booksbydorothea: REVIEW - Let's Call Her Barbie (audiobook)

Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This was one of those books you assume will be one thing, and then it is very different and better! Initially, I thought this book would be about Barbie and the development of the entire line, various types, and clothing. But, it was so much more. The people behind the invention and development were much more interesting than Barbie. That is a lot as I am a Southern California girl who grew up with Barbie and a Mattel factory near my childhood home.

One of my early memories involves playing with my cousin, Deana's, Barbies while listening to The Mamas and Papas on American Bandstand and her shushing me. I was five or younger.

TRIGGER ALERT: Foul language, alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual content, eating disorders

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Renée writes beautifully. It is as if you can feel the minds and hearts of the characters. So well done!

Narration: 5.0 stars

The narration was wonderfully done. The narrator had a perfect voice for this audiobook.

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is a chronological story of Barbie from her development in 1956 to 1976. This twenty years is the heyday of Barbie with some flashbacks to explain some of the characters' backstories. The characters most involved with Barbie included Ruth and Elliot Handler, Jack Ryan, and Charlotte Johnson.

The stories of the four main characters and many secondary and tertiary characters are more fascinating than the development and creation of Barbie. I was shocked, but so intrigued!

Memorable: 5.0 stars

Ruth Handler was an incredible force of nature. I would have loved to meet her as she invented Barbie and then developed her from a prototype to a toy dynasty. Ruth was badass!

Entertaining: 5.0 stars

This book was full of wild and crazy stories! There was never a moment to be bored.

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect.

Book title: 5.0 stars

Awesome title!

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

Penguin Audio

12 hours, 51 minutes