Amazon First Reads - November 2024

 

Hi, everyone!!

Did you know as part of your Amazon Prime Membership you receive a FREE monthly Kindle book available?? It is called Amazon First Reads!! You can find out more about it here: Amazon First Reads.

The Amazon First Reads email went out today! There is a free Kindle book and a free Kindle short story for November 2024. I am really enjoying the additional short story along with the free ebook!

My TWO choices for November 2024 are:

The Answer Is No by Fredrick Backman (short story)

White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton (ebook)

So what Kindle book are you SELECTING?!? 

Also, as a reminder, remember to "buy" AND download the FREE books from Amazon! You can't read a book or a short story that hasn't been downloaded! Ask me how I know?!?

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

DNF - Patriot (audiobook)

 Patriot by Alexei Navalny (audiobook)

Normally, I only like to listen to memoirs if they are read by the author. Unfortunately, in this case, the author is deceased and the British narrator just doesn't work for me. 

Additionally, as this is a heavy and difficult memoir (the audiobook opens with him describing his poisoning), I need to be in the right mindset for this book. 

This book may work for many other readers. It is just not the right choice for me.  

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜 

OCTOBER 2024 - Monthly Wrap-up

Good morning, everyone!!

Well, October has been a great month for reading. I read 11 books total with 7 audiobooks and 4 ebooks!!

I also have a first in my monthly best book for October 2024! It is a TIE between When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman AND Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine. Both books were amazing reads but covered difficult topics (The Holocaust/enslavement). I couldn't decide as both books moved me deeply so I mad the executive decisions, it is my blog after all, and declared a tie!

 

2^nd ANNUAL “booksbydorothea” BEST BOOKS OF 2024:

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore (January) 5 stars (ebook)

Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles (February) 5 stars (ebook)

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (March) 5 stars (ebook)

How To Read A Book by Monica Wood (April) 5 stars (ebook)

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarity (May) 4.5 stars (ebook)

The Friday Afternoon Club (June) 5 stars (audiobook)

The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman (July) 5 stars (ebook)

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (August) 5 stars (ebook)

The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates (September) 5 stars (audiobook)

When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman (October - TIE) 5 stars (ebook)

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine (October - TIE) 5 stars (ebook)

 

GOODREADS READING GOAL:

My goal is to read 100 books in 2024. As of 10/31/2024, I have read 80 books, or 80% of my goal.

 

OCTOBER 2024 STATISTICS:

11 total books

4 ebooks; 7 audiobooks; 0 physical books

3 books were ARCs (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 October:  66 hours, 34 minutes

Pages read in October:  1,387 pages

Average review rating: 4.50 stars

 

OCTOBER BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS: 

5.0-star book (6)

Connie by Connie Chung (audiobook) LINK

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (audiobook) LINK

When We Flew Away by Alice Hoffman (ebook) LINK

The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (audiobook) LINK

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine (ebook) LINK

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (audiobook) LINK

 

4.5-star book (1)

What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci (audiobook) LINK

 

4.0-star book (3)

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

The Author's Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White (ebook) LINK

A Death in Diamonds (Her Majesty The Queen Investigates #4) by S.J. Bennett (ebook) LINK

3.5-star book (0)

3.0-star book (1)

From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley/Riley Keough (audiobook) LINK

 

  

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. You can find out more about my book ratings HERE.

 

 

 

My next audiobook is...

 Patriot by Alexei Navalny (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Sonny Boy (audiobook)

 Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This memoir is Al Pacino's love letter to his friends, family, colleagues, and acting. He has lived a long, productive, and artistic life. I had no idea he had won so many major awards - all he needs is a Grammy to win an EGOT. This audiobook may be the reason that he earns that distinction. 

Al narrates it himself with so much panache. It is as if he is sitting in front of you telling his life stories which are incredibly interesting and funny. He is a natural storyteller. 

There are some people in his book specifically older or Broadway actors whose names that I wasn't familiar with. But it didn't matter at all. It was still entertaining with his anecdotes and storytelling. 

NOTE: If you are looking for a gossipy or tell-all memoir, this isn't that type of book.  

PERSONAL NOTE: The Godfather is one of my favorite movies, so I'm biased toward Al aka "Michael". 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

Al mentions early in the book that English was the only subject he liked in school (he didn't finish high school). So, his strong writing is due to his voracious personal reading and varied material as an actor especially as he is self-read. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

As a professional actor, Al does a great job. But, what takes it to a higher level is that he is self-deprecating, humble, and a fantastic storyteller. I loved his scratchy and distinctive voice which set his words off to perfection. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is told chronologically from his early life through early 2024. Of course, he deviates in parts to add context, but it was done really well.     

Memorable:  5.0 stars

Al has lived a tough life with very young parents and a father who left when Al was two. He came from an Italian-Sicilian family and grew up with his mother and grandparents who struggled to make ends meet in the South Bronx. Unfortunately, Al didn't learn money management and other pertinent life skill sets from his family so he was burned by unscrupulous people multiple times. 

But, Al doesn't live a pity party. He could have been like his friends from the neighborhood who died of heroin overdoses. Al credits his mother, especially, for helping him survive and thrive - the last bit of the book is a beautiful tribute to her.  

Entertaining:   5.0  stars

Oh, my goodness, Al can really tell a good story! 

His stories remind me of my dad and his friends reminiscing about growing up south of the I-10 freeway near Downtown Los Angeles. The neighborhoods, people, and socio-economic levels sound so very similar! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect.      

Book title: 5.0 stars 

So very appropriate! 

HIGHLY recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino 

Penguin Audio

12 hours, 28 minutes

Release date of 10/15/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Al Pacino

My Goodreads review

Penguin Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 City of Time and Magic by Paula Brackston (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜 

REVIEW - Junie (ebook)

 

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This is a debut book. This historical fiction novel is just amazing. It is beautifully written, with incredible characters, and an otherworldly storyline. 

This is the first historical novel I have read that is focused on the lives of the enslaved people and not the white oppressors. Most stories about enslaved people are written in a manner that skims over their lives and instead focuses on the white folks. This novel turns that narrative on its head!! 

This novel is loosely based on the author's 3rd great-grandmother Jane. What a life that Jane lived that is mirrored in the main character of Junie. 

NOTE: I am being careful to not spoil anything as there are some major twists and turns in this novel so I am vague at times!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

This is Erin's debut novel and she has hit it out of the park. Her writing is just so lusciously nuanced, appropriately descriptive, and thought-provoking. I will reminisce about this story for a long time as it has touched me deeply. 

I cannot wait to read whatever books that Erin chooses to write. I predict that she will be a superstar writer!!

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main character is Junie. She is the name of the book, the story that the book is about, and is THE book! Junie is an enslaved young woman who is a ladies' maid in Alabama just before the start of the Civil War. 

The secondary characters are Violet (Junie's enslaver), Caleb (Junie's friend), and Minnie (Junnie's sister).  

The tertiary characters are Junie's family and the Violet's family on the plantation. 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

The storyline is the first book about enslavement I have read that allows you to learn so much about the inner thoughts, dreams, and wishes of the enslaved people. The family bonds are fully explored even the heartbreak of a family member dying or being sold off. The Black story was the story and took its place at center stage!

The main location was Montgomery, Alabama, and the surrounding environs. 

Memorable/Informative:  5.0 stars

The biggest takeaway is how inherently evil the white enslavers were. Even though some enslavers were "kind" or "friendly", the enslaved were still owned "property" by the enslavers living according to their wishes and not their own. Some of the storylines almost broke me because I could feel what these enslaved human beings had to live like. Horrific! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Appropriate. Gorgeous!

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Short and sweet.  

HIGHEST recommendation

BOOK INFORMATION

NetGalley ARC (ebook)

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

368 pages 

Ballantine Books

Release date of 2/4/2025

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Erin Crosby Eskstine

My Goodreads review

Ballantine Books

NetGalley

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜 

My next audiobook is...

 Sonny Boy by Al Pacino (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - What I Ate In One Year (audiobook)

 What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This audiobook is sort of a memoir, but it is sort of a 2023 diary. It's so hard to place. 

Basically, Stanley Tucci talks about what he ate, very descriptively, on specific dates in 2023 along with the appropriate musings or explanations. It is interesting, boring, self-aggrandizing, and lovely all at once. 

I loved when Stanley talked about his five kids, two wives, parents, and close friends. I didn't like the name-dropping, British pronunciations, and usage of British terms (he IS an American after all!). 

Stanley has a dry wit and can cook! I loved that he shared many simple recipes using what was on hand or leftovers. 

Note: this is an audiobook for foodies, fans of Stanley's cooking show, or fans of Stanley. If none of these are you, it may not be for you which is okay!

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

Stanley can write! He writes descriptively and sometimes too descriptively as I was lost. But, overall, he is a good writer!

Narration: 4.5 stars

As a professional actor, Stanley definitely can narrate well and with emotion. He has a lovely reading voice that was so soothing that it often lulled me to sleep. 

Character Arc: 5.0 stars

The audiobook is told chronologically throughout 2023. As always, I prefer it this way.    

Memorable:  4.5 stars

Stanley is a very well-known and talented actor. However, I loved his emotion and rawness when talking about his late wife, his love for his family specifically his parents, and his mortality. 

Stanley has to have two Stanleys for self-preservation (professional and personal). However, when the two Stanleys collided, was when this audiobook shined! 

Entertaining:   4.5 stars

Stanley has my favorite type of humor - snarky and dry! But at times, it was hard to tell if he was kidding especially about his wife. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Nice.     

Book title: 4.5 stars 

Could there be anything else? 

STRONG recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

What I Ate In One Year by Stanley Tucci

Simon & Schuster Audio

7 hours, 48 minutes

Release date of 10/15/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Stanley Tucci

My Goodreads review

Simon & Schuster Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is...

 What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci (audiobook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine (ebook) 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜