Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Team R&B



• Deanna (Captain)
• Teddie (Co-Captain)
• Apoorv (Co-Captain)
• Mary X
• Sana Zameer
• Donna
• Jackie
• Shan ~A~
• RachelG.
• Joyce


Challenge Status Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Team Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

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Welcome to Team R&B!!

Team Member Shelves
📚 Deanna (Captain)
📚 Teddie (Co-Captain)
📚 Apoorv (Co-Captain)
📚 Mary X
📚 Sana Zameer
📚 Donna
📚 Jackie
📚 Shan ~A~
📚 RachelG.
📚 Joyce

Informtaion Central

🎵Challenge Status Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
🎵Team Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
🎵Planning Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Book Word Count Finder: https://www.arbookfind.com

Rules & Announcements
Read it carefully, make sure you're getting notifications, and ask here when in doubt!

🎵Only books started after the challenge begins can be used!
🎵Please add the books you've read to your challenge shelf! As captains, we have to verify your books, and this really helps us!

Round Information

Round 1: Oct 7 to Oct 21
Word: DIDGERIDOO
Color: Green - At least 50% (Need 5 books)
Bonus: Instrument in text Only one bonus word per book and a maximum of 10 bonus words. Can be the same instrument for different books. Plurals permitted.

Instrument List under spoiler tags:
(view spoiler)[Accordion
Bagpipe
Banjo
Bassoon
Cello
Clarinet
Drum
Flute
Guitar
Harmonica
Harp
Mandolin
Marimba
Oboe
Piano
Piccolo
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Ukulele (or Ukelele)
Viola
Violin
Xylophone
Zither (hide spoiler)]

Round 2: Oct 21 to Nov 4
Word: SYNTHESIZER
Color: White - At least 50% (Need 5 books)
Bonus: Musical Cities - During Round 2 books set in one of the musical cities on the list below earn an additional 5 bonus points. Only one bonus locale per book and a maximum of 10 bonus locations. Books must be at least 50% in the listed city, and you can only visit each city once!

City List under spoiler:
(view spoiler)[Austin, USA
Berlin, Germany
Bogotá, Colombia
Brazzaville, Congo
Chengdu, China
Chicago, USA
Detroit, USA
Havana, Cuba
Johannesburg, South Africa
Kingston, Jamaica
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Manchester, United Kingdom
Melbourne, Australia
Milan, Italy
Montreal, Canada
Nashville, USA
New Orleans, USA
Paris, France
Seoul, South Korea
Shanghai, China
Sydney, Australia
Tokyo, Japan
Toronto, Canada
Varanasi, India (also known as Benares)
Vienna, Austria (hide spoiler)]

Round 3: Nov 4 to Nov 18
Word: VIOLA POMPOSA
Color: Red
Bonus: Instruments on cover

Round 4: Nov 4 to Dec 2
Word:
Color:
Bonus:

Round 5: Dec 2 to Dec 16
Word:
Color:
Bonus:

Res

R&B Team playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ao...

Hellooo Team R&B! Are you ready to take on the musical madness of Wheel-a-thon 8?

I'm Deanna, your captain for this wild musical adventure. If you have any questions please ask and I or one of our fabulous co-captains Teddie and Apoorv will answer or hunt down the answer for you. The basic wheel info is in message 2, and message 3 has the word to spell out and bonus info for round 1.

A little about me. I live in Virginia and homeschool my youngest (10th grader) in the morning and work a retail closing shift in the evenings. I spend most of my spare time reading from various genres with mystery, fantasy, and science fiction being the most prevalent. Sometimes it's a little hard to read around the 3 cats or the new puppy that take turns climbing on me for attention, but I mostly manage to persevere. I didn't think I knew a lot of R&B songs, but after some searching I found more that I recognize than I would have expected.

Anyway please introduce yourself and post a link or let us know the name of your tower shelf. (Brief pause while I run to create my own shelf...😊) Do you like R&B music or prefer another type of music? Have a favorite song you'd love to share?

To get you warmed up and ready for our challenge, here's a nice version of "Rollin on the River" that starts off slow and then kicks up the pace:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uifuz...

Looking forward to Saturday's challenge kickoff and sifting through my tbr shelves for round one books. Let's roll with lots of fun, lots of good books, anda sprinkling of good music along the way!

Hi Team R&B!

Ready to rock this music Wheel? I'm in Buffalo (go Bills) New York, and like Deanna, read across most genres but gravitate towards fantasy, sci fi, and mystery. I play violin and generally have music on all the time at home. I have two kids, the youngest a freshman away at college this fall - interesting times.

I listen to a lot of the older R&B singers like Aretha and Bill Withers, but seemed to have skipped over all the 80s-90s stuff in favor of Pearl Jam and NIN and the like. Sooo, I decided to jump into the R&B genre (and many subgenres) across the past few decades, check out some contemporary artists, and get better acquainted with the genre as a whole.

The result is this playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ao...

That Tina video is amazing - added that song to our playlist :)

Look forward to meeting and playing Wheel with you all!

Hello. I'm Mary, 53 and live in Massachusetts so on EST. I read pretty much anything but not big on YA, NA, straight out erotica (I need a plot) or anything overly religious. My preference is UF, paranormal, romantic suspense and mysteries. I also love non-fiction.

I pretty much like all music but as a former 80's teenager: I am partial to heavy metal and British New Wave. Favorite all time bands are Guns & Roses, Duran Duran, U2, Zeppelin, Tom Petty AC DC and Depeche Mode. Favorite all time performer is Bowie.

But I also love Prince and Tina Turner and a lot of R&B songs.

I will be traveling to Mexico from 10/11 to 10/19. I'll have limited online access. But I will have time to read while lounging by the pool or the beach. I'll update what I've finished when I get back. If I can I'll post here. Usually we have decent internet where we stay but sometimes it doesn't work.

I see we have our first word so I'll scope out books for that and load up my Kindle. Looks like we need a lot of D's and O's.

Hi Mary!

Good to have another GenX-er on the team :)

Re: planning sheet: yes, you can enter books that you plan to read during a round. If the book hits a bonus by being green or having an instrument word in it, check the checkbox in column B & C. In columns I-N, just enter a "x" under the letter(s) that the book hits. Captains will update as completed books are actually assigned and then entered on the official sheet.

I noticed after I posted that there was a planning sheet link. So I edited.

BTW: I love reading music bios. So if that comes up, I am your go to girl.

Hi all,

I am Rachel and live near Seattle, WA. I am new to this challenge but after reading the rules it looks like a lot of fun! I have a 20 year old son with special needs and as a primary caregiver I often have a lot of time to read. I mostly read cozy mysteries, memoirs, fantasy and manga. I do enjoy R&B along with other types of music, but I don't often have music playing lately.

I plan to check out the sheets next and add my books. I have been finding as many as I can from the library. I am really excited to join you all!

Hi Rachel, and welcome to R&B! Wheel is a fun challenge - glad you're playing :)

I lived on Capitol Hill near The Comet back in the '90s - loved Seattle - so many bookstores!

I just want to make sure I get the process correct before the challenge actually starts to make it as smooth as possible. First, I add a book I am planning to read to the planning sheet with the appropriate information, correct? Once I have finished the book do I post a completion post here in the thread and update the planning sheet with the read date? Do the captains then take this info and update the official sheet?

You don't need to post a completion post to this thread if you have the info on the planning sheet and update the Read date there. Once a book has a read date on the planning sheet, captains will verify that the book is on your wheel shelf, and can then decide how to use that book and will take care of updating the official tracking sheet.

Teddie wrote: "You don't need to post a completion post to this thread if you have the info on the planning sheet and update the Read date there. Once a book has a read date on the planning sheet, captains will v..."

Thanks!

Hi. I'm Sana and live in Pakistan with hubby and two sons. I read all genres. Favorites: Urban fantasy, paranormal romance and High fantasy.

I love rock and metal. Favorite bands: Too many to list here. Nowadays I'm listening to Muse- Will of the People and Arctic Monkey - Cars on repeat.

This is my second wheel and I'm looking forward to having lots of fun.
My Wheel Shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi Sana- look forward to playing with you! Fellow Muse fan here :)

Hey Mary - do you have a wheel shelf set up yet?

Hi team! Checking in. Not feeling too well so keeping this short.

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

Hey Donna! So glad we're on the same team - and you're not just punishing me for getting into alien bar fights ;) Hope you're feeling better soon!

LOL, you do tend to get into alien bar fights. You are such a trouble maker.

Hi everyone! I'm Jackie from North Carolina. I'm retired and have three grown children. I will read just about anything but fantasy and mystery are my favorites.

I enjoy most music but rock is my favorite. Looking forward to getting to know all of you and rocking this challenge.

My shelf is https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Hi Team R&B!

My Shelf: nbrc-wheel-a-thon-8

I'm Shan from a small town in Louisiana (north). I have 4 children, the youngest of which is a Sr. in HS and will be 18 this month.

The others are 21 - 28. So, no babies for me. Although, my son has 4 kids (1 - 4 ~ a set of twins included) and my sister has 4 kids (9 months - 15 ~ a set of twins included), so there will be kids around for a good while. Especially since I keep my youngest niece & nephew at least once or twice a week.

Anyway, reading & listening to music are my two favorite things to do. I love reading books with a romantic element, but it doesn't have to necessarily be romance (although that is my favorite genre). I also read mystery/suspense/thriller, bio/autobio/memoirs, urban fantasy, some fantasy, and some sci-fi. I've recently been trying horror here and there, and isn't this the perfect time of year to get more into that genre? And plan to start reading true crime.

As for music, R&B is my go-to genre, preferably 90s, but also things between 50s -80s, and the early 2000s. I also listen to Pop, and some Country & Rock. We are also a show tunes family, so any given day you may hear anything from R&B to the soundtrack of The Greatest Showman playing. Plus, a lot of K-Pop and Disney movies songs, especially Tangled & Frozen (my two faves).

Picking a favorite song is like trying to pinpoint a favorite book and it depends on my mood or if I'm trying to get in a certain mood. So, I'm posting some favorite artist instead, which was still hard to narrow down.

Favorite R&B Female: Mary J. Blige although I frequently have a few of Fantasia's songs in my head at random times ~ also my birthday twin Whitney Houston
Favorite R&B Male artist: Luther Vandross
Favorite R&B Male Group: Jodeci
Favorite R&B Female Group: En Vogue & Xscape
Favorite Duet: Rick James & Teena Marie (Fire and Desire); Luther Vandross & Cheryl Lynn (If this World were Mine)
Favorite Pop Female: Kelly Clarkson & Pink ~ Had to mention these two just because. They have songs that fit a few genres IMO, including R&B. With Kelly I was sold ever since ~ Since You Been Gone, and my go to song from Pink is Don't Let Me Get Me (my go to karaoke song).

Welcome Jackie and Shan!

Shan, based on your favs I added a few more songs to the team playlist :) Totally agree about listening to different music based on mood or activity - my brother, who grew up blasting The Violent Femmes and Big Audio Dynamite, was a DJ for a while in his 20s, now listens exclusively to show tunes during his commutes. Imagining him singing Let It Go in his car, just cracks me up.

Looking forward to playing with you both!

Oh, hey there!
I was just busy grooving to some uber cool R&B tunes - didn't realize we were ready to roll. ;=)

This team already has such a chill vibe - I am absolutely getting ready to enjoy the next 10 weeks! Welcome everyone and thank you for sharing soooooo many of your favorite songs and artists. Can't wait to check them all out.

I am Apoorv (he/him), and live in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) - although I am currently in India visiting family. This is my 7th Wheel-a-thon, so I am kind of the old horse in the barn. Haha! :=) I have played with some of you before on different teams and I remember having a lot of fun, so already know that this will be a cool and competitive three months! To all the new friends, so glad I could share this team with all of you! :)

Also, delighted to be part of the captains' group - Deanna and Teddie are awesome and will answer all your difficult questions, but feel free to send all the easy ones to me. We don't want to overwhelm them afterall. LOL! :P

I tend to read pretty much everything, genre no bar, and every single time I do one of these challenges I end up finding something new from all the reads the team does - so don't mind if I stalk some of your read shelves for inspiration! :=)

Okay, I need to go dance again - but welcome one and all, and let's get the party started! :D


Team Shelf: Challenge-NBRC-Wheels8

Our playlist is so good. Can we add Adore by Prince to the list?

Maybe not, because I'll keep wanting to add things, lol.

Hey Apoorv! We captained together years ago. I am, sadly, way too busy to captain anymore.

Donna wrote: "Hey Apoorv! We captained together years ago. I am, sadly, way too busy to captain anymore."

We absolutely did. It was the 2019 edition of UNO when we captained "Team Hannah Swansen" - that was so much fun! :)

Fun fact, we were even together on a team on this group all the way back in 2017, as part of "Team Obi-Wan Kenobi" during Tower Teams V.

Such fun memories - such a small GoodReads world!
Delighted to back on the same team as you, Donna! :)

Shan ~A~ wrote: "Our playlist is so good. Can we add Adore by Prince to the list?

Maybe not, because I'll keep wanting to add things, lol."

I will ALWAYS add more Prince to ANY playlist :)

I saw Prince live around 1986-87 for the Parade tour. Wow what a performer. Still the best concert I have every gone too with Guns & Roses a close second.

Are we all allowed to add songs to the play list? I have spotify but I haven't looked up the list yet.

Always wanted to see Tina Turner but I didn't manage it.

You saw Prince? So jealous. All respect to other performers, but his Superbowl show still rocks.

And yes - the playlist is for us, so send along any R&B songs you want added! :)

As we get closer to the start of the first round, we thought it would be fun for the team to get to know each other with a game.



Under the numbers is a photo of a performer from our playlist. When a number is chosen, a question to the team is posted. After 3 teammates answer the question, the part of the photo under that number is revealed. After the reveal, anyone can pick the next number, a new question is asked, and so on. When anyone thinks she/he knows the answer, make a guess!

So who wants to pick the first number? :)

I'll start. Let's go with 5.

Question:

We all have those books we are constantly telling friends to read. What are the 1-3 books you've recommended to people most often?

Teddie wrote: "Question:

We all have those books we are constantly telling friends to read. What are the 1-3 books you've recommended to people most often?"

All books by Karen Marie Moning ~ starting with the Highlander series (parts are connected to the Fever series)

Rock Chicks by Kristen Ashley

All things Devney Perry

Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End

Strange Practice

and Louisiana Longshot are what I recommend the most.

Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews
Jane Jameson by Molly Harper
Charley Davidson by Darynda Jones

Awesome! Some of those I've read (and love) and some are now new additions to my TBR - thanks! Ilona Andrews, Darynda Jones, and Devney Perry books would be great for our first round ... hmmm

Updated mystery pic:



Someone throw out the next number - or if you're the third person to answer, go ahead and pick the next number.

let's go with 9.

9 it is!

Question:

So many amazing characters living in the books we read, but which character(s) do you think you would actually be friends with, and why?

As we near the start of round 1, feel free to start adding books to the planning sheet. If you have any questions about the sheet, please don't hesitate to ask! If you need clarification on anything, others may have the same issue.

note: if you hover your mouse over cell H2 that says: "GREEN / INSTRUMENT IN TEXT" you will see the list of instruments we need to find in our books this round.

Also, just a reminder that the upcoming BOM does hit a G for us this round (not sure if there are other letters via characters yet.)

I added the first couple books I had been planning on reading to the planning sheet. Please let me know if I need to revise anything. I am not a person who feels upset if asked to do something different or if I need to revise my plans.

Team R&B welcome to your new team member Joyce!

That's a hard one Teddie.

I'm going to go with Dina Demille. She's a wonderfully tough and also caring individual, and I would love to visit Gertrude Hunt.

Just an FYI that I will be busy today and tomorrow and probably won't get any books added to the sheet or anything until Sunday. Added the book I plan to read first to my shelf.

shelf link: wheel-8

I'm so happy that I saw Prince. I desperately wanted to see Bowie but I didn't manage it as a teenager, then he didn't tour for a long time. Almost bought Tom Petty tickets on his last tour but decided not to spend the money.

I have seen: Rush, Stevie Nicks, Duran Duran, Drop Kick Murphy's, Billy Idol, Guns and Roses, Robert Cray, The Eagles, Bob Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Edgar Winters. The Pretenders, Mr Big (opened for Rush) OMD (opened for Duran Duran) The Power Station, Robert Plant, Black Crowes (opened for Plant), Guns and Roses, Eagles, Joe Walsh.

Pretty good but missed a lot of greats. My husband has seen just about every body at least once.

Deanna wrote: "That's a hard one Teddie.

I'm going to go with Dina Demille. She's a wonderfully tough and also caring individual, and I would love to visit Gertrude Hunt."

Oo, good pick.

I can see myself friends with Robin Ellacott and Mark Watney. I tend to gravitate towards people who try to keep a sense of humor about them, even when they stumble a bit - and eventually pick themselves up and keep going. And I like nice people - lol.