Nistha’s Comments (group member since Apr 16, 2023)

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

Melissa wrote: "Nistha wrote: "Louise wrote: "New Chipmunk Task

Random 10 - Read a book with an X in the author name"

I read a book in June True Crime Story by Joseph Knox - not..."

I don't mind it in either but I thought we could not use June books for the wheel tasks, hence suggested the Chipmunk one.

Louise wrote: "Nistha wrote: "Louise wrote: "New Chipmunk Task

Random 10 - Read a book with an X in the author name"

I read a book in June True Crime Story by Joseph Knox - not..."

Added :)

Louise wrote: "New Chipmunk Task

Random 10 - Read a book with an X in the author name"

I read a book in June True Crime Story by Joseph Knox - not sure if it was logged / can be used anymore but just wanted to flag.

My participation for The Red:
Day 1 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I am reading Call Me By Your Name - it will fit the Chipmunks movie task

Melissa wrote: "I used Skye's shapeshifter book for the Pennywise one.
Now we have two or three new ones!
10 Things the Chipmunks Love - Twists! Read a book with a twist in the tale
X-Rated - Read a book with MPG ..."

You can use Rock Paper Scissors which I read for twist in the tale - there were far too many plot twists

Finished the Korea book - it was a really, really good read - Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982

Louise wrote: "New Task
Top 10 Books 2022 - Read book from the GR "Best of 2022" list (see https://www.goodReads.com/list/best_b...)"

I read I Kissed Shara Wheeler this month - dont think it is assigned to any task

Louise wrote: "Amy wrote: "If I've already read the upcoming BOMs for July, am I able to get points for participating in the discussions even if I'm not reading the books at the same time as everyone else? I did ..."

I had the same question. I read Carrie Soto Is Back less than 6 months ago but not during the challenge, that means I would not be able to participate in the DQs fo points right unfortunately?

Melissa wrote: "Hello Nishta! Nice work finishing City of Brass :) Let me know when you have finished the questions so I can link them to the spreadsheet. The links all go to the same page at this point."

Ahh my bad - here is the post to all my links
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...


Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs tracking

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5, 6

DQs Day 5
Chapters 19 - 23

19. In this section there appears to be a love triangle developing. Was this what you expected. Where do you see this going?

Yes, only from the start. At the end of the day, both the guys want to do what they think is best for Nahri, without telling her about the full truth. I do not like any of this angle.

20. Dara lets Nahri know about the King’s marriage plans for her. He lets her know that they can’t be together. Are his reasons valid or should Nahri put up more of a fight?

No, Dara is being stupid after giving her so much hope. He would have an answer to any fight she puts in as he is quite strong-headed.

21. Ali and Nahri both have a hidden agenda and are using their “friendship” to achieve that. Do you think they are aware of each other’s objective?

To an extent maybe? But I think they both realise it is now actual friendship and not just an agenda.

22. We learn that Ali has a separate agenda that the King is not aware of? Where do you see this heading?

Basically the fact that he is a rebel and also has a strong group supporting, more than his elder brother.

Qs Day 6
Chapters 24 - epilogue

23. Nisreen and Nahri have a very heated discussion after Nahri accidentilly killed a Geziri cleric. Nisreen believes that Nahri needs to be more thoughtful of her people and what she represents and wants to push her to become a bigger symbol to their tribe. Do you believe Nahri is too selfish or too close to "collaboration" with the Qahtanis and should have kept greater distance and shown more loyalty to her people?

I think all the 3 MCs in this book are arrogantly naïve - they think they are very great but actually lack political zeal. It is justified for Nahri to not trust everyone but she does not seem to think with her own mind - just going along with what either Dara or Ali are saying. Noone is black or white but you need to choose a side!

24. Ali clearly showed some magical connection with water, even before the Marid possessed him, that might come from his mother's side of the family. What are your thoughts on this hidden ability?

Yes, might be more hidden abilities to come.

25. What are your thoughts on the King's actions, e.g. exiling Ali. He seems to not want to order him killed, even though he knows the exile will bring about his death either way. Why could he not forgive Ali too and spin a tale in his favour like he did for Nahri?

He might have a bigger plan - he is one of the few who is acting smartly and who is playing the game properly. He also does not want unrest so might be the best decision to send the younger son away.


26. What an epilogue! Jamshid has a hidden identity, what do you think this means?

That part 2 will explore this more? It would be an interesting angle to see.

27. What a cliffhanger! Nisreen says Manizeh can do anything (even bringing Dara back), clearly meaning she's still alive. Do you think she is somewhere out there or was she maybe even referring to Nahri herself?

Hmm, I do think she is out there somewhere in some form but slowly even Nahri will be able to reach that level.

Bonus: Will you continue reading this series or do you think you'll stop with this trilogy now? I personally will go hunt down the next two books immediately.

Hmm, not immediately. I liked the world building but not the writing style and the MCs a lot.

DQ Day 4
Chapters 15 - 18


14. Nahri meets the king of Daevabad for the first time but doesn't seem to have a lot of further interactions with him. What do you think the king's plan is truly? He offers her everything but doesn't ask for much in return - yes, he revealed to Ali that he wants to marry her to Muntadhir, but is that really all?
It seems to be too good to be true but I think Nahri is really of signficance - and there is something about her which everyone seems to be hiding. At the end of the day, I think whoever has Nahri and her loyalty, seems to be gaining something significant.

15. Prince Ali, fabulous he.. Were you surprised at this further development in Ali's character? The extreme hatred he displays towards Nahri? For some reason, whenever I read the passages from his point of view, I feel he comes across more like a brat rather than a hate-filled person, yet that seems to be what he shows most often when Nahri is around. He now feels he is a murderer, which, granted, he now is. He also realises that his father has been testing and playing him, and will now use him to his own ends. Do you think the poor boy will finally start growing up?

I think he has to deal with a lot despite his young age. He does seem brattish and immature, but mostly confused as to where his loyalties should be placed. I think there are more major character developments to come to his story.

16. What do you think will be the outcome of Dara's quest in the middle of the desert with a future king and a contingent of warriors, who may or may not be hell-bent on killing the Afshin? Are they going to find the ifrit before their journey comes to an end?
Not sure, I am scared about something bad happening to Ali's elder brother though.

17. Nahri's first patient! And what a patient that was! Did this first true test of her skills - towards someone she does not know or care about - live up to your expectations?

I think everyone is putting a lot of pressure on Nahri, just because of her birth. She seems to be intimidated and not an instant success, which I prefer to a character development / struggle than instantly becoming a hit.

18. Any predictions on who Nahri's father might be? I have to admit, I thought it was the king himself. But would he really want to marry his daughter to his son? Hm. What do you think?

I think the king felt something about her mother but don't think it was him though. But I think/want it would be something more major - like someone important to Dara's past as well.

Louise wrote: "Nistha wrote: "Is anyone reading for the Korea task for Chipmunk? I might have one that I can start reading in a couple of days (once I finish the ones I am currently reading)"


No one has claimed..."

Awesome, I have a short read (Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982) that I can start this weekend!

Amy the book-bat wrote: "Read the Nobel Prize task and really didn't like the book. Guess I took one for the team. I have liked the author in the past, so I was sad that this book was a dud for me.

I will look and see if ..."

Same thing happened to me for the Intl Booker.. had high expectations from the book but did not enjoy it.

Is anyone reading for the Korea task for Chipmunk? I might have one that I can start reading in a couple of days (once I finish the ones I am currently reading)

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?

Ali sure seems to have rebellious ideas in his mind compared to the others. I also think he thinks of things in black and white, having very idealistic views of right and wrong. It is true few of the decisions of the upper echelon seem brutal, but politics is always not so easy.

10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?

I don't see the chemistry, I think a love triangle is coming up and unfortunately, Dara seems that guy who will sacrifice. But let's see.

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?

He gets to see both sides of the story which is interesting. He is currently leaned towards solving all problems, hopefully he does not do something extremely foolish.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?

I think it is something related to Nahri.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?

More than the secret room, I think it is what his father will do that might turn out to be a turning point for Ali. Dara will discover it mostly and it might be a turning point for him as well.

Participation Post

Day 1: Link
Day 2: Link
Day 4: Link

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

I would say I heard Daeva and Ifrit a lot in the book, so fine with those but not so much with the others. Overall, I am fine for now.

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

The name did ring a bell and I also googled immediately to see if the reference was to the Ottoman Empire's Suleiman.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

I feel good about Dara - I think there will be nice backstories to further develop his character and also clarify more on the history of this world.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?

Seems like a gray character so far which is pretty true to be shown for a king. I am happy that they did not set idealistic people in the book so far.

Louise wrote: "New Tasks
X-Rays - Read a book that gets under the skin of something (be creative - a psychological thriller, a non-fiction investigation)

X-Files - Read a book with someone who works in an admin ..."

I read The Last Word this month - it is about how an author stalks his 1 star reviewer who is living in an isolated setting. It is more mystery thriller (but tagged psychological thriller 18 times also - it is a new book so does not have as much ratings yet). I would say he does get under her skin by continuously asking her to take the review down and stalking her, but defer to you if this fits the task.