Ashlee’s Comments (group member since May 10, 2016)

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

Just checking in. Work has me a bit crazy today, but I'm looking forward to a lazy Saturday morning tomorrow. I should finish my current read then.

I'm Ashlee. I am an 8th grade Special Education Reading/English teacher. I love to read and strive to pass that onto my students.

I will read pretty much anything, but gravitate towards mystery and romance.

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

I have just updated my BOM read. Although I am off to start a new book, I doubt I will finish in the next 16 hours.

This has been a really fun challenge with all of these minis. I'm sure it has been a headache for our captains, but your hardwork is appreciated.

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 do think how she was raised is a big factor into her inability to form relationships; romantic or otherwise. Her life was tennis 24/7. I do think Javier started to realize what went wrong while raising Carrie in a life of tennis.

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?
Once I understood what everything meant, it did lead to the excitement of the matches.

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?

I do think a book about Nicki Chan or Bowe might be interesting, but I doubt she would tie the tennis world into another book.

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?
Lavender and Vanilla makes me think of my grandfather because that is always what the house smelled like when he was alive.

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?
I really liked Malibu Rising, but this book didn't live up to that. I am struggling with my rating (probably 3 stars). While it was an interesting and easy read, it was a pointless read. I guess I am thinking this way because I did find any of the characters connectable.

DQs Day 2 - The Comeback (40%)

5. Welcome back sports fans! If any of you have read other Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels, you know she loves looking back at interesting eras in time. The Golden Age of Hollywood! 70s rock and roll excess! Why do you think TJR chose to focus on 90s sports for this novel? Do you think it was only to bring Carrie back or do you think there was something special about sports during that time?

I can't say that I followed much sports at this time, as I was only an elementary student. I think TJR created this novel to bring life to Carrie Soto. In Malibu Rising we only knew her as the homewrecker who broke up Brandon and Nina's marriage.

6. In this section we are introduced to Bowe. What do you think about him? Do you think he is a good match for Carrie (in sports or romantically)?

I haven't decided if I think he and Carrie would be a good romantic match. However, I do think he is a good playing partner for her. Not only did he improve, but it was a way for Carrie to hit with a man, which I presume from text may be slightly more difficult than with a woman. This match-up also taught Carrie to look into her technique a little closer.

7. In this section, there is a letter from the editor entitled "Why I'm Thankful for Carrie Soto" in which the author, Helene, says that Carrie was inspiring to her as a child. Do you find inspiration in any sports legends past or present? If so, who and why?

No, I don't feel inspired by those in sports. I do, however, have students who do and can totally understand where that inspiration comes from.

8. Up next is the Australian Open! Any predictions on what is going to happen in the next section of the book? Also how are you enjoying the book so far?

I do predict that Carrie will make a comeback. If not, I don't know what we will read about for 50% more of the book.

I am enjoying the book so far, but I DESPISE that there is so much Spanish (without translation or glossary). At times, I have to stop to Google a translation just to see what Carrie and Javier are talking about.

DQs Day 1 - Chan v Cortez & The First Time Around (26%)

1. The most popular releases by Taylor Jenkins Reid have been BOMs in this group before (Daisy Jones & The Six in 2019, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in 2021, and Malibu Rising last year). Have you read any of these books (or others) by TJR too or is Carrie Soto is Back your first book by the author? What are your expectations going in?

I read Malibu Rising with NBRC last year. I really enjoyed it, and have recommended it to friends. Considering this, I have really high hopes for this book to live up to Malibu Rising.

2. After the first chapter is set in 1994 and Carrie Soto decides to get back into the sport to get her record title back the next few chapters follow her early years up until she felt like she had to retire because of her knee injury (and because she felt humiliated lbr) somewhat 30 years later. Her dad always wanted her to be the greatest whereas her mother just wanted her to be kind and happy. It doesn't seem like Carrie is either at this point in her life, also not the greatest anymore. How do you feel about her as a character so far? What do you think (sort of) being forced into retirement by her own body has done to her, mentally and physically; do you think she's changed at all in the last 5 years?

Carrie is not a very likable character, but I guess that was intentional. It can't be easy to basically give up everything you know in life due to an injury. She did decide at a very young age that she would pursue a GED instead of formal school, in order to allow herself more training time. Without her mother in her life, I also think Carrie feels an overwhelming need to be "great" like her father.

3. What we've learned about Carrie's childhood and teenage years has quickly started to remind me of 'King Richard' the movie about the Williams sisters' life and I'm seeing a lot of similarities between Carrie's dad Javier and the Williams' (movie) dad (as I'm sure is often the case when athletes' parents are involved in their kids' sports careers/futures).
Javier seemed to have good intentions and only ever wanted what (he at least thought) was best for his daughter, but they grew apart after going separate ways in 1979. As we know, they've found their way back together (does this sound weird seeing they're father and daughter??), but things definitely changed between them. How do you feel about Javier and about his and Carrie's relationship growing up vs now?

Carrie's character is written with zero emotional attachment to others; father or otherwise. Although we as readers might feel a tug at the heartstrings that she has cut her father loose, I don't think she feels this; it's all about the win.

4. It seems like Carrie doesn't believe in love (or actually of being worthy of being loved imo). She's been having flings/ONS left and right apparently, and appearing in tabloids with random guys regularly. The one time she let herself finally believe this could be IT for the long run was with Brandon Randall (who some of us already knew from Malibu Rising) who was cheating on his then wife with her. No surprise he left her for (yet) another woman, but were you surprised Carrie took him back after he wanted to go back to his ex-wife and she rejected him? Do you think losing her mother at such a young age and only ever having her dad as a single parent in her life has influenced how she views love, relationships and generally a deeper bond with other people?

She never really saw what a "healthy relationship" was growing up because she and her dad focused their daily lives on her training schedule and tournaments. I don't know if she necessarily doesn't feel "worthy" of love. I think it's more that she has no interest in anything that will get in the way of being on top.

I finished 2 of my planned books.
and

Still working through , but should finish that today.

I'm going to start and should finish this weekend.

Updated the spreadsheet with that I finished over the weekend. It is open to use wherever. It is a great book for Team Towers because it has characters that cover 19/26 letters. :)

I also claimed Chipmunk 140 with .

I have 3 on the go right now, but will finish by Sunday; at the latest.

Sammy wrote: "definitely yes!"

Okay, I will take this one.

Does this count for 'X' in the ISBN?
ISBN10: 044654759X

If so, it is for , which I'll be starting tomorrow.

Day 1 DQs: ch1- 3

1) I have only read a few of Stephen King's books. Is this your first book by the author or are you quite familiar with his storytelling?

This is my first Stephen King read. It took a little bit of time to get used to the chapters within chapters and extensive descriptions.

2) What do you think about the character Jake so far? Would you have gone along with what Al wanted and took the initial step back into the past, or would you have not humoured him and tried to get him help?

So far, I haven't really had a chance to get to know Jake's character. He seems pretty boring to this point. Since I'm not a very adventurous person, I think I would have leaned toward getting Al some help.

3) I am not sure how I would feel if I just stepped back into the past the way Jake and Al have, but I am really curious about how the time travelling works in this story. It seemed that Jake was somewhat calm about it. How do you think you would feel if it was you?

Yeah, definitely not calm. I'd be a total bundle of nerves.

4) I think it is clear that Jake is going to pick up Al's mission to try and stop the JFK assassination. Would you choose to continue Al's mission? Also how much do you know of the history surrounding this event?

Nah, not adventurous enough to go on this mission.

DQs Day 3 - 17 June
Chapters 7 - 8, 26%

10) We find out more about Frank Dunning. He is portrayed as a smooth talker and good looking. Do you find this stereotypical of someone who will go on to murder most of his family? It always seems to be someone no one suspects. Jake's opinion of him obviously isn't very good. Do you think Jake would feel differently if he didn't know what Frank was going to do?

I would definitely agree with the fact that he doesn't let his violent personality show. I think Jake only notices the "change in his eyes" because he knows what Frank is capable of.

11) Jake plans how he is going to stop Frank. Would your thought process have been the same as Jake's? How would you plan to change the event?

If in this situation, I wouldn't even have give Frank the chance to make it to the house. Why take the chance of anyone in the family getting involved.

12) There is something off about Derry. The place itself feels weird and the people act strange. Would you stay somewhere where you don't feel welcome? Would you investigate more into what was going on?

I have to laugh, because there is a neighboring town named Derry near my home. It is a bit like the Derry described here. I definitely would not stay where I wasn't welcome; too uncomfortable.

13) Well, stopping Frank didn't go to plan but he did get stopped. What do you think the consequences of changing the event will be in the present, if any? Do you think he will go back and try again? If so, what do you think he will do differently?

Well, the children are definitely going to be able to lead productive lives; hopefully. I do think Jake will go back to amend this situation, and continue on with Al's mission. In the next go, I think he'll be able to predict the encounter with Bill.

DQs Day 6
Ch 14-16 / 50%

22. Up until now, Jake didn’t stay in one place for long, but now he’s settling into a new life in Jodie. How do you think this will affect his original mission to stop Lee Harvey Oswald and prevent the JFK assassination?

I think in the back of his mind, the mission is always at the forefront. He just seems to have found a place where he is comfortable and the people are friendly to him.

23. Jake lets his relationship with Sadie end over his refusal to tell her about his life. Do you think he should have told her the truth, or is he better off ending things now? Why do you think so?

I think if he told her the truth, she wouldn't have believed him. Why take the chance of things going South after he has invested this much time.

24. Jake freaks out when he sees that part of Sadie’s name is “Doris Dun” and instantly starts comparing her to Doris Dunning. We have seen several similar name pairings and events throughout the novel so far that Jake finds important. Do you think there is any significance to this, or are these things merely coincidence?

I do think that eventually all of these coincidences will come to fruition. As he constantly states about the past being obdurate, I think all of these people are brought into his life for a reason.

25. We are officially halfway through the novel. How are you liking it so far? What are your thoughts on the pacing? (We are halfway through and haven’t even seen Lee Harvey Oswald yet, which seems odd to me given the premise of the book!)

I have to agree that the fact that the whole book is supposed to be about Oswald, I expected to learn more of him and this situation. I now understand why I haven't read any other works by King. I am definitely going to need a break after this one.

Working on finishing the Stephen King BOM in time. Got a lovely concussion on Saturday while boating with friends, but attempting to read in those moments when I'm not seeing spots. :{

DQs Day 3 - Chapters 10-14

9. As he walks through the Daeva Quarters, Ali is shot by a toy arrow, let loose by one of the children playing about. Rashid suggests to Ali that he should punish the boy by taking him to be raised in the Citadel, which Ali refuses. What do you think this says about Ali, and about others in the city’s upper echelon?

Ali appears to be very different from the rest of his family. He "wears his heart on his sleeve" so to speak and tries to look out for those less fortunate. This is completely opposite from how his father wants him to respond.


10. Nahri and Dara have a moment, but are interrupted. Do you like this partnership, romantically or otherwise? Is it doomed, or meant to be?

At first, I enjoyed this partnership and thought they would last. Dara seemed to save her, but I think the future is going to be a rough one for them.

11. We learn about the terrible conditions in the shafit orphanage and the difficult lives all the shafit are forced into. Even though he immediately refuses to help, how do you think this will influence him in the future?

This is truly where Ali's great heart and compassion for others are shown. I think there will come a time when the demands of his family will unfortunately force him to lose this compassion.

12. As Dara and Nahri cross the last illusion shielding Daevabad, Nahri has an odd reaction and ends up flat on her back on the deck of the ferry, with Dara rudely refusing anyone’s assistance. Do you think this was caused by something related to what Nahri is, or something else?

I think we are finally going to learn a little more about Nahri's character.

13. Muntadhir takes Ali to a secret room filled with dead Nahids. Do you think this room will be a turning point for Ali? Do you think Dara will discover this and his relic, and what do you think will follow if he does?

Ali definitely now sees what his family is capable of. I think this shows him just how "out of touch" he is with what his father expects of him. As for Dara, Lord help them if he wanders upon this room.

Sammy wrote: "GR is driving me batty! lol."

I'm glad it's not just me. Lets me on, then doesn't...ugh!!!

Sammy wrote: "Looks like a mattress to me, so yes! :)"

Okay, I'll take that one.

Do you suppose she is lying on a bed on this cover? If so, I can start this next.

Sammy wrote: "🐿️
NEW CHIPMUNK TASK:
🐿️

69. X-Rays - Read a book with the letters BONES in the title"

I just finished , so I can take this one. I'll update when I get to a computer later.

DQs Day 1, Ch 1-5

1. This book begins in 18th century Cairo, with France and Turkey fighting over Egypt. I have never encountered this conflict in fiction before. Have you? Were you familiar with it before you started reading?

I have not ever read of this conflict before. Egyptian history is, however, very interesting to me.

2. Nahri has several mysterious powers, including healing, the ability to sense illness in others, and the ability to understand and speak every language she hears. Which of her powers would you like for yourself?

I would love the power to heal others. It seems as though every time I turn around I hear of another close family member or friend suffering from an illness. I would graciously like to help them.

3. What do you think of the world building so far? Do you find it confusing, or do you feel like you’re along for the ride?

I do find this very difficult to read, however, I am chugging through and along for this magic carpet ride.

4. So far we’ve met 3 significant players in this book: Nahri, Ali, and Dara. Do you have a favorite character so far, or one who intrigues you the most?

I think Nahri is the most interesting to me.

Day 2 DQs : Chapters 5-9

5. So many groups! We had a couple of chapters in this part that described some of the tribes in Daevabad and elsewhere - the Daeva/Djinn, Ifrit, Simurgh, Zahhak and I'm sure I haven't listed them all. Where on the confusion scale are you - with 1 being totally confused and 10 being "I've got this". And are you ok with your level at this point in the book?

I am 1/10 absolutely confused with the groups and characters of this book. I guess, at this point, they are still building character relationships, so I am okay with it. However, I hope it gets better sooner rather than later.

6. Somewhat related to this - we learn that Suleiman curbed magical abilities because the daeva harmed humanity. I learned (thanks Google) that in the non-book world Suleiman the Magnificent was the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566 - he ruled over at least 25 million people. Did you know anything about Suleiman and what do you think of his inclusion in the book?

As with most references in this book, I knew nothing of Suleiman. I do think it's interesting the references they are making.

7. We now know Dara was a slave for many years and was forced to do some things that haunt him. How does this make you feel about his character?

As with any form of slavery, I feel bad for Dara. This did, however, seem to make him stronger as a person. He seems to have no fear, as we see in the Rukh scene.

8. Ali's father was portrayed as brutal when we first met him at the execution, and then later he seemed like a pretty good ruler as he listened to and judged people's problems. What do you think - good king or bad king?

I do think he might be a good king. Although it did not go into great detail, he did seem to care about the concerns of the citizens.

Sammy wrote: "Ashlee, could you add a read date to 'The XY' for me please?"

Done

I have been absolutely awful about checking in and updating books. I just added 4 completed books to the spreadsheet. Also, I should finish another tonight or tomorrow. Still chugging through The City of Brass...