Keli’s Comments (group member since Jun 23, 2016)

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

Well done, team!!! Y'all have been the best and I've been on some awesome teams. Thanks for the fun and the win!

Jen wrote: "I’m curious what everyone’s favorite 2-3 books were from this challenge. I’m always looking to grow my tbr."

I think a few people listed some faves a few pages back. I had so many good reads that it's hard to narrow down but Artificial Condition, White Teeth, The Goldfinch, A Closed and Common Orbit and All Together Dead were in the tp with 5 star ratings. I can tell you the only 1 star read was Fourth Wing.

Can you post the big book link here, Elinor? Please😊

Also, I think Game Night and AMMP themes overlap, so books will likely work for both. Assuming they aren't crazy specific tasks.

So just followed both Jackie and Janine's links to sign-up. And immediately when this one finished signed up to
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Ive read 7 since my last update. Tower Teams was pretty good for helping me clear my bookshelves. I think 7 tbr books is 2 months is pretty good for me. Especially considering that they've all been sitting around my house for well over a year.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jackie wrote: "Suzanne, I think the reason everyone stayed involved was directly connected to the fabulous job you captains did of keeping everything organized and the enthusiasm you all brought to the challenge...."

Totally agree! I often feel a little intimidated by the super fast readers in large team challenges. That's no fault of theirs. I just feel like I'm not really contributing. In this awesome group, however, I felt like I was actually adding something. And a great portion of that was because you super speedy readers and captains were really good at keeping us focused as a team, that ALL our contributions helped us reach the top.
Thanks captains for your hard work.

Actually, I want to be on a team with all of you always. Don't freak out if you see me lurking in the background of team games, trying to figure out where you're going to be.
Thanks so much eveyone.

Janeylou wrote: "Thats my last books team .
I would like to thank you all for making my first go at TT so enjoyable , ive had a blast and will definitely be back round next year ..😘😘😘"

Janine, you excelled. I always want to be on your team. 😍😍😍

I just finished my final book 😭😭😭 Thanks team for being awesome. You're all ace.

My final book was an anthology, there was one story in particular where the character that is believed to be a vamp turns out to be a werewolf was a real twist. Don't know if that would work for the challenge. But it was a surprise. I thought he was going to do his vamp reveal.

I'll finish up Hotter Than Hell tomorrow, and that will be all for me. I was hoping to have gotten another audio in, but I just couldn't squeeze it in. I've been such a busy bee this weekend. So, 28 will be my contribution, which is twice what I said I'd do. I was averaging a book a week before TT.

I have had an excellent TT. I managed to return 7 of the 20 books I've had out of the library since 2020/2021. My average rating was 3.81. My favourite book is hard to pick as I gave 6 books 5 star ratings. Hands down, the worst book was The Fourth Wing. My surprise hit was White Teeth. My surprise I'm not too sure about is the one I'm reading. I thought Hell would be the thing that links all the stories together. Turns out it is the Hotter bit. This book is pure filth.

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've read DJ and EH, and have MR in my book pile. (I will get to it this year!) I loved DJ and enjoyed EH, so I have high hopes for Carrie. Reid's writing is so dynamic and clear that it keeps me engrossed. And her ability to weave a story that spans decades, is populated with interesting, well rounded characters and feels so true, absorbs me into the story. So far, I've not been disappointed.

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?

I like Carrie. she's a brilliant character. But if she was a real person, I'd just feel sorry for her. it's easy to appreciate her brutal honesty. We think that she's being "real," which it is a little, but it's mostly a front. She has crafted a hard carapace around her sensitive insides. She's going to hurt everyone else first. Since no seemed to care about her feelings, she won't care about anyone either. Sadly, this is going to f her up. Tennis was the only area she engaged with other people and where she felt a bit of positivity.

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?

Personally, I think encouraging your kids to be the best they can be and, even, forcing them to stick at something when they want to quit is good. It builds character and a sense of achievement, but it shouldn't come at the price of childhood. Carrie was far too young to understand the subtle aspects of Javier's intent. So he is partly responsible for her emotional retardation. And I'm so not surprised by the breakdown of their relationship. I'm glad they're back working together and healing together.

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

Carrie is so emotionally broken, I just want to give her a big hug. Yes, losing her mom and only having a single parent greatly influenced her, but primarily it was her lack of friends that influenced her. She had no one she could talk to, or from whom she could get that much needed reassurance when thing were hard. Single parents can raise wonderfully well rounded individuals, but in Carrie's case the only person she had was her dad. Literally. And that just was not healthy.

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?

There were some big names in the 90s; Graff, Seles, Navratilova (although she might be 80s) not sure. I the 90s saw the rise of women in sports as national icons. The Billie Jean Kings paved the way by being serious and ferocious, players to be taken seriously but I feel they lacked the endorsements of their male counterparts. I'm no tennis experts, so this is all based on opinion and my childhood memories, which are scant and not to be trusted. I was a child in the 80s and not interested in tennis teen in the 90s.

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)?

Yes! My lord is he patient.

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?

Not really. I'm not sporty, but even if I were, probably not. Sports stars are just people who excel through hard work and some natural ability, and a good portion of luck. I do appreciate the tenacity and spirit of those who pave the way, by going against convention and demanding recognition when previously they were not taken seriously, women in sport for example. Yet, I find that inspirational in all areas of life.

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?

Without spoiling anything, I think we can do the math. Less than 60% into the book, two more slams to go. I'm really enjoying it.

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?

I have so many and they change according to situation. But nothing beats Free Bird.

10. Reflections--Carrie thinks…I inhabit the silence of this moment 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?

Some words when spoken can't be taken back. Words can change things, alter trajectories.

"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'm not sure.

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?

Ugh, that sportz commentator with Gloria was so annoying. He was so horrible with his "graciousness' or "lady like" comments. Or whatever he said. I'm sorry but would he have said the same thing about a man? No. A guy has to have a proper hissy fit to be ridiculedon tv. But a woman who is strong, confident in her ability and a ferocious player not only gets a horrible nickname, but also gets chastised.
Also, the audiobook was so cool for these bits.

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?

(view spoiler)[ So I thought Carrie would win Paris. Setting her and Chan up for a showdown Stateside. (hide spoiler)]

My last two audiobooks will be Hotter Than Hell, which is 512 pages and Behind Her Eyes 376 pgs. I'm doing a combo format for these, so I've chosrn the page count of my non-audio copies, as opposed to the default. I think I'll mostly be listening, but i can't do audqiobooks at home. I swear my family only likes to talk to me when I've got earbuds in. So I'll be switching to my other formats in the evening. Is this ok to use for the page count?

Go Kirsten!

I'm very much still on track to finish my mod tower book on time. It might be down to the wire, like the 30th, but i will finish. I finished Carrie Soto today. Fantastic read!

And I think you are right, Jen, about the dqs. I know that I read all the answers around the original post, but then I just add my own answers when I get to the end. It's hard to keep up though, when soooo many people are posting. I think in non-competition time, it's much more interactive and when competition groups were smaller. There are just way too many posts to read.

I'm going to try to get two more audiobooks in by Sunday, my big ass mod tower read, and a final paperback. That's my plan. If i can get more, but really I think that will be it for me.

Awesome effort, team. I have had a blast. And you all are probably the most interesting, diverse and talkative team I've been on. It's been great.

Thanks, Elinor. 😆 The more I thought about that book, the more I detested it. Like Before answering the dqs, I just disliked it. Now having to think about all that time spent listening to honestly a shamefully written story, kind of pees me off. I'll never get those hours back! But that is what one does in Tower Teams! Got to take one for the team sometimes. 😂😂🤣 Luckily, most of the books I've read in these three months have been fantastic.

DQs Day 6: Chapter 32 - end

24. Chapter 32, though! How did you feel about the heart-to-heart on the parapet? Did it fill you with fluttery lovey feelings, or did it fall flat? Are you loving “Vioden” (Xadlet?)??

🤢🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 sums it up.

25. Xaden has Violet join his special group for the War Games, and we find out about all the secrets that EVERYONE has been keeping from her. Do you think she overreacted to these revelations or is her reaction warranted? How do you feel about Dain’s betrayal? Surprised (hint hint - NO)?

Total overreaction. But it wouldn't be a ya or a romance without one! Characters can't be reasonable and think about the implications of what total disclosure could mean. Dain's betrayal not a surprise. You know the process changes you, really brings out who you are.

26. Anyone crying yet? I know I was losing it through a lot of the last 15% of the book. What are your thoughts on the major losses we see during this battle? Any thoughts on the battle itself (or the enemy themselves)?

I was crying because it was still going. I thought it sucked that the best character in the book had to die.

27. That CLIFF-HANGER of an ending had me stunned! What did you think of the sudden appearance of (view spoiler)? Was it too much, or just enough?

This was a surprise. I would not have guessed.

28. What are your overall thoughts on this book? Will you read the next one?

This is an absolutely atrocious book. It was too long with zero world building or character development or a real plot. I don't know why Yarros thought she needed to tell this story. I am not often cynical about author’s intentions. I believe most authors come from a place of creativity. This schlock felt made up for money. Like she just wanted to write the next Hunger Games or Divergent (which is also shite but 10x better than this!) Like she's already dreaming of selling the rights. And though that probs isn't fair, this book was crap.

BONUS!
On a scale of 1 to 100, how much to you hate Dain?
I despise them all.

DQ set 5: Chapters 26 - 31

19. I'm so confused by the logistics of this world! Firstly there's the comment that 6 hours in flight left them all super-stiff, but surely they've been putting the hours in in flight fight practice? And then the sudden realisation that actually it's TOTES fine to put a saddle or harness on to secure them in flight, as if that wouldn't be the very first thing you'd do the first time the dragons decided to plummet and every rider loses their seat!
Anyway, that rant is mostly to say: how are you enjoying the world-building now we are further into the story?

NOTHING about this books makes sense. This has some of the weakest world building and character development I have ever read.

20. We discover that riders of mated dragons can now talk in each others minds... What do you think this adds (or detracts) to the story, characters, world?

I think it's great. Maybe we'll get a little less of the bland inner monologue of Violet's mind. Oh my god Xaden is so scrummy, might be broadcast to him. So fingers crossed she starts emptying her mind.

21. Lightning! Who'd've guessed that Violet would end up with a super rare, super powerful signet?! What do you think the lightning says about her character?

Ugh, is all I can say. Where's Homelander's son when you need him? Does it says she's a real spark? That power comes from the inside, and is not about how strong you are on the outside? Becaus glass boned Violet is gonna save the world one lightning storm at a time! 🙄

22. There's some destructive sex, followed by a decision that it can never happen again. What do you think about the different approaches that Violet and Xaden have towards their attraction to each other?

Ok, I'm going to be honest and say that i skipped past this part and all sexy, even kissing, bits. I love a good sex scene. I love a good sex book. But this was way too juvenile for me to feel comfy with. I'm 44. These characters act like teenagers. I don't find it the least bit sexy, more cringey. So all that was to say don't know, don't care. I will say that ever since the tree scene, when it became apparent to everyone but super smart Vi that Xaden didn't really want to kill her, she's been pretty daft in her approach.

23. Finally - is it just me, or is Dain starting to redeem himself? I feel like I'm seeing signs of improvement in him....

Nope.

Day 4 Questions Chapter 21-25

14. Do you think there is a reason the Cadets are not being told the truth of what is going on with the battles at the Battle Brief? Is it actually for classified reasons or is there something more sinister going on?

Since I have finished this sh*tshow, I will try to remember what i was thinking at the time. I do remember saying, well you're all idiots, so why would they tell you everything. Honestly, could anyone imagine the top brass of a military passing classfied marterial on to a junior cadet class? I mean, I know these characters are supposed to be adults, but they read much more like high school students. So, again, I ask what would be the benefit to telling immature murdering young adults anything of any great importance? I'm not even sure what the point if the class is. It's part history, part battle strategy, part geography. We are shown so very little and TOLD a bit more, but what Yarros chooses to TELL us is pretty irrelevant. Honestly, even if you get to the end, all this border skirmish hoo-ha would be easy enough to condense into a few paragraphs. Clearly, there is something much more sinister, as out paper skin and glass bone heroine has alluded to.

15. What do you think about the mentioning of the fact that the Dragons and Gryphons use to work together to protect the lands? Could this be foreshadowing of an alliance to come?

Maybe. But I am at the point I couldn't care less. My question is if dragons are so badass, why is this even a problem?

16. We finally have a bit of progress in the possible romance between Violet and Xaden. Do you think they have actual chemistry or their attraction is just due to the bond of their dragons?

Well, we know ol' Vi is super attracted to Xaden. I mean, she says it every time she espies him. Can we talk about her mental well-being? Sorry if this was addressed in a previous dq. But Violet truly believes this dude wants to kill her. Or at least that's what she TELLS us every 10 minutes. Right around the time she has also TOLD us her traitorous body is reacting to Xaden. I found and always find this trope hard to swallow. This isn't just enemies to lovers, someone who doesn't like you to bed buddy. Oh no, this is a feeling of peril in someone's nearness. How can she even be having these thoughts? If i really honestly thought someone was going to murder me, I would be too terrified to think about broad shoulders, rippling muscles or brands/scars that end just under a strong jaw. 🤢

17. We keep getting random tidbits about Violet's deceased brother Brennan. Do you think there is a possibility he's still alive?

Didn't actually consider whether he was alive or not.

18. With the revelations we've been given about what went on with the Marked Ones and the various battles that are raging on currently, do you think that the Kingdom of Navarre is actually the protector of this world as we've been lead to believe or are they the villains?

The whole world? Not the whole world. Could you imagine these numpties defending the world. They haven’t even figured out that you should probably put a saddle on a dragon and come up with ways of getting on to dragons (aside from one way), so that your future generations don't have to die unnecessarily. I get that there is a fear of weakness, but where is the ingenuity or common sense. It's a whole country run by idiots.
Now that I've finished this is very hard to answer. I did think the society was being lied to but the purpose of those lies wasn't obvious.

Bonus: Anyone else wishing a Dragon would just go scorched earth on Dain already?

I wish the dragons would kill them all.

I read White Teeth like a madwoman today and stayed up late last night too. So I am going to take a break from anymore reading today. I can highly recommend White Teeth. It was a fantastic family saga/story. If you can get ahold of the audio with Lenny Henry and co, I would recommend even more.
I'll check in tomorrow.
And get those fourth wing dqs done.
Happy reading all.