Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
OVERVIEW
Writing: 5.0 stars
The method applied to this updated memoir is so good! I loved hearing how Wil's writing improved and improved. Now, it is REALLY good - I mean, gut-wrenching and powerfully good.
I also really enjoyed the asides that Wil used throughout the audiobook to further explain a situation or story. It made it so rich and interesting. Some people may have issues with this style, but I loved it!
Narration: 5.0 stars
Wil is a strong narrator. He is telling his own story and it was difficult to listen to it at times and triggered a lot of childhood memories for me. However, I cried and laughed with Wil and thoroughly enjoyed his narration.
Character Arc: 5.0 stars
This is told chronologically from his previous memoir with some essays, speeches, and blog posts along with Wil's asides sprinkled liberally throughout the memoir. The updates and asides make this memoir so very strong.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
As someone who grew up in Southern California in the shadow of Hollywood, I had no idea until the past twenty years or so how horrible it is especially to young actors. Hollywood sucks and more controls need to be in place to protect our children who are involved in the business. The Coogan Law needs to be updated - 15 cents on every dollar earned is not enough to be placed in trust for child actors.
Entertaining: 5.0 stars
Wil is a great writer and narrator. He tells the stories vividly and I could picture it happening as he tells it in the audiobook. Wil made me laugh, cry, and be very thankful for my therapist.
I would love to have a burrito with Wil (inside story from the book)! He is very funny and a fantastic storyteller
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Nicely done.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect!
HIGHEST recommendation
STATISTICS
Release date of 04/12/2022
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
Hi, everyone!
Well, I am shocked that I read as many books as I read this month. This month included the week that I took off for our Anniversary trip to Cambria, California.
But the weird thing is
that February was a month with three HIGHEST recommendation books (5.0 stars) and three LUKEWARM
recommend books (3.0 stars). What a dichotomy!
2nd ANNUAL “booksbydorothea”
BEST BOOKS OF 2024:
All
We Were Promised
by Ashton Lattimore (January) 5 stars
Miss
Morgan's Book Brigade
by Janet Skeslien Charles (February) 5 stars
GOODREADS READING GOAL:
For 2024, my goal will be 100 books from the very start!!! As of 02/29/2024, I have read 15 books, or 15% of my
goal.
FEBRUARY 2024 STATISTICS:
10 total books
7 e-books; 3 audiobooks; 0
physical books
5 books were an ARC
(Advance Reader Copy)
3 books were library books
0 books were purchased
2 books were Amazon
First Reads
1 book was a Book Club
Girl
Audio listening time in February:
19 hours, 46 minutes
Pages read in February:
5,173 pages
Average review rating:
4.05 stars
FEBRUARY BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS:
5.0-star books (3)
Deaf Utopia by Nyle DiMarco REVIEW
The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse REVIEW
Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles REVIEW
4.5-star books (2)
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams REVIEW
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate REVIEW
4.0-star books (1)
A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda REVIEW
3.5-star book (1)
Boys in the Trees by Carly Simon REVIEW
3.0-star books (3)
Ladykiller by Katherine Wood REVIEW
An American Princess by Annejet van der Zijl REVIEW
Face It by Debbie Harry REVIEW
If you want to read my
full review of any of these books, there are individual review posts for each ebook
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 ratings, you can find out more HERE.
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing was just so perfectly done. It was descriptive, it was clipped, and it was both depending on the circumstances in the storyline.
Janet also moves effortlessly between the two distinct periods. It flows so very well which makes it very easy to read.
Character development: 5.0 stars
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The two storylines were woven together in a storyline tapestry so well. The commonality was the love of books, libraries, and reading. Historical fiction done to perfection!
The main locations are primarily in NYC and Picardie, France (northern France).
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I learned so much about CARD and WWI. This period in history really wasn't covered in my American history classes very much at all which is so wrong. This time should be fully examined along with WWII to better understand why bloody wars continue to ravage Europe.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Right on point!
HIGHEST recommendation
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles
352 pages
Atria Books
Release date of 05/07/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
OVERVIEW
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing was good, but some editing would have made the writing in this memoir so much better. The first few chapters were very strong when Debbie discussed her childhood, high school, and community college years. But, when she moved to NYC, it became multiple streams of consciousness fighting each other for attention.
Narration: 3.0 stars
The narration is bland and boring. It was as if she was reading about someone else's life.
Character Arc: 3.0 stars
Debbie Harry comes off as aloof, vain, and egotistical throughout the book. Additionally, she is very sexual and uses that sexuality in her writing, performing, and personal life.
Her appearance is mentioned throughout the book numerous times including how pretty she is. I know that she has to be more than a pretty face, but that just didn't come through.
Memorable: 3.5 stars
The punk scene in New York sounds like a crazy time in a dirty, dangerous, and broke New York City. I enjoyed hearing about all of the artistry in all of its forms that blossomed in the 70s and 80s.
Entertaining: 3.0 stars
It could have been so much more. More about Blondie the band, Blondie the individual members, and Blondie who was Debbie Harry.
I only wish that I knew the backstory of the people, places, and bands that he talks about. Being a West Coast kid put me at a disadvantage, but Wikipedia was my friend!
Book cover: 4.5 stars
A beautiful portrait.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Very appropriate!
LUKEWARM Recommend
STATISTICS
Release date of 10/1/2019
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing, as always, was amazing. Amanda writes beautifully with warmth and affection for her characters as well as the story itself. She writes descriptively, but not overly precious. Additionally, the author writes in such a way that you feel what is happening in the story - specifically, this one touched me, especially as a mother to a young adult daughter.
Character development: 5.0 stars
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline was really creative and well done. I thought that one thing was happening in the "timed" chapters and I was totally wrong (sorry, no spoilers). The other chapters involving the telling of the story let you feel and understand how horrible anorexia is.
The before, during, and after times are continually heartbreaking. Anorexia takes over the family and changes everything forever. You feel what each member is going through and how much anorexia sets up in a family to try and destroy it.
The main locations are primarily in England with a brief time in Florida.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
Anorexia is a mental illness that is not about food per se but more about control until the person dies from starvation or is in recovery. With all of the focus on being physically beautiful through plastic surgery, diet, and weight loss drugs, it makes sense that this mental illness occurs. We as parents and society need to watch our messaging to our children in our homes, limit social media, and talk about how these celebrities look so "perfect".
The first time that I knew about someone dying from anorexia was during my senior year of college when the talented singer, Karen Carpenter, died from this horrible mental illness.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
So appropriate.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Right on point!
HIGHEST recommendation
EBOOK DETAILS
Amazon First Reads - November 2016 (ebook)
The Food of Love by Amanda Prowse
364 pages
Lake Union Publishing
Release date of 12/01/2016
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
