Well, I'll be off for a week! However, that doesn't mean that I won't be reading! I'll catch you all up when I am back!!
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Saturday, February 10, 2024
REVIEW - Ladykiller ebook
Ladybird by Katherine Wood (ebook)
OVERVIEW
Honestly, I do not know what the heck that I just read! This mystery-thriller is set in a beautiful location for most of the story on an island in Greece. But it is confusing, on purpose maybe, to have you believe that every character is lying and probably is.
The story takes place in the present day with lots of flashbacks including a "true story" written by one of the characters. The flashbacks, present-day, and true story muddle the storyline more and more as you read it.
Even the ending and epilogue leave more questions than answers. This is not my cup of tea, but others may like it.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
The writing was just not that special. It was good writing, but just not the same caliber as many of the authors that I regularly read.
Character development: 3.0 stars
There are two main characters - Gia (a rich girl) and Abby (the rich girl's BFF) who are both in the flashbacks, current time, and true story book. We really don't learn that much about either character except that Gia is used to getting her way and Abby was indebted to Gia's family for her college education. I really look at them as frenemies and not real friends.
The secondary characters are Leon (the rich family account), Benny (Gia's brother), Garrett (Gia's husband), and the many friends and acquaintances on the Greek island where the novel takes place.
The tertiary character is the fictional Greek island of Miteras.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
The storyline is confusing from beginning to end. Even the authority characters like the family accountant, lawyers, and the police do not seem to be telling the full truth or are hiding information. There is always deception.
The storyline becomes so convoluted that I am not sure what actually happened at all as Gia and Abby have very different viewpoints of every part of the storyline. Maybe, that is what the author was looking to do - confuse us. But, that didn't work for me in a mystery-thriller.
The main location is the fictional Greek island of Miteras.
Memorable/Informative: 3.0 stars
My biggest memory of this book is that I still do not know what happened and will never know what happened.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Gorgeous.
Book title: 3.0 stars
Misleading - is she or isn't she?!?
LUKEWARM recommend
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
Ladybird by Katherine Wood
368 pages
Bantam Dell
Release date of 07/09/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, February 8, 2024
REVIEW - Shelterwood ebook
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate (ebook)
OVERVIEW
This was another incredible historical fiction novel about a time that I knew absolutely nothing about!! This novel was written with two timelines - one in 1909 and the other in 1990 basically in the same area of south-eastern Oklahoma.
The first timeline in 1909 covers the period in Oklahoma when graft and corruption ran rampant to steal valuable land from elderly Native people and Native children to line the pockets of probate judges, lawyers, and white guardians. The 1990 time period is about a fictional national park opening in Oklahoma where mysterious and curious things are occurring in the new national park.
This is an amazingly well-written and well-researched novel. Lisa took a deep dive into the 1909 period to understand all of the intricacies of what took place.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
Lisa writes so beautifully, but this novel was somewhat difficult to get into in the first few chapters. It was a really dense read and had a lot of backstory that was needed to set up the storyline.
Character development: 4.0 stars
There are two timelines with different main characters. The 1909 period had Ollie, Nessie, and Hazel while the 1990 time had Val and Curtis. The 1909 characters were two native girls who were guardians of Ollie's stepfather who were mistreated so they all set out to escape their home life. The 1990 characters were Val who is trying to start fresh as a ranger in a new fictional national park and Curtis who is a Tribal Police officer.
The secondary characters are the friends, family, and associates of the main characters in both times. There were a lot of secondary characters, but not so many as to become confusing.
The tertiary characters are the fictional National Park and the adjoining native lands.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The storyline is intense in both timelines (no spoilers so I'm being a little vague).
The 1909 storyline is about the three girls and the trouble, difficulty, and problems that they encounter after they leave home. They survived by their wits and by the kindness of strangers.
The 1990 storyline begins with the discovery of three skeletons hidden in a cave. Val is determined to discover what happened with Curtis's help.
The main location is southeastern Oklahoma.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
This is a strongly thought-provoking book. The financial mistreatment of the Native people began with the Dawes Act of 1887 which changed the tribal communal land to individual and head-of-household land. Then the White grifters and thieves came in and bought oil-rich or timber-rich property for practically nothing. Additionally, Native peoples were killed including children to gain control of these properties in probate courts as guardians. However, the guardians were only in it to make as much money as possible without any concern for the welfare of the children. These children who were left to fend for themselves were called "elf children".
Kate Barnard was a stateswoman and politician (before women had the vote) in Oklahoma who wanted to protect these elf children and all children. Unfortunately, Kate only held two terms in office and wasn't able to complete her personal goal of protecting the elf children. She was a heroine and savior to many children yet her life was not taught in Oklahoma history lessons.
This powerful story was heartbreaking and convicting. What a stain on Oklahoma and U.S. history!
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Very pretty.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Excellent
HIGHLY recommend
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
384 pages
Ballantine Books
Release date of 06/04/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - Boys in the Trees audiobook
Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon ebook
OVERVIEW
Carly Simon's music was on full rotation on AM radio when I was growing up. Basically, all that I knew about her was that she was married to James Taylor who also was played on the radio a lot.
Carly lived a life of privilege as the child of one of the founders of Simon & Schuster. Her childhood was chaotic, unaffectionate, and filled with trauma. Her way to handle it all was to write in her diaries which was the foundation of her songwriting abilities.
This memoir is told in a somewhat chaotic chronological way. At times, I had to mentally calculate how old she was to try and understand the story being told better. There were a lot of folks in the music industry that she mentioned that I didn't know, but it didn't matter.
I wish that she had talked about her life past 1983 which is where she ended this memoir.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 3.5 stars
The pacing and what was talked about in the book was heavily focused on her childhood. It could have been condensed a bit so that more could have been shared about her songwriting process. I wanted more about her songs, singing, and her process.
Most of the time, the writing was somewhat superficial. I would have liked more in-depth as Carly is a very good writer. Her writing is real and personable. But, this was Carly's memoir and not mine.
Narration: 4.5 stars
Honestly, Carly's narration is so good that I would have never guessed that she has a stutter. It was not apparent in the narration at all. Kudos to you, Carly.
Her voice is just a lovely narration voice that tended to put me to sleep as it was so lusciously soothing. She reads with seriousness and depth, but also with joy and humor. Really well done.
Character Arc: 3.5 stars
The character arc is a bit chaotic as I assume that Carly's childhood and young adulthood were. She ends the memoir in 1983, but I really wanted more of her life. However, I understand that she was raising her kids and wanted peace away from the spotlight.
Memorable: 3.0 stars
There really wasn't especially memorable. She was part of a large group of singers/songwriters in the 1960s who were all blurry to me and I don't care for at all. Carly's music was different to me.
Entertaining: 3.5 stars
It was entertaining, but there could have been so much more depth.
The book is worth reading just for the chapter on Warren Beatty. I won't spoil it, but it is GOOD!
Book cover: 3.0 stars
It just didn't do it for me.
Book title: 4.0 stars
It was okay.
RECOMMEND
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)
Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon
Macmillan Audio
13 hours, 25 minutes
Release date of 11/25/2015
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
Friday, February 2, 2024
REVIEW - A Great Country ebook
A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda (ebook)
OVERVIEW
Wow, this book was very thought-provoking. The premise could happen any day in any city in the United States. To me, that is the problem! A 12-year-old boy is violently arrested and injured, held without his parents or representation, and in an adult county jail because he is "tall and looks 18". Seriously, that is what we are coming to as a country?
The novel follows the story of the Shah family after the arrest of their son or brother. It includes the healing of the family after the trauma of the arrest. Additionally, this incident brings the family closer to each other as a family and to the friends that are family.
This story is really about the police playing hardball with everyone, but most especially with people who are different. We need more mental health workers riding with the police to help determine a person's mental status and defuse the situation. Adding more police is not the answer - the answer is better-trained police.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
Shilpi writes this novel in a way that allows you to read quickly because the story keeps you engaged and at the edge of your seat. There aren't a lot of extraneous descriptions which I would have loved since the Shah family is East Indian. The culture is beautiful and all about the family. Food and family - my kind of community!
Character development: 4.0 stars
There are five main characters - Ashok, Priya (immigrant parents from India), and their American-born children Deepa, Maya, and Ajay. The story deals with the secrets of everyone in the family. Some secrets impact only the individual and then there are the secrets that affect the entire family. The family heals from the purging of these secrets and becomes stronger and closer than they were before the arrest.
The secondary characters are the friends and family of the Shah family members. They include personal family friends, school friends, work friends, and neighbors.
The tertiary characters are the general characters that are needed to make the story work. But there are a reasonable number of supporting characters!
Storyline: 4.0 stars
The storyline is about a 12-year-old boy who is doing something he shouldn't where he shouldn't be doing like most 12-year-old boys! The story begins with his arrest and ends about a month later - it moves really fast with short tight chapters that keep the reader on edge.
My only criticism is I would like to know what happened to the two police officers involved in the arrest. Would it be satisfying? Probably not.
The main locations are Orange County, California, and some flashbacks to India.
Memorable/Informative: 4.5 stars
This is a very thought-provoking book. It is about the arrest of a 12-year-old boy who was thought to be one type of person due to mistaken appearances and prejudices. This could happen to kids that I know and love which is so very wrong.
I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Very pretty.
Book title: 4.5 stars
So appropriate!
DEFINITE recommend
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook) via Book Club Girl
A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
256 pages
Mariner Books
Release date of 03/26/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
My next audiobook is...
Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon (audiobook)
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, February 1, 2024
REVIEW - Husbands & Lovers ebook
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams (ebook)
OVERVIEW
Okay, Beatriz Williams is one of my go-to historical authors. I have read about 12-13 of her historical fiction novels. They have all been good and occur in periods that we don't know much about. This one had two dueling timeframes: the 1950s Suez Canal drama in Egypt and a contemporary timeframe which I really enjoyed. The Suez Canal period was extremely fascinating as I knew nothing about what had happened.
But for the meat of this story. It is about love, war, deception, power, and xenophobia. As always, Beatriz's books are the perfect beach/pool read!! This will be one of her most interesting books historically for me.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Beatriz always writes so beautifully - descriptive, yet not overly wordy or precious. Plus, she writes in medium-length chapters with many cliffhangers at the very end! It made me crazy, but I loved it!
Character development: 4.0 stars
There are two main characters - Mallory, two timelines, 2008 and 2022 living in New England; and Hannah, early 1950s in Cairo with flashbacks to Hungary during WWII and the Soviet invasion. I would have loved an earlier timeline for Hannah so we knew more of her backstory. But, my mind is running thinking of all of the possible scenarios for her life between leaving Hungary and arriving in Cairo.
The secondary characters for Mallory are Monk, Mallory's former boyfriend; Paige, Mallory's sister; and Sam, Mallory's son. For Hannah, they are Lucien, the sketchy hotel manager in Cairo; and Alistair, her diplomat husband.
The tertiary characters are the general characters for both timelines in multiple locations. Yes, it is a historical novel with a lot of supporting characters!
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The Mallory storyline is about her son eating a poisonous mushroom (don't eat wild mushrooms, people) and needing a kidney transplant with the story unfolding from there. The Hannah storyline is surviving WWII, surviving the Soviet invasion of Hungary, and being married to an English diplomat stationed in Cairo. Both stories are amazing, very detailed, and addictive to read.
The main locations are Hungary, Ireland, Cairo, and New England, USA.
Memorable/Informative: 4.5 stars
I loved learning about the building of the Suez Canal and the social implications for Egypt and the countries that built the canal.
Also, the part of the book that focuses on paternity incidents was fascinating to me. It appears that I may have a paternity and a maternal incident in one of my paternal lines. Apparently, it happens more than one would expect and DNA is making it all more real when before it was just hushed-up secrets.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Very pretty.
Book title: 4.5 stars
So appropriate!
HIGHLY recommend
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
384 pages
Ballantine Books
Release date of 06/25/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
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