Brie’s Comments (group member since Mar 04, 2015)

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

Ema, Hamlet DOES count :) have fun re-reading!!!!

Awesome. I'm starting green cover now. It'll be my commuting book ;)

I can tackle green cover if you can tackle mermaid. My green cover option is 10 hrs long so I don't know how quickly I would finish it...Probably by Wednesday night or Thursday?

Perfect. Anyone tackling the mermaid goal?

Valentin wrote: "Book: Dinti albi
Author: Zadie Smith
Pages: 567
Points: 60
Date Finished: 2nd of December
Goals: none"

Valentin, you must mark the book as "Read" on your shelf or the spreadsheet will not be able to upload it. Thanks!

Ema wrote: "Could Shakespeare's Hamlet count as a book with the phrase "there is a method to my madness" ?
The idiom is practically based on this line from Hamlet:

"Though this be madness, yet there is method..."

I will ask, Ema! That is a great question! Technically, the meaning is the same!

HOLIDAY CHALLENGE UPDATE

ERIN completed December 3rd's goal "Read a book with a holiday in the title" by completing The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre!!!

DECEMBER 5 GOAL
Read a book with a green cover (10 pts)

Discussion Questions for December 4, 2015
Chapters 6-7

Q11. Once on the carousel ride, Shadow now can see who Wednesday/Odin, Mr. Nancy/Anansi, Mr. Czernobog/Bielebog. Did you see this coming or know these men were gods?

Yes, I was sure. I didn't know WHICH gods they were, but I knew they were gods. I LOVED the description of their physical godly appearances!!! They were all so crazy and non-human hahaha

Q12. Wednesday gave a speech about the new gods, did you see the kids that bound Shadow up as the new gods of credit card, freeway, internet, etc. Does this give you an idea of what will come between the old gods and new gods?

I'm kiiiiind of over the whole "new gods are technology" thing. It was interesting at first with the scene in the limo, but now it's becoming almost TOO obvious and that subtle symbolism is gone. I don't necessarily like it when I feel like an author is so BLATANTLY throwing me symbols and themes, then asking me, "See what I did there? You get it??? Huh? Do you???" Duh, dude. Obviously I get it. Calm down.

Q13. Laura came to save the day for Shadow. Did you see this one coming (lol the guard in the cell alone with his magazine)? Do you think Shadow will find a way to make Laura alive again?

I still do not trust Laura. I think she is out for herself. It's like the one night sister said, "Have you tried asking her what she wants?" She wants to live again. I think Shadow will ultimately have the power to bring her back to life (all of these coins and tricks have to mean something), and I think he will end up being a god himself.

Q14. Should Shadow take Lucille Ball/Technology/new gods offer and switch sides?

That was...dumb. That whole scene was just dumb. If Shadow is seriously tempted by that then he is just...dumb. Dumb!

Q15. We are now a little past the quarter of the book. Are you enjoying the book? Is it what you thought it would be? Are you enjoying the humor in the book? Do you like the little side stories between some of the chapters?

I like the book A LOT!!! I will admit, it's pretty easy for me to put it down and move on to something else every once in a while, which says something I think. It's not the type of book I have to power read because I'm so engrossed. I LOOOOOVE THE SIDE STORIES!!! And I'm enjoying the humor for the most part. This book is putting me in the mood to read up on the history of folklore and mythology.

Yaaaaaaaay!!!

Tima, only one book can be used per goal and Coraline was used for "Read a book that contains the word 'leek.'" You can read whatever you want!!!

Erin, I'm so glad you're enjoying it!!!

HOLIDAY CHALLENGE UPDATE

DECEMBER 4 GOAL
Read a book with the word Santa in the text (10 pts)

GOAL UPDATE

1. Read a book where MC uses puns/jokes all the time -- The Magician's Land (Corey)

2. Read a book that is book 10 or more in a series -- Treachery in Death (Megan L)

3. Read a book with a season in the title (Spring, Summer, Fall, Autumn, Winter) -- One Summer (Natalie)

NEW GOAL
Read a book with a Number over 50 in the title (can be spelled out)

***We only have 15 Goalless Books left! Let's start power reading so that we have some backup options for goals ;)

YAY TEAM!!!!

Corey wrote: "In Magicians Land one of the MCs, Josh is always joking and/or using puns. I don't know how much of their dialog they want for hat but I think it fits."

Awesome! That's all I need :)

GOAL UPDATE

1. Read a book with the phrase "it takes two to tango" in the book -- BOON (like it never existed)

2. Read a book with the main genre (listed on the first page on GR) as Historical Fiction -- In the Skin of a Lion (Farhad)

3. Read a book with the phrase "Whole nine yards" in a book -- The Distance Between Us (Philippa)

4. Read a book that is in the "Best Horror Novels" Listopia List (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...) -- Bird Box (Farhad)

NEW GOAL
Read a book where MC uses puns/jokes all the time

***PLEASE take a look at the spreadsheet to see which books are still GOALLESS and let me know whether or not any of your books would work for this goal.

@Philippa WELCOME BACK! Don't stress. We are all right where you left us :) Be sure in all your hustle and bustle to take time for yourself. Stay rested, it's important. and I agree with Erin, WE MISS YOU!

@Karen THANK YOU for completing our first 25 DAYS OF TOWER TEAMS GOAL!!! Whenever you can get to the cookie goal that would be great. Ugh I'm already behind on the BOM and I have to catch up before my DQ day comes up :O

@Tima NOOOOOO!!! We'll miss you come exam time :( But you better be studying and preparing!!! I will not allow Tower Teams to be the reason your schooling suffers.

Now somebody please feed me before I get hangry :(

So that St Valentines Day book can only be used for the holiday goal, not the stupid cookie goal. That cookie goal is driving me crazy!

Good morning team!

This book is free on amazon if anyone would like to take the plunge.....

The St. Valentine's Day Cookie Massacre

Discussion Questions 03 December 2015 Chapters 4-5

6. We meet the three sisters and Czernobog. Is Wednesday collecting the people for this meeting himself or is Czernobog the only one because he is difficult? Shadow is already making himself useful, do you think it was a smart move playing that checkers game?

I think Czernobog is different...I feel like he's going to be a reoccurring character throughout the book, especially because he owes Shadow a blow to the head. The checkers game probably WAS smart, as it seems like the only way of getting Czernobog to that meeting, but will come back to bite him in the ass.

7. I like that the gods and godesses and mythological beings mentioned in this book so far are based on real stories , this is what I’ve found on Czernobog, and the the Zorya’s although there seem to be only two sisters and is the third sister added by the author. What do you think of the group we have met? Are we going to see the sisters again?

I doubt we will see the sisters again. I get the feeling we are going to meet many many more gods/goddesses from around the world. Whether or not Gaiman makes a few of them up, I'm sure they are all inspired by real beliefs.

8. In the “Coming to America” part of chapter 4 we learn something about Cornish mythological beings and how they came to be in America. Do you think we will meet some in the chapters to come?

I don't really know...I don't think that's necessarily the purpose of the Coming to America sections (prepping us for a future meeting). I love these sections the most, they give us a little break from the story and I feel like I actually even learn something?

9. What did you think of Shadow’s Fortune ”Every ending is a new beginning. Your lucky number is none. Your lucky color is dead. Motto: Like father like son.” Does it mean something, is it a prediction of how the story will turn out? The House on Rock is a strange place, what did you think of it’s attractions? I’m curious what is going to happen with the carrousel, what about you?

The end of prison, the end of his marriage, of his life as he knew it, is the beginning of his new life. I'm still figuring out the luck comments (Shadow DOES seem to rely on luck a lot). I think Shadow is the son of a god. The House on the Rock is fascinating! I look forward to learning more about that. I also love that the "portal" if you will is a carousel!

10. What do you think of the writing style of this book? I feel like I’m constantly distracted and need to focus, but it is the writing style. I like the way that the story is told and you get to know new characters quickly. Is the book what you expected it to be when you started reading?

It is not what I expected, it's better. I happen to really enjoy this writing style, but once again maybe that's because I'm listening to the full cast audio. I enjoy darker stories, I am perfectly ok with foul language, and I especially love a story that has some history to it where I feel like I could research something and learn more about it. I'm relieved that I was assigned DQs for this BOM because I wasn't planning on going through with reading it if I wasn't, and now I love it!

BOON UPDATE

Ok guys...It's (basically) Friday and I have to use our boon by Saturday morning.

I vote to use it on either:
1. Read a book with the phrase "it takes two to tango"
2. Read a book with the phrase "method to my madness"

WHICH ONE do you vote for (if either)? If not one of these two, which goal do you vote we boon?

On the THIIIRD day of Chriiiistmas my mermaid gave to meeee ------------------->

READ A BOOK WITH A HOLIDAY IN THE TITLE (10 pts)

Yes friends! That means our December 3rd goal is to read a book with ANY holiday in the title (this goes for ALL cultures/countries/religions etc)!!! (It has to be a legit holiday...no grandparents day folks...)