Preeti’s Comments (group member since Sep 26, 2021)

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

Shelby wrote: "I would say yes and you should absolutely read it cause it's FABULOUS!

EDIT: Say that you had it added to the spreadsheet as read. :) Marked it brown."

Thanks, Shelby! And I agree, the entire series is superb. Murderbot is one of my all-time favourite series and characters.

Hi. Does this book cover count as brown? Thanks.

Day 2: Chapters 7 - 12

5. His mother and Aunt Joyce had gone to the store - ostensibly because they needed more collard greens, but in reality because one of the biggest family traditions was to keep Aunt Joyce out of the kitchen.
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?

We have never had any unusual family traditions. However, for me, Diwali was never proper Diwali unless I got to eat the absolutely awesomerava laddoos and Mysore pak (traditional South Indian sweets) made by my grandmother and my aunt. Sadly, my grandmother passed away quite a few years ago and my aunt, over time, has stopped making as much of these items as earlier (I can understand it as they are quite cumbersome processes). Nobody from my generation knows how to make them as well even though I have attempted them many times and will continue to do so. They are still the standards to which I measure everybody else’s preparations.

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?

At first glance (and second and third…) I got the feeling Ray’s mum is all about the money. I don’t think she is even remotely aware of her son’s desires or the problems he faces on a day-to-day basis. When Grandma Nora gave the fiddle to Ray, my guess is that the only thing Ray’s mum and her siblings were worried about was that this was an item being taken out of what they considered their inheritance.
I would like to think that Ray’s mum is so opposed to his love for music because she knows that he will face a tough time attempting to break into this highly controlled world. The realist in me thinks however that she is more worried that she will lose an income stream.

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 that it is both. Again, in an ideal world, hard work, dedication and talent would have been the only requisites to achieving greatness. Sadly, this is not so and many times, one needs doors to be opened before one can prove one’s mettle.

8. So... PopPop's old fiddle might be a Stradivarius, but before the appraisal Rowland offers to buy it for $25,000 dollars. Ray refuses, declaring
I'm not selling it. Ever
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?

What a rascal! I can understand though as the man is running a business and not a charity. I do appreciate Rowland for accepting Ray’s refusal.
Ray is very attached to the instrument, in my opinion, not only because of his great love for his grandmother who was one of the only people who supported and encouraged his love for music but also the relationship he has built with the instrument. I think most artists develop these intense connections to their tools of trade until they become extensions of the artists, almost part of their bodies.

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 would have been devastated if it was me in his place, particularly as this was an item that was stolen from him not one he lost.
I have had things stolen from me (my house was burgled while I was on holiday) and more than anything it felt like such a violation of my privacy. The things that were stolen were not of great monetary value but had tremendous sentimental value.
I realise that there is only that much Ray could have done in a hotel to keep his violin safe as sadly most hotels only have a tiny safe but the thing that had me greatly surprised was that he didn’t lock the case itself. I was surprised that he would not take this basic precaution knowing full well not only the value of the item but also his connection to it.

2. At this point in the book, when/where do you think the Stradivarius was taken?

While we are being directed towards the period when the hotel employee was alone with the violin case, I don’t think that was the time nor the place where the theft took place. Firstly, it was much too short a time and secondly, Ray’s being surprised that the violin was in the living room and not the bedroom had me believing this took place somewhere else even if Ray tried justifying where the violin was to himself. The violin was definitely with him in the evening and disappeared sometime between then and the next morning during which time he went out for dinner probably carrying the violin case with him wherever he went.

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?

The ransom note does lead us to believe that money is a motive but I don’t think it is the central one. Violins of that pedigree are so rare and valuable that they tend to get tracked worldwide. It would be very difficult to dispose of the violin even taking into account private collectors. There is definitely something more insidious going on and my guess is that all will revealed slowly but surely.

4. It's alluded 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?

Yes, Ray should very much be proud of his accomplishments. In an ideal world, his race, gender, family background etc. should not have affected people’s perception of him as a musician at all. Sadly, in the world we live in, these things do so both consciously and unconsciously.
The way I look at it when somebody from a specific sociological category achieves something great, sometimes it is important to appreciate it, not to highlight the category, but more as a beacon to other people from similar backgrounds to let them know such things are very possible and not just dreams.

Vicky wrote: "Ohhh good question! I think the extra Os would be more beneficial for this round. The page counts will probably equal out. :)"

Excellent, then I will list them as separate books when I am done with them.

Reading: The Violin Conspiracy (Title starts L - Z)



Listening to: Rhosymedre by John David Edwards and Three Preludes on Welsh Hymn Tunes by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Connection: Rhosymedre is referred to several times in the book. I have been making a note of all the music mentioned in the book and plan on creating a playlist to listen to after the book is done.

New spin: 100-250 pages

Hi. I have a question about a book that I am reading. It is an omnibus that includes the first 3 books of the Penny Green Victorian Mystery series by Emily Organ. I can access both the omnibus and the individual books. Is it better for our scores that I read the omnibus which gives us an O and a large page count or the individual books which have shorter page counts but give us 3 Os? Thanks.

Vicky wrote: "Preeti - we can still use it for the author's name with the T initial!"

Thanks! I don't know how I managed to miss that. I will put it back on the spreadsheet in a little while.
I started reading The Violin Conspiracy for the BOM Q&As and that also works for the musician task.

Vicky wrote: "Preeti wrote: "Hi. I have a doubt. When it says non-fiction doesn't have characters, would the person on whom the biography is based also not count?"

That is correct that they also do not count. K..."

Thanks, Vicky! I will take the book off the spreadsheet and search for something else. It is a good thing I only just started the book.

Hi. I have a doubt. When it says non-fiction doesn't have characters, would the person on whom the biography is based also not count? The reason I am asking is that the book I have listed on the spreadsheet (M. S. Subbulakshmi: The Definitive Biography by T.J.S. George) is about a famous Indian singer called M.S. Subbulakshmi. Besides her name, this book doesn't work for any other letters. Thanks!

Oh, I am so sad... I listened to an audiobook with a title starting with O which featured a musician and that I really enjoyed, but sadly, the audiobook is less than 3 hours long.



I am adding the book in case anybody else is looking for a short and cute read to get you into the Xmas spirit! Sadly it doesn't work for most challenges due to the length, but it has some lovely instrumental versions of the popular carols at the end of the track.

Vicky wrote: "Round 4 Clean-Up

A few clean-up tasks, some of this is what Shelby posted a few posts back but just to get it all on one post:

@Preeti
-Please add Magpie Murders to your challenge shelf. :)..."

Done. Sorry for the bother!

I finished my last book (Starter Villain) for this round as well as the Q&As and have updated the spreadsheet.

I am going to start reading my book for the next round. I will be reading the biography of an Indian classical musician so that works for the round 5 bonus.

M. S. Subbulakshmi: The Definitive Biography by T.J.S. George

Preeti’s BOM Participation Post:

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Day 1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 4: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Day 5: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

DQs Day 5, Chap 24 - End

17. Charlie definitely came a long way towards leaning into the supervillain vibe before it was cruelly snatched away again. How about you? How would you decorate your supervillain lair?

Oh, I’ve had the design for my lair ready since I was 5 years old when saw bits of the Bond movies and fell in love with Blofeld’s lair. Of course I had to update it after watching Die Another Day. That ice hotel is so much more up my alley. I would definitely have more gadgets but not to the extent that the entire place couldn’t survive without them.
(By the way, in case anybody is wondering about the lair thing at 5, I had decided that I was going to be a “destroyer of villains”. I was going to be the guy who destroyed the baddies using any and all means, and of course, needed a safe haven to go to between missions where I could read, eat snacks and generally chill. If the villains could have a fancy lair, why couldn’t I!?)

18. How did you feel about the ending? Right? Too convoluted? Predictable? Needs more cowbell?

I kind of predicted and, to an extent, hoped for one bit. I was sad, however, that Charlie didn’t get to move on up the villain scale. I hope that the author decides to write a sequel. I would love to see what happens to Charlie, the cats, Morrison, the dolphins (and whale) next? For example, are the Cetacean Association of the Americas Chapters One and Two still running?

19. If this was your first Scalzi, will you go back for more? If not your first, where would you rank this one compared to others you read?

This was not my first Scalzi and will definitely not be my last. I enjoyed Old Man’s War and want to go back and read the entire series as well as a few more books. I can’t rank the two books that I have read as they are very different from each other.

20. And finally... Cats. Do you have any? Are you under the delusion you own them, rather than the other way around? If you don't have cats, is that because you're wise to the fact they they are indeed evil supervillains intent on taking over the world, or some more mundane reason?

I have, sadly, never had any of my own cats. Maybe some day! I am of the opinion that humans fool themselves into thinking they “own” cats. It is absolutely the other way round. They are plotting to take over the world or rather take back the world. My reason for not having cats is a boring one, my mum was never too keen on having pets.

DQs Day 4, Chap 18 - 23

13. Well we now know what happens to Jacobs. No shark death for him! Were you surprised about how all that went down? Do you think all of those men (Dobrev, etc.) are dead?

I had to rewind the chapter and listen to it again to make sure I got it straight, that’s how surprised I was. I am completely at sea as to what to expect next.

14. "Humans do a good job of making outcasts." Do you agree with this statement?

Yes, absolutely! With all the numerous talents and skills humans have learnt and created, one would think we would be more inclusive but we seem to have this great desire to build walls to divide. “Divide and conquer” is the perfect example! The optimist in me, however, believes that that had its time and that the positive forces in the world will rally around and make the world better.

15. Was everyone else as entertained as I was by the first Zoom call? There are times I'd love to do stuff like that at work.

That was one of my favourite bits in the book and one I could picture very clearly. During the lockdown, I had to assist my dad with organising an online course reunion via Zoom. The entire first hour went exactly like that!

16. What did you think of Charlie's response to the attack on Jenny's Bay? Settling in to his super villain role?

This was Charlie showing his true mettle! Go, Charlie! 📣 (Is it obvious I am now a big fan 😁)

DQs: Day 3, Chap 12 - 17

9. It seems like the whole book is a test of Charlie’s character. Hera’s conversation with Charlie is one example. Charlie suddenly asks if Hera and Persephone like him. She says they were sent to watch him, but they like him because Charlie chose to take them in and treated them well. Do you think the book is portraying a series of tests from his uncle? What do you think it means?

That is what I thought of in the beginning, that the entire thing was going to turn out to be a test Charlie’s uncle had set up to see if he was truly worthy to take over the businesses. From a story point of view, this is an excellent way for us as readers to get to learn more about Charlie and his personality.

10. “Business is business. It’s different from respect and friendship.” What did you think of this statement? Do you agree with it or do you think these things can’t be separated?

While I agree that there needs to be a boundary between the professional and the personal, I don’t think business without respect could ever be truly successful.

11. Charlie was quick to pick up clues on the Lombardy Convocation members. What did you think of his assessment? Did it change your opinion of him?

The cats having taken to him as well as his intelligence were signs to me that Charlie had a lot more going on with him that was being shown to us. This was an aha moment where we get to see his hidden inner depths. I already liked Charlie a lot but now the respect for his abilities increased.

12. There has been a lot of great banter in the book so far. I have to say I think both parts with the dolphins were my favorites. What has been your favorite line/quote, or your favorite part of the book so far?

If I was reading a physical copy and tended to highlight favourite lines, I can safely say that they majority of the book would have been a nice bright yellow by now. There were so many excellent lines that I sadly not note down as I was listening to an audiobook. I am definitely going to get myself a physical copy or an ebook at some point of time just so I can read it again. My favourite thing more than the actual words was the timing which, in my opinion, was perfect.

DQs: Day 2, Chap 7 - 11


5. We learn Hera and Persephone are both sentient cats. My cats love lying next to me and staring at my computer screen (when they’re not stomping all over my keyboard), so I can picture a cat using a computer vividly. What mischief would your pets come up with if they were sentient? Even if you don’t have pets, what mayhem do you think could happen?

I am completely convinced that cats around the world are plotting to take over the world and have only not been able to do so because of the lack of opposable thumbs. But that they have managed to train humans to do what they want shows me that that is no longer an issue. I will not be in the least bit surprised if one day, they do take over. My aunt’s cats definitely had that look about them like they was some serious strategy-planning going on under their sometimes grumpy and sometimes cutesy faces. 🤣

6. Charlie seems to be surprisingly chill about going along with everything happening, from sentient animals to attempts on his life to being whisked away to the Caribbean. Does that make sense to you, with how his life was before the book started? How would you react if you found out your uncle was a supervillain?

I got the feeling from the very beginning of the book that Charlie is very much a go-with-the-flow kind of dude. I think that he is a smart guy to not overreact to things around him but rather wait for things to become clearer before reacting. I would like to think I would be equally chill under similar circumstances.

7. Although travelling there was a bit of a hassle, St. Genevieve sounds like a pretty sweet place to be. Where would your ideal villain (sorry, process disruptor) lair be set?

I have always though an island would make the best lair and would probably go with that. And I agree with not having too much technology. Depending too much on technology has been the downfall of too many organisations and I would not want to be in that state. Plus it is less likely for a laidback, easygoing island to be identified as a secret lair.

8. We got a list of more or less exciting options including sharks, so: what is Charlie going to decide? How is Jacobs going to “die”? Or might his death end up being a real one after all?

I agree with the sharks not being a good idea…not a very easily controllable situation. Somehow I get the feeling that is a precursor to something hinky coming up soon in the book.

Bonus question: The (soon to be striking) dolphins have, uhm, quite the vocabulary. Any favorite insults? Do you want to give coming up with some creative insults a shot yourself?

I adore the dolphins. They were so funny and I loved all the crazy statements they made. I do tend to be quite creative with my insults mostly because I had much younger cousins and now have nieces and nephews whom I don’t want to curse in front of. Of course, this has backfired at times. My dad decided, for some completely unknown reason, to teach my 3 cousins (they were 8, 7, and a little less than 2 years old) the phrases for “son of a donkey” in Tamil and Kannada which went completely awry because my youngest cousin at the age of 2 decided that they were her favourite phrases and started using them quite liberally in public to call all sorts of people. The only thing that prevented us all from being beaten up was that she looked like an absolute doll, a tiny little thing with big eyes and long sausage curls.

DQs: Day 1, Chap 1 - 6

1. I'm so excited to be reading another John Scalzi book with you all. He has quickly become one of my "always read" authors. Is this your first Scalzi book? What are your expectations?

I read Old Man’s War and loved it. I was hoping for similar levels of humour and am not disappointed. Added to that is Wil Wheaton’s awesome narration.

2. What are your first impressions of Charlie? Do you think he is using his sad life events as an excuse to coast through life easier as his siblings and attorney seem to imply? Do you relate to him so far?

I think Charlie has been dealt quite a few bad blows that he hasn’t entirely recovered from. He seems to be making an attempt at getting a hold of his life. He does seem to be a really nice guy as shown by him going back home to look after his dad as well as his looking after the cats. That the cats like him and trust him is a sure sign to me of his being a good person.

3. “When people name cats, they usually do it in one of three categories: food, physical characteristics or mythology,” Morrison explained. What do you think Mathilda imagines Charlie's choice of "the goddess route" says about him? What sort of name would you choose and what do you think that could tell someone about you?

I love that quote! It makes so much sense. I think the names Charlie has selected point to his erudition which makes me like him even more. I have sadly never had pets of any kind. When I was small I had decided that when I grew up I was going to have 3 basset hounds called Washington, Wellington and Worthington. I have no clue what that says about me… I just liked the way those names sounded.

4. What would your reaction be if a rich, but estranged family member left you a huge inheritance?

First, I would be very surprised, shocked even, and then a bit suspicious expecting it to be a scam. But assuming it was all above aboard, it would be a mixture of sadness that I never got to build a relationship with this person and gratitude that they thought of me.

Luckily, the books I picked up last week at the library that I have not yet read all have titles or authors' names that start with O.