Preeti’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2021)

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

Laura wrote: "Quick update on the mini-challenge. We do have books selected for every task, but if might not be able to finish in 5 days, please say something. We have books that were not used, and they can be s..."

Hi. My Colombia book is done and updated.

Also, I am reading a book with an orange cover for another challenge. I was planning on reading it for the next round. If it is needed I can read it for this round as it is a relatively short audiobook. Please me know!

Book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Date Read: Jun 13
Page Count: 422


Weapon:
Pg. 119: Arcadio received her in the place where the classroom used to be and which at that time had been transformed into a kind of rearguard encampment, with rolled hammocks hanging on hooks and mats piled up in the corners, and rifles and carbines and even hunting shotguns scattered on the floor.

Shelter:
All letters of SHELTER in the title: onE THousand yEaRS of soLitude

Food:
Pg. 4: That was the period in which he acquired the habit of talking to himself, of walking through the house without paying attention to anyone, as Úrsula and the children broke their backs in the garden, growing banana and caladium, cassava and yams, ahuyama roots and eggplants.

Defense:
Characters who are soldiers: Colonel Aureliano Buendía, General José Raquel Moncada

My vote goes to Matt Damon!

Jenny wrote: "This looks like fun. The Pigeon Pie Mystery"

I read this a while back and loved it. Time for a reread, I think!

Sammy wrote: "Preeti wrote: "In case anybody is interested, here is a YouTube video with Aldis Hodge talking about his watch brand.

Actor and Watchmaker Aldis Hodge on Bringing His New Brand to Life | WatchBox ..."

I absolutely refuse to wear fitness trackers/smart watches. I love watches, the old-fashioned kind that does nothing but tell the time and at the most the date.

Btw, Sammy, could you please check your latest post on the Our FIRST Million Pages for 2024 page. I think that is meant to be a 9, not a 6.

In case anybody is interested, here is a YouTube video with Aldis Hodge talking about his watch brand.

Actor and Watchmaker Aldis Hodge on Bringing His New Brand to Life | WatchBox Talks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIwCd...

My vote goes to Aldis Hodge, all the more after I watched a Pierce Brosnan interview where he talked about Hodge being a horologist, watchmaker and designer with his own luxury brand.

Book: The Malevolent Seven (The Malevolent Seven #1) by Sebastien de Castell
Date Read: Jun 11
Page Count: 412


Weapon:
Pg. 50: The Ascendant’s tent was just ten yards away and I could see half a dozen of his precious sanctifieds standing out front in their gleaming armour, holding their smart, overdecorated swords and crossbows.

Shelter:
For all his blustering, Cade Ombra is definitely somebody I would shelter with. He talks about being an evil person but his actions have been mostly honourable.

Food:
Pg. 24: I followed his gaze to a bowl of red and purple plums on the far side of the bed.

Defense:
Blue cover

Laura wrote: "Preeti wrote: "I will definitely be done with One Hundred Years of Solitude but if there is a completed book that works for it, please go ahead and replace it if needed."

To the best of my knowled..."

That's ok then. I am at the 3/4th completed mark so will have it done in time.

Juan Pablo Di Pace

The Malevolent Seven Adult BOM May 2024 (Starts 16 May 2024) - Day 3

Chapters 19 - 27

11. The fantasy genre is known for its world building. How do you feel about the world building in this book? How does it compare to other fantasy novels you’ve read?

I am a bit disappointed with the world building in this book particularly considering how much I have heard people praise the author’s other series. It feels very haphazard and so far has not allowed me to picture the characters or the settings very well. That is such a pity as there are many things in this world that are interesting and could have made for an absolutely immersive book if expanded upon.

12. In this section we meet Cade’s former teacher Hazidan. What do you think of her character? Did you ever have a favorite teacher and were they similar to Hazidan in any way?

Like many of the other characters, she felt more like a sketch of a character and I would have liked the interaction between Cade and her to have been longer. Having said that, I really liked her and the way she guides Cade towards the knowledge he needs rather than leading him.
Due to the peripatetic nature of my father’s profession, I never stayed in a school for more than a year and so never had any of my teachers becoming favourites.

13. Chapter 25: Friends in Low Places had a pretty big reveal about the Celestials plans and how they’ve been herding Cade this whole time. How did you feel about this twist?

I have no clue why but I was expecting something like this. There was a feeling throughout that there was no free will involved but rather careful planning & plotting that forced Cade to do the things he did.
That was some twist… I had to go back and read that chapter again and I am still shocked by it. It makes sense however which shows just how well plotted the entire thing was. The person I am feeling bad for the most is Galass. I think that she is not aware of any of this and that it is going to be a horrible shock should she ever find out which is why I hope she doesn’t do so.

14. At this point I think we have the whole team together: Is one of them your favorite?

I think they are still missing one member and after seeing the rest of the team, I am very curious to see what kind of person they bring in next. For me, there is still a tie for favourite between Corrigan and Galass but I am definitely liking Tenebris more and more each time he makes an appearance.

Bonus for audiobook listeners: How are you liking the audiobook? Would you recommend it?

I am not listening to the audiobook this time but I think the next time I read this book, which will probably be whenever the next book in the series releases, I would like to do so.

Preeti’s BOM Participation Post: The Malevolent Seven (The Malevolent Seven #1) by Sebastien de Castell

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Count of Monte Cristo is my favourite book and I am happy to read it again. 20th works for me as well.

Absolutely Chris Evans!
I was already a fan but he became a favourite after I watched Gifted.

I will definitely be done with One Hundred Years of Solitude but if there is a completed book that works for it, please go ahead and replace it if needed.

Book: A Most Efficient Murder (Mr. Quayle Mysteries #1) by Anthony Slayton
Date Read: Jun 9
Page Count: 309


Weapon:
Pg. 83: Strictly speaking, it is an anelace—a kind of medieval knife—probably owned by a freeman in Thornburgh or by one of my ancestors’ retainers.

Shelter:
House on the cover

Food:
Pg. 32: Standing by the mantlepiece and nursing a rather generous brandy, Colonel Rye seemed to have made himself at home, however.

Defense:
Blue cover

We spent the last few months grumbling about there being no rain. It is now raining bucketloads!!! I say buckets for a reason, it rains incredibly intensely but just for a few minutes. It feels like somebody in the sky got sick and tired of us down here constantly moaning about the lack of rain and decided to fulfil our wishes. I keep picturing somebody going to the edge of the sky with a very large bucket of water, chucking it down and saying, "Here, you asked for it!!!"

Matthew McConaughey!

Laura wrote: "Hey team! I just went to update a book of mine on the spreadsheet and it already had a read date of today. Which is fine, but I just finished it so I think someone put their date in the wrong cell...."

I have finished but I haven't updated anything yet. I was just about to start to do so. I haven't even marked the book as completed.

The Malevolent Seven Adult BOM May 2024 (Starts 16 May 2024) - Day 2

Chapters 9 - 18

6. Did Galass turning into a blood mage and Fidick being the cause of Lucian's death (I assume that's what the black cloud that left the tent did) surprise you? Or were you expecting their bit in the story to be over and just a footnote about Cade's character?

I was expecting Galass and Fidick to stay with Cade through their journey and be the cause of many of the hijinks along the way but this had me very surprised. Though on thinking about it, it shouldn’t have as Cade had talked about wonderists being people attuned to the planes from where they derive their magic. Based on that, it looks like Fidick had the affinity required to acquire the magic.

7. We learn about more magic types and there's pretty much any type of magic you can dream up. What type of magic you like to have or what animal would you like an affinity with?

Space-time magic is the one I would most love to be able to perform.

8. Is anyone else's favorite character Mr. Bones? Just me? mkay.

I adore Mr.Bones! I love cat/dog/wolf characters in books. (One of the major reasons I read the Kate Shugak series and love them is Kate’s half-wolf, half-husky dog, Mutt. )
For me, at present, my favourite is tied between Corrigan Blight and Galass.

9. At this point I think it's clear Cade is a fallen Glorian of some sort, likely a Justicar. Do others agree with my guess here or do you have other thoughts?

I think there is something to that as he seems to know way too much about the Glorians & Justiciars for the average wonderist. Also, when Tenebris says to Cade, “I was tempting a fallen Glorian Justiciar the other day and we got to talking about you.”, it felt like a hidden message.

10. Assuming my guess in Q9 is right, why do you think Cade got the heave ho from the Glorians?

I have two theories, one that Cade did something so bad that the Glorians banished him. The other that I am leaning towards is that he was told to do something that he couldn’t bring himself to do and his refusal of the orders caused him to be chucked out.

Preeti’s BOM Participation Post: The Malevolent Seven

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Keanu Reeves!!!

Richard Armitage!!!