The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer
Happy reading! 📚
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, March 21, 2024
DNF - Not Your China Doll ebook
Not Your China Doll by Katie Gee Salisbury (ebook)
I will not be finishing this book, unfortunately. I have been reading this book for over a week and only read 100 pages.
The book is dense, plodding, and just too full of details about other characters that Anna May meets as an actress. Yes, many of them were famous, but I wanted to know about Anna May.
This book just didn't work for me which doesn't mean it won't work for you!
Happy reading! 📚
Dorothea 💜
Monday, March 18, 2024
REVIEW - Here's The Story audiobook
Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
Growing up, I loved The Brady Bunch and Friday night television on ABC. It was THE night!! I read this book hoping to learn some background information about The Brady Bunch cast and their interactions together, but I was disappointed. I knew little about them as individuals as this was all before the internet. Sadly, I learned very little about Maureen, Marcia, and her castmates, but much of the book was about her faith. It was almost too much religion for me.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 2.0 stars
The writing could have been better. Maureen could have used help from a professional ghostwriter.
Narration: 3.0 stars
The narration was blah. There was no real feeling and this was Maureen's life, trauma, and experiences. It was as if she separated herself from what she was reading and was emotionless.
Character Arc: 3.5 stars
Maureen comes off as cold, lost, and scared before her mental health issues are diagnosed near the end of the book. Sadly, much of this is learned behavior from her family of origin.
She writes the book in a very chronological manner which flows very nicely for the reader. I wish there was more of Maureen's later life as this book was published in 2008.
Memorable: 3.0 stars
Maureen had a rough time growing up in a very dysfunctional home while being a childhood star. This would scar anyone as this is a huge issue with child actors and truly needs to be addressed.
One thing that seriously grated on me was Maureen's use of the word, "retarded" to describe her older brother. Since the book was written in 2008, I hope that she now uses more appropriate terminology.
Entertaining: 3.0 stars
It was not entertaining at all.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
A beautiful portrait.
Book title: 4.0 stars
On point!
LUKEWARM recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)
Here's The Story by Maureen McCormick
HarperAudio
5 hours, 58 minutes
Release date of 01/01/2008
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading 📚,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, March 17, 2024
My next audiobook is...
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 💜
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 💜
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