Likely Stories - Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you’ve read Malibu Rising, another one of Reid’s amazing books, you had a glimpse into who Carrie was. Carrie Soto is back takes that small glimpse and gives a whole back story to how Carrie became the star she is. Carrie Soto, also known as the “battle axe,” is the best tennis player of all time. She holds the most Grand Slam titles, that is until Nicki Chan, a new and young tennis star, ties with her. Carrie has been retired for years now, but she just can’t sit and watch her title be taken away that easily. Even though she’s retired, she decides to make a comeback to defend her title.

The book is in a then and now perspective and allows the reader to look at how she became the tennis player she is and the process of her comeback. Carrie Soto became the tennis star she is because of her father, Javier Soto, also known as the Jaguar on the tennis court. The father daughter relationship is a huge part of this book. As the book goes through Carrie’s life, the reader sees how valuable the relationship to her father was and how his coaching had a huge impact on her character as well as her tennis career. He is who encourages her to make her comeback and reclaim her title of most grand slams.

Her father compares her to Achilles from Greek Mythology because he was ruthless, hard-working, and craved glory just like Carrie Soto. She knows she’s the best tennis player and doesn’t pretend her hard work didn’t get her there. She’s genuinely a very unlikable character and it feels crazy to say this, but it’s what makes me like her. Carrie Soto is real. On the outside, she’s this intense and victory-hungry athlete, but as you read you get a look into her thoughts and see her flaws. You see every side of her, the arrogant side and the emotional side.

One of the many things I love about this book is how it examines the difference between women in sports and men in sports. As men are praised for their confidence on the court, Carrie is looked down upon for the confidence she exudes, she gets her nickname the battle axe from this. When women were asked about their victories, it was expected of them to be bashful and contribute their wins to luck, Carrie does the opposite of this and is proud of the hard work she put in the get where she is.

Prior to reading this book, I had no knowledge of tennis or really ever cared about the sport. Reid was able to bring me into an entirely new world and make it interesting as well as understandable. If you a sports lover or love a strong female main character, you should totally pick up Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

THIS TITLE IS AVAILABLE IN FORMATS FOR THOSE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT'S - YOU CAN FIND IT HERE VIA THE 'NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND AND PRINT DISABLED.’

RECENT EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Likely Stories - Killers of a Certain Age

I am a huge James Bond fan, and never missed an episode of Charlie’s Angels as a pre-teen growing up. A story about women my age who could still fight, run, plan, take action, and do all the things they did in their early years really appealed to me.

Likely Stories - My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The book that I'm reviewing today is challenging. It was an unsettling read, and I thought about it for weeks after I finished it. I hesitated to recommend it on Likely Stories. But these difficult books catch our attention for a reason, they are important to talk about and examine.

Likely Stories - American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott

War is hell. And what comes after war, when soldiers return home, is often its own version of torment, one that takes exceptional patience and grace from everyone--those who love the soldiers as well as the soldiers themselves.

Likely Stories - Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison

I’ve been reading a lot about Saturday Night Live lately, for a couple of reasons. First, I talk about the show when I cover the history of television in my Introduction to Mass Communication class at Baylor, and I like to keep up with what’s going on with SNL. Second, Saturday Night Live just celebrated its 50th anniversary, so there’s been plenty written about it in the last year or so.

Likely Stories - The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

In nineteen-ninety-five, five college friends, distraught over the suspected suicide of their friend and haunted by the question “would Alec have died had he known how much he was loved?” enter into a lifelong pact to hold living funerals.

Likely Stories - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Many times on public radio, you hear folks say, “Long-time listener, first-time caller.” Well, that’s me! I’m Maggie McCarthy—a long-time listener of KWBU—bringing you my, hopefully, first book review on Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - Spencer's Mountain by Earl Hamner Jr

A true story of a family’s deep love and incredibly difficult struggles in rural Virginia during the Great Depression becameone of the most beloved television shows of all time.Welcome to “Likely Stories.”I’m Diane Kemper.

Likely Stories - The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World by Peter Guralnick

‘The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley and the Partnership that Rocked the World’, sheds new light on the infamous Colonel Tom Parker and his sometimes questionable choices in managing Elvis Presley's career. I'm Kevin Tankersley, and this is likely stories on KWBU.

Likely Stories - A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith

Welcome to this week’s installment of Likely Stories on KWBU. My name is Gia Chevis, and I confess that I watch what is probably an unhealthy number of cozy murder mystery shows, mainly British and British-adjacent. I am absolutely the target audience for A Case of Mice and Murder, the first novel in Sally Smith’s newish detective series.

Likely Stories - Thirst by Mary Oliver

In Thirst, Mary Oliver invites us into a quiet conversation between sorrow and faith, where nature and grace meet in every line.