Tina ❣’s
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(group member since Mar 09, 2016)
Tina ❣’s
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from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.
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Oh cool! I'd definitely buddy read this if I can get a copy. I'll post again when I get my hands on one
Hi all! Welcome to the Tower Teams Challenge and to Hufflepuff! I'm glad to meet you all.I'm Tina from Australia. I'm at uni and I work a few days a week. I'm going to be busy with assignments and exams until after the 5th of June so I apologise in advance if I'm slow to respond or haven't read many books for this until after my exams.
Here's my shelf
May 08, 2018 11:20PM
Discussion Questions 4-5 May Chapters 13-326. We are halfway through the book, do you like the story? What about the characters, they seem to be developing more for me. Do you like how the author discribed the interactions between the two sets of brother and sister? What do you think of their relationships?
The story is okay so far. I think the boat challenge chapters were written well for what they are. I feel like the author is pairing Amari with Tzain and Zelie with Innan. It's weirding me out which makes me not like them much. I hope she chooses on pair to be together and not both. Also interesting that Amari and Tzain both don't have magic but the other two do.
7. There is a strong message in this book, one I knew before I started reading this book (read the Author's note at the end of the book) and I can see that. But also the parallel to the holocaust and what is happening all over the world with people being oppressed and punished for being different. Do you think the author has a bigger message?
It's a general 'don't kill if they're different from you' type of thing... magic, colour of skin, beliefs...
The boat challenge/arena challenge you see in history and in a lot of other books/movies/TV servies. I don't think it will ever stop being horrible but seen as entertainment for royals/elite/citizens/etc in fiction.
8. What do you make of Inan's struggle with his magic? Do you think he will eventually embrace it ? Will this affect his relationship with his sister? His father? Or his thoughts about Zelie?
I think it's as expected. He fights down his magic as he has been conditioned to think it's disgusting. He will eventually embrace it. It will affect his relationship with his sister but in a good way. I'm sure she'll help him become the Maji he's been chosen to be, just like Zelie will. I think she'll go for the more gentle approach where as Zelie will go for the hard, no-nonsense approach. I predict he will change his mind about killing Zelie and help her and her cause. He liiiiikes her.
9. There is a lot of cruelty in this book and it is described in detail, do you think it could be less or do you think it is necessary to get the point across?
I think it's necessary to get the point across. I think it just makes it clearer to the readers.
10. I'm going to repeat Cat's question about the magic system in this book, because we learned so much more about it's origin through the happenings at the Chandomble temple? What do you think of the magic system? Has the author put enough into it to make it believable? Do you like the overview of the Maji clans in the beginning of the book with the symbols?
I think the magic system is alright. I was actually happy to see a Maji of Animals at the start. I was not sucked into the whole magic system in these chapters but that could have been because I was tired.
I think that if someone was to create the bit in the book where Lekan (Olamilekan the Senator) tells us hotwthe gods got their magic, it could look pretty cool. Something like the Deathly Hallows narrative in Harry Potter. I love that scene.
May 08, 2018 10:53PM
Apologies for not commenting much. I have two assignments I've been working on which has stolen a lot of my reading time. Thanks @ Devann for pointing out the break day! You've given me more time to finish this bookI still should be able to post my questions by the end of the 10th (+10 EST).
Thank you!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS◈ Q: Do we need to write reviews for the book to count?
A: No, you just need to have them marked as "read"
◈ Q: Do I post all of my books to a special shelf or just ones as I read?
A: Your choice. Some captains may like just all "read" books on the special shelf, so just check with them once teams are assigned
◈ Q: What does it mean "Participating in a BOM" ? Answering a set or comment? Or do we need to answer all days to get the 20 points? Or is a 20 points per set of questions?
A:Provided you add to the discussion at some stage through the book. It doesn't need to be answering a set of questions if that doesn't appeal to you. You may just pop over and give some thoughts at different stages. It is just one set of points per book. However you do need to interact with others in the BOM thread for it to be considered “participation”.
◈ Q: To get points for a buddy read, does it have to be one of the upcoming buddy reads or can it one that has already been done? Is there a limit to how many buddy reads you can participate in?
A: You can request a new buddy read is set up ; the "buddy reads request" thread is the best place to find a buddy.
There is no limit to the number of buddy reads you can participate in, but there does need to be some participation. If someone requests a BR and then just says "oh I liked that book", then we wouldn't consider that participation. As with the BOMs, you do need to interact with others in the BOM thread for it to be considered “participation”.
◈ Q:Can we get the points if let's say we read a book that has already been done but go to the thread to answer the old questions or discuss our thoughts? An already done BOM or buddy read?
A:We are looking for some kind of discussion and input with others, so that can include past BOMs and BRs provided that you get someone interacting with you. Going back to an old thread and just leaving a sentence or two isn't really what we are aiming for as TT should be about interaction and discussion of books.
◈ Q: For page counts, do we use the most popular edition on GR or the edition that we actually read?
A: Edition you've read.
Default edition will be used for audiobooks and large print editions
◈ Q: If you read a BOM or a buddy read do you get points for the book size (say 5 if's 150 pages) plus additional as its a BOM or buddy read? (Say 30 if it's a buddy read) would equal 35 points? Do I have that right?
A: You get points for page count with or without BR/BOM points. BR/BOM points are extra points.
◈ Q: One of the scheduled upcoming Buddy Reads is a book I recently read a couple months ago. I realize that I can't get points for this book since I read it prior to the challenge start date, but if I participate in the discussion can I get points for participating in a Buddy Read?
A: To try and keep things simple points count for BRs and BOMs once the book is marked as "read" by the member. This would mean the answer to your question is 'no'.
◈ Q: I know this has been mentioned a million times but I just want to clarify -- if we read a past BOM (*not* buddy read) and actually go through and participate in the Q&A that are posted, we get points? Or do we only get them if an opposing team member plays along with us? And if it has to be an opposing team member, do they have to be new to the BOM, as well, or could it be someone who has read the book and answered the Q&A already but are now sharing in a discussion with myself/whomever?
A: Yes, if you go to a past BOM and answer questions, it would 'count' if someone else pops up and interacts with you. This could be a past reader of the book, or a new one. I think you will find most of the mods will interact with you.
◈ Q: If I have to abandon a book because I just can't get through it - does my Team still get points for the pages I've read? Say, the book has in total 600 pages. I've read 405 pages before I've abandoned it - does my Team get the 20 points?
A: No, sorry, it is only books marked as "read" that count. So you either need to bail out of the book early or push through to the end!
◈ Q: Do characters in non-fiction books count?
A: Typically no. For example, if it is a historical account of WWII and the story is about Winston Churchill, he is not considered a 'character'.
Exceptions would be something like a memoir, ( e.g. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness) where someone is recounting events and situations ; then it is possible there would be characters.
◈ Q: Where there are multiple authors, can they be used?
A: If attributed on Goodreads, then yes. For example, Eternity's Wheel. Where it is a book with a collection of stories and Goodreads shows one author as the "editor", then you can only use the editor. (e.g. Dog is My Co-Pilot: Great Writers on the World's Oldest Friendship)
◈Spells
For the letters X, Y and V, you can also use translators names and or audion narrator names, providing the edition you are reading allows for it.
Meaning, you'll have to read the translated version to use translator's name or listening to the audio version to use the narrator's name.
WINNER CATEGORIESOrdinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.)
Highest number of books read by the end of the challenge
Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test (N.E.W.T)
Highest number of points by the end of the challenge
(view spoiler)
Hogwarts House Cup
House scoring higher at the end of the three Quidditch Matches
Tri-Wizard Tournament Cup
Team with the most points won on the Tri-Wizard Tournament at the end of the challenge
📖
Classes and Spells
Classes
We're going to attend classes. That means maybe you'll have to transform cups into mouses, transplant baby mandragoras or brew potions, among other things.
Astronomy
Use of telescopes to chronicle the stars and the movement of planets. Its homework, assigned by Professor Sinistra, involved learning the names of stars, planets and moons and filling in blank star charts.
Read 7 books with a Celestial Element on the title per Hogwarts year
- List celestial object
Care of Magical Creatures
They study the life cycles of various magical creatures, some of which can be rather dangerous.
They learn to care for, feed, and manage the creatures, and also learn lore about them and how to use them (or parts of them) for magical purposes.
Describe your Magical Creature using book covers.
- List 5 body parts
- Using aspects from the book, tell us more about the Magic Creature (Classification, Localization, Feeding Habits, Uses)
Charms
Read Pairs of books that represent the Charm you are trying to master
Read two books per charm. Justify your book relation as well.
- Levitation Charm
- Cheering Charm
- Mending Charm
- Summoning Charm
- Banishing Charm
- Fire-making Spell
- Water-Making Spell
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Class for teaching defensive magic to students so they can protect themselves against the Dark Arts. Often simply referred to as DADA class
- Read 7 Pairs of books that represent the Dark Art and the way of defending against it per Hogwarts year
Example:
Book 1: Mentions a Dark Art / Creature
Example: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (Werewolves)
Book 2: Title contains a way of defense
Example: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Silver)
Divination
Divination is magic which attempts to foresee future events. Many in the wizarding world consider this branch of magic to be imprecise at best
- Read three books where a character uses fortuneteller/divination tools
- Read three books where a prophecy/vision is described/felt
- Read three to be published books (ARC/eARC)
Herbology
Herbology class at Hogwarts is the study of magical plants and fungi, including their care and their magical properties and uses
Repotting a baby Mandragora
- Dragon dung compost: Read two books with dirt, dung or compost on the cover/title
- Get a large pot: Read a brown cover book with 500+ pages
- Dragon hide gloves: Read two hardcover books
- Ear Muffs: Read two fluffy/chick-lit books
History of Magic
Consists of lectures on various aspects of magical history. It is extremely boring, but this is due to the teacher, Professor Binns’, teaching style, not the material itself, which seems to emphasize vicious goblin riots, goblin rebellions, and giant wars.
- Read one book per Hogwarts year
- Using the book titles above, write an essay for the class
Potions
Potions class is the study of potion-making
- Collect your Equipment (Cauldron, Knife, Mortar and Pestle, Scale)
- Collect the Ingredients (Salamander blood, Lionfish spines, Flobberworm mucus, Honey water, Boom berry juice)
- Brew The Potion (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green Turquoise, Indigo, Pink, Red, Yellow, Purple, Red, Orange, Yellow, Turquoise)
Spells
Start: May 12
End: July 31
This is a Spell-it-out challenge - For each letter read books with titles, series names, authors (first or last names) that begin with letters that correspond to the word you choose. You also can use main or secondary characters (first or last names, and also nicknames). You may ignore the indefinite and definite articles (a, an, the, etc.)
Here is the link to our spreadsheet for Spells
Spells
2 Points per letter
5 Points per completed word
-1 Point per missing letter
List
Accio
Alohomora
Confundo
Expecto Patronum
Expelliarmus
Lumos
Nox
Obliviate
Petrificus Totalus
Priori Incantatem
Protego
Riddikulus
Stupefy
Wingardium Leviosa
Obscure Spells
5 Points per letter
10 Points per completed word
-2 Point per missing letter
List
Sectumsempra
Morsmordre
Unforgivable Curses
10 Points per letter
20 Points per completed word
-5 Points per missing letter
List
Avada Kedavra - To be completed first
Cruciatus
Imperius
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📖 Quidditch Tournament
Start:
End:
Teams within same house will need to work together to select 7 players for the game. (3 chasers, 1 keeper, 2 beaters and 1 seeker). Each position will have specific rules and tasks to emulate a quidditch game. Is a speed challenge and it needs some planning and talking, and is quite dynamic.
Since we have 4 houses, there will be played 3 matches, that will last for a max of 2 weeks, or till the snitch is caught - whatever happens first.
Rules and points and game dates will have their designated folder. They will be posted soon. Stay Tuned.
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📖 Tri-Wizard Tournament
Starts: May 30
Ends: July 31
Three daunting quest to be done in order.
Based on the real Tri-Wizard (both book and movie). For each quest each team can chose which champion path to choose, or not, it all depends on the quest at hand.
POINT SYSTEMFor reading books
05 points = 100 and 160 pages (100 pages or 25,000 words is the minimum)
20 points = 161 pages and 350 pages
40 points = 351 and 500 pages
60 points = 501 and 650 pages
80 points = 651 and 800 pages
100 points = 801 and 900 page
130 points = +901 pages
📖 Book of the Month
For current BOM (Book of the Month) discussions
- Writing a day's worth of discussion questions = 40 points
- Participating in a current BOM (participating in discussion) = 20 points
(view spoiler)
Books of the Month
May
1. Children of Blood and Bone (May 1 - 10)
Tina
2. Lilac Girls (May 16 - May)
Brooklyn
June
1. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli (Young Adult BOM) (June 02)
Halli
Brooklyn
2. Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (Adult Sci-fi/Fantasy) (June 16)
Tina
Eunice
Teri
July
1. Mod takeover - Link to Rosemary and Rue, by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #1) Start: July 2
2. Link to I Hunt Killers, by Barry Lyga Start: July 12
3. Link to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris Start: July 22
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📖 For NBRC Buddy Reads
Participating in a buddy read with a member from a different team, or with a member of NBRC who isn't on a Tower Team = 30 points
Participating in a Harry Potter buddy read with a member from a different team, or with a member of NBRC who isn't on a Tower Team = 40 points
*There are plenty of Buddy Reads to look through in this link.
**You can request a Buddy Read here
May
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
These are all informal
Starts: May 12
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's (Sorcerer's) Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Starts: May 12
Book 1 is a relaxed buddy read; Books 2-9 are informal buddy reads
1. Magic Bites
2. Magic Burns
3. Magic Strikes
4. Magic Bleeds
5. Magic Slays
6. Magic Rises
7. Magic Breaks
8. Magic Shifts
9. Magic Binds
(view spoiler)
Welcome to Team Nymphadora Tonks!When
Starts: May 12th, at Midnight (WEST Time)
Ends: July 31st
Useful Links
Tower Teams VI Discussion
Owl Mail
All About Team Towers Challenge VI
Leaky Cauldron (Pre-challenge chat)
Scoreboard
Books Read Discussion Page (Post the books you've read here)
Our Planning Spreadsheet (You can also add your books here)
Classes Information
Spells Information
Let’s Play Quidditch
List of Buddy Reads Spreadsheet
Request a Buddy Read
Characters
TriWizard Team Tasks
Nymphadora Tonks Official Spreadsheet
Tower Teams VI Status
Huff Puff Houses:
Cedric Diggory
Newt Scamander
Pomona Sprout
Rules
(view spoiler)
Could a mod please open up Tonks for me to reserve some spots?
May 03, 2018 07:42PM
Chapters 1 - 121. What made you pick up this book? Do you have any expectations / hopes of it? (beyond being a good, entertaining read, obvs!)
I think the front cover sold me. Sometimes you just know you'll enjoy a book by its front cover. How intense is it?
2. We open up with some action, and it doesn't let up at all - do you like this break-neck pace, or is it sacrificing characterisation?
I don't mind it. I think it's always best to get your readers attention from the start. That is what happened with me. I'm sure as the book goes on we will know more about the characters. So far, I am still trying to get my head around the unfamiliar names and places and to understand the magic system which is slightly different from what I've read/learnt about in other novels. I think I need to take my time getting to know the characters so I can get to know their worlds.
3. There's 3 POVs - do you have a preference at the moment?
Zelie. So far, the prince's (Inan) is my least favourite POV. I just don't care enough yet. Nor do I care about the possible and most likely romance between Zelie and Inan. We shall see whether that changes.
4. What do you think of the setting & magic system, that we've seen so far?
I appreciate that at the start of the book, there is the guide to the Maji clans - 10 of them. I think more needs to be explained, though. But I guess not much can be explained when most people in the book have no idea how magic works and what they can do if they are Magi and use magic.
5. We end this section on a reveal - how do you see this playing out?
I think that certain person needs help on many levels. I can't really say as I don't want to spoil anything.
Book of the month MayChildren of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi( Young Adult Fantasy) starts May 2, 2018
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
1 Ruby Coin for half DQ participation
1 Ruby Coin for Writing Disscussion Questions
1 Ruby Coin for completing ALL days DQs within month of BOM start
May 01, 2018 10:25PM
I'd be happy to do DQ
Life Gives You LemonsCOMPLETED
Open Ended
Start: 01/01/18
End: 21/04/18
Book level: Lemons 25+ books
Adventure: Option 1 AND option 3
Progress: 29/29
One Coin upon reaching highest book level (Lemons)
Choose Your Own Adventure: Harry PotterCOMPLETED
Open Ended
Start: 18/04/18
End: 09/03/19
Level: Cursed Child
Read: 34/34
Option 3: Harry Potter Spell-it-Out
I'm going to give this a go.Start: 18/04/18
End: 09/04/19
Level: Cursed Child +25 books
Books Read: 34/34
Option: Harry Potter Spell-It-Out
Accio
5/5
A - Artemis by Andy Weir 17/05/18
C - Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray 26/05/18
C - A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray 05/05/18
I - Ivy (protagonist) Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins 22/04/18
O - Magical Influence 1 by Odette C. Bell 29/05/18
Episky
6/6
E - Ed (character) Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty 02/06/18
P - Primals by Lexy Timms 16/05/18
I - Deceptions by Isabelle Arocho 22/05/18
S - This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab 15/05/18
K - Runebinder by Alex R. Kahler 27/05/18
Y - The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon 06/06/18
Muffliato
0/9
M - Circe by Madeline Miller 30/05/18
U - Unbearable Arms by Aya Morningstar 03/08/18
F - The Fates Divide by Veronica Roth 13/07/18
F - Foundation For Three by Vella Day 05/06/18
L - Unlucky in Love by Lexy Timms 17/05/18
I - The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz 21/07/18
A - Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi 10/05/18
T - The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton 28/06/18
O - Over the Hills and Far Away by Kelli Jean 06/06/18
Nox
3/3
N - Secrets of the Lost Summer by Carla Neggers 31/05/18
O - On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta 08/06/18
X - Xoe by Sara C. Roethle 08/03/19
Salvio Hexia
11/11
S - Red Velvet: A Four of Fallon Novella by Zara Steen 19/04/18
A - Antigoddess by Kendare Blake 19/05/18
L - Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis 28/04/18
V - A Viking's Peace by Zoe York 18/04/18
I - Ice by M.S. Watson 21/04/18
O - The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson 30/06/18
H - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones 15/06/18
E - Intoxicated by Jeana E. Mann 12/05/18
X - The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan 14/06/18
I - Infinite Blue by Darren Groth 06/07/18
A - A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas 21/05/18
Apr 13, 2018 01:18AM
I'm keen to read this this in May!!
