Gwen|| Bookish Blondie’s Comments (group member since Jan 24, 2022)

Gwen|| Bookish Blondie’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

2025 NBRC Clean Out the TBR Challenge

1. by Lisa Kleypas Read 1/6/25

Line #38 in the official tracker is missing the task from gardening with the dipthong. The Beach Reads Book Club.

Just updated the spreadsheet! I had a U to finish off the second spellout. I also update the gardening tasks for two oos and a h, and the dipthong one.

9. I’m enjoying the variety of people and creatures (for lack of a better word) in the story. Do you have a favorite? Is there one you’d dream up and like to see wandering the island?
The winged kitties are hands-down my favorite. The idea of them swooping around like tiny, mischievous librarians is both adorable and chaotic. If I could dream up a creature, I’d want a bookworm dragon—something small enough to perch on Kiela’s shoulder but smart enough to alphabetize her entire collection when she’s not looking.

10. If you could have a helper sentient plant, what type would you choose and why?
A sentient lavender plant would be perfect—soothing, fragrant, and good in a pinch for tea or potions. Plus, I imagine it would hum gently while offering unsolicited but sage advice, like a botanical grandmother.

11. Do you think it is remotely realistic that Kiela can keep her activities secret? And with the trouble at the center of the empire, would any of those in power notice or care?
It feels improbable that Kiela can keep everything under wraps for long—secrets have a way of sprouting like weeds, after all. With the empire in turmoil, I suspect those in power might not notice her immediately, but once they do, it’ll be a “you’ve been hiding what?” situation that escalates quickly.

12. Radane, trouble for Kiela in more ways than one?
Oh, Radane is trouble with a capital “T.” She’s got the vibe of someone who can make Kiela’s life hell both personally and politically. I wouldn’t be surprised if Radane becomes a thorn in Kiela’s side, figuratively and literally.

13. Previous questions have touched on this, but I’m thinking Kiela has avoided sharing what’s happening with the revolution as a trauma response. If she doesn’t talk about it, then she can almost ignore it? It makes me wonder what happened to her parents. Like the library became her home/only place she felt safe after losing them, and then it literally burned before her eyes. Anyone have thoughts about why she still isn’t sharing to the point of literally running away?
This makes a lot of sense. Kiela seems like someone who compartmentalizes her pain until it spills over. The library burning down wasn’t just the loss of a home but also the destruction of her anchor, leaving her adrift. Not sharing about the revolution feels like her way of clinging to the last shred of control she has. Running away wasn’t just a physical escape but a mental one, too—if she doesn’t acknowledge the chaos, maybe it’ll feel less real.

6. There’s more information released here about magic use and its impact on the world. What do you think about this?
The growing insight into magic use adds depth to the world but also hints at potential dangers lurking beneath the surface. It’s fascinating how magic seems to shape societal dynamics, but its effects feel unpredictable and far-reaching. If Kiela is going to dabble further, she’s likely walking a fine line between brilliance and disaster—which is exactly the kind of tension I love.

7. Lucky that Kiela can exploit the absence of fruit to fill a niche shop, eh?! What do you think about her plan to make a living out of jam and secret magic?
Kiela’s entrepreneurial spirit is top-notch. Turning a fruit shortage into a thriving niche business is the kind of resourceful hustle I respect. The secret magic, though, adds a layer of intrigue (and risk). It’s a clever plot device that’s bound to cause chaos later, but for now, I’m enjoying her cozy culinary rebellion.

8. Kiela and Larran keep having meet cute moments. Do you like this romantic pairing?
Their meet cutes are sweet, though they sometimes teeter on the edge of overly coincidental. Larran’s awkward charm pairs well with Kiela’s reserved nature, creating a dynamic that’s both heartwarming and amusing. I’m rooting for them, but I need one swoon-worthy moment to seal the deal and convince me they’re more than just a series of quirky encounters.

Melindam wrote: "DQs- Day 1, Chapters 1-7

1. The book opens with quite a tough scene: a Great Library is set on fire and Kiela has already packed crates of books to rescue. And she asks herself the question "if sh..."

1. 1. Emily Henry 2. The Windsors Series by Catharina Maura and Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde 3. Frozen by L.A. Casey, Roomhate by Penelope Ward, and The Will to Whatevs by Eugene Mirman.

2. The brief mentions of the Empire’s history and politics feel like they’re teasing me—just when I’m ready to dive in, the author switches focus. The flora and fauna add charm, but I need the world’s lore to spread its wings (pun intended) a bit more to fully captivate me.

3.Possible? Sure. Probable? Debatable. In a space as vast as the Library, isolation takes effort—either Kiela is a stealth ninja with bookshelves for camouflage, or the Library patrons are just polite introverts who respect her “Do Not Disturb” vibe. Either way, her solitude raises more questions about the social dynamics of Library-goers than it answers.

4.Kiela’s silence about a literal revolution feels like one of those “I’ll just not mention the elephant in the room” situations, except the elephant is stampeding through the capital. The excuses for her secrecy are barely believable—more like plot spackle than genuine motivation. Surely someone on the island would’ve noticed her “I fled the chaos” vibes, right?

5.This idea is utterly charming, and I’d absolutely steal it for my hypothetical garden.

Romance Section: A lush patch with roses, lilacs, and jasmine, because slow-burns and enemies-to-lovers need a fragrant, dramatic backdrop.
Fantasy Section: Filled with winding ivy, dramatic ferns, and maybe a fountain that looks like a dragon. A winged kitty topiary would seal the deal.
True Crime Section: Thorny bushes like holly and blackberry, because danger lurks around every corner.
Non-Fiction Section: A practical herb garden—because parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme will outlast a revolution.

I'm capped for this round.

I was able to finish an I this afternoon. I also was able to add to the gardening to finish up the first round of that and I finished up admin as well.

I'm adding books to the spreadsheet I've read, but I was too busy to update the spreadsheet earlier.

I’ve reached my cap for this round.

There are a few feeding minis that haven't been added to the tracker despite the books being added for spellouts. The rules in the regulations/announcements clearly state the plurals of the foods are allowed.
I'm referring specifically to onions and spices ones.

I also added a few books under the minis that had the bonus words, so they'll need to be added to the spreadsheet as well.

Welcome, Lori! Happy Halloween, all! Enjoy my hand-drawn pumpkin.

I added an O book

Jenn wrote: "Hi Gwen, we're missing some more of your books on your wheel shelf. If it's not checked off on the tracking sheet, it's not on the shelf yet. Thank you!"

They were all on the shelf already and had completion dates, so I don't know what to tell you.

Done! (All my missing ones have been added)

I added our names to a dropdown box and color coded it so it's easier to find your individual books on the spreadsheet now.

I'm here! I'm in Ohio so EST. I also read a lot.
Here's my shelf:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Just as a reference start time for rounds is:
4 p.m. EST
3 p.m CST
2 p.m. MST
1 p.m PST

for USA time zones.

I had a blast doing this challenge this year!!!

I was waiting for one of my books to get an official page count and it was updated so I logged it.

Last books logged! Thanks for a great challenge everyone!!