Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Wheelathon 5
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Team Murder on the Orient Express
June wrote: "COMPLETION POSTTitle: The Dragonbone Chair
Author: Tad Williams
see planning sheet"
Hi June, can you please add a task this books works for? :)
What bothers me about Spin the dawn is that everyone keeps telling me she didn't have a choice, yet all I see are endless choices :D Sure, she did not have a choice of going or not, because obviously - she was broke. But the messenger or whatever that dude was gave her father a bag of jewels so for going alone, she got compensated, right? So why win? That would have kept them from destitution for a while and probably with her brothers health. She could have went, won a few, gotten the fame and recognition and then left.
She could have returned home and enjoyed the fame and influx of customers. Because let's be logical here -the emperor's tailor is for emperor only. Yet there are so many people at court (especially those tittering lady's maid's) that will want to copy or adjust to the fashion of his and her majesty. So obviously, if she were a second choice, she could have gotten a lot of those commissions on her fame and rumors about her skill alone, while she can fake her manliness of course, but at home her father an brother could help with that.
She could have followed the old man and got the Master's degree or whatever it was called. She was using her brother's name and old man wasn't paying attention to discover her. So she could have went with him, got that title, went home and worked. Because technically her brother would have the title. And since it all works on rumors alone, he could have pretended to be a master tailor and she could have secretly worked instead. I am pretty sure one can take the measurements even without a tailor's talent. so they could have faked it. And for a long time I think. He could have been the face of the shop and she could have been the actual talent if they played it right.
And it might be just me, but she could have given up the race, stayed for a while longer in the palace, gotten a few commissions, earned a tidy pile of money and when everyone got too suspicious, left. That would have given her a modest sum to live on for a while if needed. And since in her old village or whatever, everyone knew she was the tailor yet she was never caught or reprimanded, I am pretty sure it is not as closely regulated, so the whole fuss is exaggerated. She could have went back and continued work as usual but with extra sum in the bank that helps moderate her income. She could have traveled around the country with some already made stuff on pretext that her brother made it, but he is too weak to sell stuff himself, so she is selling it for him and if needed can take the clothing back to her brother and make adjustments to stuff. A lie of course, but who says she has to stay in one place? Make stuff in advance and travel with your merchandise. That way no one will question where you got it, because you are a girl and travelling and selling stuff sounds appropriately lowly for a girl. No one would question that she is telling the truth about her brother making things and her just doing the legwork.
So you see? She had many, many choices. If she were smart enough. But for her ego and need to prove something, she has revealed herself as a magical being and that was just dumb. Edan is magical and he is basically a slave to the throne. So she revealed her powers to become one too? And for what? Fame? Respect? Simply to be recognized? If her concern really was just helping her family and getting some really needed money, then she could have done a lot of things to assure it, none of which include the victory and glory. So I can't agree that she had no choice. She had plenty.
You make several good points, Maddy ;)
Judy wrote: "You make several good points, Maddy ;)"I know :D
I also know it is YA Fantasy drama and it was obviously made to be extra dramatic, but it utterly annoys me when even the basic logic is ignored. If she wanted there to really be "no choice", there could have been some decent death threat or a curse, not this nonsense. This book is obviously aggravating me even though I should not take it so seriously :D
Annalisa wrote: "Spin the Dawn so far is not bad for me. Yes there have been parts that could have been better but really I’ve been enjoying it. It is a very easy read which I’m really enjoying. I like that it is f..."It is a easy read. At least with Book 1 I see Project Runway with the competition, especially with the two unconventional material challenges.
COMPLETION POSTDeath or Ice Cream by Gareth P. Jones
date read: 8/18
pages: 256
[decided we didn't need word count verification since it is also tagged YA and says YA in the book description]
tags: no
bom: no
task: read a book with a dessert food on the cover
letters:
a: albert [character]
s: seraphina [character]
Maddy, I just read the fourth section and safe to say my rating is dipping below 3 stars now...
Judy wrote: "Maddy, I just read the fourth section and safe to say my rating is dipping below 3 stars now..."Oh goody. It gets worse? :D
I stopped in the middle yesterday and was hoping to finish it today, but now you are scaring me :D
Maddy wrote: "Oh goody. It gets worse? :DI stopped in the middle yesterday and was hoping to finish it today, but now you are scaring me :D"
The romance gets a lot of page time here... and I just don't care about it at allllllllllllllll
I haven't started day 3 yet. I am hoping DQ's will be posted in the next couple of hours before reading it today. Regardless if I like or dislike this section, at least I am reading other books I enjoy.
ringing endorsement Judy :D Ora, I agree. Even if this book is really not working for me, in this round I am reading books I really want to read so it balances out :)
Completion PostTitle: Salt Magic, Skin Magic
Author: Lee Welch
Pages: 241
Date read: Aug 18
Letters: S - title, W - author, T - character Lord Sorensen Thornby, G - character George Catterall, A - character Lady Amelia, W - character Warren, H - character Harriet Grey
Tag: No
Task: 130 Read a book with two people on the cover
BOM: No
Planning sheet updated
Completion PostTitle: Shadow Rites
Author: Faith Hunter
Pages: 384
Date read: Aug 18
Letters:
H author
G character George
W character Wrassler
A character Alex
T character Tao
O character Aggie One Feather
E character Eli
Tag: None
Task: Read a book with a single person on the cover
Maddy wrote: "Oh wow.. [spoilers removed]"Yup 👀😂
Spin the dawn DQ Day 2 written - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DQ day 1 answered - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Completion Post
Title: Spin the Dawn
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Pages: 400
Date read: Aug 18
Letters: E (author), S (title), T (Maia Tamarin), W (Wing Longhai), X (Xina), Y (Yindi), N (Norbu), A (Ammi), G (Garad), O (Orksan)
Tag: No
Task: 2 Read a book with MPG Adventure
BOM: Yes
Planning sheet updated
Completion PostTitle: Poirot's Early Cases
Author: Agatha Christie
Pages: 272
Date read: 8/18
Letters: A, H
Tag: No
Task: Read #31+ in a series
Planning sheet updated
Completion PostTitle: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told: An Oral History
Author: Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman
Pages: 288
Date read: Aug 18
Letters: G - title, N or O - Nick Offerman
Tag: No
Task: 133 Read a book written in an oral history style
BOM: No
Planning sheet updated
Completion PostTitle: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Author: Ken Kesey
Pages: 325
Date read: Aug 18
Letters: O - title, N character - Nurse Ratched, W - character William "Billy" Bibbit, H - character Dale Harding, S - character James "Jim" Sefelt
Tag: None
Task: 111 - Read a book with a white cover
BOM: No
Planning sheet updated
Heya team! We're absolutely killing it in this round, amazing job!!! Even going off-track and onto a road can't stop the Orient Express 😉
INTERNAL DEADLINE: Friday, 9pm CET
Note: this is later than in past rounds - let’s make use of every moment! 💪 And if you just want to squeeze in one more and you’ll be cutting it close (or even taking a bit longer), just let us know so we’re ready 😊
How many books do you think you'll still be able to finish before the deadline?
Um... I don't know... Odds are good for 2-3 per day. But a lot of those are quite short, so maybe more. Maybe less if RL will demand attention
Maddy wrote: "Um... I don't know... Odds are good for 2-3 per day. But a lot of those are quite short, so maybe more. Maybe less if RL will demand attention"Precise enough for me, thanks :)
3 more books from me. 2 doorstoppers that I am currently cutting my way through and a shorter one for Friday afternoon.
Judy wrote: "Heya team! We're absolutely killing it in this round, amazing job!!! Even going off-track and onto a road can't stop the Orient Express 😉
INTERNAL DEADLINE: Friday, 9pm CET
Note: this is later..."
I will be finishing the last 3 YR books in the series and BOM. I don't want to say I can do anymore right now because I am heading to Hilton Head tomorrow. Thursday night to Friday morning I will be able to have a better idea what I can finish before the deadline and will post.
So I am a little bummed DQ's weren't posted yesterday. Book 2 is better than book 1 for me. I am planning on finishing it tonight, hopefully day 3 and 4 will be posted today so I answer at least 80% of DQs before I go out of town.
Ora wrote: "So I am a little bummed DQ's weren't posted yesterday. Book 2 is better than book 1 for me. I am planning on finishing it tonight, hopefully day 3 and 4 will be posted today so I answer at least 80..."Same, I hope they'll be there soon!
Completion PostTitle: Indiscreet
Author: Mary Balogh
Pages: 400
Date read: Aug 18
Letters:
H character Harry
I title
G character Nathaniel Gascoigne
A character Rex Adams
N character Nathaniel
E character Edan
Tag: None
Task: Read a book featuring a wedding
For books I'm hoping to finish three more before the deadline!
I plan on finishing three more books. BOM Spin the Dawn, Doomed to be Cannon Fodder: Book 2, and The Little Red Chairs.
Sigh... Must I ? How many do I need for it to count?
At least half, so #3 could be the last one ;) I still have to do it as well
Awww, I knew you were clamouring for it! 😁
DQ Day 3 answered - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...Considering, Day 2 is my own creation, this should be enough, right?
Melindam wrote: "Awww, I knew you were clamouring for it! 😁"You read it and then you will see why we are so really, really enthusiastic about it :D
Maddy wrote: "Melindam wrote: "Awww, I knew you were clamouring for it! 😁"You read it and then you will see why we are so really, really enthusiastic about it :D"
Erm.. thanks.. reading your comments was more than enough. :D
Maddy wrote: "DQ Day 3 answered - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...Considering, Day 2 is my own creation, this should be enough, right?"
Sure is, thanks for your sacrifice :P
Judy wrote: "Maddy wrote: "Sure is, thanks for your sacrifice :P"You are welcome :D
But I am glad there will be no more BOTM :D
Maddy wrote: "You are welcome :D But I am glad there will be no more BOTM :D"
It is truly much appreciated, so many points for the BOM participation and DQs :)
Same same, the thing I'm most looking forward to after wheel is to not feeling any pressure to pick up certain books for points!
(Just sucks that I'm starting my English MA in a couple weeks & I've already got the first book I'm supposed to read by the first class 😂)
Yeah, reading books because someone tells you to is annoying :D
Of course it is. But we love to torment ourselves. ;)Still, I am also looking forward to some very slow and random reading. Getting rather cross-eyed. :D
I second the slow reading :D But we are winning! So there is that :D
You're all reading like crazy. Very proud of you, Team!! (even if we don't come up as the winners in the end. :)
I'm also looking forward to going about my day without an audiobook on for once - as much as I like them, it's also a bit annoying sometimes ;)
Nothing But Reading Challenges
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Title: The Gods Themselves
Cover:
Author: Isaac Asimov
Alternative task: a book with multiple points of view
see planning sheet