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

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

Quick q, Doesnt the BoM points count even if you finish the book earlier than the planned BoM starts as long as you have started the book after the TT started (and answer the DQs)?

Completion post


The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Pages 448
Date read 7 June

Mini 2
Friendship tagged 273 times


Characters

Starr Carter
Maverick Carter
Lisa Carter
Chris Bryant
Maya Yang
Hailey Grant
Kenya
DeVante
April Ofrah

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?

It was a refreshing change with their banter. But it could have been even more engaging I think

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?

There has to be a link between her parents - this ring - this burial and Inez. Not sure what the Cleopatra connection will turn out to be.

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 quite welcome it as I think Inez's pov gets repetitive

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 think he is hiding something but he does care about Inez. He is not a bad person according to me. But he might have his hands dirty somewhere.

Completion Post

Book: Starter Villain by John Scalzi
Pages: 262
Date read: 6-June

Mini 1: set in Grenada

Characters:
Charlie Fitzer
Jake Baldwin
Mathilda Morrison
Anton Dobrev
Roberto Gratas

I can take the Friendship one. I am going to read the Hate U Give for another challenge and it has it tagged.

Hmm its a tough letter.. unfortunately none of mine does as well. I had read last year the Iron Widow (X author) and remember it being a 5 star read.

Wow this sheet is amazing for inspiration!

Eldarwen wrote: "Come to think of it... I've never read a Japanese psycho-thriller... The cosy books are more pushed here, and while I do like them, something else from the country might be a nice change hehe.

Wou..."

Haha I am actually a sucker for Japanese and Korean psycho thrillers (more movies than books). I had wanted to watch the movie based on this book for a long time.

It is definitely a good one and a quick read. But I was expecting more gore / more of a character going totally crazy such that I cannot sleep at night haha. That's why to me it was a 3.5 because it was not that disturbing 🙈🙈

All being said, it is an eerie and creepy psycho thriller - and something which is not too disturbing (at least to my standards)

Completion Post


Audition by Ryū Murakami
Pages: 208
Read: 03 June

Mini 3
Author born in Japan
Also works for features a geisha - as there's a geisha character Kai (not MC) in the story

Characters
Aoyama , Ryoko, Kai, Shige, Yamasaki Asami

I cant believe they abridged that book! I had read the ebook and loved it.

The Oath of the Vayuputras by Amish Tripathi
Date read: 01 Jun 2025
604 pages

Mini 2 : #14
Ch11 "As Bhagirath was led into the private palace rather than the formal court, he acknowledged that Chandraketu was not treating him as the crown prince of Swadweep, but as a friend."

Spellout characters
S Shiva
G Ganesha
K Kartika
N Neelkanth
A Ayurvati

Eldarwen wrote: "Nicely done with that chunkster of a book, Nistha! :-)"

Haha thanks! It does feel good to knock it off my TBR

Completion Post



Book: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Date Read: 30 May 2025
Pages: 933 pages
Rating: 3 stars (there were parts I loved and then parts where it took too much of a gangstary turn)

Mini 2- Worst books of all time
#682 on list

Spellout options
L, F Lin Ford
K,A Karla Saraanen
A, T Abdullah Taheri
N Nazeer
D Didier

Yep definitely does :)

I dont think I will get my hard country book (Grenada) done by tomorrow as I am focussing on another book first. In any case, I can hold off finishing by checking the itenaries.

Eldarwen wrote: "You aren't the only one! Since I want to read everything at once at the moment, I have several on the go as well..."

That's me also - I can't keep my focus on just one single book unless its like a page turner where I have to know what is going to happen next.

But I think now I will focus on finishing the chonker Shantaram first (hopefully by tomorrow) before moving into other books I have started lol.

Keely wrote: "Good news!

We had enough books with the letters we needed to complete the new cheese!!"

What :0 We are already done! Great job, everyone.

Discussion Questions Day 1
Prologue – Part 1, Chapter 5

1. The first line is “A letter changed my life.” Would you say this was a good start, a cheesy start, or are you indifferent?
I think thats a good start - something would happen to MC out of ordinary

2. Why do you think Tío Roberto wanted to immediately send Inez back to Egypt without even seeing her? Do you think he’s hiding something? Or do you think it’s just typical of men at that time to dismiss young women and insist they be chaperoned and taken care of?
It could be coming from some sort of protectiveness. I am sure he is hiding something but all this is somehow connected to her parent's death. And then of course dismissal of young women was common!

3. The ring scene with Thomas Sterling was definitely outrageous; I felt Inez's outrage and all of her shock. Do you expect to see the ring later in the story? Any guesses about its significance?
That was horrible! Sterling is such a cheat to just steal the ring like that. I am sure it is going to come into play later on as he had identified the ring and Inez's father made great care to give it to her. I have no idea in what aspect though.

4. What do you think of the writing style and the pacing so far? Are you enjoying the lyrical, rich descriptions, or do you prefer a more fast-paced story?
So far the story is being set and I am fine with the writing style. I want to see more of Inez and Whit.

5. In Chapter 5 we see politics at play, and we can tell this is just the beginning. How do you think this will affect your enjoyment of the book? Will it enhance the story for you, or will you feel bogged down by the details?
I love politics in a book! Hopefully it is more that .. so far it feels like the setting of a treasure hunt book .. hopefully more politics.

Completion Post


The Love Theorem by Camilla Isley
Pages: 266
Date read: 28-May

Mini 3 -character who works in film industry - MC Christian is a movie star

I guess we can now get a new country!

Perfect thanks Charlotte! I will add it once i can log back in my laptop in the evening.