REVIEW - Say Everything (audioBOOK)

 Say Everything by Ione Skye (audioBOOK)

OVERVIEW

Holy crap on a cracker! Talk about sex, drugs, rock 'n roll... and actors! Ione Skye does not hold back in this very personal memoir. 

It was just the right length for her life currently, but it was abbreviated after 2006. Those intervening years could have been explored more deeply than in the epilogue. 

Thankfully, Ione finds love, happiness, and acceptance at the end. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was good with liberal sprinkles of Gen X speak and references, TOTALLY! As someone on the cusp of Gen X, I relate to much of Ione's life, but also nothing at all.  

If this memoir was written without the help of a ghostwriter, way to go, Ione!

Narration: 5.0 stars

The narration was by Ione herself and very well done. It was very personal with emotion, inflection, and personality as it was Ione's life. Well done!

Character Arc: 4.5 stars

The audiobook is chronological, with a few expected backtracks in time. It begins when Ione was three in 1973 and ends in 2006 with an epilogue to wrap it all up. 

The story details Ione's father's (singer Donovan) abandonment of her mother, brother, and herself in England. The family struggles to make ends meet back in the U.S. before finally settling in the Hollywood foothills and includes an assortment of stepfathers. It covers Ione's relationships with Anthony Kiedis, Adam Horowitz, David Netto, and somewhat with Ben Lee. She also discusses her other short-term relationships and infidelities. 

There is a whole cast of musicians, actors, producers, directors, models, and writers that I didn't know or didn't care about. They add to the story, but it doesn't affect the flow of the story.  

Memorable:  4.0 stars

Ione's father, Donovan, basically abandoned his family for someone else without a second thought. He didn't reconnect with his kids until much later in their lives. This definitely contributed to the difficulties in Ione's life. 

Where was #MeToo when Ione was in a relationship with Anthony Kiedis (she 16; he 24)? This was so wrong, and she admits as much in her Epilogue. 

Additionally, she takes full responsibility for her infidelities and has learned from her mistakes. It just was so sad.  

Finally, there was no support for Ione's mother when she was abandoned with two young kids. She did her best in the worst of times.  

 

Entertaining:   4.0 stars

At times, it was a little TMI for me. Ione is very honest about her relationships that failed and those that survived. She has some incredible stories that are almost unbelievable!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect.        

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent choice.   

 

DEFINITE recommend

 

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audioBOOK

Say Everything by Ione Skye

Simon and Schuster Audio

8 hours, 37 minutes

Release date of 3/4/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Ione Skye

My Goodreads Review

My StoryGraph review

Simon and Schuster Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, graphic sexual situations, cursing, pregnancy, abortion, death, overdose, underage sexual situations

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is...

 Isola by Allegra Goodman (eBOOK)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Austen at Sea (eARC/eBOOK)

 Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner (eARC/eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

Oh, my, my! This book was the perfect balance of historical fiction and good old storytelling. Natalie has done it again, for the fourth time, with another fantastic read centered around Jane Austen! 

This novel combines the real-life characters in Jane Austen's life with fictional characters after her death. This beautiful book is told in the spirit of Jane Austen and in her voice to create a lovely novel. 

NOTE: I must confess that I have not read ANY of Jane Austen's novels, but I love the movies and Natalie Jenner's books, especially. Also, per Family Search, Jane and I are 5th cousins, seven times removed!

 

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

Natalie writes so perfectly in the language of the Reconstruction period of Boston and Philadelphia. Her writing is descriptive, poetic, and powerful.   

This is a dense read, but it is so well-researched and fascinating!

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main characters are two sisters from Boston, Henrietta (older sister) and Charlotte (younger sister), and two brothers from Philadelphia, Nicholas (older brother) and Haslett (younger brother). Two pairs of siblings are the heart and soul of this lovely novel. 

The secondary characters are Sir Francis (Jane Austen's only living sibling), Denham (a British newspaper writer), Sara-Beth (a friend of the siblings), and Louisa (a famous writer-to-be).  

The tertiary characters are Constance (Bostonite), William (the sisters' father), Nash (the sisters' chaperone), and  the Massachusetts Supreme Court reading group

There are many other characters, including ones on both sides of the pond. However, Jane Austen's presence is strongly felt throughout this novel and never far from the characters.  

 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

Four books make up this novel: Boston, The Sea, Hampshire, and The Court. However, each of the books is definitely necessary for the telling of this creative story. 

The two pairs of siblings write Sir Francis about his sister, Jane Austen. Before you know it, both sets of siblings are on a steamship from Boston to Portsmouth with incredible adventures and new incredible friends made along the way.  

The main locations were Boston, Massachusetts; the Atlantic Ocean; and Hampshire, England.   

 

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I never knew about the commonality of burning all correspondence after death,  specifically with authors in this novel. It is difficult to think that so much was lost, especially for future scholars and historical purposes.

Also, the fight for women's/Black vote in the U.S. and Great Britain and the right for women to divorce, inherit, and keep personal property. How far we have come, yet we have lost so much. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent!     

 

HIGHLY recommend

 

NetGalley eARC/eBOOK

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

320 pages 

St. Martin's Press

FUTURE release date: 5/6/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Natalie Jenner

My Goodreads review

My StoryGraph review

St. Martin's Press

NetGalley

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual situations, death of a parent, death 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audioBOOK is...

 Say Everything by Ione Skye (audioBOOK)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

Review - Open (audioBOOK)

 

Open by Andre Agassi (audioBOOK)

OVERVIEW

First off, this memoir was written sixteen years ago. The relationships, memories, and explanations may have changed during this time. Would this book be different if it were written now? We'll never know. 

I enjoyed this memoir, but it was overly long and could have used editing. There could have been an afterward to elaborate on some of Andre's relationships with friends, family, and professional staff as they just seem to disappear from his life. 

At times, it felt like a pity party, and other times like a cautionary tale. The bottom line is that it was a sad story about a sad person who finally finds happiness and love. 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

The writing was good because it was written by a ghostwriter. Unfortunately, Andre dropped out of school in the ninth grade for his tennis career, so he needed help. 

But at times, it seemed full of platitudes and overwrought, especially the tough times during Andre's tennis career.

Narration: 4.5 stars

The narrator was top-notch and did a great job with the male narration. But, the women's narration just grated on me. 

I wish Andre had narrated it himself, as it would have been so powerful and emotional. 

Character Arc: 3.0 stars

The audiobook is fairly chronological, with a few expected backtracks in time. 

Unfortunately, Andre only presents his side of relationships and doesn't take ownership for any that have gone awry. Self-introspection would have been useful for the reader to understand him, his motivations, and his psyche. As usual, I wanted more!

Also, there are many tennis athletes mentioned throughout the book that I didn't know, but it didn't really matter.

 

Memorable:  4.0 stars

The biggest takeaway for me is that parents who live through their children are usually idiots, asses, and wannabes. This was the case with Andre's dad, Mike. 

Just like children on movie sets, the amateur and professional underage athletes also need protection with how they are treated, their earnings, and their safety. This specifically includes parent managers/coaches and "academies" like Nick Bolletterieri, which, not surprisingly, seem to be based in Florida. 

What bothered me most is that his mother, Betty, never stepped in and never stopped this child abuse by his father or by the tennis academies. Yes, I said it: Andre and his siblings were subjected to child abuse, both mental and physical. 

 

Entertaining:   4.0 stars

At times, it was funny. Andre does have a good sense of humor about life and himself. 

I never, ever knew that he wore a hairpiece and that he prematurely balded. His attitude about letting go of the hairpiece and shaving his head was the most powerful story in the memoir. 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Yes, it was perfect.        

 

Book title: 4.5 stars 

A double-entendre that didn't work.   

 

STRONG recommend

 

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audioBOOK)

Open by Andre Agassi (audioBOOK)

Random House Audio

18 hours, 4 minutes

Release date of 11/9/2009

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Andre Agassi

My Goodreads review

My StoryGraph review

Random House Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

TRIGGER WARNINGS

Drug use, child abuse, cursing, alcohol usage, cancer, pregnancy, bullying

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/eBOOK is...

 Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner (eARC/eBOOK)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

DNR - The Sublet (eARC/eBOOK)

 The Sublet by Greer Hendricks (eARC/eBOOK)

I will not review this short story, an Amazon First Reads freebie for March 2025. 

This short story would have received a score less than 3.0 (Lukewarm Recommend) if reviewed. Plus, I don't believe in a solely negative review. So this is a DNR (Did Not Review). 

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next eARC/eBOOK is...

 The Sublet by Greer Hendricks (eARC/eBOOK)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - This One Life (physical book)

 This One Life by Amanda Prowse (physical book)

OVERVIEW

Oh, my goodness!! I loved this lovely book by the darling Amanda Prowse. Her books are always real, honest, and enjoyable to read. This book was no exception to the rule! AWESOMENESS!!

This novel tells the story of Madeliene Woods's life. It is her voyage of self-discovery, choice, and career. 

NOTE: I have loved all FIFTEEN of Amanda Prowse's books I have read. So this book is no exception!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I won this book as a giveaway in a private Facebook group. 

TRIGGER WARNING: Pregnancy, sexual situations, medical content

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

Amanda writes so descriptively, beautifully, and powerfully. The characters, locations, and interactions all seem so real. It is as if I can visualize them all before my eyes! 

 

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main character is Madeleine. Her life is told in two timelines that are perfectly woven together. Madeleine is a career woman who wants to leave her poor upbringing and trade it for a perfect career and life. But life throws her several curveballs in the telling. 

The secondary characters are Doug (Madeleine's father), Marnie (Madeleine's mother), Trina (Madeleine's best friend), and Jimmy (Madeleine's friend). 

The tertiary characters are Rebecca (Madeleine's boss) and Nico (Madeleine's friend). 

There are other important characters, but I cannot say too much or I will ruin the story. 

 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

There are dual storylines - the present day and eight years ago. As Madeleine navigates life with her friends, family, and career, there are many boulders in the road. All of these issues ultimately come to a head when the two timelines intersect. 

Again, I am being vague on purpose, as this blog is a no-spoiler zone!

The main location was London.  

 

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I never knew about "lock keeper houses" that used to manage the locks for the canals and rivers in London. The more you read, the more you know!

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Cute and funny!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfection!     

 

HIGHLY recommend

 

Author gift (author giveaway)

This One Life by Amanda Prowse (physical book)

364 pages 

Lake Union Publishing

Release date: 1/7/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Amanda Prowse

My Goodreads review

My StoryGraph review

Lake Union Publishing

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audioBOOK is...

 Open by Andre Agassi (audioBOOK)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Fearless and Free (audioBOOK)

 

Fearless and Free by Josephine Baker (audiobook)

OVERVIEW

This was a very different memoir than what I am used to, which makes it TOTALLY Josephine Baker. From what little I knew about Josephine before reading this memoir, she was quite the character. 

I really liked this memoir but didn't love it. It was originally published in 1949 in French and is being translated and published in English for the first time. What a life! 

However, this memoir was somewhat superficial and didn't explore her thoughts, feelings, or psyche like most do. But as Josephine would say, "Ooo la la"! This was her memoir, and she did it her way, as if she was was sitting in front of you just chatting in front of her interviewer. 

This novel only covers her life until 1949 and does not cover her later years at all, including her adoption of her children and her civil rights activism. 

TRIGGER ALERT: War, racism, racial slurs, and xenophobia 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars

Writing: 4.0 stars

The writing was good because it was in Josephine's own voice. It did have moments when it dragged and was a little slow or monotonous.. 

The two translators also did a fantastic job as this was a 75-year-old memoir. Bravo to them both!

The foreword by Ijeoma Oluo was very well done, added context, and set the stage for this memoir. 

Narration: 5.0 stars

The narration was amazing. Josephine did not narrate her memoir (as I prefer) as she has been gone for quite some time. However, the male and female narrators captured her essence beautifully. 

Character Arc: 3.0 stars

The audiobook is somewhat chronological but highly scattered, as I expect Josephine would have been in person. She obviously had a brilliant mind that was always in overdrive!  

But I wanted more. I wanted Josephine to dig deep into her life and analyze it so we could learn from her personal experiences, especially her childhood and WWII spying.    

 

Memorable:  4.0 stars

Since this memoir was written almost 75 years ago, there was a lot of horrible racism directed directly and indirectly towards Josephine. What shocked me was that this occurred in New York City and was incredibly blatant and obvious. The acceptance by the French people makes it understandable why she felt so much more comfortable in her adopted country of France. 

I do believe that some will focus on her brief diatribe on the conflict between the Jews and Blacks in Harlem. It was a different time, and it was a sad situation, period. 

 

Entertaining:   4.0 stars

This memoir was full of anecdotes, funny stories, and lots of spilled tea (for people of that time). It was dark and sad, especially when Josephine talked about racism, WWII, and her illnesses. 

Additionally, Josephine talks about many characters I didn't know who they were, but I could follow due to the context. Their names and what they did didn't matter as this memoir was about Josephine.

 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Beautiful.       

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Perfect.  

 

DEFINITE recommend

 

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow (audioBOOK)

Fearless and Free by Josephine Baker (audiobook)

Penguin Audio

8 hours, 42 minutes

Original release date of 1/1/1949

Rerelease date of 2/4/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Josephine Baker

My Goodreads review

My StoryGraph review

Penguin Audio

Los Angeles Public Library

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜