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

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

I signed up! This will be my second wheel. I've been in a bit of a reading slump lately and I've fallen way behind my schedule for the year, but hopefully this will encourage me pick things back up.
I can't wait to start!

I saw people talking about it on the Cleaning out the TBR Closet challenge and remembered it was a thing I was going to do too :P
I'm listening to an audiobook version and I plan to do at least an hour a day and as I listen to it on 2x speed, it should only take me 20 more days. But I will probably listen for longer on some days.

I finally picked this up again. I'm still way back towards the beginning. I intend to get to chapter 8 today which will mean I finish the first part of Volume 1. I am going to make this my main focus so I should catch up soon.

288 pages
216 pages
288 pages
70 pages
449 pages
126 pages
144 pages
107 pages
40 pages
35 pages

Current Total: 1,001,402 !!

I just increased my goal to 70 as I completed my orginial goal of 50 last night. I don't think another 20 will be too difficult.

My TBR list has actually gone up instead of down this year so I'm definitely going to need this challenge for a good few years yet. My TBR is currently at 875 and I generally average about 100 off my list a year (some of those I don't include in this challenge, e.g. continuation of manga series) so I'll still need another 8 years of this challenge at least :P

I probably will up my goal. Maybe I will increase it to 70 from 50 as I have quite a few short books I would like to get off the list by the end of the year.

I finished 3 books from my list recently. Two that were from 2019 and the one I am most excited about finishing is Last Seen because that means I have now read all the books I added in 2017!

I am also up to 48 out of 50 books read for this challenge. I should finish a couple of books tomorrow as I have a long day of travelling, but I'm not sure how many will count towards this. The first one I plan on finishing will, but it depends on how I feel tomorrow on what I read after.
I may increase my goal, especially a I will be trying to read some of the shorter books which are clogging up my TBR (most of them are free kindle books I picked up years ago). But I will think about whether I will or not and by how many if I do.

192 pages
184 pages
196 pages
32 pages
32 pages

Current Total: 923,674

Keli wrote: "Sammy wrote: "Keli wrote: "Anyone a Dickens fan? Can you recommend a good second Dickens novel?"

Me! Memememe! I've read most of the novels now (just Barnaby Rudge and [book:The Myste..."

I believe you can now get the Richard Armitage version of David Copperfield for free on Audible now. They have started this new plus thing where as long as you are a subscribed member, you can listen to selected books for free. I'm sure I saw that one on there. There are also a lot of other classics too. I'm in the UK, but I assume this has gone worldwide.

560 pages
223 pages
353 pages
394 pages
209 pages
160 pages

Current Total: 887,993

I didn't get far when I started and it's been so long since I read any that I may have to restart. But now TT is over I will be focusing on this more.

I managed to finish another book after all. The Art of Purring is definitely my last book.

Thank you all for a great challenge, I thoroughly enjoyed my first Tower Teams. I'll be taking a break from team challenges for a bit, but I hope to see some of you again in future challenges :)

I just finished The House in the Cerulean Sea and it is looking very likely that it will be my last book. I hoped to have more time today and I am at work all day tomorrow.

I will post again if I think I will manage one more, but otherwise assume that I've finished my last book.

DQs Day 3 ~ Eight - Ten (p195)

9. Linus completed his first report for the DICOMY; what did you make of it? Did you think he reported anything that he should have left out? How about future reports – how do you think they will compare to this one?
I think he just wants to do what is best. As he learns more and gets closer to the children, he might end up leaving more out of the report.

10. Ms. Chapelwhite takes Linus on a hike through the forest to show him a raft that she wants reported but doesn’t want the children or Mr. Parnassus to know about. Linus was taken aback by the message sent on the raft. (view spoiler) Did your opinion of Linus change when he suggested they send a message back? What did you think of his message?
The message back seemed very in character for Linus.

11. Linus seems a bit smitten with Arthur. Do you sense there is a mutual attraction between the two? Do you think anything will take root and blossom?
It would be nice if something happens between them. It seems like Linus has never really been with anyone else before.

12. That was quite the adventure that Lucy led. Were you surprised that Linus stepped up and began to join in on the story? What all did you learn about the children, about Linus, about Arthur and Zoe?
It seems that when something is work related, he will do it and since learning more about Lucy and the other children is part of his work, he'll join in.

13. As this chapter wraps up, Zoe and Phee are talking with Linus listening. He can relate to Phee’s comment that she likes the trees better than she likes most people. Do you think Linus learned anything from the “lesson” that Zoe gave him through Phee’s growing the flower for Linus and her explanation of the trees and root system?
This books seems to be about acceptance of other people so hopefully Linus learned a bit about that.

I will be finishing The House in the Cerulean Sea either tonight or tomorrow. I'm still hopeful I can squeeze one more shorter audiobook in, but it depends on how tomorrow goes. I will post again when I know that my last book is done.

DAY 2 QUESTIONS. JULY 17. CHAPTERS 5-7

5. The book is set in an unknown city and then onto Marsyas Island. Country Unknown. Do you think it is set in an alternate universe to our own eg UK or USA or a completely fantasy location? Does it matter or make you think differently about the storyline either way?
I think it's just a fantasy location similar to Hogwarts in Harry Potter. I don't think it makes a difference.

6. First impressions of the house and Linus' reaction to it? What is your own reaction to it and how it is described?
The house is kinda what I was expecting it to be.

7. In Chapter 6 we are introduced to a colourful array of children and the enigmatic Mr Arthur Parnassus. Who is your favourite child and ability so far and what special talents do you think will be revealed about Arthur?
I don't think I have a favourite child yet, it's a bit soon to say.

8. At the first dinner welcome for Linus the reader is bombarded with a plethora of notable pearls of wisdom from Arthur Parnassus which made me realize the allegorical themes of this story.
"Sometimes our prejudices color our thoughts when we least expect them to. If we can recognize that, learn from it we can become better people."
"Because even the bravest of us can still be afraid sometimes as long as we don't let our fear become all we know."
"There are things in this world that defy the imagination."
"He'd never be a bellhop because what Hotel would hire one such as him, people fear what they don't understand."

What point do you think the author is trying to make through the world and characters he has imagined and what do you think these quotes hint about the story moving forward?
It seems like the author is highlighting that everyone is different and individual and some people have different requirements.

DQ Day 1 - One to Four (p62)

1. What drew you to this BOM? Was it the fantastic reviews it’s been getting? Or the cute cover? Or something else?
I found the cover interesting and also the blurb. It sounded like the sort of book I would like.

2. What do you think of the writing style so far? I didn’t expect it to be so funny. I laughed out loud a few times at the terrible office Linus works in and at the rude neighbour. I love the way she is so rude about Linus but then keeps trying to set him up with her grandson.
The writing style seems to one that I like and it seems to flow easily.

3. What do you think about Linus as the main character? So far, he seems to be quite frightened of the world. How do you think he will cope in the strange situation he has been put in?
It seems like he got used to his lifestyle and was anxious to try something new. I've read ahead a bit so he's developed more. That's all I'll say in case of spoilers.

4. I was surprised that one of the children on the island is supposed to be the Anti-Christ. Heart warming stories don’t tend to feature someone like that. What powers do you think he will have?
Like I said, I have read further ahead, so I already know a little more about the child.

DQs- Day 3

9. If you were confronted with Lord Mountjoy Quickfang Winterforth IV’s ominously rumbling tummy and the prospect of more dragon fire, how would you react?
Not sure I would have stuck around as long as the mob leader did!
I don't like fire anyway so I would be out of there as quick as I could.

10. If you witnessed a massive dragon being vanquished in one sword hit, would you entirely believe it or do you think you may hold suspicions on the “neatness”? I think I would wonder about the lack of dragon lumps.
I would be suspicious. I'm not one to celebrate until things are certain.

11. This section cemented my love for Lady Sybil, with her no-nonsense stern reproach of the dragon. If she had maintained eye contact, do you think her approach would have worked?
I don't think it would have worked.

12. Since the beginning of the book, has your opinion on Captain Vimes changed? If so, why?
Not really, but he does seem to be smarter than he first appeared.

:(

I'm definitely going to finish Guards! Guards! and The House in the Cerulean Sea before the end, but I don't know about any others. I would like to finish one more as well as those, but I'll have to see how the next few days go.

DQs - Day 2

5. In this section, TP is shedding some light (or dark?) on the Patrician's character. What is your opinion about him? Would you prefer him to rule your country instead of the "real" politicians?(A question to DW Veterans: do you remember any other books where V's aversion to mime artists is mentioned or we are given an explanation why?)
I really dislike politics. I don't know who I would want to run my country as they all seem to end up the same.

6. What about Lady Sybil as the "heroine" or female MC of the book? She certainly seems to be the complete opposite of how "classical heroines" are represented in fantasy or other books. Have you met her counterpart / someone very like her in non-DW books or films? Would you get a pet dragon if you had the chance?
I can't think of any characters I've read similar to Lady Sybil. I'm not sure if I would have a dragon, maybe for bragging rights but I would need a suitable place to keep it.

7. If you are familiar with the detective fiction/mystery genre, do you think Guards! Guards! has been following a similar structure in its idiosyncratic way so far?
I guess I can see some pattern. But Pratchett was very good at distracting you with humour or silliness.

8. Maybe it's too early to ask this question, but I am not a character to able to resist the temptation of it. Please forgive me.
So, any ideas, who which actors/actress would you choose as Lord Vetinari / Sam Vimes / Carrot / Lady Sybil. ...etc if you were a casting director?
Eh, this isn't my favourite thing to do. I feel like I'm out of the loop with actors at the moment. All I will say is that I could see Jeremy Irons getting involved with this somewhere.