Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Hi everyone,

my name is Saar and I'm almost 40.(I'm scared of that age!)
I live in Bruges (Belgium) with my husband and my son of 10. I've got 2 cats (+ 3 strays in the garden), 2 chickens and a horse.
I work as an administrative in a mental hospitla and I'm studying to become a vet tech.
I love challenges a lot, but I try now to be selective about them. I don't know how many TT's I've done.
I like to read Fantasy, SciFi, Horror, animal books...a broad varity of genres.

This is my shelf:
Tower23


I'm looking forward to this!

Hi Guys! I'm Heli from Finland. I have a husband and two sons who are all grown up and live on their own now. I am a practical nurse and work with the mentally disabled in a care home. My hours are rather irregular as I work all three shifts.
My favorite genres are mystery, suspense, thriller and psychological thriller. I also read some fantasy, sci-fi and romance. For a challenge I can read almost anything.
This is my fifth TT. Here is my shelf: tt23

HI all, I'm Nikki and I also live in Sydney Australia. I live with my partner, my 11 year old daughter, 1 dog and 1 cat. Its been a couple of years since i really played in any challenges and my reading has slowed down a little also in recent years ( In 2020 i read nearly 300 books. In 2022, i read about 30 and so far this year) as work and life got a little crazy.

I have gotten back into reading and Goodreads this year and can't wait to play tower teams again as this challenge is always fun. I currently read most PNR and Paranormal cozies but when in the mood will read all sorts of different genres including YA, Historical & contempory romance and fantasy.

When i am not reading i am generally either working in my admin job, shuttling my daughter to and from activities, participating in my own cheer and dance activities, playing computer games or streaming or bingeing entire TV shows. Currently on season 5 of Grimm :-)

Can't wait to get started. My My TT shelf is TT2023

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "*waves* Hi catsalive! I don't know that we ever played together before and now two challenges in a row xD"

🖐🖐😊

BTW, my name is Kylie, but if you forget then catsalive or cats is fine. 😺

Welcome Skye, Cindy, Saar and Nikki! Love the diversity of locations and reading we have in our team.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone reads and getting some new recommendations 😊🙌

Hi Saar, Heli and Nikki. Loving the diversity of our team. I can certainly see my TBR growing not that I need much encouragement 😀

Catsalive wrote: "BTW, my name is Kylie, but if you forget then catsalive or cats is fine. 😺"

Good to know!

Skye, I am in the central valley, specifically Manteca...sandwiched between Stockton and Modesto. How far in NorCal are you?

To all of you Aussies (is that correct?), I am so envious! I swear before I die I am going to Australia!

Louise and/or co-caps, I'm trying to remember if I may start a book prior to the beginning of the challenge as long as I finish it after it begins or do I need to wait to begin a book?

Vicki wrote: "Louise and/or co-caps, I'm trying to remember if I may start a book prior to the beginning of the challenge as long as I finish it after it begins or do I need to wait to begin a book?"

Hello Vicki!
For this challenge, you need to wait to start until the challenge begins.

I've never been on such a big team! This is great!!

Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying the Mistborn series and the Expanse series.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Hi everyone,

my name is Saar and I'm almost 40.(I'm scared of that age!)
I live in Bruges (Belgium) with my husband and my son of 10. I've got 2 cats (+ 3 strays in the garden), 2 chickens and a h..."

The 40s are great years. Don't be afraid! I felt I finally figured out who I was then :)

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Delitealex wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Delitealex wrote: "@Karen What was the interesting Scifi you read? I'm trying to get caught up on a few older series by David Weber, Elizabeth Moon and Tanya Huf..."

I agree! I only read the first one, but would like to read more.

Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying the Mistborn series and the Expanse series."

I've only read 1 Sanderson but I really enjoyed but have quite a few that I want to get to. I have the first book in the Expanse series but haven't gotten to it yet.

Good afternoon! It’s definitely interesting reading everyone’s posts.

I’ve already read 1 BOM. Not sure about the other. My competitive side comes out too. So I’ll have a look at the mini. Not sure I totally understand it.

I did find your Sci-Fi rec at my library, Karen. I can tell my TBR will be gaining some weight! 🙂

Melissa wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Louise and/or co-caps, I'm trying to remember if I may start a book prior to the beginning of the challenge as long as I finish it after it begins or do I need to wait to begin a book..."

Thank you, I just couldn't remember nor find the answer myself.

Louise and/or co-caps, I'm starting to plan some books. I've put a book on the May Books tab that fits for the Spell-It-Out as well. Do I put it in both places or pick one spot for it only?

Vicki wrote: "Louise and/or co-caps, I'm starting to plan some books. I've put a book on the May Books tab that fits for the Spell-It-Out as well. Do I put it in both places or pick one spot for it only?"

I’ve added some columns for spell-it out on the main sheet if you can note the options it works for on there we can move the books as needed.

Nice meeting you all, very diverse group, can't wait to start now!

Wow! The mini-challenges don't seem too mini haha.

I am a bit confused about the BoMS (being new to the group). Do we need to nominate now in the threads for participating in the DQs or is it just for writing the DQs? I was planning to read the The Daughter of Doctor Moreau.

Saar The Book owl wrote: "Hi everyone,

my name is Saar and I'm almost 40.(I'm scared of that age!)
I live in Bruges (Belgium) with my husband and my son of 10. I've got 2 cats (+ 3 strays in the garden), 2 chickens and a h..."

Hi Saar! I too am almost 40!

Hi
I'm Amy from Ohio. I am a book addict that has little time to read. I work as a caregiver for a young man with spina bifida. It can be challenging at times, but he can do a lot for himself and just needs general help around the house and assistance with catheters, etc.
I find that I am either at work or trying to sleep to get ready to go to work (12 hour shifts midnight-noon).I am divorced and live with my 23-year-old gender-fluid child, William/Ashley. No pets at the moment. I will be 51 in May. I am a mod over at AMMP.
I believe I signed up that I read 5 books a month, which has been a lofty goal this year, sadly. I am hoping that this challenge will help me out of a reading slump. I used to read 20-30 in a month and right now I have read less than 30 for the year :-(
I like to read mysteries and thrillers as my main genres, but I will pick up almost anything. I am thinking about participating in some of the challenges coming up on "Booktube" such as Horror MAYhem, June on the Range and Garb-August. (I can link to videos about these if interested).
I noticed that there has been talk about science fiction (I don't read much of it). I would recommend a couple short books called Finna and Defekt by Nino Cipri. I read them this week and loved them. They are about a store similar to an Ikea, but there are wormholes to other dimensions, furniture may come alive, and other crazy things may happen. There is trans representation if you are looking for that. I would say they are light sci-fi along the levels of Becky Chambers.
I am happy to join the zoo (cats, dragons, owls, bats... what a menagerie!). I hope to be able to contribute to the reading and the conversation. I will do my best to post at least weekly.

Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying the Mistborn series and the Expanse series."

Branden Sanderson is great. I'll also throw in a recommendation for Michael J. Sullivan as he has a similar style

Nistha wrote: "Nice meeting you all, very diverse group, can't wait to start now!

Wow! The mini-challenges don't seem too mini haha."

haha
more like an 'ongoing challenge within a challenge' teehee

Amy the book-bat wrote: "Hi
I'm Amy from Ohio. I am a book addict that has little time to read. I work as a caregiver for a young man with spina bifida. It can be challenging at times, but he can do a lot for himself and j..."

Welcome Amy!

It sounds as though you are very busy! I am glad you can come hang out with us :)
Yes, please drop the links for the Booktube challenges! It will be fun for us to look them over.
I look forward to checking out the books you have recommended.

Nistha wrote: "I am a bit confused about the BoMS (being new to the group). Do we need to nominate now in the threads for participating in the DQs or is it just for writing the DQs? I was planning to read the [bo..."

For points you don't need to nominate.
Just if you are going to read a BOM like The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, then head over to the discussion thread and you can volunteer to write some discussion questions (optional) or just join the discussion by responding to at least 3 days of questions. That will gain us additional points :)

Delitealex wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying the Mistborn series and the Expanse serie..."

Nice! Do you have favorite sci-fi authors?

Amy the book-bat wrote: "Hi
I'm Amy from Ohio. I am a book addict that has little time to read. I work as a caregiver for a young man with spina bifida. It can be challenging at times, but he can do a lot for himself and j..."

Welcome Amy! Sounds like you have your plate full. Don't feel pressure to read more than your sign up. We don't want to add any pressure to your life - this should be fun :)

Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying the Mistborn series and the Expanse series."

I really need to read Brandon Sanderson. I have heard good things about his Mistborn series plus i do want to finish the Wheel of time series some day

Brandon Sanderson is one of my favourite authors. I’ve got book 5 of the Mistborn series Shadows of Self on the list for reading this challenge.

Warbreaker is probably my favourite of his so far though.

Good Morning Guys. I have been looking over my books looking for colors for the towers. I usually just read what I want and try to read BOM fir additional points. I will probably be on lower page count books.

Emma (M) wrote: "Brandon Sanderson is one of my favourite authors. I’ve got book 5 of the Mistborn series Shadows of Self on the list for reading this challenge.

Warbreaker is probab..."

Ooh. Good to know. I'll have to check that out.

Maritza wrote: "Goid Morning Guys. I have been looking over my books looking for colors for the towers. I usually just read what I want and try to read BOM fir additional points. I will probably be on lower page c..."

Excellent. It looks like we need all kinds of books - including those low page counts.

Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying the Mistborn series and the Expanse serie..."

The Wheel of Time has been on my tbr for a while now. It's good then?

Melissa wrote: "Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying t..."
I read the first ten books of the series years ago ( prior to Robert Jordan dying ) but have yet to read any of the ones written by Brandon Sanderson. I restarted the series last year but only got to book 4. I may try again in the near future.

Melissa wrote: "Nikki the Sapphired Book Dragon wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Fantasy and sci-fi peeps - I just recently discovered Brandon Sanderson (late to the game, I know....) and James Corey. I'm really enjoying t..."

I have also been wondering to start Wheel of Time for a while, but it seems to be such a long commitment, that I get deterred. I remember reading about 15-20% ish and then DNFing it previously as I got hooked on other books.

@Nikki, I heard from few that the later books are also quite good.

Welcome Jo! ;)

Sounds like we may need to do a Brandon Sanderson buddy read at some time through the challenge!

I'm looking at the mini challenge for ideas. I'm not actually that good at planning what I'm going to read, but I'm fairly good at reading whatever.

I don't find the current BOMs that appealing, but I can definitely read from the shelves of the names provided! I'm also good at coming up with links to books. And I have a lot of books in my house that I've been meaning to read so I can definitely try to pick some by color.

Emma (M) wrote: "Brandon Sanderson is one of my favourite authors. I’ve got book 5 of the Mistborn series Shadows of Self on the list for reading this challenge.

Warbreaker is probab..."

I also really love Brandon Sanderson, and Warbreaker is his favorite of mine, too! I was just about to start Tress of the Emerald Sea but am going to hold off until after the challenge starts, but I'm intrigued by the plot.

Louise wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Louise and/or co-caps, I'm starting to plan some books. I've put a book on the May Books tab that fits for the Spell-It-Out as well. Do I put it in both places or pick one spot for it..."

Thanks, Louise

🌈 Mini News - Rainbows 🌈
You’ve all probably looked at the mini and thought OMG where do I start. Not to worry, we have a plan. One of the task is to build a rainbow of 18 books and for that we need color covers. Our 18 colors are - we need 1 of each for our super rainbow.

White
Bright pink
Dark pink
Bright red
Dark red
Brown
Dark orange
Bright orange
Dark yellow
Bright yellow
Bright green
Dark green
Teal
Dark blue
Bright blue
Bright purple
Dark purple
Black

Shout out here to claim a cover color and make a note on the tracking sheet.
@Amy your book is a lovely Dark Green.

A color can be claimed more than once as we also have smaller rainbows to build

Can't wait to see what our rainbow looks like!
I'm reading this in May for the audiobook challenge, so I will add it to our tracking :)


I can also do Teal

Typically, I just finished a book with a bright green cover 😢

Hi guys, I did a thing and now I have copies of both BOM. Remind me, I can read both and then answer questions later on for bonus points? Talking about Daughter of...

Maritza wrote: "Hi guys, I did a thing and now I have copies of both BOM. Remind me, I can read both and then answer questions later on for bonus points? Talking about Daughter of..."

You just have to participate within one month of it starting

Catsalive wrote: "Typically, I just finished a book with a bright green cover 😢"

Was it any good? Maybe one of us can pick it up
😊