Elen’s Comments (group member since Mar 07, 2018)

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

Added my books, all of them U letters

Marie, sending my condolences to you and your family.

I'm also done for the round! The last 2 books were added to SS.

Completion Post + Added to SS

Mexican Gothic, The Paris Apartment and Как остановить время

Checking in! Work and life have been a lot recently but I'm reading and will be adding books "hopefully" tomorrow.

Hi everyone!

I'm Elen (she/her/hers) from Estonia. Glad that Wheel is back and I'm excited to read many good books with you all!

I'm not Britpop fan


wheel-viii-2023‎

Well done! Thank you for the fun TT!

I have read this TT more books than I was anticipating.

Books that stand out the most were Skulduggery Pleasant series (I read 7 books!) and Tuesdays with Morrie.
Also, really enjoyed BOM for 11/22/63

Here is where we are for Page Range:

400-499: 19 out of 30 complete (63.33%)
500-599: 8 out of 20 complete (40.00%)
600+: 4 out of 10 complete (40.00%)

We still need 11x400-499, 12x500-599 and 6x600+.


We have only 15 days left to finish our Page Tower.

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 usually tend to listen to some songs for a bit and then I find new ones and old ones are in the past. Also, my music depends on my mood too.

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?
"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?
Maybe. I think there is so much build-up in their relationship and something big and significant is going to happen.

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 love the commentary but I don't like how the media treats people. Carrie is strong and won't be affected as much as others may, but even the strongest people are vulnerable. Media and ads play a significant role in players' income, fame, etc.

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?
I'm loving that he is challenging her. Great things are going to happen.

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'm not a sports fan (any) so I don't know anything about tennis or this era whether 1990 is significant to the book or not.

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 like Bowe’s character. I think Carrie needs someone like Bowe in her life (emotional). I can see them ending up together romantically.

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?
I have never been into sports and have never looked up to any sports legends and never will.

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 won't be speculating (finished the book). I enjoyed the book enough to finish it. Also, it's rather a quick read, so I'm interested in how the book ends.

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 only read Daisy Jones & The Six and it was an okay book. I plan to re-read and watch the tv show. Going into this book I don't have high hopes or any grand expectations as I know about tennis nothing and I don't really care too much about it. I hope I won't be bored.

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 somewhat of a unlikeable and unrelenting main character. She is focused and unapologetic about her desire to win, she is willing to do anything to reach her goal even hurting people she loves. Having to retire from tennis which is her whole life can't be easy.

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?
They had a normal father-and-daughter relationship. In many families fathers are their kids' first coaches and it's not surprising that they grew apart - Carrie wanted one thing (win) and her dad (happiness) the opposite. I think after many years their relationship is going to be closer and stronger.

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?
I think she is more focused on her career and being on top than understanding what is love and letting her walls down to let someone worthy into her life, so she chooses what she thinks she deserves right now or what is easy.

Laura wrote: "Lindsay and I are almost done. Who else is reading Carrie Soto?"

Me. Almost done.

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?
Yes, people who seem to be "normal" for everyone - these kinds of people are mostly unpredictable (not always in a bad way) because we don't know what is going on in their heads. Also, his love for "buzz" is ringing bells. Yes and no, Frank is friendly and talkative - people are drawn to this kind of person.

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?
Jake had multiple different ways how to prevent mass murder but most of them except murder would be in some way ineffective because Frank would have talked himself out and be free (Jake can't offer them protection, send them away without telling them everything and he can't do that).

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 wouldn't stay. For me, feeling safe and comfortable is more important than the place itself. But Jake had to stay.

13) Well, stoppping Frank didn't go to plan but he did get stopped. What do you think the cosequences 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?
I don't think that Frank's murder will play a big role in the future, only for his family. I do believe that he'll go back and try again, and I hope he will succeed next/this time. I think he'll do it earlier than Halloween, maybe when Frank is alone in the cemetery.

Day 2 DQs Chapter 4 - 6 or 18%


#5. How did you feel when you read Harry Dunning's essay? What would you have done if you had the power to enact change in the past?
It was really sad and heartbreaking. I'm not a violent person, but I'd love/do anything in my power to change the past, so Harry would have a normal childhood.

#6. Money is a big deal in any timeline. Would you be able to acclimate to the past in terms of financial transactions as well as Jake? Do you think Jake acclimated TOO quickly?
I would, maybe a little bit more time and luck.

#7. Fashion is also an issue in the past. Do you think Jake is having an easier time of it because he is a man? What would be the most challenging fashion change for you to get used to? Is there something you would love to be able to wear?
Definitely, in every timeline, there is everything he needs and he doesn't have to make huge changes in his clothing style. If talking about me then I'm not really keen on wearing skirts and dresses. So, pants/trousers would be ideal for me.

#8. There are a lot of interesting nods to older Advertising terms and slogans that King uses to help the reader recognize the timeline change of the past. Which one stood out to you the most and why?
Not going to lie - non. I wasn't really paying attention to them.

#9. If you have read any past King novels, some of these chapters have a lot of connections to early books about Derry, Maine, and surrounding locations. Did you find any Easter eggs from previous stories? If you haven't read earlier King novels, what about Derry seemed to stand out as unique to you?
I did indeed (clown = It, something supernatural = The Outsider). Stephen King loves to write about Maine and the "strange and supernatural" things happening and living there.

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?
I have read some (16) of his books and in my opinion not enough, definitely going to continue reading his stories.

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?
I like Jake so far. Jake's reaction and thoughts are expected - most of us would think like him. I'd go gone along at least in the beginning, because the aspect of time travel has always intrigued me.

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?
I'd be in disbelieve but intrigued to see in what time period I have stepped into.

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?
I would and wouldn't. I do believe that the past is the past and it shouldn't be changed - on a big scale, not minor things. But having the chance to live in another time for a longer period would be an interesting experience, but at the same time hard.
I don't know much as it wasn't as important event in our history lessons as for Americans.

Just letting you know that I'm reading. Stephen King BOM will be done this week too :)

Tammie, you were selected to do DQ for Carrie Soto Is Back, 4 July (3rd day)

New Mini is ... interesting. With this mini all teams in the end will have an equal chance to win as we are in the group that can't bank books.

Meghna wrote: "Hi everyone!!
I just finished Happy Place help me add it to the SS"

Added as pink cover