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

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

Oh my goodness Sammy - how did I not see the KISS reference??? I'm SOOOO glad you mentioned that - I love that so so much!

Thanks Keli! I suspect you are right about it being some kind of mix-up - and we will probably never know what :)

Lisa gave me that saved copy (way to go doing a backup Lisa!!) and I went through and the spreadsheet is almost all set. There are a few "reasons" that will need to be re-filled in - each of those I put **need by. Sorry for the inconvenience!

@Keli - I think for the Black Wings book you claimed for a black cover it won't work unless your book is a different cover than the one linked in the spreadsheet, since it needs to be over 50% black. It SEEMS as if the word black should work too, but it doesn't. Anyway - I moved it to the spell out - and feel free to move it somewhere else if you'd rather.

Final note - when we first got the mini-challenge, I thought "wow I hope we can do all these tasks by August." Everyone's excellence at claiming tasks has made me think "wow I hope we get more mini-challenges." Way to go!

I will do an "official" weekly status update on Saturday or Sunday.

Hmm...so from a quick look - it seems as if MOST of the reasons are in the correct place, but some are certainly off. Two that I can tell for sure are:
The first one with Anubis - I'm sure he isn't in the Nanny
The one with Moonstones, which I seem to remember being in one of Nanci's books.

Many others I glanced at seemed correct. Let's have Lisa weigh in, and worst case, we may need to glance through and fix our book / mini-challenge reasons :)

Thanks for noticing that Tone - I know Lisa was fixing some things yesterday, but I haven't looked today (I needed to drive home from my dad's house, about a 4 hour trip). I do know that the only editable sheet for the team will be the "read" sheet since the mini-challenge ones will autopopulate. I'll go take a look now, especially since I need to check in a book. I think that is a good idea to leave for now and hopefully all will be sorted soon :)

Vi - I like your comment about the wife and family aspect of that book. It seems like such a small part of the book so far (I'm about 45% right now) but it's also THE most important part of shaping Clay. I'm giving the author a pass about the lack of major women characters, since I believe the second book in the series has a woman main character :)

Thanks for the visit Sonia! It is fun to see other teams!

Elinor - I had a hard time getting into the Scorch Trials too. And then it ultimately just made me mad. It was years ago, and I still remember angry-reading most of it. Lol - I might not even have the same reaction now, and I know lots of people really enjoyed it! So I hope it turns around for you (and don't feel compelled by us to finish it if it does not). More importantly, have fun with your family this coming week!

Nanci, I really enjoy Darynda Jones and her snarky, crazy characters. I enjoyed that book and I hope you like it (and I agree it is white).

Leslie Ann wrote: "I am really enjoying Kings of the Wyld so far. Are you guys enjoying it?"

I'm really enjoying it too! I read it several years ago and remember almost nothing - I think I'm somehow relating to it a lot more this time.

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?

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.

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?

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?

15. We all picked our favorite character in day 1 questions. Has yours changed since then?

DQ Day 2
Chapters 9 - 15

6. We meet the 3rd member of the band, the wizard Moog. What are your impressions of the wizard? Were you as surprised as Clay that he agreed to go right away? My first impression was probably aided by the "performance enhancing spell" that makes his money - as kind of a scatter-brained wizard of minor spells. Although perhaps some would say that is not a minor spell :)

7. That was some entrance to the palace, don't you think? What were your first impressions of Matrick? Were you surprised by the turn of events in chapter 11? Excited or worried when Moog announces that he had a plan? At the very first Matrick seemed ineffectual and totally clueless to me. But then when we saw how kindly he treats all of the children, and that he totally knows none are his. Aw...I started to really like him. As far as the plan - I assumed it would work because..the band...but it was more problematic than I anticipated!

8. After several descriptions sprinkled thoughout the story thus far, we finally meet a druin. What do you think his plan is? Why does he really want the Council to stand down? Before this part I'd pictured druin's as small slender people - maybe kind of like goblins? I suspect his plan is to rule the world, and maybe that's why he wants the council to not be united. But really seems like he has all the power whether or not they are unified.

9. Were you surprised at how Lillian arranged the funeral? What did you think of Clay's contribution? How successful would you rate Moog's plan? I for sure was surprised seeing the boat, and I loved Clay's contribution - plus it was kind of funny when the realized about the waterfall. I guess Moog at least did the feign death effectively, which was really the only part under his control.

10. Gabriel borrows Moog's crystal ball to check on his daughter. Were you surprised at what he saw? What did you think of the band's reaction? I was not surprised at what he saw but I did think he'd also see Rose. I kind of figured it would emphasize the hopelessness of the situation. But their determination to go forward is really cool/brave. I can see as a parent doing it, and I guess they really are good friends. And as a sidenote- I LOVED seeing the bandit ladies again.

Kerri have fun tomorrow! that sounds like a blast!!

I'd like to volunteer for DQs also - Ashara

Keli wrote: "Finished my first TTX read! Pine was a pretty decent gothic thriller. A solid 3.5, but not sure if I'm going to round up or down. I liked it but i don't think it merits the more tha..."

Keli - I love that method of rating. I think I give way too many 4s. I think I want to come up with my 1, 3, and 5 examples like you have - that is so smart!

Nicole B wrote: "Check in:

Finished two books so far. My book club one was a bit of a bust for me at least but we had plenty of conversation, so a good one for the club at least XD

I've put my next planned books ..."

I love the book list! I guess at least the book club book providing conversation is better than nothing. Lol my last in-person book club, everyone adored the book except me. Then it was "let's go around the room and say what we loved about this book." *squirm *

As far as putting in the next book club books - it's totally up to you if you want to do now or later. Either works fine.

In 1942, Europe remains in the relentless grip of war. Just beyond the tents of the Russian refugee camp she calls home, a young woman speaks her wedding vows. It’s a decision that will alter her destiny…and it’s a lie that will remain buried until the next century.

Since she was nine years old, Alina Dziak knew she would marry her best friend, Tomasz. Now fifteen and engaged, Alina is unconcerned by reports of Nazi soldiers at the Polish border, believing her neighbors that they pose no real threat, and dreams instead of the day Tomasz returns from college in Warsaw so they can be married. But little by little, injustice by brutal injustice, the Nazi occupation takes hold, and Alina’s tiny rural village, its families, are divided by fear and hate. Then, as the fabric of their lives is slowly picked apart, Tomasz disappears. Where Alina used to measure time between visits from her beloved, now she measures the spaces between hope and despair, waiting for word from Tomasz and avoiding the attentions of the soldiers who patrol her parents’ farm. But for now, even deafening silence is preferable to grief.

Slipping between Nazi-occupied Poland and the frenetic pace of modern life, Kelly Rimmer creates an emotional and finely wrought narrative that weaves together two women’s stories into a tapestry of perseverance, loyalty, love and honor. The Things We Cannot Say is an unshakable reminder of the devastation when truth is silenced…and how it can take a lifetime to find our voice before we learn to trust it.

Link to theme: War setting

Thanks for all the clarifications about the spreadsheet Lisa!

And yes - how awesome to have several participating in Kings of the Wylde ! That will add up to a lot of extra points.

Note: because it's a BOM - they made it officially "528" pages no matter what version you read - I updated to 528 for all of the Kings of the Wylde in there so far.

DQs Day 1
Ch 1 to CH 8

1.) What do you think of the premise of the book, like an aging rock band getting back together to go on tour but an adventuring band instead? Is the author pulling it off so far?
I hadn't thought of the rock band analogy, but it's a good one! I think the author is pulling it off well so far - we got to see the stories in the tavern at the first, and the weight of responsibilities that Clay especially has to leave. Plus just how much harder it is to do some things when older.

2.) The rocks, may of hit me a bit in the feels. Did it affect your opinion of Gabe at all?
Seeing the rocks was the first time I realized that Gabe does understand his daughter could be dead - I thought he was oblivious. So it made me respect him more because he is trying to to save her even if she's beyond saving. I did like Gabe before anyway though, because he didn't try to push Clay into helping when Clay originally said no.

3.) How do you like the world building, is it being done effectively for you without major info dumping? Is it helping to set the stage for the story?
I haven't noticed any huge info dumps, so I think it's working! I do only have a small idea of the politics of the world, but I know it's dangerous, and that there are bands :)

4.) What did you think about the parade? Did anyone else enjoy Clay's reaction to the ladies being whistled at and be disappointed when the lady blew a kiss back instead of skewering the guy (like Clay expected to happen)?
I totally agreed with Clay - and it gave me another feel that our boys were an older generation. It was kind of like seeing "social media" girls instead of actual warriors. Plus, it was kind of funny.

5.) Do you have a favorite character so far?
From my answers above, you can probably see it is Clay. I think because he has so much to lose and still went. And goodness, his wife and daughter - sniff..... The way they supported him and the goodbye really touched my heart. And the daughter's frogs. That was a really sweet part for me.


Bonus: Taking a poll for a very important question. On the Tassel Farm: Centaur or Moose? Oh hmm...I'm going with moose

What a wonderful, strong, happy start to the challenge! I drove down to my dad's today and will be here the next 2-3 days til he's feeling better . I did listen to about half of an audio book, and I'm going to work on Kings of the Wyld - since I'm day 3 of questions, I need to keep up on that one!