Aiswrya’s Comments (group member since Mar 30, 2020)

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

Tricia wrote: "Oh, and I can also confirm that more than 50% of My Name is Emilia del Valle takes place in Chile, so it could count as Chile or Peru! Just in case more people want to read it. :)"

Oh perfect, we’ll use it for Chile then. I have another Peru book on my TBR for later this month.

Tricia wrote: "Aiswrya- it's already in the ss under my name. It's assigned to mini #1 - Peru."

Oh there is a typo in the title, that's why my find didn't show me your row. It is this book correct? My Name Is Emilia del Valle

@Laura (sorry on the mobile app) - let’s see if we hear back from Robin soon. If we don’t hear back by the time you’re finished with project Hail Mary, could you take the book I assigned to her?

I just realized that we haven't heard from Robin in a couple days, hope everything is okay!

Tricia, I'll use your Emilia del valle for R - translator last name Riddle.

Tricia wrote: "I'm expecting to finish Emilia Del Valle today if that helps anywhere. Emilia starts with E. The translation is done by Francis Riddle so there's an R. And the audio narrator is Coral Peña so there..."

Oh, I didn't see this book in the SS against your name. I saw it against Tara's. Can you add it to the SS when you have a second please?

Also, any chance it might fit an "O"?

Tara wrote: "If Ashley can use The Tainted Cup for another task we can switch my Whale Eyes there (ALN: Robinson) - since it is a memoir, it's hard to find tasks for it to fit, sorry!"

Oh no worries, can you make a note in the SS that it fits the R spell out? And anything else, perhaps author's birth country or narrator (in case you read an audio book)? We'll move things around when we finalize tasks.

Discussion Questions Day 3

10. As we reach the halfway point I am seeing more and more similarities to the Amelia Peabody series. Is anyone else finding this. Does this affect your impression of the book?
I’ve only read the first book in the series, and don’t remember too much about it, so I can’t really speak to the similarities or the impression they leave.

11. We have been introduced to a number of Characters is there anyone that particularly stands out?
I’m still curious about Whit. I want to know more about his past and why he can’t go back to England.

13. Inez seems to be attuned to Cleopatra and sees some of her memories. If you could choose to see one memory of a historical figure whose memory would it be?
Oh, it’d have to be either Ashoka the Great or Akbar the Great. Growing up, these two emperors left a lasting impression on me, and I’d love to have more firsthand accounts of their lives.

Perfect thank you!

Tara wrote: "Jacqueline wrote: "I can cover one of the "O"s in ....pecorino! Reading " The Outsiders with my sixth graders."

Can you use Whale Eyes for R (ALN Robinson)? Finished yesterday.

And we can swap My..."

Swapped Friedns with benefits.

We can't use Whale Eyes. To qualify for this mini, books have to be finished on or after May 20th :(

Jacqueline wrote: "I can cover one of the "O"s in ....pecorino! Reading " The Outsiders with my sixth graders."

Perfect, need another O on top of Jackie's O

Alright team, this is what we have so far. I
1. Can you confirm you can get these books read ASAP (let's say in the next 24-36 hours)?
2. We need to find books for P and O
3. put this together based on the Books tab in the planning sheet. If you think you can read for one of these tasks, even if I've assigned it to another book, please go ahead and update the SS and drop a note here.

P Project Hail Mary Laura
E Friends with Benefits Tara Peace
C Murder at the Polo Club Aiswrya
O The Outsiders Jacqueline Adkins
R The Chilbury Ladies Choir Robin
I Iron and Magic Silje
N The Nurse's Secret Robin
O

Let's go!!

Laura wrote: "Do we have any books finished after this cheese was thrown? We can’t use any finished before the first cheese."

Correct - we need to read them ASAP. I'm just picking books that are marked unread in the SS.

I'm going through the SS now to see what existing books can be used. Be back in a few mins with what we need to read for.

Yes!! Here are the rules:

Books used for the cheese spell-outs can be used for one of the other Tower Teams mini challenges. Yes, you read that correctly. Books can be used for the cheese spell-out in addition to another mini challenge task.

◈ Each book read can only be used for one letter in the cheese spell-out.
◈ 'Banked' books, or books read before the given spell-out is announced can be used, provided they were finished AFTER the first cheese was thrown (20th May)
◈ Each book read can be used for one of the other Tower Teams mini challenge tasks.
◈ Books can be started at any point since the start of Tower Teams XI (17th May 9am UTC), but must be finished after the first cheese was thrown (20th May).
◈ The usual book length rules apply.
◈ The usual spell-out rules apply.
◈ Each cheese spell-out will have its own spell-out completion time that will remain a mystery. Partial spellings are accepted.
◈ Since spell-out completion times are a mystery, spreadsheets need to be updated as soon as a book for the cheese spell-out is finished. Any book not added to the official team sheet by the cut-off time will not count.
◈ You will gain 5 points for each letter you complete.

To add to Laura’s comment—it could also count for Chile, as long as the book takes place there for more than 50% of the story.

@Robin, I misspoke earlier when I said you don't get the +5 allowance on top of your monthly sign up number. You're capped at 65 bpm.

Jacqueline wrote: "I finished listening to my book early this morning.... My students are reading The Outsiders and The Lightning Thief in class. We just got underway, hopefully we s..."

Percy jackson was one of my favorite series growing up, so many fond memories!

Just add any books you're currently reading or pretty sure you'll read to the planning sheet. Link any open mini-tasks to them, and jot down other tasks they might help with in the "Other Tasks" column. The captains will shuffle things around if needed :)

Teddie wrote: "As I read that scene, I was just thinking “Make a fist, you fool!"..."

Same!! How did she not see that coming??

Discussion Questions Day 2
Part One, Chapter 6 - Part One, Chapter 12

6. In this part Inez spends some time with Mr. Hayes. What did you think of their afternoon in Cairo? Did you enjoy their banter?
I did! I was listening to the book while on a run and laughed out loud multiple times on the street like a crazy person.

7. After sensing familiar magic from an old trinket, Inez buys it and later has a vision of Cleopatra. What do you think this vision means? Do you believe Cleopatra’s burial site can only be found with Inez’s help?
Yes, I think so! I feel like the plot is going to lead to the box being reunited with the ring, and finally pointing us to the location of the tomb.

8. Every now and then, the point of view shifts briefly to Mr. Hayes. Do you enjoy these moments from his perspective, or would you prefer the story to stay entirely with Inez?
I like it—and the narrator’s voice is hot, lol!

9. Inez finds a letter from her mother, in which she suspects that Tío Ricardo is involved in illegal activities. Does this letter, along with the boat conversation Inez overhears, make you suspicious of Tío Ricardo? Or do you think he’s not responsible for Inez’s parents’ murder?
I'm torn. As I read the letter, I was ready to hate the uncle. But when he goes to her room to say goodbye again, I felt like he was genuinely trying to keep her safe. I'm 50/50 right now.

Anyone here a fan of sci-fi and want to take that task? I can move my LOTR to mini 1, if yes.