Ashley’s Comments (group member since Apr 27, 2022)

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

I have (2) 600+ pagers that I WILL finish before the end of the month. I've been slow reading in bed, and I didn't read them at all during vacation, too tired at night!

Finished Chipmunk #106

Finished Chipmunk #128

Completion Verification Post

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

DQ Day 3 Chapters 14-20

10. So we are half way through the book. Thoughts and feelings? Loving it? Hating it? Ambivalent?

LOVE. Absolutely LOVE.

11. Jeremiah gets killed pretty quickly as his signet shows. Do you agree that power can't be allowed?

This is an interesting one. I get why, but I think it should be explored more. What if it could be better controlled with practice? That person could be a massive ASSET as a spy.

11. What's the deal with Andarna? Why do you think 2 dragons have bonded with Violet?

I like Andarna, she's cute! I think 2 bonded with her simply because of the circumstance surrounding the Threshing. I don't necessarily think there's something MORE special about Violet than others, but that she proved herself worthy of both.

12. If you could choose a Signet what would it be?

Maybe summoning! That seems like it could be very convenient!

13. Were you surprised about Amber's betrayal? How about when Xanden completely believed Violet but Dain didn't?

I wasn't. It seemed like she (a) had a thing for Dain, so JEALOUSY played a part. And (b) she was a RULE follower and hated that Violet was always bending them... it's ironic that was Amber's downfall.

The fact that Xaden believed her goes well with his personality and feelings for Vi, and Dain has been a little shit... so....

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?

Xaden - hands down. Dain is just icky.

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?

While it doesn't seem like "cheating" is even relevant to this "competition"... I do think it's odd the professors haven't noticed that only her challengers are getting sick, lol.

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 don't remember them giving us a height, other than the general implication that she is small. I enjoyed "watching" Violet work out this course! I think it shows her cleverness!

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).

I was originally thinking the black one at the beginning, but when the golden one was introduced, I assumed that would be the ONE.

Bonus: If you could have a dragon from any book or movie, which one would you want?
I think I LOVE the little golden one, but I'm also reading Throne of Glass atm, and I love Manon's beast - I know... not really a dragon, but close enough.

Ok, I'll do that one after I'm finished with Red Rising, maybe today or tomorrow.
I added it to the SS!

I dislike "cozy mysteries", but this is a memoir, and I enjoy those!

Would this count? Even though you can't see the whole lobster and it's (way too many) legs?

I'll keep looking. I've been trying to decide if I want to try the Lobster task. Everything I find to read seeeeems... blah...

Ok, I know this is a 400 page book, but the one I just read (Goodbye Earl) has all of these:

Task Set: Tower Teams 2: Lemon Cupcakes
Read a book with a (cup)cake on the cover it's a pie on the cover...
Read a book with flour in the text
Read a book with eggs in the text
Read a book with lemon in the text

my only problem is, I've already returned it to the library, and while I can search and see the text, it's not telling me the page numbers...

Sammy wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Random 10 - X-Box - Read a book related to computer gaming

Did we use my "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" book for anything? It fits, but I don't know what we used it for?"

W..."

It was pretty good! :)

I just started . It was the Winner for Best Debut Goodreads Author (2014)

Random 10 - X-Box - Read a book related to computer gaming

Did we use my "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" book for anything? It fits, but I don't know what we used it for?

Finally back from vaca! Sorry for being so quiet!

I added 2 books that I finished and I started Fourth Wing, since I'm doing DQs... it's great so far!

ETA: I use the official page count, even though my edition is different, yes? Just link my edition.

Qs Day 1, Chapters 1 - 6

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?

First impressions - LOVE Violet - she's badass and I'm looking forward to her progression. I also actually really like Xader... there's something there, and I WANT IT. -- Dain is being a whiny ass. Rhiannon is great.

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 like both, and I think there must be some secret reasoning (besides the obvious hard-ass one) for her forcing Vi into this. I haven't guessed what yet though.

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?

Beyond societal norms, maybe just the super not niceness of a lot of the candidate/cadets. The whole world itself seems really brutal... 400 year war with your neighbors... yikes.

I, of course, would be more like Vi... you know, because I could definitely handle something of this caliber... sure.

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?

Something's up with the dragons... I'm struggling to piece it together. Maybe something with the rebel kids.. hmm

5. Do you think that Violet will survive and get chosen by a dragon? If so, any predictions on what kind?

I certainly hope so... I'm going with a super rare (and important) one... a decerning one, if you will.

Finished Chipmunk 95 :)

Completion Verification Post!

DQs #1: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DQs #2: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
DQs #3: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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?

Man, I wish I could say I do, but I don’t have anything specific that I do to get revved up, other than putting on some good music to sing loudly to.

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 don’t know what’s to come, but it’s likely there is some truth to the idea of premonition here. I think figuring out their relationship is a massive aspect of the novel and it’s very obvious with this reflection.

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?

Seems pretty on-par with standard media treatment… unfortunately. The negativity really sucks, honestly. I think it’s especially interesting when you consider some of the recent history in women’s tennis with the media.

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 feel like there is no real way she’s going to succeed here, but I could be really wrong. The book just gives me the sense that it’s not really about her tennis comeback and more about her personal growth.

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?

This is a great question, and one I’m not sure I have an answer for! Having grown up in this era of sports, I feel some nostalgia. I do enjoy that it’s women's sports that’s being featured.

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 the idea of Bowe, but since we know the baggage Carrie brings with her, I’m not sure how I feel about this relationship. He seems to challenge her, so that's good, and makes the relationship more interesting.

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?

I don’t. I was more into dance, and while that is a sport and physically demanding, inspiring legends were not as easy to find.

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 don’t have high hopes for some grand comeback, as I get the feeling that this is more of a personal growth book vs an “I WIN” book.
I am enjoying the book. I think TJR is great at telling character stories and even though Carrie isn’t likable, she’s more and more interesting.