Cat’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2015)

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

Fab! I have a couple too

The Artist (but a fried of a work colleague!) and Disobedient (Artemisia is badass!)

Not sure I've any Music mpg though

DQs Day 3 Ch 21-29


10. How do you feel about Din and Ana’s relationship? Din is her assistant, do you see them that way or more as equals? Do you feel like their relationship changed at all up to this point of the book?

I enjoy the relationship. They are clearly still in a hierarchy, but Ana has a fondness for Din (demonstrated by how she promised to support him) and is actually encouraging him to be more than just a walking recorder

11. Din has asked Ana why she hasn’t disclosed her augmentation, why do you think that is? What augmentation would you want if you were investigating this crime?

I think it's a species of augury, or the inspo for that augmeno.
I guess they are keeping it quiet because the side effects are even less good than we've already seen

12. How do you feel about the explanation of why the empire is trying to stabilize the marrow? Do you believe the motive started for the benefits of the people or was it always just political?

It's certainly a good rationalisation for doing some very dubious things. The idea that something so apparently powerful would be for the wider good is nonsense. Politics and power would be the main driver

13. We have a suspect! Ana also concludes that he could have taken everyone out already and is confused as to why he hasn’t yet, why do you think he has waited?

He needs to get into the Shroud, which isn't easy, with the time constraints and controlled entry

14. So far in my reading I have thought there have been several details that have reminded me of other novels (especially Sci-Fi). For example, the heavy emphasis on augmentations reminds me of The Murderbot Diaries. Where there any elements that made you think of other works, novels or otherwise?

The creeping horrors of the environment reminds me of the Area X trilogy, though the rest of the vibe is very different!

Will do! Thanks :)

DQs Day 2, Ch 11-20

6. After establishing the hypothesis that it was not Sujedo, but an imposter, Din questions Ana on the how. What are your ideas on how this imposter actually proved his Treasury credentials without living blood?

I've no real guess right now.

7. The owner of the Apoth Box also began tapping on his body/clothing… as the chapters progress, it is clear that this is an important detail, but might it also be a red herring? Any thoughts or ideas?

Totally relevant. I wondered if they learnt it together in the Shroud

8. More questioning of Ana’s alterations has begun! If you read the previous novel, did you make any assumptions to that end? And do you have any new ideas?

No assumptions here!

9. The King of Yarrow, and those in his employ, seem very… corrupt. Considering the book's title, do you think the corruption is relevant to this murder, or a side plot

Clearly a concern.
I thought it was interesting to see that neither Empire nor the Kingdom are perfect societies, as well as the extreme reaction to the empire body hacking.

St Paddy's Day Event chez Team Silk Road



We're hosting the event in the pub, which has been decked out with corn decorations in various shapes, festooned with rainbow (Pride) flags. Everyone gets a hat on entering, thrust on them as they pause in horror/wonder when they see our diorama of candle-wax St P (looking particularly cadaverous with a hint of Christopher Lee) expelling some stuffed snakes. The place is lit up with green lighting, to get us in the mood!

Food is heavy on the carbs, with a lot of potato salad (inevitably multiple people brought too much, with no actual salad in sight!) Protein is covered with some cold beef, mini sausages and some meat pies. For the veggie there's a quiche.

Entertainment is provided by some musicians, with sets from a string quartet as well as a banjo and accordion duo. Elsewhere there's a street magician keeping the kids entertained, and a crafting spot for some paint and sip.

Drinks are flowing, especially the whisky, but we've also stocked up on the Guinness, as well as beer and wine for those who need a drink rather than the meal that Guinness feels like!

Day 1 - Chapters 1 -10

1. As The Tainted Cup was a recent BOM, how did you like it? Are you here for the book, or just for the BOM points? 😉
If you liked it, what are you hoping to see or learn more about in A Drop of Corruption?

I very much enjoyed The Tainted Cup, so it was nice to have the follow-up prompted so quickly :)
I guess I'm interested to see more of the world and its undercurrents

2. The mystery so far feels like a “locked-room” kind. Do you usually enjoy that type of mystery, or do you prefer others?

Locked-room mysteries can get a little bit pleased with themselves, but I do enjoy

3. Din really got hit with some serious money problems early on. Do you think he’ll actually deal with them this book, or are they the kind of thing that’ll keep haunting him in the next one?

I find the financial system too strange, with debts being transferred to descendants and the terms being changed on a whim. But I guess it's a point Bennett wants to make, so yeah, he's unlikely to get free, because the system won't let him, and he's not the person to steal to get out from under it.

4. The political intrigue is building nicely — Yarrow seems half in, half out of the Empire, and we’re starting to see how people on both sides of the law feel about that. Do you think the King might actually be in cahoots with the smugglers somehow?

I think the King is probably only in it for himself, so if supporting the smugglers helps stave off the Empire and its taxes he'll do that, up to the point when it starts damaging his interests

5. When you read the description of Yarrow, did it remind you of any real place? If so, which one and why?

Not the swampy bits, but the dilapidation of once-great houses in the face of water and weather is not too far adrift from some British seaside resorts, which have fallen far from their Victorian or early 20th C peaks

I am so far below the line I should be wailing and gnashing my teeth and wearing sackcloth. But as I got derailed by my own Towers suggestion I can't regret it!
Must remember to put the bonus points for reading old books into a team challenge next year!

and! we finished the holiday mini!

so you can stand down on those tasks, go back to the challenge-long ones of genre, colour etc. The post up top is (broadly) up-to-date if you are looking for inspo. :)

Marie (UK) wrote: "my current book is set in Ireland"

Mine too! SRC 50 point challenge might have swayed my suggestions for this mini! ;-P

I'll chuck my name in - Silk Road

I'm here for DQs - Silk Road

EXCURSION UPDATES!

At the start of Round 2, I thought it would be helpful to do an update on where we are with the Minis. I've also hidden the completed tasks on the planning sheet.

Mini 1 - Genres
G15 Memoir
G27 Art
G34 Chick-Lit
G35 Paranormal
G39 War

Mini 2 - Colours
C18 Blue Text on Cover
C21 Purple Cover
C22 Purple Text on Cover
C24 Purple item on Cover
C25 Teal Cover
C26 Teal Text on Cover
C28 Teal item on Cover
C29 Brown Cover
C36 Black item on Cover
C40 White item on Cover
C41 Pink Cover
C45 Grey Cover
C48 Grey item on Cover

Mini 4 - Brown
B04 Book between 301 and 400 pages
B06 Book between 401 and 500 pages
B07 Book between 501 and 650 pages
B08 Book between 651 and 800 pages
B21-30 9 books to make up a story

Mini 5 - Road Trip
R02 Tagged "Fun" at least 10x.
R16 Road sign on the cover.
R22 Main location (setting) as a bus, train, or other road based vehicle.
R34 Main location (setting) on the Antarctica continent.

Mini 7 - Mobile
I won't list out, but the plan is strong.
Books & Readers we need to have finished during the WHOLE challenge are:
Carrie Soto is Back Sammy
Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone Sammy

Please shout ASAP if you can't read the books listed above so we can find a substitute :)

The series ladder is being climbed by Danielle, but we can use
#2 in series
#3 in series



TIME LIMITED MINI 3 - HOLIDAYS - COMPLETED!
We'll prioritise putting books into tasks for this one, as it only lasts this round.

I think we have agreed to use St Patrick's Day, so here's some suggestions for things to look out for:


St Paddy's Day Event chez Team Silk Road
We're hosting the event in the pub, which has been decked out with corn decorations in various shapes, festooned with rainbow (Pride) flags. Everyone gets a hat on entering, thrust on them as they pause in horror/wonder when they see our diorama of candle-wax St P (looking particularly cadaverous with a hint of Christopher Lee) expelling some stuffed snakes. The place is lit up with green lighting, to get us in the mood!

Food is heavy on the carbs, with a lot of potato salad (inevitably multiple people brought too much, with no actual salad in sight!) Protein is covered with some cold beef, mini sausages and some meat pies. For the veggie there's a quiche.

Entertainment is provided by some musicians, with sets from a string quartet as well as a banjo and accordion duo. Elsewhere there's a street magician keeping the kids entertained, and a crafting spot for some paint and sip.

Drinks are flowing, especially the whisky, but we've also stocked up on the Guinness, as well as beer and wine for those who need a drink rather than the meal that Guinness feels like!

So, Sammy included a decoration idea that made me laugh so hard.

She'd read a book where James Bond was attacked by snakes, and we have take that scene to stuff those snakes!

I think it's a diorama of St P expelling the snakes, in really dubious style. So a "candle-wax person" of St P and some badly stuffed vipers as an attractive scene, light by our green lights. The rainbow (Pride) flags and slightly offensive stereotypical hats, with the banjo and accordion music might explain the vast amount of whisky being quaffed at our event!



("candle-wax people" is my niblings description of wax work figures, of which she has a newly-discovered phobia. not great when we were going around a museum with lots of candlewax people!)

finished Lords and Ladies, for an N.

We're broadly struggling for Ns, so do look out for a sneaky N character in your books :)

added to which our drinks are:

whisky & soda
bottle of shiraz
whisky on the rocks
beer
Guinness

cheers! :)

Quick Holiday Excursion Update

I've filled in all the entertainment slots, so you can stand down on watching for those options!

We've got a magic show, DJ, live music (banjo, accordion, string quartet) and a paint and sip space for some crafting.

Marie, when you are feeling strong enough, please can you mark the St Patrick;s Day book as read (again)?!

Thanks!

It is! d'oh! shall correct, and be grateufl someone is paying attention to catch me!

I think my next one will be set in Ireland, yes

On 6 June? (Or whenever Bloom Day is)