Insiyah’s Comments (group member since Apr 12, 2022)

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

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Day 4 DQs

14) What were your thoughts when Kiela was teaching Eadie, Bryn, and Ulina how to make the pine cones? Particularly the way she tried to disguise that it's actually a spell?
I was cringing at how awkward and just uncomfortable the whole scene was.

15) Well these chapters were a whirlwind. What were your thoughts throughout the twists and turns?
My thoughts were all over the place. I did not expect the Radane reveal. It was fun to read though.

16) I loved loved loved the scene where Caz and Meep were threatening Radane. It made me laugh so much that the spider plant was being so much more aggressive than the actual human. If you had been in that scene, would you be more like Kiela (the good cap) or Caz (the bad cop)?
I'd be bad cop for sure.

17) Radane confisticated Kiela's family cookbook. What family heirloom do you value so much to keep protected?
Some photographs that I have of my family before we started using digital cameras, particularly of family members who have passed away.

18) What are your thoughts on the Cozy Mystery genre that this book is a part of? How often do you find yourself reaching for a cozy book?
I do read cozy mystery on occasion, but it's not a preferred genre of mine.

Day 4 DQs

14) What were your thoughts when Kiela was teaching Eadie, Bryn, and Ulina how to make the pine cones? Particularly the way she tried to disguise that it's actually a spell?

15) Well these chapters were a whirlwind. What were your thoughts throughout the twists and turns?

16) I loved loved loved the scene where Caz and Meep were threatening Radane. It made me laugh so much that the spider plant was being so much more aggressive than the actual human. If you had been in that scene, would you be more like Kiela (the good cap) or Caz (the bad cop)?

17) Radane confisticated Kiela's family cookbook. What family heirloom do you value so much to keep protected?

18) What are your thoughts on the Cozy Mystery genre that this book is a part of? How often do you find yourself reaching for a cozy book?

4 Nov
DQs Day 3
Ch 14 to 21

9) I'm enjoying the variety of people and creatures (for lack of a better word) in the story. Do you have a favorite? Is there one you'd dream up and like to see wandering the island?
Ivor. The wings make me envious.

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
I'm not much of a plant person, so I'll go with snake plant simply because I've managed to keep one alive for years now.

11) Do you think it is remotely realistic that Kiela can keep her activities secret? And with the trouble at the center of the empire, would any of those in power notice or care?
No, she cannot keep her activities secret. At all. People are not oblivious, and almost everyone she's tried to say 'remedy' to has actually understood 'spell'. I don't know the answer to the second part - that depends on who the people in power are and how huge their egos are which we have zero information about.

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
It definitely seems that way.

13) Previous questions have touched on this but I'm thinking Kiela has avoided sharing what's happening with the revolution as a trauma response. If she doesn't talk about it than she can almost ignore it? It makes me wonder what happened to her parents. Like the library became her home/only place she felt safe after losing them and then it literally burned before her eyes. Anyone have thoughts about why she still isn't sharing to the point of literally running away?
I'm agreeing with trauma. I'd thought it was about some big secret until the scene where Radane talks about it and Kiela runs away, but after that scene the trauma explanation seems to fit better.

DQ Day 2 Chapters 8 - 13

6. There's more information released here about magic use and it's impact on the world. What do you think about this?
I really, really appreciate it. I like the cover, but that only gives so many impressions of the vibes (for lack of a better word) of the book. Though the cover reminds me of a Thomas Kincaid painting.

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?
Kudos to her for finding a quick solution. That said, jam? Really? It makes sense, but wouldn't it also make sense to sell the berries by themselves... It is a cute idea, though.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
Larran still feels like an unknown character, mainly because his connection to Kiela's parents still hasn't been revealed.

DQs- Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if she were stranded on a desert island, which books would she most want to have with her?"
Now I'm putting you the same question limiting your possibilities to
- 1 complete works of an author
- 2 book series
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction
Complete works would have to be The Complete Works of Jane Austen
Two book series: The Lord of the Rings series and The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Standalones: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse (because it felt like a warm hug), Frankenstein and The Poetry of e.e. cummings.

2. While it's only explained sketchily, a little politics, history (?)
of the Empire is mentioned, alongside some curious species, flora & fauna (winged kitties, anyone?) What do you think of the world-building so far?
It's really not half as detailed as I would like; I have SO many questions about why a revolution and everything that led to it. It feels like the author tried to just breeze through it.

3. It's mentioned several times how Kiela keeps herself to herself in the Library (apart from Caz's company). Do you think such an almost complete isolation described here is possible even in such a vast Library?
I don't think so. I've been volunteering at a library for a couple of months, and it's a very collaborative process, especially when you're also responsible for processing books which takes a whole team. The isolation Kiela lived in would have been almost impossible in a larger library with original and unique copies of books.

4. I found it a bit disturbing that Kiela doesn't tell anyone on the island that she came away because a revolution has broken out in the capital (I understand her keeping silent about the books). It IS supposed to be a big deal after all and one would think they will learn about it eventually. A bit later some excuses are offered. Do you think they are sufficient or it's just a usual plot-driving tool?
Plot-driving, I think. I have a feeling that around halfway through the book we'll find out about something illegal or similar that Kiela has (aside from the spellbooks).

5. I really liked the idea of Kiela & Caz sectioning the garden and naming them after book genres. Which genres would you name parts of your real or hypothetical garden? :)
I'd name them after fictional (Narnia, Rivendell, Hogwarts) and historical places that no longer exist (Kiyaara, Troy, Punt)

Brittany wrote: "Mine has dropped the tags like 3 times now, should be good again"

Verified just in case it disappears again.

Melissa - you've linked and shelved two different editions of A Wrinkle in Time and All Thirteen. Please check.

Kelly - you've linked and shelved two different editions of Embrace the Fire

Brittany - please add The Trial to your shelf

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "My next book I have to read for a different challenge but it doesn't fit any of the leftover letters in this iteration of our word, but three in the next. I'm hoping that since we're only halfway t..."

It's perfectly fine! It'll be used in the round for sure, and yes, you can use A/An for title.

Bobbi wrote: "Quick question: I just started Second Rite which is 400 pages. To be clear, it would have to be 401 pgs to use it for over 400 on the spreadsheet, correct?"

Yes :)

M wrote: "I am currently reading


It is set in Nigeria and I put it there for the mini, but I discovered it also fits for cover over 50% orange, would you like me ..."

Keep it for Nigeria - I'm sure we'll be able to find another one for the orange cover.

Keep in mind that if you're reading for the BOM, you can start reading your book from the day the BOM starts :)

Note to everyone - the next BOM is The Spellshop starting on 2nd November at this discussion thread.

The Mysterious Affair at Styles will start on 16th November and thus be a part of Round 3, not Round 2.

Volunteering DQs for Clean Pet Cage!

Volunteering DQs for Clean Pet Cage!

Brittany wrote: "I wish people would stop picking mid series books for BOTM unless the whole series has been read by the group.

I don't care if people say a book CAN be read as a standalone. It is still missing im..."

Agreed! Very few series do it well enough that if you're reading the middle books you still have the general context!

Melissa wrote: "I am going to read A Day of Fallen Night which is book 0. Should I move the two series books down and put it before the 1? Or should I start a new series of books?"

Might as well start with 0 and get one trellis in place

Anyone reading the next BOM? It's Agatha Christie - The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Keep in mind that we get bonus points for reading the BOM and answering the questions!

Kelly (Maybedog) wrote: "I didn't realize how many times we spelled our word until I checked the main sheet. Way to go team!

I'm assuming that the same book cannot be used for more than one mini challenge, is that correct?"

We did so well! At the time of round close we were 3rd in ranking!

Yes to the second bit - one book can be used for only one mini task

Bobbi wrote: "Just double checking, for the mini challenges, the books we use cannot be started before today, correct?"

A quick thing - you've added HappyHead to the spreadsheet, except we can't find it anywhere. Can you add it to your books + shelf ASAP?