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

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

Judy wrote: "Ahhh Vi, that's making me so excited to start my reread soon. I have to finish a couple more books before I'll let myself get into it. Really hoping I can get through the whole thing in this round!"

It was a fantastic read. And the best thing is with the latest book, I heard the first arc will be completed. The author is reliable. Unlike say, Rothfuss, where everybody has kind of given up on the third book. Such a pity as I've heard great reviews on the first two in the trilogy.

I finished my tome - The Way of Kings yesterday. The pace picked up towards the end so I was alternating audio and kindle as I didn't want to put it down. It should definitely work with some of the mini-challenges. I will check and add it to the spreadsheet.

Taking a break today as I am recovering from finishing the book yesterday. The ending both was fantastic but also missed/disappointed me a little. A little difficult to find the next read to follow this...

Christina wrote: "@Vi I see you've read 10 books since wheel started and with less than 21 hours to go this round I will just grab 7 (which is your individual cap) now for max points. Please make sure they're all on..."

Thanks Christina. I was late from work yesterday and I was just about to check the spreadsheet. I won't be finishing Way of Kings today but most likely for tomorrow. Since I have my laptop now, I will be more regular in updating the spreadsheet from next round onwards.

Sorry everyone, been a little MIA. I also need to update the spreadsheet - I was not able to until now as my laptop was off for repair. I've got it back now so I'll do it tomorrow. I also think I may have read more than 7 - it was a slow week at work.

Ah, I was mistaken. Sanderson has the first 7 hours (i.e Part 1) in his youtube channel. But The Way of Kings Prime an alternate version is what is available in the channel (and everywhere).

But I am really enjoyed the audiobook so far - the narration was great. I'm just sorry that I waited so long to start it. The number of pages was daunting but I had forgotten how much I love tome fantasy and Sanderson's works.

How's the reading going everyone?

I have started The Way of Kings in audio this week -to listen during my commute and it's been great. The audiobook is available for free in his youtube channel and that's amazing. Kinda regretting not starting it earlier.

Anyway, I think it'll take me 2-3 weeks at least to get thru this book so can I use it in the later rounds regardless of when I started it?

It seems to happen to me all the time!!

I've started my first book and wouldn't you know it wasn't actually a planned book of mine!

Judy wrote: "I had some of the most stressful minutes of my life when the train system was down and I had to find a taxi from Utrecht to Schiphol while the Harry Styles concert was at the Arena 😭 not easy to get one when all these parents are preoccupied with making sure their 13 year old daughter is going to be 2 hours early! It ended up fine and I made my flight but for a while there it was touch and go 😅
"

Oh my, the train system downtime is increasingly frustrating in the recent times. My second day at work, the first train was late and that set off a domino effect and I ended up getting late to work. Glad you made it back in time!

Christina wrote: "Vi wrote: "Christina wrote: "Vi wrote: "Hi team, I'm Vi. I live in Netherlands (Hey Christina!) now. I have two kids (10,5). I read mostly romance, fantasy with a bit of SF or Mystery thrown in.

T..."

Haha. People experience Utrecht when switching trains. Hope you had a good time here.

I didn't know you were a fan. I love her songs.

Christina wrote: "Vi wrote: "Hi team, I'm Vi. I live in Netherlands (Hey Christina!) now. I have two kids (10,5). I read mostly romance, fantasy with a bit of SF or Mystery thrown in.

The group name is really apt f..."

Oh sorry, my response didn't go through. I live in Utrecht, right in the middle of the country. Have you been to Utrecht? It's really a beautiful city.

Hi team, I'm Vi. I live in Netherlands (Hey Christina!) now. I have two kids (10,5). I read mostly romance, fantasy with a bit of SF or Mystery thrown in.

The group name is really apt for me. I just started working after 5 years and my commute with public transport is close to 2 hours one way. By car, it can take anywhere between 45 mins to 1,5 hours depending on the traffic. This is a long commute (for me). Now I've started exploring audiobooks to read during my drive.

Let's all have fun this round!

Shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Oh thanks Melinda! I've just signed up. This will be my first UNO challenge.

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins
Date Read: 16 Dec
Rating: 3 stars
Spell-out: E(CFN Emmaline), A(CFN Abby), P(CFN Prudence), N(Neal)


Saturday's Child by Betty Neels
Date Read: 16 Dec
Rating: 3 stars
Spell-out: N(ALN), S(Title), A(CFN Abigail)

I managed only a book last week so..

Codename Charming
Pages: 382
Date Read: 8 Dec
Spellout: P (ALN Parker), S (CFN Sylvie)

For a change, posting on time:


Lady Violet Enjoys a Frolic by Grace Burrowes
Date: 28 Nov
Pages: 224
Spellout: V(CFN Violet), L(Title)


The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
Pages: 345
Date: 30 Nov
Spellout: V(TItle)
Genres: bluegrass (Loc 2050: Bohemian gypsy and bluegrass players using very loose bows)
DQs: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3


The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire
Date: 2 Dec
Pages: 368
Spellout: L(CFN Luidaeg), A(CFN August)

DQ Day 3

9. I don't know how I feel about the school basically milking Ray owning a Stradivarius and him having to do an interview without even getting asked to do so. I personally would have preferred to keep it private, at least for a while. What are your thoughts on the situation?
I find it very distasteful that he wasn't even given an option. I would want the whole world to know that his family neglected violin was a stradivarius.

10. I can see where Ray's family is coming from wanting to sell the Stradivarius and divide the money, but they never showed any interest in the violin even though it had been in the family for a century, and Ray's grandmother gave Ray the fiddle for Christmas. He had to take care of everything surrounding it and his school/education himself, and he never even had much money to begin with. Would you be selling whatever in your life might turn out be worth this much money, and would you feel like your family was entitled to fair shares?
I was thinking about this too. The fact that they didn't have an interest in playing should not be held against them but then they should also let Ray be - after all he put in the most effort, he's playing against all odds. Maybe a supportive family would have but I never got the vibe that the family is supportive of him.

11. Another family claiming ownership of the violin - it was bound to happen. On one hand I'm surprised they're suing Ray for the Stradivarius since I doubt they can prove the fiddle was stolen in any way, but on the other hand the odds clearly are against Ray. And now his family is suing him for the violin as well?! Who do you think is the rightful owner of the Stradivarius?
It's very bold of a slave owning family to claim that violin. Given that they are still rich, (even thought it's a lot of money), wouldn't it better to acknowledge and use it as a point of connection - even though nothing could ever be possible as a reparation of that act. His family - nothing new to add. Just adds tremendous respect to him.

12. We've been introduced to a lot of different people (whose names I don't even all remember) and they all (most of them anyway) seem to have different reasons to possibly want to steal Ray's Stradivarius - greed, jealousy, racism,... it's all there. Do you have any more guesses of who's behind it all?
I guessed Nichole but my motivation guess was wrong - I thought she might be the granddaughter planning a betrayal.

DQs Day 2

5. 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?

I am not Christian or American so we don't do either of those. Sadly, no unusual family traditions though I wish we had!

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 really couldn't understand his mother or her motivation. I get how weird it will be having a child who is so unlike you that it is not always possible to understand. But you can definitely support them. It was so jarring - asking your eldest to stop studying to better his future just to better your superficial quality of living. But maybe I'm too harsh.

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?
I think it's the latter. But also providence - he got the recognition from the right person at the right moment.

8. So... 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 more of a link to his grandmother and the faith and the support she provided him as long as he could remember. It's an emotional connection to possibly the only adult in his family who believed him always.

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?

I cannot even imagine owning a 10 million dollar anything. But this started off a spree of googling and reading up on stradivarius violins and wow, they are going for crazy prices. I've lost things that are far less than this and it takes me a while to come out of that loop. Honestly, I only can't understand why he didn't lock it.

2. At this point in the book, when/where do you think the Stradivarius was taken?
Definitely in the hotel room when he didn't look but not sure where or by whom.

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?
No, not really. The whole thing is so rare, it's hard to believe it could be anything but money.

4. It's eluded 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 if anything, it should be more appreciated. It's hard to achieve when there's a strong racial prejudice. The whole family thing is something I just can't believe.

I finished a V, reading a V now and the next will likely be a L/A. I'll see if I can squeeze another one but it's doubtful.