Elinor’s Comments (group member since Apr 06, 2022)

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

Have a great time Sophie!! 🤩😘

Elinor's BOM Participation Tracking:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

DQs Day 5 | Chapter 28 - end

17. What did you think about how the "black market Serbian violin debacle" turned out? Do you think it hurt Ray in terms of the competition?

I didn't find it convincing to be honest. Did it hurt him? The stress wouldn't have helped but I'm not sure I'm qualified to speak about the rest - is it really that bad, when you're a virtuoso, to miss a day or two's practice?

18. Were you surpised at the outcome of the competition? I know I was rooting for him, but I instinctively assumed Mikhail would take first - perhaps solely for the plot. Do you think that was the case or did Mikhail genuinely win?

No I wasn't surprised. Mikhail got a lot more formal training from a very young age and I think he did genuinely win.

19. When the missing papers are discovered in Ray's PopPops violin case, were you surprised at what they contained? Does the narrative they showcase further cement his family's provenance of the violin to you?

Yes, I was surprised and it didn't really work for me. Obviously, I finished the book ages ago, and in retrospect, I feel one of its weak points is how many issues it addresses. It felt more like a biographical commentary on racism in the classical music industry than a mystery/thriller.

20. It was (view spoiler)! What did you think of her reasons for committing the crime. Do you feel any sympathy for her?

Well, I don't think there could be a good reason for committing the crime. I don't sympathise with them, neither do I feel that the MC's letter to the judge was necessary - it felt a little mean when I read that part.

BONUS - Author's Note
Brendan Slocumb reveals that the novel’s wedding scene and the Baton Rouge shakedown are based on his own experiences. How did this knowledge affect your experience of the book?

The author's note was really important. Can't believe people actually behave this way in real life and it made the story seem almost unreal at times. I mean: who treats people that way?! Shocking that the author actually went through those things!

Thanks everyone - and special thanks to the captains! This was a fun challenge, I’m just sorry I didn’t have more time to read. Loved all the ties to music the challenge explored and, of course, all the country references shared here 🙂.

Enjoy the holiday season 🥳.

x

Well done - can’t believe how much reading has been going on! 🙂

Just finished « Hum if you don’t know the words » - really enjoyed it.

It sounds more Punk than Country!

That quote 😂. Precisely!!

Lol. I know I’m in the minority here but I usually find “TSTSNBN” quite accurate (though definitely not always). I’ve understood from other challenges this year that people have gone off it and I can imagine some discussions because of how subjective colours are and also some covers really look a certain colour but then you can’t use them because the lettering is too big (or whatever) bringing the percentage just below the 50% mark.

Common sense trumps tech any day 😌.

Wow!! Well done Team! 👏🎉

I love meringue 😋.

Lol. What are the genres we’re missing?

DQs Day 4 ~ Chapters 20-27

13. We have learned that Janice is Ray’s mentor and he finds light in her. She is still by his side at the competition giving him encouragement and hope. Do you have a Janice in our life? Have you ever served as a Janice for someone else, lighting the way for others who lack the tools (or the hope) they need to thrive?

Not really, no.

14. After lots of talk about who owns the violin and multiple lawsuits, Ray offers his family a settlement. $100,000 each and a bonus of $500,000 to split between them for the Leon Marks papers, plus making them beneficiaries of the insurance policy (with conditions). That was quite the offer! Would you settle for that if you were part of his family? Why do you think he made this offer, especially against the advice of his lawyer?

The violin is rightfully his and I wouldn't expect anything. I think Ray made the offer to get his (awful) family off his back.

15. Ray has a idea/thought that he can’t shake. Could Mikhail Lezenkov (his rival at the competition) have had anything to do with the theft of his violin? Upon calling his lawyer with the possible person and motive, he learns there was a black market violin in Serbia. What do you think of this theory? Do you think there is any way that his farfetched theory could actually be true? Do you have another theory (or do you still stick to your original one)?

I think it's a red herring and it's fishy Nicole isn't being looked into at all.

16. Throughout the novel, we learn about the pieces that have special significance to Ray. Did you make note of these pieces to explore later or did you make a playlist and listen as you read the novel?

Classical music isn't really my thing, so no.

I’ve removed “my” white cover Melissa, so that’s freed one up.

I am really sorry guys about this move. Full disclosure: it was initially planned for end of Jan (but then they finished our house early…). I feel really bad about not managing to read more, and wouldn’t have joined had I known I’d be so busy IRL…

C. Anyone point me in the direction of Pluto please? 😁

DQs Day 3
Chapters 13-19

9. I don't know how I feel about the school basically milking Ray owning a Stradivarius and him having to do an interview without even getting asked to do so. I personally would have preferred to keep it private, at least for a while. What are your thoughts on the situation?

It didn't really surprise me.

10. I can see where Ray's family is coming from wanting to sell the Stradivarius and divide the money, but they never showed any interest in the violin even though it had been in the family for a century, and Ray's grandmother gave Ray the fiddle for Christmas. He had to take care of everything surrounding it and his school/education himself, and he never even had much money to begin with. Would you be selling whatever in your life might turn out be worth this much money, and would you feel like your family was entitled to fair shares?

No I wouldn't feel that way - I'd do my best like Ray but I think he's generous to be sending them money every time he gets a paycheck tbh as the violin is rightfully his.

11. Another family claiming ownership of the violin - it was bound to happen. On one hand I'm surprised they're suing Ray for the Stradivarius since I doubt they can prove the fiddle was stolen in any way, but on the other hand the odds clearly are against Ray. And now his family is suing him for the violin as well?! Who do you think is the rightful owner of the Stradivarius?

Definitely Ray - I believe PopPop was given the violin otherwise he would surely have been caught at the time and/or there would be proof they'd been looking for the Strad.

12. We've been introduced to a lot of different people (whose names I don't even all remember) and they all (most of them anyway) seem to have different reasons to possibly want to steal Ray's Stradivarius - greed, jealousy, racism,... it's all there. Do you have any more guesses of who's behind it all?

Lol, well I'm still trying to work this one out :)

DQs Day 2
Chapters 7 - 12

5.His mother and Aunt Joyce had gone to the store - ostensibly because they needed more collard greens, but in reality because one of the biggest family traditions was to keep Aunt Joyce out of the kitchen
Do you have any unusual family traditions, Thanksgiving if it applies, or Christmas, if it's not too early, or any other significant cultural event that revolves around a convoluted family meal?

Not that I can think of - but I do love Christmas - traditional meal and all :).

6. When Grandma gifts PopPop's fiddle to Ray, his mother's immediate reaction is that he can't keep it and she even scolds her own mother,
Mama .... what are you thinking?
What do you think motivates Ray's mother's resistance to his pursuit of music?
Is it purely because she wants his focus to be on earning money for the family, or does she anticipate the racism and resistance he could face and is trying to protect him from heartbreak?

I think she just wants him to follow her plan basically - go out and work asap regardless of his talents, wants, etc. Such a shame - but he stood up to her. Good for him!

7. Ray's meeting with Dr. Janice Stevens seems a pivotal moment, giving him access to the connections that sustain the close-knit classical music world
Do you feel there is a message here that hard work and talent may not be enough to overcome barriers to success, or is Ray's progress and recognition simply a result of his dedication?

Ah now this is interesting - but Janice Stevens herself is black if I'm not mistaken. I guess my hope is that dedication will pay simply because it should (in a just world). Nonetheless, it's the case in most jobs that knowing the right people gets you places. I think this whole situation is made harder by the fact that we're talking Big Big Money here. But Ray is obviously talented, and I think Janice Stevens was extremely good to spot his talent so early on, despite his lack of tuition.

8. So... PopPop's old fiddle might be a Stradivarius, but before the appraisal Rowland offers to buy it for $25,000 dollars. Ray refuses, declaring
I'm not selling it. Ever
What do you think is behind Ray's attachment to the instrument at this point, the rarity of it and the legitimacy it will give him in pursuing his dreams, or the link to his family's history, back to slavery, or something else?

I think it's sentimental value and particularly towards his grandmother who loved hearing PopPop playing it, and who certainly wants Ray to play it too. I do wonder though whether there was anything behind this desire of hers in the first place.

Oh okay - his girlfriend's name is Nicole - phew!

Yay excited by the next round as always!

I can do salsa (I hope) with A Good Day for Sunshine (white cover).

However, I will probably not manage to finish The Violin conspiracy by tomorrow - it's currently used to cover an 'R'. I'm so sorry about my slow reading right now guys... though, I may have to as not sure I can cover any Xylophone letters with it. Must check!!

x

DQs Day 1
Chapters 1 - 6

1. Can you even imagine losing a 10 million dollar anything?! Have you ever lost something and felt as Ray is portrayed in chapter 1...constantly retracing your steps over and over? What are your thoughts on other security precautions, if any, that should have been in place?

Lol, 10 million anything - no way! But I love how it's not about the money for him! And, yes, I've already lost things that make me want to go through my whole day trying to work out where and how I've lost it. I'd say he was being pretty realistic about his security measures - so it feels kind of creepy how it disappeared into thin air.

2. At this point in the book, when/where do you think the Stradivarius was taken?

I'm not sure it disappeared at the hotel to be honest, but we'll see.

3. Money can be a keen motivator...the ransom note leads us to believe it's all about the money...do you think it's possible it's about something else?

Well, there are lots of bad family vibes so far so...

4. It's eluded to that Ray is about to make history because of his race with the upcoming competition in Russia. His family sure doesn't seem to be proud or supportive. Should Ray be proud of this accomplishment or is putting the focus on race poor form by everyone concerned?

I think Ray is right to be proud - I feel, if anything, that his family isn't being supportive enough of his life choices.

💯😂

😂