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

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

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.

I'm halfway through it and will be done by tomorrow latest. I'm enjoying it more than I expected.

Eldarwen wrote: "Vi wrote: "
Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry
Date Read: 19 Nov"

Vi,
this one doesn't seem to be on your Wheel shelf.
Can you add..."

Added to my bookshelf

Claire wrote: "Vi, how did you like Under the Stars? Laura Pavlov is a romance author I've been hearing good things about, and I'm curious.
Thanks"

It was ok for me. There wasn't much of a story to be honest that needed 300 odd pages. There's not much of a conflict, the grumpy and sunshine felt like a tag. The so called climax of the book sucked mainly because I think the author wanted to have some conflict. I've heard great things about this author so maybe I'm not the target audience.

Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry
Date Read: 19 Nov
Pages: 170
Spellout: V(VFN Violet)


Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire
Date Read: 21 Nov
Pages: 368
Spellout: L(CFN Luidaeg), A(August)


Tabitha In the Moonlight by Betty Neels
Date Read: 22 Nov
Pages: 224
Spellout: V (CLN van Beek)


Under the Stars by Laura Pavlov
Date Read: 24 Nov
Pages: 340
Spellout: U(Title), L(AFN)

I've read a couple of Us and Vs but none that had the genres. I will be able to get my hands on The Violin Conspiracy so I am tentatively down for bluegrass

Sorry guys! I've been traveling and I got delayed due to traffic jam on the highway. Thanks Melinda for posting. I was just coming to do it.

Done, Melinda. Thanks!

Hey everyone! Sorry, I've been MIA.


When the Dog Bites: A Madison Revere Mystery by Glen Ebisch
Date Read: 5 Nov
Pages: 170
Spellout: W(Title), E(ALN), G(AFN), R(CLN Revere)


Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts
Date Read: 7 Nov
Pages: 480
Spellout: N(AFN), R(ALN), G(CFN Gulliver), T(CLN Tripp)


Transcend by Jewel E. Ann
Date Read: 9 Nov
Pages: 318
Spellout: T(Title), A(ALN), G(CFN Griffin), N(CFN Nathaniel)


Epoch by Jewel E. Ann
Date Read: 13 Nov
Pages: 283
Spellout: E(Title), A(ALN), G(CFN Griffin), N(CFN Nathaniel)

Book: The Fall of Shane MacKade by Nora Roberts
Date Read: 3 Nov
Pages: 248
Spellout R: ALN Roberts
Spellout S: CFN Shane

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Book: Payback in Death by J.D. Robb
Date Read: 4 Nov
Pages: 364
Spellout P: Title
Spellout R: ALN Robb
Spellout I: Series Name In Death

Book: Roomies by Christina Lauren
Date Read: 24 Oct
Pages: 366
Spellout R: Title
Spellout C: AFN Christina

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Book: Taken in Death by J.D. Robb McMaster Bujold
Date Read: 24 Oct
Pages: 109
Spellout R: ALN Robb
Spellout D: CLN Dallas
Spellout I: series In Death

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Book: A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher
Date Read: 26 Oct
Pages: 320
Spellout S: CN Spindle
Spellout A: Title

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Book: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Date Read: 1 Nov
Pages: 440
Spellout C: Title
Spellout S: AFN Sarah
Spellout D: CFN Dorian
Spellout A: Character Archer

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Book: The Favor by Suzanne Wright
Date Read: 28 Oct
Pages: 388
Spellout S: AFN Suzanne
Spellout D: CFN Dane
Spellout H: CFN Hope