Vikki’s Comments (group member since May 25, 2014)

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

Karsyn wrote: "Hey Victoria, when you get a chance can you put your newest book onto you TT shelf?

Thanks!"

Done!

Karsyn, I'm glad that you are trying to keep the puppy and hopefully the crate will help. I just finished my second audiobook today-- The Importance of Being Earnest, which was hilarous to listen to. I tried to read this in high school and couldn't make it past the first few pages.

Have any of you read Shadow and Bone ?
Would this complete our "Read a book where a character gets into shape" goal? They do make Alina run/learn how to fight but I am not sure how "in shape" she is going to get cuz I am only half way through but she is still a stick-thin little girl right now, lol.

Hope everyone's day is still going okay.

I am about to start Part 2.

(view spoiler)[The only issue I have with the premise of the book is that everything you do in the past is reset every time someone enters the "rabbit hole." So if you are going to go through all the trouble and time to go back and changing the past, how can you destroy/block others from undoing what you did? I am understanding how this book is so long. There is going to be on a journey from 1958 to 1963 at least once, may be a few times. (hide spoiler)]

Ok, when I get a chance to read this book, it reads really fast. I am in Chapter 12 right now (about 45% through). I am starting to question a few things

(view spoiler)[Is Mal a Grisha too? Possibly Alina's amplifer? I am trying to figure out why Alina cannot use her gift at all on her own. Did she subconsciously block it so she would not be separated from Mal and if so, how can she undo it?

I also notice the theme of classism and people using other's gifts for their own advantage. (hide spoiler)]

How is everyone else finding the book?

Karsyn wrote: "That reminds me y'all, make sure you are linking the versions that you are reading, just for this case. There's all kind of goals that the version you read will matter.

Are y'all ebook or "real" b..."

I would prefer to read "real" books but I like reading a lot of books at the same time and I am not at home much so it is more convenient for me to read eBooks now. I started with the Kindle app on my iPhone and my iPad and my husband was going to sell his Kindle Fire since he never used it, so I use that now. I actually finished my first audiobook the day before the challenge started. I wanted to try out listening to it while driving to and from work to be able to "read" more books during the challenge. I think I will do autobooks for classics and longer books but I still prefer actually reading the book. For complex books, I actually like the eBooks better because I can hightlight passages with info I know I will need to know later in the book.

Discussion Questions -- The Child Thief -- chapters 24-26 -- November 9, 2015

34. Peter was distraught and shut down after he thought The Lady died. What kind of love do you think Peter feels for The Lady? Do you think it is real, or has she charmed him magically? Obsessive love.

I think it is real to them but I think she did use her magic t enhance it.

35. If the Reverend and the other religious persecutors are so convinced that these children are demons, what do they think of all the other creatures in Avalon? Where do they think they are? What do they think when they see the pixies and the trolls?

They think the creatures are also demons and they are in hell or the witch's fantasty land

36. Why do you think Nick resents The Lady so much? Do you think it goes deeper? Does he see his own mother in her and feel those repressed resentments?

I think Nick is tired of losing people and being manipulated. He might also still have resentment toward his own mother.

37. We have finally learned about Greentooth and The Lady's history! Did you suspect they were sisters? Why did one of them turn into "The Lady" and the other an ugly witch with green teeth?

To balance the world? Create opposites?

38. Many of us did not expect Nick to survive the story. What are your thoughts on his death? And ultimately, what are your thoughts on the book as a whole?

I was mad that Nick died the way he did when the Lady could have saved him. I thought the story was well told and well thought out and combined many legends and children's story and history into one cohesive story.

Congratulations!

No, but I am highlighting the passages in my Kindle on the explanations on what all the different magical groups are/do. So far I have not gotten confused but I wish they had an index just in case. I just saw the list at the beginning of the book so far.

I am liking it so far but I am wanting more of an explanation of what is going on so hopefully Chapter 3 will hold some answers. And I am also realizing why this book is so long (800+ pages). I am really wanting to get to the JFK assassination but I think it is going to be a while.

Anyone start reading this one yet? I started reading it today and I could not put it down. Starting Chapter 4 now.

I started this book last night and read to Chapter 3. Has anyone else started reading yet?

Discussion questions The Child Thief chapters 20 – 23 November 8, 2015

28. How nice you escape from being persecuted for your beliefs and end up doing the same thing to other people. There is a strong undercurrent in this book of religion and religious persecution. The story also asks choices from the characters concerning their beliefs whether it is making a choice between magic, Christianity or something else like family. What do you think?

I like how the author was able to bring the story of Avalon (Druidism), the Salem witch trials (Puritans) and all people's fear of the unknown and different into this story. There is also a conflict between blood family (Nick wanting to go back to take care of his mom), loyalty to adopted family (the Lady adopting Peter) and loyalty among soldiers/the bond made while fighting side by side with someone (the Devils). I think the author did a good job of bringing all the different conflicts together and you can related to both side's point of view.

29. Did you expect Danny to betray Peter and the Devils? I was expecting him or Leroy.

Yes, because Danny wanted to go back home just as bad as Nick but was more of a coward than Leroy about physical violence.

30. Do you believe the Captain has any fatherly feelings towards Danny? He seems concerned about what is happening to the Devils and does not agree with the Reverend about what needs to be done with them. What do you think, is he handling the situation as he should by essentially only looking out for himself (I wonder why because it didn’t get him anywhere but just really stuck on that island) or is there more going on that we don’t get to see yet?

I think there is more to the story than is here.

31. Nick and Leroy are saved by the Fairy Nick rescued from the privy. Nick then doesn’t kill the guard do you think that he will be paid back in kind later on? They save Peter from the cross and escape only Leroy is deadly wounded. Do you think Peter really killed him to avenge Seque or was it a mercy killing?

No and both.

32. Ulfgar has gone completely of his rocker and is now killing his own kind. I think that sword is just a poisonous killer and does not give judgement as Ulfgar seems to think. What about you? Do you think they will be able to stop him and maybe turn things around and make him help them save Avalon although it seems that Ulfgar has turned his back to Avalon?

I think the sword kills anyone Ulfgar wants it too and Ulfgar is too far gone to turn it around to save Avalon.

33. What is going to happen to Avalon now that the tree is dead or dying and the Lady is captured? Do you think Peter and Nick can save the Lady and the island, or are they doomed?

I think Avalon will die but Nick and Peter may be able to save them.

I think the Child Thief could complete the goal of being set on a tropical island

Loved that book!

I just finished The Child Thief and I trying to decide on what to read next... May be Shadow and Bone

Questions for Chapters 16 - 19

22. These chapters were extremely violent. The Devils have left one war zone (their tumultuous home lives) only to find themselves in another. Nick wants to go back home and help his mother escape from the tyranny of Marko. Danny also voices a desire to return home. Do you think the children would be better off if Peter had never recruited them?

No, because the kids he rescued may have been killed if Peter had not intervened.

23. Ulfger has a vision that prevents him from taking action to harm Peter. Is it the Horned One he sees?

No, I think he is just a coward.


24. Why do you think Ulfger's guards finally turned against him?

Because Ulfger's orders now clearly against what was best for the Lay and for Avalon.


25. When Peter & co. find the Lady of the Lake, she is glassy eyed and withdrawn. After recognizing Peter, she seems to revive and the spark comes back to her. What caused her to be "catatonic," and why does seeing Peter restore her?

Peter was representative of her dead son and he was banned from seeing her and Ulfger told her he was dead. She had lost so many people and then Ulfger secluded her from all the people that she adored.

26. Do you think Nick will be able to convince the others that Leroy is the one who killed Sekeu? Any predictions on which one of these two will survive?

No I don't think they will listen to Nick but if Nick can convince Peter, Peter can convince the others. I am not sure if either of these boys will survive.


27. At the end of chapter 19, Peter sees Ulfger and thinks he is the Horned One. Does Ulfger intent to murder Peter, or use him for another purpose?

Ulfger wants Peter to suffer as much as possible and then wants him to die.

I saw Post 7 too, by the way. What does the goal : "Read a book shelved (on the first page of GR) as reviewed" mean?

I may read more than the one book a week especially at the beginning. I am planning to read or listen to a lot of short books in the beginning so there are lots of books to choose from for the goals. As I run out of short books on my to-read list, I will be reading less books per week but they will be worth more points. And I will read all the books of the month since the pages plus participating in the discussions will be more points. Any suggestions from people that have done these types of changes before?

~Mummy Movie Moments~ 11/7/15-12/7/15
~ an Egyptian Quest
brought to you by the Tower Teams Egyptian Teams ~

This is an OPTIONAL min-challenge for our Egyptian teams
Karsyn (Team Anubis) is a Mummy Movie fanatic and has put together the following quest!

How to Play
There are 15 quests to choose from.
◈ Each team member that completes a quest receives 5 points for their team
◈ Team members can complete a quest more than once
◈ Any team that completes all 15 quests receives a bonus 10 points for their team
◈ Books read between November 7 and December 7 count for this mini-challenge
◈ Books used for this mini challenge do not need to be separate books for what you are claiming for Tower Teams
◈ The usual book length rules apply, Books must be more than 100 pages in length and Children's books and Graphic Novels can not be used unless by word count they can be verified as more than 25,000 words using arbookfind.com
◈ There will be a spreadsheet for the Captains to update and track the teams points

What you win
The ongoing praise and adulation from your fellow Egyptian team mates!
This is just a challenge for fun and does not contribute points to Tower Teams

The Quests
Are detailed in the message below, or under this spoiler is a re-cap of the 15 quests for easy review
[
Re-cap of quests:

01 ~ Read a Book: features pharaoh(s), features accident of any sort, features plague. Frog/insect on cover. OR "Catastrophe" in title

11/11/15-- [book:Shadow and Bone|10194157] -- the ever Darkness in the Fold-- plague or the accident of making the Fold and/or the volcra (monsters that were made by the darkness/Fold)

02 ~ Read a book: features a map, features someone down on their luck, features a major find of some sort. Strange/unique box on cover. OR "Map" in title.

11/15/15-- Pretty Girls

03 ~ Read a book: features an army/soldiers, features a legend, features long trip. Sand or blood on cover. OR "Legend" in title.

11/11/15-- Othello

04 ~ Read a Book: features shipwreck, features horses, features river. Horses or River on cover. OR "Wrong Side" in title.

11/21/15-- Black Beauty

05 ~ Read a Book: features something large that is buried/unearthed, features a dog/Anubis, features a person in power. Read an erotica/steamy romance. OR "Naughty" in title.

11/19/15-- Bound

06 ~ Read a Book: features an explorer, adventurer, treasure-seeker, gunfighter or librarian. Library on cover. OR "Librarian" in title.

11/22/15-- Siege and Storm

07 ~ Read a Book: features a book that is "evil", features bad things happening from reading book. Has all gold cover, has all black cover. Book(s) on cover. OR "Book of the Dead" in title.

12/3/15--Fahrenheit 451

08 ~ Read a Book: features life or death situation, features creature not of earth (alien, mythological). Weapon on cover, creature on cover. OR "Mortal" in title.

11/17/15-- A Christmas Carol

09 ~ Read a Book: features end of world, features a contract. Read a Dystopia. Suitcase on cover, destroyed world on cover. OR "Problem" in title.

11/8/15-- I Am Legend

10 ~ Read a Book: features a prince, features a grateful character. Eyes on cover, tongue on cover, group of people (at least 4) on cover. OR "Curse" in title.

11/16/15-- Hamlet

11 ~ Read a Book: features a secret society/group, features innocent groups of people killed, features small group against large enemy/situation. Ancient city on cover. OR "Secret" in title.

11/20/15-- Man's Search for Meaningi

12 ~ Read a Book: features something not where it should be, features someone finding out the truth. Has a black AND gold cover, bird/Horus on cover. OR "Patience" in title.

11/17/15-- The Good Soldier

13 ~ Read a Book: features someone being taken to save others, features a princess, features a mummy. Mummy on cover. OR "Eternity" or "Forever" in title.

11/12/15-- King Lear

14 ~ Read a Book: features damsel in distress, features saving the world, features main/secondary character killed off. Airplane on cover. OR "Rescue" in title.

11/7/15-- The Child Thief

15 ~ Read a Book: features boy gets the girl, features HEA. Treasure on cover, couple kissing on cover. OR "Kiss" in title.

11/10/15-- The Importance of Being Earnest

Complete: 15/15-- 12/3/15

Tower Team IV Challenge-- starting 11/7/15

What are Tower Teams?
Essentially it is small groups of members in a team who read and discuss books, record them for "points" in order to compete against other teams.
It doesn't matter if your yearly goal is to read five (5) books, fifty (50) books or five-hundred (500) books. Anyone can join! We are still balancing the Tower Teams Reading Challenge by Total Books read.

IMPORTANT
This is NOT a read-a-thon and WILL go for a few months, so please only sign-up if you are a consistent goodreads user and are willing to discuss books with your team mates over a period of a few months. Unlike our other team challenges, the Tower Teams Challenge is a marathon, not a sprint!

Goal: Reach 25,000 points (Check our winner categories)

When: Starts November 7, 2015 at 7 PM (GMT Time) and goes until a Team reaches 25,000 points.

How: We will take all the people who sign-up and divide them equally - by book goal - into SMALLER groups, taking into account the number of books they read per week. Otherwise we will be using a "ramdomizer" to assign.

Challenge requirements
To be a part of this challenge you need to be able to:

◈ Create a special shelf for the challenge for the books you are reading

◈ Check-in on your team's discussion thread at least once per week

◈ Have fun!




For reading books
Books between 100 and 160 pages (100 pages or 25,000 words is the minimum) = 5 points
Books between 161 pages and 350 pages = 20 points
Books between 351 and 500 pages = 40 points
Books between 501 and 650 pages = 60 points
Books between 651 and 800 pages = 80 points
Books between 801 and 900 pages = 100 points
Books over 901 pages = 130 points

For current BOM (Book of the Month) discussions
Writing a day's worth of discussion questions = 40 points
Participating in a current BOM (participating in discussion) = 20 points
NOTE: We will accept one team member per book per team for writing a days DQs. If, by three days prior to the BOM starting, we don't have enough volunteers to write all DQs, then we will let more than one team member per team write questions. If we have more people than days sign up (prior to 3 days before start date) we will randomise the volunteers to determine those who can write DQs

For completing goals
For each book read That completes an open goal = 5 points



♔ Winner - First to the post (first team to reach 25,000 points)
♔ Winner - Alternative (team with most books read, but individuals capped to 150% of goal)
♔ Winner - Page Turners (highest page numbers read)
♔ Winner - Books of the Month (highest % of team members participating in BOMS)
♔ Winner - Most improved team (% to goal improves week to week)
♔ Winner - Goal Achiever (more goals completed)