Vicki’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2018)

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

Tammie, I think the confusion is in this challenge I have to post the Kindle version; in Turf Wars I have to post the first/top book that pops up. So I actually did read the Kindle version (most of the time I do) and it was 323 pages. I moved the one shelved to that version so the page count matches. I will let you fix the highlighted part after you've checked it to make sure all is well.

Tammie, assuming you marked my page count for Before She Knew Him, I'm not sure why. It is 323 pages like it's posted. I had the first book marked because Turf Wars requires the first edition, so maybe that's why but I changed it to the Kindle one. Let me know if there's something else I need to fix.

I only made some deviled eggs and a fruit salad this year. We have a huge variety of foods this year! Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, ham, mashed potatoes, rice, beans, fruit salad, shaved Brussel sprouts salad, broccoli salad, mimosas, green bean casserole, mac n' cheese, rolls, raspberry white chocolate cheesecake, Oreo pie, chocolate chip cookies, GF brownies, apple pie, peach cobbler, ice cream, drinks, and some of us have signed up for setup and/or cleanup. I think there will be 22 of us there, but it could be more. Those are the for sure ones so it'll be a good time for us for sure.

I'll see what others do with leftovers because if there aren't leftovers with that much food, that's bad! lol One of my granddaughter's boyfriends manages one of the Texas Roadhouse restaurants here so he often brings good stuff too. For my last birthday we had entire meals from Texas Roadhouse, including my filet mignon and the rolls I love from there! Yummy! I have to get back on my healthy eating on Friday without a doubt! lol Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates it, and those who don't, I hope you also have a wonderfully blessed day. :)

Tammie wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I'm back, Tammie :( I don't know why I keep having to pester you. I had forgotten to do my DQ #3 for Violin Conspiracy, so I did them tonight and went to post them but it came up #REF..."

Oh, good! I seem to always cause trouble but in real life I am an angel! :)

I'm back, Tammie :( I don't know why I keep having to pester you. I had forgotten to do my DQ #3 for Violin Conspiracy, so I did them tonight and went to post them but it came up #REF and didn't calculate my points. I read it during round 3 but finished the questions this round. It was listed under round 4 so I changed it to round 3 thinking that might be why, but it didn't make a difference.

DQs Day 3
Chapters 13-19

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 thought it was out of place and none of their business to force that out of him before he was ready, if ever. I didn't like how they went about it at all.

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?

Heck no, I wouldn't sell it if it had so much sentimental value attached to it! I have a china tea set that my grandfather gave to my grandmother for their wedding and it's well over 100 years old. My mother was born in 1926 and it was her mother's. It is worth quite a lot of money, but I'd never sell it! I'll pass it down to one of my daughter's. I also have a necklace that my father had made for my mother for their 50th wedding anniversary and it's a gold medallion surrounded by 50 diamonds. I RARELY wear it because of its value, but again I won't ever sell it even though it could take care of some bills. It goes down to my niece, then my daughter, and on through the family as it's already been determined who gets it and when. I think family is only entitled to shares they have "earned." So in a case like Ray's, NO.

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?

Most definitely, Ray is the rightful owner! The family is greedy and doesn't care for the violin at all. Money is their soul reason for wanting it so no way should they get it, especially via a lawsuit.

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?

Yes, I do because I already read the book.

When you told me that I had two books for spiritual and two books for folk, I took one off and I was going to use it for the book that I had to remove because I read it too early. I’m not sure which other book it was in, but if you have spiritual then go ahead and use it and if I read my book 1st and I find spiritual, then I will use it. If that makes sense lol.

OK, I'll just be extra cautious from here forward and make sure I don't' do that again. Thanks, Tammie. :)

Tammie wrote: "Vicki wrote: "Tammie, I held off on reading my book Don’t Cry for Me but according to the countdown, I was able to finish reading it after 9 o’clock this morning so I finished it. I added it to the..."

Just one more time for clarification: if the SS countdown timer says we have one hour left in the round, then I cannot finish and post a book in the following round for 4 hours from that one hour left that round? Is that accurately stated?

I never read that, but live and learn. That really sucks! Lol Sorry I didn’t know that. I would have waited and gotten us those points. Now I know!

Tammie, I held off on reading my book Don’t Cry for Me but according to the countdown, I was able to finish reading it after 9 o’clock this morning so I finished it. I added it to the round four sheet, but does that mean it isn’t going to count? I took a few days to read it just so that I could include it for this round lol

Tammie wrote: "Nice job on getting our bonus words claimed!!

A couple of things I see...
Rebecca...I'm pretty sure polka-dot won't work...hyphenated...I'm checking

Vicki...I see you've got 'spiritual' and 'folk..."

Ohhh, you're right! LOL You always have my back, Tammie. Thanks. :)

DQs 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?

I have to admit that we don't have a lot of "traditions" from year-to-year. Each year is something new and I can't think of anything unusual, unless that's unusual.

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?

My guess is that it's both, but more of wanting his focus to be on something that's more likely/not as difficult to earn money. The music industry isn't an easy one to break into.

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 feel like it's a blend of both. In real life, I do think that some people are never able to overcome barriers but others will never give up until they succeed and I think that's Ray's attitude.

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?

I think the monetary value plays a part, but not a significant part. I'm pretty sure the main reason he'll never ever sell it is due to it's sentimental value which has no price.

Tammie wrote: "

It's time to explore the many varied musical forms from around the world.

Find these musical genres in your books! You need to find the exact word (see below and yodelling caveat), and you need ..."

So I am reading a book and it has "white folk" in it - that works for FOLK?

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 wish I could say I've had the money to have something that expensive that I could've lost it! lol I don't recall ever losing anything of real value, not even sentimental value, but of course I've misplaced things and I do go crazy until I find it. I always retrace my footsteps as best as possible. I assume with something that valuable I'd at least have it insure and probably hire security guards but I'm not sure Ray had that kind of money.

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

I kind of suspected that one of his more trusted people took it. I don't think it was the housekeeper, but it being taken sometime at the hotel makes sense.

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?

That's always a possibility, but I can't imagine what else it could be besides the money. So, no, I doubt it. I do believe that it's very hard when you're in tune (no pun intended) with something such as a specific violin that not having that exact piece you've practiced on and been familiar with can really throw you off. IF someone is trying to mess up his competition, that's possibly one reason they've stolen it and the money is just the cherry on top so to speak.

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?

He should most definitely be proud! My gosh, he's an incredibly gifted musician and he's put in a lot to be where he is and where he is going, so he should absolutely be proud.

Kate, enjoy your vacay!!!

Tammie wrote: "I did some SS checking yesterday...if you see a bright blue highlight in one of your posts, please check your book.

Highlighted in mod check means it's not on your shelf yet
Highlighted in the pa..."

After last round when I had a couple books that I ended up not reading for that round, you said I had too many on my shelf. So I have just been adding them to the Wheels shelf as I finish them for this round.

Fixed my one page count error. How on earth did I get 320 when it was 398? lol Tired, maybe?

DQs: Day 3 ~ Chapters 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?

I think it's very possible that his uncle was testing him in a way. Who wouldn't do what they could to make sure someone was ready/capable to take over? I don't know what it all means to be honest.

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?

Unfortunately, for most people, I do believe that's a true statement. A good friendship isn't worth chancing the risk of ruining it in my opinion. It's far too difficult to separate the two relationships.

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?

I wasn't surprised because we already knew of his journalistic career. If anything about my opinion changed, it would be that I gained more respect for him.

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?

I also loved the section with the dolphins. I love dolphins in general anyway. But I also love Hera's character, so the I loved that part of the book too. Oh, and I love how he talked with his cat. We always talk to our dogs so that's definitely touching.

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?

These questions are a little difficult for me because we just had to put our dog down on November 1. Jazzy was 14 years old and she was a Bichon Frise. She was always right by my feet or my side. She never did get into things like chewing our shoes or clothes. But she would always get under my feet when I was at the computer on Goodreads and often unplug my computer and mess me up! lol If she had been sentient, I think she would have possibly taken off with some of my more valued items and felt the silkiness or furriness of things. She was ALWAYS laying right beside us!

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 love how calm Charlie is and that he handled things so well after the fire. He seems to know how to handle tragedy well. If I found out my uncle was a supervillain I would think it was super cool...IF I believed it.

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'd love my villain lair to be set up in Banff National Park in Canada. We visited there last summer and it is beautiful! Lots of waterfalls, places to hide, beauty to see.

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?

No way do I think it will be real. (Well, I've already finished it, so that's the way I felt at that time.)

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 absolutely loved this section, especially the dolphins. But, no, I am not gifted with humor enough to come up with something so fun and witty.

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?

This is my first Scalzi read, so I don't really have any specific expectations. I just hope that it's good and I like it.

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 assume he probably is to a degree. But overall I have a really positive impression of him and I think I am going to like him.

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 am not a cat lover, never have been so I know nothing about them and their characteristics. The only real interaction I've ever had with cats was my aunt's MEAN grey, fluffy, hissy alley cat. I think that naming a pet after a mythological character might be indicative of an intelligent, well-read owner. Then again, I have a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in Education. I have named my pets (dogs) after names that simply reminded me of their character: Buddy, Rocky, Yenta, Jazzy, and Kitsy. I have never even thought of a mythological name and I always loved mythology.

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

OMG!! I would probably have a heart attack! But when my mother-in-law died, she left us enough money that we were able to pay off our home, buy a brand new Highlander, pay off some other debts, and it enabled me to retire the end of that school year. That was blessing enough!