Fiona’s Comments (group member since Sep 25, 2023)

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

Good with mine too!

Total before this message: 1,785,693

318 pages
420 pages

Current total: 1,786,431

339 pages

Current total: 1,780,936

626 pages

Current total: 1,779,039

Volunteering for Noisy Neighbours :)

416 pages
419 pages

Current total: 1,776,136

Level 2

251. Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice
252. A Court of Thorns and Roses
253. A Court of Mist and Fury
254. The Heart Principle
255. The Predator
256. The Reaper
257. The Emperor
258. The Finisher
259. The Annihilator
260. Change My Mind
261. The Syndicater
262. The Mysterious Affair at Styles
263. Cherish
264. Die drei ??? Der Tag der Toten
265. A Court of Wings and Ruin
266. A Court of Frost and Starlight
267. Die drei ??? und der Zeitgeist : 6 Kurzgeschichten
268. The Secret History
269. The God of the Woods
270. A ​Court of Silver Flames
271. Playing Games
272. Cat Among the Pigeons
273. The Best Thing
274. Freiheit: Erinnerungen 1954 – 2021
275. Evil Under the Sun
276. Rock Paper Scissors
277. Was die Welt zusammenhält
278. This could be love
279. King of Battle and Blood
280. The Housemaid
281. Lonely Heart
282. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires
283. Skating on Thin Ice
284. Fragile Heart
285. Say You Swear
286. Natural Born Killers
287. Die drei ??? und die flüsternden Puppen (drei Fragezeichen)
288. Die drei ??? Die Rache des Untoten
289.
290.

415 pages

Current total: 1,760,302

DQs Day 3

9) I'm enjoying the variety of people and creatures (for lack of a better word) in the story. Do you have a favorite? Is there one you'd dream up and like to see wandering the island?
I love the cactus so much!!!

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
Definitely one that can't hurt me (like a cactus) because I'm clumsy. And something big!

11) Do you think it is remotely realistic that Kiela can keep her activities secret? And with the trouble at the center of the empire, would any of those in power notice or care?
Such secrets always come out in my opinion, it's best to just trust someone with your secrets.

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
I'm unsure what to think of her. I didn't really like her character a lot and she was a lot of trouble.

13) Previous questions have touched on this but I'm thinking Kiela has avoided sharing what's happening with the revolution as a trauma response. If she doesn't talk about it than she can almost ignore it? It makes me wonder what happened to her parents. Like the library became her home/only place she felt safe after losing them and then it literally burned before her eyes. Anyone have thoughts about why she still isn't sharing to the point of literally running away?
I'm assuming that it must've been very traumatizing if it's that bad. But talking would help in my opinion.

Thank you for the update, Patti!

Hi team, we have officially completed our first mini, the garden mini! I copied the tasks so they can be used again but I'm asking you to please not make any changes in the minis before round 3 starts, as I'm currently moving around books to maximize our points! Thank you :)

Joyce, could you please add 84, Charing Cross Road to your shelf? :)

354 pages

Current total: 1,736,623

Round 3 Update
Saturday, round 3 will start! Our next spell out is ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW. Now that's a long one..

Round 3 is set up and you can start planning your reads.

384 pages

Current total: 1,730,975

DQ Day 2 Chapters 8 - 13

6. There's more information released here about magic use and it's impact on the world. What do you think about this?
I found it a bit confusing to get to know who is able to cast magic and who isn't, and who is allowed to and who isn't. I definitely like the magic in this book but I do find the rules about it a bit weird.

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?
I think it's brilliant. Finding something so niche is great, plus jam is yummy :)

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
I absolutely adore them! It's great how they have such awkward moments in which you can tell they like each other.

DQs- Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if she were stranded on a desert island, which books would she most want to have with her?"
Now I'm putting you the same question limiting your possibilities to
- 1 complete works of an author
- 2 book series
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction

1 - Agatha Christie
2a - Harry Potter
2b - Devil's Night
3a - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
3b - The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
3c - Nonfiction can stay at home

2. While it's only explained sketchily, a little politics, history (?)
of the Empire is mentioned, alongside some curious species, flora & fauna (winged kitties, anyone?) What do you think of the world-building so far?

I do like the world building so far, it all feels nice and cozy to me. I didn't read any blurb before going into this, so I'd say I'm pleasantly surprised.

3. It's mentioned several times how Kiela keeps herself to herself in the Library (apart from Caz's company). Do you think such an almost complete isolation described here is possible even in such a vast Library?

I do think it's possible, especially given that other people probably have their business on their mind and would leave her alone in case they come past her.

4. I found it a bit disturbing that Kiela doesn't tell anyone on the island that she came away because a revolution has broken out in the capital (I understand her keeping silent about the books). It IS supposed to be a big deal after all and one would think they will learn about it eventually. A bit later some excuses are offered. Do you think they are sufficient or it's just a usual plot-driving tool?

Definitely a tool to drive the plot further. I was wondering about that too but am thinking that everything will happen in its own time for a reason.

5. I really liked the idea of Kiela & Caz sectioning the garden and naming them after book genres. Which genres would you name parts of your real or hypothetical garden?

Romance and Poetry!

413 pages
42 pages

Current total: 1,715,609

469 pages

Current total: 1,687,028

I still couldn't get a hold on The Road Trip but I have the other two :)