Ashley’s Comments (group member since Apr 27, 2022)

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

Roe! I put your book Where's Molly (H.D. Carlton) on the Garden Mini, but I noticed it has "PANTS" in the text, so if you know of a Relax Mini task it fits, please let me know or switch it!

Volunteering for Overdue Bill :)

Vicki wrote: "Hey, Ashley, I don't think it matters but I just realized that I put the wrong date on my last book I read today, In the Likely Event. I finished it today, the 23rd but I put the 22nd. I did finish..."

It's ok, if asked about it I will let the mods know what occured.

Roe wrote: "I am completely geeking out because Stacia Stark commented on my IG!!! I love her Kingdom of Lies series?!!"

How exciting! That series is on my (just unmanageable) TBR, but I haven't read any yet.

Ok everyone! That's it, on to Round 4!

Ashley wrote: "Roe wrote: "I still have like 80 pages left of Wheres Molly so I probably wont get it done by 3 :("

Do you have the Quilt reference for Everything Is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)?"

I found it! google to the rescue!

Roe wrote: "I still have like 80 pages left of Wheres Molly so I probably wont get it done by 3 :("

Do you have the Quilt reference for Everything Is Illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)?

3 Hours : 21 Minutes and COUNTING!

If you have a book you're last minute adding to the SS, please post here and let me know, so that I can run to the SS to add it!

Thank you! Great round everyone, it's was our most read books so far!

Cathy M. wrote: "Oh wait - not sure why Love at First Psych was added for me. I didn't add that to my shelf for a reason so please remove it."

Will do! I added it when I was verifying books, as we had a hole to fill, but that shouldn't be a problem now, since other's have added books! Sorry to mess you up!

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Mods, is this one of the counted BOMs? I didn't see it on our main tracking sheet, and (for whatever reason) didn't think/see that it was a part of the challenge, and wasn't monitori..."

Got it! Thank you!
I take full responsibility for missing ALL the notices about it!

Team - I don't know how I blacked out on this Bonus BOM, but here are the details, in case you want to read it for the Challenge... I'm feeling really dumb!

📅 November Bonus BOM
DQ Start Date: 22 November
Answer By Date: End of challenge
Title: The Secret History, Official Page Count 629
Discussion Thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Moderators of NBRC wrote: "We notice that Carrie, who had the first set of DQs for The Secret History, hasn't posted them. They have until the end of round 3 to post the DQs before the baton passes to the next team.

We have..."

Mods, is this one of the counted BOMs? I didn't see it on our main tracking sheet, and (for whatever reason) didn't think/see that it was a part of the challenge, and wasn't monitoring it. I apologize. I will message Carrie and see if she can hurry up and post.

I would do so myself, but I haven't read the book.

Vicki wrote: "According to the countdown clock we have approximately 26 hours left to read/post our books. Can we start immediately after that time if we read a book but wait to finish it until that hour is pass..."

Yes, Books must be finished after November 23rd, 9 PM UK time, but we can use any books started since the beginning of the Boring Life Wheel challenge, as long as they are finished after the mini begins!

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?

Honestly, the sentient plants are my favorite, I'm loving it.

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

Caz seems to have it all going for him (it?)... long thin leaves that act as arms - excellent. I think I would just like to clone Caz.

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?

Of course not. Her attempt is ridiculous and counter-productive. I can guarantee that the only person who would be annoying is Fen-stupid-head. Everyone else would be lining up for spells. Besides - the cloud bear spirit things would probably just eat anyone who messed with her.

And, I think the people in power at this point have enough to deal with.

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

Lots of trouble - but most of it will be HER OWN FAULT for not telling the truth to begin with.

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?

I agree, it's definitely a trauma response, for all the reasons you listed. I couldn't add anything!

Hey team!
Exciting news! We've got ANOTHER optional mini-challenge called "Time to Relax". It kicks off on November 23rd at 9 PM UK time and runs until the end of the main challenge.

Challenge Details
We must complete all three existing mini-challenges at least once before starting this one. WE HAVE, so we can start as soon as the Mini begins!

Reading Tasks
There's 25 reading tasks to choose from, each worth 5 points.

Bonus Points
✨ 5 extra points if a book contains the word "PANTS" or "CHIPMUNK"
✨ 25 bonus points for completing the entire mini-challenge

Rules to Remember
✨ Books must be finished after November 23rd, 9 PM UK time
✨ All books used for this mini must also count towards our spell-out challenge
✨ We can use books started since the beginning of the Boring Life Wheel challenge, as long as they are finished after the mini begins

You can read the full rules: here

Excellent!! Thank you! :) :)

The Feeding the Fam Mini is complete and can be restarted!

Vicki: I'm assuming you added your book after Apoorv did. Can you confirm and if so, go ahead and add the info for the word in text, Thank you!

DQs Day 4: Ch 11 to 13

14. How do you like Poirot's style of revealing what happened? Do you enjoy reading whodunnit mysteries?

I liked this better than some other's I've read, but overall, I'm not a huge fan of whodunnit's.

15. The mystery has been unraveled and we now know what happened to Mrs. Inglethorp. Have you guessed who it was or were you surprised?

I actually was surprised, although I had no idea who it might end up being. Agatha did a nice job throwing us off by leaning so far into Mr. Inglethorp.

16. Is there anything you would have changed about the narrative? Something you didn't like? If so, here's your place to rant :)

Nah.

17. If you haven't already, would you consider picking up another Hercule Poirot book or any other of Agatha Christie's works?

Perhaps, as Reading Challenge fillers!

DQs Day 3: Ch 8 to 10

10.) Any guesses about "find the extra coffee cup and you can rest in peace"? Does that fact Lawrence found it indicate guilt or innocence do you think?

I'm leaning towards it being a red herring.

11.) With books as old as this, some language/terms just do not age well and can be jarring to randomly come across in the text. Should language like this be censored/edited to match less offensive terms of the times (though not sure there is a correct way to say a lady dressed up in blackface). Or should they be left as is and used as a point of discussion on race/sexuality/class/gender/etc?

I think it doesn't do us any good to censor history, even when it is negative. We cannot learn from things we don't know about, or refuse to accept and I think using moments like this are a good way to discuss why it is offensive, why it was acceptable then (was it?) and why it isn't acceptable now.

However, depending on the terms used in books, I think it's acceptable to offer a warning at the start of the book.

12.) Lots happening in the section, arrests abound! Do you think John was arrested for his step mother's murder or for some other reason like Dr. B?

Well, I am not sure I have an opinion here. It could be just another way to further the plot.

13.) What do you think about our narrator and giver or random marriage proposals, Hastings?

He's a good clue placer for the audience.

DQs Day 2: Ch 5-7

6. Poirot is concerned because Cynthia does not take sugar in her coffee and calls back to when he tasted all the coffees, but it’s never expanded upon. We later find out that the poison was likely administered in coffee and that it has a bitter taste that coffee could mask. Do you have any theories as to why Poirot put such importance on “Cynthia does not take sugar”?

The fact that Cynthia doesn't use sugar in her coffee means she would be more likely to notice any unusual flavors. This could be relevant if something was added to her coffee.

7. Witnesses have testified to overhearing an argument between Mr & Mrs Ingelthorp the day she was murdered — but Mr Ingelthorp claims they are mistaken. Do you believe he is truly the one who was having the argument, or do you have any other suspicions? Poirot certainly thinks he is innocent and claims to be able disprove the other claim (about him buying the poison) — does that sway you at all?

It seems unlikely, although maybe they argued over a certain escorted lady...

8. Most people seem to believe Mr Inglethorp is guilty (ESPECIALLY Evie), while Lawrence seems to believe the death came by natural causes, and Mr. Inglethorp doesn’t seem to have any theories at all except to believe it was murder but never pointing fingers at a suspect. I have to admit, I expected more finger-pointing from this group! Have any characters’ reactions so far stood out as peculiar to you?

At this point, I think there could be a conspiracy to have this woman killed by all of them - they are all somehow responsible and Alfred is the easy mark.

9. One of my favorite things about mysteries is trying to figure out what happened before it’s revealed. Are you trying to solve the murder, or would you prefer to be surprised by the eventual reveal? Do you feel like you’re usually good at solving the mysteries, or do they evade you?

I prefer to listen and let it be revealed. I often to guess correctly long before the end with movies, maybe because there is more input to dissect, but I am usually more surprised with books, and I enjoy a good surprise. Frankly, if I can guess the end, I'm usually already bored.