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

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

Just a question, are you logged in to an email account when you try to access the tracking sheet?

Lauri wrote: "Nope. It’s definitely on the tracking sheet. It’s still the same story for me. Other people have entered their books. When I try, it says ‘PARSE ERROR.’

Sorry to be a pain this early on…"

No worries, Lauri, we will add your books.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman

#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their difficult home lives by spending their days laughing and telling stories out on a pier. There’s Joar, who never backs down from a fight; quiet and bookish Ted who is mourning his father; Ali, the daughter of a man who never stays in one place for long; and finally, there’s the artist, a boy who hoards sleeping pills and shuns attention, but who possesses an extraordinary gift that might be his ticket to a better life. These four lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be put into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. As she struggles to decide what to do with this bequest, she embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn the story of how the painting came to be. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit, but happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this fresh testament to the transformative power of friendship and art.

Sophie wrote: "The weather here is much warm than it often is so we took my to a country pub with a playground for the first time yesterday. They did really well until Mr. 7 spilt a drink all down. Luckily we'd f..."

And I just wanted to ask how did you fare in the water fight? 😆

Sophie wrote: "That sounds like a full on day, but hopefully a vibe of enthusiasm and happiness..."

Yes, it's always a positive experience, lots of people coming & chatting to us from the very young (play corners) to the very old, collecting all the EU merch we are distributing. 🤭 There are concerts, a running competition for individuals & teams, street food, etc.

It's great while it lasts, but at the end of the day I just wanto to sit in a quiet corner to read my books.

Andy wrote: "hi team, just sticking my head in to say hi, hopefully will get more time tomorrow to meet you all properly and to introduce myself"

Hey Andy,

Sure, will wait for your "big entry", no rush. 😊

Louise wrote: "Hi All, lots of familiar faces here. I’m Louise from a very sunny South Wales with my Partner and 2 dogs. This is my 7th year playing TT I normally captain or co-captain but after a tumultuous star..."

Louise,

Very nice to have with us and sorry for your loss. 😔

Also, thank you for taking on BOM reads.

Sorry for being incommunicado, just got home from work: Europe Day is celebrated in all EU capitals on the Sunday after 9 May and EU Agencies are all there with stands & programmes drawing big crowds and I was one of the volunteer organisers for my Agency.

Great to see that we'll have so many countries covered already. 😊

One of the books I'll be reading can cover France, but it will work for other tasks if someone else would claim that country.

Will have a closer look-see tomorrow.

This TT is pushing my boundaries, but I'm willing. 😊

Also if you need recs for Hungary setting, I'm your woman. (And can take up books for it if needed, of course). 😅

Denise wrote: "Where on the spreadsheet should we put planned reads? Just the books tab?

I'm planning to read the new Emily Henry, which I see will be the BOM."

On the books tab only, please. If you claim a specific task, you can check & add the code from the Mini tabs onto the books tab and it should auto-populate on the Mini.

Yaay for BOM points. 😊

@KayLynn
On a practical note for % of setting, I'd say you could note pages (tricky, I know) or chapters, BUT ONLY if you yourself have doubts whether the setting covers what's needed. It can happen with some books where plot/timeline is split. If it's bothersome, just go with guessing.

But you don't have to list this info for us. We will accept your word for it. :)

Also, if you feel doubtful about %, it's safer to use the book for sth else.

We appreciate your enthusiasm and your huge Library. Books fo Brasil and Iceland are great to have as well. 😊

Ohh yes, Ingeborg is bringing Martha Wells books (yaay, for Murderbot 😊), and our Not So Deserted Island Book Club is becoming even more exciting! Also, Muderbot is totally going to save us!

Happy to have you with us! 😊

😊

I knew it was coming, you were just too busy doing spreadsheet magic. 🪄😊

Keli & Sophie,

I'll need the links to your shelves, please. :)

Denise wrote: "I was excited to find a copy of Princess of Burundi on my shelf, but it isn't actually set in Burundi. It's set in Sweden. :("


Nothing wrong with Sweden as a setting. :)

Sammy wrote: " - probably more of a sword than a dagger?

I have sooooo many swords, lol."

Nah, it's a long dagger?😅

Sophie wrote: "Ilona very nearly made my list but was edged out by Seanan."

I love IA too, so it's a good thing Keli's coming with us to the Not-So-Deserted Island-Any-More. 🤭


Welcome, Keli!

I was just checking for the Malta setting in The Disorderly Knights, but no joy either. "too little Malta" apparently.

On a more positive note, I just bought a book set in the Democratic Republic of Congo (audible 2-for 1-credit sale) + 1 with a Holy See setting.

Sophie wrote: "MelM - can you remember whether more than 50% of Caprice and Rondo is set in a particular country? Can see he starts in Poland, but they also mention the Crimea and Flanders."

Unfortunately it's much less than 50%, there's a lot of cavorting round Europe, so it won't fit the % for any. :(