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

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

Aye aye, captain!
Let's get that class completed! Wohoo! :D

Melissa wrote: "What about this little change:

Gabriel thought that only those who carry a Black Heart within them would feel justified in using A Darker Shade of Magic to control the beasts.."

Oh, I love it! Any mention of the Shades of Magic series makes me happy. And this fits in so well. Thank you, Melissa!

P.S. We should totally write a fantasy dystopia book. :P :P

Alison wrote: "I've been thinking about the History of Magic class and wondering if it might be an easy one to knock off based on the books we have so far. There must be enough or nearly enough read to fill the 7..."

Giving it a try:
Back in the olden times, when Consorting With Dragons was a norm, Gabriel considered it as being Down Among the Sticks and Bones and having a Black Heart. Gabriel wanted to be different but all he had left with him, was his grandmother's magical old clock. The Secret of the Old Clock was that it helped keep Gabriel's Promise to his grandmother, that in his big black world, he would make Every Heart a Doorway, while quietly and secretly Holding Up the Universe.

Team Gilderoy Lockhart
Chapters 6 - 10

Whoa! A whole lot happened in the last 5 chapters. Honestly, for a moment, if I forget that these are Gods, all that is happening reminds me of Glass Sword and King's Cage, in parts where one team is trying to find the other to avenge/revenge/fight for something. So, so far literally the only redeeming factor has been that these characters are not regular folks, but actually Gods - else, it is a pretty run of the mill story.

(view spoiler)[I loved the entry of Hera and found it extremely funny that she used a modern day bomb to blow Athena-Hermes-Odysseus' cover. Although, as Deanna pointed out earlier, who planted the explosives? Seems a little too coincidental, as does a lot of other things now that I think of it. (hide spoiler)]

Also, (view spoiler)[ were Odysseus and Athena a pair, according to the Greek Mythology? It seems like there is going to be something kindling there. Oooo, Gods romancing like teenagers!!! I am going to need a minute to process that. :P (hide spoiler)]

Honestly, half way through, and so far it is a 3-star read for me. I like that the action is picking up (sort of what I imagine to be the main theme given it is a God war), but, I hope that things start happening more frequently and the narrative shapes up more significantly for me to go beyond that rating.

Having said that, I am trying to Google-teach myself about Greek Mythology and all the Gods briefly on the side, and it certainly helps understanding the various motives and more so the relations, but I am pretty sure I'm missing out of a few plotlines.

MelanieJoy wrote: "haha Apoorv how many libraries are you registered at?"

I have accounts in 4 online libraries, and 1 physical one. I do hope to add in the New York Public Library since they do an out-of-state library account for a minimal yearly fee. And it is a giant library, so I hope they'd have a lot to offer.

LOL! I went a little crazy and reserved every book that I wanted to read from the BR and BOM list, just so that we can bank as many additional points as we can.

I remember from my previous TTs that by the end of it, the teams at the top are purely so because they have bucket loads of BR points. Hoping we can be one of those, this time!

MelanieJoy wrote: "I'm reading as a buddy read and it's awesome and hilarious! Anyone of you should join while it's still going on!"

I plan on joining in! Waiting on my book from the library!

Tina wrote: "They are Gods. They’ve been alive for so long, I don’t think they’d speak as they do.."

This is interesting. The way they are conversing, in a rather casual colloquial way is what is catching the most attention in my books, so far. It's sort of cool to see Gods talking like teenagers would. :P :P

Vicki wrote: "Edith Hamilton is good. :) Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes"

This is perfect! Thanks, Vicki!
I most certainly know what my next reading binge is going to surround around. :)

Alison wrote: "I can check but instinctively I would say no. Universe is more a collection of celestial objects. I think they mean sun, moon, star, planet etc"

Got it! Sort of what I thought.
You do not need to check with the mods, if that would penalize us any points. I am cool as long as you guys [captains] agree/disagree on one thing.

Quick Question
Can the term universe be considered as a celestial object?

I am definitely reading Leah on the Offbeat, but I am on hold from the library, so let's see if I get it in time to volunteer to be able to write DQs.

Christina wrote: "I started for a buddy read and I'm already in love with the world it's set in and can't wait to find out more about it + all the characters!!"


I am desperately waiting to get this book from my library. I am on hold on all my library accounts, and it is driving me craaaaazy! :P

Devann wrote: "oh! it was Mythos: A Retelling of the Myths of Ancient Greece by stephen fry. i haven't read it but it seems like a lot of my friends have so that might be an interesting place to start, i'm sure it would be entertaining lol .."

Oh, I love Stephen Fry!
I did not know he wrote Greek mythology as well. Wow!
Thank you, Devann! I am certainly interested in getting a more-than general perspective into the subject, and this might just be a great starting point!

*logs into all his Overdrive accounts* :)

Team Gilderoy Lockhart
Chapters 1 - 5

Now, I am definitely in sort of fish out of water here. I have not read a whole lot of literature about Greek mythology before this, so except knowing the names and their basic powers, I have very less background knowledge of the Gods.

Having said that, the first 5 chapters have intrigued me for sure. While, the word world is pulling me in, it has not hit me yet as to how serious an issue it is, with what is happening to the Gods.

Athena - (view spoiler)[So far, probably, my favourite character. She is like a badass, and I like her conversations with Hermes are very interesting. Well, she is the God of Wisdom, so who am I kidding?! :)) (hide spoiler)]

Cassandra - (view spoiler)[ I have to admit, I am slightly irritated by the Cassandra story-line thus far. Not that its bad or boring; I just thing Athena-Hermes has had a far more intriguing narrative curve. But, I liked how she, Henry, Aidan, and Andy are sort of a team and have interesting dynamics amongst themselves. Would be keen to see how all of that unfolds. (hide spoiler)]

Honestly, I am going to be reading a whole lot of all your comments, who seem to have read a bunch about Greek Mythology and read some reference material, so that I relish what I am reading. Any recommendations? :P

Melissa wrote: "I enjoyed A Darker Shade of Magic but really loved the second book. I still have to read the 3rd I might do so during this challenge."

Interesting! I thought, the second book was the weakest of the trilogy. The final book is pure magic! Read it! Read it! Read it! :)

Christina wrote: "I can't wait to finally find out more about Classes, being clueless is so annoying x)"

I knooooow! I just hope that we get that information in time, because I worry in the barrage of all the books, we might forget where a certain book would fit after a while.

Plus, it book requirements for the classes seem really fun (and painful!) :P

Christina wrote: "how many links to comments in Buddy Read threads do you need/want? is the first proper one & the last one about finishing the book enough? ."

I stand corrected, but I would think this would depend on what kind of buddy read this is. I believe, a few comments would work perfectly fine for relaxed and informal buddy reads, but a formal buddy read would need answering all the DQs (or atleast some of them).

ETA: Magic Bites is a relaxed BR, so I wouldn't be surprised if you would be fine posting a starting and an ending comment (assuming it is detailed enough where you talk about all that you felt throughout the book), but let's wait on what the Caps and the Mods decide.

How on earth have some teams finished 33 books already? Ugh!
I knew I didn't like fast readers. LOL! JK! :P

Currently reading How to Kill a Rock Star as part of the BR, will follow that up with Wuthering Heights (BR), Antigoddess (BR), and Lilac Girls (BOM).