Beth’s
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(group member since Aug 12, 2014)
Beth’s
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from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
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Traitor's Blade, by Sebastien de Castell (Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy BOM) Starts July 12th, 2017
(149 new)
Jul 12, 2017 05:34PM
1. The 3 Greatcoats were hired as bodyguards. It sounds strange they say torture and making love sounds the same, what do you think? Is it strange they didn't realize earlier what was going on? It made sense to me. I won't get too graphic in how I know; it did not involve torture, but did involve painfully thin hotel walls.
2. What do you make of the strange errands Falcio had to do for his mother when he was a boy? What do you think is the reason she send him away from the house? Why do you think this is one the childhood memories that is shared with us?
Maybe she was going to sleep with someone? Or just wanted the kid away from the house? Or the author needed a segue to get in some exposition?
3. Why do you think Bal told Falcio that legend said the Greatcoats would be back again soon? Was he just trying to entertain a child or did he had other motives? Bal was important to Falcio as a child. Do you think we will see him again?
Didn't think much of it; childhood memories are slanted toward what happened.
4. The Greatcoats are called tatter-cloaks because they didn't stand by their king. Even though the kind was said to be a tyrant, people think badly of the Greatcoats. What do you make of this? Why would the Greatcoats not help their king?
So far it sounds like the king had a Plan that is not working out too well for his loyal men so far.
5. What do you think made Kest pick up the sword when he was twelve years old? Do you think we will learn the reason along the way?
I hope so. Maybe he knew he'd be great and wanted to give his poor friend a chance to shine?
6. Do you think joining the caravan was a good call? Why would the lady offer to hire them if their leader wins in a 1 to 5 fight?
I don't think they had many options. The lady sounds like she has a use for the greatcoats but wants to make sure they are up to snuff first. Also this is a good way to up the quality of her guards for little money.
7. Why does the lady demand them to drop their weapons when the knight and his men want to "prosecute" the Greatcoats? And why do you think sing the song convinced the caravan men to help them?
See her plan. And I think they kind of shamed the caravan men into admitting that these guys had already fought beside them and were their crew. If they let the Duke's men steal away their fellows, then they were betraying their caravan code.
Avid Reader, as someone who sometimes did not make the right call (and my grades definitely showed it), I heartily support you catching up on homework first! I'm having fun AND I managed to finish a BOM on time, and find one I liked. So I think we are all winners even if we aren't technically in first place. Technically.
We finished another 50 posts on the Books Read thread, so I went through them to check against the spreadsheet.* Abir -- goodreads is giving your Zahair only 350 pages; if you confirm your edition was 368 I'll do an override to get the extra points.
* Abir -- You have two Woman in Cabin 10 listed, and the one marked complete is the one without a tower shelf. I didn't like it much either :-)
* Kristie - How to Train Your Dragon isn't on your tower shelf. Did your grandson like it? My sons did but I managed to skip those, I think.
Abir wrote: "Finished 05/07:2017The Zahir by Paulo Coelho
Pages: 368
Rating: 3 stars"
Abir, can you confirm the page count? I'll do an override because the spreadsheet has it down for 350 (20 points) but 368 should be worth 40!
Kristie wrote: "Glad you're loving A Gentleman in Moscow, Beth. I keep going back and forth on that one. I may have to pick it up when I get the chance."It's a kind of fairy tale, but fit my mood. I guess I expecting something super grim (because of the setting) so the lightness was unexpected and well appreciated!
I've got
waiting for me at the library. I think that one will match my expectations perfectly :-)
So, I didn't really enjoy The Circle or The Woman in Cabin 10 and I was thinking of giving up on BOM's, figuring my taste was just too juvenile for them, when I belated got A Gentleman in Moscow from the library (too late to be a BOM, of course) and I LOVED it.So maybe I'll keep trying!
Oh, I just noticed there was a question. Yes, if you post a review on the discussion thread you get the extra points, so if you read and review #1 you get points for the book plus 10, #2 you get 20 extra, etc.
I'm not even going to try either, so no worries! And you couldn't start earlier because books have to be read from July 1st. All the extra BOM that I'm trying to read have put me a bit behind, which is silly because the library got them to me too late in most cases (I'm about to go pick up Gunslinger, for example).On the other hand, I'm loving A Gentleman in Moscow.
For possible Rachel Caine fan? Rachel, it looks like you can ask a question without having to read the new books!The mini-challenge for her new book/series is out:
=====>>>here's the drill:
Participating in the buddy read of Ash and Quill --> works as the BOM
Q&A with Rache Caine --> 30 points for participation (ONE question per team)
To Be Posted:
Read & Review Corner - Aka read the Book and post a small review on the future thread:
Ink and Bone --> 10 points
Paper and Fire --> 20 points
Ash and Quill --> 30 points.
Review doesn't have to be too detailed, a small one counts as long as it's more than "great book" lol. Since we're cross promoting the author, if you also review the books on goodreads, It would be awesome.
Oh, just a side note, books need to be read from July 1st to count.
Review threads and spreadsheet tab will be added soon (hopefully today, if the all day meeting I'm going to be in 20 minutes doesn't drain me).
This looks like fun!I will start looking.
Goal: Hot Shot 25+ questions
1. … injured myself while trying to impress a girl or boy I was interested in.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a klutz character
❒ No - Read a book with an aloof character
2. … had to run to save my life.
❒ Yes - Read a book where the MC is a bada*s
❒ No - Read a book where there are people walking on the cover
3.… taken food out of a trash can and eaten it.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a food in the title
❒ No - Read a book with food on the cover
4. … cried / flirted my way out of a speeding ticket.
❒ Yes - Read a book where a MC is in law enforcement
❒ No - Read a book with a car on the cover
5. … taken part in a talent show.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a musical instrument on the cover
❒ No - Read a book where the characters attend a circus, the theater, etc.
6. … made money by performing on the street.
❒ Yes - Read a book some form of money in the title (Ex: Dollar, Pound, Quarter)
❒ No - Read a book with money on the cover
7. … broken something at a friend’s house and then not told them.
❒ Yes - Read a book with something broken on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a strong group of friends
8. … snooped through a friend’s bathroom or bedroom without them knowing.
❒ Yes - Read a book that is MPG Crime
❒ No - Read a book tagged at least 10 times as Crime
9. … ruined someone else’s vacation.
❒ Yes - Read a book where the characters go on vacation
❒ No - Read a book with a "vacation spot" like cover
10. … walked for more than six hours.
❒ Yes - Read a book with tennis shoes on the cover
❒ No - Read a book where feet(a foot) is the primary focus of the cover
11. … jumped from a roof.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Jump in the title
❒ No - Read a book with a roof on the cover
12. … shoplifted.
❒ Yes - Read a book MPG Crime
❒ No - Read a book tagged at least 10 times as Crime
13. … set my or someone else’s hair on fire.
❒ Yes - Read a book with fire on the cover or in the title
❒ No - Read a book with a MC with red hair
14. … ridden an animal.
❒ Yes - Read a book with that animal type on the cover.
❒ No - Read a book with a farmer/rancher character.
15. … had a bad fall because I was walking and texting.
❒ Yes - Read a book with "Fall" in the title
❒ No - Read a book where the characters exchange letters, email, text, etc
16. … been arrested.
❒ Yes - Read a book with "bars" on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a "goody two-shoes" character
17. … pressured someone into getting a tattoo or piercing.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a character who always gets their way
❒ No - Read a book with tattoos on the cover
18. … gone surfing.
❒ Yes - Read a book with water on the cover.
❒ No - Read a book with Gone in the title.
19. … walked out of a movie because it was bad.
❒ Yes - Read a book that was made into a movie
❒ No - Read a book that was based on a movie
20. … broken a bone.
❒ Yes - Read a book with bones on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with Bone(s) in the title
21. … tried to cut my own hair.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a hairdresser character
❒ No - Read a book with long hair on the cover
22. … completely forgot my lines in a play.
❒ Yes - Read a book where a character suffers from memory issues
❒ No - Read a book where the MC is in the arts (theater, singer, writer)
23. … shot a gun.
❒ Yes - Read a book with any other type weapon on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a gun on the cover
24. … had a surprise party thrown for me.
❒ Yes - Read a book with party decorations on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with Me in the title
25. … cheated on a test.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Cheat in the title
❒ No - Read a book with Test in the title
26. … dined and dashed.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a thief character
❒ No - Read a book with a chef character
27. … gotten stitches.
❒ Yes - Read a book partially set in a hospital
❒ No - Read a book with a medical doctor or nurse main character
28. … fallen in love at first sight.
❒ Yes - Read a book with "Love" in the title
❒ No - Read a book with "First" in the title
29. … had a paranormal experience.
❒ Yes - Read a book tagged at least 10 times Paranormal
❒ No - Read a book that is MPG Paranormal
30.… woken up and couldn’t move.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Move in the title
❒ No - Read a book where the main character has lost one of their senses
31. … accidentally said “I love you” to someone.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Love in the title
❒ No - Read a book with You in the title
32. … hitchhiked.
❒ Yes - Read a book that's MPG Mystery, Crime, or Thriller
❒ No - Read a book tagged at least 10 times as Travel
33.… been trapped in an elevator.
❒ Yes - Read a book with an agoraphobic character
❒ No - Read a book with Trap in the title
34. … sung karaoke in front of people.
❒ Yes - Read a book tagged at least 10 times as Music
❒ No - Read a book with a musical instrument on the cover
35. … been on TV or the radio.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a character who Is famous
❒ No - Read a book with a real-life famous person on the cover
36. … pressed send and then immediately regretted it.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a envelope on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a character who suffers from memory loss
37. … been so sun burnt I couldn’t wear a shirt.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a shirtless person on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with the Sun on the cover
38. … had a crush on a friend’s parent.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Friend in the title
❒ No - Read a book with hearts on the cover
39. … been awake for two days straight.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Sleep in the title
❒ No - Read a book with Awake in the title
40. … thrown up on a roller coaster.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a theme park, carnival, circus on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with Roll in the title
41. … snuck into a movie.
❒ Yes - Read a book based on a movie or TV show
❒ No - Read a book that was made into a movie or TV show
42. … accidentally sent someone to the hospital.
❒ Yes - Read a book with an ambulance, police car, fire truck on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a first responder character
43. … dyed my hair a crazy color.
❒ Yes - Read a book with someone bald on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a color in the title
44. … had a physical fight with my best friend.
❒ Yes - Read a book tagged at least 10 times as Sports
❒ No - Read a book with a character who is a fighter
45. … had someone slap me across the face.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a cover where the person's face in not visible
❒ No - Read a book with a single face as the focus of the cover
46. … worked with someone I hated with the burning passion of a thousand suns.
❒ Yes - Read a book with the Sun on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with an extremely happy character
47. … danced in an elevator.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a dancer character
❒ No - Read a book where the characters attend a dance
48. … cried in public because of a song.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Cry in the title
❒ No - Read a book with Song in the title
49. … chipped a tooth.
❒ Yes - Read a book with fangs on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a dentist character
50. … gone hunting.
❒ Yes - Read a book with wild animals on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a bow and arrow on the cover
51. … had a tree house.
❒ Yes - Read a book with trees on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with a landscape on the cover with no visible trees
52. … thrown something into a TV or computer screen.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a character that plays baseball
❒ No - Read a book with an electronic device on the cover
53. … been to a country in Asia.
❒ Yes - Read a book tagged at least 10 times as Asia
❒ No - Read a book MPG Travel
54. … been screamed at by a customer at my job.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a character who has your dream profession
❒ No - Read a book with a character who shares your profession
55. … spent a night in the woods with no shelter.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a tent on the cover
❒ No -Read a book with woods on the cover
56. … read a whole novel in one day.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a bibliophile character
❒ No - Read a book with books on the cover
57. … gone vegan.
❒ Yes - Read a book with fruit on the cover
❒ No - Read a book with Green in the title
58. … lied about a family member dying as an excuse to get out of doing something.
❒ Yes - Read a book with Lie in the title
❒ No - Read a book about a tight knit family
59. … been to a country in Africa.
❒ Yes - Read a book tagged Africa at least 10 times
❒ No - Read a book MPG Travel
60. … seen an alligator or crocodile in the wild.
❒ Yes - Read a book with a boat or other sailing vessel on the cover
❒ No - Read a book set in Louisiana or Florida
Jul 10, 2017 07:23PM
I have questions, and they are all spoiler-y!37. There were a couple of surprises at the very end. Were you surprised at which boat companions reached out and left her messages? And were you surprised by the reveal of the bank deposit and Richard's death?
Honestly, my main question is why wasn't Carrie our narrator? She seems to have a much more interesting journey. Was she really as naive as she pretended, even as she coolly emptied a body into the sea and took Lo prisoner? Or was she playing Richard all the time, and that's how she got hold of the money to wire at the end? Either way, that's where the action, both physical and psychological, was happening, and since we were trapped with the rather unobservant Lo, we only get glimpses of it.
Doesn't Nilson (sp?) have some questions? After all, Anne's body washes up, but the location should give him some qualms, since it would correspond with Lo's story of a body overboard, not with the last time she was "seen" on board. Or will he be too busy looking for his next job?
Did the tech guru's ever rescue the damaged camera chip? Are expensive memory cards used by roaming photographers really that sensitive? I'd expect a lot more mishaps in the field.
How did Lo find ANOTHER passenger willing to lend her mascara? what are the odds that no one on the ship has ever heard of the dangers involved? Or that the spa has no make up?
Where did they find a burglar good enough to apparently know that Lo didn't have a land line and so he was safe searching the room while she was locked in the bedroom but too squeamish to go in there to get her passport? And did Richard or Carrie hire him? Or was it an unlikely coincidence?
Who paid for the evening dresses that got ruined?
Chasing Down a Dream: A Blessings Novel by Beverly Jenkins
Read: 7/10/17
BOM: Nope
Rating: 4 stars
Pages: 336
Jul 08, 2017 08:32PM
My library had a huge wait list for this book, so I got it super late and I'm sure no one is paying attention anymore, but I wanted to write out my reaction anyway.I felt like this book was creepily sexist in a lot of ways, sort of a "stupid girls read Twilight and take selfies" kind of way. Mae is just a cardboard character there to be easily brainwashed into thinking "smiles" and "frowns" matter and everyone (especially men) easily talk her into anything they want, from agreeing to have sex to renouncing privacy to annoying her ex-boy friend.
Even Mercer has to be a complete asshole to keep her from mindlessly complying with him. She was mildly annoying about checking her phone (which turned out to be CRUCIAL FOR HER JOB, you know, the one keeping her dad alive), and he goes off on this screed about how her not elevating his wishes above hers is so wrong. He clearly had issues; I agree with Mae that she shouldn't take responsibility for his suicide; he's a drama king.
Even Annie doesn't get to be computer smart -- she's PR savvy, and it's all men who have created the Circle and who control how it works. We only see one woman (Annie) in the top circle, and she can't handle it and falls into a coma. This book is not making me want to read any more of Eggers' books, because he doesn't seem to respect women at all. The best female character was the owner of the kayak rental place, and she didn't exactly get a lot of page time. I don't think the sexism was the main theme, but given the rest of the book's weaknesses (which got a discussed above), it left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
