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

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

I agree with Jackie and Keli. We had awesome captains. The SS was super organized and the mini-challenges too without being overwhelming. It was an awesome experience for all of us.

Thanks Suzanne for your hard work. I'm astounded at our numbers this month. We've read almost double the required books. Wow!!

I just finished my last book . I've read about 1000 pages (two books) in about 3.5 days.. which is the fastest. And I've also read double what I've signed up for in the TT. I never imagined I could read so much books in 3 months.

Being on such a wonderful team has motivated me to read beyond what I imagined and also try new books/authors. I'm so glad I was part of this team!

Thanks Suzanne, Lisa and Shannon for your efforts in making our team run smoothly. I'm going to miss our team and the challenge.

Yes Suzanne. That is ok with me.

Yes, these are my last 2 books for this challenge and . Both 500+ and I'll probably finish just under. I can't believe we only have a few days left!

Will this work for night sky?

DQ Day 3 Chapters 14-20

10. So we are half way through the book. Thoughts and feelings? Loving it? Hating it? Ambivalent?
I’m finding it fun. Lots of eye rolling moments, sure but otherwise fun. The love triangle - way too predictable and annoying but the dragons save it for me.

11. Jeremiah gets killed pretty quickly as his signet shows. Do you agree that power can't be allowed?
Nope. There should be ways to control the power and to read with consent or under duress. I can’t believe they would kill someone with that kind of power.

11. What's the deal with Andarna? Why do you think 2 dragons have bonded with Violet?
Not sure.. When that dragon came, I knew Violet will have something to do with it. But that was too easy/predictable. I’m predicting in the future books that she will grow to become a strong dragon and Violet will end up with two signets (or have a supplement power)

12. If you could choose a Signet what would it be? https://www.julesbuono.com/fourth-win…
I can’t open the link but I would love mending as a signet.

13. Were you surprised about Amber's betrayal? How about when Xanden completely believed Violet but Dain didn’t?
Hm, not really. It was all too expected too with the way book the book is set up. At least, the author didn’t drag the triangle too long.

DQ Day 2: Chap 7- 13

6. This section starts with two scenes with each of the male love/lust interests. The comparison of them continues very clearly. Do you like Xaden or Dain better or neither?
Not sure yet but Dain is irritating

7. Violet uses alternative methods to survive the fighting challenges. Do you think that counts as cheating or using the resources available? Do you think she is aware that she only has this information because she comes from a privileged background and her sister count sneak in it? Do you think one of the professors should have noticed after 5 rounds?
It was smart but it wouldn’t really improve her fighting skills right? I’m not sure how no-one noticed either. It was fairly obvious. I think she’s aware but not really aware of the privilege aspect.

8. The obstacle course is straight out of American Ninja warrior (and other similar TV shows) including ending with the giant ramp. Did you enjoy this section and how Violet figured out working with her height limitations? Have they told us how tall she is? (Though in real life, the shortest person to make it up the wall has only been 5’1” – I just Googled it).
I enjoyed it. I also liked how she figured it out even with a small penalty.

9. Finally, we meet the dragons. Was it all you were hoping for? Did anyone guess the black one when it was first introduced in this section? (Also, I am not taking the fall seriously at the end of my section since we still have 2/3 of the book to go).
A little bit. The violence was gratuitous though.

1. As someone who grew up with the Pern books, I love diving back into a world with dragons and dragon riders. And this one has extra bonus Gryphons, apparently!
Do you have any first impressions of the main characters (Violet, Dain, Rhiannon, Xader) and the world building? Do you want to know more?
I get you on the Pern aspect. That was the major draw for me too. Well, Dain love interest #1 but will not work out because Xader bad boy love interest #2 will end up with Violet. Rhiannon the BFF. I’m not sure how to categorise Violet yet.

2. What do you think of Violet’s mother and sister? Any idea about why her mother chose to order her to the Rider Quadrant instead of the Scribe Quadrant?
I liked her sister but the jury is still out on her mother though I’m not really favourable about it. It seems like an ego issue so far as the Riders occupy the highest strata.

3. The brutality of the selection process and the casual acceptance of murder is something else. What do you think the purpose of it is? (If there is one beyond societal norms.)
Would you have given your boot to a stranger?
I don’t get it either. Why can’t there be a net or something to catch? And the people who couldn’t make it go to some other quadrant?

4. So this is a world at war, but at the battle briefings at least, they don’t seem to know why the outer provinces are currently attacking the borders. Any ideas about why this is happening?
No ideas yet but obviously they’re holding a lot back.

5. Do you think that Violet will survive and get chosen by a dragon? If so, any predictions on what kind?
Yes, otherwise the book wouldn’t exist. And obviously the biggest, baddest dragon.

Thanks, Lisa!

I finished Last Night's Scandal that will work for MPG Humor. We can use it to finish off the Wheel and get another spin.

It also has: "who was pushing a bit of cake about her plate" but doesn't say she or anyone else eats it.

MN Lisa wrote: "I did an audit on the Pages vs the Mini-Challenges. If we are using a book for Wheel, that has to be Free Choice. Based on that, here is where we are for Page Counts:
400-499: 12 out of 30 complete..."

I have 2 (or 3) 400+ and 2 500+ (Fourth Wing and 1 another). I may squeeze in a 600+ or another based on what I read. I will focus on the main tower and wheel will be only if I can find smaller books that fit.

Great reading team! Thanks for the summary Suzanne and Lisa!

Yeah, I wasn't hopeful either of the chances of us getting seeing the number of volunteers.

DQs - Day 4 - The 1995 French Open (76%)

14. At the end of The French Open Section, can you feel any character development in Carrie? If yes, in what ways do you think she may have changed? Also has there been a change in your feelings towards her? Still dislike/like her or not any more?
She’s definitely grown since Chapter 1. She’s processing her limitations better. I respect her more - I mean I agreed with her earlier when females athletes especially were expected to be too humble and confidence was seen as bragging (or Bitchy).

15. There are some hard lessons for Carrie to take away from Paris and some vital discussions between her and her dad as well as between her and Bowe about parental expectations and expectations from one's own self. Do you think Carrie is ready to accept the different POVs and use them to her own advantage?
Yes, I liked this aspect of the book and while she may not accept it immediately, I think she’s slowly working towards it.

16. This is what Carrie Soto is thinking of her opponent Ingrid Cortez while playing against her in Paris: ... she has a burden I have never had. In order to keep getting paid, she has to keep looking beautiful on the court. I wonder, briefly, if it weighs on her. Or, if, conversely, it frees her from the pressure I live with, the pressure to win. Either way, it’s a prison. Both her beauty and my ability—they’ve both got an expiration date."
This reflection struck a chord with me. Building on what has been previously discussed about media pressure and also how men and women athletes were/are still treated differently, what are your thoughts on this issue?
I totally agree with it. But it’s a prison one accepts I think. But to be a professional athlete in top ranks, you need to have a drive to win or to perform.

17. Do you have any other quotes that "spoke" to you (in any part of the book up to the 75% mark) or you made a note of for further reflection?
Yes, there were a couple that I can’t find now. I loved when she said how the media expected her to respond vs their reaction when she was honest/confident. I feel that’s relevant to a large extent now too.

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.