Stacey’s Comments (group member since Oct 26, 2014)

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

Laura wrote: "You guys want to hear something funny?

Our New tasks:

Tower Teams 8: Discworld Tasks
Read a book featuring a witch or wizard
Read a book with MPG Crime
Read a book with the letters MOIST in the t..."

Well that worked out perfectly. :) I should be done later today -- especially if I can sneak out of work a little early....

Laura wrote: "When we get this one again, if Stacey hasn't yet finished Beard in Mind, there are several authors writing spin-offs in Green Valley, TN. Or Penny's Mystery spin-off with Cletus and Jen."

Would it be helpful at all to delay my reading for Beard in Mind? I can switch to another audiobook and come back and finish it later if we think we may get the task again.

I will probably not get my Crime book finished until tomorrow if someone else has one finished before then, feel free to switch me out -- I thought I would have more reading time this weekend.

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 Malibu Rising and quite liked it. If its similar to that, I'm expecting an interesting group of characters, close family ties and a HEA (of a sort). She seems to be an author that is an easy read.

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 feel like there has been some change, especially with her father's illness. I imagine the book will be mostly about how that change effects her playing and the focus of her life. I like her as a character, and I think that her reactions are realistic to what someone who reaches that level of success would be.

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? I think that the relationship so far makes sense. He pushed her -- but I don't feel like he ever crossed a line. I think at some point, she was going to have to go to a different coach just to get a different perspective on her playing and ways to improve. I think it will be an even closer relationship this time around.

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? Oh, that's right! I forgot all about that connection (still glad Nina didn't take him back)! I think her upbringing didn't really allow her to learn how to establish relationships, so she was willing to take what she could get -- including Brandon. I'm hoping she picks better the rest of the book. ;)

Yay for first place!

I'm a Pirates fan from when I lived in Pittsburgh, but its a struggle some years. :)

It's not urgent -- it'll be a few days before I'm done.

LOVING this on audio -- the narrators are two of my favs and they do (I think) the whole series so I'm working my way through. :)

And thanks for the link to the group -- I didn't know that was even a thing.

Volunteering for DQs. (Ti)

Question for Captains cause every group is different. I started Fiercely Emma on audiobook. I usually use the default page number for that, but this is the default and it has no page numbers. What is the next option?

I should add that I maaaayyy have this book at home in this version - is there someone here that's a librarian that can add it if so?

I can finish The Cruel Prince probably by the middle of next week if you want me to put it in for chipmunks. I also have some pirate books, but not sure I will have both options done by the end of the month if that's the goal. I also have a few options on the best of 2016 list. I'm pretty flexible. :)

The Serpent and the Wings of Night has a map. But its in the 500 page group, so.... Just wanted you all to know about that option.

I was going to read 11/22/63 for the BOM, but that will take a good chunk of my reading time to the end of the month. I feel like the 400 - 499 group of books (of which I have a ton that I'm anxious to read) might be a better use of my time? Captains?

I'm on my phone so can't link, but my book, One and Only works. It's a new release, continuation of a series.

I have Long Shot checked out from the library and can read for the RITA award winner -- but its at home and I won't be able to start until Sunday. I'll wait to enter it on the sheet in case someone gets something read before then.

Sorry I haven't been much help with the Chipmunks so far...I'm away visiting which unfortunately means not a ton of time for reading. But all my other challenges have ended -- so once I get home this weekend, I'll be more helpful.

Tammie, do whatever you want with my book. :) I know green can be challenging.

Tammie wrote: "We missed out on doing DQs for The City of Brass ;(
BOM starts on June 2 if you’re interested-> https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...-..."

I don't really want to wait until July to read Fourth Wing -- If that wins, and I've read it this month, I can still answer questions, correct?

I'm going to be reading . I have it slotted for the mods list, but if we need it for green, I can move it.

Has there been any discussion about working for a color? Also, do the color lists continue all challenge, or end in May?

Adding to the rainbow SS fun... I entered for RT91 blue, but it did not fill in under that task.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 5

1. Have you read the original Island of Dr Moreau book? Or watched any of the films? I only saw the 1996 movie, so, in my head, I keep seeing Dr Moreau as Marlon Brando, Val Killer as Montgomery and Fairuza Balk as Carlota.
I have not read it, and I think I saw an older version at some point when I was a child, but I don't remember details.

2. In the movie, Fairuza was one of the hybrids, although here, she only has "treatments" with jaguar genetic code. Do you think it's just a ruse from the doctor and she is actually the first hybrid? TBH I don't remember meeting Fairuza, so I don't know. (I had a rough time getting through the first section of this book.)

. Montgomery's past was a sad one. And he looks like just a drunk with some natural instincts to protect the innocent. Were you surprised he was considering not to accept the job, and then when the incident happens and he needs to kill the hybrid he decides to stay? We knew he was going to stay, but I will admit that I hope we get a little more explanation about what changed his mind because he seemed pretty set on leaving prior to that.

4. I'm a bit disappointed that he didn't explain exactly how his studies came to be. In a scientific point of view, how is it even possible? We're in the 1870s... way before in vitro fertilization or genetic advances... and he manages to separate and mix genomes, or as called in the book gemmules? Not to mention that the original story was written way before cloning was a thing.... Science fiction. :)

5. So, hybrids are dangerous. Specially when they're still developing, and their animal instincts are overpowering the human ones (in theory, since we had no idea what the level of brain maturity the developing hybrid was). Back in the movie, there is a rebellion and it doesn't end well for humans. Do you think it will be the case here? I think any time you mess with the natural order, you are asking for trouble. I'm hoping it all goes tremendously wrong at some point.

And a bonus, Am I the only one that is sad that we're jumping 6 years? I wanted to see the fall out from the incident. I'm hoping it will be referred to and we'll hear the after effects at some point.

Y'all, I am TRYING to read The Daughter of Doctor Moreau, but it is dull.... Those of you who have finished, please tell me if it gets better?

DQ Day 4
Chapters 22-30

16. The Maxithon, now that was an adventure. Was this what you were expecting was going to happen? What did you make of the fight? I figured they would be triumphant somehow, but didn't see the whole thing coming unhinged! It was a good fight, about what I anticipated with all the different characters that we know pretty well by now.

17. We meet yet another one of the old bands - what did you make of Vanguard? They seem a little friendlier at least than Raff's band. Did you expect them to say no? Or would you have thought they'd team up with Saga? They seemed pretty chill. I guess I thought they would have taken them at least part of the way, but I can see not wanting to get involved in the mess as a whole.

18. Saga seems to have had a rather large amount of unfortunate bards. I can't help but wonder what they're going to lead Kit into, or do you think that maybe Kit will truly be the first ever bard of the band who will actually survive the adventure? Kit is supposedly unkillable after all, so maybe they're going to be lucky? What are your predictions on Kit's life expectancy as bard of Saga? I feel like since he's already dead, he may last a little longer than the others. :) He seems pretty interesting so I think he will fit in fine.

19. Are you enjoying the writing style of the book? What about the story in general? Its entertaining enough that I'm sticking with it, but its not something I would generally continue. I have issues with male writers and what they find funny, but the author is mixing in enough sarcasm and sly remarks that I'm okay with it.

20. The Heartwyld beckons! We are going to get a closer glimpse at this mysterious forest. What are your expectations?I've read ahead a little bit, but kind of feeling everything and the kitchen sink coming at them in the forest.

21. Oh my word, someone went overboard! Over the forest! With the daeva no less. Makes me wonder if the band will be intact for much longer. Or could the daeva potentially not have killed Matrick, or intend to take him back to Lilith so she can kill her beloved husband herself? There was this one moment where it looked as though the daeva may let them be, seeing that they're on their way to rescue someone's daughter, so a noble feat in a world that seems to have kicked Larkspur all her life. Maybe? Yes? No? Am I alone in thinking something like this? I'm hoping for something like that, the band could use a little female kickass.