Vi’s Comments (group member since Jun 04, 2011)

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

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 was young during the 90s and I remember being mindblown when I knew about women players - sports was not just for men but women can also excel. It maybe that it wasn't really special but it feels like it was for me.

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 how he perseveres to play, seems to have a healthy (in comparison) perspective. I think it's good for Carrie to be around him to help her grow.

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?
There are too many people to list them all but it was people who changed/questioned how it was done or how gracefully they handled their win/loss that I remember most. Sportsmanship and standing up (esp for women players) or being confident - these were the things that really inspired me.

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 felt like in terms of win/loss she may not, but in terms of character growth, yes she will. I'm enjoying it far more than I thought I would.

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?
Carrie Soto is the first book by this author. I’m of mixed expectations - the blurb doesn’t make the heroine sound appealing but people rave about the author.

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’m not enthused about her tbh. I felt like she gave up or maybe accepted the limitations of her body. She didn’t have any other consultation of anything.

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?
He may have had great intentions but he definitely didn’t think through. No ice creams or a social life or an opportunity to build social skills. They seem more comfortable now so that’s good

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?
Yes, she’s so very awkward with relationships as her father wouldn’t talk about it. She didn’t have any other bonds with other people, generally focused on being the greatest only.

MN Lisa wrote: "Vi wrote: "I'm not sure what happened but the book I finished for chipmunk disappeared. Can somebody help to add? I'm traveling and my internet connection is not really stable - [book:The Best Man|..."

Thanks Lisa!

I'm not sure what happened but the book I finished for chipmunk disappeared. Can somebody help to add? I'm traveling and my internet connection is not really stable - The Best Man. Date finished: 12 July
Chipmunk: loc 1066: and a chipmunk peeped and ran across the narrow path.

Hm, my next book The Best Man has both heron and chipmunk so if it's open by the time I finish, we can use it.

Wow, we are going through the wheel task pretty well. I'm not able to help with the Wheel task at the moment as my reading is sporadic and slow but hopefully I'll be able to pick up sometime next week.

I am about to start The Fine Print but as it's a 400+ I think it'll be better for the main tower.

I have a short book with a cupcake on cover. I'll finish it by the weekend.

Honestly, I'm confused after their explanation. Haha

Does 'under' count as a direction? If yes, I have Under the Stars on my TBR.

MN Lisa wrote: "I don't think anyone should feel bad or worry that they can't help with any of the challenges. Reading is about all I do in my spare time and I specifically pick shorter books so I can get through ..."

Well said Lisa. I was wondering how to phrase it too. I followed that for the Wheel this time - less than 300 pages since I can finish them in a day or 2. Anything longer takes me longer to finish and also, I want to use them for the main page tower.

Yeah, that's what I thought too. I already read Magic Claims for Gryffindor so that won't help. We then need another book for Hufflepuff.

Nanci wrote: "Happy Sweet 16 to your daughter, Kirsten! Also, gracias for reading for our princess and Rogue.

Happy 4th of July to all our American teammates and Happy Day to all!

I am making my Wheel book, [b..."

The MPG is still the main page genre - the genres shown when you click more but NOT show all (when it goes to the big list of all the shelves). Fourth Wing will not work for that Wheel task unfortunately. But it's good for our main tower - we always need 500+.

@Suzanne: Do you think Shards of Honor will work for Hufflepuff? The MCs have the qualities but also of Gryffindor. If this is filled, then we can get a new set of Wheel tasks.

@Elinor: Have fun with your cousin!

@Kirsten: Happy Sweet Sixteen to your daughter!

I have also started Kingdom of Needle and Bone that will work for MPG Horror or MPG Dystopia so we can adjust based on the 4th book in the task.

I don't have any objections.. It may work out for the new wheel task. If we get the new whee I can maybe plan my next read around it.

Shannon, don't be. Every book counts and it matters that we have fun as a team.

Thanks for the summary, Suzanne. We will do our best and have more fun with the TT.

Jackie wrote: "I think this book might work for princess and rogue task.

The Demon King

The male MC is a thief and the female MC is a princess.

Someone let me know if it works."

But the male MC is not really protecting the princess, right? I'm not familiar with the trope but I thought it was the rogue protecting the princess...

I just got this book - which may work for this. I was saving it for the rainbow tower as it's a yellow cover.

Can somebody familiar with this trope comment?

I can't do 1000 page but I've lined up 500 pagers. I'm really having fun with you all and just want to see how far we go.