Cat’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2015)

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

I'll back up Kaley - Team Not Big Ben

volunteering for Team Liz

Yeah, I'm probably going to get the Egypt done first, for the Wheel (author born in Egypt oddly harder than you'd think!), then shift to tricky countries.
The Egypt book is a collection of short stories barely tipping 120 pages, so should be swift (absent me getting stuck on culture shock!)

ETA: In not-Tower and not-Monster related reading, I am really struggling to get into . don't know why, other than maybe the excitement of planning... Must absolutely get my head down and get it down before the end of the week!

I've got Egypt and Albania planned :) but both shortish, so if your Bulgaria covers the page count, have at it!

Exciting news on the first BOM - Rina has a set of DQs allocated! huzzah!

The book is What the River Knows, set in Egypt (sadly the author doesn't work for more than US, but is an I!)
It starts on 18 May, and discussion is here

Totally optional, but if you fancy the book, and are happy to answer at least three sets of DQs, it does mean bonus points for us!

I'll be backup for Liz

Teresa wrote: "I see I’m set for 30/month but I thought I’d set it at 25 as I was going to try for longer books. I’ll do my best though!!..."

If you want to go for longer books do it! We'll work it out one way or another!

A couple of fantasy authors from surprise birthplaces, or the easy way to get some hard countries!
Nalini Singh - born Fiji
Cassandra Clare - born in Iran

the minis will run all challenge :)

if you want to add a note of when you might be getting to it that'll be helpful :)

I've been looking for Egyptian born authors. Trickier than you'd think!

Discovered Andre Aciman (Call Me By Your Name) fits the bill, but have picked up a collection of stories by their Nobel prize winner.

So that task is claimed :)

Sally906 wrote: "✿~Danielle~✿ wrote: "We have a planning sheet

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

Cool - added 👍

Just refreshi..."

You don't need to report in both sheet and here, just one or other. Of course if it's a great book from a tricky country do let us all know!

Team NOT Big Ben is now open! click above to find us :)

Greetings everyone!

Welcome to Team Elizabeth Tower, the favourite tower for pedants, who can correct mis-naming errors gleefully (Ben Ben is the name of the bell, and has never been the name of the tower, dontcha know?!)

More importantly, welcome to the latest version of Towers!
For those who've played before - it's more of the same :)
For those who are new - it looks intimidating with all the minis, but is really simple: read books, post about them, read more, have fun!

Every book will be used for the tower, and hopefully can also be used for bonus points for the minis (all of which have been released already. or so we are told, with the crazy mods here in NBRC who can tell?!) So that means that those of us who like to plan, can dig into our TBRs and create a tower of books to be read for this challenge :)

Minis are broadly:
Mini 2: Travelling Tasks - a list of tasks that get revealed as we finish. Will vary from super specific to easy fills. We can bank books for this one
Mini 3: World Wheel - two sets of tasks related to different countries. We get new sets when we finish an earlier one. You can see the full range of tasks in the Official sheet to help dig out books that might work, but can't use banked books - the book has to be finished after the spin that turns up the task.
Mini 1: Itineraries - this one is entirely up to us to work on. We need to read books set in countries from around the world to make up a round the world trip. The difficult bit is making sure that we meet the requirements of minimum difficulty countries. So for this one, please do shout out your plan for books from different places!

This is a lot, so do read the rules about the minis, and then come back with any questions!

Team Strategy
Your thoughts on strategy very welcome! For instance, shall we go competitive and hunt down unusual locations to get the most bonus points possible from our itineraries? Or are we more relaxed?

That said, the main "rules" I want us to work by are:
1. Be kind - written words can be misread, with a negative tone read in where it wasn't intended. So please read all comments with the assumption of good intentions :)
2. Communication - there's a lot of things going on here, let alone real life, so please do let us (and especially captains) know if you are going to be away or low comms or anything! Additionally, do post at least once a week to confirm you are still with us: book recs, tale of a new found favourite reading spot, angst about your TBR growing not shrinking!
3. Have fun! - yes it's a challenge, but there's only bragging rights at stake, so take it lightly. For instance, whilst you might have read a book intended for Task A, but the captains decide to put another book there - do not worry! we will have earmarked your book for another spot - all books will be used for maximum points!

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About me: Cat (she/her), lives in London, challenge addict!
My shelf: TTXI_RTW
My reading: all sorts! I'll be digging up some books set around the world to start, and can be reliably expected to hunt down books to fit really niche tasks!

Favourite place visited: I've just got back from a long weekend in Amsterdam, which was lovely (once I got to grips with checking for pedestrians, bikes, trams and cars!), but honestly London in the sun is hard to beat.

Dream destination: I'd love to go to Iceland! Also Budapest (I have a vague long-ish term plan to get to Budapest by train through Europe)

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Current Active Tasks

Mini 2
23 Read a book with short stories
28 Read a book which has the main location (setting) as a bus, train, or other road based vehicle
41 Read a book tagged "Education" at least 10x
42 Read a book tagged "Fun" at least 10x
43 Read a book tagged "Culture" at least 10x
47 Read a book with an earthly mode of transportation on the cover (i.e., no spaceships)

46 Read a book first published in February of any year - claimed
31 Read a book that is on the Best Unknown but must be Known books List - claimed
32 Read a book tagged "Time Travel" at least 10x - claimed
44 Read a book that is on the The Worst Books of All Time List - claimed

Mini 3
WW74 Author born in France
WW83 N

WW309 Author born in Iceland - claimed Stephie
WW310 Blue, Red and White on cover
WW311 character rides horses
WW312 "volcano" in text
WW313 letters GLACIER in title (any order)
WW314 nature on cover (no people)
WW315 I
WW316 C
WW317 E
WW318 L
WW319 A
WW320 N
WW321 D

Mini 1
Countries we CAN'T read for:
Medium
Sri Lanka

Hard
Croatia
Sierra Leone
Zambia

DQ Set 3: XV: Worse Than They Thought to XIX: Roots

9. The scene where Gabriel and Rafael set Fox the task of saving the world was a fun piece of miscommunication and fundamental misunderstanding by the archangels of, frankly, everyone else. But sometimes humour can get in the way of plot and characterisation. Do you think this is a good balance or is something not working for you?

10. We get to know Brandt a bit more in both the present and past, and honestly it's confusing. Do you have thoughts on Brandt and what's up with him & Fox's history, including what Brandt might have given up in his various times at the tables?

11. We see Fox having to start reevaluating Death's relationship with him, on discovering of the "box of elastic bands" (the things we believe as a kid!) full of mementos. How does this tally with the voice of Death at the beginning?

12. We are off on our mission, motley crew assembled, including Tom! Any thoughts on what will happen? Will Cal ever stop vocalising for Tom? Will Fox & Brandt get back together? Will they beat Death? Will Isis be serious and heartfelt at any point or is she all snark?!

Judith wrote: ""

OMG! this is one of the best chipmunk pics ever!! love it & your google-fu!

Interlude I: Acts to XIV: Something Wicked (pg 81 to 156)
5.Vi and Tom interactions are so funny. With Tom doing his ghost thing to scare perspective buyers. Makes you wonder how much longer she will put up with him. After meeting the strange man Tom follows and meets the strange man (Brandt) who he gives a way into the house to steal as another level to stop the house sale. Vi has an issue and feels off taking note of the pregnant woman more than she would like to. Do you think the strange man did something to her?

I don't think he did anything to her. Wasn't the focus on the pregnant woman more about her vampirism than anything else?

6. My favorite character meet- Mayra Kaleka has been borne of wishes. With so many great quotes such as "Wishes are darker things than we imagine because they are so close to wants, and from there only inches from desires, and Isis asks "what'd you wish for" with Vi saying "World Peace." Isis commenting that she "Should've aimed for something more likely, like calorie-free cheese." With that said what would be your wish?

Calorie free cheese would be like vegan cheese, not worthy of the name!
My big picture wish would be more like equity of resources or a successful shift to net zero or sustainable energy production

7. Death is missing and Gabriel and Rafael have to investigate by going to his home. What did you think of his home in the Tree of Life?

Interesting.

8. The games are setup and we meet Volos, the King of Vice. How did he manipulate the emotions of the immortals?

Pride, I thought.

DQs Day 1

1.) Well, that interlude was certainly one way to start the book. Are you thinking it was Tom's murder? What tone did that set for you for the book?

Oh! I hadn't really connected, but yes, possibly. And yes - definitely sets me up for expecting something on the sillier side of things.

2.) Do you enjoy having Death as a character? Do you have other books you'd recommend that have Death as a character?

I do. I'm trying to think of others not mentioned... not quite the same, but Scythe is a series of books that my eldest nephew loves that's certainly in that area.

3.) What do you think of the miscreatures support group? If you were a supernatural creature of some sort, would you want to join?

I think I'd want some support, yes. I enjoy the group, and the fact that it shows the different view points and issues that they have.

4.) What a fun and colorful cast of characters we have so far. Any favorites this early on? Any you are hoping for more of a backstory on?

No favourites yes, though Isis is a contender - I enjoy her snark