The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Thursday, June 1, 2023
REVIEW - Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3) AUDIOBOOK
OVERVIEW
So Mockingjay is the final book in the Hunger Games series and it was a true disappointment. The Katniss character lost the spark that made her "The Girl on Fire" and never found it again after the Hunger Games. The ending was disappointing in many ways, but I will be careful not to ruin anything for anyone.
REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
This book was MUCH more gory and violent than the other two books. To me, it felt gratuitous and unnecessary. Suzanne Collins writes for the Young Adult audience, but it was more violent than I would expect for a 12+ rated book. The series as a whole did NOT live up to the writing of the Hunger Games at all.
I felt like the author had not planned to write more than one book and was on a time commitment after the first book in the series took off. The writing had deteriorated and just was not as strong with each successive book.
Also, AGAIN, while listening to the book was the overuse of "I say" or "she says". It didn't add clarity and was highly annoying.
AGAIN, Tatiana Maslany does a fabulous job as the narrator!
Character development: 3.0 stars
Again, there were a LOT of characters included in the plotline, but just too many were thrown away in grisly deaths which was disturbing. There was no real character development for them.
The Katniss character became personally and physically weaker as the book progressed. I expected so much more from her. At the end of the book in the epilogue, she settled. She did NOT put herself first which was incredible considering just how strong she was in the first book.
Since this book is going to be read by impressionable young adults, Katniss becoming a strong female character again would have been so much better.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
I mean how much war, violence, and horror can Katniss and her friends really endure? Well, the storyline proves that there was not enough in the previous two books! Let's just shovel more and more violence into this book. This was just over the top for me. Yes, war is ugly, but I don't read for pleasure to read about ugliness.
The ending and the epilogue were just not believable to me. It was just too tied up in a big bow. YUCK!
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Flat and uninteresting.
Book title: 3.0 stars
Mockingjay. It really was not about Katniss - it was about power, control. and a horrible war. The title should have been WAR.
Gut feeling: 3.5 stars
It was not what I expected. Disappointing!
LUKEWARM RECOMMEND - read to complete the series
INFORMATION/LINKS
Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins
400 pages or 11 hours and 19 minutes
3 days to listen via audiobook (I had a migraine and listened to it)
Listened to as a library audiobook - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 08/24/2010
https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5579681464
https://www.scholastic.com/home
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
REVIEW - The Sweeney Sisters
OVERVIEW
So full disclosure, I have read all of Lian Dolan's books and have enjoyed them so much!! This book was read chronologically out of order, Lost and Found in Paris is the most recent publication. It really doesn't matter, however, because all of Lian's books are stand-alone novels.
REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
Lian Dolan is a very good writer, but her books are escapism for me and so much FUN!! I really did laugh out loud because it was a perfect description of sisters and family! Honestly, I inhaled this book once I started reading it because I loved it!
Character development: 4.5 stars
The protagonists of the story are THE Sweeney sisters and they are AWESOME! Exactly like so many sisters that I have known. Every sister has her designated role in her family and carries out their role perfectly! The best part was seeing the growth of the sisters and choosing family over EVERYTHING. So lovely!!
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The storyline was great, but I am being very careful as there are some bombshells along the way in this novel. It really sets up nicely, digs deep, and then ends beautifully. I really enjoyed it!!
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Colorful with SO much meaning!!
Book title: 4.0
The Sweeney Sisters is a great title for this book!
Gut feeling: 4.0 stars
It was exactly what I expected from Lian Dolan - another great novel!
Highly RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
The Sweeney Sisters by Lian Dolan
304 pages
4 days to read
Read as a Kindle library book - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 04/28/2020
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5499269243
https://www.harpercollins.com/collections/william-morrow
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, May 28, 2023
REVIEW - Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2) AUDIOBOOK
OVERVIEW
So this is the second book in the Hunger Games series and the weakest of the two so far. I hope that the third book is GREAT as this book really just set everything up for the finale!
REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 3.5 stars
Suzanne Collins totally writes for the Young Adult audience. Not to say that that is bad, but it is not my favorite style of writing. It is all about action with bland descriptions and character development. It wasn't as good as the first book.
Also, one thing really bothered me while listening to the book was the overuse of "I say" or "she says" which I don't know if this was to add clarity. But it annoyed me.
Finally, Tatiana Maslany is a masterful narrator!
Character development: 3.5 stars
There were so many characters and a lot of them were "throw-away" characters so there wasn't good character development at all. The character development in District 12 was the most interesting part of the entire book. The Capitol character development just did not interest me at all - it was weak.
Storyline: 3.5 stars
There was not much friction and interaction between Tributes in the Arena which is the most interesting part of the book. The strategy and alliances are what makes these books work. Also, it was evident that this book was setting up the third book in the trilogy. It just fell flat to me.
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Boring, boring, boring.
Book title: 4.0
Catching Fire. A good title as it was a setup book - CATCHING, not CAUGHT.
Gut feeling: 4.0 stars
It is what I expected. Just okay!
RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
Catching Fire (Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins
391 pages or 11 hours and 5 minutes
5 days to listen to via audiobook
Read as a Kindle library book - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 09/01/2009
https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5569547003
https://www.scholastic.com/home
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Saturday, May 27, 2023
Friday, May 26, 2023
Review - All Good Things
OVERVIEW
First off, I have read ELEVEN books (two non-fiction and nine novels) by this author! I have loved them all as they are all based on family and VERY real-life situations. The best part is that the books take place in England and get to learn more about it and improve my British English!!!
REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Amanda Prowse has a lovely way of writing about difficult family situations and topics with this novel being NO different. There are competing issues going on with two dissimilar, yet similar families. The best part is that she wrote this book in a way that makes it so easy to read and enjoy quickly.
Character development: 4.5 stars
OMG #1. This book is told from the point-of-view of the TWELVE main characters in the two families that the story is about! I didn't realize that is what was happening as it was so seamless and perfectly done. The twelve main characters all got their own "moment in the sun" and it was amazing! I'm ALL about good character development in books, television shows, and movies!! Amanda does it again!!
Storyline: 4.5 stars
OMG #2. The storyline is amazing. It intertwines the two families and exposes some ugliness that shows that you NEVER know what goes on behind closed doors. The topics of depression, infidelity, and money issues are the biggest ones to me, but there are even MORE discussed!! The storyline twists and curves to an unexpected finale and satisfying end to the book. Wowza!
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Colorful with hidden clues.
Book title: 4.0
All Good Things. All good things may NOT be what they seem!
Gut feeling: 4.5 stars
It is what I expected and wanted - Amanda Prowse delivered!!!
Definite RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
All Good Things by Amanda Prowse
316 pages
2 days to read (less than 24 hours!)
Read as an ARC
Release date of 08/15/2023
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5397624796
https://amazonpublishing.amazon.com/lake-union-publishing.html
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, May 25, 2023
REVIEW - California Golden
OVERVIEW
First off, I have read FOUR books by this author! I have loved them all as they are all set in very different historical timeframes! Historical fiction is my jam!
REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Melanie Benjamin writes with such color and vividness that I can visualize the setting and characters in beautiful colors. I cannot always do that with every author. But, her gorgeous writing does NOT bog down the reading at all!
Character development: 4.5 stars
The characters were fascinating! There were the mom and two daughters whose lives were set in Southern California - my home. So much of the timeframe occurred when I was little, but I knew women similar to these characters in dress and appearance. The only thing that wasn't similar was that NONE of them were surfers which was the ultimate in coolness to this So Cal girl!
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The storyline was very interesting as it included two wars - WWII and Vietnam and the timeframe of big societal change. The late '50s and 60's were very turbulent times and they were described perfectly. Unfortunately, the misogyny and racism of the timeframes are still with us.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Perfect Southern California golden cover!
Gut feeling: 4.5 stars
It is what I expected and this book did NOT disappoint!!!
Definite RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
California Golden by Melanie Benjamin
368 pages
4 days to read (I read a LOT of it today!)
Read as an ARC
Release date of 08/06/2023
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5527947048
https://www.nobleknight.com/Publisher/Dell-Publishing
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
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