Apoorv ’s Comments (group member since Mar 26, 2014)

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

Vicki wrote: "My cap shows 30 and my books read for this round so far shows 6, but I've only read 5. Maybe I got someone else's book count/points added to mine somehow? The only other thing I can think of is tha..."

Vicki it does seem like you have finished these 6 books.

- Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter | 17May2025
- Houseboy | 17May2025
- Written in Red | 17May2025
- The Golden Doves | 18May2025
- The Turn of the Screw | 18May2025
- The Revenge Pact | 20May2025

Your challenge shelf also has these 6 books marked as read.
Let us know if any book got marked complete by mistake.

Jenny wrote: "Less than a day left until we start!!

Sharon and Apoorv, I cannot find your TT shelves. Can you link them here for me please?"

My shelf is already on our spreadsheets! :)
Challenge-NBRC-TTXI

Volunteering for DQs - Team Empire State Building :)

Carrie wrote: "Apoorv - I think we did Cutthroat together maybe??"

Yes, indeed! Team Longclaw!
That was one wild challenge with all the fines and sabotages. Hahaha!

Angie ☯ wrote: "Apoorv! I thought it was you and Jenny that would be answering all the difficult questions!! Lol!

I think that I've been in challenges with everyone on the team at one time or other, except you. F..."

I KNOOOOW! We keep being on opposing teams across all these challenges across the groups - but now the GoodReads Gods will finally see the supernova of fun that erupts when they put us together on one team, Angie.

Also, it just seems like Jenny has to do all the hardwork after all - which works out just as well, if you ask my lazy ass! LOL! :P

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you singular powerhouses out there.
Thank you for making the world infinitely better with your grit, compassion, and unadulterated love.

Vicki wrote: "Apoorv, I have been waiting for your post so I could just laugh and enjoy your presence. You always bring such fun to challenges with your quick wit and fun nature. Thanks for making me laugh on Mother's Day first thing in the morning!"

VICKIIIIII!! :D
I was so thrilled to see that we are on the same team. You are a hoot and I love sharing challenges with you. The stories of your grandkids and the doggos always make me happy. Excited to hear more about them.

This is going to be a fun fun challenge - I can feel it in my bones (or it could just be that I slept weirdly, but anyhooo)! :=)

Angie ☯ wrote: "

Do we want to try to win this thing, or concentrate on having fun. Of course, there is no reason that both can not be true!!!!."

As someone who is part of the reigning champion team, I would like to continue the streak! *not so humble brag* :D

Now, would you look at that! All the cool kids from GoodReads have assembled here like the Avengers! :P This is going to be one heck of a fun time because I know/have been on teams with pretty much everyone here at some point and know for a fact that all of you are AWESOME!!

I am Apoorv, live in Boston (MA), originally from India, and a GoodReads team challenge addict (yes, yes, I know! But so are all of you, so this addicts assembly is really just a party :P). This is my 8th Tower Teams (refer to the addict statement above) and I have had a blast every year all the way back to 2014.

I read pretty much everything (except maybe Self Help, because I mean look at me - do you think this fabulousness needs any help?! :P) and I am particularly a fan of reading books from different countries. Have a personal on-going globetrotting challenge and have visited 87/195 countries through literature so far. So, I am definitely going to be digging into those "hard" countries a bit through this challenge. Know any authors from Vanuatu, anyone?

In real life, I managed to travel to Qatar and Vietnam last year, and it was an enchanting experience. Geographically distinct countries, yet, both have a beautiful culture and some of the most gorgeous nature, Absolutely delightful.

As for this challenge, as we have established, Angie and Jenny have it all under control and will do all the answering of the difficult questions and I will sit here and look pretty! :D

THIS. IS. GOING. TO. BE. THE. BEST. CHALLENGE. EVER!
Brace yourself!

This is it!

... said no one ever!

One more and I am done.

Reserved

Oh Mods, could you be ever so kind and open Empire State Building, so I can sneak in before all the remaining fun team members rush in? They be cray cray! Thank you muchly! :P

This was so much fun! And what a wonderful team performance across these 8 weeks - thank you everyone for being so flexible with your reads. It was particularly fun finding books that fit all the various tasks! :)

If "puzzle s " (plural) is allowed, I will take the puzzle task.

Ashley, since we are closer to the end of the challenge, do you want us collectively focus on finishing any specific mini challenges over others, presuming they yield us more completion points?

It seems like Admin (in its current iteration) and Relax are closer being complete than Family and Garden. Or does it not matter? Just trying to see where we can grab some more points.

Cathy M. wrote: "I finished Sweep of the Heart - marked as read and on shelf. Can someone please update on SS for me?"

Updated! :)

Team Lost Overdue Bill
Discussion Questions - Day 3, Chapters 14-21

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?
The variety of people are definitely fun to read. While they all have their fun elements, I can't seem to look beyond Caz and Meep and how adorable (and resourceful) they are. I don't think if it had been just Keila's story, I would have been as invested. So, props to Caz and Meep for stealing the show for me.

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
Spider Plant is infact a great choice, but the Pothos sitting right next to me would be very mad, if I don't take it name as my person sentient plant. :P

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?
No, that was the part where I had to suspend my belief to go along with the book - but thankfully, Fenerer and Ivor came up and helped with the fact that not everyone on the island is oblivious about the activities Keila is up to. Also, I won't be surprised if there are others who have noticed but are keeping it quiet since the magic hasn't been harmful per say so far.

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
Finally, a villain. I was getting a bit of sugar rush with all the sweetness so far. I am a bit further along the book, so I know what Radane does - but, it was a good change of pace adding her in and creating some 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 think her stealing the books from the library has a lot to do with her not speaking about the revolution and its aftereffects. With Radane on the island now, it threatens that so may be we will see a different side to Keila and hear the true story after all, but I think her parents death did impact her majorly, so to get that story, we might have to wait till she feel comfortable and safe enough to share that. Maybe with Larran eventually?

Team Lost Overdue Bill
Discussion Questions - 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?
This is a fun version of the magic that we are exposed to so far - but I am sure there are a lot of dark implications to it and likely that is the reason why the empire removed from far off islands and probably also why there was a revolution. But, I doubt if any of that will be explained in this book (and while I would love this to be a standalone fantasy book), we will likely get a prequel book to explain some details. As of now, we are working off of a lot of assumptions and I guess for the sake of this story, I am fine with working off of those, purely because the magic, while structurally central to the story, isn't necessary running the story forward as we get to know the characters and their interpersonal relations.

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?
Given her limited resources and the overall dearth of things on the island, this is quite a good plan. What I do like is that it is taking her out of her shell and making her interact with people, which she is realizing isn't quite a bad thing. So, she is growing as a person too. Plus, Keila seems like a nice person that she intends to help people with her magic, so overall her actions are not just beneficial for her, but will help the island hopefully come out of its rut as well.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
I love it when there is no insta-love and this slow burn between Keila and Larran is right up my alley. I feel like I am on that exploration journey with them and their actions make more sense when it is not randomly instantaneous. Plus, they both seem sweet enough, so I feel like wanting to root for them - so overall I am pretty on-board this Keilarran train! :)