Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
P.S. I also need to find a new audiobook!
OVERVIEW
Writing: 4.5 stars
Michael writes prose, lyrics, and music beautifully. I was impressed that the writing was so strong especially as Michael didn't finish high school! Impressive!
Narration: 5.0 stars
Michael read like a professional narrator with his amazing speaking voice (just as good as his amazing singing voice). He read with feeling and emotion as appropriate.
He also has a great sense of humor and made me laugh out loud. Michael's book is sprinkled liberally with curse words including my favorite that begins with an "F". It didn't bother me at all as it was all appropriate!
Character Arc: 4.0 stars
The audiobook is told chronologically from his childhood in St. Louis to his current life in California. The story ends in 2023 with Michael in a good place in his life with his career, marriage, and family.
The only real issue for me is that Michael knows a lot about music from writing lyrics and music to playing multiple instruments and being a music producer including forming his own record label. He talks about chord progression and I was lost as I have no natural musical ability. I wish Michael had explained more about the music as it would have been helpful!
Memorable: 5.0 stars
I loved how he shared how his life was not perfect including his wife's breast cancer diagnosis and their joint drug and alcohol recovery. He also shared his difficult relationship with his father. But my favorite parts are when Michael takes ownership of his behavior and calls himself an "a-hole" which was a correct analysis.
Entertaining: 5.0 stars
Michael told funny stories, but the best anecdotes were about his son when he was little. The story about the coffee shop and the cookie was hysterical to me as a parent!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect - showcasing his beautiful blue eyes.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Oh, so perfect - he wrote this song AND Michael has imposter syndrome thinking he is the fool!
STRONG recommend
STATISTICS
Release date of 5/21/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston (ebook)
OVERVIEW
This is the second book that I have read by Paula Brackston. It is also the first in a four-part series! I am so excited to read more about these wonderful characters!
This book is basically about a woman with psychometry who travels through time. It is similar to the Outlander series with time travel, but is set about a century earlier in England and the reason for the journey is a silver chartelaine.OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
The author writes beautifully in a lovely educating way about the two time periods in the book. I loved learning about the history in the novel, but it was written in a manner that wasn't a schoolbook way.
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main character is Xanthe who is the time traveler in this novel. She had to bridge two time periods in Wiltshire during the early 1600s and late 2010s. The two time periods collide making for some interesting dialogue and plot twists!
The secondary characters are Flora (Xanthe's mother and owner of an antique shop), Liam (Xanthe's friend), and Samuel (Xanthe's friend).
The tertiary characters are the assorted supporting characters in both times.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The storyline is about Xanthe traveling back in time to ensure her mother's safety through psychometry and a chartelaine. Xanthe had a mission to time travel to the early 1600s and correct a wrong. She also finds friendship and love in the past.
The main location was Wiltshire England, but specifically Marlborough and Salisbury.
Memorable/Informative: 4.5 stars
I learned two new words that intrigued me in this book: psychometry and chartelaine. They are both fascinating in their definitions!!
Book cover: 4.5 stars
So pretty!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Excellent!
STRONG recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)
The Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
336 pages
St. Martin's Press
Release date of 10/2/2018
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
OVERVIEW
Writing: 4.5 stars
John writes beautifully. But, he made the writing relatable, real, and funny.
Narration: 5.0 stars
John had perfect narration with appropriate emotion, but not like an actor. He read like an American who acts who grew up in multiple states and went to numerous schools as a child. His diction is just lovely.
Character Arc: 4.5 stars
The audiobook is told chronologically. The story ends with John in 2011 reflecting on his life and new life trajectories.
His life was fascinating - he moved all over the eastern United States as a kid. It is evident that he is intelligent so Harvard made sense, but he did not get a theater or drama degree. John talks about his theatre acting in the U.S., England, and Canada and how he prefers it to television and motion pictures. He is an actor's actor so theatre is a joy for him.
Memorable: 4.5 stars
The biggest takeaway is that John went through adolescence later at the age of 30. He was always the "good boy" which mirrors my life of being the "good girl". It explains so much about me and John!
Entertaining: 4.5 stars
John has a hysterical funny bone! I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir!
Book cover: 4.5 stars
So appropriate.
Book title: 4.5 stars
On point with double meanings!
STRONG recommend
STATISTICS
Release date of 9/29/2011
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Dorothea 💜
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
This is the fourth novel by Sophie Kinsella that I have read. This book is a total departure from her usual fun, fun reads.
This is a semi-autobiographical fictionalized novel. Sophie tells her cancer journey through the use of fictionalized characters. This methodology is used to protect her and her family's privacy. It is a powerful and moving story, but not a memoir. So if you are looking for salacious details, this book is not for you.OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The author writes in a lovely and easy style. You feel what the characters are going through without being too invasive or too precious.
It was done beautifully! This will be a wonderful book for cancer survivors and their supporters to read for hope and inspiration.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main character is Eve (wife, mother, and cancer patient). She is the reason for the story and enough of her life story is shared to understand who she is!
The secondary characters are her husband, Nick. and their five children.
The tertiary character is the glioblastoma tumor. The tumor is in charge as it determines healing, treatment, and health.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is about Eve's glioblastoma tumor which parallels the author's diagnosis. It is her journey through pre-therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and after-care therapy. It also is about how Eve, Nick, and their kids deal with the diagnosis of cancer and the after-effects.
The main location was Wimbledon, London, England.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
This novel helped me realize that cancer isn't always a death sentence.
However, it was a melancholy read as my husband's sister passed away from the same horrible disease.
Book cover: 4.5 stars
Pretty!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Excellent!
HIGHLY recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
NetGalley ARC (ebook)
What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
146 pages
The Dial Press
Release date of 10/8/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
This was a VERY short novelette or short story about a millennial woman who is ready to board a flight from Quito to a cruise around the Galapagos Islands with her older boyfriend. Then there is a phone call and everything changes.
This was the second book that I have read by this author.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The author writes in a light, breezy style. This was a fast and easy read.
Character development: 3.0 stars
There really was no character development as the book was so short.
The main character is Sophia. She is a millennial realtor from New York City who is very self-absorbed.
The secondary character is her boyfriend, JP. He is an older divorced father of three. He works in New York and travels home to Oklahoma for his kids. He is a perfect man with no noticeable character flaws.
Storyline: 3.5 stars
This short story just didn't do it for me. There were a lot of storyline holes and so many characters that it was impossible to become invested in the story.
After the call at the airport, I kept expecting something to happen, but nothing really happened. There was the expected twist at the end of the book.
The main location is the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Memorable/Informative: 3.5 stars
There was nothing memorable about this book other than to use a travel agent.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Pretty.
Book title: 5.0 stars
A great play on words that accurately describes this book.
LUKEWARM recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Amazon First Reads Kindle short-story ebook
Natural Selection by Elin Hilderbrand
54 pages
Amazon Original Stories
Release date of 09/01/2024
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Amazon First Reads - August 2024
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
P.S. There is no next book post. It was such a fast read that the new book post and review post are combined.
