REVIEW - The Lost Story ebook

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (ebook)

 

OVERVIEW

This is the second book written by Meg Shaffer. Her first book, The Wishing Game, was one of my favorite books of 2023. So I was very excited to read her next book! This book, The Lost Story, is definitely my favorite book of March 2024. 

This book is hard to describe without giving too much away. This amazing book is like a fascinating combination of The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan, but isn't those books. Of course, my favorite Music Goddess, Stevie Nicks, is liberally spread throughout!! What's not to love???

This book took a few chapters to set up which is what I expect in a great book! But, once it got to the meat of the story, I could not put this book down. It was that good. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Meg is an amazing writer. It is shocking how good her writing is as this is only her second book. I predict a long writing career in front of her and hope to enjoy her beautiful books for years to come.

My favorite part was all the clues, bits of beauty, and interesting pieces that Meg spreads like fairy dust throughout the book!

This book would make an amazing series or movie! Fingers crossed!

Character development: 5.0 stars

The four main characters - Rafe (friend), Jeremy (friend), Emilie (younger sister), and Shannon (older sister) are the primary focus of the entire story. 

Rafe's mom, Jeremy's mom and dad, and "The Storyteller" are the secondary characters. 

There are also a few tertiary characters who help move the story along. 

*Please note that I am not sharing much detail to avoid spoilers.*

Storyline:  5.0 stars

Rafe and Jeremy, best friends, disappeared for about six months in Red Creek Park. Unfortunately, they have no contact after their return.  

In the ensuing fifteen years, Rafe becomes an artist and Jeremy finds missing persons. Emilie tracks down Jeremy and asks him to help her find her missing older sister. Then the story takes off. 

My favorite part of the storyline was the diversity of the characters including LGBT+ folks. 

The main location was "West, by God!, Virginia!". (inside joke from the book)

Memorable/Informative:  5.0 stars

It was unique, fun, and full of fantasy. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous.

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Very appropriate. 

HIGHEST recommendation

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (ebook)

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer 

336 pages 

Ballantine Books

Release date of 07/04/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Meg Shaffer

My Goodreads review

Ballantine Books

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

Happy reading! 📚

Dorothea 💜

DNF - Not Your China Doll ebook

Not Your China Doll by Katie Gee Salisbury (ebook)

I will not be finishing this book, unfortunately. I have been reading this book for over a week and only read 100 pages. 

The book is dense, plodding, and just too full of details about other characters that Anna May meets as an actress. Yes, many of them were famous, but I wanted to know about Anna May. 

This book just didn't work for me which doesn't mean it won't work for you! 

Happy reading! 📚

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Here's The Story audiobook

Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

Growing up, I loved The Brady Bunch and Friday night television on ABC. It was THE night!! I read this book hoping to learn some background information about The Brady Bunch cast and their interactions together, but I was disappointed. I knew little about them as individuals as this was all before the internet. Sadly, I learned very little about Maureen, Marcia, and her castmates, but much of the book was about her faith. It was almost too much religion for me. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 2.0 stars

The writing could have been better. Maureen could have used help from a professional ghostwriter. 

Narration: 3.0 stars

The narration was blah. There was no real feeling and this was Maureen's life, trauma, and experiences. It was as if she separated herself from what she was reading and was emotionless. 

Character Arc: 3.5 stars

Maureen comes off as cold, lost, and scared before her mental health issues are diagnosed near the end of the book. Sadly, much of this is learned behavior from her family of origin.

She writes the book in a very chronological manner which flows very nicely for the reader. I wish there was more of Maureen's later life as this book was published in 2008. 

Memorable:  3.0 stars

Maureen had a rough time growing up in a very dysfunctional home while being a childhood star. This would scar anyone as this is a huge issue with child actors and truly needs to be addressed.

One thing that seriously grated on me was Maureen's use of the word, "retarded" to describe her older brother. Since the book was written in 2008, I hope that she now uses more appropriate terminology. 

Entertaining:   3.0 stars

It was not entertaining at all. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

A beautiful portrait.

Book title: 4.0 stars 

On point! 

LUKEWARM recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick

HarperAudio

5 hours, 58 minutes

Release date of 01/01/2008

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Maureen McCormick

My Goodreads review

HarperAudio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading 📚, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick

For some reason, I forgot to post this to my blog. I started this book a couple of days ago.

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 Not Your China Doll by Katie Gee Salisbury

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Lovers at The Museum ebook

Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This was a VERY short novelette or even short story about the discovery of two lovers in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. It is a weird, supernatural story that only the incredible Isabel Allende could or should write. It reminds me of the La Mariée painting by Chagall which is so crazy that it is beautiful!

It was funny, at times, and extremely quirky, but an easy read. This short story has an opportunity to be a full-length novel and I hope this happens. To be fair, I have loved everything that I have read by Isabel Allende. She is one of the greatest Hispanic and female authors of our age. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Isabel writes so incredibly with such passion and description. Yet, her stories and books read so easily that you can imagine the book in your mind. Isabel's writing is pure poetry for all of the senses.  It is a perfect style for this type of story. 

Character development: 4.0 stars

There were three characters - Bibiña (female lover),  Indar (male lover), and Aitor (investigating detective).

Of course, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao was a secondary character.

A lot was missing from the story including the couple's relationship afterward and the detective's future discoveries in the museum. 

Storyline:  4.5 stars

Bibiña was discovered in a wedding dress and Indar was in his birthday suit in the locked and secure museum by a cleaning woman. Then the incident was investigated by a detective. There are secrets in the museum almost as if it is sentient. 

The above storyline is a complete novel just waiting to be written by Isabel Allende.  

The main location was the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain.  

Memorable/Informative:  4.0 stars

It was just a unique and escapist short story! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous.

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Very appropriate. 

DEFINITE recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Amazon First Reads Kindle ebook

Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende

25 pages 

Amazon Original Stories

Release date of 04/01/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Isabel Allende

My Goodreads review

Amazon Original Stories

Amazon First Reads - December 2023

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The House of Hidden Meanings audiobook

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

I knew very little about RuPaul, but I loved the idea of spotlighting drag performers like him in his television shows even though it is a reality competition. After I had started this audiobook, I saw and heard some disturbing commentary about the transgender community by RuPaul which concerned me. 

I liked this audiobook, but I didn't love it! It could have been so much more including RuPaul's addiction recovery and journey and his healing from his traumatic childhood with his siblings. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was good and much stronger than in a lot of memoirs. It was raw, real, and very intense. RuPaul's young childhood was so horrible that I am shocked that he and his siblings made it out successfully.

Narration: 3.0 stars

The narration, at times, was very upbeat and exciting, and at other times was somewhat bland and boring. It was as if RuPaul changed his reading style to match his feelings while reading the narration. The narration could have been more consistent for my taste. 

Character Arc: 3.5 stars

RuPaul comes off as a warm, thoughtful, and focused individual. My only complaint is that he is a diva with a superstar complex, but that is the only way one makes it in the entertainment business. 

He writes the book in a very chronological manner which flows very nicely for the reader. I only wish there was more of RuPaul's later life including addressing some of his controversies and his breakthrough in television. 

Memorable:  3.5 stars

The disco/punk/new wave club scene in New York sounds like a crazy time in 80's New York City. RuPaul and I are very close in age so I could understand his frame of reference. 

Entertaining:   3.5 stars

I only wish I knew the backstory of the people, places, and bands that RuPaul talks about. Being a West Coast kid was a disadvantage concerning Atlanta and New York City. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

A beautiful portrait.

Book title: 4.5 stars 

Very appropriate! 

Recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul

HarperAudio

7 hours, 7 minutes

Release date of 03/05/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

RuPaul

My Goodreads review

HarperAudio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading 📚, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende (ebook)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

REVIEW - The 24th Hour ebook

The 24th Hour (Women's Murder Club series) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

OVERVIEW

This is the 24th+ book in the Women's Murder Club series. I have read all of the novels/novellas in this long series. 

The story is about the police, district attorney, and medical examiner's triumvirate of law enforcement in San Francisco with three good friends. Plus, the added drama with another friend who is a reporter.  

You should read the previous novels in the Women's Murder Club series to get the full backstory and understand the characters. Or not.

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 3.0 stars

The writing is just blah to me now. It has been a long series with more than 24 books and novellas. The writing feels very formulatic and it appears that James Patterson doesn't even write these books anymore. Instead, he has an "assistant" writer, such as Maxine Paetro, write the books in each series. 

Character development: 3.0 stars

The main characters are Lindsay (SFPD detective), Yuki (assistant district attorney), Claire (chief medical examiner), and Cindy (newspaper reporter). These gals have been personal and professional friends for a very long time.

The secondary characters are the personal partners, work partners, and assorted friends and family.  

There has not been any character development with any of the main or secondary characters for a long time. The only real changes are the different "guest" characters. 

Storyline:  3.0 stars

There were no big spoilers in this book, but there is a little one at the end. There was no setup to end the series so there are more novels to come. 

All of the main locations were in the San Francisco Bay area. 

Memorable/Informative: 2.5 stars

This series is getting tired. I would like it to come to a conclusion so I know how all of the characters end up.

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Descriptive, but doesn't go with the book itself.  

Book title: 3.0 stars 

Typical for this series with no real meaning.

LUKEWARM recommend 

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (ebook) 

The 24th Hour (Women's Murder Club series) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

400 pages 

Little, Brown and Company

Release date of 05/06/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

James Patterson

Maxine Paetro

My Goodreads review

Little, Brown and Company

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 The 24th Hour (A Women's Murder Club series) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

Happy reading 📚! 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Middletide ebook

Middletide by Sarah Crouch (ebook)

OVERVIEW

I have not read many mystery thrillers lately because I find them too gory and just too much for me. Thankfully, this book was manageable for me. 

This is a debut novel by Sarah Crouch. It is about two high school sweethearts, Elijah and Nakita, who separate due to Elijah attending college out of state. They then reconnect when Elijah moves back home. There is a murder so everything in their hometown of the fictional Port Orchards, WA becomes chaotic. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

The writing was very well done. This author should have a great career ahead of herself if her work continues at this level and continues to develop. 

Character development: 3.5 stars

This book has two main characters, Elijah and Nakita. Elijah grew up in an isolated cabin on the outskirts of Port Orchards. Nakita was born and raised on the nearby fictional Native American reservation for the fictional Squalmoah people. They become friends through their shared love of cross-country running. Elijah promised Nakita he would return after graduation, but he didn't return after the promised four years; however, he did return fifteen years later.  

The secondary characters are Samuel (Nakita's father and a minister), Erin (the town doctor), Jim (the sheriff), Jeremy (the deputy), and Chitto (Elijah's friend). They are all integral to the story, but their development and motivation could be further explored.

The tertiary characters are the townspeople of Port Orchards. 

Storyline:  3.5 stars 

It had a great premise, but the execution of the storyline just didn't work for me. 

There were just too many timelines that caused the beginning of the book to be confusing. 

Yes, this was a mystery thriller, but it could have been told a little more chronologically to make it easier for the reader. Putting the full date at the beginning of each chapter also slowed it down for me as I had to stop and figure out where the chapter was in the story. 

The courtroom scenes didn't ring true to me as a murder-one case would have been handled very differently regarding a defense attorney. Additionally, the sheriff and the deputy would have been much more tight-lipped. 

Finally, the murder was just too perfect and tied up in a bow. It just didn't seem realistic. 

The main locations were fictional - Port Orchards, Washington and the neighboring Native American reservation.  

Memorable/Informative:  2.0 stars

So this novel includes a story that includes a Native American reservation and Native American characters, but this novel was not written by a Native American. This is very concerning to me even with the Author's Note.

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Very pretty.  

Book title: 3.0 stars 

This is never explained to my satisfaction. 

Recommend

EBOOK DETAILS

NetGalley ARC (ebook) 

Middletide by Sarah Crouch

288 pages

Atria Books

Release date of 06/11/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Sarah Crouch

My Goodreads review

Atria Books

NetGalley

Happy reading 📚! 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is REALLY...

 Middletide by Sarah Crouch

Yes, I am back to reading Middletide!!!

Happy reading 📚, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Crying in H Mart ebook

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (ebook) 

OVERVIEW

So I am one of those readers who normally isn't a fan of best sellers. So I am going to be the outlier who likes this book but doesn't love it. It just didn't resonate as deeply for me as for others and that is okay.

Michelle Zauner is a beautiful writer, but this memoir felt more like a cathartic project for her than a memoir for the broader reader. Yes, she had a lot to process while nursing and caring for her mother and then ultimately losing her to cancer. As a mixed-race or hapa woman, she seemed to have lost her connection to her Korean heritage with the passing of her mother. But, food and music helped her reconnect with her remaining Korean family on a very intense level. 

As I know very little about Korean food or culture, this book was difficult for me as I am not familiar with the food or language at all. My husband is an ABC (American-born Chinese) so the Chinese culture and food are what I am more comfortable and familiar so I need to broaden my horizons. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing was very strong, most especially as a debut book. She is a young woman (34 years old) and her future writing will deepen and develop with a long career ahead of her, I truly believe. 

Character development: 3.0 stars

This book has two main female characters: Michelle (the author) and Chongmi (her mother). We do not learn much about Chongmi until after she passes and Michelle learns more about her as a young woman. Their relationship is tortured, but we really didn't learn why exactly. I still am not certain whether the issues were due to being raised in different countries or simply being different people. 

The secondary characters are Joel (her father) and Peter (her husband). Her father comes across as a very weak and dependent man and Peter comes across as a strong man who supports Michelle during this difficult time of her life. 

The tertiary characters are Michelle's Korean family, her in-laws, her friends, and the Korean community in Eugene, Oregon. 

Storyline:  3.0 stars 

This memoir is told chronologically with the appropriate flashbacks. However, it is written more like a novel than a memoir to me. Most especially, I wanted more about Chongmi's life in Korea. 

The main locations are primarily in New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Seoul, South Korea; and Eugene, Oregon. 

Memorable/Informative:  3.0 stars

Okay, I initially thought that this was a novel until the last few chapters when I realized that this was a memoir. Yes, I must have been under a rock. But, normally I do not read reviews about a book before I read it. Also, in my defense, this book came out during the pandemic when I was not reading at all. 

The biggest takeaway for me is that Korean food is spicy, fermented, and served blazing hot!

Book cover: 3.0 stars

Okay. 

Book title: 3.0 stars 

I don't get it. Was it a metaphor?

Recommend

EBOOK DETAILS

NetGalley ARC (ebook) 

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner 

243 pages

Knopf

Release date of 04/20/2021

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Michelle Zauner

My Goodreads review

Knopf

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading 📚! 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul (audiobook)

Happy reading 📚, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

I have been waiting for months for this hold to become available at the library, finally!! Anyway, I will pause my reading of Middletide by Sarah Crouch to read this more time-sensitive hold!

Happy reading 📚, 

Dorothea 💜

   

REVIEW - Still Just a Geek audiobook

Still Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

OMG, OMG, OMG! This memoir is just AH-MAZING!! 

I knew Wil Wheaton from his work on Stand by Me and The Big Bang Theory and a bit from Star Trek (I am a below-average watcher). I really didn't know much about him at all and that is why I enjoy reading memoirs to learn about people that I don't know much about. 

Well, Wil is my So Cal brother. We grew up not far from each other in So Cal, loved KMET (RIP), used similar non-PC language that we have had to unlearn, have strong left political leanings, have mental health issues, and had somewhat similar dysfunctional childhoods. Oh, and he uses the same swear word that I prefer, HA! Wow, that is a lot of commonality. 

This book is an updated, annotated memoir that Wil published in 2004 - it is NOT a new memoir. It is a long audiobook - over 23 hours. It has the cringy, original writings of a young thirty-something Wil updated with the 49ish writings of an older, more mature Wil. It is a compelling methodology. 

This is a very powerful memoir. Please read or listen to it. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

The method applied to this updated memoir is so good! I loved hearing how Wil's writing improved and improved. Now, it is REALLY good - I mean, gut-wrenching and powerfully good. 

I also really enjoyed the asides that Wil used throughout the audiobook to further explain a situation or story. It made it so rich and interesting. Some people may have issues with this style, but I loved it!

Narration: 5.0 stars

Wil is a strong narrator. He is telling his own story and it was difficult to listen to it at times and triggered a lot of childhood memories for me. However, I cried and laughed with Wil and thoroughly enjoyed his narration. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

This is told chronologically from his previous memoir with some essays, speeches,  and blog posts along with Wil's asides sprinkled liberally throughout the memoir. The updates and asides make this memoir so very strong. 

Memorable:  5.0 stars

As someone who grew up in Southern California in the shadow of Hollywood, I had no idea until the past twenty years or so how horrible it is especially to young actors. Hollywood sucks and more controls need to be in place to protect our children who are involved in the business. The Coogan Law needs to be updated - 15 cents on every dollar earned is not enough to be placed in trust for child actors. 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

Wil is a great writer and narrator. He tells the stories vividly and I could picture it happening as he tells it in the audiobook. Wil made me laugh, cry, and be very thankful for my therapist.

I would love to have a burrito with Wil (inside story from the book)! He is very funny and a fantastic storyteller 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Nicely done.

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect! 

HIGHEST recommendation

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Still Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton

HarperCollins

23 hours, 51 minutes

Release date of 04/12/2022

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Wil Wheaton

My Goodreads review

Harper Collins

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading 📚, 

Dorothea 💜