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

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

I'm hoping to read both but in audiobook version. Though I have to wait until 24 July to read Carrie Soto to cover the 6-month rule.

Wheel Task: Read a book featuring a baker
Book: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1) by Joanne Fluke
Date Read: Jul 6
Page Count: 436
How It Fits Task: Hannah Swensen is a baker who runs a bakery called The Cookie Jar in Lake Eden Minnesota.

Karolyn wrote: "Update

We have all the chipmunk tasks claimed!!! "

Yay!

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?

I think this is a great example of the way the “upper classes” have assumed that they are the most important people and that nobody else matters. That Ali refuses shows his willingness to understand that such an inequality exists and his desire to do something about it.

10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?

I somehow feel that Dara and Nauru’s pasts are going to create all kinds of chaos in any relationships. I definitely like this relationship as a friendship but hope it isn’t forced into something for the sake of the book. The other thing I am dreading is a love triangle which is looking more and more likely.

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?

This was a very revealing event as it shows Ali’s great compassion for the downtrodden and his desire to help people in need and yet it also reveals a slight vein of weakness within him. I am hoping we get to see him become stronger emotionally and make decisions not out of fear but out of belief.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?

This had me quite confused but I am hoping it gets explained soon.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?

I am hoping that having had this awful bit of history revealed to him, Ali will become stronger in his will to make the changes required to stop the exploitation of some of the people n the kingdom. As for Dara finding out about it, I think that will definitely happen. It may not be him directly but his getting to know about it will be a game changer that will lead to major plot lines.

DQs Day 2 - Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

I was very confused when I read the book for the first time as I listened to the audiobook. When I got the paperback copy, I found the glossary in the back to be of such great help and this time reading the book was a better experience. Having said that, I am still pretty confused with some of the tribes but am guessing that the other books in the series will help sort that out.


6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

I was aware of Suleiman but not in much depth. Someday I hope to learn more about the Ottoman Empire. My guess is that like with most things, that will only come about when I finally make plans to travel to the region.
I think it was very clever of the author to include him in the book as it begins to make it feel more rooted in the real world. Also, the parallels between Suleiman and the king of Daevabad are very interesting.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

Dara’s character building, in my opinion, is one of the most layered and nuanced ones. It interests me to see how his reputation has created this image in people’s mind but at the same time one gets to see him interacting with the other characters showing different aspects of his personality.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?

I like that the author has chosen to make many of the main characters feel more realistic by giving them such complex personalities. I am hoping we get to read more about him as well as get more information about the many hints to his background that have been given. Like I mentioned earlier, it is interesting to see the parallels between Suleiman and King Ghassan.

DQs Day 1 - Chapters 1-5


1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

I was slightly aware of it having heard about it in a few books and movies including the first time I read this book. I would like to read more about this area which I will definitely be doing before my trip to Egypt next year.


2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?

This was so difficult to answer because they are all amazing powers and could all be of great use to the world. But if had to choose, I would go with the healing powers.


3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?

I enjoyed reading about the places and the people more so this time as last time I listened to the audiobook but this time I read the paperback and the glossary in the back was a welcome resource. I think the world building was well done but at times there were bits that felt clichéd.

4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?

I have to confess that Dara is my favourite. I found his back story so very interesting and loved the way the author slowly reveals bits of his background.

I am almost done with The City of Brass. I will be completing it and the DQs tomorrow.
I had to go to the airport to pick up my mother. We ate at one of the restaurants at the airport. There is a terrific food court there which has become very popular amongst not only travellers but also people living near the airport. Unfortunately, with the overeating (excellent burger and stout) and the horrible weather, I came back home and went to sleep for much longer than I had planned. Luckily tomorrow is Sunday so I am planning on finishing this book and starting something new.
I have so many books to read this month. I found out that the library at my club has bought lots of new books and borrowed some good long ones.

Jenny wrote: "I would try it at least!

Angie, why are you dating Google?"
🤣

Thank you, Captains, for making the wheel tasks so much easier to understand. June was a pretty lousy reading month for me. I am looking forward to reading more in July.

June



Book: The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion - Jun 2
No. Of Pages: 305

Book: The Lies You Wrote (Raisa Susanto #1) by Brianna Labuskes - Jun 4
No. Of Pages: 352

Book: The Rains (Rains #1) by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz - Jun 5
No. Of Pages: 368



Book: Verdict of Twelve by Raymond W. Postgate - Jun 6
No. Of Pages: 245

Book: Evil Under the Sun (Hercule Poirot #24) by Agatha Christie - Jun 7
No. Of Pages: 320

Book: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead - Jun 9
No. Of Pages: 345



Book: The Lost Ten by Harry Sidebottom - Jun 14
No. Of Pages: 358

Book: The Creak on the Stairs (Forbidden Iceland #1) by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir - Jun 17
No. Of Pages: 631

Book: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - Jun 19
No. Of Pages: 318



Book: The Christmas Countdown by Donna Ashcroft - Jun 19
No. Of Pages: 306

Book: Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie - Jun 21
No. Of Pages: 288

Book: You Only Live Once by Maxine Morrey - Jan 24
No. Of Pages: 301



Book: There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura - Jun 24
No. Of Pages: 416

Book: The Library Book by Susan Orlean - Jun 27
No. Of Pages: 317

Book: Pinot Noir by Mads Molnar III - Jun 29
No. Of Pages: 222



Book: Passing by Nella Larsen - Jun 30
No. Of Pages: 128

My Jun Total: 5220

Running Total: 957,680

New Group Total: = 962,900

Oh, and I forgot, I started The City of Brass today. I will be done with it and the DQs by the 2nd. Hopefully this time I will also continue with the next two books.

Hi, all! Where did the first half of this year go...I can't believe it's already the end of June. 😳
The weather here is so incredibly weird...hot one day, then it rains and becomes much cooler only for the next day to go back to being hot. My rhinitis is going all kinds of bonkers!!!
My dad and I always talk about how we would love to attach the spikes from the chariot in Ben Hur to the car... well, we start with that and then it slowly builds to our final plan where we would have a beam that picks up the vehicles of awful drivers and parks them on top of trees. 😈
Pizza sounds lovely... I am sadly on a no-wheat diet for a while so am looking forward to my next cheat day when I can order my favourite hand-tossed pizza. I have already stocked up on a bunch of different tonic waters to make G&Ts.
And no, Jenny, you are not asking too many questions ☺️

I know I will definitely be reading quite a few very long books next month as the TOAP GOTM is Nonfiction and I have many nonfiction books on my TBR list that I have been meaning to get to for ages.

Hi, all! I hope all is well with all of you.

I have added all my completed books to the spreadsheet. I started my next two today.

Chipmunk Task: 10 Awards - Read a book that won the Women's Prize for Fiction
Book/Author: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
Date Read: Jun 19
Page Count: 318
How It Fits: Winner of the 2002 Women's Prize for Fiction

I have added a book against the Women's Prize for Fiction task. Bel Canto is a book I have been meaning to read for ages so this works out perfectly.

Chipmunk Task: Film 10s - 10 - Read a book with 10 (or ten) in the title
Book/Author: The Lost Ten by Harry Sidebottom
Date Read: Jun 14
Page Count: 358
How It Fits: "Ten" in the title

Thanks, Karolyn! This makes it so much easier for us to plan our books.

FYI, I have changed my book for the "Ten in the title" chipmunk task. I started reading the book I had initially selected and had to stop. I think I have reached my quota of depressing characters and plots. Luckily, my library hold for The Lost Ten: The exhilarating Roman historical thriller arrived just as I decided to stop reading my earlier book and it seems to be just what I need at present.

Chipmunk Task: 10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Defenestration! - Read a book you can connect to defenestration somehow (find it in the text, set in Prague etc)
Book/Author: In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead
Date Read: Jun 9
Page Count: 345
How It Fits: One of the MCs is pushed out of an open window by one of the other MCs.