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

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

Maddison wrote: "Is there a page minimum for this? I'll post this completion just in case, but this one's only 100 pages."

The page limit is 100 pages or 25,000 words. This seems to be right on the edge, so I guess it should be fine!

Donna wrote: "Everyone, I am really sorry. I can't promise to check in for at least a few days. My daughter found my husband out cold & not breathing in the back yard. Thank God, I made her take a CPR certificat..."

I am so glad to hear that he is stable, Donna. Please don't worry about anything, and thank you for informing us. I hope he recovers soon and is back at his best in a jiffy. All our positive prayers are with you. Stay strong! :)

Start - Page 1
Ends - "Before Mae could unpack any of what just happened, a new face was beside her."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS SET 1

1. ALTHOUGH THIS BOOK WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 2013 I WAS AMAZED WITH THE OPENING PAGES DESCRIBING THE CIRCLE'S CAMPUS IN LIGHT OF NEWS REPORTS THIS WEEK OF THE OPENING OF APPLE'S AMAZING NEW HEADQUARTERS! WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS BOOK AND HOW MUCH OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE REAL LIFE TECH WORLD DO YOU THINK WILL INFLUENCE THE PLOT LINE OF THE STORY?
Firstly, I have to admit that the description of the Circle Campus in this book is really very descriptive and well-thought. Now it clearly is influenced by both Googleplex and the Apple Park/Spaceship Campus, more so by the former since the book was released much earlier than the new Apple campus, but its both amazing and eerie how technological advances are both astonishing and predictable.

I am almost sure that the influence of what happens in the real tech world will be prominently evident on the book's narrative progress, because the entire world is getting influenced in this influx, and I am assuming this is Dave Eggers' take on how good and bad that is.

2. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE MAJOR CHARACTERS MAE AND ANNIE? DO YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS NOT AN EQUITABLE ONE AND HOW DO YOU THINK IT MAY CHANGE AS THE STORY PROGRESSES?
I am already indifferent towards Mae, as to how unsure she is about herself and how easily she seems to be swept away with anything and everything that happens in her life. While I understand that starting in a job in what is probably the biggest company in this book-universe, she still has to be more grounded if she has to survive and keep her wits about herself.

Annie, on the other hand, is intriguing. She seems to have learned how to play the game well, but may not necessarily have been able to keep her innocence in check, in the bargain. Annie and Mae's relationship is definitely going to go through a sea-change of emotions in terms of competition, jealousy, envy etc. in the remaining book (or so I hope), purely because the environment in which they find themselves now is not necessarily as coy and nice as it is on the outside, purely because it demands a lot, and expects a lot of sacrifice, even at the expense of relationships.

3. DO YOU LIKE THE CONTINUING FORMAT OF THE NOVEL AND THE LACK OF DEFINED CHAPTERS? WHY TO YOU THINK DAVE EGGERS HAS WRITTEN THE BOOK THIS WAY?
I don't! I prefer my narrative's to have a natural start-and-stop nature, because things don't just roll off in regular life. There is an end of a day and a start of a new one. I would like to see that transition even in Mae's life, through this book.

The only reason I can think of as to why Dave Eggers' decided to opt for this style, was to show the reader how overwhelming it gets for Mae in her Circle life. Its a way for the readers to experience the deluge of activities Mae is subjected to in this life.

4. MAE AND FRANK? WHAT DO YOU THINK FRANK'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE STORY LINE WILL BE? DO YOU SEE ANY RELATIONSHIP EVOLVING BETWEEN THEM?
Now this is interesting! I haven't thought a lot about how this relationship would evolve, if at all. But, it started off very uncharacteristically. I do believe though, that this would somewhere be a one-sided thing, with Frank pining for Mae, and Mae aiming for the bigger fish as she climbs up the corporate ladder.

5. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR AND IF SOMETHING IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT PROBABLY IS ARE TWO SAYINGS THAT IMMEDIATELY SPRING TO MIND WHEN READING THIS BOOK. AT THIS EARLY STAGE WHERE ARE YOU IMAGINING THE STORY IS HEADING?
Just based on how Mae is getting sucked into this Circle universe, while being in awe of it, it is only a matter of time when the world turns upside down and she becomes a victim to its antics. The easy surveillance of the world is appreciated when you are the observer, but when you yourself start getting observed, and start feeling like your privacy is getting infringed, you realize how nasty technology can be. I am assuming that is where it all will be headed.

(Its sort of how Anne Hathaway's character, Andy, in The Devil Wears Prada gets sucked into this glam glorious world of fashion, only for her to realize that she is losing out on the personal front and herself in the bargain, and eventually gets out of it to pursue what she really wants without compromising on her self-worth.)

6. DOES THIS BOOK REMIND YOU OF ANY OTHERS YOU HAVE READ OR ARE YOU FINDING THE STORY FRESH AND ORIGINAL?
Not books per say, but this is not a very original theme in terms of how a character gets fascinated by something and then realizing how the outer facade is just that, and its all really rotten and toothy when you see it from the inside. While this angle of the story is used many a times before, the technology aspect might be woven afresh (although even shows like 'Big Brother' uses the concept of 24/7 surveillance).

Alright folks, I can smell the starting line for the challenge now!
Countdown to the Kick-off!

Whether we get a separate thread for posting the books read or not, please let us ensure that our completion posts have the following details in the minimum:

Book Read:
Completion Date:
Rating:
Total Pages:
Points:

We should have our Team Spreadsheet set up sometime today, so we may need to add in a few more details to this, but for starters, let's try and put in all the basic challenge-related information as possible.

For a quick refresher before the start, please head over to the
Point System and Rules.

THIS IS EXCITING! :D
CAN'T WAIT! CAN'T WAIT! CAN'T WAIT! o_0

Maddison wrote: "So what do we actually have to do for this challenge? Just read a book a week? I'm slightly confused."

To keep it simple, all we really need to do is read!
As much as we can, more books better it is. (We don't have to be limited at a book a week).
Every book counts!
-------------------------------------

Now for the slightly longer answer,
Each book that we read has certain points associated with it based on the number of pages that book has:

Books between 100 and 160 pages (100 pages or 25,000 words is the minimum) = 5 points
Books between 161 pages and 350 pages = 20 points
Books between 351 and 500 pages = 40 points
Books between 501 and 650 pages = 60 points
Books between 651 and 800 pages = 80 points
Books between 801 and 900 pages = 100 points
Books over 901 pages = 130 points

Also, there are additional points to be earned for reading the Book of the Month and participating in the discussion of that book.
Writing a day's worth of discussion questions = 40 points
Participating in a current BOM (participating in discussion) = 20 points

So, every book that we read will give the team points, and by the end of it, the team with the most points, wins!

OMG, guys! :D
Thank you sooooo much for the suggestions! These are all new books and new authors for me, and I am definitely going to try and read them through TT5. What's awesome is all of you have suggested different genres, without probably wanting to do so! Love it! :)
Plus, I haven't delved a lot in Fantasy/High Fantasy off-late, this might be my cue! :)

- Balanced on the Blade's Edge | Lindsay Buroker
- Trouble Is a Friend of Mine | Stephanie Tromly
- Crocodile on the Sandbank | Elizabeth Peters
- The King of Attolia | Megan Whalen Turner
- The Monstrumologist | Rick Yancey

Jenn wrote: "I am really like the narrator for the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich. She does such a good job with the different characters. "

Jenn, I agree! But the narrators changed atleast thrice for the series, which one do you like? C.J. Critt narrated the first 4 books, Debi Mazar narrated 5, Tanya Eby did the 6th one, and its been Lorelei King since.

IMO, CJ Critt was the best. She created distinct personalities for each character and enlivened them. I havent been fond of the others, not because they did a bad job, but because it wasn't a step above Ms. Critt.

I love this phase when we have everyone trickling in into a new challenge and the excitement is all so very palpable. Welcome everyone! We are sure in for a fun few months with this challenge... it really is just simply "read, read, read", with this challenge.

So, to that point, I am going to ask all of you a question!
Give me ONE book (just one, mind you!), that you would recommend for me to read through the course of this challenge.
Don't worry about the genres (I tend to read everything, some fewer than the others, but I am always willing to expand my horizons to any and every direction), suggest me that ONE book that stole your heart away! :)

*busy voraciously writing down the names of the books mentioned above*
*looks up*

Oh, hey! Hi everybody!
I am super stoked to start another Tower Teams challenge. This will be my third Tower Teams after TT3 and TT4, so it shouldn't come across as a surprise that I was glued to NBRC's page to sign-up as soon the challenge went up. Yeah well, I have issues! :P

But hey, blame the Mods (psst Sonia! :P), not me!
NBRC's team challenges are so much fun! I started way back when with the first Wheel-a-thon, followed by Tower Teams 3, Wheel-a-thon 2, Gladiator Games, and then Tower Teams 4. These are addicting challenges, people! So, beware, you will be sucked into this magical world and you'd not even know! ;=)

But, this is such a wonderful team. I have played on other challenges with Vicky (and she is one of the finest captains I have played along with (her attention to detail is aah-mazing)), Kim, Moonlight and am currently playing with Kait in AMMP Bingo (which she will concur that I am struggling to keep abreast with, ugh!). All different challenges in different groups, but all such fun! And its even more exciting to meet all the new teammates who I haven't played with before (don't worry, you'd get tired of seeing me everywhere very soon :P :P).

This is so exciting. Can't wait to start! Yaaaay! :D

Sonia wrote: "Seriously, don't make me turn to the dark side of the force and chase you!."

Pshaw! That is your FUN side, Sonia! :P :P

It's here! It's here!
OMG!

I am here and I finished the book on 2/25.
I profusely apologize for being MIA for so long. I hate doing this but I have been relocating and work and school both are getting very tough to manage the last two weeks. I literally have read just 4 books this whole month.. its probably my all-time low!

I have updated the spreadsheet and will be continuing with the challenge. I apologize again for being such a slacker and I hope to get my grooves back starting next week.

P.S. I would probably stick to reading non-detour specific books for the next couple of weeks till I get settled here so that I dont hold up the team any longer.

I am so sorry, I have been a real slacker this week.
Work and school has been bad. I will try and finish the book as early as I can. Apologies !

Make that 6!
I am in for the Detour !

We have FINISHED all our books for this stop !
Yaaaaaaay ! :D

I will take the remaining A for an A Author.

Next point,

Team Name:
Its a toss between, Paperback Backpack and We're Bookin' It!
Lets finalize that and we are all set !

Okay, so to sum it up, we will be doing the Spell-out option and targeting to get our 35 points!

------------------------------------
Spell-Out

M
A
R
A
B
A

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Here are some I thought,

- 'Book' the Tickets!
- Booker Bikers
- We're Bookin' It!
- Paperback Backpack

I think we can read different books as long as they fall into the criteria of the detour.

I have a feeling we may find more books with 'Private' than any of the other three words. We basically need 7 books, at the max, to read for the detour.

But we should just buddy up and read the same book(s) if finding books becomes difficult and/or the subject matter/genre doesnt interest anyone.