Sophie’s Comments (group member since Apr 28, 2013)

Sophie’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Woohoo!

Would love to do a tour of everyone’s walks.

Hi everyone! My notifications for this are also playing silly games. Think I've ticked the notify me when people comment box about 10 times now.

Have been waiting til I had some time to sit and fill out Mel's questions (yay for Wednesday morning admin time!).

🌍 Where are you journeying from?
I'm journeying from the garden of England (otherwise known as Kent, just south of London).

💖 A book, author, or genre that’s always “preciousss” to you?
Hmmm, my preciouses change over time.
Seanan Mcguire and Toby Daye
PTerry
Romance for a comfort boost

🍫 Optional snack check: if you were bringing second breakfast for the road, what’s in your pack?
A mixed of salted peanuts, cashew nuts and dark chocolate drops (sort of home made trail mix).
Cinnamon bun if I don't have to worry about it getting squished.

(While I was writing the Qs, Sauron overtook the thread, so don't be surprised at what's coming.)

🧿“Who is your favourite villain… and why is it obviously Me, Sauron?”
Oh that is a good question. I like Maeve in the Harry Dresden series as someone who is a bit ambiguous.

💍 Which unread book on your shelf whispers to you most like the Ring?
The rest of the Nicolo series by Dorothy Dunnett and some by my best friend who I am v behind on (sorry Laura!).
I really want to read which has just come out, but it's only in hardback in the UK and that costs £25. I'd much rather have an ebook, but can't get it. Stupid publishing deals.

🌋Which books/characters did you feel like throwing into Mount Doom?
I blank them and refuse to read them when I think they are too stupid to live.

🥾What’s your favourite real-life walk… and why is it clearly the Road to Mordor?
It's been years since I did what I'd call a proper walk... I think the Salkantay trek in Peru (similar to the Inca trail, but significantly cheaper!) for the views through the Andes and the lakes at high altitude.

🎒 Would you survive the Tongariro Alpine Crossing carrying Sam’s cookware set and Frodo’s the Mighty Lord Sauron's Ring?
The walking yes, the carrying more dubious.

⚔️ If you needed rescuing, which literary character(s) would you choose would you choose the Nazgûls, the Balrog or the Orcs?
Horde of orcs

That's definitely more helpful!

Argh my copy of To Lie with Lions is 656 pages!!

Does Bernadette get lost in Where'd you go? The others have lost her, but I think she knows where she is.

500 to 650
MC gets lost
Shoe(s) on cover
Book has been translated into or was written in German
Author initials in IRRWURZ

Time for the other end of the book length spectrum!

As per Judy and Karen - I wasn’t hugely surprised by one of the twists early in part 3.

I’m not fully sinking into this one and I’d really like to. Not sure what is pulling me out of it so often but it’s not flowing for me. Might be the continual character pov change every chapter with no indication how most of the threads will come together.

I'm hoping her signing a contract while she was under disciplinary investigation without talking to either of the partners about it and then being unable to tell us the contents of it will help that - especially since there was an another email advising us not to sign it very shortly after.

It started because we bought up the fact she wasn't doing her job well and that we were going to go through with a disciplinary process with her. Since then every week has bought a new piece of fun insanity from her. I've been working very hard not to shout at her while she makes a variety of increasing threats, but doesn't quit.

Getting advice this week about whether we have grounds to fire her because after 2 months of it, I've had enough.

My reading has been absolutely trashed by one of my members of staff letting me know that she doesn't trust us to run the business and needs to seek legal advice before she'll be in a room with me again.

Will be reading in the background and putting things where they fit, but it's slow going right now.

I haven't got China or Korea any time soon so I'm happy for you to go for it Mel.

I liked it, but it got a bit more into his reaction to Terry's later years rather than a biography as such I think so felt more autobiographical. I didn't really get a sense of what Lyn and Rhianna were up to through a lot of it as it was very focused on his work - which might be an accurate reflection of his life.

If there is a female who does magic then I'm happy - given the task specifies sorceress rather than sorceror.

How is Katabasis? I was disappointed by Yellowface, but a return to some magic might be better.

I started a Dorothy Dunnett before TT that I want to pick back up. The Agatha Christie short stories should also help. There is hope!

Think a week off work with one child back at school and us all getting back into a routine will probably also make a difference.

That’s v handy.

My reading has ground to a standstill. Really hoping I pick up something soon that kickstarts me again

My favourites were:


My duds were:

I’m giving turf wars a miss this year but for everyone taking part - have fun!

Mods are thinking about what comes next so keep an eye on the newsletter. We all feel like a small break in organising is needed before the next one kicks off.

I’d hoped to squeeze in another read, but camping has been more full on than planned so it’s half read.

Thanks everyone for all the awesome reading and Mel for some impressive cheese reaction times!

Hope she had a wonderful day Claire

Fingers crossed that interest in viewings turns into bids nicely for you. Glad that the Scottish system for completions is more sensible than the English one so that you can get somewhere reasonably smoothly in the new year.