Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
Tower Teams XI
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Team Empire State Building
Tower Team Shelves🗺️Jenny-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Apoorv-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Angie-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Teddie-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Sharon-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Carrie-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Leslie-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Vicki-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️LaurLa-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Donna Flynn -https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Cilla Fleig-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Joyce-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️Amy the book bat-https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
🗺️- Checked in
Tracking Spreadsheet-https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...Tower Team Rules-https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
A/R Bookfinder-https://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.a...
TinEye-http://labs.tineye.com/color/36c8a13a...
Countdown-https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
Mini Challenges-
Novels Around the World-https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Traveling Around the World-https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
World Wheel-https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Wheel spins-
Spain
Germany
Sweden
Italy
Helpful International Listopias-International thrillers
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
Foreign lands
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
Around the world one book per country
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Life in a foreign country
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
Women around the world
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
Books about Africa
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6...
African Fiction
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
International Women
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
BOOK OF THE MONTH (BOM)Don't forget - EXTRA points for participating in the BOM discussion or for writing a day's discussion questions.
Participating in current BOM discussion (3 days minimum) = 20 points.
Writing a day's worth of discussion questions (randomly chosen volunteers) = 40 points
Don't be shy! Volunteer - the more, the merrier! - if you can't manage the day assigned another volunteer can help you out!
📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚
MAY
What the River Knows ~ Discussion May 18 - June 18
JUNE
Great Big Beautiful Life ~ Discussion June 2 - July 2
The Berry Pickers ~ Discussion June 16 - July 16
JULY
My Friends ~ Discussion July 2 - August 2
The Sword of Kaigen ~ Discussion July 16 - August 16
AUGUST
The Tainted Cup ~ Discussion August 2 - End of TT
Mini Challenge Important InfoMini 1 ~ Novels
◈ Countries may only be duplicated once
◈ No repeat countries in same Itinerary
◈ Easy Countries - Maximum 6 per itinerary
◈ Midlevel Countries - Minimum 3 per itinerary
◈ Hard Countries - Minimum 2 per itinerary
◈ Only ONE itinerary can be open and being read
There are only three allowable criteria.
1) Each book read must be set for 50% or more in the selected country,
2) Verifiable that the author was born in the country
3) Clear that the country is the primary subject matter of the nonfiction book
In addition - for the setting -
Fantasy settings of real countries are allowed. Korea fantasy books or historic books where is it otherwise not clearly set in the north are defaulted to South Korea.
Mini 2 ~ Traveling
◈ Complete tasks to have new tasks revealed
Mini 3 ~ World Wheel
◈ Two Countries open at a time
◈ Once a full set of Country tasks are complete AND reported, a new spin can requested
◈ No repeats!
END of Tower Teams ~ August 17, 2025 @ 9am UTC
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown...
(view spoiler)
One more and I am done.
... said no one ever!
Welcome to our tour of the world!!!Time to dig up all of those books written about other countries you were planning to read someday...
If you have not played Tower Teams before, worry not, there are veterans here ready to answer your every question. You have three seasoned co-captains to help you refold the map you used on that last road trip.
We will have the tracking spreadsheet up later, and all the helpful links up later this weekend.
This team challenge is usually a hoot, and it is even more so if we get to chatting about books, tasks, favorite authors, pets, last night’s dinner, what you wanted to say to your boss, but didn’t, etc, etc. That is my way of asking you all to check in to this thread once a week at the least if you can, and hourly if you feel like it!
Please make sure you have set up your TT shelf.
If you would like to introduce yourselves, that would be wonderful.
Since we are starting a tour, perhaps write about the countries you have visited. Or what countries you really really want to visit.
Anyway! Welcome to the Empire State Building! Do not throw pennies over the edge. Just saying.
YAY! I'm so excited to start this one, especially with the 3 co-caps we have...how LUCKY is Team Empire State Building! :)Apoorv, I have missed you and your fun personality! With Angie, Jenny, AND you, this is definitely going to be a hoot!
I've only been to the United States (I was born, raised, and live here), Canada and Mexico. We have a trip planned to Australia I think for February 2026.
Most of you on here know me. but for those who don't I'm a retired high school teacher. I taught English for 25 years (mostly to freshman, yeah 14-15 year olds and somehow survived!) and yearbook for 18 years. I'm happily married and our 25th anniversary is coming up on June 25. I have 5 children, 22 grandchildren and my 8th great one on his way due June 28. Life is busy and oh, so fun.
Yesterday I went to an Irish pub with 8 friends for lunch, then hubby and I went to an Asian fusion restaurant for dinner. I was a happy eater yesterday!
I love historical fiction, mystery, thriller and psychological thriller and some fantasy. Other genres are hit and miss. I believe this is my 6th time playing TT and I LOVE it!
Let's tour this crazy world of ours with good books and make some new friends here (me anyway) and build on some OLD ones. Not saying anyone is over the hill, I should have said longer lasting ones. Friendships that is. :)
Last thing I must mention is I have 2 dogs, Rocky and Crazy Daisy. Daisy is a Havanese and she just had 6 puppies on Easter Day, which was April 20. Adorbs! Rocky is a mix of border collie and lab, the vet thinks. He was abandoned at about 6 weeks old left in a freaking box with a bunch of siblings on the side of a road out in the country and my daughter spotted it and took them to her home and we adopted Rocky.
That's it for me...for now.
Vicki wrote: "Yesterday I went to an Irish pub with 8 friends for lunch, then hubby and I went to an Asian fusion restaurant for dinner. I was a happy eater yesterday! "I did ask the mods if we could get extra points for partaking of a drink or a meal while reading a book from the same country, and alas, they said no.
Hi everyone! I am married, a mother of 3 grown-up children (finally!). My youngest is about to go to college this fall. It's hard to believe, but it's happening! I have two furballs, and my two cats are Simba and Gizmo. They are wildly different. Simba is my cuddler. He loves everyone and wants attention. Gizmo is my guard cat, who may be more dog than cat. We haven't decided. I will let you know if she starts barking. LOL!
Anyways, I am looking forward to this challenge. I read anything that isn't non-fiction, but I particularly enjoy fantasy & science fiction.
I'm here!!! Lots of familiar "faces" but some new ones too... Always love being on teams with new team members 😊A little about me -
I'm married, have 2 grown sons and a new-ish (July 2024) daughter in law... finally those days of becoming a grandma are getting closer! Maybe. The new couple are buying a house right now, first home, so as I say... maybe babies are next on the life plan!!!
Anyway, I also have 1 furrbaby but he's not so much a baby as a crotchedy old man now. But we love him!
I read all romance all the time... any genre. Don't love YA, some NA or high fantasy but I read them if needs must! My favorites would probably be romantic suspense or sports romance. Love pnr too!
I went to school for semester in England (Harlaxton College, if anyone knows it) so was able to visit Scotland (Edinburgh), Ireland (Dublin, Waterford) and Italy (Venice, Florence) while I was there. Of course, that was 30+ years ago, so my memory is a bit shot! More recently, we've cruised the Caribbean a couple of times, so I can add Columbia, Costa Rica, Panama, Jamaica and Aruba to that list 🌴😎. Last year we visited the Grand Canyon and it was AMAZING! Can't wait to revisit it!
I am here. I am currently in Greece on vacation. I will return to Colorado on the 18th. I have a new furball Charlie an Aussie shepard, 7 months old. He is a cutie. Looking forward to being on this fun team.
Hi guys!!!!Leslie Ann, I bloody love Greece! I hope you are having a brilliant time there.
LaurLa, nice country list. One day I hope to take a cruise like that as well.
Donna, I heard your cats were attack cats. Is that correct? teehee
I have been to several countries other than the US, but it has been years since I have gone anywhere. I have been to Mexico, France, England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Greece and Turkey. There are about 50 countries I would like to visit, some, like Australia and New Zealand and Ireland, basically English speaking countries, that I would just like to get there and explore on my own. A bunch of others, I would love to see on a guided tour of some kind.
The first time I went to Greece, I learned a bit of the language so I could get by. At this point, I doubt I would take the time to learn Japanese or Ugandan, or Chilean, or Mandarin, or whatever is spoken locally.
I would love to see Machu Picchu or the Great Wall, or the Hermitage, and a ton of other monuments to human ingenuity.
I am sitting here debating whether to go grocery shopping today, or wait until the morning. Here in Phoenix, it is getting to the "holy crap, why do I live here" time of year. My air conditioner clicked on for the first time about ten minutes ago, and I looked at a weather app and it is to be 100 degrees today. Yuck.
But, me and my two furry critters (kitties) are safely inside, and I am currently looking for authors from the "hard countries" list for the Novels mini.
LOL! My husband tried to convince his nurse that our cats were attack cats. I swear that girl has never seen a cat in her life. I had to tell her that these poor little cats wouldn't harm her, and she was still a bit nervous around them for weeks. Today, she thought Simba was having breathing problems because he was purring on the couch while she was changing Al's bandages. I had to explain that Simba was fine and that he was just happy.
They purr to lull you into a false sense of security. Then they get ya.At least mine do. If I don't pet them or give them treats, then there is hell to pay. And by hell I mean harsh looks and the occasional snub.
LOL! I get an occasional nibble from Simba, but no attacks. He's a lover. Gizmo, on the other hand, only wants attention when she wants it. She will guard the room that you are in and hang out with you, but she would rather come to you when she is ready for your attention. She is definitely not a cuddler.
It's that look...
And that attitude of "how can you not always be petting me when I am soooo cute?'
Yes! Gizmo has that look down as well. Simba has that "I'm so cute and you should be petting me" attitude. Simba looks almost like your 2nd kitty, just lighter.
Gizmo is always watching and staring. The nurse thinks she’s creepy. I just laugh and grab Gizzy up. She’s my little guard. Always where the action is, observing and guarding her family. She follows me around a lot but she does check on everyone. She takes her job seriously.
Welcome Team ESB!!!I am just getting back from a little trip, just in the states, but a trip is a trip! I've most recently been to England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. I have also been to India, Canada, Mexico, Aruba and several Caribbean locations. I hope to go to Greece next year.
Has everyone played Tower Teams before? How about the Empire State Building....have you been? What are your favorite trips (or countries you've visited), or are you a home body?
Jenny, Apoorv and I will try to keep you engaged and having fun for this tour around the world. Help us out by chatting and cutting up with us! That half the fun of these team challenges!!
HelloJust a quick check-in
I have participated in most of the Tower teams events. I think I missed one somewhere along the line.
I have been to the Empire State Building and the view from the observation deck at night is amazing. I went in 1993 with a college class. Great memories for sure.
I will probably be sporadic in posting as my job has me all over the schedule. I will do my best. Not a lot of time for reading, but it is going better this year than it was last year. :-)
I have been to Mexico (1989) and Canada (1990).
I guess I should tell a bit more about myself. I live in Ohio with my son. I turned 53 today. I work as a DSP (Direct Service Professional) and work with developmentally disabled adults. It is a great job and I have met some truly amazing people. I currently read 10-15 books in a good month. Last year i was in a terrible reading slump and barely made it to 75 books. So far this year, I am at 64 books, so doing much better. (Although it is a long way from my best reading year of over 300 books). If there is anything else you would like to know, just ask.
Happy Birthday Amy!!!!I hope you are having an amazing day.
I am sad to say I have not been to the Empire State Building. But, since the Daleks actually built it, I'm not sure it is safe to go there.
(If you are not a Doctor Who fan, just roll with it.)
Amy (Happy Birthday!), I know the feeling. A good reading month for me has always been 20+ books. However, lately, I am lucky if I get past 6 books in a given month. It's been a struggle, and my life is just a chaotic mess. Don't tell anyone, but I have actually had time to do a little bit of challenge planning the last couple of weeks. I don't want to curse myself, LOL!
Happy Birthday, Amy! We've been to the same countries. I am a bit jealous of all the countries others in this group have been. Amazing!
Hi Team ESB! I'm looking forward to playing with you all in this year's TT! I play in a bunch of different challenges across the GR universe, and enjoy getting to know other readers and the books they suggest. I'll read most genres, but have leaned into becoming more of a mood reader as I've gotten older. I have 2 kids: the oldest just graduated college and the youngest is right in the thick of it. She's planning to study at Trinity for a semester in the Fall so the rest of us plan to travel with her earlier in August to wander around Ireland for a bit. I also live with a rottweiler named Max and a tuxedo cat named Fred - though of course, as he really only responds to "Kitty" or "treat?" "Fred" is largely superfluous.
I would like to visit Morocco someday, and Istanbul, and Greece. After I win the lottery, I plan to go on a multi-month World Library tour - I currently have almost 50 locations on my list, libraries on every non-arctic continent located in universities and cities, or nestled in abbeys and monasteries. But until the grand tour, I'll just try visit a few here and there along the way.
I'm now going to try to find a book that references Don Quixote - does using the adjective quixotic count?
My TT shelf name is tt-esb : https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Hi Teddie!What a good excuse to "have" to go to Ireland. I love your library tour idea. Of course, local bookstores might pop up for you as well.
Now, would you look at that! All the cool kids from GoodReads have assembled here like the Avengers! :P This is going to be one heck of a fun time because I know/have been on teams with pretty much everyone here at some point and know for a fact that all of you are AWESOME!!
I am Apoorv, live in Boston (MA), originally from India, and a GoodReads team challenge addict (yes, yes, I know! But so are all of you, so this addicts assembly is really just a party :P). This is my 8th Tower Teams (refer to the addict statement above) and I have had a blast every year all the way back to 2014.
I read pretty much everything (except maybe Self Help, because I mean look at me - do you think this fabulousness needs any help?! :P) and I am particularly a fan of reading books from different countries. Have a personal on-going globetrotting challenge and have visited 87/195 countries through literature so far. So, I am definitely going to be digging into those "hard" countries a bit through this challenge. Know any authors from Vanuatu, anyone?
In real life, I managed to travel to Qatar and Vietnam last year, and it was an enchanting experience. Geographically distinct countries, yet, both have a beautiful culture and some of the most gorgeous nature, Absolutely delightful.
As for this challenge, as we have established, Angie and Jenny have it all under control and will do all the answering of the difficult questions and I will sit here and look pretty! :D
THIS. IS. GOING. TO. BE. THE. BEST. CHALLENGE. EVER!
Brace yourself!
Oh well done, Apoorv, with the reading around the world books so far. I think I am about 40. Ish. I am trying to find hard countries as well for the Novel mini challenge. I think between us all, we can avoid the easy countries altogether.
By the way, since you have about 10,000 shelves, can you point out your TT shelf please? I can't find it.
Teddie, your library tour sounds like a dream come true! I would love to join you! What a wonderful idea. I love seeing local libraries in small towns that sometimes look like houses or just little sheds because they're so small and quaint. But I also LOVE to see the huge libraries like the San Francisco Public Library.Apoorv, I have been waiting for your post so I could just laugh and enjoy your presence. You always bring such fun to challenges with your quick wit and fun nature. Thanks for making me laugh on Mother's Day first thing in the morning!
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms in this group! And if you're a grandmother like I am, you are doubly blessed and I KNOW your hearts will be filled with love today!
As soon as we have our Tracking SS I'm going to claim Chile which is midlevel and I'm saving a book for it.
I have a book I wanted to read for my RL book club (that I won't be able to read in time for it), set in Iceland and written by an author born there. I can save it for this challenge instead. I know it is the dreaded easy level that Jenny wants to avoid, but it's there if we want to use it. LOL!
I will take some time and look for a hard country later. Right now, I am off to spend some time with my family.
Happy Mother's Day!I think since several of us have checked in, we should have a little chat about whether we want to try to win this thing, or concentrate on having fun. Of course, there is no reason that both can not be true!!!!
And, ask and ye shall receive. Angie finished the Tracking sheet, and it is here...
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
If any of you are interested in reading or volunteering for DQs for the first BOM, it is What the River Knows, and the BOM thread is here-
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
And, our first Wheel spin for the World Wheel race us Spain and Germany. So, don't forget to see if your books work for those tasks as well.
Hi team!!I have been in such a reading slump so I’m looking forward to this challenge getting me out of it and back into my reading!
I live in northeast Pennsylvania with my husband and our two 6-month old puppies, Penny and Roald. So far I’ve only been in the US and Canada. I would love to visit Ireland one day and New Zealand (although the 24 plane ride would be a tough trip).
I rely a lot on libraries for my books, so I’ll usually fill things in as I finish instead of planning too far ahead. Looking forward to getting into this challenge with you all!!
I am having a great time in Greece . The food is so good!!! Why do our tomatoes and peppers have no flavor. I have been ruined with hummus and Greek salad …. Our hummus does not taste this good!!! I am open to whatever approach we take but I can’t help myself I will do my best to earn points 😀
Apoorv! I thought it was you and Jenny that would be answering all the difficult questions!! Lol!I think that I've been in challenges with everyone on the team at one time or other, except you. FINALLY!!! I've been looking forward to sharing a team challenge with you.
Sharon, welcome to the fun team!Whatever we can do to help you get out of a reading slump, just let us know. Need recommendations? Daily pictures of nearly naked men (or women or whatever)? Cute animal videos?
Leslie Ann, I recommend. you make. your own hummus for a while and find a good farmers market to get your produce at. You will be disappointed at the grocery store when you get home.
I have to know if you have learned to love Retsina. I am the only person that I know that loves that filtered-through-pine-sap-tasting wine. There is only one liquor store near me that even stocks it.
I am checking in, I love that I am on team Empire State Building as a ex-New Yorker. I currently live in southeast Florida. I read many different genres which leads to a huge TBR list. LOLI am married and have an adult autistic son who still lives in a wonderful group home in New York so that gives me a reason to go back up there often.
As far as traveling, the only country I have visited is Canada. I want to go to many countries but hubby hates flying.
Right now I am cat-less for the first time in over 35 years. Just waiting for the cat distribution system to find me.
Hello everyone and welcome!!If you see the below image, it means, that we have something that we need everyone to give us an opinion about.
When you see this image, that means we have something we want to be sure you are aware of.
As it happens, I have one of each for you now! 😃
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Time Cat (other topics)The Sword of Kaigen (other topics)
The Ruins (other topics)
Devil Makes Three (other topics)
Kinnara (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Wally Lamb (other topics)Joanne M. Harris (other topics)
Toshikazu Kawaguchi (other topics)
Fredrik Backman (other topics)
Team Members
• Angie ☯ Captain
• Apoorv Moghe Co-Captain
• Jenny Co-Captain
• Teddie
• Sharon
• Carrie
• Leslie
• Vicki
• LaurLa
• Donna Flynn
• Cilla Fleig
• Joyce
• Amy the book bat
Team Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Challenge Status: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...