August 2023 Reading Wrap-Up

ETA: I found an error in the number of pages read. That's why this has popped up higher in the chronological feed.

Hi, everyone!!

Finally, we finished all twelve seasons of NYPD Blue!! Does anyone have any recommendations for another long binge-worthy series!?! 

Well, I have book recommendations and updates for you all. There are THREE more amazing 5.0-star books in August in the running for the best book of 2023!! They are A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power, The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman, and Evergreen (Japantown Mystery #2) by Naomi Hirahara!!

So now I have SIX books vying for the best book of 2023:

• The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende (May)
• Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See (June)
• How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair (July)
•  A Council of Dolls by Mona Susan Power (August)
• The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman (August)
• Evergreen (Japantown Mystery #2) by Naomi Hirahara (August)

Four months in a row with VERY outstanding books!!! What will September bring for me? I hope MORE five-star books as six is not enough for 2023!!

 

STATISTICS:

8 total books; 7 e-books; 1 audiobook

2 books were an ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

6 books were library books; 5 e-books; 1 audiobook

Audio listening time in August: 7 hours, 5 minutes

Pages read in August:  2,020 pages

 

BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS:

5.0 star books (3)

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-council-of-dolls.html

 

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-invisible-hour.html

 

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-evergreen.html

 

4.5 star books (1)

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-bright-lights-big-christmas.html

4.0 star books (2)

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-lessons-in-chemistry.html

 

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/murder-most-royal-review.html

 

3.5 star book (0)

 

3.0 star books (2)

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/review-hello-molly-audiobook.html

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/08/dont-let-them-bury-my-story-review.html

If you want to read my full review of any of these books, there are individual review posts for each e-book or audiobook below the picture of the book. You can just click on the link to get to that particular review!! 

I look forward to reading and reviewing more great books for you in September!! Have a fantastic September!

Finally, September is #LibraryCardSignUpMonth. If you don't have a library card, now is the perfect time to get one!

 

Happy reading, 

 

Dorothea 💜

 

P.S. As a reminder about my book ratings, you can find out more HERE. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My next read is...

 The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Bright Lights, Big Christmas

OVERVIEW

This was another lovely Christmas novel by the amazing Mary Kay Andrews. She writes novels that make you feel good inside and out, but her Christmas novels make you want to cuddle up with a big cup of hot cocoa in the snowy mountains. Unfortunately, for me, I read this sweet Christmas novel during a severe heat wave in Los Angeles. But, the book was wonderful even if the weather didn't cooperate!!

This book is about a North Carolina family that sells Christmas trees every year in specific lot in Greenwich Village and the wonderful neighborhood and neighbors that they meet along the way. This sweet story made me think of Taylor Swift's song, "Christmas Tree Farm". 

It has a huge cast of quirky, eccentric, but loving cast of characters!! It was so fun to read from beginning to end!

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

Mary Kay Andrews writes in a lovely way that allows the story to unfold naturally without being bogged down. It is an easy and fun read that was hard to put down as I wanted to know how it ended!!

Character development: 4.0 stars

As I indicated earlier, there is a large cast of characters!! But, they make the neighborhood and book sing with joy. The main characters are Murphy (brother) and Kerry (sister) who sell the Christmas trees. They both come to understand and appreciate each other through working together. The brother and sister were raised separately when their parents divorced so this is an opportunity to become real siblings again. Also, the trailer, Spammy that Murphy and Kerry live in while selling this Christmas trees is a character unto itself!

The secondary characters are Patrick, Austin, and Heinz who are neighbors in the Greenwich Village neighborhood. They soon all become extended family and learn how much that they mean to each other. 

The final and tertiary character is Queenie the dog! I love dogs in stories and novels!

Storyline:  4.0 stars

The storyline is of blood family, chosen family, and moving forward from heartache and pain. It has a beautiful thread of art woven throughout the book which was just lovely. 

The main location was Greenwich Village. 

Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars

This was a fun and enjoyable novel. It was just lovely - lovely is the only way to describe this sweet Christmas novel. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

So cute!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

So sweet.

Gut feeling: 4.0 stars

I was pretty certain that I would love this book as I have loved previous books by the author.  

Suggestions: 

A map of the Greenwich Village neighborhood would have been a nice touch.

Definite RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews 

288 pages

NetGalley Kindle ARC 

Release date of 09/26/2023

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Mary Kay Andrews

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

My next read is..

 Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Evergreen

OVERVIEW

This was another fantastic book by Naomi Hirahara! She is a local gal to the area where I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. This is the second in the Japantown Mysteries and I hope that more in the series are in the works as they are so good! 

This book is well-researched and so detailed. So much information packed in this novel from the resettlement of the Japanese/Japanese-American inmates and Japanese/Japanese-American Veterans back home to Los Angeles after WWII, the Black migration from the South to Los Angeles, and the movement of different ethnic groups in and out of neighborhoods in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. I learned so very much about Los Angeles which is the city that I love. 

My family on both sides also came to to Los Angeles before WWII looking for a better life so I empathized with what the Japanese/Japanese-Americans endured before and after the war. It was revolting and unnecessary to do what we as a country did by incarceratings Americans and resident aliens based solely on their  country of origin. Because of all of this history and the back stories, this is not an easy or fast read, but it is it so worth reading.

The saddest part of this book is that the exact thing that happened to the Japanese/Japanese-Americans in WWII happened again to Asian/Asian-Americans before, during, and after the Covid pandemic. It was not their fault for this horrible virus, but many were injured or died by the hands of other due to no fault of their own. Sad state of affairs.

I would definitely read Clark and Division (Japantown Mystery #1) before reading this second novel in the series.

Okay, okay, this is ANOTHER 5.0 star book in August. I am so happy to read all of these incredible books!

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Naomi Hirahara writes so beautifully. She also knows how to spin a mystery and fill it with multiple twists and turns. I love how you have an enjoyable mystery while also getting a subtle history lesson. That is a beautiful thing!

This book really was intense for me and I had to take time away from it to fully absorb what I reading at times. It really was a powerful novel.

Character development: 5.0 stars

The character development of the three main characters, Aki (wife), Art (husband), and Babe (best man) was amazingly beautiful. Aki was incarcerated during WWII while her husband and Babe were in the same unit in Europe fighting in the U.S. Army during WWII. The couple spent very little time together between their wedding and Art's deployment. The novel weaves in the growth of their relationship adjusting to married life and each other. Also, Art and Babe drift apart after the war and that sad story is also fully developed and explored. 

The secondary characters are the many Japanese/Japanese-American extended friends and family in Los Angeles. There were a lot of secondary characters, but they were all very interesting and integral to the plot. 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The storyline was one of so many twists and turns until the crezendo at the end. It starts out with a seriously ill patient at the Japanese Hospital in Boyle Heights that Aki interacts with. Then the mystery is off and running making a very enjoyable read!

The main locations were Los Angeles, but specifically Boyle Heights, Burbank, and Little Tokyo. 

Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars

This well-rearched and well-written novel will stay with me for a long time. The difficult history of Los Angeles is important for all who love this city to know and remember. It was a very important and excellent novel.

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Beautiful!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfection!

Gut feeling: 4.0 stars

I was pretty certain that I would love this book as I had loved the previous novel in this series. 

Suggestions: 

A glossary of the Japanese terms would have been nice. I could figure out most via context, but some were not as clear to me.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

Evergreen (Japantown Mystery #2) by Naomi Hirahara 

312 pages

Los Angeles Public Library book

Release date of 08/01/2023

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Naomi Hirahara

My Goodreads review

SOHO Crime

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

My next read is...

 Evergreen by Naomi Hirahard

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Invisible Hour

 

OVERVIEW

This gorgeous book was written by one of my absolute favorite authors. Alice Hoffman writes such vivid, rich, and beautiful characters and stories. It is as if you become one with the world that she creates with her books. I could feel, touch, taste, smell, and see the world that was created in this amazing book. 

This book is incredibly layered and woven into a mosaic of an intense and lovely story. In this book, women are subjugated in many different ways, but it is women who save each other. The powerful and intense relationships between women, but most especially between mothers and daughters, are threaded through the entirety of the book.

This novel is another winner by Alice Hoffman. It just was so good that I had to ration it. I was able to slow down and savor it as I made myself put the book aside or I would have finished it in one setting. It is that good!!

Coincidentally, I felt a kinship and strong link to Alice Hoffman's to her Practical Magic series. There were so many comparisons and similarities so it was a pure joy to read especially as that series is one of my absolute favorites!  

The second 5.0-star book in August. What is going on? I am so lucky and so happy to read so many good books this year. BTW, this was my 60th book of 2023 so I have met my adjusted goal!! 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

As always, Alice Hoffman writes so, so, so beautifully. It is hard to explain how her words transport me so easily to her storyline. It is as if I step into the novel and am an observer. Alice Hoffman's writing is just beyond extraordinary as you are fully immersed with your heart pounding because you are reading the book TOO fast. This time, I was able to savor this book!

Character development: 5.0 stars

The character development of the two main characters, Ivy (mother) and Mia (daughter), is just so lovely. It is the type of relationship that all mothers want from their daughters AND all daughters want from their mothers. The women were very strong in this book even though they were definitely second-class citizens. Working together, these women could accomplish anything!

The secondary characters are the main antagonist, Joel, the leader of a horrific cult. But also some good people in Mia's life, Sarah and Constance, who are integral to her life. 

Massachusetts, but especially western Massachusetts plays a huge role in this novel.

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The storyline was one of so many twists and turns. It starts out with a pregnant teenager who runs away from home in Boston to a commune in western Massachusetts and then adds in The Scarlett Letter. Amazing! T

The main locations were Boston, Salem, and western Massachusetts.  

Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars

All of Alice Hoffman's books are memorable. But this book makes me want to read The Scarlett Letter again!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeousness!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

It was a PERFECT title.

Gut feeling: 4.0 stars

I was pretty certain that I would love this book as I had loved every Alice Hoffman book that I have read!

Suggestions: 

A map of western Massachusetts might be a nice touch. 

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman 

272 pages

This was a library book; but then I bought it about half-way through

Release date of 08/15/2023

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Alice Hoffman

My Goodreads review

Atria

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

 

Hurriquake Weekend

So this crazy, crazy weekend happened. #Hurriquake

We had a Hurricane watch for Hilary AND an earthquake centered in Ojai. I mean, seriously!?!?

This was my family's first hurricane watch (well, my dad was about three months old when the last happened in 1939). My little family of native Californians is used to earthquakes, but a hurricane. Nope! 

So we overprepared, watched TV, ordered Uber eats, and didn't go out. I couldn't concentrate on reading because I was anxious about what was going to happen.  Thankfully, nothing happened and we were all safe and sound. The winds were about the same velocity as the annual Santa Ana winds, there was constant rain for over 24 hours, and no loss of power at all. But, some areas in the Coachella Valley and San Bernardino mountains were not as lucky as we were.

So I will begin reading this evening and see how much I can read THIS week!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Don't Let Them Bury My Story

OVERVIEW

Viola Ford Fletcher, as of the publishing of this memoir, is the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Viola Ford Fletcher (Mother Fletcher) had a very interesting life of 109 years, but the WHAT IFs are unsettling. 

Mother Ford discusses her marriages, children, grandchildren, her testimony before a Congressional subcommittee, and a trip to the Motherland in Ghana.

This memoir is a DEFINITE read if you want to learn more about the Massacre. The only way we can stop horrific events like this from ever happening again is by learning about them. Whitewashing or ignoring historical events like this does a disservice to our country.

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars

Writing: 2.5 stars

This memoir was written by Mother Fletcher and her grandson, Ike Howard. Unfortunately, it appears that the book did not have a ghostwriter which would have improved the quality of writing. 

Additionally, I wanted more. I wanted more about Mother Fletcher's recollection of the Greenwood District before the horrible night of May 31. 1921. Her family sounds wonderful, especially her parents and siblings - I wanted to know more about them. I also wanted to know more about the "after times" for Mother Fletcher's family.

Finally, there could have been better editing. I came across the same phrase being used over and over and parts of the writing repeated in error. Good editing would have either removed the extraneous or added more detail to this novel.

Character Arc: 2.5 stars

The story begins with Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 and ends with the possible restitution for the Massacre victims and descendants. 

However, there could have been so much more. I understand that this was Mother Fletcher's story to tell, but I really wanted more! 

Memorable: 4.5 stars

It was a memorable memoir. I will definitely be looking for more books on the Tulsa Race Massacre. 

Entertaining: 3.0 stars

It was a book that would NOT be entertaining, per se. It is a difficult subject to read about, period. But, I did learn enough to get me interested in finding out more about the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Book cover: 3.0 stars

It could have been so much more. 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Exactly on point. 

Gut feeling: 3.0 stars

I had no clue as to how I would feel about this memoir. So I was in the middle!

Suggestions: 

Listing, in detail, the owners and businesses that were lost that the author personally knew would have been very impactful. 

RECOMMEND

STATISTICS

Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words by Viola Ford Fletcher

127 pages

Read as a Kindle ebook from the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)

Release date of 08/15/20233

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Viola Ford Fletcher

My Goodreads review

Mocha Media Books

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 Don't Let Them Bury My Story by Viola Ford Fletcher and Ike Howard

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜