Maritza’s Comments (group member since Jun 08, 2014)

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

What other colors do we need to finish some rainbows. I see that one is missing a color but don't know which.

Can this be used for yellow or bright yellow cover?


By the way this is an awesome book. Should be finished by tomorrow.

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 actually read Malibu Rising and have the others on my TBR list. I really enjoyed the author's writing and am expecting to love this book. Also the reviews have been great. PS. I was right am totally enjoying and burning through this book.

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?

Usually I don't like brassy women but Carrie is different. From an early age she placed hig expectations on herself and was able to accomplish her goals. She went out due to her body's limitations and surgery. I think she is the same person who expects the best of herself but I think she will change as she gets back into the swing. I lime her and her character. She is unapologetic but able to back herself up.

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 love their relationship and the way he was able to step back and the step right back in. Yes, she was harsh with him earlier on when she went with a different coach. But he loves her and will always be there for her.

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 thought that Brandon was familiar. I think that ths absence of her mother and her dad being single did influence her. Shs has not been around a relationship between husband and wife. I am sure shs will meet someone who will let her see what it can be like.

Melissa wrote: "Maritza wrote: "Hi guys, would you say this cover looks brown?
"

Definitely brown."

Okay thanks

Hi guys, would you say this cover looks brown?

I have Carrie Soto Is Back and didn't even know it was a BOM

2023 Goal - Working on getting to 80% Feedback Sent

Start of Month
Books on shelf - 46 (161 Approved / 113 Feedback Sent)
Feedback Ratio - 70 %

Approved 2023

Approved 2022

Approved 2021

Approved 2020

Approved 2019

Approved 2018

Approved 2017

Approved 2016

           
End of the Month -
Reviews - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Books read in 2023 - 10
Books read in 2022 - 16
Books read in 2021 - 12
Books Added -
Feedback Ratio - 71%

Melissa wrote: "Maritza wrote: "Got a copy of the backroom BOM"

I've never tried one!.... Intriguing....."

Got a copy of the backroom BOM

I have about 8 books I have started but can't finish.

These are my BOM duscussion links. I noticed they are not on ss and I don't know how to link.

Finished The Daughter of Doctor Moreau here are links to BOM discussion
Day 1 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Reading a light yellow book.

Finished The Daughter of Doctor Moreau here are links to BOM duscussion
Day 1 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Can fit parent child relationship.

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 18

10. I've noticed Carlota's perceptions are often described using non visual cues: she hears a lot, and even smells Montgomery behind her bedroom door but then dismisses the idea. After her attack, she finds herself noticing that "Her fingers, in the mirror, looked very long, the nails almost too sharp and the eyes...". Do you feel Carlota ever questions her own nature as a human/hybrid or is she too ingenuous to do so? Do you also feel the author is using alternate senses and, if so, as clues for the reader or red herrings?
At this point, we know she is a hybrid but she doesn't. She is not capable of thinking of herself as a hybrid based on the way she looks and how she was raised,

11. For much of this part, I felt Montgomery was conflicted regarding his feelings for Carlota. He "writes" to his wife using what I felt was a brotherly perspective only to realise, a few lines and drinks later, he could not resist kissing her if she were there in that moment. What did you make of this change of heart and do you find his various missteps bring something to the story?
Based on their isolation and closeness he has developed feelings for Carlotta but loves Fanny.

12. We're already halfway through the story - Doctor Moreau and Montgomery are both complex characters. Am I alone in thinking Carlota and her hybrid friends deserve to be more thoroughly fleshed out and layered?
I don't think so as the story has to do with Carlotta and Montgomery.

13. What did you make of the scene where Carlota loses her virginity by the cenote - did her reaction seem natural to you or did you find yourself questioning her fearlessness? In your opinion, if Carlota is herself a hybrid, what effect might that have on their progeny?
I don't think that relationship will last as she is anchored to her father and the hybrids.

14. There's a storm brewing as the hybrids plan to join Juan Cumux and Carlota attempts to retrieve her father's notes and formulas. Do you think the hybrids will remain subservient once they remove themselves from Doctor Moreau's influence or could the story turn dark?
If they leave all ties will be broken.

My book The Daughter of Doctor Moreau will fit 43. Hope to finish by tonight.

: Day 2, Chap 6 – 11

6. As Sonia noted, we jump six years. Do the characters, especially Carlota, feel six years older? Do you like books that have time jumps or would you have preferred to see Montgomery get used to working in his new jobs? (Sonia already asked about the fallout but feel free to add that here).
I think that the jump is good as we need to see an older Carlotta. I like to see books jump so we get a follow up on characters and how their lives change. She still seems young and naive as she is mostly influenced by her father.

7. Do you like the method of telling the same scene from both points of view? Is there one point of view you prefer?
I like multiple views as you get a sense of how those involved are feeling and viewing what is going on.

8. And we have the start of a love triangle. What do you think of the two young men and Carlota’s reaction to them?
I'm holding out for a romance between her and Montgomery as they would challenge each other.

9. So far these feels very much like a historical fiction book with relationships being forwarded over the science and hybrids. Do you agree, and were you expecting that?
Yes, going on the movie I saw this us the way the story would go.

Bonus: If you were part critter, and didn’t have the health concerns, what species would you prefer
Ape as they are strong and intelligent.

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've not read it as yet but will be doing so at some point in the future. I never read the original but I saw the version with Brando. It was beautifully made although I don't remember much. Need to look it up and rewatch.

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?
--- There is something strange with her but still don't know what. It could be the condition she grew up in and is living.

3. 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?
--- I was sure he would accept as I think this is his last option. I feel sorry for him but at the same time I am rooting for him. I like the underdogs.

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....
--- There are a lot of things from the past that seem advanced but I think that the modern day scientists build from what they read and hear.

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?
--- Just like the Planet of the Apes what you build and manipulate will likely turn on you. The hybrids are constantly changing and learning and they seem to rationalize quite well.

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.
--- Yes, I would have liked a scene where we could see how it affected the hybrids and everyone involved.

Should be finished tomorrow with my bling book


Can someone add page count. It's 308 pgs as per amazon
Lethal Wedding

I have book with bling on cover.

My book i just finished has 5 people on cover. Will that for for 3 people?