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

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

Will there be a restaurant rocks challenge this year?
I really like that one :)

Saar The Book owl wrote: "No, but I've got some activities planned and some chores that need to be done."

That's probably perfect. I'm doing chores too on my vacation - things pile up! Literally and figuratively...
I hope your time off is good :)

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I think I can squeeze in 2 or 3 more books this month. It's my last week at work and then I've got 3 weeks off."

Nice. Are you going to go anywhere for your vacation?

Some more 🐿️🐿️
10 Commandments - "Don't covet" - Read a book that you've been really wanting to read (any justification valid here, really!)
Film 10s - Ten Little Indians - Read a book that shares a title word (singular indian is OK)

DQ Day 2: Chap 7- 13

6. This section starts with two scenes with each of the male love/lust interests. The comparison of them continues very clearly. Do you like Xaden or Dain better or neither?

Yeah, neither. Xaden is too much of the bad boy trope. Dain - my lord - he is bothersome.

7. Violet uses alternative methods to survive the fighting challenges. Do you think that counts as cheating or using the resources available? Do you think she is aware that she only has this information because she comes from a privileged background and her sister count sneak in it? Do you think one of the professors should have noticed after 5 rounds?

This place doesn't really seem to be based on high morals - with death being so casually accepted. If someone can just kill her and get away with it - as she fears - I say anything goes with the other competitions.

8. The obstacle course is straight out of American Ninja warrior (and other similar TV shows) including ending with the giant ramp. Did you enjoy this section and how Violet figured out working with her height limitations? Have they told us how tall she is? (Though in real life, the shortest person to make it up the wall has only been 5’1” – I just Googled it).

meh
I prefer originality in these types of things. The 4th Harry Potter had very creative games for their contestants - I hoped for something that would speak for the land and the natural dangers around them. Or maybe the dragons would participate? Or something different.

9. Finally, we meet the dragons. Was it all you were hoping for? Did anyone guess the black one when it was first introduced in this section? (Also, I am not taking the fall seriously at the end of my section since we still have 2/3 of the book to go).

I like the dragons! I really liked it when the two green ones snuffled Violet, smelling the dragon scales of her tunic.

Bonus: If you could have a dragon from any book or movie, which one would you want?
Temeraire (Naomi Novak books) because he likes to read :)

Nistha wrote: "For books featuring DEATH, do we need an actual character ft death? I read a paranormal thriller featuring ghosts and investigations of 2 deaths - will it work?"

Hmmm... I'm not sure. Let me ask the captains.

DQs Day 1, Chapters 1 - 6

1. As someone who grew up with the Pern books, I love diving back into a world with dragons and dragon riders. And this one has extra bonus Gryphons, apparently!
Do you have any first impressions of the main characters (Violet, Dain, Rhiannon, Xader) and the world building? Do you want to know more?

I'm liking it so far. I did not read the Pern books when I was younger, but I have read Naomi Novak. I also really loved The Priory of the Orange Tree, so I'm ready for dragons!

The world building seems similar to Divergent to me - although it is interesting that her mother put her in with the riders, and that it was not her choice. I really like Violet. I like how she's all brains, not so much that she's small and weak, but the brains part is good.

Rhiannon is great - a steady friend. Dain is a bit much - someone's going to have to take him out. Xader, yuck. I really hope she doesn't "fall for the bad boy." Maybe another character will come along?

2. What do you think of Violet’s mother and sister? Any idea about why her mother chose to order her to the Rider Quadrant instead of the Scribe Quadrant?

Violet's mother is awesome - not that I think she's nice or anything - more a Lady MacBeth with kids. I've read a lot of books lately with the saintly mother that died of cancer; I'm ready for a nasty one.

I love her sister - and the bond she shares with her under the tyranny of the mother.

3. The brutality of the selection process and the casual acceptance of murder is something else. What do you think the purpose of it is? (If there is one beyond societal norms.)
Would you have given your boot to a stranger?

It's a little weird. Again, kind of like the book Divergent. It seems like there is a general undercurrent of rebellion and mutiny within the riders. I guess that gives a continual antagonist to Violet. If that's it, it's not the most clever story builder, but I'll go with it.

I would have probably given my boot. But I think Jack would have gotten me, because I would have been hanging onto the rocks for dear life. I'm not a big fan of heights.

4. So this is a world at war, but at the battle briefings at least, they don’t seem to know why the outer provinces are currently attacking the borders. Any ideas about why this is happening?

I'm not sure. There must be some resource they have, or maybe it is some revenge plot. Maybe the mother is some long lost relative of some evil king (okay, that's a stretch, I know).

5. Do you think that Violet will survive and get chosen by a dragon? If so, any predictions on what kind?

I assume so?
I hope a witty one.

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Managed to finish another 400 pager

It is school holidays and kids wanted to go to a trampoline play centre so while they jump I get to read 😊"

Perfect!

Amy wrote: "I'm reading Cloud Cuckoo Land which will count for a 600+ one! I don't think I've added it to the sheet yet so wanted to mention it here."

Excellent!
I listened to that at 2.0 speed and lost some major plot points along the way.... Good thing I was in a book group that helped me put the pieces back together!

Beth wrote: "I am traveling and can’t update the spreadsheet but yesterday I finished The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet which has 320 pages..."

Just recorded it.

Amy the book-bat wrote: "finished elephant book"

That looks like a lovely book. I'll have to pick it up sometime.

It looks like we'll need a few more 600+ pagers! Anyone have a tome or two kicking around?

I think I have a Ken Follett somewhere...

I just found the History of the UAE for a 🐿️ task, so I'll be bouncing between (among!) books!

Saar The Book owl wrote: "I've noticed that you're reading Wilding: Returning Nature to Our Farm. I've been wanting to read this for weeks now! What are your thoughts on it?"

I've just started it. It's really interesting - she is writing about how the landscape of England has changed in the past 50 years, with more commercial farming. She writes about the turtle doves, and their decline due to lack of hedgerows and "weedy" plants. She ties this to the track of land she bought just outside of London, and how, with letting the land go, she has seen 10 pair of turtle doves just within a few years.

I think I'm going to like it! It's well written. I would be interested in your impressions :)

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Saar The Book owl wrote: "Louise wrote: " New Wheel Tadks

Read a book you can connect to an elephant
Read a book you can connect to elves
Read a book you can connect to cats
Read a..."

I love it :)
Cats are the best. (well dogs are great too)
Do you have any cats? I have 2.
🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

New 🐿️
10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Bizarre Shelves! Read a book shelved Weird, with at least 10 tags

Well then!

Beth wrote: "My book also has 2 people on its dark blue cover -- use it where you like!"

What did you think of Only Bad Options? I liked it! I don't remember it really well, but I remember I liked it more than I expected to.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Louise wrote: " New Wheel Tadks

Read a book you can connect to an elephant
Read a book you can connect to elves
Read a book you can connect to cats
Read a book you can connect to The Librarian (an..."

I love all of your cat books :) Have you read Nala's World: One Man, His Rescue Cat, and a Bike Ride around the Globe?

🐿️
X-Rated - Read a book with two people on the cover
10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Defenestration! - Read a book you can connect to defenestration somehow (find it in the text, set in Prague etc)🪟🪟🪟🪟