Melissa’s Comments (group member since May 12, 2019)

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

We are off to Korea!
Deanna will do the fancy moving things around on the spreadsheet bit :)

Excellent - I'll check it in.

5. In this world, many choose enhancements that facilitate their selected jobs - and it seems like most have some sort of Monkey’s Paw negative effect as well. On one hand, an enhancement like Din’s enables his perfect memory, so he never forgets anything. On the other hand, he CAN never forget anything, even if he wants to.
If you were to be augmented with a skill/ability, what would it be and why? Alternatively, what, for you, would be the worst or most dreaded skill/ability you could get?

I've always wanted to sing well- I can carry a tune, but.... it would be fun to belt out a song and have it sound decent..lol

Worst? Maybe super smell
6. I thought it interesting that the leviathians are getting bigger every year, and that most of the special grafts and suffusions are from collected titian bits and bones. Do you have any theories about how this will come into play going forward?

I'm not sure. I originally wrote about a game - but that was from the other book I was reading - good grief...
7. “...I no longer formed normal memories. For a memory is just a sketch a mind makes of one’s experiences, imperfect and interpretive; yet what my mind made, from that moment on, was perfect, absolute, and endless.” Do you think this robs Din of the ability to be fully human, from the standpoint that one’s subjective take on the world around her/him is what makes a person "human"?

I don't think so. To some extent, it would be a relief to not be subjective and always have to rethink your experiences. It would be difficult to relate to others, but I don't think that subjectivity precludes wisdom of what to say and what not to say in a situation.

8. I’m enjoying the evolving relationship between Ana and Din, especially Ana’s humor. Despite Ana joking that Din had “lost his sense of humor in some tragic accident,” what is your take on the twosome? Do you think Din cheated somehow to pass his tests? Or do you think it's something else?

It seems that Din has dyslexia. He probably has all the skills, but just had a tough time reading. Ana and Din are so much fun to learn the story through.

Not a question - just a bonus:
This is the second BOM that has reminded me of Avatar: Ana blindfolds herself but the people around her tend to forget she can't see due to her acuity and presence, like when she asks Din a question and he nods his answer. Here’s a fun compilation of times when the earthbender Toph’s friends forget she is blind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9vZE...
😀

I can't see the video :( but I bet it is good!

Lexi wrote: " DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5
1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did yo..."

Do you recommend any of the three that you read over the others?

Yes, I think she is in a cliff by the sea? It's been a while since I read it..

DQs Day 1: Chapter 1 -5

1) Do you have any expectations going in? This book is one of the 6 novels up for the Hugo award for Best Novel this year: https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-hi.... Did you know that and do you try to read the Hugo books or winners or have no interactions with the awards?

I had no expectations going in. All I knew is that it was in the science fiction section of the library. I thought it might be a little stogy because of the cover. (I am delighted that it is not stogy)

I should try to read the Hugo books. I occasionally read one when our science fiction book club at our local book store reads one.

2) What do you think of the world building so far? Are then any particular details that stand out and if this is a reread, is anything standing out more on your re-read this early in the story? (please use spoiler tags if applicable)

I am loving this book. I love how (view spoiler)[ a plant killed the murder victim and that it is a contagion. (hide spoiler)] I love books that weave in science and the natural world.

It seems very similar to Earth except alterations that must have to do with the plot - grafts, suffusions, leviathans.. I really enjoy trying to understand the natural world as well as the "human?" one.

I am curious as to how they get around - walking I suppose - but how do they get at the leviathans?

3) So this runs right up to the edge/ crosses over into body horror between the murder scene and modifications to people? Do you read body horror or books with that theme in it? Do you have any favorites?

I enjoy books by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. I really enjoyed Mexican Gothic.

I love TKingfisher - there is body horror in their books.

I really liked The Spirit Bares Its Teeth - that was just fabulous. @Alysa - you might want to check that one out as it has gender as a theme.

I read The House of the Scorpion which has some body modifications / horror

The Hunger Games has some body modifications.

I guess I've read quite a few! I prefer it when the horror has a natural element to it rather than just human vs. human.



4) Does your version have a map? If it does, did you look at before reading or at any point when reading this first section? Do you like maps in books? (Map under spoiler if you were audio only)
(view spoiler)

I didn't look at the map until this question. I usually like maps in books.

Jhmingos wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Today was hectic; I finished my nigerian book. Not sure what I will listen to next, but will try to find something helpful"

How did you like The Death of Vivek Oji Alaina? I remembe..."

I was just thinking about this one also when I saw that Alaina read it. I thought it was really good too. The combination of mystery and the mc sexual identity, and the setting in Nigeria - that's what I remember really being interested in.

Have you read any of their other books?

I've read a couple. I thought Pet was really good - much different though.

MelanieJoy wrote: "Well I’m pretty sure I’m hitting a reading slump… nothing stands out to read…"

Your mind is probably on other things :)
Have you checked out the BOMs?
There are 2 new ones starting tomorrow:


I read this one - and really liked it. Jane Harper is a good mystery writer and uses the Australian landscape as a part of the plot.


I haven't read this one, but I signed up for the BOM questions - so I better get started :)

MelanieJoy wrote: "you guys are just cruising along! meanwhile it's taking me forever to get through the Sword of Kaigen. But I'm finally 72% through so I'm hoping to be done today or the next couple days.

I'm due ..."

Congratulations MelanieJoy!! That is fabulous. 😍

Works for me too!

PERFECTO!!!!

🎉🎉Excellent work everyone! This spell out has been completed with our banked books adding another 50 points!🚀 Books used have been added to both spreadsheets.

Standard reminder: Don't forget to put spell out letters in the Cheese column of the tracking sheet to facilitate completing the next barrage of cheese. (Most importantly please note any hard letters like I, O, U, Q, X, Y, or Z, especially if they are character names that I wouldn't be able to find on the Goodreads book page.)

I've got one UNESCO title, and one whose author is Polish. It's a beast, but I'm really enjoying it, so hopefully it will go relatively quickly.

Alyana wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Finished a book that works for ube. Picked up an audiobook for an author born in nigeria. Should have that done tomorrow."

Hi Alaina, saw your review for Arsenic and Adobo, I'm glad..."

Awesome :)
I started it! I will eventually read it, but I'll go to the other books and finish those first :)

Nice Alaina!! I’ve been scouring for those spell outs for a while now!

Cordelia, I read Wolf Hall a while back. There is a PBS show for Wolf Hall that is really good. I watched the first episode when I was about 2/3 way through the book and it helped solidify some plot points and characters. I would recommend it!!

Volunteering for Icono Tower

Jhmingos,
I've never read a Susan Ryland novel - they are now on my list :) (nice red cover too!)

Could you please put The Time in Between on your shelf?

Nice Uganda fine, Alaina! I have only seen the Bourne movies - are the books good?

I hit a bit of a lull in reading, but I think I'm picking back up again. I was inspired to read from all of the Central American countries, read a couple of memoirs that were fantastic, and one that was meh. I have one other memoir from Cambodia, but I'm going to stall on that until we hit our next itinerary.

I am reading Captain Vorpatril's Alliance which is a total leap from what I was reading - but our local book store is doing this for a book group. I picked up My Friends for the BOM, and hope to start reading that soon. I also picked up Arsenic and Adobo which is really fun (thanks for the recommendation, Alyana!) and I'm picking away at like 4 more books....

So I'm all over the place.

I need a plan.....

Good question! How are other folks doing?

Jhmingos wrote: "Good to know! I was thinking about doing that BOM."

Yes! I read that a while back, and I thought it was great.

Jhmingos wrote: "I'm not sure since the colors are muted, but does this cover look like it has blue, red, and white?
"

Yes! I see blue, red, and white.

We are officially in month 3!
Excellent reading in month 2.
We are in 3rd place!
Excellent work.