The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
REVIEW - The Painter's Daughters ebook
OVERVIEW
This is a debut novel and an excellent first book by Emily Howes!
The subject matter of this novel is really dense, difficult, and horrible. This is the story of Thomas Gainsborough's two daughters and their lives. It was so sad and heart-rending to read about their lives.
I knew who Thomas Gainsborough was as I have viewed his amazing painting "Blue Boy" since I was little at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. Of course, I never thought about the back story of "Blue Boy" or the painter, Thomas Gainsborough. This historical novel fills in most of the gaps in my knowledge.
This novel is difficult to get into immediately, but it really gets going about halfway through. It is definitely thought-provoking!
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
Emily's writing is a bit dense and took me some time to totally get into it, but it is totally appropriate for the time period. I read much slower than normal to fully understand and digest it all. Since this is her debut novel and it was so good, I see nothing but a great writing future for Emily.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This book had two main characters, Molly and Peg Gainsborough. At the core of the novel is their bond, dependence, and undying sisterly love. They go through so much together, but all that matters is that they are sisters who love each other through good and bad times.
The secondary characters are Thomas and Margaret Gainsborough - the painter and his wife. They try to keep their lives together, but it is challenging and difficult at times.
The tertiary character is a secondary timeline that cements it all together beautifully.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The story is primarily told in one timeline in the mid-1700s and a secondary one in the 1730s. Both are very character-driven and highly engaging.
The secondary story explains so much about the primary story. It is fascinating how the author weaves these two stories beautifully.
The main locations were Ipswich, Bath, and London, England.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
It was overwhelming to learn so much about the 18th century that I never even considered. The subjugation of women, the poor staying poor forever, and the rich getting richer and richer. The sad thing is that this is still is how things are happening now in the 21st century.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Very beautiful.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Lovely.
HIGHLY recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC Kindle book
The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes
320 pages
Simon & Schuster
Release date of 02/27/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, November 13, 2023
My next audiobook is... UPDATED
Yes Please by Amy Poehler
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
P.S. I read this as a physical book and did not like it! I am listening to it as an audiobook and it is a completely different experience. Interesting!!
REVIEW - Being Henry audiobook
OVERVIEW
I have recently listened to several celebrity memoirs and some were great, good, and okay. This was just lovely!
I loved Henry Winkler as an actor in "Happy Days" and "Royal Pains" and now I love him as a human being. His life was a roller coaster, but the mantra of his life is gratitude! So lovely!
Henry shares so very much which was difficult including his undiagnosed dyslexia until his 30s. The memoir reads like he is just sitting in my ear talking to me or we are talking over coffee.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
So, so perfect. I loved that Henry broke the "fourth wall" at times which made it so very real and personal. He really got down into the deep, dark secrets of his life, but they did make Henry the kind and compassionate human that he is. Henry learned from the generational trauma in his life and did not repeat it with his own family. The ending for me was the cherry on top - very beautiful and powerful.
Narration: 5.0 stars
So great. I'm so grateful that he explained that Henry is who he really is. The Fonz is a character that he plays. So many people lose sight of the fact that Henry is a lovely person first!
The narration was real, funny, and emotional at times. He was a great narrator and it was an amazing job, especially with his dyslexia! Just wonderful!
Character Arc: 5.0 stars
The majority of the memoir was in chronological order which I greatly appreciated. There were times when it was appropriate for Henry to tell an earlier life story that explained or elaborated on that current story. There was so much about Henry that I didn't know so it was interesting to learn all about it!
Memorable: 5.0 stars
I didn't even realize that Henry was a first-generation American or Jewish. His parents escaped Nazi Germany just before Hitler's horrific murder of millions. Unfortunately, this escape had a difficult effect on Henry's life. So very sad, but Henry vowed to not let this happen to his children and it didn't!
Entertaining: 5.0 stars
Henry is a natural storyteller. I could listen to hours more of him reading the phone book.
Another interesting tidbit, Henry has an MFA from Yale. I think that this has gotten lost in the shuffle of "Happy Days". He did a lot of studying and worked hard to be the amazing actor and storyteller that he is.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
It's a happy portrait of Henry. But the close-up face shot is being overdone in memoir covers.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect!
Suggestions:
I wish that there had been more chapters to this memoir!
HIGHEST recommendation
STATISTICS
Being Henry by Henry Winkler
9 hours, 22 minutes
Listened to as an audiobook from the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
Release date of 10/31/2023
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, November 6, 2023
Goodreads - Books by Dorothea
Additionally, the new email address for this blog is booksbydorotheablog@gmail.com instead of my personal email address.
This change will allow me to keep my private and blog material separate! Please feel free to contact me with any questions!
Thanks so much for your support!!
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - If You Would Have Told Me audiobook
OVERVIEW
This memoir happened to come out along with a lot of other anticipated ones such as Britney Spears's. The big difference between the two is that John name names. I am not sure about how I feel about this. It could be perceived as mean and spiteful.
John comes from a beautiful family that he obviously loves very much. He lives the American dream and becomes a star!
It is just wonderful that he found his ultimate dream of his own family with his wife and son.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 3.5 stars
The writing for this memoir is really good, but not what I would expect from a Hollywood actor. I am assuming that there was a ghostwriter, but I could be very wrong. I also think that the storytelling lost its punch about halfway through the book.
Narration: 5.0 stars
Very good! John Stamos narrates this himself.
At times, his voice breaks when speaking of those that he has lost or laughs at memorable anecdotes. He also does passing impersonations of some famous people. Overall, I really enjoyed his narration.
Character Arc: 3.5 stars
The memoir was all over the place and time jumped which was really confusing. I think that we covered his birth to the present time, but I could not swear to it in a court of law. I think much more about his time on Full/Fuller House is what his fans are looking to hear about, but I think that he purposely wrote it this way.
Memorable: 3.5 stars
The most memorable thing was that John and I are very close in age and lived very similar Southern California childhoods.
Entertaining: 3.5 stars
At times, it was laugh-out-loud funny especially when John shared his personal experiences. But the name-dropping and close friendships with comedians that I find coarse and nasty are bothersome.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Nice face portrait, but it is being overdone.
Book title: 4.0 stars
Really nice.
Suggestions:
The title was supposed to be HIS catch phrase, but he did not use it nearly enough in the book.
RECOMMEND
STATISTICS
If You Had Told Me by John Stamos
8 hours, 44 minutes
Listened to as an audiobook from the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
Release date of 10/24/2023
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Friday, November 3, 2023
REVIEW - Every Time We Say Goodbye ebook
OVERVIEW
This is the third book I have read by Natalie Jenner and I absolutely loved it!!
The novel is the third in the Jane Austen Society trilogy and the best of the trilogy. This probably could be called a stand-alone book, but I think that the experience would be so much richer and understandable if the other two books in the series were read first!
This novel wraps up the story of the Jane Austen Society trilogy perfectly. It is primarily about Vivien (playwright) who leaves London for Rome to escape from the harsh reality of the theater world.
The character development is powerfully and beautifully done which is what I love about historical fiction. There are a lot of characters, but Natalie provides a list of characters at the beginning which is useful. Most of the characters were easy to remember as some were based on historical characters or were such great characters!
This book was excellent!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Natalie's writing gets stronger with each novel that she writes! This novel takes you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. The writing is very descriptive, but not so much that it slows the story down.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This book really has only one main character, Vivien. Others might argue that there are more, but the secondary characters support Vivien rather than share the storyline. Vivien rises about her lower middle-class background by attending university, but WWII interrupts her engagement to her fiancé. She takes a job rewriting a movie in Rome and then the story takes off beautifully!
The secondary characters are John, Nino, her coworkers at the studio, and her friends from a bookshop in London.
The tertiary character is Italy - specifically, Rome. The characters all come together because of Rome.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The story is told in two timelines - 1943 when the resistance is fighting the Nazis for control of Italy and 1954/1955 when Vivien is primarily in Rome.
The stories sync up and are woven together beautifully with some major twists that were very unexpected, but masterfully done!!
The main locations were Rome (and the surrounding areas) along with some of the story taking place in London and Devon, England.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I have tried to avoid WWII novels as the horror is so haunting for me. But, I think that this story has not been told before in such detail. It shares the inaction that Italy endured before and after the war due to the inaction by the Vatican to save the lives of Jews, resistance, and normal citizens.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Stunningly beautiful.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Lovely.
HIGHEST recommendation
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC Kindle book
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner
352 pages
Allison and Busby
Release date of 03/21/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, November 2, 2023
REVIEW - Good Taste ebook
OVERVIEW
This was a novel about the writing of a book called "How The English Eat". Stella is a writer who travels around England in 1931 to learn more about the "old time" or traditional foods of England.
She has many adventures while writing her book, but she learns so much about herself and what writing and food mean to her. Also, she finds what REALLY matters in her life.
This is a VERY English book so it was hard for me to follow at times because the food was so unfamiliar.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 3.5 stars
Okay, so I could NOT pin down what was making this lovely book feel like a textbook at times. The author has a Ph.D. in History which I discovered at the end of the book! At times, it felt like a historical cookbook.
I would have loved it more if it had more of a true historical fiction feel.
The letters that Stella received from posting in the various newspapers were AMAZING!!
Character development: 4.0 stars
I loved the characters in this book! I thought that they were the quintessential English folks that I imagine when I think of my VERY extended cousins who still live in England (only know of them through genealogy).
The main characters are Stella, her father, and her mother (deceased). Stella is a writer who published a book that did mediocrely well. She is working on her new book about the food of England when her dad unexpectedly moves into her small cottage. Her mother's impact on the book is felt throughout through her love for her family, but most especially at the end.
The secondary characters are Dilly, Michael, Lucien, and Freddie. These four characters help Stella understand the meaning of friendship, integrity, and truth.
Storyline: 3.5 stars
I honestly can say that I predicted the ending of the book, but not all of it. The author had a few twists up her sleeve.
The main locations were London and Yorkshire, England.
Memorable/Informative: 3.5 stars
The main thing that I took away from this book is that I am not sure that I would like much English food.
I do wish that the author had had a glossary and description of the food mentioned in the book. This American was not familiar with much of the food at all.
Book cover: 3.0 stars
It was okay.
Book title: 3.0 stars
It was appropriate for the storyline. But the name of the book that Stella was researching would have been even better!
RECOMMEND
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (via Book Club Girl) Kindle ebook
Good Taste by Caroline Scott
429 pages
Simon and Schuster UK
Release date of 11/07/2023
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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