Bernadette’s Comments (group member since May 28, 2020)

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

🐿️ NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK 🐿️

#64 - X-Files - Read a book that is connected to a TV show (e.g. Daisy Jones & the Six turned into a show; a JB Fletcher book from Murder, She Wrote)

Judy wrote: "I've picked books for the Booker & Women's Prize tasks that I can read if nobody else wants to take these on... but not until I've finally finished City of Brass!

I've also got a library hold for ..."

I just finished Demon Copperhead the other day which is on the list. It is banked for Best of 2022 so whatever you want to do.

Judy wrote: "🐿️ NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK 🐿️

#59 - Solve for X - Read a book with an ordinal number in the title (e.g. The 5th Wave, Second Foundation)"

I moved a book I read from Crayola Towers to cover this one.

🐿️ NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK 🐿️

#60 - Random 10 - Read a book with an X in the author name

Judy wrote: "🐿️ NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK 🐿️

#57 - Random 10 - Read a book with MPG Classics"

The Metamorphosis has MPG Classics - already read - it's also shelved weird 99 times if you want to save it for weird

I'm off to see Shania Twain tonight with my daughter and niece.🥰

🐿️NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK🐿️

I finished The City of Brass so we have a new task

#48 Ten Tallest Towers 6 - Lotte World Tower - Read a book set in, or by an author from South Korea

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?

The upper echelon believe they are more superior and can punish anyone for anything they choose but Ali has more character and choses differently.

10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?

I think it will be doomed. Will something possibly happen between Nahri & Ali?

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?

I think he torn. He feels betrayed by how Anas used the money he provided and is leery about provided more even though he agrees with charitable part of what they are doing.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?

I think it may be Nahri's reaction to the city and maybe the dead Nahid's that are hidden there.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?

More will be revealed....

Tonight's Phillies game has been postponed because the air quality is so bad in Philadelphia. @Alyana, I hear it's even worse in New York.

It’s hazy in Philadelphia and YES you can smell the smoke 😳

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

Right now, I'm at 3 or 4. A glossary to be able to keep referencing while reading would be helpful.🤣

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

I did not know he was an actually person - interesting.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

It's helpful to know something about his past.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?

Full of himself, but not caring.

Robin (Saturndoo) wrote: "Bernadette wrote: "🐿️AND MORE NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK🐿️

#29 - 10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Wacky Ideas! Read a book with MPG Humour

#30 - X Books - Read a book where a character name starts with X"
..."

You're on roll Robin😀

🐿️AND MORE NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK🐿️

#29 - 10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Wacky Ideas! Read a book with MPG Humour

#30 - X Books - Read a book where a character name starts with X

🐿️NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK🐿️

#28 - 10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Creativity and Chaos! Read a book with three Cs in the title and/or author name

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5


1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

I have not encountered this conflict before nor was I aware of it.

2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?

All of them!

3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?

It's very confusing so far but I'm going along for the ride. Hopefully it starts to make more sense.

4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?

Don't know enough yet to say I have a favorite - time will tell.

🐿️ANOTHER NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK🐿️

#22 - 10 Commandments - "No taking of name in vain" - Read a book with a proper name in the title

Olivia wrote: "Would this book work for spade challenge
"

That should do it👍

🐿️ANOTHER NEW CHIPMUNKS TASK🐿️

#20 - Solve for X - Read a book with a cardinal number in the title (e.g 1984, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)

FYI - All natural numbers are cardinal numbers, 1 to infinity. Cardinal numbers aren’t fractions or decimals - they are only natural numbers and positive integers which means whole numbers from one upward.

@Erin, the page count you have entered on the tracking SS for King Hall is 280 pages and that is what is on your link. However, the version on your TT shelf shows 337 pages. Which is correct?

bamaace83 wrote: "I finished the book that I think will work for pick axe and put it on the spreadsheet."

@Anne - the book won't work for pickaxe. It's a regular axe on the cover. We're getting closer on this one though!

I'm not sure how much reading I will get done on Saturday. I'm on a Dragon Boat team and we have the Independence Dragon Regetta tomorrow in Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River. I need to be on the river at 6:30AM 😮 and it won't over until 4PM. Weather forecast doesn't look too bad.

Here is a picture of our team on the river from last year - not sure which one is us🤣 - maybe the one with the arrow: