Melindam’s Comments (group member since May 02, 2017)

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

Mel's DQ tracking

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5

1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?
This is my first book by RJB and he's been on my TBR for some time: not any particular book of his, but more in a way that I should finally read something by him as he seems to be a beloved author of GR Friends. On the other hand I did not have any particular expectations besides hoping that I would end up enjoying this particular book.

No, I don't realy follow book prize winners of any genres, so my bookchoices are not based on that. 😊

2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)
I like it so far, to me the world seems a bit of a mixture of the ancient Roman and Chinese empires and it is quite promising. I'm looking forward to learning more about it.

3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?
I avoid horror of any kind, it's one of the genres that is simply not for me.


4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
Yes, my version has a map and I always look at maps before starting reading and also go back to consult them while reading - just as I'm doing it with this book. And I do like maps to be included in my books whether they are history- or fantasy-world related.

So, I have started reading the last BOM of the challenge, The Tainted Cup as it finally gave me the push to read something by Robert Jackson Bennett and I'm hooked. I absolutely enjoy this fantasy/sherlock-holmes/whodunit. 😊

Tainted Cup works for 1 & 4 in page count

Soooo, obviously the book I've finished 2 days ago would have fitted page count and setting, but.... whatever... at least it's not a shortie.😅

Gilles de Rais (France)
1 651+
2 Takes place in France
3 MPG Children
4 1 and 4 in page count
5 published in October

OK, moved Cat's book and will do a spin. 🙃

My The Witness for the Dead also has enough tags, and I'm happy to read either after 17 Aug. :))

I have Jo Walton's dragon book which should be FoM (need to check - yes, it has 24 tags!), but I can only commit to it after TT is over.

Sammy wrote: "TURF starts on the 17th, and I'll be starting on the short books then! (so we'll only spin 600+ pagers from then 😂)"

Sure thing! 😂

Cat,

If we move your Rizzio book for the page count of Anders Lindbeck OR Dale Pearson, we could finish one of them off.

For the solid colour cover, we could use my book instead. For Leofric we still need a fantasy-of-manners, so that could wait with another lower page count book, whenever we can cover it.

Keli wrote: "Got my Palau book back finally!

How does spell it out options work for non-fiction? Is it about the main people in the book? Or only author and title?"

It's author's name & title only, plus translator or narrator's name if applicable.

Karen,

who was the inspiration for the guy in the car?

(view spoiler)[and why is his car standing in a wrong direction? 😊is it b/c the audiobook is so good? 🤭 (hide spoiler)]

It was after giving birth that I joined Audible and started listening to audiobooks. They kept me sane while I did all the chores I had to do while my son was sleeping. 🥰

Congratulations, Keely & MelanieJoy & AnnaLisa!

😊

Denise wrote: "I have a 144 page book on my shelf by a Columbian author (level 2 country). Would it be more helpful to read this short book to complete an itinerary or to read a longer book (for spell outs) for t..."

It would be nice to have for the itinerary, but only if you feel like reading it. :)

Same goes for Peru.

Total audiobooks read this year so far: 70

Audiobooks in monthly category read: 2
, 3 stars
, 5 stars

Audiobooks NOT in category read: 5
, 5 stars
, 3 stars
, 5 stars
, 5 stars
, 3,5 stars


MY MONTHLY RECOMMENDATION (and why):

Awesome! 🤩

Apart from my current 2 books I'm reading, I'm planning to read

books for Panama (mine is the 2nd claim on the country), Malta and the Holy See + read the August BOM.

I'm not sure I can squeeze much else in, but will see. 😊

JULY

📒 by Fredrik Backman

‼️if you are reading this book, deadline to answer DQs is end of 2 August. ‼️

official page count: 448

starts on 2 July
Link to BOM Discussion


📕 by M.L. Wang

official page count: 651

starts on 16 July
Link to BOM Discussion


AUGUST ‼️New and last BOM for the challenge‼️

by Robert Jackson Bennett

official page count: 410 pages

starts on 2 August
Link to BOM Discussion

DreamTeamies,


With slightly more than 2 weeks until the end of the challenge, here are some overview for you.

🌍 Mini 1 - Novels Around the World 📗

So far we have covered or claimed 53 countries from 197. Currently we are working on our 6th Itinerary.

🚫⛔Countries read/claimed 2x already:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Hungary
- Laos
- Nepal
- Oman
- Panama
- Philippines
- Suriname

🎡 Mini 3 - World Wheel 📔

We have completed 14 countries.

✅Country 1: Brazil
✅Country 2: Iceland
✅Country 3: France
✅Country 4: Turkey
✅Country 5: Russia
✅Country 6: USA
✅Country 7: Italy
✅Country 8: South Africa
✅ Country 9: India
✅ Country 10: Egypt
✅ Country 11: Spain
✅ Country 12: Canada
✅ Country 13: United Kingdom
✅ Country 14: Japan

Country 15: Australia
Country 16: Greece

🧀🧀 SAY CHEESE! 🧀🧀

We have been fighting the relentless Cheese Wars bravely and spelled out 18 different types of cheese.

🍜 Mini 4 - Food Around the World 📗

Part 1 - the only food item to find is "kimchi"

Part 2:
We have completed 6 spell-outs and are close to finish off some more.