Goodreads Choice Awards 2024

 

Hi, everyone! 

Well, I picked THREE of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2024 winners. I also had many of the nominees and semi-finalists!

The three winners were all five-star reads and wonderful reads! I have included the Goodreads blurb about the winning book with a link to my blog review that includes my Goodreads review! 

Please note that I read The Women in 2024 and Somewhere Beyond the Sea and The Third Gilmore Girl were read as audiobooks.

HISTORICAL FICTION WINNER

The Women by Kristin Hannah (ebook) LINK

FANTASY WINNER

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (audiobook) LINK

MEMOIR WINNER

The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir by Kelly Bishop (audiobook) LINK

To review all of the Goodreads Choice Awards 2024, click HERE.

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

 

REVIEW - Cher (audiobook)

 Cher: The Memoir (Part 1) by Cher (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

Wow! Cher lets it all hang out in Part 1 of her memoirs. This book covers her life before she was born and ends with her move to New York to pursue her acting career without a man in her life in approximately 1980. 

She details her marriages with Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman and relationships with David Geffen and Gene Simmons. She also discusses her music career including the ups and downs including her television shows and tours. It is a Cher fan's dream!     

But there is a lot of sadness in this book also. Cher had a difficult childhood so she would run wild to escape and explore. She was kicked out of her mom's home as a teenager setting her up to meet Sonny Bono who would change her life at sixteen. 

Finally, Cher was lucky in her career breaks, but biggest of all was surviving the '60s and '70s when so many died young. 

Full disclosure: there is a lot of raw language. So if that offends you, don't read this book. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was perfect for an audiobook, but I'm unsure if it would be the same for a Kindle or print book. She has a warm, but honest style of writing. She talks about her recollections about events and people with some of these stories ending tragically or badly. Cher is real when talking about the "casting couches" in movies and the cut-throat music business. 

I think Cher had a ghostwriter to "clean up" the writing, but it ultimately came across as HER writing and her book.  

Narration: 4.0 stars

So the narration was really unusual for any audiobook that I had read. Cher has dyslexia which I didn't know. So narrating the entire book would have been difficult for her to say the least. 

A workaround was created where Cher would narrate the beginning of each chapter and then her narrator would take it from there. It worked well. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Cher so the transition to the narrator was somewhat jarring. 

 

Character Arc: 3.5 stars

This audiobook was in a somewhat chronological order, but it went back and forth in time which wasn't easy to follow. This method of storytelling is exactly how I think Cher tells stories in real life. But in an audiobook, it can be difficult to follow. 

Also, there were so many different people in this book from writers, directors, singers, musicians, and other people in her life that I didn't always understand Cher's relationship with them. However, it was easy to just ignore the lack of context and enjoy the audiobook. 

I would also say that some editing would have helped this memoir. This is only Part 1 of her memoir so there is still more to learn about Cher and her life!

Memorable:  5.0 stars

Since this was a tell-all memoir, it really told it all! From what Cher discusses, Phil Spector was bizarre even back then, Sonny was a womanizer and control freak, and she met some very good people along the way including David Geffen and Bob Mackie. 

By telling her issues with the men in her life, she will help others who read her book realize they can leave their controlling husbands or boyfriends. Cher wrote the ultimate female empowerment self-help book and it was awesome. 

As another California girl, Cher sounds like a girls girl, and would be amazing to have a nice long dinner with her by the beach in Malibu. 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

This is so obviously top-notch. Cher knew everyone who was anyone! She has wild stories from Salvador Dali to Cass Elliot. It was fun to listen to and I am grateful she survived it.

Part II of her memoir should be another fun ride. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfection.       

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect.  

STRONG recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

Cher: The Memoir (Part 1) by Cher

HarperCollins

15 hours, 47 minutes

Release date of 11/19/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Cher

My Goodreads review

HarperCollins

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

Update - Postponing Current Book (ebook)

 

The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston (ebook)

Hi, everyone, 

I am going to need to postpone another book that I started. This time, I am getting bombarded by audiobooks! So I will now shift my focus to catching up on my multiple audiobook holds. 

What I have already read is amazing as it always is with a book by Paula Brackskton. Back to the TBR list!

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

Amazon First Reads - December 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 the program here: Amazon First Reads.

I received my Amazon First Reads email this evening! A free Kindle book and a select Kindle book are FREE (free Kindle book must be redeemed by December 31, 2024). For more information on the FREE select Kindle book, you can find out more HERE. But as a heads-up, after ordering your First Reads book, you need to wait for an email from Amazon with a link to process the book for free. 

My Amazon First Reads and FREE select Kindle book choices for December 2024 are, of course, historical fiction and WWII (I cannot leave this war behind):

What the Light Touches by Xavier Bosch (ebook)

The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen (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 💜

NOVEMBER 2024 - Monthly Wrap-up

Hello, everyone!!

Well, November was another great month for reading especially audiobooks. I read 8 books total with 5 audiobooks and 3 ebooks!!

There is also another tie in my monthly best book of November 2024. It is a tie between The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L Warren AND Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune.

 

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)

The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L Warren (November – TIE) 5 stars (ebook)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (November – TIE) 5 stars (audiobook)

 

GOODREADS READING GOAL:

My goal is to read 100 books in 2024. As of 11/30/2024, I have read 88 books, or 88% of my goal.

 

NOVEMBER 2024 STATISTICS:

8 total books

3 ebooks; 5 audiobooks; 0 physical books

1 book was an ARC (Advance Reader Copy)

6 books were library loans

0 books were purchased

1 book was an Amazon First Reads

1 book was a Book Club Girl

 

Audio listening time in November:  50 hours, 51 minutes

Pages read in November:  820 pages

Average review rating: 4.06 stars

 

NOVEMBER BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS: 

5.0-star book (2)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (audiobook) LINK

The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren (ebook) LINK

4.5-star book (1)

City of Time and Magic by Paula Brackston (ebook) LINK

 

4.0-star book (2)

Eight Flavors by Sarah Lohman (audiobook) LINK

You Never Know by Tom Selleck (audiobook) LINK

3.5-star book (2)

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (audiobook) LINK

An American Story by Wilmer Valderrama (audiobook) LINK

3.0-star book (1) 

The Answer Is No by Fredrick Backman (ebook) 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...

Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher (audiobook)

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - You Never Know (audiobook)

 You Never Know by Tom Selleck (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This memoir was not what I expected at all. I expected some details about all of the television series, movies, and commercials that Tom had acted in. Unfortunately, this memoir ended when Tom reached the end of Magnum P.I. However, there was a brief epilogue that discussed Blue Bloods superficially. 

At times, it became tiring to hear some of the same trite sayings used over and over such as "serendipitously", "go figure", and "you never know". I would have thought the credited ghostwriter would have found this repetition overused.

Finally, Tom seems to have worked with great people and he may attract these good people. It just felt a little sugar-coated for my taste.

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was perfect for an audiobook, but I am not sure how it would have translated to a Kindle or physical book. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

As a professional actor, Tom narrates beautifully with depth and feeling; however, it feels like listening to an old friend while having coffee. Tom nailed it!

Character Arc: 3.5 stars

This audiobook was not in chronological order, skipped around, and went back and forth in time.   

Tom doesn't discuss his life in depth before attending high school or after completing Magnum P.I. He also doesn't discuss all of his movies but devotes an entire chapter to Frank Sinatra guest-starring on Magnum P.I. It felt as if a lot of his life wasn't covered, but that was his choice. 

Memorable:  4.0 stars

Tom appears to be a kind, generous, and accommodating actor on his movie and television sets. He worked hard to have reasonable hours and good pay for the cast and crew and would use his Hollywood capital to make any needed changes. 

Also, this was not a tell-all book which I appreciated. Tom was careful not to name-drop actors, producers, or directors he had negative experiences with. Overall, everyone was treated with great dignity and respect. 

Entertaining:   4.0 stars

At times, the stories Tom would tell were quite funny. My favorite were the family stories, of course.  

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Good picture.       

Book title: 3.5 stars 

It was okay. 

DEFINITE recommend

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audiobook)

You Never Know by Tom Selleck

Harper Select

15 hours, 27 minutes

Release date of 11/19/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Tom Selleck

My Goodreads review

Harper Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 The Witch's Daughter by Paula Brackston (ebook)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

Update - Postponing Current Book (ebook)

 

The Stone Witch of Florence by Anna Rasche (ebook)

Hi, everyone, 

My mistake, but I missed that this book is set during the Black Plague of the Middle Ages. The time is just a little too much for me right now. I will add this book back to my TBR list! 

What I have already read is wonderful and beautiful, but the period isn't hitting right!!

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

NYT - 100 Notable Books of 2024

Hi, everyone!!

The New York Times released its "100 Notable Books of 2024" with the link HERE. I have read four books on this list - two fiction and two non-fiction books. Also, these books, except The Women, were not on the NPR list. It means that many different books are being recognized and spotlighted which I love!

Below are my four reads with the book cover, title, author, and a link to my original review! 

Please note that I read The Women as an ARC in 2023 and that both non-fiction books were audiobooks. All four of these books have 5.0-star reviews on my blog and are exceptional books. 

FICTION

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella (ebook) LINK

The Women by Kristin Hannah (ebook) LINK

NON-FICTION

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

Connie by Connie (audiobook) LINK

Such fantastic books on this list! I read four of them and have many more on my TBR list!! Please check out the NYT's entire list - there are many incredible books to explore and read!

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

NPR - Books We Love 2024

 

Hi, everyone!!

NPR just released "Books We Love 2024" and I have read eight books by nine authors on this list!! Here is the NPR link HERE with the list going back to 2013. 

My eight reads are spotlighted with the book cover, title, author, and a link to my original review! 

Please note that I read The Women as an ARC in 2023 and The Friday Afternoon Club as an audiobook! Also, all of my books from this list are 5.0-star reviews, except for Here One Moment which is 4.5 stars! Great reads!

The Women by Kristen Hannah (ebook) LINK

  

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (ebook) LINK

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (ebook) LINK

The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer (ebook) LINK

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn (ebook) LINK

The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne (audiobook) LINK

The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn, Janie Chang (ebook) LINK

All That We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore (ebook) LINK

All of these eight books and nine authors are amazing! You cannot go wrong reading any of them. Also, check out the entire NPR list for even more amazing book finds!!

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜