Nyssa’s Comments (group member since Feb 05, 2019)

Nyssa’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

How in the world did I forget Star Trek!?! I also watched it with my dad and continued watching as an adult through Enterprise, but I have not seen any of the newer shows.

As long as I'm hydrated, I'm happy, but if I have to pick a favorite, it would be warm drinks - Coffee, Hot Cocoa, or Tea, but in no particular order.

*Umm* No. Wow. I really don't. I want to say The Hobbit, but I feel like I came to that late (for a fantasy fan). I'm going to guess it was childhood shows & movies before books that hooked me on the genre:

The Never Ending Story,
The Dark Crystal (which counted as horror for me at the time),
The Princess Bride,
Clash of the Titans,
Willow,
Dr. Who (Tom Baker),
E.T.,
and Firestarter (movie w/ Drew Barrymore - I have not read the book), to name a few.

Oh, I need to add Roger Rabbit and the Highlander series.

Shel wrote: "I guess I'd rather never again re-read - there are SO many incredible new books constantly being published - but it would be very, very difficult to give up some of my favorite comfort reads!

I wo..."

Everything Shel said, plus I find rereading essential when continuing a series. Depending on the time between installments (or when I left off), I opt to restart - a choice that happens more often than not.

If either of the scenarios were in play, I might actually stop reading altogether - which would be a tragic blow to my quality of life.

Kathi wrote: "I have a bunch of these on my shelf and in my Kindle app. I ought to read and couple a see if I like them before I invest in any more!."

I would highly recommend that you read them in order. The first 40 books only cover two years of series time. One book usually picks up shortly after the previous one (It could be anywhere from the next day to a few weeks). And, as the series progresses, there are references to previous cases and/or people met along the way - especially as the main character's list of family and friends grows.
As it is a futuristic setting, the first few books show their age but get updated pretty smoothly.

I hope you enjoy them. I came for the crime and stayed for the characters. :)

My love for Police Procedural TV shows has transferred to books. This year, I joined a buddy-read that has taken on the In Death series by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts), and I'm really enjoying it!

This series has been going since 1995, and the latest books (#s 57 & 58) are due September of this year and February of next year, respectively.

I am a mood reader, so while I usually intend to participate in various group reads, I rarely follow through for the entire year.

I started/signed up for a few buddy-reads this year, and I've been surprisingly susscefully with those (except for one). However, it has also been my worst year regarding group reads. Even the two I was most excited about last year fell by the wayside by February or March.

In general, however, if I have trouble choosing something to read, I either add my top choices to a randomizer app, ask my kids to pick a number or a title, or create a poll and ask the general public to help me decide.

While there are a few books from my tweens and teens that I would like to reread (at some point), my response is the same as Kathi's.

I'm a police procedural junkie in both books and TV!

I have been working on a buddy-read in another group of the In Death series by J.D. Robb. This week we are reading Festive in Death (Book #39). The 57th book in the series, Payback in Death, will be released on 5 Spt. 2023, and the 58th book is due out in Feb. 2024 (I do not know the title of that one yet).

Similarly, I want to read more cozy mysteries (like the TV show Midsomer Murders).

This question has made me realize that many books I read have absent mothers through tragedy or choice.

Molly Weasley is the only mother figure who immediately came to mind, and she is pretty awesome.

I must wait until I reread the House on the Prarie series before commenting on Caroline. I haven't read them since I was a child; that being said, it is one of my favorite childhood reads (and was the very first series I chose for myself).

I prefer tv series to movies.

I'm reading The Great Book of Amber; I think it would be a fascinating TV series if done well.

I would also love a reboot of The Dresden Files.

I know I have picked up many books due to their covers, but I decided whether or not to read them based on their descriptions.

I love a lot of covers; I don't have a favorite, though.

An odd (?) phenomenon happens to me with book covers and tv theme songs - The more I anticipate and/or enjoy the work, the more I love the cover/song.

Yes I do; more so now than when I was younger.
I find sequential art to be quite enjoyable.

The series I have enjoyed so far are:
Kitchen Princess Omnibus, Vol. 1
Saga, Volume 1
Spy x Family, Vol. 1

Wow. I could have sworn I answered this!

My Rating System:
1 = I disliked it / I could not finish it;
2 = Meh / I didn't hate it, but I also didn't like it;
3 = It's okay / I liked it enough;
4 = I really liked it
5 = I enjoyed it/I loved it

Cat. Hands down!

Smart, Loving, Deadly!

I am currently reading The Guns of Avalon, the second book in The Great Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny. I have mixed feelings about this one. I like Zelazny's writing style but find it difficult to like or root for his characters.

After a hiatus, I am now also continuing Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown. Its encyclopedic nature does not lend itself to being read in a single sitting, but the information is quite interesting. I am happy I also purchased the audiobook, as the author adds material beyond the text.

There are a few titles currently on my list to read next; I have not yet decided which; however, I created a a poll if anyone is interested/willing to help me decide (thanks in advance).

I plan to read Indigo by Beverly Jenkins.

As a West Indian - American, I have mixed feelings about Black History Month. I opted not to participate when I was younger (in my 20s).

Black History IS American History for many reasons (not just slavery); our accomplishments and struggles should not be relegated to a single month.

As I grew older, however, I recognized its importance, which was further highlighted by a conversation relayed to me by my then-8th-grade daughter that she had with her then-history teacher.

This history teacher told my child's class that he did not see why there still needed to be a Black History Month, as so many (people of color) were already included in the history books*.

*Side Note: I don't know the books he's been reading, but I digress...

My beautiful child, often quiet around authority figures, spoke up and reminded this history teacher that there were people of color in history books now because we as a community fought so hard for them to be there!
After my initial shock at her speaking up, I told her I was incredibly proud of her.

As my ex-husband/children's father is of Mexican descent, said teacher kept his mouth shut when Hispanic Heritage month came around.

I recently (as in the latter part of 2022) started listening to audiobooks regularly; however, I can only do so when I am reading along.

If I attempt to listen without the text, after a while, it shifts to background noise and then nothing - I start to tune it out altogether. I have to be able to focus on the words.

I have started practicing looking away from the book and just listening. I can do so for short periods, 10 - 15 minutes max. But I don't enjoy the story as much as I do. The act of reading itself brings me joy.

I will say that although this audio/visual experience can get quite expensive (having to purchase two versions of the same book when one or both can not be borrowed), the experience can be well worth it.

Listening along allows me to read faster than my average pace.
Additionally, having a total production (with music and multiple voice actors, as with The Guild of the Cowry Catchers) is a treat!

I have also learned that having the author read their book can help give insight into how they envisioned their story or work to be read.

With one of the books I have currently started reading again, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience, getting the audio version has been an excellent investment! Instead of just reading her work, the author also adds anecdotes, examples, and explanations not printed in the book. She suggests places to pause and reread, or she repeats lines she finds essential. Her narration brings her work to life.

Kathi wrote: "Tenar is about 15 when Ged arrives in the Tombs, and he is about 30-35. So yes, there is an age difference of about 15-20 years."

I understand that they are now both consenting adults, but the thought of even a 25-year-old with a 45-year-old is off-putting. A 30-year-old with a 45-year-old feels slightly less so, but a gap of ten years or fewer (once in adulthood) feels more appropriate.

I'm not entirely done yet (I'm somewhere in chapter 12), but my comment/concern is a spoiler.

Wasn't Tenar a child when she and Ged first met? Isn't there a vast age difference between them? I mean, I'm all for love, but... This feels sketchy (age-wise). If I am wrong, please let me know (I hope I am).