Judith’s Comments (group member since Apr 15, 2015)

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

Added Rebecca's direction book, pulled a couple shorter banked books.

We need 1 more direction book and the Grim Reaper/DEATH character task. The rest are filled.

Rebecca wrote: "I have a directional book-Going Down by Jayne Rylon that I can start tonight. I’m at work right now otherwise I would add it to the spreadsheet"

I added it for you. Just check it's the right edition/page number :)

A monster is finished but I’m not on the computer to spin for a new one.

If someone wants to spin, have at the wheel of your choice

Judith's BOM Tracking

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 - Wimbledon 1995 & The 1995 US Open

18. Nature vs nurture. Carrie has her issues with tennis, but her real struggle is with relationships. How much of that do you think is due to who Carrie is innately as a person and how she was raised?
I think it was how she grew up and the trauma of losing her mother so young. But growing up in a bubble world where relationships are skewed from 'the normal world' certainly played a large part.

19. I don’t know much about tennis, but I found myself really enjoying the matches as they are described. I got so pumped up while Carrie was playing! Did you find all the tennis terms, both during and after matches, to be a hinderance or did you enjoy getting immersed in the sport through Carrie’s eyes?
I think there were enough terms to make it feel like a legit match but enough other descriptions that I wasn't confused with what was going on.

20. Carrie Soto, the star of our novel, has been seen previously in a TJR novel where she was a minor character. TJR seems to enjoy connecting her books which makes me wonder… could her next book be about one of the minor characters we’ve come across in Carrie Soto is Back? And, if so, who do you think it would be?
It would be nice to see Gwen's journey but it wouldn't surprise me if TJR is ready for something completely new.

21. ”But right now, in this moment, I love this drugstore cologne more than I love the smell of Wimbledon grass or California oranges or the rubber of a freshly popped can of tennis balls. This drugstore cologne is my home.”

I really loved this quote and it made me start thinking about some of my favorite smells. What are some scents that you love? What scent would be your home?
Oh yes, the power of smell. Not to be super creepy but the way my son smells after he's been playing outside. I smell the top of his head and if I had to describe it, I would say he smells like sunshine and grass. I'm going to enjoy this until he hit puberty and 1) doesn't let me smell his head any more and 2) just stinks like all preteen/teenage boys.

22. And, finally, how did you like this book? What was your rating? Would you consider reading more from this author if you haven't already?
I gave it 4 stars. I wouldn't rush to go read another of hers but I wouldn't not read it either.

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 matured and sometimes you need your clock cleaned for your own good. And I think that's what happened in France. And she's letting Bowe in some and Nicki. So I think she's growing personally and professionally while not becoming a completely different person. Carrie will never frolic under a rainbow with unicorns and puppies, if TJR did that to this character it would just be silly.

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?
I do, I think that last game on the clay reinforced she can't just power through because she's not 25 any more. She's got to play smarter, not harder.

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?
A male athlete could crash land on the roots of the ugly tree, be dumber than a box of rocks, and wear sweatpants to every event he goes to and almost zero people will comment on it in the media. Women will get picked apart for all of it and in a way that always strikes me as bizarre some of the worst will be said by other women. There will always be men who are gross commenting on the looks of women the same age as their daughters and that needs to change as I think it comes from a mindset that they have the right to objectify every woman they lay eyes on. But when women do it, it's usually for no other reason than to get a sound bite by being mean. That is also gross.

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?
The comment Nicki made to Carrie about if she'd been nicer to other on tour she'd have people to play with (re: she'd have friends)

DQs Day 3 - The Australian Open (58%)

9. Gwen sends Carrie a gift the start day of the Australian Open…a Discman! The first song it plays is ‘The Bitch is Back’…I love this album. I immediately went to play me some Elton John tunes😊 Do you have a song or routine that gets you revved up…sets a tone to put you in the right state of mind?
90's music mostly but I do love some Lady Gaga and Imagine Dragons too.

10. Reflections--
Carrie thinks…I inhabit the silence of this moment with my father, when we are still asking questions and do not yet have to live with the answers. What do you think she means at this moment in time with that comment?
"Te quiero mucho, pichona," he says.
I open up my eyes, "I know. I love you too."
Javier and Carrie both have many reflective moments throughout these matches… Is this a premonition of what’s to come with the open or even more in the future?
I'm a bit worried about Javier and hoping nothing happens to him health wise. Their close and I'm glad they found their way back together again.

12. We hear from the media in various forms throughout. What are your thoughts about some of their comments so far? Do you believe any of them have affected Carrie or the game? I was thinking about this especially when Gwen indicates Elite Gold was pulling back some of their ads prior to the French Open. Gwen has a role in her job with managing all of this…what are your thoughts about the impact of media and advertising with sport?
I just think it goes hand in hand and that's where the money is with sports and even music. Though touring is a big part of money making in music too. It's all endorsements and I can see using retired greats for advertising becomes problematic when the athletes no longer decide to be retired.

13. Carrie’s been doing some very smart training thanks to her father. She’s been practicing in recent weeks with Bowe on clay and Bowe has challenged her, calling her a ‘quitter’. And here at the end of this segment, she’s just had a challenge from Nikki Chan. Is she going to win? Is Nikki? What do you anticipate happening in Paris?
I don't necessarily think Carrie is going to win that's too Cinderella and there's 2 more Slam tournaments so it would be weird for the story for her to win. Carrie might have a better showing though than she did in Australia. Or maybe she falls on her face. I'm wondering about Nicki's injury though.

Lexi wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "

Found one that'll work and it short, I should be able to get through it either tonight or tomorrow."

It has a subtitle so ..."

You can ignore the subtitle

Aoife,

Can you add Doom with a View to your TT shelf?

Thanks!

April wrote: "Judith wrote: "April,

When you get a chance can you add a read date to Breathless with Her, GR didn't record a date. Sorry!

Thank you!"
Is it fixed? It says July 4th on my end but it wasn’t on m..."

Yes! Thank you :)

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?
The fame and commercialization I think was starting to grow more then and just reach a different level then in previous decades. Maybe? I don't know. Also some of the gender disparities are harder to brush off than if it was, say the 70s. Don't get me wrong, it's still really bad. But not in a way that will get anyone in trouble or called out for their comments.

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)?
Clearly in sports, yes. Friends, also yes. Romantically . . . does she even really want a romantic partner? I'm sure they will be by the end just because. But sometimes I read a book with an MC like this and wonder why the author just can't leave her be. What's wrong with being by yourself?

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?
Magic Johnson and Greg Louganis peak players of their sports and helped normalize and educate people about HIV in a way I don't think an million discussions in health class would of been able to do. It was crazy in the late 80s and early 90s. People wanted HIV positive people banned from even going to the grocery store.

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'm guessing it's not going to go as well as Carrie hoped for, or likely even as well as it should of gone. If it did, it wouldn't be an interesting story. I'm liking it better than Malibu Rising and it's a easy read which has been a nice break from some of my recent books.

Logan,

When you get a chance can you add Calculated in Death to your TT shelf?

Thanks!

No, A, the, other articles all count

April,

When you get a chance can you add a read date to Breathless with Her, GR didn't record a date. Sorry!

Thank you!

I can do Bones on Ice

So if someone has a book that starts with Ice or ends with Burn we have our ladder.

I can find something, but will leave it in case someone has something that fits.

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?
I've read several of her books but not Daisy Jones and the Six. I'm expecting a character driven story that will make you think on some social issues but ends with a happy ending. Though maybe not the happy ending you initially thought was going to happen. Also a lot of soap opera level drama.

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 sure she knows how to be happy. She's not a likeable person but I understand how she came to be that way.

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?
I'm hoping it's actually in the healthier place it seems to be. I think he was doing the best he could from day to day in the beginning and it took on a life of its own and he didn't see the emotional damage until it was too late.

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?
Her sole focus has been on tennis and winning. What role model of a healthy adult relationship has she seen? And a relationship would of meant prioritizing something either on par or above tennis and she just wasn't there. She's jaded and that's understandable considering how she grew up.

New Wheel Task, will take some coordination:

Read four books that form a ladder, connecting at least the last three letters of the first book to make the start of the next book (all words count). e.g. The Red Queen > Queen of Babble > Bleak House > Use of Weapons

Mahi,

Can you add Yumi and the Nightmare Painter to your TT shelf when you get a chance?

Thanks!

Just a reminder to the team that BOMs have a standard page number for everyone reading the book during the challenge period. This is used regardless of the page count of the version actually read.

Apparently, Fourth Wing has a wide, wide range of page numbers depending on whether you read the e-book or physical copy of said book.

Don't worry about it if you already read the book, the captains will check to make sure the proper page count is entered.

Os are almost always a need!