It feels almost like second-nature for me to praise Taylor Jenkins Reid’s stories. She is notably my favorite author and has captured the spots for my absolute favorite books with her novels Daisy Jones and The Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. As I work my way through her bibliography, I continue to be amazed by the nature of her storytelling. The dedication she puts into the research necessary to create the immersive experience of her novels is astounding. The pacing of her plots are addictive and her characters elicit everlasting empathy and support from any reader through Reid’s adoring prose. Reid understands a plethora of different worlds which makes her stories so valuable to consume. With each novel of hers I consume, I gain empathy beyond what I could ever understand or experience for myself through her characters tangible emotions and histories placed in Reid’s well-researched sectors of society. These statements are deeply present in her novel Carrie Soto is Back. Carrie Soto’s character wrestles with the effects of striving for superhuman greatness. Her arc also serves as an insightful reflection of the way women are treated in sports media, especially focusing on the contrast between the expectations of men versus the unreasonably limiting standards for women. This story is a stellar read for any athlete/sports fan and/or fan’s of Reid’s woman-centered fiction.
Random House Book Club shares novels to those subscribed to their newsletter along with A Book Club Guide of questions to encourage the discussion and engagement of important stories. I thought I would share my thoughts on some of the points of discussion to compliment my reflection/review of Reid’s novel.
Carrie sees tennis as a world of winners and losers. What do you think of that view? How can such an outlook be beneficial, and how could it be detrimental?
My personal take on this view is that it is ultimately damaging for an individual’s character. I do not think it’s ultimately healthy for one to define themselves by results. Self-worth should be intrinsically recognized, not defined by external factors. This outlook could be beneficial when facing the cutthroat pressure of sports media on women as well as a challenging parental expectation as it creates an overwhelming push to work harder knowing that your self-image and definition is on the line. However, like I primarily stated, this outlook is ultimately detrimental because although it manifests a strong motivation, it is rooted in a toxic mentality which will ultimately not bring fulfillment. I will refrain from referencing moments in the novel to support my ideas as to not include spoilers in this post!
The tabloids were vicious, leading Carrie to posit, “I should never let on how much I wanted to win or, worse, that I believed I deserved to win.” What’s your take on how the media in the novel presented Carrie’s story?
My take on how the media in the novel presented Carrie’s story is that a great majority of her coverage was projected through a lens of unequal and unjust expectations for women in her field. A man in Carrie’s position would not have been criticized the same way she was. A man is allowed to speak out and be a vicious victor. However, it was made clear throughout the novel that women were expected to be something else for the sport. Carrie was often criticized for her appearance while the same media praised her opponents because they were skinnier, blonder, sweeter, and quieter. The sports coverage in the novel expected women to be gracious and kind. In order to fulfill this image, women like Carrie could not be angry without being judged and could not act like a “warrior” expecting victory in the essence of destiny. That sort of independent security and power was reserved for the men of the sport. To find out more about what the media had to say about Carrie Soto and how she landed her nickname “The Battle-Axe,” give Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Carrie Soto is Back a read!
McVerry Well Read 