Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Mary C wrote: "The goodreads phone app is just awful.

I'll be out the next 2 evenings so I read the last few evenings. Hubby wants to re-watch the Great Brittish Bake-off seres and since I've seen them all, it'..."

I love that show so much! It's so wholesome and all the contestants seem so supportive of each other unlike all the competitive shows in the US. haha

I really did try with the BOMs but just aren't feeling it right now. Will try again this weekend. So for now I'm just reading what appeals to me 😊

And I wasn't kidding about the ridiculously priced cocktails 😂 The resort we are staying at is definitely trying to recoup money lost during lockdown. But I don't care. Sun (very little of it because it is 43 degrees but feels like 50 🥵 ) + sand + pool/beach + books + pricey cocktails = Nicole happy 😁

Thanks Samantha! I look forward to the update on Sunday.

The app is tricky. I spend a lot of time on it and google sheets on my phone, so have got much better with them, but there's no substitute for an actual computer.

Ahh I love GBBO! They are all so lovely to each other and the hosts went out of their way to say things that couldn't be filmed if anyone was getting too upset so they had some privacy.

Nicole - definitely read what appeals. The BOM aren't for everyone.
I hope the cocktails are worth it! Can't imagine 43 degree temps, I'm struggling enough with 33 degrees - I just want it to be cooler again!

I've heard so many good things about the Great British Bake Off. I love food shows so I need to watch it.

My husband likes me watching it as it normally inspires some baking! Nothing as picturesque as they make though

Finished a BOM
Five Feet Apart

Here are my links
day 1
day 2
day 3
day 4
day 5

I think it's food porn for my hubby. He's diabetic and always trying to limit carbs. For me it just makes me want to eat baked goods.

He's depressed now because he found out it would cost about $30k to get a pastry degree. He wouldn't qualify for any sort of grants or assistance. (it's actually his friend's passing that's depressing him but he's a guy so...,)

One of our friend's holds a bake-a-thon every year for his birthday where he judges the entries we all bring along - it has a theme and turns into a bonkers display. That normally makes me try to find something interesting to do. This year we took Bedfordshire clangers (pastry with potato, ham and caramelised onion one end, and apple and cinnamon at the other) which went better than I expected when I started.

30K is a lot! I agree that's probably not what's actually causing the upset and I hope he recovers soon.

OMG! I love that idea. We should do that at the lodge.

I'm sure there will be new tattoo in tribute to Wendy. Once he decides what would best honor her. I might suggest a yellow lab. She was devoted to her dog Patrick.

I've finished Honor's Knight.

I will definitely finish I tystnaden begravd but I don't think I'll finish Klubben

Sophie wrote: "Bedfordshire clangers (pastry with potato, ham and caramelised onion one end, and apple and cinnamon at the other) ..."
So there appears to be a British pastry I have yet to try and clearly need to have before leaving.

I've never heard of a lot of the stuff they make on that show.

I ran the baking contest idea across the lodge officers last night. Might be something fun we try when restrictions life a bit. The chili and rib cook offs are usually popular.

Does this look green or blue to people?

My first thought was blue, but now I'm not sure.

Victoria wrote: "Does this look green or blue to people?

My first thought was blue, but now I'm not sure."

It looks blue to me - I have yet to work that website that someone else keeps posting about that gives the percentages.

Tin eye says it's about 80% blue.

Glad the lodge were enthusiastic! Hopefully your husband will feel up to making something.

Victoria - I think they are a v local thing to Bedfordshire unless you make your own!

Back from my few days at the north coast. Finished 1 book which is all updated on the SS.
Was nice to have a change of scene and we mostly got lovely weather, although yesterday was cooler and pretty overcast.

Thanks Tonya and Mary - I thought it was blue but my physical copy was looking a bit green and making me unable to tell anymore lol

@Sophie - well I'm not too far from there so may need to try them

@Vikki - glad you got to enjoy some time at the coast!

MH - thanks for letting us know you wouldn't get to that one.

If anyone else finds themselves in a similar position, please let us know so we can shuffle things in the spell outs.

Victoria - good luck with the hunt.

Vikki - glad you had a good few days away!

I'm currently melting in near 100% humidity. Not used to this! Had a lot of thunder today but no rain. Having said that, I know that we are lucky to not have the extremes of weather some of you all get.

I've finished I tystnaden begravd

I've completed , but goodreads doesn't have a page number for this edition. My Kindle app says it's 359 pages.

Unless one of the librarian's can sort that out, the default edition has 355 pages which gives us the same number of points as a work round.

Imke wrote: "I've completed , but goodreads doesn't have a page number for this edition. My Kindle app says it's 359 pages."

That's weird, when I click on the Amazon button, it takes me to the Amazon page of the correct book, but a paperback edition, which isn't correct. Amazon doesn't have anything when searching directly with the ASIN. I suggest we use the default number of pages, especially since it's the same number of points.

Thanks for looking into that Camilla!

Sophie wrote: "I'm currently melting in near 100% humidity. Not used to this! Had a lot of thunder today but no rain. Having said that, I know that we are lucky to not have the extremes of weather some of you all..."

It's been really warm here today as well. No thunder (or rain) here though. Keep hearing forecasts for thunder but so far I haven't had any thunderstorms.

I know we are doing it on purpose, but I hate seeing us so far down on the challenge list!

Glad I had a good start this round because I haven’t had much reading time the last 2 days. But I will this weekend.

Lovely weather here, just had a yummy kangaroo steak with hubby, sitting on our terrace and enjoying a Portuguese red wine. Have a great weekend everybody!

So my goal for these last two weeks was to forgo watching telly and to get up one hour early and read before work.....I am amazed how much time I spend watching tv or surfing the net...
Another week of reading and I should get another batch done...

Vikki - hopefully they'll come soon. Could certainly do with a bit of rain.

Tonya - It's all ok, I know what you mean, but we've got it under control. Currently we're 200 points (roughly) behind in 2nd. They've upped their BOM reading as well and seem to be doing nothing but read at the moment.

Thank everyone for upping reading and decreasing distractions! Hopefully we'll continue for a v strong finish!

Rosina wrote: "So my goal for these last two weeks was to forgo watching telly and to get up one hour early and read before work.....I am amazed how much time I spend watching tv or surfing the net...
Another wee..."

Rosina - same! I am so glad that there's not some app tracking my internet/television usage!! The audiobooks while I work has really helped though - I don't turn on the TV while I work anymore. I'm going to have to "invest" in more audiobooks from the library though because Audible is expensive at a book a day!

I have updated the spreadsheet some more! I'm flying through these audiobooks... =D

I also had to change which physical book I'm reading because it's due back to the library.

I have currently four books on the SS that I' m reading. I'm able to finish them all before Friday, and I could squeeze in another audiobook and a shortish ebook or paper book. Is there a letter we especially need?

K is where we're a little short at the moment

Thanks, I'll find a couple of K books then.

I finished Basket Case and plan to finish A Stranger's Touch today as well. I added a Stephen King book. Not sure I have time to read everything I have on there. But we also have nothing going on this week. Should I bump that ahead of something else to get the K in? I could hold off on Iron and Magic.

Finally back from my parents and on a real desktop!

I've updated the spreadsheet with the books I've read. :)

Mary - I think Iron and Magic would be good if you want to read it. There are normally a good number of letters covered in those and the I might be needed.

Samantha - Hope you had a lovely trip.

I've just about finished The Jetsetters, so need to find time to answer the DQs; then I've only got 1 BOM left for the challenge (Spin the Dawn) which I'm writing the final day's questions for on Thursday so will definitely get that finished.

Unfortunately Murder on the Orient Express have massively upped their reading this round. They are currently 400 points (i.e. roughly 4000 pages) ahead of us.

Currently we've read 7 of the 10 tags and 4 are still marked as planned/reading. These are:
Three sisters, three queens
Cinder
Perfume
Pretty Girls

Pretty sure I've got another book tagged crazy around somewhere!

Sophie wrote: "..."

Sophie - just to clarify, you are saying that we DO need tags, yes?

updated spreadsheet with my weekend reads...

Tonya wrote: "Sophie wrote: "..."

Sophie - just to clarify, you are saying that we DO need tags, yes?"

I think it sounds like if the books that are tagged are read by Friday then we do not need tags. However, if anyone feels like they aren't going to finish one of those 4 books, they should speak up so we can start looking for tags :)

I have already started Pretty Girls and plan to read Perfume next. I did a lot of reading this weekend but I am behind in updating.

That's right Samantha! Books for all the tags are planned, but we still need to finish 3 of them.

Thanks y'all for clarifying on tags!

Reality is creeping back in. Last week of holidays 😭 And got an email from work saying we need to do a Covid test today. Baffles me since it's only valid for 48 hours and we are back at work next week 🤷🏼‍♀️

I will try to squeeze in one more book a day and try for 500+ books. Kinda slacked off on that the last few days 🙈

I'll have Cinder finished later today and will finish Three Sisters Three Queens this week. Dunno if I'll have time to squeeze in an extra book, but those 2 are on track.

I pretty much read all weekend either in ebook or audio format. Hoping it will be quiet at the office this afternoon. No dinners out, meetings or anything coming up for me until a bbq on Saturday.

I can promise all audiobooks on the sheet - those are on any time I'm awake and not reading an e/physical book. I am also blessed without deadlines this week so I will be able to squeeze in the non-audiobooks like I haven't been in the past. =D

Looks like we're postponing Cancun again until April. I've been worried about going but hubby was determined. But now our co-travelers are backing out. If I really pushed to not go, he would not have bullied me into going but having the others now pushing to wait helps.