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Saturday, May 20, 2023

REVIEW - Montauk


OVERVIEW

First off, I recall reading this book when it first came out as an ARC in 2019, but I didn't review it on Goodreads or NetGalley. Weird! So I am reviewing it as a first-time read! But it was worth reading a second time so you can probably predict my review! 


REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

Nicola Harrison writes beautiful and descriptive prose that helps you visualize each scene of her books without getting bogged down. It is very easy to read, but so enjoyable to read!


Character development: 4.5 stars

The characters were interesting and fascinating! There were the "poor" rich ladies who left Manhattan for the summer and their husbands who only visited on the weekends.  But in contrast, there were also the "rich" poor local workers who have beautiful friendships, families, and lives. 


Storyline: 4.5 stars

The interaction between all of the characters both city and local proved that being monetarily rich doesn't make one happy. The finale of the book was so well done that it will stay with me for a long time!


Book cover: 5.0 stars

Absolutely perfect - especially the blue dress against the sepia background!


Gut feeling: 4.5 stars

Not at all what I expected, but exactly what I enjoy - historical fiction!!


Definite RECOMMEND

 

INFORMATION/LINKS

Montauk by Nicola Harrison

394 pages

5 days to read 

Read as a Kindle library book - Los Angeles Public Library

Release date of 06/04/2019

https://www.nicolaharrison.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41150486-montauk

https://us.macmillan.com/stmartinspress/

https://lapl.overdrive.com/


P.S. I updated my template for my blog reviews. Hopefully, it makes it easier for a quick review of the book! 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

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Stay OPEN!!


 

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Friday, May 19, 2023

AAPI Heritage Month - Favorite AAPI Authors

 


As you may or may not have noticed, my last name is Fong!!

So in recognition of AAPI Heritage Month, I would like to recognize some of my absolute favorite AAPI authors and my favorite book that they have written.

Amy Tan - The Joy Luck Club
Jamie Ford - The Many Daughters of Afong Moy
Amulya Malladi - A House for Happy Mothers
Lisa See - On Gold Mountain
Gail Tsuyiyama - The Color of Air
Jean Kwok - Girl in Translation

These six AAPI authors are authors who I will read their books even if I have no clue or details about the book! These books are an AUTOMATIC addition to my Goodreads list! They are amazing storytellers, teachers, and writers!!

Please check out their websites and read their books - you will not be disappointed!! The biggest takeaway that I have to share is that I have learned so much about the different AAPI cultures - I particularly am eager to know more about Taishanese/Cantonese culture as that is my husband and daughter's heritage!! 

The more we learn about each other as persons, the more alike we are. Read, learn, act!!

For more information:

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜


 

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Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Harry Potter books 1-7 AUDIOBOOKS











As you may or may not know, my entire family recently had Covid about a month ago. However, I was already listening to the Harry Potter series via audiobook and was going along at a good pace, and then Covid hit. I listened to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5) over and over again for two weeks as I kept falling asleep and then would wake up several chapters later. The narrator's voice, Jim Dale, was especially soothing while I was recovering.

Please note that I normally listen to an audiobook as I fall asleep while concurrently reading an ebook at the same time. It really helps to have something nice to listen to and enjoy as I drift off to sleep!!

Once we had started to really recover (and didn't fall asleep all the time), the eight Harry Potter movies were something fun to watch while in isolation together.

After finishing the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7), this morning, I realized how much better the book series was than the movie series. Don't get me wrong, the movies are fun and enjoyable. But the books are AH-MA-ZING. 

Please bear in mind that I really, really do not like J.K. Rowling's viewpoints on almost everything. But the woman can REALLY write the heck out of a book series!! Plus, these books created a generation of READERS!!

 OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

    Writing: 5.0 stars (progressively more intricate to match the reading levels of the core readers)

    Character development: 5.0 stars (so many amazingly interesting characters)

    Storyline: 5.0 stars (creative and unique storyline)

    Book cover: 5.0 stars (Absolutely beautiful - all seven of them)

    Gut feeling: 5.0 stars (More than what I expected as I had already READ the books!)

Definite RECOMMEND

INFORMATION/LINKS

4,142 pages 
116 hours, 21 minutes listening time
One and 1/2 months to listen to and finish (Covid intervened, UGH!)
Listened as an audiobook from the Los Angeles Public Library
Release dates of 1997-2007
https://www.goodreads.com/ (NO reviews on Goodreads)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

P.S. Going forward, I will review a book series as individual books as I think it is more meaningful and helps to understand the flow of the series better!














 

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Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Pulitzer Prizes - Fiction






https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Fiction
Okay, I may be the odd woman out, but I normally do NOT like the books that win the Pulitzer Fiction awards. I just looked at the list of winners since its inception in 1918 and here is my breakdown.

My list of Pulitzer READ books are:

My list of FAVORITE Pulitzer books are:
So out of over 100 years of Pulitzer Fiction books, I really only LOVED four. Plus, these four are all older than I am. Of the other two, I liked Olive Kitteridge and did not care for The Goldfinch. 

So, my dear readers, I am NOT a Pulitzer Fiction lover. It's okay - there are plenty of great books out there. Life is too short to read books that don't make you happy or that you enjoy!!

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜


 

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Monday, May 15, 2023

Goodreads 2023 Reading Challenge INCREASED!


Of course, I had to increase my Reading Challenge from 48 to 60. It is only May 15, 2023, and I have read 46 books. Don't be surprised if I have to increase it AGAIN!!

What's YOUR Reading Challenge for 2023???

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜


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Sunday, May 14, 2023

My next book is...




 

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REVIEW - The Brightest Star


OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

    Writing: 4.5 stars (Gail Tsukiyama writes beautifully - this was on point for her)

    Character development: 3.5 stars (Difficult to keep track of all the characters)

    Storyline: 4.0 stars (Anna May was a charmer; I would have loved to have met her)

    Book cover: 5.0 stars (Absolute perfection)

    Gut feeling: 4.0 stars (Exactly what I expected; I really enjoyed it)

Definite RECOMMEND

INFORMATION/LINKS

320 pages
3 days to read (Mother's Day weekend got in the way, HA!)
Read as a Kindle ARC
Release date of 06/20/2023

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

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Thursday, May 11, 2023

My next book is...


 

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REVIEW - Hotel Laguna



OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

    Writing: 4.5 stars (Nicola Harrison writes so lushly and beautifully; amazing descriptions)

    Character development: 4.5 stars (The characters including Laguna Beach were fascinating)

    Storyline: 4.5 stars (I loved the mystery; the art colony and all the craziness)

    Book cover: 4.0 stars (Only issue is that the bathing suit should have been a two-piece)

    Gut feeling: 4.5 stars (This book did NOT disappoint)

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

INFORMATION/LINKS

304 pages
1 day to read (yes, I am reading like a FIEND!)
Read as a Kindle ARC
Release date of 06/20/2023

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

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Anyone else with THIS problem???


 

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