REVIEW - So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls

 

FYI - Okay, this book is NOT a memoir, but it is more memoir-like than novel-like. So I am using the memoir review format!!

OVERVIEW

This book is about the making of Mean Girls as an adaption from the incredible book by Rosalind Wiseman (which I read and loved) to the movie and screenplay to the musical. This book has it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

If you are a Mean Girls junkie, this book is for YOU! I love the movie so this book was intriguing for me!

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5-stars

Writing: 3.5-stars

The writing was very good. I was surprised because I expected an in-depth analysis of this movie to be a tell-all that would have been ghost-written by a National Inquirer writer.

The author wrote a very good book with interviews and lots of annotated research detailed "Notes" in the last 20% of the book. Thankfully, there were NO footnotes to distract me! Impressive!

This was a lot of fun to read! 

Character Arc: 3.5-stars

The story begins with Rosalind Wiseman's amazing book which was the basis for the screenplay. Tina Fey adapted this amazing book into a screenplay and was involved in the entire process of the movie from writing to casting to almost everything!

I really enjoyed learning about how Tina Fey's real life was included in the screenplay. From the jokes to hard and difficult stories. It was very interesting. 

Memorable: 3.5-stars

It was a memorable memoir because I really loved the movie. Finding out about what happened to make this movie so fantastic was really fun. 

Entertaining: 3.0-stars

It was a fun read. The book did get a bit bogged down to me when it was talking about the theater production of Mean Girls as I really was only interested in the movie.

Book cover: 3.5-stars

Cute.

Book title: 3.5-stars 

Cute. 

Gut feeling: 3.0 stars

I had no clue as to how I would feel about this book. I was very pleasantly surprised!!

Suggestions: 

A listing of the characters and who held the part (in the movie and theater production) would have been great! 

Recommend

STATISTICS

NetGalley ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

272 pages

Dey Street Books

Release date of 01/16/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

My Goodreads review

Dey Street Books

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Darling Girls

 

OVERVIEW

Wow! Sally Hepworth can definitely write a good mystery thriller! I have read all of Sally's books and have enjoyed them all. All of her books are so full of twists and turns until the final BAM!! This book was no different. 

I was so excited that I thought that I had figured out the plotline early in the book and I had until the end! Sally tricked me again with her devious plotline! Very well done!!

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

As I have read all of Sally Hepworth's books, I get her writing and try to figure out the final twist and I am always WRONG!! A well-done mystery thriller again!

Character development: 4.0 stars

This book had three main characters that were set in the before/after timeframes. In the beginning, it took me about 20% of the book to get it all straight. But each main character was really well developed so we understand WHY they were who they were in the present.

The main characters are Jessica, Norah, and Alison. They are foster children being raised in rural Australia. 

The secondary character is Miss Fairchild who is the foster mother of the girls. It was fascinating to observe the interaction between her and the foster girls. Sad, but true lifelike stories that many foster kids must go through. 

The tertiary characters are the significant others, lawyers, police, and townspeople. 

Storyline:  4.0 stars

It was a very good storyline and had me hooked. It was a very sad storyline; however, this is not fiction for many of the kids in foster care. Sally Hepworth got me again with the ending!!

The main locations were Melbourne and the fictional Port Agatha, Australia. 

Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars

This novel was very thought-provoking as foster care is horrible, period.

Book cover: 4.0 stars

It was okay.

Book title: 4.5 stars 

Excellent title.

Gut feeling: 3.0 stars

I assumed that I would like this book as I have liked other books by Sally Hepworth.

Suggestions: 

As I am not Australian, a glossary of Australian terms used in the book would have been helpful.

DEFINITE RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

368 pages 

St. Martin's Press

Release date of 04/23/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Sally Hepworth

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 Making It So by Patrick Stewart

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next book is...

 Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

SEPTEMBER 2023 - Reading Wrap-Up

Hi, everyone!

I hope you all have had a great September and have read lots and lots of very good books!!

So now I have EIGHT books vying for MY 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)
• The Women by Kristin Hannah (September)
• After Annie by Anna Quindlen (September)

It will be so very interesting which book I decide on as MY Best Book of 2023! I think that I know which one it is, but you will have to wait patiently to find out!!

I hope that the quality of books in October continues to be good for me! I have had at least one 5.0-star book every month since I restarted this blog in May 2023 so that is quite the run!

 

STATISTICS:

9 total books

8 e-books; 1 physical book

6 books were an ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

0 books were library books

1 book was a purchased e-book

1 book was an Amazon First Reads

1 book was a gifted physical book

Audio listening time in September: 0 hours, 0 minutes

Pages read in September:  3,441 pages

 

BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS:

5.0-star books (2) 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/overview-omg-this-book-is-unbelievable.html

After Annie by Anna Quindlen

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-after-annie.html

4.5-star books (4)

The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-other-princess.html

A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-traitor-in-whitehall.html

A Night at the Tropicana by Chanel Cleeton

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-night-at-tropicana.html

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/my-next-read-is_7.html

4.0-star books (1)

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone - Outlander #9 by Diana Gabaldon

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-go-tell-bees-that-i-am-gone.html

3.5-star book (1)

Diva by Daisy Goodwin

https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2023/09/review-diva.html

3.0-star books (1)

What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer

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 specific book link to get to that book review!! 

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

P.S. For more information about my book rating, you can find out more HERE.

 

REVIEW - Finding Margaret Fuller

 

OVERVIEW

Allison Pataki does it again!! She writes amazingly beautiful historical fiction about women that many of us do not know in history. Allison Pataki is shifting the paradigm!! 

Margaret Fuller - what a fantastic woman! Interestingly, when I asked my husband if he knew who she was - he knew, but I didn't! 

Margaret Fuller was really a force in women's education, equality, suffrage, and knowledge. She was a woman who was way ahead of her time and still is. I would love to meet her and share some tea, talk, and enjoy nature together. Margaret was a firecracker and friend/acquaintance to so many historical figures.

This novel primarily focuses on Margaret's life from the age of 26 to 40 years of age. This includes her time in Concord, Massachusetts with the Transcendentalists to her time in Europe. There are some flashbacks, but they definitely add to the character development and storyline. 

This book was beautifully written and we learn so much about Margaret. But, it was not like a textbook, but rather a beautiful story of a life well-lived! I loved it!

Yet, ANOTHER 5-star book!!!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

I have read all of the historical fiction novels by Allison Pataki and always eagerly look forward to her next book. This novel is beautifully written and descriptive, yet not wordy. It is just another great read!

Character development: 5.0 stars

This book is full of many characters as most historical fiction is! But, many of them were familiar historical characters!

The main character is Margaret. She is in the title and Margaret is what the entire novel is about! She is fully developed so her choices, reasonings, and life views are explored. 

The secondary characters are Margaret's husband, Giovanni Ossoli, and The Transcendentalists. The Transcendentalists especially Ralph Waldo Emerson opened up many life-changing opportunities for her. The Transcendentalists could take over the book, but Allison Pataki reigns it in and they are handled very well!!

The tertiary characters are Horace Greeley, her family, and the other historical characters Margaret encounters throughout her life.

Storyline:  5.0 stars

This book was the real reason that I read historical fiction. To learn about historical characters that I don't know about and to research more so I can learn about them and their impact on history!! 

Margaret Fuller is one of the "forgotten" Transcendentalists even though her impact was powerful. Of course, I really think it is because she is a woman, no doubt. I learned so much about Margaret Fuller and the Transcendentalists as I never really read any of their works. But, it was fascinating to discover what they were about and what impact Margaret had on the movement.

The main locations were Massachusetts, New York City, and Italy. 

Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars

My goodness, Margaret Fuller was so intriguing that I looked up more on her life before I started this review. She was just incredibly amazing!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfection.

Gut feeling: 3.0 stars

I assumed that I would like this book as I have liked other books by Allison Pataki.

Suggestions: 

I wish that the book had been LONGER!!

Highly RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki

416 pages 

Ballantine

Release date of 02/13/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Allison Pataki

My Goodreads review

Ballantine

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - What Kind of Woman

OVERVIEW

First off, a very dear friend sent me this book for my birthday with a journal. I have been writing and reading both books since early June. Today, was the last poem in this book. It has been a great practice to start my day with self-care. 

It has made me realize that I am NOT a poetry book reader, but rather a good poem lover. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars

Writing: 3.0 stars

This poetry book was all over the place for me. It was inconsistent to me. There were poems that I truly felt resonated with me and others that I didn't "get". There wasn't a poem that I loved enough to share and that is significant to me. 

Character Arc: 2.5 stars

There was no arc. It was all over the place. 

But in all fairness, this was my first book of poetry. But, I have realized that I would rather have a book of "favorite" poems from various poets. Maybe, an anthology. Yes, I am that fickle. 

Memorable: 2.5 stars

It wasn't a memorable book of poetry to me. 

Entertaining: 3.0 stars

At times, I did totally chuckle as I completely understood what the poet and poem were saying to me!

Book cover: 3.5 stars

Very pretty. 

Book title: 4.0 stars 

Totally appropriate. 

Gut feeling: 3.0 stars

I had no clue as to how I would feel about a book of poetry.

RECOMMEND

STATISTICS

What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer

112 pages

Gifted a hardcopy book

Release date of 11/10/20233

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Kate Baer

My Goodreads review

Orion Books

Amazon

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

INCREASING My Goodreads Goal AGAIN!!

So, I increased my Goodreads 2023 Reading Challenge in May 2023 to 60 books. I have met and exceeded that goal by ten books and it is only September. Now I have increased my goal again to 80 books. Will I or won't I make it!?!? 

Only time will tell! 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - After Annie

OVERVIEW

This is a beautiful book! 

The only way that I can describe this novel succinctly is that it is a love letter to a character. The title says it all - if is AFTER ANNIE. Annie is the character to whom the love letter is written so beautifully!

This novel focuses on the impact that the loss of Annie wrecks on those left behind - it was the loss of a wife, mother, and best friend. It is honest and real and shows the worst and best in people. Death can really make people do good supportive things and really mean hateful things. 

The novel was written beautifully and deeply - we get to know the back story of the main characters especially as they all grew up and lived in the same suburban town. Powerful and satisfying. 

This book could be triggering for someone who recently lost a significant person in their life so I wanted to put that out there as a warning.

Yes, ANOTHER 5-star book!!!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

I have read a couple of books by this author and this novel reminded me why I loved her writing. It is so strong, beautiful, and rich. She is descriptive without being wordy. 

I had no clue that she was a journalist and won a Pulitzer. Her writing is nothing that I would expect from someone who has such a strong background in opinion writing and journalism. Anna is a real chameleon!!

Character development: 5.0 stars

The characters are fully developed in a lovely and beautiful way. There were a handful of main characters whose back story was thoroughly explored which added so much to the storyline.  

The main characters are Annie (wife/mother/best friend), Bill (husband/father), Annemarie (best friend), and the four children (Ali, Ant, Benjy, and Jamie). The characters show their different ways of grieving and how they work through the pain and anger that they feel. 

The secondary characters are their friends, family, town residents, school friends, and other people in the lives of the main characters. They were explored greatly as a whole, but some interesting tidbits were shared that made it all come together beautifully.

Storyline:  5.0 stars

This book was described as Contemporary Women's Fiction, but I think it is much more. As I said above, it really is a beautiful love letter to Annie. After she was gone, her family and her best friend had a difficult time grieving. The hardest part for me was the grieving that the children went through - it was so real to me. 

The main location was a suburb outside of Philadelphia. 

Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars

The story was so intense and real that it was as if Annie was a real person. I think that I will need a few days to mourn her passing.

Book cover: 4.0 stars

It was nice, but a little subdued.

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfection.

Gut feeling: 3.0 stars

I assumed that I would like this book as I have liked other books by Anna Quindlen.

Suggestions: 

I wish that the book had been LONGER!!

Highly RECOMMEND

BOOK INFORMATION

After Annie by Anna Quindlen

304 pages 

Random House 

Release date of 03/12/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Anna Quindlen

My Goodreads review

Random House

NetGalley

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next read is...

 Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜