Cat’s Comments (group member since Jan 28, 2015)

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

I finished my suspense, and figured I'd leave where it was as that's a monster done.

New spin
Professor Moriarty (Sherlock Holmes)
1 350 to 450
2 MC is very smart
3 Set in the 1800s
4 Street on cover
5 2 in page count

Sometimes it's worth trying Amazon.com rather than.co.uk for the look inside. And double check the different editions, some have the look inside search even if a different one doesn't

crossed with Mel! happy to leave Elfor where it is :)

we can move my suspense book in for 1, 2, 4.

purple & pink in the porthole image???

and Babel - so good! hope you are enjoying it :)

your baby, all growed up! happy birthday to him, and have a lovely evening!

I moved my suspense into the long page count space, but it can go back if someone else (Sammy?) has a long one too

Also stuck one of my other current books into the blue text on cover space, though it's likely to be Thursday before I finish it (it's slow reading and I'm out tonight)

Posts for token:

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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?

It must have impacted in some way - the lack of practice part of it, but the attitude of blowing off practice sessions, when a theme has been that (however wrongly) Black people have to work twice as hard to be seen as (near) equal.

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?

I think Mikhail probably did genuinely win. Ray is shown as bringing emotional life to the music he plays, but that can back fire if the judges are expecting a different view. Mikhail's more pristine, canonical way of playing is possibly easier to listen to.

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?

I was surprised at the double connection (with his gran and with PopPop). The stories of the abuse were unexpectedly graphic, compared to the rest of the book.

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

blah money blah lover blah. Though I'd never taken to them - thought there was something a bit shady there.

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?

This scene was interesting: a setup to show a generally functional family that rapidly devolves into weirdeness...
At Christmas we make a trifle over three days: Christmas Eve is the jelly, sponge & sherry layer, Christmas Day for the custard, and then communal pass-the-cream-whipping on Boxing Day

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 it's about money, and also a lack of understanding about the career route of a musician. For the vast majority of musicians the career can be precarious, after all.

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?

For sure. In an elitist industry, having an in is essential. Whether from an individual or through systemic attempts to make it accessible to those outside the normal sphere.

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?

It's his link to his grandmother, who was a source of total, unconditional support

I think that's blue enough.

The U name is more critical, so the fact that we can't use the W (it's a nickname, which aren't permitted in Wheel) is irrelevant!

Sarah wrote: "Well, this is annoying. The rautalanka book only has the word as part of another one.

“In one event at RautalankaFestarit (Twangy Guitar Festival) …”

Will that work? It’s the only English book o..."

so annoying! First thought was: is it perhaps a formatting error??

argh! isn't that always the way!

Finished another

New monster
The Devourers (Indra Das)
1 175-225
2 Tagged "south-asian" (5 or more times)
3 "cannibal" or "cannibalism" in text
4 Tagged "Trans" or "Transgender" (5 or more times)
5 Author Initials (all) in KOLKATA

first three books picked:
- mariachi SO many times, also salsa
- baroque, polka and tango
- no music words, but lots of MurderBot, who I frankly NEED right now!

Hurrah! I do feel like this has flown past. How's everyone going? Any standout reads?

just finished my book! squeaking it in!

I'll be finishing my last one (super flexible) about 10 mins before deadline!

Danielle - thank you so much for carrying me this round - real life has been kicking me hard the last few weeks!

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?

Yup and yup!
It does seem strange that he left it in the room when he knew room service was coming...

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

From the hotel room, with collusion? Though it could have been whilst he was partying the night before?

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?

it can't be all about the money. if Ray's right and it's his or the Marks family, then there must be some pettiness too. But it seems like the Marks reason for wanting it is so their offspring can play it - can't see them ransoming it.

4. It's alluded 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 he should be proud of his accomplishment regardless of race, but also that we should acknowledge race (and poverty or semi-poverty) as a retarding factor in achieving brilliance, especially in an area of accomplishment that requires money (and connections)

V_Nerdbooks wrote: "Completion post for Influencer, added to SS"

Can you add it to your Wheels shelf please? :)