REVIEW - The Secret War of Julia Child (ebook)

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the first book that I have read by Diana R. Chambers! I enjoyed this historical fiction book about Julia Child's time in Asia for the OSS during WWII. 

Okay, I always say I am done with WWII historical fiction books, but reading about Julia in Asia was too tempting. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

This beautiful novel was a lovely tribute to Julia Child. Although the story was fictionalized, it was the love story of Paul and Julia Child. With both of them working in OSS in Asia during WWII, it was the means to make their love story happen.  

The writing was well-written, respectful, and just lovely. 

Character development: 4.5 stars

The main characters in the story were Paul and Julia Child. Both were multi-faceted, fascinating, and strong individuals. They were deeply and thoroughly developed. 

The secondary characters were their many partners, adversaries, and friends in the OSS (US Office of Strategic Services), SACO (Sino-American Cooperative Organization), and SEAC (South East Asia Command). There were many, many secondary characters so these were not fully explored as the book would have been twice as long. 

The tertiary characters are the locals in the various countries and other minor players in the book. 

Storyline:  4.5 stars

The storyline begins with Julia in Washington, DC as the supervisor of the OSS Registry. She shows great adaptability and promise and requests a transfer to Asia to work in the field. Then the story begins, but there are a lot of spoilers along the way so I will not share much more. 

The main locations were Washington, DC, India, Burma, Ceylon, and China. 

Memorable/Informative:  4.5 stars

Special note: I used the glossary of WWII terms at the beginning of the book many times. It was hugely helpful while reading this novel of many alphabet agencies involved in WWII.

I loved learning about how Julia worked for the OSS during WWII in Asia. Plus, she was believed to be an OSS spy which has never been fully confirmed. 

It was lovely to learn about Paul and Julia's love story and how much depth both had as individuals and as a couple. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

So pretty!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent choice!  

STRONG recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (ebook)

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers 

397 pages 

Sourcebooks Landmark

Release date of 10/22/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Julia Child

My Goodreads review

Sourcebooks Landmark

NetGalley

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

My next ebook is...

 The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Twilight Garden (ebook)

The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the second book and sophomore novel by Sara Nisha Adams. It was just a lovely book and what I needed after a few tough reads.  

This sweet novel has two timelines with many intersecting characters. This book is about friendship and family and has two timelines: (1972 to 1992)/2018-2019). 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

Sara Nisha Adams writes beautifully with the appropriate descriptive amounts without being overly precious. Due to her lovely writing, I can picture the two houses and the garden from the novel. Perfectly done. 

One suggestion would be to have a glossary of terms as I wasn't familiar with all of the Indian terms and was unable to find definitions for some of them. 

Character development: 4.0 stars

The main characters in the first (1972 to 1992) timeline are Maya and Alma. For the second timeline (2018-2019), the main characters are Winston and Bernice. I loved how all of the characters developed so wonderfully throughout the book. 

The secondary characters for the first timeline are Prem (Maya's husband), Bina (Maya's sister), Hiral (Maya's daughter), and Kate (Alma's niece). For the second timeline, the secondary characters are Lewis (Winston's partner), Sal/Angela (owners of the shop where Winston works), Simon (Bernice's ex-husband), and Seb (Bernice's son). 

The tertiary characters are the assorted supporting characters in both timelines and the shared garden. 

My issue with the character development was the large amount of tertiary characters. It was hard to keep track of them and understand while reading how they fit into the story. 

Storyline:  4.0 stars

The storyline is two timelines where two houses share a garden. Through thick and thin, both groups in each house during each timeline become friends and then ultimately family.

The main location was London, England.    

Memorable/Informative:  4.0 stars

It was interesting to learn how much the community revolved around this garden. How a garden can make a real community even in a huge city like London. 

Also, I had no idea that foxes were so common in London. I would guess that they are comparable to our urban coyotes!

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Pretty!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Great choice!  

DEFINITE recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)

The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams

389 pages 

William Morrow

Release date of 4/25/2023

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Sara Nisha Adams

My Goodreads review

William Morrow

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

My next audiobook is...

 Something Lost, Something Gained by Hillary Rodham Clinton (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Do You Feel Like I Do? (audiobook)

 Do You Feel Like I Do? by Peter Frampton (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

I was a freshman in high school (dating myself now) when Frampton Comes Alive! was released and Peter Frampton played The Forum. A friend from P.E. class went to the concert with her boyfriend and we were all very jealous!! 

Peter doesn't really share too many secrets about himself or others. So if you are looking for a gossipy book, this is not it. But, if you love music like I do, you will love his musical journey and life!

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was very different from any other book that I have read. It was in Peter's voice and told in the first person which was nice. It was a very unique style as if Peter was in front of me talking about his life rather than reading the book. 

My biggest issue with this memoir was that there were many musical groups, artists, and songs that I didn't know. Peter came to fame in England which was a very different musical scene from the U.S. and he is eleven years older than me. So our musical experiences are definitely different, but similar at times. 

Narration: 4.0 stars

Peter's narration was very unique. He is very self-deprecating, funny, and personable in his narration. He spoke very realistically about his life and used appropriate feelings throughout. 

His narration did take me a chapter to get used to it. But, it was great after that. 

Character Arc: 4.0 stars

The audiobook is told mainly chronologically, but he does deviate to fill in stories or explain things. At times, the flashbacks didn't have a good introduction or segue so it was a bit jarring.  

Memorable:  4.0 stars

Peter played with a lot of very famous artists I recognized. He played with everyone from Ringo Starr to Eric Clapton. But, he comes across as humble, kind, and loyal. He also is an avid learner which is admirable. 

He was very open about his muscular autoimmune disease - inclusion body myositis (IBM). Peter is a champion to raise funds for a cure and raise awareness of this probably very underreported disease. 

Peter's story of his missing Les Paul guitar in a plane crash in Caracas, Venezuela is amazing!

Entertaining:   4.5 stars

Peter was so funny at times. He made me laugh out loud many times. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Great!  

Book title: 5.0 stars 

On point!

STRONG recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Do You Feel Like I Do? by Peter Frampton

Random House Audio

10 hours, 43 minutes

Release date of 10/20/2020

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Peter Frampton

My Goodreads review

Hachette Books

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 Do You Feel Like I Do? by Peter Frampton/Alan Light (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - All In (audiobook)

 All In by Billie Jean King (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

Wow, I didn't realize how much social justice work Billie Jean King has done - LGBT+, equal pay, women's liberation, DEI, and much more. What was fun for me is that she is from Long Beach, California, and went to my alma mater, Cal State LA. 

This is not a "tell-all" but a book about a woman who got her power back at age 51. So much with regards to the power dynamic deeply resonated with me because I was almost the same age when this happened to me! 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

The writing was excellent, but Billie Jean did have an uncredited writer. However, the writing was from the heart, passionate, and raw. 

My biggest issue with this memoir was that it was long, detailed, and needed some serious editing. This is not my memoir - it is BJK's though!!!

Narration: 5.0 stars

Billie Jean King was a fantastic narrator. It was obvious that she was raised to be a good and kind person and always wanted to be the "good girl". This was the societal message that female Baby Boomers learned at a very young age. She is emotional at appropriate parts in the memoir which made me appreciate her even more. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is told chronologically which is how I prefer memoirs and autobiographies to be written. 

Memorable:  4.5 stars

The biggest takeaway for me is all the social justice that Billie Jean accomplished has almost all been overturned due to the #45 presidency. The book ended around President Biden's election. So this memoir ended on a very positive note.  

Entertaining:   4.5 stars

This memoir was entertaining per se, but it was educational as I was from a different generation than Billie Jean so I didn't know all she accomplished. I am very grateful to her and her female peers for all they did for DEI. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Great!  

Book title: 5.0 stars 

This is totally Billie Jean!

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

All In by Billie Jean King

Random House Audio

18 hours, 6 minutes

Release date of 8/1/2021

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Billie Jean King

My Goodreads review

Random House Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Garden of Promises and Lies (ebook)

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackson (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is the fourth book that I have read by Paula Brackston. This is the penultimate book in the fantastic four-part series - Found Things. The plot, characters, and historical times in this series are wonderful. 

This book continues to be about a woman with psychometry who travels through time from 2019ish to 1815 The reason for the journey is a gorgeous wedding dress.

Again, please note that I am being vague with many details about this book so as not to spoil the twists in this lovely book. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

This author has a lovely way of using the language, dress, and customs to write about the older period in this book. I learned much about England in the 1800s, a time of peace after multiple wars. It made my history nerd heart so very happy!

Character development: 4.5 stars

The main characters are Xanthe (time traveler), Liam (Xanthe's friend), and Benedict (Xanthe's nemesis). 

The secondary characters are Flora (Xanthe's mother and owner of an antique shop), Harley (the local pub owner), Lydia (another time traveler), and Petronelle (the wedding dress's future bride). 

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 understand what her nemesis, Benedict, wants from her and what the wedding dress has to do with it all. 

The main location was Wiltshire, England.    

The only real issue with this book was that it took about 100 pages to set up the details for the plot. But, I couldn't put the book down once it was set up!

Memorable/Informative:  4.5 stars

I loved learning how clothing was handmade and bespoke in the early 1800s. The ability to patronize clothiers and tailors was a privilege of only the wealthy. The dresses, especially, sounded so beautiful!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Gorgeous!!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect!  

STRONG recommend

BOOK INFORMATION

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (ebook)

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Found Things #3) by Paula Brackson

321 pages 

St. Martin's Press

Release date of 12/15/2020

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Paula Brackston

My Goodreads review

St. Martin's Press

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 All In by Billie Jean King (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - The Moment of Lift (audiobook)

 The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

OMG! This audiobook was an unexpected jewel. Melinda Gate discusses her life, her work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and what she learned about women including herself along the way. 

This book was published in 2019 when she was still married to Bill Gates which dates the book a bit. Additionally, she recently resigned from the foundation in 2024. 

This is not a salacious book about Bill and Melinda Gates. It is primarily about the foundation and what Melinda learned and discovered about herself and the women the foundation assists. 

The stories of the women are amazing. Women are amazing. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Melinda can write! She tells the stories of the women she met in her almost 25 years working for the foundation. What was so meaningful to me was that she told the stories of the women with kindness and humility. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

The author beautifully narrates her life and the foundation's story. It is read well as helping those on the margins, specifically, women, is her life's work. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is told chronologically in the chapters that discuss a specific need of women that the foundation addresses.  

Memorable:  5.0 stars

Melinda's stories about the women she has met during her travels for the foundation are powerful. She discusses everything from family planning to sex workers with great care. 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

This book was entertaining, at times, but it was mostly educational. I learned so much about the needs of women in India, West Africa, and other places in the world where women need a hand.  

Book cover: 4.0 stars

Meh!  

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Strong and powerful!

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates

Bluebird Publishing

7 hours, 56 minutes

Release date of 4/24/2019

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Melinda French Gates

My Goodreads review

Bluebird Publishing

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜