Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

For both Sammy and Navi - as strangely this fits both your requests... was an amazing read. One of my favorite non-fiction books of all time and a sport I knew little about. Really fantastic underdogs story.

Shelby wrote: "For both Sammy and Navi - as strangely this fits both your requests... was an amaz..."

I've heard loads about that book might get that read soon.

Shelby wrote: "For both Sammy and Navi - as strangely this fits both your requests... was an amaz..."

Sounds good Shelby, thank you!

I'm a big non-fiction fan, particularly history. Three books I've read recently and can't say enough good things about are:

Updated

@Brigia - can you provide the links for the BOM discussion please.

;)

We have completed 3 spellouts and most of a fourth and we haven't reached the halfway point of the round yet. Great work team, keep them coming.

Good job! ✨

great job team !!

Ugh - I've been so motivated to read and then today I hit a wall. It's in part because I have my bookclub on Saturday and I just am not in love with the pick for this month. It's a WWII novel and I really don't want the depressing even though is supposed to be pretty good.

nice job everyone!

I finished The Jetsetters earlier tonight and the audio of HP4 came through from my elibrary last night so I'll start that one next, not sure if I'll be able to finish it for this round though because I'll start Five Feet Apart soon too :)

Shelby wrote: "Ugh - I've been so motivated to read and then today I hit a wall. It's in part because I have my bookclub on Saturday and I just am not in love with the pick for this month. It's a WWII novel and I..."

That does look good but I know what you mean. Sometimes you just need something a bit lighter.

Christina wrote: "nice job everyone!

I finished The Jetsetters earlier tonight and the audio of HP4 came through from my elibrary last night so I'll start that one next, not sure if I'll be able to finish it for th..."

No problem Christina.

Updated

@Brigia - can you provide the links for the BOM discussion please.

@Christina - can you specify a task for The Jetsetters please

Is there an answer for what countries are included in Eastern Europe vs Mainland Europe? Curious as to where Austria lands since it's the locale for most of Stolen Beauty.

There are multiple definitions of Eastern Europe, e.g.

and (and some more)

These both definitions include Russia (European part), Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova.

The first one also includes Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Czechia while the second one includes Baltic coutries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)

I think the easiest setting of them all to find is Russia, but if you have a book set e.g. in Czechia, then we could ask in the captains group what defition applies.

Mainland Europe is Europe excluding islands (so no UK, Ireland, parts of Greece and Italy etc.)

Austria is in Mainland Europe.

Rina wrote: "There are multiple definitions of Eastern Europe, e.g.

and (and some more)

These both definitions include Russia (European part), Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova.

The first one also includes Romania..."

Thank you Rina. That is very helpful ! ☺
Does anyone know which of the two definitions is recommended for this challenge?

I'll ask in the captains group, Claire :-)

Rina wrote: "I'll ask in the captains group, Claire :-)"

thank you !

Rina wrote: "There are multiple definitions of Eastern Europe, e.g.

and (and some more)

These both definitions include Russia (European part), Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova.

The first one also includes Romania..."

Great, thanks! I'll use Mainland Europe for my task claim then. :)

I am determined to finish the 3 books I am reading before the end of this round. I'm finding One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest a real struggle and I am depserately hoping it gets me hooked soon. I can't leave something unfinished once I've started and I want to finish it this round for the crazy tag.

At least the other two I am reading I'm enjoying.

Jeremy wrote: "I should finish ‘The Magicians’ today. As excited as I was to read it, I’ve almost completely lost interest because of the glacial pacing and overwhelmingly pessimistic tone. :-/"

I remember being lukewarm about The Magicians, too. It felt like a weird mix between Harry Potter and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.... but for adults? Never quite did it for me.

Jeremy wrote: "I should finish ‘The Magicians’ today. As excited as I was to read it, I’ve almost completely lost interest because of the glacial pacing and overwhelmingly pessimistic tone. :-/"

I tried to read it a long time ago and ended up not finishing it. The book was just bleh. I hated the characters and I didn't care about the plot. Since then I watched the tv show, which I ADORE !! I've read a few reviews of the book and everyone agrees to say the first book is not that great, but that the next two books are really worth it. I'm thinking about giving it a second chance, but at the same time I don't want to go through the first book again...

✿ Claire ✿ wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "I should finish ‘The Magicians’ today. As excited as I was to read it, I’ve almost completely lost interest because of the glacial pacing and overwhelmingly pessimistic tone. :-/"

I..."

I think you described what really bothered me: I just didn't connect with the characters. But interesting about the next few books! I might just have to look into them. Let us know, Jeremy, if you start (and enjoy) book two.

Rachel wrote: "✿ Claire ✿ wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "I should finish ‘The Magicians’ today. As excited as I was to read it, I’ve almost completely lost interest because of the glacial pacing and overwhelmingly pessim..."

Yes, please do. I'd be curious to see what you think of them if you decide to carry on with the series.

Oh, good to know about “The Magicians”! It sounds like the type of book (slow pace and lack of connection to characters) that I might try as an audiobook when I get to it. Also curious about how the rest of the series goes!

I’ll be able to update everything over the weekend (this week has just been absolutely crazy at work), but for planning purposes, I’ve finished this week, “The Worst Best Man,” “The Jetsetters,” and “Rock Me.” The latter took me so long and put me in a romance slump, so I’m currently working on “Bring Me Their Hearts,” “My Sister the Serial Killer,” and “With the Fire on High.”

@Keely, I’m sorry to hear about your job, but moving to Norway sounds incredibly exciting!

Louise wrote: "

Updated

@Brigia - can you provide the links for the BOM discussion please.

@Christina - can you specify a task for The Jetsetters please"

Done! :-) I hope I did it right?!

Oh shoot I'm sorry, I forgot about the Task tab! But yes I'll be using The Jetsetters for #40 deck chairs on cover :)

Thank you everyone for you kind words about my job and my moving plans. Realistically, I don't know how long it will take to get a visa to live and work in Norway, but for now I plan to go there for a couple of months, maybe from August, so I can spend some time with my boyfriend (who I haven't seen since October) and gain some confidence with the language as well as look of potential jobs.

Now back to this, I have decided to get an audiobook copy of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as I only managed about 10 pages earlier before I wanted to do something else. It's not that I dislike the story, it just seems a little slow and isn't holding my attention. I'm going to listen for about an hour before bed and then I plan to listen to most of it tomorrow as I really want to move on to something I enjoy more.

oh btw Keely I've been meaning to mention my great grandma was Norwegian!!

@Brigia and Christina, than you both.


@Jeremy sorry to hear about your book, I hate it when a book disappoints after so much hype. I found this with The Casual Vacancy I’ve picked it up twice to read and DNF’d it each time I got a little bit further. You never know next time I might actually get all the way through, they do say that third time’s a charm.

@Chris when you get a chance if you can make sure your books are on your wheel shelf and added to the planning sheet that would be great.

@Keeley I’ve found audio has worked great for those type of books. I’ve never been much for audiobooks but since we went into lockdown and I’ve been working from home I’m reading roughly one audiobook every other day "at work”.

Updated

@Celia can you add Queen of Cahraman: A Retelling of Aladdin to your shelf please

@Sunny can you double check Ignite the Sun your shelf is showing the hardcover edition but the spreadsheet is showing the kindle edition ,

Louise wrote: "

Updated

@Celia can you add Queen of Cahraman: A Retelling of Aladdin to your shelf please

"

Added!

Celia wrote: "Louise wrote: "

Updated

@Celia can you add Queen of Cahraman: A Retelling of Aladdin to your shelf please

"
Thanks Celia

Added!"

Updated

@Sunny can you double check Ignite the Sun your shelf is showing the hardcover edition but the spreadsheet is showing the kindle edition.

@Jeremy can you specify what task you are using The Magicians for please.

Regarding the Eastern Europe task:

Cat said that she was thinking of former Iron Curtain countries when she had written this task, so I guess we can use the former Iron Curtain countries:

Russia (European part), Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania and the eastern part of Germany (former GDR)

Updated

@Sunny can you double check Ignite the Sun your shelf is showing the hardcover edition but the spreadsheet is showing the kindle edition.

@Jeremy can you specify what task you are using The Magicians for please.

We have completed our word 5 times and are working on our 6th. Great job team.

We have just over 5 1/2 days to the end of the round.
End of Round 1/Start Of Round 2

So as to give Rina and I a chance of completing final checks can you ensure that all books are updated by no later than an hour before deadline. 😊

Louise wrote: "

Updated

@Sunny can you double check Ignite the Sun your shelf is showing the hardcover edition but the spreadsheet is showing the kindle edition.

@Jeremy can you specify what ta..."

I think it's fixed now, sorry for the trouble!

Sunny wrote: "Louise wrote: "

Updated

@Sunny can you double check Ignite the Sun your shelf is showing the hardcover edition but the spreadsheet is showing the kindle edition.

Thank you Sunny

Updated

@Jeremy can you specify what task you are using The Magicians for please.

@Chris can you update your books on the sheet please, we are currently not showing any completions for you.

Jeremy wrote: "Louise wrote: "

Updated

@Jeremy can you specify what task you are using The Magicians for please.

@Chris can you update your books on the sheet please, we are currently not showin..."

You have 8 tasks listed for the book if you can let me know which one you wish to use that would be great.

Ugh - I just finished up the 3rd section of DQ's for The Jetsetters, but I need a break and to read something else before I finish I think. I'm just really not enjoying this book at all. Gotta admit I'm scared that it's not going to get better or be redeemable in my eyes. But I'm determined to finish for the points.

I haven't started The Jetsetters yet, I want to read it during this week, but I am almost afraid to start it - all of my friends who read it gave it 3 stars or less.

If not for the extra points, I wouldn't have even considered reading it :-)

I'm glad I kept to the schedule with it. I was motivated to finish one part a day and once I got that out of the way I read something else. I really didn't like it, unfortunately...

I'm really looking forward to The Sun Down Motel, though! I wanted an excuse to buy it :-)

Shelby wrote: "Ugh - I just finished up the 3rd section of DQ's for The Jetsetters, but I need a break and to read something else before I finish I think. I'm just really not enjoying this book at..."

That’s dedication 😉

I think The Jetsetters is basically a marmite book. I found that it had the potential to be so much more.

Reading Five Feet Apart at the moment and quite enjoying it despite the subject matter.

Psssttttt, Claire... you may want to hop on board the Hogwarts Express for a stop... ;)

Updated

@Brigia - can you add Year One to your shelf please

;)