Elen’s Comments (group member since Mar 07, 2018)

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

I have made some plans for what I want to read in the first couple of week. As most of my books are borrowed from the library or Libby, I need to have a plan.

Jenny, don't worry we can always cover someone if life happens. We are cool team :))

My opinions on all prizes.

◈ Greed - I think it's doable if we stick to read 120%, so we won't get a penalty.
◈ Gluttony - I believe that we should aim for this one. Also, I am going to read 500+ pages book and no less, so we can do it.
◈ Lust - we can get that only if Jenny will do her magic :))
◈ Pride - we can try to do it, but we shouldn't put this on as a priority.
◈ Sloth - This one is 50/50. Depends on how long our books would be. If shorter then we should aim for 120%, but if most of them would be doorstoppers/long books then it would be easy to stick 38 book per week (Gluttony prize depend on that strategy)
◈ Wrath - it doable, but depends on mini
◈ Envy - I'm not going to read BOMs, so it would be really hard to get this one. Also, as Jenny said we are a small team.

Beth wrote: "I am really bad at math and forgot what I put for monthly # of books a month so that should be interesting lol"

You can see all of your information on Team SS.
Books p/m av - 13
Books p/wk av - 3.25

I signed up to read 1.5 books per week. In need, I can read 2 books per week as 0.5 read book can't be read and added :P


Also, my reading plans for the challenge is to read 500+pages (most books), so we could get as many points as possible.

Teams that stay in the 80% - 120% reading range get an additional 50 points

Not to get a penalty, we should read 30-46 book per week.

Jenny wrote: "Some I don't know which color to put them in, some I am not sure if there is enough color."

1st - purple-pinkish (more pink?), 2nd - blue + dark blue, 3rd - not sure there is 50% of one colour, 4 - Brown, 5 - Brown, 6 - none, 7 - turquoise or something between green and blue, not sure, 8 - the background should be really light yellow, 9 - gold-yellowish, 10 - blue, 11 - dark blue, 12 - Violet, 13 - purple/violet

What I see :))

Judith wrote: "I see nothing in the rules precluding reading it. It's on GRs, isn't an omnibus or anything that needs to be split apart. So I would say it's a valid book to read."

Thank you!! Now I just have to read it, so much point :P

Captains or Sonia (Mod) I have Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality as an ebook... I'm thinking to read it if it will count... So, is fan-fic acceptable to read for TT (last year was allowed, not sure about this year)?

A quick check-in to show that I'm still here and really excited to play with all of you, old friends.

@Teddie - That was my first thought after seeing the team list 🤣

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family.

What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder.

Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the unravelling events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the cameras installed around the house, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at the worst possible time. It wasn’t just the girls, who turned out to be a far cry from the immaculately behaved model children she met at her interview. It wasn’t even the way she was left alone for weeks at a time, with no adults around apart from the enigmatic handyman, Jack Grant.

It was everything.

She knows she’s made mistakes. She admits that she lied to obtain the post, and that her behavior toward the children wasn’t always ideal. She’s not innocent, by any means. But, she maintains, she’s not guilty—at least not of murder. Which means someone else is.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Lush and richly imagined, a tale of impossible journeys, unforgettable love, and the enduring power of stories awaits in Alix E. Harrow’s spellbinding debut–step inside and discover its magic.

Eni wrote: "that was so close Elen xD"

I know 🤣🤣

I'm really happy that I was able to play with you all, ladies! We did a really good job! Our last week was the strongest week of them all (and among other teams weeks)

Hope to see you in other challenges any time soon :))

Day 5
Novice - End
21. As Rosie battles the crisis of being a doctor in a hospital in the middle of a jungle with less than enough resources at hand, Claude/Poppy is thrust into a school to teach English to the kids there, which are very different from what she is used to - much simpler, maybe. If you had an opportunity to go to a place like that, would you take it? Do you think it would be life-changing for you? If yes/no, why?
* If I had an opportunity I would, Helping others is the grateful thing to do no matter what.

22. What did you think of the ending? Did you think Aggie and Poppy would make up? What about Penn selling his fairytale - do you think that is a story that you would read yourself or would read to your children, about Grumwald who was a prince and a princess at the same time?
* I am happy that he is publishing a book - educational book.

23. I especially liked the end chapter where his/her story is drawn out, a metaphor for everything Poppy went through. Did you think it was a good addition to the book? And what about the moral: 'story is the best magic there is'. Do you agree/disagree?
* I do - happy ending are always good.

24. All in all, did you enjoy the book? How would you rate it?
* Really liked it, well-written story. 4 or 4.5 stars.

I'm done. BOM Q's are answered too.

Day 4 - Who Knows? - Aid Ambiguous


16. Throughout the book Penn has used fairy tales to explore the issues in their lives. Did you enjoy this approach?
* Yes, it's something new and interesting way to explain life, gender, etc.

17. All 4 boys admitted to telling Poppy's secret. Were you surprised by this? And how did you feel when it was later revealed how Poppy was outed?
* It wasn't surprising, they are still kids and sometimes keeping big secret is hard. It wasn't fear, but it's life. I strongly believe that Poppy should have told herself whenever she is ready, but life is not always fair.

18. Up to this point I really enjoyed the scenes with Mr. Tongo. What did you think of his guidance to Penn and Rosie? Do you believe that by sheltering Poppy they hindered her development?
* He was really good and talked about everything and was with them when they needed him and his support. Yes and no, they should have a more open conversation with her, cuz' these things are happening to her, not to them, so it would be good if they explained to her everything step by step.

19. On the one hand we have Penn enthusiastically researching vaginoplasty for Poppy's future, but on the other we have Rosie more along the lines of making decisions based on the present. Considering that Poppy is only 10 and taking into account the events leading up to this discussion, which side did you most agree with?
* Both. It's too early to do anything, but it's never early to do research and be ready to do everything what is best for their kid.

20. Unexpectedly Rosie decided to work at the clinic in Thailand and to take Claude/Poppy with her. Did you think this was the right thing to do for Claude/Poppy? For her family?
* For Claude/Poppy - it's a chance to think and understand what she/he wants or is. Family - not really, but Rosie and Claude/Poppy needed it.

DQs Day 3 - Everyone Who? - Hedge Enemies

11. The description of them unpacking - pictures on wall first - is so true to me: pictures on the wall, books on shelves and the rest can wait. Do you unpack like that? More widely, did you enjoy the information about the family settling into the new neighbourhood?
* No, first are clothes, etc and accessories are last. I really liked, it showed how normal family are they.

12. Rosie is having difficulties settling into the new job, and the senior partner's slightly wonky (but oh-so-real) view about how flexible working actually functions. Do you enjoy that Frankel is bringing in adult life issues wider than just parenting a trans kid?
* Yes.

13. Roo.... poor Roo. What did you think about his video project when you first read about it? How did you feel by the end of the section? Any thoughts on how Roo's story will pan out?
* As you read as it is it was awful, cuz' he didn't know how to express his feeling and thought correctly, but later he explained everything what it was for.

14. The last chapter has a discussion about gender pay equality, and Rosie realises that Poppy had no idea about this, and wonders if they have done her a disservice by sheltering her too much from equality issues. Do you agree? Do you think it's realistic that Poppy wouldn't know?
* Poppy is 10, most kids don't know in that age.

15. I find the narrator's voice slightly odd: it veers from a high-level view down into intimate POV, and chucks in a whole load of Ominous Warnings of Impending Doom. Are you enjoying the writing style?
* Yes.

Lexi wrote: "Thank you for the warning and will you get the BOM questions done?"

Yep, Day 1 and 2 are done already. :))

As I started my book latter than planned, I'm going to finish it 15-30min before the deadline. Sorry!!

DQs Day 2: Maybe to Rival Neighbor Princess

6.) The adults in this book have a wide range of reactions to Claude. You have the fun Mr. Tongo, the principle, Victoria Revels, Miss Appleton, the gun totting Nick, the horrible Cindy (who risks a kid's life like that!?!) and their reactions to Claude vary drastically. Thinking about these characters, I keep going back to the quote "At home Claude is loved no matter what. At school, sometimes it feels the opposite: you are not loved no matter what."
What do you think about this quote, is it true? What does the reactions of the older kids and adults versus the younger kids say about society?
* True, parents/siblings are usually the one who will accept no matter what, but people who are outside your family will always have their own opinions. Kids are more open about everything but with time these kids grow up with social norms what others are forcing on them.

7.) In this section we learn where the title comes from. Do you agree with Penn's statement?
* I missed this, but I'm sure it's truthful.

8.) Claude chooses his new name, and as new names are wont to do, a new identity. Were you surprised at his choice? Do you think it was a good choice? Or a foreshadow of danger ahead?
* I love his choice, she and her family too, so no problem there.

9.) Do you agree with Rosie's decision to move the family? Do you think problems will crop up with Roo in their new home with how attached he was to life in WI?
* I'm not a parent, but I do understand why she did what she did. Of course, he will crop up, he is just a kid.

10.) What are your thoughts are keeping Claude/Poppy's gender secret in their new home? How do you think the truth will come out? When it does, what do you think will happen to Poppy?
* I think they have a right to tell when they are ready. But maybe the principal and school staff should know? Something to do with dressing up - gym, sleepover, etc. It could go both ways - everyone will accept Poppy as she is or not and from that depends how Poppy will cope with it.