Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Team The Librarian

• Judith (Captain)
• Jen (Co-Captain)
• Lexi (Co-Captain)
• SandyL
• Snowtulip
• Redshirt
• Skandia
• Tru or Truitt
• Susan
• Keely
• Joyce Gravino
• Kirby Thornton



• Beth

Challenge Status Sheet
Team Sheet

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Team Shelves

• Judith (Captain): TT2021
• Jen (Co-Captain): tt8
• Lexi (Co-Captain): tt2021
• SandyL: tt-8
• Snowtulip: tt-2021
• Redshirt: tower team 8 nbrc
• Skandia: tt21
• Tru or Truitt: tt8
• Susan: tower team 2021
• Keely: tower team 8
• Joyce Gravino: tower team 8
• Kirby Thornton: tt

Important Links

Spreadsheets
-Team Spreadsheet
-Tracking Spreadsheet
-Current Team Status Spreadsheet

General Information
-General Rules

Other Resources
-Cover Color
-Page Count Check

Countdowns
-Start of Tower Teams

Team Recommendations

The Muderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells. Book 1: All Systems Red
The House in the Cerulean Sea
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (whole series)
Winter's Orbit
The Thirty Names of Night
The Letter
Goodnight Mister Tom
The Ten Thousand Doors of January
The Golem and the Jinni
One for the Money (fun series)
Migrations
The Last Sun (series)
Possession
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender
Kiss of Vengeance
Theft of Swords
Age of Myth
Really everything by Michael J. Sullivan
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Killing Trail
Author: Kristen Ashley
Author: Mariana Zapata

reserve

reserve

Books of the Month Information

There are three BOM each month: one YA, one adult, and one Discworld. We know the ones for May and all three Discworld ones. If you have any interest in the books, it is a great way to get points and read new books. The 20 points really add up if team members participate.

BOM Points:
Writing a day's worth of discussion questions = 40 points
Participating in a current BOM = 20 points

Participation means answering at least three of the DQ days over the course of the BOM discussion
Points stack, i.e. if a player is picked to write a set of questions AND answers at least three of the question sets they will gain 60 points
There is no limit to the number of team members who can get participation points

You have one month from the start date to read and answer questions.

BOM by Month
May:
Adult: The Foundling (AKA The Lost Orphan - Discussion Thread – May 2)
YA: Dumplin' (Discussion Thread - May 16)
Discworld: Equal Rites ( Discussion Thread - starts May 22)

June BOM
Adult - The Midnight Library (Discussion Thread - June 2)
Backroom (18+) - Prickly Business (Discussion Thread - June 9)
YA - Firekeeper's Daughter (Discussion Thread - June 16)
Discworld - Mort (Discussion Thread - June 22)


July - Guards! Guards! (July 22), TDB, TDB

July BOM Nominations:
July YA
July Adult

Hard Tasks Still Needing Claiming

ALL CLAIMED

This one too

Hello Hello! This is Judith, your captain speaking. I've been a captain for the past several Tower Teams and am one of the newer mods here in NBRC.

Welcome to team The Librarian! Please introduce yourself (include your preferred pronouns) and include whatever tidbits you'd like to share.

Anyone new to Tower Teams?

A little about me (pronouns: her/hers) . . .
I work as an economist for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Toxic Chemical Office. I have an almost 3 year old toddler who keeps me very busy. And I live in Maryland on the East Coast of the US.

I read most things, but lean towards fantasy, sci-fi, romance, nonfiction, and thrillers. Horror is not my favorite but as long as the book isn't really gory, I can enjoy it well enough.

Also if you don't see a link to a TT shelf in post 4, please post the link in the thread.

If you do see one, please check to make sure linked the correct shelf for you. If it's wrong, please send me the correct one.

Thank you!!

Post 5 has all sorts of important links, including one to our tracking sheet (thank you Lexi!!). I'll talk more about that closer to the start and once team members have had a chance to check in here.

Hi all, My name is Lexi (she/her/hers). I live in Massachusetts, USA (EST) ,and I’m defending my PhD in the end of May in Zoonotic Diseases. Then, I will likely be moving to somewhere else. I especially enjoy fantasy/sci-fi and mysteries and am trying to read authors from a wider range of countries this year. This is my 4th TT plus I was an alt for Wobble.

My shelf is: TT2021

I have read all the Discworld books if anyone has any questions on that front.

Also, just a reminder that all books must be started after TT starts, so lots of time to finish any that you have already started.

Hello everyone! I see some familiar names on our team!
My name is Keely (she/her). I currently live in the UK but I am hoping to move to Norway to live with my boyfriend. I was hoping to have at least begun the process of moving by now, but the current world situation has put that on halt. Towards the end of this challenge, I should be able to travel there again (fingers crossed) so my reading may lessen a bit then, although I may have to isolate when I first get there so maybe not :P
I am currently unemployed, but I enjoy several crafts which I hope to sell once I have a good stock and that gives me plenty of time to listen to audiobooks!

This is my first time playing Tower Teams, but I have participated in other team challenges. I find they help motivate me to read and also to pick up books that I might not have otherwise.

I have not read any of the Discworld books, although I have been intending to pick up the series so I will start when this challenge starts! I like to read things chronologically if I can, so I will start with The Colour of Magic (book 1) despite what I've seen a lot of you who have read them say.

Oh and I will read just about anything, but prefer to stick to fiction with the odd history book here and there. I'm currently working on reading classics so some of the books I read will be classic books.

Hi team! I'm Skandia and I'm from Estonia.
I work as a financial manager for a large international food industry's subsidiary. I used to travel a lot , also for work, and have lived in California and in France. Sadly, the travelling at the moment is quite complicated and keeps me in place which I don't like. Good thing is I have more time for reading.

I enjoy quite wide variety of genres - paranormal, fantasy, literary fiction, romance. Never read a Discworld book though.
I think it's my second or maybe third time doing TT . Always gives a little push to my reading and I remember having lots of fun previous rounds.

Hello Team, My name is Joyce from West Palm beach, Florida

I am currently unemployed but when I did work I was a medical transcriptionist. I have an autistic son who lives in a group home in New York and have not been able to visit with him this past year. Looking forward to being able to travel again.

I read quite a lot of genres. I love sci-fi, paranormal and mystery the best. I have read about 7 or 8 of the discworld books and love the quirky humor.

I participated in TT quite a few years ago and see it has evolved quite a bit. I have participated in a lot of other team challenges before and find they help push me along and open me up to new books.

I might be asking a lot of questions as the rules seem pretty involved. Usually once a challenge gets started it sorts itself out in my head.

I’m out and about today so I’m posting from my phone, but I wanted to say hello and that I’ll introduce myself properly tonight when I’m home.
I’m excited to get going!

Hi Team! I live in New Mexico in the US and go by she/her.

I work in environmental science doing more management than actual science unfortunatley, but still love it.

SciFi/Fantasy and romance are my favorite genres, but I love reading all genres but horror (only if I absolutely have to). I love being outdoors, so if I'm not reading I'm hiking or biking.

I've done Tower Teams before and really love the challenge and am so looking forward to getting started. I have a few large books that I've been holding on to for the challenge :D

Hi team! Here is my thread: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'll come back with a proper introduction in a little bit!

Hi everyone! I'm Sandy (she/her) and I live in southern California. I'm divorced and my only kids are fur-babies. This is my 5th time playing TT. I do taxes and normally I'd be done by now, but the deadline has been extended so I'm working for another month.

I read mostly romance, but will read other genres for challenges. I haven't read any of the DW books. I've put two of them on hold through Overdrive - if they become available on time I'll try and participate in the BOM discussion. I'm looking forward to TT starting!!!

My shelf is tt-8

Hi Everyone! I’m Tru or Truitt (she/her) from the state of Georgia in the southeastern U.S. My household is run by cats, who strongly approve of reading because it’s conducive to petting, lol. I also enjoy gardening and, in non-COVID times, I’m active in community theater.

Pre-COVID, it had been years since I’d read much in the way of romance, but in the past year I’ve gone on a binge of M/M romance - I’ve been in need of HFNs and HEAs. In more normal times, I read mostly genre fiction: SF, fantasy, and some mystery. Non-fiction, particularly history, is always a possibility. I keep pushing myself with graphic novels and graphic non-fiction, but, sadly, they won’t count for TT. I also enjoy reading plays, but the page length makes them tricky, although not impossible, for TT.

What else? This is my first time playing Tower Teams, so I may ask a lot of questions. I’ve only been on GR since last December, so I haven’t participated in many games/challenges, but I’ve loved the ones I’ve ventured into so far. My 2021 reading is up to date, and I’ve added all of 2020, and part of 2019.

I’ve (actually listened to) exactly one Discworld novel, Guards! Guards!, and I loved it. I’m looking forward to using TT as an excuse to read more of them.

My TT shelf is here: tt8

Hello everyone! I'm Jen and my pronouns are she/her. I live in North Carolina in the US (east cost time), although I'm originally from the west coast. I work as a speech therapist with kids and enjoy reading, geocaching, crafting.

I have slowed down a lot on my reading this year but I'm hoping that this challenge will help motivate.

I haven't read any Discworld novels. After looking into the collection, I'm looking forward to getting into them soon!

Here is my self: Jen's TT8 shelf

Hi everyone. I’m Susan aka Lexi’s mom with pronouns she/her. I’m in northern Kentucky relocating in late June back to Louisville if plans don’t change. Doing these challenges with Lexi these past few years has broadened my reading especially as regards authors. My favorite genres are literary fiction, mystery, historical fiction but only certain periods(Elizabethan is always good). Not much romance. Very little horror. I’ve read lots of Discworld but it’s been years.

@Keely, keeping my fingers crossed for your move, keeping positive!

@Skandia, I also had been travelling quiet a bit and agree, I'm ready to get back out...

@Joyce, I can't even imagine how hard not being able to see your son, sending you some strenght and keeping fingers crossed that you can soon

@SandyL, sending you virtual caffeine, I always leave my taxes until the last minute and need help every time ;)

@Truitt, I agree on the HEA, I just finished a few historicals that were great, but left me feeling a little too much during these times, so I added a m/m today :)

@Jen, I haven't been geocaching in a few years, but it was always so much fun...I still have one of my travelbugs ready to be put somewhere

@Susan and Lexi, I love that you do challenges together...need to figure out how to entice my mom :D

@Judith, I think we may have some environmental books to share :)

Oddly enough, I haven't read Discworld, I've been a little hesitant that they might not live up to the hype, so I guess now is the time to get past that!

I'm excited most people have already checked in! Just a few stragglers left. Though we haven't had the thread unlocked that long, so calling them stragglers isn't quite true.

I've only read Equal Rites, so that made helping come up with all of these tasks a bit interesting for me. And I only read Equal Rites when I did because us mods were working on TT at the end of last year.

I'm thinking I can read all the May BOM, I'm hesitant on Dumplin' because I saw the movie, but I guess I can find out if the movie or book is better ;)

Ok - I’m clueless. Are the BOM challenges specific to TT, or are they for the wider group?

Ok - so I think I’ve partially answered my own question: BOMs are group wide. Equal Rites is TT specific.

I need to wait and look at this when I’m not on my phone.....

Truitt_T wrote: "Ok - so I think I’ve partially answered my own question: BOMs are group wide. Equal Rites is TT specific.

I need to wait and look at this when I’m not on my phone....."

You get extra points for participating in the BOM discussions, also extra points if you write discussion questions (if you are picked to do them).

Perfect timing, I was just going to come post on Books of the Month (BOM). I will also post this at the top of the thread. They do not start until specific dates as listed below, but I know lots of people, including me, need to get in the library que.

The BOM are for the larger NBRC group but since the points are really good, most everyone will be on a TT team. There are three each month: one YA, one adult, and one Discworld. We know the ones for May and all three Discworld ones. The nominations are open for June (see link below), and I will post the June polls when they open.

BOM Points:
Writing a day's worth of discussion questions = 40 points
Participating in a current BOM = 20 points

Participation means answering at least three of the DQ days over the course of the BOM discussion
Points stack, i.e. if a player is picked to write a set of questions AND answers at least three of the question sets they will gain 60 points
There is no limit to the number of team members who can get participation points

You have one month from the start date to read and answer questions.


May - Equal Rites ( Discussion Thread - starts May 22), The Foundling (AKA The Lost Orphan - Discussion Thread – May 2) and Dumplin' (Discussion Thread - May 16)
June - Mort (June 22), TBD, TDB
July - Guards! Guards! (July 22), TDB, TDB

June Nominations
YA June Nominations
Adult June Nominations

If you have any interest in the books, it is a great way to get points and read new books. The 20 points really add up if team members participate.

I've never joined in a BOM before so I definitely would not be comfortable in writing any questions, but I am happy to try and participate in any that I can get my hands on a copy of the book of.

I'm glad that you clarified that you have a month to finish the book and answer enough question, Lexi. That has always put me off joining a BOM because I can be a slow reader if the book just isn't right for me.

My library app has all of the Discworld books so I can't see why I wouldn't be able to join in those BOM's. I'll have to see about the other books.

Thanks for posting the alternate title for The Foundling Lexi...I was bummed it wasn't at the library, but it was under the alternate title :D

My library too. It means one of us can claim it for the book with two titles task.

Also, if you are a slower reader or want to take your time, once we officially start TT on May 1, BOMs can be started early as well. I would suggest this for the last BOM since it starts less than 10 days before TT ends.

I’m going to read Dumplin if I can get it from the library. I want to read some of the Discworld books but I’m not sure where I want to start yet. I’ve watched some YouTube videos to help me narrow my options though. If anyone has any personal suggestions I would I’ve to hear them!!

I support the three BOMs for the points but I enjoyed and personally started with The Color of Magic, though that is a less popular opinion. (Also, I think I was in middle school the first time I read Discworld). It is July's BOM but the Guards series are my favorite sub-series and that is a good place to start too.

Thanks, Lexi, for your perfectly timed info on BOMs! I've requested the May books from the library, although I'm not certain I'll read them all. I definitely won't be offering to write discussion questions for May, but I'm definitely looking forward to participating.

Am I right in thinking the bulk of the teams points come from pages read? Or do the extras - BOM, tasks, BINGO, etc. - actually add up to more?

And for that matter, where do we find the tasks?

I plan to read Dumplin' in May for BOM points.
Discworld books I'm not sure, I don't know anything about them.

Lexi, out of the three chosen BOM's , which one you recommend to the absolute beginner?

Truitt_T wrote: "Thanks, Lexi, for your perfectly timed info on BOMs! I've requested the May books from the library, although I'm not certain I'll read them all. I definitely won't be offering to write discussion q..."

The tasks are in the spreadsheets. This is a link to our tracking spreadsheet (can be found in a top post).

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Lexi also made a list of the tasks grouping them by type for those that find it helpful to search.

We also have a Bingo card and story. Books can only be used for a task, Bingo, or story.

Truitt_T wrote: "Thanks, Lexi, for your perfectly timed info on BOMs! I've requested the May books from the library, although I'm not certain I'll read them all. I definitely won't be offering to write discussion q..."

And yes, the bulk of point will come from book/page points.

Between the tasks, Bingo, and story we will likely find a home for any book you read, though that isn't required.

I'm excited people seem interested and willing to participate in the BOMs! No pressure though, especially about volunteering for DQ writing. Lexi and I will likely be signing up for all of them (I'm out though for Equal Rites, I read it in Dec so can't because of the 6month reread rule). And we can only get one set per team.

I found The Foundling on my library app and it is as an audiobook, so I will definitely take part in that BOM and that also means I should be able to finish it fairly quickly.

I have reserved Equal Rites and depending on how things go earlier in the month, it might end up my first Discworld book, but from what I hear that shouldn't be a problem anyway.

I couldn't find Dumplin' on my app but maybe I will use and audible credit for it. I'll see nearer the time.

That is great, everyone, and I agree with Judith that the majority of points are page points. Also, for anyone who played TT before, the page points are now standardized (100-1000 pages), so no more points per a page for giant books. If you need any help checking word count for Children's/Middle Grade or plays etc., feel free to ask here.

Also, most books will fit anywhere, but if you like to read to challenges, which I think is fun, the tasks are the most specific and are a good place to start as a team.

Skandia, I am partial to both Mort and Guards! Guards! as starting points. I think the Guards series is the strongest but I am looking forward to rereading the Witches series, as I am older since some of that may have gone over my head as a child. If you like YA, start with The Wee Free Men, which is also a brilliant audio book. Actually, I like all of them as audio books, and I am not generally an audio book fan.

Link to guide I like: https://bookriot.com/discworld-readin...

So, I decided to go back through my old comments in this group to figure out how many challenges I’ve participated in. It turns out that I did wobble once (with literally 0 recollection) and tower teams 4 times (I remembered 2). My first TT I did while in college and it was so interesting to read my comments of not knowing what would come after graduation. Then I did some when I was figuring out what to do and one while in grad school (super stressed in comments). I’m super excited to be able to participate in this team challenge when I’m at a more settled part of my life.

How many other team challenges has everyone participated in? What has been your favorite?

Hello Honorary Watchman & Fearsome Librarian!

Team Sam Vimes here asking for book recommendations and offering some in return.

Of course we would never recommend (view spoiler)[ Planet of the Apes or Welcome to the Monkey House (hide spoiler)]. Firstly because we don't want to get our heads bashed, secondly because we know that this is not even remotely funny and thirdly, we did not read these books. :)

But here are books we recommend:

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman and the subsequent books in the series. It's about badass Librarians, dragons, faes, Sherlock Holmes and parallel universes. Very exciting.

The Eyre Affair and the subsequent books in the series. Book-jumping series by Jasper Fforde, a weird, but great gender-bender.

The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery, a charming story if you want to escape into the wild and like romance.

A Murder for the Books - an enjoyable cozy mystery with a Librarian sleuth.

How to Date Your Dragon - as you know much about dragons already, here is an entertaining paranormal series about a quirky town in Lousiana with shifters and magic makers and romance.

*Waves madly to Judith, Lexi, SandyL, SnowTulip :)*

Hi there! This is Team Rob Anybody dropping in!!



Can you all provide some book recommendations? We'll supply some in return if you wish.

Since reading books recommended by other teams are tasks, I thought collecting a favorite book or two from everyone would be a good idea.

So what are people's favorite reads you'd recommend?

Good morning! I'm Redshirt (they/them.) I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. Ahaha. I just moved last weekend from an apartment to a house! I'm currently involved in the Uno challenge, my first challenge. This will be my first time playing TT. I'll introduce myself at length in a bit; I wanted to drop a line here so you guys know that I'm very excited and will definitely be involved!

My favorite books at the moment are the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. The first book is All Systems Red. They're Sci-fi novellas with ethical nonmonogamous and diverse cast of characters. It's known for Murderbot, a socially anxious cyborg that would rather send its time watching TV shows than do its job. Very relatable and guaranteed to make you laugh out loud!

Redshirt wrote: "Good morning! I'm Redshirt (they/them.) I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment. Ahaha. I just moved last weekend from an apartment to a house! I'm currently involved in the Uno challenge, my first ..."

ooh, nice recommendation!!

Lexi is a huge Murderbot fan and I enjoy the series as well. I'm glad Wells is writing more of them (and longer stories). I'm curious to see where she takes the story next after how book 5 ended.