Keely’s Comments (group member since Aug 30, 2013)

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

Mini 1 Update

Our 8th Itinerary is complete!!

Completion Post


Eagle Dreams: Searching for Legends in Wild Mongolia by Stephen J. Bodio
Date: 27 July
Pages: 256

Mini 1 - Mongolia

Spell it out
E - Title
S/B - author

Day 1, Chapters 1-11 (1-18%)

1. Warm-up question: have you read any other books by Fredrik Backman before? If yes, what do you like/dislike about his themes/style, etc?
No, this is my first book of his.

2. In the first chapter we are intorduced to quite a memorable auction scene with super-rich people who all want to possess THE PAINTING, though their intentions are questionable. Did this make you think of some similar events happening in the world right now?
I can't say that it did.

3. "Artists vs Normal People" - another apsect of these first chapters is the great divide between true artists and normal people. Backman seems to suggest that most people don't/cannot get true art and artists are so much more different (possibly better people?). Do you agree with this? Or is it a generalisation?
I don't agree that artists are better people. We all have things we are better at than others. I think it is a generalisation as some non-artists can really appreaciate art.

4. In a sequence of weird events, Louisa ends up in possession of The Painting.
Any guesses what may happen to her and to it?
I think she will either have to sell it (but end up with it in the end) or use it for something she thinks is really worthwile.

Bonus Q: do you have a favourite artist or a favourite piece of painting/sculpture?
I'm not that much into art.

Completion Post

Crying in H Mart
Date: 26 July
Pages: 243 (I think)

Mini 4 - kimchi (location on spreadsheet)

spell it out
C - title
M/Z - author

I should have my Mongolia book done this weekend too.

My Don Quixote hold is still saying about 2 weeks, but I am first in line so hopefully the person who has it will be finished soon!

Eldarwen wrote: "
Mini 4 - Part One - Food Items


Here is a little update on the words we still need.

Not many left!!

- ube
- naan
- kimchi
- quinoa

All the others have been found in our various reads. So ple..."

I'm working on kimchi. Should have it done at some point over the weekend.

Mini 1 Update

We are 3 books away from completing our 8th Itinerary!!

We have met the requirements so those last 3 can be any difficulty, but as you know, harder countries equal more points!

Charlotte wrote: "
Batyr Nursen: fengslet, torturert, kastet ut av tre land
Stig Magne Heitmann
7/22/25
226 pages
4 star..."

You are correct about the spell it outs with regards to non-fiction :)

V_Nerdbooks wrote: "Completion post

Before I Let Go
Kennedy Ryan
Date read 22 July
Pages 391
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Food:
Pho - "seated at her kitchen coun..."

Nice find with Pho!!

Completion Post


Dracula by Bram Stoker
Read: 22 July
Pages: 488

Spell-Out Options:
B / S - author
D - title
J / H - character: Jonathan Harker
Q / M - character: Quincey Morris
A / V - character: Abraham Van Helsing
L / W - character: Lucy Westenra

Janeylou wrote: "
Dead as a Doornail
Grant Michaels
349 pgs
22 july

🔹️Mini 3 ...Turkey
Red & White on cover"

Can you add to your shelf, please? :)

Use yours, I did make a start but I wasn't too impressed with the start, so I'm happy to swap it to something else! :)

I have put Don Quixote in the spot for a book that mentions Don Quixote. The hold says it could take about 2 weeks and it would take me at least a good few days to read because it is so long.
If anyone else finds something that works and can read it first, please do swap it in for mine. Otherwise it will be my first priority when I get the copy.

My diary book is being particularly snarky. "What's taking so long to read me? I'm only 1,000 pages long!" :P

Thank you, Charlotte! I'm not having much luck health wise at the moment, but hopefully this is the last of it! I'm feeling 100 times better than I did yesterday so I'm optimistic that I am reaching the end of it.

It will be nice to get through some of the books that I want to read. I feel like they are judging me for not having read them yet :P

Just posting a quick personal update. My husband has now returned to Norway so I will have much more reading time now. I've managed to get a chest infection and I'm finally beginning to feel better. I may not be able to start work tonight as planned as it's too physical and I can't even get up the stairs without becoming breathless. I will see how I feel a bit later after some more sleep. I have made them aware of the situation so if I did decide to go in, they would cut me some slack for being slower than normal.

I have several nice long books planned for this last month, including the two July BOMs. I'm still working on my dairy book and the progress on that will speed up now. The target is to get it done for the end of July. It's the sort of audiobook I'd put on in the background while I'm getting ready or doing chores like cleaning.

I will be more active again from now so I'll be able to help E with the captain stuff again.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!

Hope you have a nice time, Heather!

Completion Post

Rhino War by Johan Jooste
Date: 16 July
Pages: 311

Mini 1 - South Africa

Spell it out:
R -title
J - author

Not long now until the end on month 2 of Tower Teams. I can't believe it's been almost 2 months already!

My husband returns to Norway on the 17th and while we are trying to make the most of the time, I have unfortunately given him the cold I had 😅. I have been trying to work on my South Africa book when I have alone time, but that isn't very much at the moment. It would be nice to get it done for month 2.

In other news, I will be starting a new job on Friday. It's actually an old job I mentioned before. I'm going back to one of the UK's major supermarkets to work nights stacking shelves. They've taken me back as a seasonal worker, which is great for me as I can do that while I get my name changed on all the things I need to and then in a couple of months head back to Norway to begin the visa process.
I really enjoyed working the job previously as there is very little interaction with customers and I can listen to audiobooks while working. I've been contracted Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights but I'll probably pick up extra shifts when I've got back into the swing of things.

On my nights off, I'll probably stick to a night routine where I can as I found that took less of a toll than to switch to a day routine on my days off. That means I will mostly be active during the weird hours of the night and probably mornings. I hope to tackle some nice long books during the nights, both at work and out of work.

For anyone curious about which supermarket it might be, every little helps 😉

There's been a lot of completion posts lately which is great to see!

I doubt I will get any more books finished for month 2. My husband and I have just been too busy. I have some nice long books planned for after he goes back to Norway so I will be able to give us some nice points in month 3!

Shout out to E who has been doing all the captain stuff while I have been busy!