Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

I'm done with Round 3!!

Oooh. We bumped down to 3rd. I'll see if I can up my reading this round.

2 of the BOM were bad timing for me as I had already read them.

Mary - It's amazing what limiting your social life ends up doing for your reading time! Solo beach trip at the weekend could be a lovely way to spending the morning.

Jenn - great I'll move those across in a little while.

Cassie hasn't responded to messages I've sent over the last few days and she has been prompted by the mods about her engagement levels. I'm waiting to hear back from them at the moment about what happens next.

I'm going to start the final update now.

Murder on the Orient Express have been reading v consistently over both rounds, but we are staying within touching distance of them (just...). Watership Down hide what they are up to and do an update at the end of 2 weeks which makes them v difficult to judge against! Had a nasty feeling they'd come in just ahead of us this round. In terms of this round alone, we would have been 6th on the leaderboard which is still v good going.

Round 3 - we completed 9 spell outs and started the 10th! Fantastic reading everyone! It looks like we will finish in 3rd, 400 off Watership Down and 700 from Murder on the Orient Express. Those numbers might change a bit in the next hour, but I'm so impressed with you all.

NEW WORD!!! Now we will be searching for our CREATIVITY.
Tags associated with this are: Flower, Lavender, France, Battle, Space (again...)

Where books will work for a tricky letter (Y, V, I) I've put them in those spaces and we can fill in the gaps after. I suspect we'll get up to 10 spell outs if reading continues as it has been so that's 10 Y/V and 20 I

C Tonya The Unhoneymooners
R Vikki Reflection
E Camilla Neliojuuri
A
T
I Camilla Pienten
V Camilla Ristiinan
I Sophie The Last Emperox
T
Y Vikki Gallows Rock

C
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E Tonya Silvertongue
A
T
I Mary Magic Rises
V Mary Shock Wave
I
T
Y Mary Seduce me cowboy

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T
I
V Mary Vineyards of Champagne
I
T
Y Mary One Night Charmer

C
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I
V Mary Murder at St Marks Place
I
T
Y Camilla The Trudeau Vector

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V Mary Conjure Women
I
T
Y Sophie Love Me If You Must

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Y Sophie Devotion

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Y Sophie Year of Yes

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Tags round 4
1 Jenn Wicked like Wildfire
2 Jenn Astrophysics for people in a hurry
3 Sophie The Last Emperox
4 Vikki Reflection
5 Camilla Pienten
6 Camilla Ad Astra
7 Tonya The Unhoneymooners
8 Mary C Magic Rises
9 Mary C The Vineyards of Champagne
10 Mary C The Trouble with Dukes
Reserve Mary C Shock Wave

Great job team! :) I'll try to read some longer books this next round and maybe we can reclaim 2nd place!

Finished If I Die Tonight last night after round 4 started

Does this work for three or four people on cover? You can see three people, but there's a fourth person's foot as well.

One of the books I'm currently reading, , doesn't fit any of my available tasks, sorry for that. I just marked "-" in the task cell.

I'd say 4 people on the cover.

Thanks for the heads up about the book not working for a task. I suspect that will become more common from here on in, unless people plan their reading based on the task (not necessary!).

I've been up since 3.30 am so no SS update or update post today, sorry. Will do one earlier tomorrow so we all know what is going on. So far 4 books marked as finished, with 3 of those working for the tags.

We've got 6 I, 5 Y and 8 V books planned as well if anyone is looking at which letters to pick.

Oh dear, why did you have to get up so early, Sophie?

I always try to find a fitting task, but I have some books from the library with only a two-week loan period, so I need to read them whether they fit a task or not.

I'll mark Syy tappaa for the four people on cover task.

My 2 1/2 year old decided that was the time to wake up and couldn't be persuaded back to sleep for about 2 hours by which time I was too awake to get back to sleep. Fingers crossed tonight is better...

I tend to read first and think about tasks later, working on the presumption everything will fit somewhere. Well aware this will probably backfire before the end of the challenge.

Finished
a quick fun read

Now to find something else

Poor Sophie! 3.30 am is a hellish time to be awake. Our daughters usually got up by 6 am (sometimes earlier, especially on the weekends), so we took turns with hubby: one got up on Saturday, the other one on Sunday. Let me assure you, once they reach puberty, you're lucky if you see them get up by lunchtime, LOL!

Still about the tasks: it's only five points per completed task, so I don't intend to worry that much if a book doesn't fit.

Sometimes you just can't tell until you read the book if it doesn't have an obvious one from the cover or title. I'm bad a plot ones because my brain doesn't necessarily register that something is a task while I reading/listening.

Speaking of tasks:

Does a midwife count as a doctor or nurse?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a book with a chipmunk on the cover? I found Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk but not sure if short stories count.

Nicole wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for a book with a chipmunk on the cover? I found Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk but not sure if short stories count."

Collections of short stories count, if they fit the minimum page requirement. Unfortunately, the book you linked has only 159 pages so just a bit too short.

I'm not even trying to find a chipmunk.

Mary: a midwife is a specialized nurse, not a doctor.

He's normally v good and doesn't wake up until 7ish, but his Nana is staying with us for the week which has sent his sleep completely mad! If he's anything like my husband, he'll be basically nocturnal when he's older.

Mary - I'd say yes to nurse or doctor for the midwife question.

Nicole - I'll pop into a couple of the other team threads and see if there are any chipmunk suggestions going!

Nicole wrote: "Does anyone have a suggestion for a book with a chipmunk on the cover? I found Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk but not sure if short stories count."

The short stories would count. It just depends which edition you are reading - some come in above the minimum page count, but the default edition on GR doesn't (i.e the kindle edition is 184p).

I've finished Allting trasigt ska bli helt

I'm on vacation now so I should have some more time to read (and the first two days started with pouring rain so that was a nice excuse to spend the entire day reading)

Thanks @Camilla & @Sophie. The Kindle version is the one I'll read.

Anyone have any suggestions for a book with a townhouse on the cover? I've just been finding houses. Any suggestions will be most welcomed!

The task says nurse or doctor so I’ll use it for that. Then again it has more than 5 people on the cover. But they’re kind of drawn silhouettes. Not sure if that counts.

MH - enjoy the holiday! Well done on seeing the silver lining to the rain clouds.

Hmm townhouses on cover...
No personal recommendations, but a search of covers on here has shown up The Town House. I think Jenn read Poisoned Prose which works as well.

CREATIVITY
Tags associated with this are: Flower, Lavender, France, Battle, Space - 3 DONE
Spellout completed: 1

C Tonya The Unhoneymooners
I Nicole India After Ghandi
T Camilla Rikottu

C
R Camilla Runaway Amish Girl
E Camilla Neliojuuri
A
T
I Sophie Angel of Storms
V Mary Vineyards of Champagne
I Mary Magic Rises
T
Y Mary One Night Charmer

C
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E Tonya Silvertongue
A Camilla Musta
T
I MH Infiltratoren
V Mary Murder at St Marks Place
I
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Y Camilla The Trudeau Vector

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V Mary Conjure Women
I
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Y Sophie Love Me If You Must

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V Camilla Ristiinan
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Y Sophie Devotion

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A
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V Mary Shock Wave
I
T
Y Sophie Year of Yes

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V MH Splinter the silence
I
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Y Vikki Gallows Rock

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Tags round 4
1 Jenn Wicked like Wildfire
2 Jenn Astrophysics for people in a hurry
3 Sophie The Last Emperox DONE
4 Vikki Reflection DONE
5 Camilla Pienten DONE
6 Camilla Ad Astra
7 Tonya The Unhoneymooners
8 Mary C Magic Rises
9 Mary C The Vineyards of Champagne
10 Mary C The Trouble with Dukes
Reserve Mary C Shock Wave/Tonya Silvertongue

@Sophie @Victoria I started reading Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk last night and the characters in the stories don't actually have names. It's the actual animal. So: "The cat shuddered." "The baboon asked." I didn't continue because I wanted to make sure I could use the animals as the characters.

I've finished Jag var tvungen att gå and Living Death

Nicole -I've taken that one to the captain's group because I'm really not sure. Hopefully will be able to give you an answer in the next couple of hours.

MH - you're on a roll!

I've added 2 more books to the planning sheet that works for V and I.

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I spent mine chilling on mountaintops so am a bit behind on reading and the threads/SS, but will hopefully catch up on things today.

Welcome back! Mountaintops look amazing, hope you didn't get too wet.

What an amazing view!

Thanks, the weather and scenery were amazing. Already want to go back!

What a beautiful view!

There's a task for non-human point of view. BTW.

I used Murder on St. Marks Place for nurse MC task. The people on the cover are questionable as allowable people.

I want to go on vacation so bad. Last year I was in Cancun at this time and Facebook keeps reminding me between my posts and the people we went with sharing their memories. We were supposed to go 2 weeks ago. We're going to try and go in October. I might have to use the rest of my vacation time to quarantine at home. But that's not all that much of a hardship for me. Maybe I'll get my basement cleaned up and finally hang pictures and stuff.

Nicole - after a variety of side discussion the book kicked off, the consensus seems to be that the animal names wouldn't count. Sorry.

Mary - could you mark Murder on St Mark's Place as read and put it on your shelf please?

Fingers crossed you'll get to go in October! I had a great time in Cancun a few years ago. Facebook memories are good, but sometimes a bit bittersweet like that.

Currently Orient Express have 1207 points for this round and we have 1155, so we're within touching distance. As Watership Down only update at the end of the 2 weeks, I have no idea what they are up to at the moment! EDIT - I've snuck a look at their planning sheet and so far they are on 735.

CREATIVITY
Tags associated with this are: Flower, Lavender, France, Battle, Space - 5 DONE
Spellout completed: 1, 2

C Tonya The Unhoneymooners
E Camilla Neliojuuri

C Camilla Medicine Man
R Camilla Runaway Amish Girl
E
A Camilla Musta
I Sophie Angel of Storms
T Camilla Rikottu


C Samantha Akata Witch
R
E
A Camilla Kaikenkirjavaa karjaa
T
I MH Infiltratoren
V Mary Conjure Women
I Mary Magic Rises
T
Y Mary One Night Charmer

C
R
E
A Camilla Ad Astra
T
I Victoria Radiance
V Mary Vineyards of Champagne
I Tonya Clockwork Angel
T
Y Sophie Devotion

C
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E
A
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I Sophie The Timetraveller's guide to Restoration Britain
V Mary Shock Wave
I
T
Y Camilla The Trudeau Vector

C
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E
A
T
I
V MH Splinter the silence
I
T
Y Vikki Gallows Rock

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V Samantha Vengeful
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Y Victoria Sword of Destiny

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Tags round 4
1 Tonya Silvertongue DONE
2 Jenn Astrophysics for people in a hurry DONE
3 Sophie The Last Emperox DONE
4 Vikki Reflection DONE
5 Camilla Pienten DONE
6 Camilla Ad Astra
7 Tonya The Unhoneymooners
8 Mary C Magic Rises
9 Mary C The Vineyards of Champagne
10 Mary C The Trouble with Dukes
Reserve Mary C Shock Wave/ Jenn Wicked like Wildfire

I fixed Murder on St Marks Place. I plan to finish Magic Rises tonight. Started The Trouble with Dukes this morning since it's got the earliest due date. A V character turned up in it and it's been added to the sheet. I've started walking the dog early in the morning so that's ramped up my listening time.

Thanks! Will update that later. Walking the dog sounds like v good reading time to add.

I used to walk an hour or 2 a day. I lost my exercise mojo.

Sophie wrote: "Nicole - after a variety of side discussion the book kicked off, the consensus seems to be that the animal names wouldn't count. Sorry."

Awww 😭 That sucks. I really thought they would since they're talking. Oh well. Will look for another chipmunk book.

Nicole wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Nicole - after a variety of side discussion the book kicked off, the consensus seems to be that the animal names wouldn't count. Sorry."

Awww 😭 That sucks. I really thought they wou..."

Can't you set it aside - in case you haven't finished it yet - and see whether the title or author fits our word for the last round?

Camilla wrote: "Can't you set it aside - in case you haven't finished it yet - and see whether the title or author fits our word for the last round?"

Great idea! I'll do that 😊

Looking at the words list there's a reasonable chance of S or D turning up so fingers crossed it will work!

I updated a few more books that I finished, including Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, which has the Space tag.

2 hours a day is good going for walking! Hopefully you can refind that mojo Mary.



You lucky people get 2 updates today! The newest one is edited in to the one 9 or 10 posts up so I don't fill the entire thread with my updates!

I'm trying to think up strategies that might help us get back into 2nd (and possibly 1st...), but the main one that springs to mind is for everyone to read, read, read! The majority of points come from page numbers rather than anything else so more shorter books is only really good to get us the additional task points.

The other thing that boosts points quickly is taking part in the BOM discussions. These are valid for the duration of the challenge so you can go back to the June BOM if you want still.

Does anyone have any other ideas that I might have missed?

I normally try to read longer books for these challenges but, for whatever reason, it has yet to happen for this one. Will try and fit a longer book in before the end though

Sophie wrote: "Update..."

I have LOTS of C books planned. I'm revisiting my favorite world (Shadowhunters) and all 13 books that I have qualify as Cs. They're also audio so I get to listen while I work (literally said to the tune of "whistle while you work").

Hope all are having a great week!