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

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

Ingeborg wrote: "Hope you have a good trip, Mel! :)"

Thank you! 😊

KayLynn wrote: "Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Stinking Bishop"

This cheese name strikes me as particularly hilarious."

I kept thinking that it's something like Terry Pratchett would have come up with as a Discworld cheese, but not an actual one. 🤭

Hope you'll have a lovely, relaxing time, Ingeborg. Thank you for the heads-up. :))

From Saturday, I'll also be travelling with the Family in France (Lyon, Avignon, Annecy) and then in Switzerland (Geneva & ...) until end of July.

I will be able to check in, but I cannot promise intense reading. Still, I'm hoping to finish some books during the trip. :)

Hope you had a great time, Andy. :)

Under the country tasks (Spain, Canada) there are some that are unclaimed, so if you find something fitting that would be great. :)

Thanks to all of You reading so many books with all the right letters. 😊

Stinky Cheese removed from the 3 Pagodas. 🥰🧀

Vi wrote: "My book - The Luxembourg Betrayal doesn't work for Luxembourg - uggh. It is at most 30% set there. I've removed it from the Mini 1."

No problem, Vi. :))

DAY 3 DQ'S CHAPTERS 20-30

10. "Art is coincidence. Love is Chaos."
"Art is a small break from human despair."
Do you agree? Discuss these quotes in relation to the book and real life in general.
IT DEPENDS. Sometimes it is, sometimes it is the channel through which human despair finds an outlet.


11. We still don't know the artist's real name and now we find out he isn't even in the picture! What do you think is the author's intention in regards to the Artist's role throughout the novel? And how about the significance of the title of the picture, " The One of the Sea instead of the Artist's thoughts it should have been called, The Boys and Her?
It's not very clear to me at this point where I am. Maybe it will get clearer at the end. ?


12. Louise asks Ted, "Were you two a couple?" In light of how the relationship is written were you surprised by his answer?
It was stated almost at the very beginning who the Artist's True Love was, but I thought that despite that, the Artist loved Ted dearly.

13. This novel is full of big emotions, real life hardships, death and tragedy but connected and possibly redeemed by the beauty in meaningful and fragile human relationships. The Artist and his friends, Christian and the Artist, Ted and the Artist, Ali and Joar, Ted and Louisa, Fish and Louisa... Which relationship has made the most impression on you? Which one do you think is pivotal to the storyline?
I loved how Ted and Louisa's relationship was developing, but the rest was all meaningful and touching.

14. Chapter 30 - Louisa leaves the picture then gets off the train when Ted is asleep. Did you see that happening, what do you think will happen next? Ted and Louisa reconnecting or big tragedy? (More tissues needed!)
.I didn't see it coming and I'm afarid it may lead to more tragedies, and as I'm already finding the level very high - this would have a contrary effect on me and make me dislike the book. I'm already on the brink of doing so and I hate that I feel this way about it. :(

I'm perfectly fine with it sitting there for a while. :)

Day 2, Chapters Chapter 12-19 18-37%


#5. Joar mentions that his mom thinks the best invention in the world are pockets. I have seen a Meme that says a woman, when complimented on her dress will reply “It has pockets.” I love a good pocket. How do you feel about pockets?
They are OK, but I don't like if they are too big, b/c then I tend to overstuff them. :)

#6. I must admit I am confused and intrigued about the artist. Who do you think the artist is? What is his or her significance in the story?
I am rather annoyed by the fact that his name is never mentioned. Backmann's intention may or may not be to show us how people -when thinking of famous artists- cannot divide the actual person from their creations. ??

#7. I am loving the banter between Louisa and Ted. Louisa is so precocious. What do you think of their relationship? Any ideas of what is to come between the two?
So far that has been the most postive aspect of the book for me.

#8. In Chapter #19 we find more about the mentioned Ali. What is your impression of her?Any guesses on what happens next?
It was a bit strange that she was introduced "so late" into the story. Her story is tragic, but as there are already 3 abused kids (+ Louisa) with tragic backstories, I don't feel she stands out any way.

#9. Fredrick Backman has a way of pulling at your heartstrings. In Chapter 19 I both cried and laughed. The children's stories are both heartbreaking and heartwarming. How are you feeling about the book so far? Are you enjoying it?
I'm sorry to say that I'm not "enjoying" it at all. I have the same feeling, like I had with Beartown, that instead of some much neede subtlety, we are constantly hit on the head by heavy truths and I admit that I just cannot like this. :(

I'll take fire in title.

The rest is a bit uncertain as we are soon off to our summer travels and that will be the point where my reading becomes even more erratic than it currently is.
Will check on assassin tags.

Same here, Sophie. I make myself listen to a stretch of the story every day, and it's a bit of a chore.
I loved Ove & Brit-Marie, but this one, like Beartown, just doesn't resonate with me somehow.

Sure, Claire. :)

Keli wrote: "Can you use The paper magician for white and red on cover?

My Mae West book works for the film industry."

We cannot use The Paper Magician fro Canada as you have finished before the new spin. But it will fit in nicely in the food spell-out. :)

Yaay for film industry! :))

Our New Country is CANADA!

WW171 Author born in Canada
WW172 Red and White on cover
WW173 "maple syrup" in text
WW174 character plays ice hockey
WW175 moose on cover
WW176 character works in the film industry
WW177 C
WW178 A
WW179 N
WW180 A
WW181 D
WW182 A

We ARE Awesome!!!!! 😎🥰🥳🥳

Will ask for a new spin.

Claire,

could you add a read date to your Der groene orloog?

Thank you.

Keli wrote:
Why finish a book when you can start new ones. 🙄


😆 Indeed!

Sophie wrote: "Oh Mel! Tonsillitis in a heat wave sounds utterly miserable. Hope the antibiotics have kicked in for you."

Thank you, I am still weak, but much better. The fever and the shivering has stopped which is such a relief, but brain is mush.

So I decided -on the pretext of features bull task- that I need Sam Vimes in my life to pick me up and set me to rights. Currently listening to Snuff 🥰

KayLynn wrote: "I also have some books I can read for midlevel, but we can always add anything I read to the next set if Claire finishes first.
I have a bunch of books slotted to be read already. I average about one a day, but that still puts me a few days out..."

Thanks, Kaylynn.

The thing about the itinerary is that each must contain 3 mid-level books, the rest is up to us. We can move books around as you are finishing them, but we don't want to lose precious points over this, hence the update above. 😊