ClaireB’s Comments (group member since Jul 06, 2014)

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

Melindam wrote: "In case you are a fan of both the book and the movies, I absolutely recommend Anything You Can Imagine (Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth) by Ian Nathan.

I listened to ..."

Thanks Mel. Sounds like an interesting read.

Sammy wrote: "*waves at The Hobbits you lot from The Silk Road!*"

Hey Sammy !
So sad we aren't in the same team this time.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Loving everyone's answers! My notifications aren't working for this specific thread which is a little on the highly annoying side.... so glad I popped in to check out the activity ;)

About to star..."

I have the same problem with my notifications. Hopefully it will fix itself soon.

Claire wrote: "Oh these answers are so much fun. Claire, thanks for changing your name. Quite a coincidence we both are from Belgium."

Nice to meet you too Claire ! :)
Really funny how those coincidence happen sometimes. Especially considering that I've rarely met other Claires in my life. It's not the most common name in Brussels.

Melindam wrote: "Talking of MM romance, while it's not my usual genre, I really enjoy KJ Charles' books.
And, Julia, Tal Bauer was recommended to me by others, so I may try one of their books some time. :)"

I really enjoy K.J. Charles as well. I love their writing. But it's rare for me to gravitate to historical romance, especially an MM one, so I only read a couple. I really want to continue the magpie lord series though.

Julia wrote: "ClaireB wrote: "Contemporary Romance: Ali Hazelwood, I love her books"

That's awesome. I've only recently gotten into her books as I mainly read MM romance, but I'm obsessed! Currently listening t..."

Oow <3 I'm happy you're enjoying them.
I hope the second one won't disappoint.

Melindam wrote: "Thank you for the Intro, Claire. 😊

Maybe loving JA is not original, but it's proof of (y)our exceptionally good taste. 🤭"

Haha, thanks. But considering there's Twilight and Anita Blake there as well I don't know if everyone would agree. I am very self aware, but you love what you love 🤷🏻‍♀️

Julia wrote: "We have two Claires on our team. Would either of you be okay with us adding the initial of your second name or something similar to your name on the spreadsheet so that we can tell you apart? It co..."

You can call me ClaireB. I don't mind. I'll change my profile name to avoid confusion for the duration of the challenge.

Hello Everyone,

Nice to see some familiar names, and happy to get to know new wheels players ☺️

🌍 Where are you journeying from?
- I am Claire, from Brussels Belgium. Born and raised here


💖 A book, author, or genre that’s always “preciousss” to you?
I like how Mel structured it by genre so I'll try to do the same (even though it stays hard !)
Classics - Jane Austen (I know, not very original)
Fantasy - The Lies of Locke Lamore by Scott Lynch
Urban Fantasy - I know it's a bit trashy but I'll always love the Anita Blake series
YA - Twilight, it's what got me into reading when I was a teen. It will always be precious to me.
Contemporary Romance: Ali Hazelwood, I love her books
Romantasy (I know some people in this group hate this term, I was one of them, but I somehow ended up adopting it): I can't quite say if I have a favourite yet. I just really like the genre, cliché trope and all.
MM Romance: NR Walker.
And of course, Harry Potter will always be precious to me.


🍫 Optional snack check: if you were bringing second breakfast for the road, what’s in your pack?
- One of those Starbucks ice vanilla macchiato, and a pastry we call a "couque suisse" here (love them!) it means "Swiss pastry" even though they are Belgian. Go figure.


🧿“Who is your favourite villain… and why is it obviously Me, Sauron?”
Umbridge. I just hate her so much. She's a really good villain in that way. haha


💍 Which unread book on your shelf whispers to you most like the Ring?
Oh no, you cannot ask me that ! Well I have so many unread book I feel almost ashamed of it. Which is why I'll never speak the number. A few that have been calling me recently are Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, The Will of the Many by James Islington, Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (more so to see what the fuss is about more than genuine interest in the book) and Alchemised by SenLinYu (although a bit scared of that one).


🌋Which books/characters did you feel like throwing into Mount Doom?
On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I tried many times but I just couldn't get into the writing.
James Joyce's Ulysses, and I know it has a cult following, but it just gave me a headache.
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, because of lit class trauma. I didn't understand that course I had a nervous breakdown over it.


🥾What’s your favourite real-life walk… and why is it clearly the Road to Mordor?
I really like walking in the Forêt de Soignes. It's very peaceful.


🎒 Would you survive the Tongariro Alpine Crossing carrying Sam’s cookware set and Frodo’s the Mighty Lord Sauron's Ring?
- I know my limits, I know I would be one of the first to die. 😅


⚔️ If you needed rescuing, which literary character(s) would you choose would you choose the Nazgûls, the Balrog or the Orcs?
I guess I'll go for the Nazgûls, if I have to choose one of those.

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "I wish those promoting AI so much would read a few dystopian novels and other science fiction."

👏👏👏

Joining in the fun :) I love a wheel challenge !

Task : Read a book which features the Secret Baby trope

S - The God and the Gwisin by Sophie Kim
K - Return To Biker Lane, Kontra Menagerie series
I - Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez
P - The Otter's Tale, A Paranormal Love series

Sammy wrote: "I think Sophie just said to use it as a "free" book and read any book that fits your direction, if I'm recalling correctly."

Thanks Sammy. :)

I don't know if the question has been asked before, but I run in the following prompt:
Read a book that is ranked 101-200 in bestsellers on book depository (http://www.bookdepository.com/bestsel...)

However, as book depository doesn't exist anymore, the link is redirecting me elsewhere... On Amazon. So what should I do?
I could look into Amazon best-sellers, but they don't list beyond number 100.

Task : Read a book that has been nominated for a Romantic Novelists' Association Award

H - Out of the Gate, character Demot Herding
E - Wrath of the Damned, author Elle Field
L - The Long and Winding Road
P - Painted Scars

- 492 pages

Current Total = 1.223.720

320 pages
446 pages
310 pages
368 pages
336 pages
371 pages
457 pages
351 pages
324 pages
337 pages

Sub total 3.620
Current Total 1.215.514

- 416 pages
- 336 pages

Current total = 1.181.603

- 150

CURRENT TOTAL = 1.174.128

- 320
- 337
- 340

current total = 1.173.170