Flirting with Danger by Janet Wallach
ETA: This book will be on the back burner as two library books came in and I have a time constraint.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, June 15, 2023
REVIEW - The Beginning of Everything
OVERVIEW
This is the second book of Jackie Fraser's that I have read. In this book, she writes about a very interesting location to me - Wales.
Wales has always been interesting to me because of its distinct language, beautiful countryside, and its being surrounded by England, yet it has adapted and created its own unique culture. As someone with Welsh heritage, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about this amazing country.
My favorite genre is Historical Fiction, but this is Contemporary Fiction or Chick Lit. Both genres really describe this book well and it was quite enjoyable. I think that this book would be perfect to read at the beach or by a pool as it is a fun, easy read. Plus, there are lots of chapters and places that would be appropriate stopping places. That is THE most important thing to me when reading by the pool or at the beach - there are so many distractions!
REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The Beginning of Everything is a lovely book that doesn't require you to look up a lot of vocabulary words, but it may make some readers look up exactly WHERE Wales is located!! The beauty of Wales and the Welsh language comes through the entire book. This book is a nice homage to Wales while still being an entertaining story.
Character development: 4.0 stars
This novel has two strong main characters - one who is on the run and one who is kind. But, I don't think that we really delve into their backstory enough for either character enough for me - I always want to know more about the characters. Also, Wales is a big character in the novel.
Storyline: 3.5 stars
The storyline when the two main characters meet is just a bit contrived for me. Yes, I think it COULD happen, but I don't know if it WOULD happen. Maybe it really could happen in Wales, but I cannot imagine this happening in many places.
However, this meeting has to happen for the story to occur. So I enjoyed how the novel unfolded.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Very pretty.
Book title: 4.0 stars
The title The Beginning of Everything says it all!
Gut feeling: 4.0 stars
I was right on the money as to what I would think of this book!
Definite RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser
400 pages
1 day to read it (It is a PERFECT beach or pool book for the summer)
Read it as a Kindle ARC
Release date of 09/28/2023
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2242019/jackie-fraser/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5622442693
https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
REVIEW - The House in the Cerulean Sea AUDIOBOOK
OVERVIEW
So The House in the Cerulean Sea is a book that I had heard about for some time. I had added it to my To Read List on Goodreads, but it sat there for a while. Since I have been listening to audiobooks at bedtime, I decided to listen to the audiobook.
Interestingly, the reviews of this book either LOVED it or HATED it. Apparently, there is a controversy about where the author got the idea for this novel. I am not going to let that influence my review - many authors have unusual or weird ways to get a creative book idea but never talk about it. This author talked about it and many are quite unhappy about it. It is your personal choice whether or not to read this novel.
I would love to have a sequel to this book, but, unfortunately, T.J. Klune stated about six months ago that they don't see that happening. It is a stand-alone book.
Wildly, I discovered after I started this audiobook that it was a suggested read for Pride Month. I don't know how this happy accident occurred! But I am really glad that it happened when it did!
REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
I really enjoyed T.J. Klune 's writing style. It was descriptive, yet not overly descriptive. The writing is appropriate for a Young Adult reader, but lovely enough for an older reader. There are a few difficult words sprinkled throughout to make it interesting. But, the writing did not get bogged down so much that I had to look up word after word which I greatly appreciated especially with an audiobook!
There have been many that have said that this is an adult fairy tale or fable. I would agree. There is a beautiful story and then a strong moral ending. Surprisingly so much of what is described is what is happening today with book-burning, attacks against transgender and drag folks, and body autonomy is threatened. The things that happen to the "magical" people in the book could also be a parable for what happened during the Holocaust. I could go on and on. This book is MUCH deeper than what it seems on the surface!
The narrator, Daniel Henning, was PERFECTION!!
Character development: 5.0 stars
There were many fascinating characters including the two male protagonists and the children - a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, a green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist (I had to look up what a wyvern was). But, it was interesting to see how ALL of the characters grew together and individually!
I loved learning about the children's traits and how the "Master" of the orphanage for magical children interacted and helped the children heal from a lot of pain, hurt, and humiliation. But this was a fantasy and not real life. In real life, many adopted children have to deal with many lifelong issues including RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder). There really isn't a good solution for adopted children - fantasy or real life!
There were also two very strong female characters which was awesome - a sprite and the village mayor. They were both instrumental in helping the children so very much! I love reading about POWERFUL women!
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is about an organization called DICOMY (Department in Charge of Magincal Youth) where the "orphanages" (I use this term loosely) for magical children are investigated and inspected. Of course, just like in real life, some "orphanages" are good and some are bad. This is about a GOOD "orphanage" which really was a true home! It just was lovely!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
The artwork is AMAZING!
Book title: 5.0 stars
The House in the Cerulean Sea was perfect! It really gives nothing away which is what makes this book so very special!!
Gut feeling: 3.5 stars
This book was WAY more than I expected!
Highly RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
396 pages or 12 hours and 12 minutes
9 days to listen via audiobook (I really took my time to enjoy it)
Listened to as a library audiobook - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 03/16/2020 (another release during the pandemic!)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5600354018
https://us.macmillan.com/audio/
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, June 13, 2023
REVIEW - Lady Tan's Circle of Women
OVERVIEW
There has not been a historical novel written by Lisa See that I have not loved! I read her books without knowing anything about them at all. Lady Tan's Circle of Women was EXCEPTIONAL!!
I am a HUGE fan of historical fiction and I love reading about Chinese culture so I can understand my family as the wife of an ABC (American Born Chinese) and a mother to a hapa (multi-racial with Asian) daughter. This novel was based over 500 years ago, but I can see how some of the traits have not changed in the Chinese culture and family at all!!
Lady Tan's Circle of Women must have required so much research. It is obvious that Lisa See spent a lot of time learning about the time period to be as accurate as possible. She totally succeeded as this book is amazing!!
So far Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See is competing with The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende for my TOP BOOK of 2023!!
REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing in Lady Tan's Circle of Women is in a word: beautiful. All five of my senses were engaged as I read this book - I could HEAR, SEE, SMELL, TOUCH, and TASTE what the characters were experiencing!!
Lisa paints such a beautiful picture as the novel unfolds. She is a magnificent artist and treats us to a different world where we may escape and enjoy the story that occurs before our eyes.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This novel has VERY strong female characters! The novel is based on Tan Yunxian's life from the age of eight to fifty over 500 years ago in China. She was the first famous Chinese doctor who also published a book with simple cures for ailments common to women and girls. Yunxian was involved in a profession that did not have status during the time period that she lived. Plus, women were primarily treated by male doctors who knew little to nothing about menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. It is no wonder that so many women died in childbirth and that infants did not survive. A female doctor was a true lifesaver to other women.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is about Yunxian's interaction with her family, female friends, and female patients. She is married through an arranged marriage at fifteen and her mother-in-law is the stereotypical one who dislikes her. But Yunxian finds her own way to fight back and help many people during her life with her skills! There is some mystery, intrigue, and ugliness in the storyline, but that is real life even now!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Stunningly gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
The title Lady Tan's Circle of Women explains it ALL!
Gut feeling: 5.0 stars
I always love Lisa See's books and this was another wonderful treat!
Highly RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
343 pages
7 days to read it (I was trying to savor it, but inhaled it in the past two days)
Read it as an epubBook - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 06/06/2023
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5151351781
https://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/scribner/
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
My next read is...
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
P.S. I deleted a previous post that indicated that I was reading, The Beginning of Everything by Jackie Fraser. But I had not started the Jackie Fraser book when this became available today. I have been looking forward to reading this book for over a year and could NOT pass on it when it became available from the library!!
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
REVIEW - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) AUDIOBOOK
OVERVIEW
So The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the Hunger Games series. I liked this book as much as I did the original Hunger Games book. But, there is a caveat as this is a Young Adult book again. This is entertainment and escapism, but not true literature. That is fine as long as you know that before reading this book or any in the series. There are A LOT of possible spoilers so I will not ruin it for anyone!
Interestingly, the reviews of this prequel are ALL over the place on Goodreads, but quite high on Amazon.
I believe that the Hunger Games fanbase is split over this prequel and whether this should be canon or not. I think it should be canon.
Finally, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes movie comes out on November 17, 2023. I had NO clue about the movie until I looked up how to spell Coriolanus!! If you want to read it BEFORE the movie comes out, now is the time! Here is movie information here if you are interested: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10545296/
REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing in this book is SIGNIFICANTLY improved from the Hunger Games series! It felt like this book was better planned, written, and somewhat better edited for publication. The ending and the epilogue were very good. But, I wish that the ending and the epilogue were the beginning of a 2nd prequel - this is where some editing would have helped!
Yes, it is a Young Adult book, but it was not as graphically violent which was a relief for me. I do think that this book does need a 12+ rating.
This book did not feel rushed like the last two books in the Hunger Games series. I do think that there will probably be two more books in the prequel series.
The narrator, Santino Fontana, did not do it for me. He read VERY, VERY slowly so I adjusted to 1.5X speed which worked well for me.
Character development: 4.0 stars
Again, there were a LOT of characters included in the plotline - at least forty (many were throwaway, a few somewhat important, and a handful very important). It became hard to keep them separate, especially during the 10th Hunger Games (the setting of this book). Since many of the names were similar and unusual, it was hard to separate Tribute from Mentor at times, but I just rolled with it. But, once there were fewer characters, the character development was very strong and very interesting. I wanted to know MORE about them!
The Coriolanus Snow character's development is really fascinating and shows how ONE event can snowball and completely change our lives. It will be interesting to see the parallels in Katniss' and Coriolanus' lives and how their lives intersect and develop. I really, really hate to say this, but I liked the Coriolanus character in this book. In future books, I hope NOT!
Storyline: 3.5 stars
The storyline is based on the 10th Hunger Games for about 2/3 of the book with about 1/3 spent out in the Districts. The differences and similarities between the 10th and the 75th/76th Hunger Games' are startling. I cannot really say much more or I will give it all away!
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Continuation of the boring covers.
Book title: 4.0 stars
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It really explains a LOT about the book in the title! VERY good title!
Gut feeling: 4.5 stars
This book was WAY more than I expected!
Definite RECOMMEND
INFORMATION/LINKS
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games #0) by Suzanne Collins
541 pages or 16 hours and 16 minutes
8 days to listen via audiobook (it took quite a WHILE to listen to it)
Listened to as a library audiobook - Los Angeles Public Library
Release date of 05/19/2020 (released during the pandemic)
https://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5588066073
https://www.scholastic.com/home
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Friday, June 2, 2023
DNF - Hula
I will not be finishing (DNF) Hula by Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes. It just wasn't the right book for me.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
May 2023 Reading Wrap-up
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Hi, everyone!!
This was a REALLY good month for reading. I have my reading excitement back, especially after having Covid in April! I am so excited to share my reading journey with you!
The best book of May 2023: The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende - please read this beautiful book by an AMAZING and TALENTED author. I loved it!
STATISTICS:
11 e-books; 5 audiobooks
7 books were ARCS (Advance Reader Copies)
4 books were library books; 5 audiobooks were library books
Audio listening time 73 hours, 6 minutes
Reading pages 3,284 pages
All, but one book was written by women!!!
3 books were 5.0 stars
7 books were 4.5 stars
2 books were 4.0 stars
1 book was 3.5 stars
3 books were 3.0 stars
BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVER:
5.0 star books - 3
4.5 star books - 7
4.0 star books - 2
3.5 star book - 1
3.5 star book - 1
3.0 star books - 3
If you want to read my full review of any of these books, there are individual review posts for each e-book or audiobook. The only exception is the Harry Potter series which was reviewed together. Going forward, all books in a series will be reviewed individually!
I look forward to reading and reviewing more great books for you in June!! Have a Happy Pride Month! 💗💛💚💙💜
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
P.S. As a reminder about my book ratings, you can find out more HERE.
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