My Mama, Cass by Owen Elliot-Kugell (audiobook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, July 1, 2024
REVIEW - The Most Human (audiobook)
The Most Human by Adam Nimoy (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
Full disclosure, I am not a "Trekkie" fan. However, as a native Angeleno, I admire Leonard Nimoy for his work with the renovation and expansion of my beloved Griffith Observatory. I have watched an occasional episode of the original series, and some of the movies, but I am a novice fan.
Adam Nimoy and I have very similar stories with our families of origin. We had emotionally distant fathers and needy mothers. Adam was able to reconcile with his father before his death, but I did not have that opportunity. We both are native Angelenos who love our city of Los Angeles. Finally, we are part of "Generation Jones" with "Baby Boomer" parents. So much commonality between us!
One caveat, this is a real and raw story with mentions of alcohol consumption, drug usage, and recovery. If that bothers you, please do not read this book.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Adam writes extremely well, but like the attorney that he is.
However, at times, I wanted more detail. Adam wrote descriptively enough that I could imagine and viscerally feel some of the scenes that he describes.
Narration: 4.5 stars
Adam read more slowly than I like, but one can always adjust the speed. It is him telling HIS story and I liked how he spoke so well and with natural inflection.
Character Arc: 4.5 stars
The audiobook is basically told chronologically. The story ends with Adam coming full circle with his father by speaking on Yom Kippur - that final chapter was beautiful and so emotional.
Adam writes about the good and bad in his family, chosen family, and friends. There was drug addiction, alcohol addiction, multiple deaths, and major family dysfunction. But, Adam is determined that the generational trauma ends with him which is exactly what I have done.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
The biggest takeaway is that 12-step Programs work for folks who really work the program. It is not easy but sobriety and amends can make all the difference to familial relationships. There is always hope!!
Entertaining: 4.5 stars
It was not so much entertaining as informative. I appreciated that.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
A perfect father-son portrait.
Book title: 5.0 stars
On point!
STRONG recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)
The Most Human by Adam Nimoy
Dreamscape Media
9 hours, 18 minutes
Release date of 6/4/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
June 2024 - Monthly Wrap-up
Hi, everyone!
Well, June was only four
books, but who is counting???
I have listened to my
first audiobook that I was interested in reading for the first time in a long time. I hope that many more audiobooks are in my
future!
June's overall scores
improved over May with a score of 4.5-starred books. Yes, I did have a 5.0-starred book – it was
an excellent audiobook!
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
The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (March) 5 stars
How To Read A Book by Monica Wood (April) 5 stars
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarity (May) 4.5 stars
The Friday Afternoon Club (June) 5.0 stars (audiobook)
GOODREADS READING GOAL:
For 2024, my goal will be 100 from
the very start!!! As of 06/30/2024, I have read 46 books, or 46% of my goal.
JUNE 2024 STATISTICS:
4 total books
3 e-books; 1 audiobook; 0
physical books
1 book was an ARC (Advance
Reader Copy)
3 books were library books
0 books were purchased
0 books were an Amazon
First Reads
0 books were a Book Club
Girl
Audio listening time in June:
12 hours, 19 minutes
Pages read in June: 912
pages
Average review rating: 4.50
stars
JUNE BOOK RATINGS with
BOOK COVERS:
5.0-star book (1)
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne (audiobook) LINK
4.5-star books (2)
Betrayal at Blackthorn
Park by Julia Kelley (ebook) LINK
4.0-star book (1)
The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan (ebook) LINK
3.5-star book (0)
3.0-star book (0)
If you want to read my full review of any of these books, there are individual review links for each ebook or audiobook next to the book title and author. 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 at this LINK.
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
DNF - Just Add Water (audiobook)
Just Add Water by Katie Ledecky (audiobook)
I will not be finishing this book. I have listened to 26%, and it isn't that interesting.
If you are into swimming statistics and are a big fan of USA swimming, this book is for you.
This memoir didn't work for me which doesn't mean it won't work for you!
Happy reading!
Dorothea 💜
Saturday, June 22, 2024
REVIEW - The Friday Afternoon Club (audiobook)
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
I remember hearing the horrific story of the murder of Dominique Dunne when I was a senior in college. During the late 70s/80s, Los Angeles was "crime central" so I was concerned about what had happened. I was shocked to learn that Dominique was murdered by her boyfriend. I felt so sad for her and her family.
Griffin Dunne, Dominique's older brother, tells the story of the Dunne family before/after Dominique's death. It is a real, raw story of a dysfunctional American family.
One caveat, this is a real and raw story with lots of sexual scenes, drinking to excess, drug usage, and murder details. If that bothers you, please do not read this book.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Griffin writes beautifully. He is a strong writer who wrote about personal and intimate events in his family. He writes with "Irish dark humor", but handles the murder of his beloved sister with grace and love.
Narration: 5.0 stars
The narration was wonderful. Griffin has a nice voice for narration and tells the story of his family with the perfect amount of inflection, feeling, and emotion.
Character Arc: 5.0 stars
The audiobook is basically told chronologically in two parts - before/after the murder of Dominique Dunne. As someone whose paternal grandmother was murdered in 1939, I could viscerally understand the horror that the Dunne family lived through, unfortunately.
Griffin writes about the good, bad, and ugly in his family. There was mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, sexual issues, and the murder of a daughter/sister. But, there was the beauty of a family that rallied around a mother with MS, supported a sister after her death during the trial of her murderer, and loved each other deeply. This was a tortured family who survived it all with love.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
Griffin struggled with dyslexia which was not fully understood in the 60s and 70s. It made me understand my own struggles with depression and how children are sometimes not diagnosed properly.
The large Dunne family loved one another deeply but had their own issues. They all reconciled in the end which is my hope for my dysfunctional family. It gave me hope!
Entertaining: 5.0 stars
It was so entertaining! I love the friendship with Carrie Fisher stories and the "Santa Claus" story.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
A perfect family portrait.
Book title: 5.0 stars
On point!
STRONG recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)
The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne
Penguin Audio
12 hours, 19 minutes
Release date of 6/11/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, June 20, 2024
REVIEW - The Marriage Sabbatical (ebook)
The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan (ebook)
OVERVIEW
This is the fifth novel by Lian Dolan that I have read. I enjoy her books because they are just so escapist and light!! This novel is about a couple taking a "marriage sabbatical" in separate places for about a year.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
The author writes in an accessible and easy-to-read style. I like her writing because it is descriptive without being heavy-handed.
Character development: 4.0 stars
The two main characters are Nicole and Jason, a married couple with adult children.
The secondary characters are the friends they meet on their "marriage sabbatical", friends from home, coworkers, and family.
The tertiary character is the "marriage sabbatical" itself. It is a HUGE part of the storyline.
Storyline: 4.0 stars
The storyline begins with Jason taking a year-long sabbatical from work. Jason goes to Argentina and Nicole goes to Santa Fe. They agree to a "marriage sabbatical" allowing them to have relationships with other partners during Jason's sabbatical. I didn't find the storyline to be believable, especially the ending. It just didn't work for me.
The main locations were Portland, Oregon; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Patagonia, Argentina.
Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars
I enjoyed learning about what makes Portland and Santa Fe tick as cities!
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Nice.
Book title: 4.0 stars
Appropriate.
DEFINITE recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)
The Marriage Sabbatical by Lian Dolan
288 pages
William Morrow
Release date of 4/2/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Saturday, June 15, 2024
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