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

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

DQS - DAY 1, 3 Jan

1. Thankfully, on GR this book is simply listed as "Bookshops & Bonedust", but my kindle edition adds the subtitle "A Heartwarming Cosy Fantasy and TikTok Sensation".
Recently I noticed this increasing trend (or is it just me?) of publishing books with these types of subtitles. How do you feel about them? Necessary info or off-putting advertisement?

Bah! off-putting. it's very much an Amazon sale thing and unhelpful. Even online browsing I read the blurb and stuff, and "tikTok sensation" is not a hook that would pull me in on a skim.

2. In the first 25% of the book we are getting introduced to Viv, Iridia, Fern, etc. and other characters presumably playing a major part in the plot? How do you feel about them and their characterisation?

I like them fine. None are bowling me over (apart from Potroast, who is the clearest personality!), but that's ok on first introductions.

3. What about world building? Is it enough? Interesting enough or do you need more to get involved in the story? How about the premise of an abandoned/struggling bookshop?

World-building isn't really there - it's generic NPC town, really, with some crazy-headed people to remind us that this is Fantasyland. but the story isn't really fantasy, it's just a niche the author is familiar with.

4.“I gotta ask, is that the same mug you’re always cleaning, or do they all get a chance?” The sea-fey’s gray brows rose. The tattoos on his forearms boiled as he scrubbed. “Didn’t think you’d notice. Old tavernkeeper’s secret. Wash one, everybody assumes the rest are clean, too.” He grinned at her.

One of my first highlights in the book. This really made me smile as it really shows the cliches how barmen/women are depicted in books/films?
Did it make you think of such a (memorable) landlord/lady character in any previous readings?

It was a nice touch, for sure!

Extra Q: This book has actually been written and published after Book 1, Legends & Lattes. Have you read it? If yes, what did you think?

I read the other one, yes, and enjoyed it well enough. very similar in vibe, though with the coffee shop levelling up Very Quickly.

Jenny wrote: "I was looking at the 1001 (ish) list again, and I am shocked that Watership Down isn't on it. Also, no Dune, nor any Asimov or Bradbury, or even Christopher Priest. I mean Bret Easton Ellis made th..."

There was Asimov - Foundation and I, Robot. Also Iain M Banks and 2001. But sci-fi very much not present. Nor horror, beyond Dracula. Genre snobbishness perhaps?

no! that's harsh! we read A Christmas Carol for school at 11, but then only odds and sods sections for comparative purposes. We did have to read Silas Marner at 12? 13?, which put me right off Hardy for a good while.

ETA: on Dickens, I remain a fan of his outlier, A Tale of Two Cities, but did enjoy Kobna Holdbrook-Smith reading Nicholas Nickleby to me. I think, in general, getting someone to read Dickens to you is a winning strategy! got me through several of his the past few years.

I'd say avoid Dombey and Sons

Catsalive wrote: "Just checking that we are to complete each itinerary in order from 1-8. I think that's what is meant above."

That's the idea, yes. but as it's an individual challenge with no reward beyond the fun of it, the only person you'd be "cheating" if you went out of order is yourself :-P

Ashley wrote: "For this task (an those like it that were geared toward the team challenge) what should we do?

Read a book that is on your Captain's "to read" shelf with the highest GR star rating"

You could use the group bookshelf and/or any of the mod shelves

Just been through the list and am at about 360.

A couple I read this year, entirely unknowing of their deemed greatness, including , which I enjoyed a lot

352 pages

more giggling :)

Current pages: 4606

by contrast, whilst I ended the year on a flurry of TBR books, I am currently in a Vorkosigan Saga binge. So Much Love. and so kicking myself for not having read them earlier! Sadly, as I read the first one last year, none work for this challenge :(

Sammy wrote: "She's one of those I have on my 'to watch out for' list. I've just never come across any books cheap yet!"

I mean so far (and I'm reading in recommended chronological order, not publication - though I skipped Falling Free) they are all 4&5*

looks like at least some of them are in the audible plus scheme

320 pages

Current total: 2,980

why, why, why did I never read these earlier?! giggled throughout this one at Miles' antics

Whooo-hoo!


When I reread that the other year I was laughing so much at the riverboat scene, and just imagining it on screen. but actually no! I like the City Watch in my head, not some weird interpretation - I have NOT watch the City Watch series deliberately!

384 pages

Current total: 1,780

A reminder for anyone finishing books in 2024: report them in our NEW relay race: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

This thread will be open for a couple of days for 2023 catch-up posts only

Stupid search not working, but

Rabbit, Run - 280 pages
War With the Newts - 348 pages

Current total: 1,841,487

finished what I am sure is my last for the year, and 64/60, which is good enough.

Melanie wrote: "If you can't decide you could always go with a random number generator. I do that sometimes when I want to read but can't decide what to pick up...."

Jenny wrote: "Not a bad thought!"

See also our TBR Tackler, which is that very thing! :D

realised I could finish off the snek

spun in:

Hodag
1 200 to 299
2 Book set in the Great Lake Region of the US and Canada
3 Green Cover (>50%)
4 Author has E or S in initials
5 HOAX in title

176 pages

Current total: 1,827,512

Killed another, spun the literary wheel got a giant spid

Shelob (LOTR)
1 350-400
2 Giant creature in book
3 Book from list: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... (series sub ok)
4 Page number is a multiple of 8
5 All author initials in SHELOB

408 pages
100 pages
416 pages
585 pages

reporting 1509

Current total: 1,827,336