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

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

I'll be having a close to the end/photo finish on my last book and will be one for checking in the other teams/locking Round 2 sheets.

So I'll be around at the very end to log if you end up being able to finish

I’d go ahead and finish. We could use a few more books for R2

As we wind down Round 2, can people check in on the thread with when they've read their last book?

It's a huge help to know if we captains need to wait on books before wrapping up the last spelling

Alright team,

with some books that came in last night and a quick read this morning of a really short book, we've completed an entire set of Gardening mini tasks.

3 of us had books on the Gardening mini before the shuffling (me, Susan, and Melissa). I transferred those to our new set of mini tasks. So those will certainly be used!!

But there are 27 open tasks now for a second go through the Gardening mini.

These only work for books finished from now (Nov 7) and onward as we can't bank books.

Lexi wrote: "If it my U, I’ll be done today"

Yes, it was yours :)

There's one unread U on the tracking sheet, assuming that gets finished it'll be the last U we need for R2.

But it's not read yet so unclear if it'll get done

Empire of Storms!

I think we are okay for Us for Round 2. The Spellshop has a U (and a V) character

Round 3 words are out. Starting Saturday afternoon our word will be:

INCOME TAX RETURNS

Melissa wrote: "I've finished Real Murders and it's on the tracking sheet. It does fit some Mini tasks but I think they are all covered so I've left the Main Spot blank in case you want to move things around."

I did some shifting and put it down for banana

Judith's BOM Tracking

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 5, Chapters 30-36

19. Although it seemed like all conflicts were resolved at the end of the last section, Radane’s (ex-)fiancé comes back and is looking for her. Were you surprised the story was taking another twist? What do you think about how all of that resolved?
Not really surprised since there was still 20% of the book. But it provided a tighten end to Radane's situation. These books always end with a happy ending, that's part of the point of them. So the resolution was fine with me.

20. Radane ends up returning Kiela’s parents’ cookbook to her and even fixed the torn out page. What would be in your parents’ cookbook?
family classics, lots of different canning recipes, baking as well as cooking. And game recipes from hunting (deer, rabbit, goose, duck, etc)

21. On Sunday I was at my friends’ place and had some of her stepmother’s raspberry and elderflower jam, which was delicious. What’s your favorite type of jam?
blackberry. strawberry. My son's life would be over if we ever can't get apple jelly.

22. The revolution was successful, Radane is free, Kiela gets to do her spells with the coven, the merhorses foaled, Kiela und Larran are getting married… everything is just peachy on Caltrey! How did you enjoy the book? What is your rating? Are you going to pick up more from Sarah Beth Durst?
I gave it 4 stars. It's a Cozy story, it is what it is and delivered what was promised and the writing was well done. I'd read other books by her but not rushing out to pick one up.

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?
It was silly but I think Kiela is really bad at being deceptive so it wasn't that surprising. And they all knew it was magic anyway.

15) Well these chapters were a whirlwind. What were your thoughts throughout the twists and turns?
Well it was a lot and now just curious to see how it all plays out. I wasn't expecting Radane to be who she turned out to be. But it was a happy surprise.

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)?
It was funny with random pokes by Meep. I think it would depend on the situation. I'd have fun being either.

17) Radane confisticated Kiela's family cookbook. What family heirloom do you value so much to keep protected?
I have a few things from my grandparents and from my mother that are precious but are studier than a book so the concern would be different than Kiela's

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 would say it's more Cozy Fantasy since there isn't much mystery in the story. but to the Cozy genre in general, I think they have their place. And like any genre are not for everyone. When I need a warm hug, I reach for a cozy because that's what they are for.

No worries, thank you!

Trinia,

When you get a chance can you add Comet's tale to your challenge shelf?

Thank you!

Keri wrote: "Sorry I’ve been MIA, I have been reading a lot just not much time to update. I’ve finished I think 3 more and have them on my shelf. If someone can add them great, or I will try and get them added ..."

Entered, you actually had 4 to enter :)

You have space for 2 more books in Round 2 before you hit your book cap.

Hmm, well I was sort of kidding about Radane being a ho as I hadn’t read past the end of section 3. So she’s barely been on page.

Your comment about her being not what you expected gives me hope!

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?
While winged cats are cute, my favorite so far are the cloud bears. I like their purpose and the description of them being the idea of a bear made from a cloud. Lovely.
As for something I'd like to see wandering around the island, my son draws interesting weird things. I'd like to see one of those pop off the page and tool around the island.

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
Snapdragons I think. They are a favorite and I think a sentient one could do so fun things. And in my head would be full of sass, so what's not to like?

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, of course not but a girl can have dreams of delusion I suppose. I don't like the emperor cares about much of anything since he was defenestrated. I guess the sorcerers would get around to noticing, but how much that matters I'm not sure I have a grasp of.

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
Clearly she's a ho and we aren't supposed to like her. I'm hoping that she's not too much of a stereotypical mean girl because that's boring.

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?
It seems very strange she's not mentioned it especially when Larren brought up going to talk to the emperor to petition for help. But her extreme avoidance is coming across as a trauma response. We know her parents are dead but I don't remember reading the circumstances. It just makes me wonder about what lead to her self imposed isolation, because it doesn't sound like that's always just how she was.

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?

10) If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?

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?

12) Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?

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?

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 think this world or empire at least had a lot of problems. I'm likely not going to get this answer, but I'm very curious as to the why. Why the emperor pulled sorcerers away from the far flung islands, what led to the breakdown in the capital city, is it power? other issues leading to resources being scarce? greed? A lot of questions but not sure how much those answers matter. I'm fairly certain Keila and Larren and destined to birth the chosen one who will fix all these problems.
I actually like that magic done in one area impacts another, especially something like weather. That seems very realistic. Or as least as realistic as it can be when talking about magic

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?
I think it's a better plan than anything I came up with. And I like that she's trying to help, even if it's in the most awkward way ever. I do think the magic spells part though is asking for trouble.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
Love on the spectrum cozy-fantasy-mystery style. As the mother of a (very young) son on the spectrum, I can sort of see these types of interactions in his future. And I mean that in the best way. I'm here for it.

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
Ilona Andrews, covers a lot of ground here! And their books are on a very short list of that I can reread and don't mind.

- 2 book series
Series #1: In Death because fun reads and it gets me like 60 books and counting.
Series #2: Riyria Series. Because I love Hadrian and Royce. Fight me. :P
- 3 standalone books from different genres, 1 must be non-fiction
Nonfiction: Some type of survival guide or a book of edible/medicinal plant identification for the area I'm in
- The Complete Works of Jane Austen. It's bound into one book, so it counts. hehe
- The complete Works of Sherlock Holmes. Again, bound into one massive tome = one book.

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?
I appreciate the non-info dumping. And I like how things on the island aren't jarring with her memory so the discrepancy between her memory and current circumstances is weaving in changes to the empire over time. Thought I'm hoping to learn more as the book progresses.

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?
If it's what someone really wants, it can certainly happen with today's technology.

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?
Part of it is probably plot. But to be honest her understanding of the details seem surface level because she isolated herself so completely. I can see her not being able to answer 75% of their questions about details. And I'm guessing there are some very strong rules about magic, knowledge, etc. all of which she stole in the spell books. So paranoid and scared on top of everything else.

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? :)
Medicine, Cooking/Baking, Romance, Mystery, and the biggest section being fantasy that I can keep all of those things alive and happy