR; LOBSTER

A: Cooking from Scratch
Find the listed food items in the text of a book; plural variants are ok, and the word found doesn't have to mean the food (e.g "it's a bit of a squash to get everyone in")
- potato
- rice
- pasta
- bread
- beef
- lamb
- chicken
- fish
- lentil
- broccoli
- carrot
- pumpkin
- squash
- yam
- bean
- corn
- okra
- tomato
- onion
- lettuce
- cucumber
- apple
- peach
- fig
- grape
- banana
- salt
- pepper
- sugar
- spice

B: Let's Just Get a Takeaway!
Read books with country tags (at least 5) (yes, we know Hawai'i isn't a country anymore):
- China
- Mexico
- Italy
- France
- India
- Greece
- Japan
- Thailand
- Korea (South Korea and North Korea will also work)
- Turkey
- Nigeria
- Jamaica
- Bangladesh
- Hawaii
- Fried Chicken - needs "Southern Gothic" tag

Round Information

• Round 1
HOUSEHOLDBUDGET (15)

• Round 2
MORTGAGE RENEWAL (15)

BOM Information
🎃🎃October BOM🎃🎃

The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary

Starts 16 October

Discussion Thread

🦃🦃November BOMs🦃🦃

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Discussion Thread

Starts 2 November


The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Starts on 16 November

Discussion Thread

Countdowns

START OF CHALLENGE/ROUND 1
12 October, 9pm, UK time

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

END OF ROUND 1/START OF ROUND 2
26 October, 9pm, UK time
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown....

END OF ROUND 2/START OF ROUND 3
9 November, 9pm, UK time

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

END OF ROUND 3/START OF ROUND 4
23 November, 9pm UK time

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

END OF ROUND 4/END OF CHALLENGE
7 December, 9pm UK time
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

All About the Boring Wheel of Life - The Rules

Spreadsheets
Team Sheet (Only Captains can edit this): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Challenge Status: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Tracking Sheet (add books to this sheet): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...



🔊 Louise (Captain) - 12 Wheel of Life
🔊 Fiona (Co-Captain) - 15 Wheels Nine
🔊 Nistha (Co-Captain) - 15 Boring Wheel of Life
🔊 Maria Jo - 8 - Wheel Boring
🔊 vian - 8 Wheel 2024
🔊 brooke - 23 Wheel24
🔊 Patti - 18 Wheel 9
🔊 Joyce - 6 2024 Wheel
🔊 Cecily - 30 BoringWheelnbrc


Points System
◈ Books less than 100 pages = 0 points
◈ Books between 100 and 1000 pages = 0.1 points/page
◈ Books over 1000 pages = 100 points
(points will be rounded up/down from 0.5 as per standard maths)

Bonus points
To brighten your multi-tasking lives a tiny bit, each book used in the spell-out might also work for bonus points:

- 5 points for books published more than 2 years ago
- 10 points for books published more than 50 years ago
- 20 points for books over 100 years old
- 5 points for books over 400 pages
- 10 points for books over 600 pages
- 20 points for books over 800 pages

Yes, these points stack (published in 1963 & 605pgs = 30 points).

BOM
Writing a day's worth of discussion questions = 40 points
Participating in a current BOM discussion (3 sets min.) = 20 points


Sample Completion Post

Bookcover (please add especially for the colour cover tasks)
Book: the edition you have actually read (for audios, use the default)
Date Read:
Pages:
--> and (!) for any books tagged Childrens' or Poetry etc, please indicate that you have verified the wordcount
https://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.a...
Rating: optional

Bonus: (not needed if your book doesn't work for these)
- publication date
- etc

Spell-Out:
- please add name AND surname every time (unless one of them is not mentioned)
- please add ALL options the books work for (this will allow captains to move things around if necessary)





IMPORTANT
New for this version of Wheel everyone has a PERSONAL CAP per round based on what you indicated on sign up. These are indicated above

I’ll try and log on before my physio appointment this morning 🤞

Apologies all for being quiet the last couple of weeks. Currently recovering from a broken ankle. Although I’m able to work from home, it’s quite exhausting, thankfully I’ve got a few audiobooks to get me through. Going to get all my books updated tonight.

@Melis finished my bomb book this afternoon.

DQ 6 July Chapter 34 -44

12. Have you read any of Baduga’s books before? I’m finding this quite different for her dipping into HF. Your thoughts if you have read the others? If not, are you interested in picking up some more of her books?
I have read Shadow and Bone and Ninth House which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have enjoyed this book and will always read more from this author

13. Many of the characters are changing from what they were first presented as. If there anyone you are finding you like more than you did originally?

I am liking Valentina more as she starts to live her life as she should without wanting what isn’t hers

14. Do you believe there will be a HEA here? Or is Luzia doomed?
I’ve finished so know the answer

15. Bardugo’s family were expelled from Spain during the inquisition and she said in a People interview “This was something I was passionate about learning about, because it's my own family's history”. Do you think this adds to the story that she has a personal connection ? Is there anything in your family history you wish you could research more?

A personal connection always adds depth

Day 2 Chapter 13 - 23

5. Luzia’s refranes combine elements from diverse cultural traditions, creating a powerful form of magic tied to her Jewish heritage. Does the portrayal of Luzia’s magic suggest that blending different cultural traditions enhances personal power and resistance, or does it emphasize the delicate balance and possible loss of identity in such a blend?

Interesting question, blending cultures is obviously a good idea but persecution and prejudice can bring out the worst of these cultures causing divisions rather than unity

6. Characters like Valentina and Hualit demonstrate varying levels of ambition and moral compromise on their paths to security and success. Is pursuit of personal safety and financial security a justifiable reason for ethical compromises, or should ambition be tempered with moral integrity?

Different people have a different moral compass, what one person deems acceptable, another person will not. The path to achieving our ambition will always provide opportunities where our own moral compass is tested

7. Have you done other reading set in late-16th-century Spain? If not, are you having any problems following the political intrigues and social mores? What’s your favorite time period to read for historical fiction?

I haven’t read this time period, I tend to lean towards Regency historical, WW2 and recent history 50s; 60s; 70s and 80s

8. What do you make of Santángel? At one point we get the line, “And Santángel would be free.” Free from what, do you think?

I liked him initially at this point I didn’t know what he would be free from, but I have finished and know the answer.

Nosy bonus question. Are you reading this book for historical fiction, for fantasy, for romance, and/or for DQ points for your BG team?
for points

Day 1 DQ’s
1- Although Valentia feels shame in her actions to confront Luzia and her magic she still threatens her to use it at her dinner party. What were your thoughts and do you feel bad for Valentia and her desperation?

I felt sorry for Luzia given how she is treated


2-Valentia did not want Luzia to leave the house and gave her extra chores. Why do you think Valentia did not want Luzia to leave the house?

She would lose the little bit of power she has over Luzia and can’t afford for her to go

3-How did using music and song to make Luzia magic work make you feel or think of.

It reminds me of the scenes in Mary Poppins, it focuses the mind

4- Don Victor(De Paredes) shows up at Casa Ordobos to make sure Luzia has a room with and even hints at having her join him if not. Why do you think having Luzia in her own room benefits either of them?

For Luzia it offers privacy for Don Victor it exerts control

@melis can you add A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel to the BOM tab it is the Backroom BOM for July

@Maria Helena please add Goodbye Again

@Nick please add Warbreaker to your shelf

@Roe please add Things You Save in a Fire to your shelf

@StaceyC please add Burn for Me to your shelf

I finished and once again thoroughly enjoyed it. This was so action packed and emotional. (view spoiler)[Peeta’s slow recovery from his torture and mind hijacking at the Capitol and Gayle’s thirst for revenge became the decider for Katniss as to who she couldn’t live without especially following the death of Prim. How the author wrote about Katniss grief and ptsd was excellent. Katniss realises the truth at the moment of Snow’s “execution” and surprises everyone by taking out Coin knowing that Snow is dying sends Panem into uproar and Katniss into exile. I’m glad the way things turned out in the end. (hide spoiler)]

I’m nearly at the end of this and thoroughly enjoying it. There is a lot going on here as they try to go in and kill snow. I feel sorry for Peeta being used as a Pawn between Coin and Snow, both using him as a pawn to kill Katniss. Boggs explanation of why Coin does this is spot on.

I’m flying through this and already drawing comparisons between the strict regime of D13 and that of the Capitol. Have they just swapped one despotism for another. I agree with Cat, Haymitch is by far my favorite character this time round.

Just been catching up on thread, had a hectic week doesn’t seem to be getting easier

Day 5 — ch 24-end

18. Jack and Lucy have an emotional discussion about dreams — and how giving up on dreams can be a relief as it’s one less thing to worry about. Do you think there’s any truth in this? Can giving up on a dream ever bring relief?

Not quite sure that I believe this, I do understand how following your dreams can put undue pressure and stress on a person.

19. We finally got to meet Angie and learn her side of the story! Were you surprised by what she had to say? If you were Lucy, do you think you would be able to forgive her after hearing her side?
As we get older we learn to forgive easier than bear a grudge

20. Lucy mentions that she and Jack are planning to start a nonprofit to send books to foster children, but just as she’s about to say the prospective name, she gets cut off. Why do you think the author chose to leave that out? What name do you think the author had in mind, if any?

Not sure if the name but I suspect the author may have plans for a follow up book

21. In the end, even though the contest ended unlike how any of them predicted, everyone still got their wish. Since this book is all about wishing — is there anything you wish was different about the way the book ended, or are you happy with how it all wrapped up?



The way it ended allowed everyone to follow their dream and allowed Jack to meet his promise to them

DQs Day 2 Chapter 6 - 11

6. Jack replied to Lucy's letter and Lucy decided to run away from home. What did you think of his letter and would you have done the same as Lucy?
The letter was lovely and a kind gesture from Jack. I don’t think I would have run away though

7. We get more insights on Clock Island. Every 'hour' is its own section like for example a beach. Would you like to visit the island? Do you find the idea of it fascinating or could you not care less?
I find the island fascinating and would love to be able to visit

8. Every part starts with a quote from Jack's book. Do you think these parts are important for the story? Just showing off Jack's work? Something else?
I think they are important to the story else they wouldn’t be there

9. It seems like there will be a deeper connection between Lucy and Hugo. Do you agree? And would you approve of it given that Hugo had first met her when she was still a child?
I agree there will be a deeper connection but I don’t think there is an issue given that they have had no contact for years. It would be different if Hugo had remained in contact with Lucy as a child.