Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

Sandra wrote: "Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Teams are up! Information about mini challenges has been added to the about thread!

Getting close to starting our world travels :)

Here's a spreadsheet of team distribu..."

Sign ups after May 3rd went on a reserve list. Though some already made it on a team.

If you just signed up today, you'll likely still be put on a team but it will be a few days as teams get sorted and players get replaced.

The captains of Team Belem Tower all happened to be around this morning, so we are ready for team check in :)

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hello members of team Belém Tower!

Most of you are familiar from around the challenge circuit, but for those that don't know me I'm Judith and captain of the team for around Tower Team trip around the world! I'm also one of the moderators of this group and partially responsible for this crazy challenge.

I hope everyone is looking forward to a fun few months together!

Over the next couple days Lexi, Erin and I will be getting everything sorted and ready to go for the start of TT next Saturday, including a tracking sheet. But since we seemed to be ready, we figured we'd leave the thread open and let people start to check in.

We have a few mini challenges happening, all which run the length of the challenge, so don't forget to check those out as well.

Happy Reading everyone!

.

Current Countries and open tasks for Mini 3: Korea, Canada

D


Red, Blue, White and Black on cover
character goes to the spa
letters SEOUL in title (any order)
MPG Science
character works in technology
K
O
R
E
A

Current Unclaimed Tasks for Mini 2:

Read a book where two people with different religions interact
Read a banned book
Read a book set in the time period "Post Modern"
Read a book with the sky on the cover
Read a book with an unearthly mode of transportation on the cover (i.e., spaceships allowed)
Read a book with a title that starts with one of the letters found in TRAVEL (Articles may not be used but can be ignored)
Read a book that is stand-alone
Read a book with the word highway, road, avenue or street in the title (Plurals are acceptable)

Important Links and Information

Spreadsheets
Tracking Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


General Links
General Rules
Pre-Challenge Chat


Resources
Cover Color: https://labs.tineye.com/color/
Word Count: https://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.a...
https://www.arbookfind.com.au/UserTyp...
https://www.arbookfind.co.uk/UserType...

Countdowns
Start of TTXI: https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...

Member Shelves
• Judith: tt2025
• Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*: towers2025
• Lexi: tt2025
• Cathy M.: tt11 belem tower
• Melanie: tower teams xi
• Susan: tower team 2025
• Diane: 00 nbrc tower teams
• Suzanne: 25tt
• Ashlee: towersxi
• Linda C: tower xi
• Maria Jo: tower xi
• Ann S: tower2025
• Steven: tower teams around the world

DQs - Day 4 - Chapters: Interlude VI: Past is Passed, Part II to XXIV: The Thief, the Fool, and the Gamble (Pg. 230 to 306)

13. After learning more about Fox D’Mora's past in "Past is Passed," how does it change what we know about his connection with Death? How do these past experiences affect the choices he makes in the celestial game?
I think it makes people's motivations clearer and why they needed Fox to play the game to prevent Volos from winning. I think?

14. How do the labels "The Thief," "The Fool," and "The Gamble" represent the main choices and important ideas the characters deal with in this part of the story?
It's the types of players they are in the game or immortality I guess. Or how they ended up as players in the game. I don't feel like I'm articulating my answer all that well.

15. As the game goes on, and Fox and Viola start to understand the parts they are meant to play, how do we see the struggle between destiny and their ability to choose for themselves? Do you think the characters can truly make their own decisions, or are their lives already planned out by a bigger story?
I think knowing what you want and having the courage to actually do it are not always easy. Especially if there is a lot of risk involved. I think characters can make their own decisions but they have to be willing to lose everything in order to do it.

16. What role does humour, especially Blake’s use of wit and irony, play in balancing the existential weight of the plot during these chapters? Does it serve to deepen or distract from the emotional stakes?
I think it's a way to view the heavy topics in a lighter way. But sometimes there is a bit much going on. Although I have a lot going on in real life right now and I might just being having a harder time than others focusing on all the details.

17. What is your opinion of how mortality and immortality are portrayed in these sections, particularly through the emotional stakes tied to Viola’s vampirism and Fox’s heritage? Do you think their supernatural identities helped protect them from human feelings like love and sadness, or did it make them feel more alone and cut off?
I think it's making them feel more alone and cut off right now because they haven't fully settled into their supernatural selves because of denial or other complicated reasons.

DQ Set 3: XV: Worse Than They Thought to XIX: Roots

9. The scene where Gabriel and Rafael set Fox the task of saving the world was a fun piece of miscommunication and fundamental misunderstanding by the archangels of, frankly, everyone else. But sometimes humour can get in the way of plot and characterisation. Do you think this is a good balance or is something not working for you?
There are times the balance is a bit off for me and the chaotic nature of some sections of the book made it hard for me to follow. I decided to just go with it and try not to think too hard about things.

10. We get to know Brandt a bit more in both the present and past, and honestly it's confusing. Do you have thoughts on Brandt and what's up with him & Fox's history, including what Brandt might have given up in his various times at the tables?
I think Brandt was sent to befriend and spy on Fox to learn things about Death, maybe even how Death wins at the game or who has lost at the game and how. I think Fox is more closely tied to how Death plays the game than Fox realizes. I'm guessing Brandt wagered his relationship with Fox but not sure what else as I still don't understand a lot about Brandt.

11. We see Fox having to start reevaluating Death's relationship with him, on discovering of the "box of elastic bands" (the things we believe as a kid!) full of mementos. How does this tally with the voice of Death at the beginning?
Kids are gloriously naïve/dumb and parents take full advantage of this to survive. LOL. I think it highlights Fox is more important to Death than he likes to admit.

12. We are off on our mission, motley crew assembled, including Tom! Any thoughts on what will happen? Will Cal ever stop vocalising for Tom? Will Fox & Brandt get back together? Will they beat Death? Will Isis be serious and heartfelt at any point or is she all snark?!
I'm guessing they will defeat Death/win at the game because who wants to read a book about losers. F&B will get back together because that's the second chance HEA people love to cheer for. I hope Cal stops at some point or at least does it less off because it would make some scenes less chaotic with everyone talking at once. And Isis will be the Queen of snark forever.

Interlude I: Acts to XIV: Something Wicked (pg 81 to 156)

5.Vi and Tom interactions are so funny. With Tom doing his ghost thing to scare perspective buyers. Makes you wonder how much longer she will put up with him. After meeting the strange man Tom follows and meets (Brandt) who he gives a way into the house to steal as another level to stop the house sale. Vi has an issue and feels off, taking note of the pregnant woman more than she would like to. Do you think the strange man did something to her?
No, not really. I figured it was tied to the baby which relates to her form of supernatural vampire, whose specific term is escaping me at the moment. But they feed/are specifically attracted to babies.

6. My favorite character meet- Mayra Kaleka has been borne of wishes. With so many great quotes such as "Wishes are darker things than we imagine because they are so close to wants, and from there only inches from desires, and Isis asks, "what'd you wish for" with Vi saying "World Peace." Isis commenting that she "Should've aimed for something more likely, like calorie-free cheese." With that said what would be your wish?
Hmm, hard to say. And end to world hunger or poverty maybe. There are so many choices, it's hard to know the best place to start.

7. Death is missing, and Gabriel and Rafael have to investigate by going to his home. What did you think of his home in the Tree of Life?
Interesting and a bit unexpected. Though if you'd asked about my expectations, I'm not sure I could of told you any.

8. The games are setup, and we meet Volos, the King of Vice. How did he manipulate the emotions of the immortals?
Some mix of pride and greed I assume.

Bonus- Do you feel immortality would be a gift or a curse that corrupts those who possess it?
I think corrupt in some form after a long enough period of time. Humans are meant to live forever.

No, teams haven’t been announced (or even finalized)

We put the empty threads up since Goodreads limits how many threads we can add an hour.

Teams will be up by the end of the week so everyone can get sorted and ready to go for May 17.

*starts developing an extra mini challenge for funs-ies*

Melindam wrote: "Denise wrote: "I'm cracking up at how long we've kept this gin/wine/cheese topic going. 😂"

While our Ingenious Mods are listening with innocent smiles on their faces and taking inconspicuous notes..."

I beg your finest pardon?



hehe!

Thank you Rina, that sounds great. And that timing is more than fine.

I'm glad people are enjoying the read! I always hate it when my nomination turns out to be a bit of a dud.

Sure! How about you take Day 4 and then that’ll leave the last day for either another late arrival or I’ll take a second day.

Thank you Preeti!

DQs Day 1

1.) Well, that interlude was certainly one way to start the book. Are you thinking it was Tom's murder? What tone did that set for you for the book?
Maybe, or some thing related to Tom's curse/death in some way I'm guessing. I think it set an irreverent and fun tone for the book and not to take things overly serious. I'm expecting this to be a fun ride through the story.

2.) Do you enjoy having Death as a character? Do you have other books you'd recommend that have Death as a character?
Death can be a fun character and I like when it's tongue and cheek and not doom and gloom. Discworld of course comes to mind as does The Book Thief. Though in Book Thief it's a heavier topic and not so much in good fun.

3.) What do you think of the miscreatures support group? If you were a supernatural creature of some sort, would you want to join?
I think that group sounds great and I would totally want to join in Vi's situation.

4.) What a fun and colorful cast of characters we have so far. Any favorites this early on? Any you are hoping for more of a backstory on?
I want to know more about Isis. I like all of the characters so far, they seem fun in their own ways.

DQs Day 1

1.) Well, that interlude was certainly one way to start the book. Are you thinking it was Tom's murder? What tone did that set for you for the book?

2.) Do you enjoy having Death as a character? Do you have other books you'd recommend that have Death as a character?

3.) What do you think of the miscreatures support group? If you were a supernatural creature of some sort, would you want to join?

4.) What a fun and colorful cast of characters we have so far. Any favorites this early on? Any you are hoping for more of a backstory on?

Sign ups from here on out will be on the reserve player list

Beth wrote: "I signed up a few weeks ago, but life is getting busier and I need to withdraw. Have fun, all!"

thanks for letting us know!