Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick
For some reason, I forgot to post this to my blog. I started this book a couple of days ago.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
REVIEW - Lovers at The Museum ebook
Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende (ebook)
OVERVIEW
This was a VERY short novelette or even short story about the discovery of two lovers in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. It is a weird, supernatural story that only the incredible Isabel Allende could or should write. It reminds me of the La Mariée painting by Chagall which is so crazy that it is beautiful!
It was funny, at times, and extremely quirky, but an easy read. This short story has an opportunity to be a full-length novel and I hope this happens. To be fair, I have loved everything that I have read by Isabel Allende. She is one of the greatest Hispanic and female authors of our age.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Isabel writes so incredibly with such passion and description. Yet, her stories and books read so easily that you can imagine the book in your mind. Isabel's writing is pure poetry for all of the senses. It is a perfect style for this type of story.
Character development: 4.0 stars
There were three characters - Bibiña (female lover), Indar (male lover), and Aitor (investigating detective).
Of course, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao was a secondary character.
A lot was missing from the story including the couple's relationship afterward and the detective's future discoveries in the museum.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
Bibiña was discovered in a wedding dress and Indar was in his birthday suit in the locked and secure museum by a cleaning woman. Then the incident was investigated by a detective. There are secrets in the museum almost as if it is sentient.
The above storyline is a complete novel just waiting to be written by Isabel Allende.
The main location was the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain.
Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars
It was just a unique and escapist short story!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Very appropriate.
DEFINITE recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Amazon First Reads Kindle ebook
Lovers at the Museum by Isabel Allende
25 pages
Amazon Original Stories
Release date of 04/01/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Amazon First Reads - December 2023
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - The House of Hidden Meanings audiobook
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
I knew very little about RuPaul, but I loved the idea of spotlighting drag performers like him in his television shows even though it is a reality competition. After I had started this audiobook, I saw and heard some disturbing commentary about the transgender community by RuPaul which concerned me.
I liked this audiobook, but I didn't love it! It could have been so much more including RuPaul's addiction recovery and journey and his healing from his traumatic childhood with his siblings.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing was good and much stronger than in a lot of memoirs. It was raw, real, and very intense. RuPaul's young childhood was so horrible that I am shocked that he and his siblings made it out successfully.
Narration: 3.0 stars
The narration, at times, was very upbeat and exciting, and at other times was somewhat bland and boring. It was as if RuPaul changed his reading style to match his feelings while reading the narration. The narration could have been more consistent for my taste.
Character Arc: 3.5 stars
RuPaul comes off as a warm, thoughtful, and focused individual. My only complaint is that he is a diva with a superstar complex, but that is the only way one makes it in the entertainment business.
He writes the book in a very chronological manner which flows very nicely for the reader. I only wish there was more of RuPaul's later life including addressing some of his controversies and his breakthrough in television.
Memorable: 3.5 stars
The disco/punk/new wave club scene in New York sounds like a crazy time in 80's New York City. RuPaul and I are very close in age so I could understand his frame of reference.
Entertaining: 3.5 stars
I only wish I knew the backstory of the people, places, and bands that RuPaul talks about. Being a West Coast kid was a disadvantage concerning Atlanta and New York City.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
A beautiful portrait.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Very appropriate!
Recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
HarperAudio
7 hours, 7 minutes
Release date of 03/05/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
REVIEW - The 24th Hour ebook
The 24th Hour (Women's Murder Club series) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
OVERVIEW
This is the 24th+ book in the Women's Murder Club series. I have read all of the novels/novellas in this long series.
The story is about the police, district attorney, and medical examiner's triumvirate of law enforcement in San Francisco with three good friends. Plus, the added drama with another friend who is a reporter.
You should read the previous novels in the Women's Murder Club series to get the full backstory and understand the characters. Or not.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
The writing is just blah to me now. It has been a long series with more than 24 books and novellas. The writing feels very formulatic and it appears that James Patterson doesn't even write these books anymore. Instead, he has an "assistant" writer, such as Maxine Paetro, write the books in each series.
Character development: 3.0 stars
The main characters are Lindsay (SFPD detective), Yuki (assistant district attorney), Claire (chief medical examiner), and Cindy (newspaper reporter). These gals have been personal and professional friends for a very long time.
The secondary characters are the personal partners, work partners, and assorted friends and family.
There has not been any character development with any of the main or secondary characters for a long time. The only real changes are the different "guest" characters.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
There were no big spoilers in this book, but there is a little one at the end. There was no setup to end the series so there are more novels to come.
All of the main locations were in the San Francisco Bay area.
Memorable/Informative: 2.5 stars
This series is getting tired. I would like it to come to a conclusion so I know how all of the characters end up.
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Descriptive, but doesn't go with the book itself.
Book title: 3.0 stars
Typical for this series with no real meaning.
LUKEWARM recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
The 24th Hour (Women's Murder Club series) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
400 pages
Little, Brown and Company
Release date of 05/06/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, March 11, 2024
My next ebook is...
The 24th Hour (A Women's Murder Club series) by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - Middletide ebook
Middletide by Sarah Crouch (ebook)
OVERVIEW
I have not read many mystery thrillers lately because I find them too gory and just too much for me. Thankfully, this book was manageable for me.
This is a debut novel by Sarah Crouch. It is about two high school sweethearts, Elijah and Nakita, who separate due to Elijah attending college out of state. They then reconnect when Elijah moves back home. There is a murder so everything in their hometown of the fictional Port Orchards, WA becomes chaotic.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
The writing was very well done. This author should have a great career ahead of herself if her work continues at this level and continues to develop.
Character development: 3.5 stars
This book has two main characters, Elijah and Nakita. Elijah grew up in an isolated cabin on the outskirts of Port Orchards. Nakita was born and raised on the nearby fictional Native American reservation for the fictional Squalmoah people. They become friends through their shared love of cross-country running. Elijah promised Nakita he would return after graduation, but he didn't return after the promised four years; however, he did return fifteen years later.
The secondary characters are Samuel (Nakita's father and a minister), Erin (the town doctor), Jim (the sheriff), Jeremy (the deputy), and Chitto (Elijah's friend). They are all integral to the story, but their development and motivation could be further explored.
The tertiary characters are the townspeople of Port Orchards.
Storyline: 3.5 stars
It had a great premise, but the execution of the storyline just didn't work for me.
There were just too many timelines that caused the beginning of the book to be confusing.
Yes, this was a mystery thriller, but it could have been told a little more chronologically to make it easier for the reader. Putting the full date at the beginning of each chapter also slowed it down for me as I had to stop and figure out where the chapter was in the story.
The courtroom scenes didn't ring true to me as a murder-one case would have been handled very differently regarding a defense attorney. Additionally, the sheriff and the deputy would have been much more tight-lipped.
Finally, the murder was just too perfect and tied up in a bow. It just didn't seem realistic.
The main locations were fictional - Port Orchards, Washington and the neighboring Native American reservation.
Memorable/Informative: 2.0 stars
So this novel includes a story that includes a Native American reservation and Native American characters, but this novel was not written by a Native American. This is very concerning to me even with the Author's Note.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Very pretty.
Book title: 3.0 stars
This is never explained to my satisfaction.
Recommend
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
Middletide by Sarah Crouch
288 pages
Atria Books
Release date of 06/11/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
Friday, March 8, 2024
My next ebook is REALLY...
Middletide by Sarah Crouch
Yes, I am back to reading Middletide!!!
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - Crying in H Mart ebook
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (ebook)
OVERVIEW
So I am one of those readers who normally isn't a fan of best sellers. So I am going to be the outlier who likes this book but doesn't love it. It just didn't resonate as deeply for me as for others and that is okay.
Michelle Zauner is a beautiful writer, but this memoir felt more like a cathartic project for her than a memoir for the broader reader. Yes, she had a lot to process while nursing and caring for her mother and then ultimately losing her to cancer. As a mixed-race or hapa woman, she seemed to have lost her connection to her Korean heritage with the passing of her mother. But, food and music helped her reconnect with her remaining Korean family on a very intense level.
As I know very little about Korean food or culture, this book was difficult for me as I am not familiar with the food or language at all. My husband is an ABC (American-born Chinese) so the Chinese culture and food are what I am more comfortable and familiar so I need to broaden my horizons.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing was very strong, most especially as a debut book. She is a young woman (34 years old) and her future writing will deepen and develop with a long career ahead of her, I truly believe.
Character development: 3.0 stars
This book has two main female characters: Michelle (the author) and Chongmi (her mother). We do not learn much about Chongmi until after she passes and Michelle learns more about her as a young woman. Their relationship is tortured, but we really didn't learn why exactly. I still am not certain whether the issues were due to being raised in different countries or simply being different people.
The secondary characters are Joel (her father) and Peter (her husband). Her father comes across as a very weak and dependent man and Peter comes across as a strong man who supports Michelle during this difficult time of her life.
The tertiary characters are Michelle's Korean family, her in-laws, her friends, and the Korean community in Eugene, Oregon.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
This memoir is told chronologically with the appropriate flashbacks. However, it is written more like a novel than a memoir to me. Most especially, I wanted more about Chongmi's life in Korea.
The main locations are primarily in New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Seoul, South Korea; and Eugene, Oregon.
Memorable/Informative: 3.0 stars
Okay, I initially thought that this was a novel until the last few chapters when I realized that this was a memoir. Yes, I must have been under a rock. But, normally I do not read reviews about a book before I read it. Also, in my defense, this book came out during the pandemic when I was not reading at all.
The biggest takeaway for me is that Korean food is spicy, fermented, and served blazing hot!
Book cover: 3.0 stars
Okay.
Book title: 3.0 stars
I don't get it. Was it a metaphor?
Recommend
EBOOK DETAILS
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
243 pages
Knopf
Release date of 04/20/2021
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚!
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, March 7, 2024
My next audiobook is...
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul (audiobook)
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
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