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

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

Thank you Suzanne for the weekly update :).

I agree we should keep the longer books (500+ / 600+) for TT or RT because those slots are going to get harder to fill as we go along and the pressure is all on the fast readers of the team as it is.

@Leslie, looking forward to your news from Switzerland - glad you're enjoying your trip.

I'll be finishing Before the coffee gets cold, which I'm struggling with, and then get onto faster reads I hope.

x

PS: anyone else follow Wimbledon today? What a match! It reminded me of Carrie Soto in some ways.

Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yaros - July 2023

BOM Participation Tracking
BOM Participation Tracking Repost

Mod verification

SS: up to date

DQs Day 1, Chapters 1 - 6

1. As someone who grew up with the Pern books, I love diving back into a world with dragons and dragon riders. And this one has extra bonus Gryphons, apparently!
Do you have any first impressions of the main characters (Violet, Dain, Rhiannon, Xader) and the world building? Do you want to know more?

Yes, I love the world building so far as well as the characters (even if they use colourful language...) and I do want to know more. I love the idea of the dragons too - can't wait to see what happens next.

2. What do you think of Violet’s mother and sister? Any idea about why her mother chose to order her to the Rider Quadrant instead of the Scribe Quadrant?

Just her pride and ego I think. I like her sister - she comes off a little brash but she's protective and loving towards Violet.

3. The brutality of the selection process and the casual acceptance of murder is something else. What do you think the purpose of it is? (If there is one beyond societal norms.)
Would you have given your boot to a stranger?

I agree the people in the Rider Quadrant are terribly casual about death - probably so they can kill the enemy without a second thought.
I doubt I would have it in me to give someone else one of my boots in those circumstances.

4. So this is a world at war, but at the battle briefings at least, they don’t seem to know why the outer provinces are currently attacking the borders. Any ideas about why this is happening?

No, not a clue - probably shortsighted of me, but I'm content to see it is as a necessary plot device without questioning it at the moment.

5. Do you think that Violet will survive and get chosen by a dragon? If so, any predictions on what kind?

Yes because there's a sequel coming out and she's the main character. Not a clue what kind of dragon, I'm curious to know though! :)

Go fast readers! :)

Cris, I think they do make sure all teams can contribute at some point during TT but there are too many teams for every team to get a day on every book - and lots of people volunteered for the last BOM of TTX. At least we gave it our all! :)

Lol, Keli. Confession: I feel much better about having badmouthed Fourth Wing now that I’ve finished it. Must check its MPGs - not what I was expecting.

The chapter breakdown for Fourth Wing has been posted -

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

There were so many volunteers we haven’t made the shortlist for DQs 😱.

Os sorry, please ignore my last comment - I’m in the list!

Thank you :).

No worries. That’s what I thought. Hope your busy times subside (or we’re at least fun busy times).

Could I still volunteer as backup for Vi, Team Ashara?

Well, I feel a bit bad about badmouthing Fourth Wing because I’m rather enjoying it!

I'd like to volunteer as backup for Team Ashara if still possible please.

I'm a bit curious about extra entry, because I thought I used it for Carrie Soto but it's still in the sheet (perhaps I've missed something).

BOM Participation Tracking:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

DQs Day 5 - Wimbledon 1995 & The 1995 US Open

18. Nature vs nurture. Carrie has her issues with tennis, but her real struggle is with relationships. How much of that do you think is due to who Carrie is innately as a person and how she was raised?

I think it's mostly to do with how competitive she is and the fact that she doesn't play nice (which would certainly have been even more complicated in those days for a woman). Her Dad certainly encouraged her to be competitive. I think he realises in later years how it might have harmed her with that 'love-proof' armour she wears all the time.

19. I don’t know much about tennis, but I found myself really enjoying the matches as they are described. I got so pumped up while Carrie was playing! Did you find all the tennis terms, both during and after matches, to be a hinderance or did you enjoy getting immersed in the sport through Carrie’s eyes?

Mostly I enjoyed it but some of the exchanges did seem long-winded. I'm not sure I needed every match to be that detailed and I'd have prefered more on the relationships, and Gwen in particular I really liked but felt we didn't get to know her.

20. Carrie Soto, the star of our novel, has been seen previously in a TJR novel where she was a minor character. TJR seems to enjoy connecting her books which makes me wonder… could her next book be about one of the minor characters we’ve come across in Carrie Soto is Back? And, if so, who do you think it would be?

Maybe Bowe though I'm wondering whether she's not going to spin off more books from Malibu Rising. I really got the sense this was written to become a film and perhaps that's what's going on here. Gwen would also be a great character to understand.

21. ”But right now, in this moment, I love this drugstore cologne more than I love the smell of Wimbledon grass or California oranges or the rubber of a freshly popped can of tennis balls. This drugstore cologne is my home.”

I really loved this quote and it made me start thinking about some of my favorite smells. What are some scents that you love? What scent would be your home?

Oo I hadn't thought of it that way. Definitely, our senses can bring us back to a place of safety - Crabtree&Evelyn Nantucket Briar and/or honeysuckle.

22. And, finally, how did you like this book? What was your rating? Would you consider reading more from this author if you haven't already?

3.5 - I found it a little more superficial than some of her other books, Carrie could have been more fleshed out relationship-wise - sometimes I felt it had been written fast. I will be reading TJRs next book.

Wow. Can’t believe the awesome progress being made here.

I had a lovely time with my cousin :). Everyone’s travels sounds really good - !

Just spotted something - official page count for 11.22.63 is 849 which is higher than some of the counts currently in the SS. I think if we’re reading for BOM we must use the official :).

I’ve finished Prodigal Son (which I slipped into the Wheel somehow) and also Carrie Soto is back for the July BOM - I promise to get to your questions Kerri :). Just started Fourth Wing - hoping for chapter breakdown soon. Not sure how much help I can be with the Wheel - very impressed about having a professor on our team and getting all the subtle nuances of words - I agree that words like under, etc can be confusing and can see why there was a discussion about those prompts.

Ti have overtaken us but we are really giving them a run for their money - each in our own way, but there’s no denying you fast readers are really impressive! Loved what you said about the team Kirsten - this is definitely the best TT team I’ve been in so far, and I’m loving it.

x

DQs - Day 4 - The 1995 French Open (76%)

14. At the end of The French Open Section, can you feel any character development in Carrie? If yes, in what ways do you think she may have changed? Also has there been a change in your feelings towards her? Still dislike/like her or not any more?

Yes, I can feel some character development. She's still quite direct but also is softening a bit (better late than never :-)). I like her more now than in the beginning.

15. There are some hard lessons for Carrie to take away from Paris and some vital discussions between her and her dad as well as between her and Bowe about parental expectations and expectations from one's own self. Do you think Carrie is ready to accept the different POVs and use them to her own advantage?

I think she's still quite rigid in her thinking, but she also seems to be learning from it - it's like she's so bent on being perfect that learning is difficult for her because it means acknowledging she doesn't know everything or something along those lines (?).

16. This is what Carrie Soto is thinking of her opponent Ingrid Cortez while playing against her in Paris: ... she has a burden I have never had. In order to keep getting paid, she has to keep looking beautiful on the court. I wonder, briefly, if it weighs on her. Or, if, conversely, it frees her from the pressure I live with, the pressure to win. Either way, it’s a prison. Both her beauty and my ability—they’ve both got an expiration date."
This reflection struck a chord with me. Building on what has been previously discussed about media pressure and also how men and women athletes were/are still treated differently, what are your thoughts on this issue?

I think there is a limit to how long sportsmen and women can stay at the top of their game but also each generation innovates and makes it more difficult for the previous generation to stay "up to date" and successful. I think this is true in all sectors - but experience is also a very worthy thing to have. I think there is a place and a need for everyone - I also think women/men athletes are treated differently, it seems men often retire later.

17. Do you have any other quotes that "spoke" to you (in any part of the book up to the 75% mark) or you made a note of for further reflection?

Not particularly though I would say this: I was suprised by Carrie's father reaction, how much he seems to be feeding the narrative for her - I'd always felt is was more for himself, sot that was an interesting discovery.

Just thinking we could get the next spin of the Wheel by putting the two finished tasks of the second Jedi into the first set of Jedi. Perhaps I’ve missed something.

Kirsten you made my mouth water. The cover looks about 50-50.

Sorry I was responsible for a bit of a scramble around the Hufflepuff prompt earlier in the day and thank you ever so much for having my back! Awesome team 🤩.

DQs Day 3 - The Australian Open (58%)

9. Gwen sends Carrie a gift the start day of the Australian Open…a Discman! The first song it plays is ‘The Bitch is Back’…I love this album. I immediately went to play me some Elton John tunes😊 Do you have a song or routine that gets you revved up…sets a tone to put you in the right state of mind?

Definitely, yes - I have a playlist for revving up, going down memory lane, ... When it comes to getting revved up "Don't stop me now" by Queen is my go-to song. Of course, choosing "The bitch is back" is pitch-perfect, I wouldn't be surprised that slip-up was crafted to allow for this specific moment and the smile that comes with it.

10. Reflections--moment
Carrie thinks…I inhabit the silence of this with my father, when we are still asking questions and do not yet have to live with the answers. What do you think she means at this moment in time with that comment?
"Te quiero mucho, pichona," he says.
I open up my eyes, "I know. I love you too."
Javier and Carrie both have many reflective moments throughout these matches… Is this a premonition of what’s to come with the open or even more in the future?

I feel she's letting go of the future, embodying the here and now. And that she can settle for that in the moment. Perhaps she's just maturing. Javier and Carrie's relationship has obviously matured too and it's kind of sweet really :). I don't really feel it's a premonition though.

12. We hear from the media in various forms throughout. What are your thoughts about some of their comments so far? Do you believe any of them have affected Carrie or the game? I was thinking about this especially when Gwen indicates Elite Gold was pulling back some of their ads prior to the French Open. Gwen has a role in her job with managing all of this…what are your thoughts about the impact of media and advertising with sport?

I'm loving the commentary! I think Carrie isn't one to let any of this affect her. Gwen seems to be doing a very good job juggling everyone's needs and wants. My thoughts on media advertising with sport... well, I think I'd advertise with great sportsmen if I wanted to sell excellence. Of course, it's commercial but the days of non commercial tennis (or sport in general) are long gone.

13. Carrie’s been doing some very smart training thanks to her father. She’s been practicing in recent weeks with Bowe on clay and Bowe has challenged her, calling her a ‘quitter’. And here at the end of this segment, she’s just had a challenge from Nikki Chan. Is she going to win? Is Nikki? What do you anticipate happening in Paris?

Carrie will be playing on her worse surface. If she does manage to come up against Chan, I think she'll be playing on her injury - it does feel like Chan has come back quickly, and may not be fully recovered. In any event, they'll both be whacking balls something chronic. I'm looking forward to finding out how it all goes. I'm rooting for Carrie to get that extra slam title before the end of the year but perhaps this books isn't about winning in that sense.

Oo happy birthday to your daughter Kirsten 🎉.

Catching up on all the posts.

Kirsten, you are on fire with those 1000 pages over a couple of days!! Go you!

Happy belated Canada Day to our Canadian friends and happy Independence Day to our American friends.

Like Keli, being a slower reader makes the Wheel challenge harder for me to contribute to, especially with us having to go 4 times as fast as some other teams. I’ll pitch in when I can but mostly stick to TT/RT. I’ve pulled Prodigal Son from the W2b prompt (Hufflepuff) as I’m sure we have others that will fit, and I’m unlikely to finish today. Apologies for not pulling out earlier, I was hoping to read faster tbh and hadn’t realised how many Wheel prompts had already been covered. You guys are so quick! I’ve peeked at other teams and some are using Carrie Soto for all 4 of the Sorting Hat prompts. Just saying.

I’ll be MIA until Sunday as my cousin is coming over from England for a few days so not sure how much reading I’ll manage. I’m looking forward to seeing her!

x