Suzanne’s Comments (group member since Aug 13, 2015)

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

That's just fine Kirsten. I think it's important for everyone to read whatever works for you! (And goodness Nicole - I hope you start having better book luck!)

I noted a lot of color covers that we've used already in the spellout - and if our spellout options get tight, I'll move those books to rainbows. But we certainly don't need to do all color covers - we'd miss too many great books that way!

Also, since I'm thinking about color covers: - we can have as many rainbow towers as we would like. And each tower after the first can use any of the 18 listed colors - I got confused because the colors under the mini-task #s are specific, but there is a drop down menu and we can use whatever colors we want for each tower - they just have to be 10 different colors. That is cool because if we finish the other mini-challenge tasks we can still do rainbow towers.

It also means if we get close to finishing the spellout, we will move colored-covered books from that to rainbows. So if your book is ANY color (more than 50%) please note it on the spreadsheet.

That's a wonderful birthday celebration Nanci! It sounds great :)

Lisa, the color covers have to be at least 50% the color we are looking for. So I think the first orange and green ones you linked aren't enough of the color to be able to use.

The one with the red on it could be used for a white cover but not red.
Forgiving Thayne does have enough green that I think you could use that for bright green.

Apoorv wrote: "Thank you Shannon, Suzanne, and Kerri.
I was surprised to not find a Violet in our main rainbow though.
LOVE that color and most of its shades. :)"

I love violet too! Guess we both have good taste :)

Apoorv wrote: "Question:
Do you folks think this shade of violet is the closest to the Rainbow tag RT20/38/56? We don't really have a "violet" prompt in the main 18-book tower. So was curious if this fits anywhe..."

I agree with Shannon - I think that works great!

DQ Day 5
Chapters 31-37

22. The band choose to land to search for Matrick and eventually find Matrick, Larkspur and a Witch Doctor. Did this surprise you? I was expecting them to be reunited - well except for the witch doctor. I loved him!! Just so good natured and funny.

23. Larkspur in her fall has lost her memory and now goes by the name Sabitha. After her drug induced sleep she recounts her dreams to Clay of snippets from her past. Does this put her actions in a different light? When she recovers her memory do you think she will revert back to her how she was before the fall?
I HOPE she doesn't revert back. It was good to learn reasons why she because so cold and cruel, but I hope she decides to be a better person (I'm almost sure she'll regain her memories.

24. We meet Gregory and Dane during our visit to the Cannibals. What are your thoughts on how Gregory describes events to Dane?
I'm glad you mentioned this because I thought it was so incredibly sweet. And I was glad it touched some of the Band members' hearts too. My dad was saying last week that in his childhood they had some tough financial times, yet as a kid he never realized there was a problem. Gregory and Dane kind of reminded me of that.

25. I’m loving the magic bag in this section. What meal would you have it magically produce?
I want one! I'd have a variety of food - oh man - all the things. But probably it'd be Mexican food the most :)

26. It seems there is a cure for Rot. How do you think this will effect Moog in the long term? How devastating to realize that it was an easily available cure! Poor Moog! He obviously won't die of rot in the long term, but I hope he doesn't become too depressed!

It was super fun this morning looking at all the books read in just one week and thinking about how you are all are not only good readers, but such interesting people :) I'm glad I get to play with you!

Note: I forgot to add the Mini-challenge progress in there, but they are all progressing very well, especially when considering all of the claimed tasks. I'll add that next week :)

Weekly Status Report

Summary: Amazing! We are currently in first place, although a lot of that is dependent on when and how official sheets are updated. But still...
Status sheet Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

May Books: Required Tower 72/223: 33% complete
100-199: 7/10 - 70%
200-299: 18/20 - 90%
300-399: 30/30 - 100%
400-499: 11/30 - 37%
500-599: 0/20 - 0% (but several Kings of the Wyld in progress!)
600+: 3/10 - 30%
Free Choice: 3/103 - 3%

Notes
As you can see, we've finished our required 300-399 page books. So if you remember, when you read one of those label it as free choice. No biggie if you don't remember though, and please keep reading them - they are fantastic points!!

Shelf fixes
Lisa - can you add Rebel to your tower team shelf?
Apoorv - can you add date read to Seven Moons on your shelf (it's on the spreadsheet)
Kirsten - Can you add Him to your tower team shelf?
(I put those notes here because it is easy to miss them in the thread.)

Book of the Month

is in full swing and I think people are enjoying it - I know I am. If you want to participate, the last day to answer daily questions is 2 June. Be sure to link three of your answers into our planning sheet.


starts 16 May


(Backroom read) starts 10 May

Be sure to message if you have any questions or issues.

Also, big congratulations to Shannon on graduating!

Good luck on those exams Vi!

And Janeylou thanks for adding to the shelf!

@Lisa - can you put Rebel on your tower team shelf?


I bet you can all tell what I'm doing tonight :)

@Kirsten - Can you put "Him" on your tower team shelf? Thanks :)

Janeylou wrote: "Completion posts

Private Charter
N.R. Walker
254 pgs
1st May
CT46..N
N = Author

Hot Seat
Eli Easton
274 pgs
2 may
CT47..E
E = a..."

Janine/Janeylou can you make sure you put all of your books completed for tower teams on your shelf? That way we can make them "official". So the ones you listed above, plus The Uncertain Unicorn.

Congratulations Shannon!!!! Hooray! That's a huge accomplishment - and worthy of many parties!

And Kerri - wow yes - big money projects are stressful for sure - I hate making that kind of decisions!

@ Janeylou - thanks! I'll get those entered as soon as I get home from delivering dinner.

@Chris - thanks for the heads up about the Pride book - I'll point it out to Lisa (unless she's fixed it already) :)

@Leslie - I suspect it'll get done anyway, but I noticed your book Allegdly isn't on the spreadsheet yet.

DQ Day 4
Chapters 22-30

16. The Maxithon, now that was an adventure. Was this what you were expecting was going to happen? What did you make of the fight?
I figured they would win, if only because there is lots of book left. I did NOT expect the complete and utter destruction - although with all the hints about wings being tied, I expected the chimera to be able to fly. I really liked how brave every member of Saga was.

17. We meet yet another one of the old bands - what did you make of Vanguard? They seem a little friendlier at least than Raff's band. Did you expect them to say no? Or would you have thought they'd team up with Saga?
I really expected them to team up with Saga, but I can understand why they didn't. It was funny that they have a living bard. :) I also liked seeing a tough woman in the band.

18. Saga seems to have had a rather large amount of unfortunate bards. I can't help but wonder what they're going to lead Kit into, or do you think that maybe Kit will truly be the first ever bard of the band who will actually survive the adventure? Kit is supposedly unkillable after all, so maybe they're going to be lucky? What are your predictions on Kit's life expectancy as bard of Saga?
I've been wondering the same thing. I feel like Kit will make it, but I'm not positive! I like his character, and his interests in history and music. So I'm hoping for his continued "life."

19. Are you enjoying the writing style of the book? What about the story in general?
I'm enjoying this a lot. It is a re-read but I remember VERY little - so I have no clue what will happen. Maybe that is a benefit of growing old + reading a lot of books. The book has made me want to read more fantasy.

20. The Heartwyld beckons! We are going to get a closer glimpse at this mysterious forest. What are your expectations? I'm guessing at some point they will crash and need to walk through the forest. I hope nobody else gets rot (or that Moog finds a cure). And I suspect that we will see more monsters and probably see that beautiful bounty hunter again.

21. Oh my word, someone went overboard! Over the forest! With the daeva no less. Makes me wonder if the band will be intact for much longer. Or could the daeva potentially not have killed Matrick, or intend to take him back to Lilith so she can kill her beloved husband herself? There was this one moment where it looked as though the daeva may let them be, seeing that they're on their way to rescue someone's daughter, so a noble feat in a world that seems to have kicked Larkspur all her life. Maybe? Yes? No? Am I alone in thinking something like this?
You aren't alone! I'm guessing (like I said above) that she'll end up in the forest with Matrick and they will all reunite. I hope so, because I'd love to see her working with the band. So hopefully I'm not just being too wishful.

I LOVED that Clay threw Kel overboard. I hated that guy and he for sure would have done everything he threatened and more. However, I can't believe Kel was stupid enough to voice the threats. And I SURE hope he is dead.

I too am amazed Kerri! I hope your week was good :)

DQ Day 3
Chapters 16-21

11. The fight with Raff's old band (who looked like clowns) that ended with snakes is one of the first times we see the almost full band working together. What did you think of this scene? Did you like the action or was it confusing?
The thoughts Sammy brought in about KISS made my day! I was initially very confused about the clown makeup, but I thought the fight was well done. Chaotic, as a fight would be. And thinking about the ground writhing with snakes - shudder. As a side note, now I'm wondering about the Screaming Eagles, etc. Do they have a real world analog

12. So the hoarder kobolds - I thought they were great! And the bird-like creatures pulling the carriage. Do you have a favorite creature you've seen so far, or one you'd like to see? Tell why.
I loved the kobolds and how they were honest and gave back the bag of gold - but also honest saying they wished he had died instead. And the little nests. I also liked the description of the evil gorgon lady.

13. I think in the last half of this section we really start understanding what a big deal the Kings of Wyld really were. And we get to compare them to the Screaming Eagles. What do you think about the ethics and popularity of the new bands that kill captive monsters in arenas?
I really feel like it almost mirrors real life (the original bands) vs. social media. That's how I felt while reading it anyway. Those new bands with so much style over substance. And then I felt old. :)

14. Lastleaf gave his (and the hordes') motivations for conquest. Do you think his reasons were valid, or is he just evil? Do you feel at all sorry for the monsters?
I have no doubt Lastleaf is evil - but also - his whole race was wiped out, and he found a way to get revenge and take over the world - (insert evil laugh). Being the last of his kind gives him some good motivation.

15. We all picked our favorite character in day 1 questions. Has yours changed since then? If I can count a side character, I'd pick Ginny (Clay's wife). Just her strength and her ability to inspire Clay to be stronger. I'm loving Moog, and I think he is my new favorite band member.

(Note: it's a re-read, but I didn't get nearly as much out of it the first time!)

Eldarwen wrote: "Whenever I pick up my paperback and see the bit above the title "The Boys are Back in Town", I think of this scene from A Knight's Tale :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWuNi...

Kind of fit..."

I was enjoying the book anyway, but all the comments in this thread have made me enjoy it even more - thank you!