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

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

Alaina wrote: "Ashley wrote: "These 2 are needed for Nemean Lion, if you could find a single book (which I would think is doable... maybe, lol)

Read a book that takes place in Africa.
Read a book with an open pl..."

I asked in the captains chat what they thought about the open plains. I'll let you know when I get an answer.

Ashley wrote: " Anyone reading this? It's got snakes! on the cover! and it's the BOM!"

I just picked up my copy of from the library.

The Master and Margarita is taking me forever to read. Not really enjoying at all!

Waiting for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas from the library. Should be very soon. I have it marked for three tasks on the SS but if someone can cover them sooner, feel free. I found this one on another team's SS😉

Ashley wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Also, for snake on cover - would a tattoo count?"

I would think so.

Alaina wrote: "Would Long Walk Home (Hope of Sudan #1) by DiAnn Mills count for plain landscape?"

Hmmm... possi..."

I think the road would be a problem too. The task is for an open plain so I'm leaning toward no.

Alaina wrote: "Also, for snake on cover - would a tattoo count? "

Yes!

Ashley wrote: "I was just looking at our Book Target... I am going to finish Hades regardless, but should I not read more books, since we've gone over? Did we go over last month, or did we have some reserve room ..."

Ashley, the overreading penalty is applied at the end of the challenge. And it doesn't apply until we get to 110% over. See the following from the rules...

◈ Over-reading Penalty
If, as a team, you over-read compared to your sign-ups then a penalty will be applied to your page points. These will be checked at the end of the challenge. As the teams are created to be balanced by book number, you will all be working to the same totals and penalty points.
%age over-read Penalty
0-109% 1 * page points
110-124% 0.9 * page points
125-149% 0.8 * page points
150+% 0.75 *page points

So keep reading

DQs Day 2
7. The Haunted Flat -> 13. Enter the Hero

6.) Berlioz kept having things disappear from his apartment. What would you of thought if stuff was randomly disappearing from your home? Blame it on the kids? Partner? Ghost? Thief? Do you think it's supposed to represent Stalin's infamous purges where people simply disappear?

I could've moved something myself and just forgot about it too. No kids or dogs in my house, could have been the husband though.

7.) What do you think of Woland's posse of 3? Would you want to be a part of that group? Of the 3, do you have a favorite character?

Crazy group. I would not want to be part of it at all! I like the cat.

8.) Thoughts on Stavinsky? Would you want him treating a family member? Considering this is the 1930's and it's a mental asylum, was it what you'd expect? Or more modern?

I I'm sure we've coma a long way since then. It may have been modern for the times but is anything really modern in Russia??

9.) This section made me think about the housing/apartment situation in Stalin's Soviet Union. Maybe because I recently moved house, it made me grateful for the choices I have available about my living situation. Did this resonate at all with you? How so?

I'm blessed to live in a house by myself (and husband) but I know there are people with far different housing situations.

10.) I still have like no idea what's going on really. I feel like I'm just going to keep reading and hope it either starts making sense or the book ends. How are you enjoying the book so far?

This book makes no sense and I don't like it at all.

Medusa is out to get us!

Medusa



The infamous Gorgon sister, Medusa has been spotted on your lands. Hard to kill and is looking for recommendations for a new hair stylist. Hers never seem to last long.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that takes place in a desert.
3.) Read a book where someone is beheaded.
4.) Read a book with a mirror on the cover.
5.) Read a book with a snake on the cover.

Still yet another new one....

Nemean Lion



Nemean Lion has been seen lounging in the sun on your land after feasting on man. He's hard to defeat, don't underestimate him because he sleeps more than he's awake. Also, don't send Kate Daniels, "here kitty kitty kitty" probably won't turn out as well for her this time.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that takes place in Africa.
3.) Read a book where both hands (of one person) are visible on the cover.
4.) Read a book with an open plain landscape on the cover.
5.) Read a book that features a cat (cat shifter accepted).

Meet out TWO new friends....

Empusa



Empusa aka the Karen of ancient Greece (view spoiler)[sorry Mod Karen (hide spoiler)] has been spotted on your lands causing havoc like a one monster homeowners association from hell. Easy to defeat with the right mindset, try telling her you ARE the manager.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book between 100 and 125 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that takes place in the suburbs.
3.) Read a book with a character who is a bully (your interpretation).
4.) Read a book with sandals on the cover (flip-flops/thongs accepted).
5.) Read a book where the MC owns a cow or dog.

Charybdis



Charybdis has been spotted close to your shores and endangering ships heading for the harbor. If you manage to defeat this monster be prepared to answer "how are you still alive" every time you tell the story. The monster is interested in helping you reach your childhood dream of finding what's in Davy Jones's Locker.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book 800 pages or longer.
2.) Author's name (first or last) starts with one of the letters in POOL.
3.) Read a book where the MC is forced to make a hard choice (your interpretation).
4.) Read a book with "fig" in the title or text.
5.) Read a book where the characters take a boat trip (of any type)

Alaina - justification for T72 - Read a book where the MC gets lost - so I can add it to the SS? Thanks!

Melissa wrote: "Sorry everyone I’m moving my daughter to college today and tomorrow for a summer program so I won’t be on much.

For BOM - only one person per team will be chosen to write DQs but anyone can volun..."


Melissa - Penn State??

Day 1 DQs
Book 1- Chapters 1 (Never talk to strangers) - 6 (Schizophrenia)

1) Poetry and literature. Religion. Philosophy. Deep topics, deftly handled by a mad, funny writer. What do you think so far? Are you fans of Homeless (Ivan) and Belioz and their pretentious academic discussions? Are you intrigued? Confused?

Confused would describe me. The way the characters are named differently I find difficult to follow.

2) So, you meet a stranger that that knows your name, and says that he just had breakfast with Immanuel Kant (who died over100 years ago), and was there to see Jesus, then tells you how you are going to die.
Did you know who the Professor (W, foreigner, stranger, consultant, etc.) is from the synopsis, or when did you start to realize who this character really is?

I still don't know who he is! Maybe the devil?? I did not read a synopsis in advance.

3) We move to Judea, in the story that the Professor is telling. Pilate and Yeshua discuss why he has been imprisoned. What did you think of their talk? Did the characters of Jesus and Pilate differ from how you imagined them? What do you think of the different philosophies of authority vs the kingdom of truth and justice, in the book or in life?
What do you think of Yeshua’s belief that all men are good?
(I Personally loved the comment of Yeshua that his disciple keeps recording his words wrong. Teehee)

I was actually able to follow this chapter. I found it interesting.

4) Well, Ivan’s life just took a turn. A dead friend, levitating men, a giant cat, a dip in a river resulting in missing clothing. Ever had a day like this? Do you think you would have given chase?

I've had bad days; I'll leave it at that. Not sure quite that bad though. Don't think I would have taken chase.

5) I love the psychiatric hospital scene. It is so absurd. “Let him use the phone.” Teehee. I mean, poor Ivan. Do you think he will be there a while, or convince the doctor to let him go?

Based on the chapter, he may be there a while!

Bonus question) Anyone familiar with Stalin’s Russia? How does what you know relate to the book so far? Does the fact that this book was written during Stalin’s Russia make a difference to how you are understanding the book?

Does this look like fire? It's one of the books read by Kimber.

Alaina - can the character list for A Clash of Kings be shortened on the SS?

Yasmine wrote: "Okay, then I'll note that down in the spreadsheet, although I think somebody else already has the task covered anyways :))

I wasn't sure, as Pompey isn't beeing beheaded as part of the story, but..."

We need two beheadings! Did the book take place a desert? Or a portion of the book?

Yasmine wrote: "So I just finished A Coin for the ferryman, and now my question is for Medusa's 3.) Read a book where someone is beheaded.

In my book there's a passage: "Would Caesar recognize that this was suppo..."

Yes! I looked at a draft of the book on Amazon and it references Pompey's severed head. I think that works😂

Ugh..another Medusa....

Medusa



The infamous Gorgon sister, Medusa has been spotted on your lands. Hard to kill and is looking for recommendations for a new hair stylist. Hers never seem to last long.

To vanquish this monster you must:
1.) Read a book between 350 and 450 pages (inclusive).
2.) Read a book that takes place in a desert.
3.) Read a book where someone is beheaded.
4.) Read a book with a mirror on the cover.
5.) Read a book with a snake on the cover.

Mamacita aka MawMaw wrote: "My book MAY cover most of Minotaur

T72 Read a book where the MC gets lost

**T73 Read a book with a map**

T74 "Read a book where a character described as ""bull-..."

Mama, it has to be a picture of a map.

I added Kimber's books and we moved from 9th to 4th on the leader board🤩

Kimber~☆♡Love of Books♡☆ wrote: "Bernadette wrote: "Kimber - you have 27 books read since the beginning of TT9 but only 16 are on your shelf. Can we use the other 11? All bgoooks read during the challenge count. If you add them to y..."

Perfect - we have a team limit. Don't worry about what you signed up for. We can remove books if we get over the limit. It's not a problem at the moment. We still have 11 to get to our limit as of today.