REVIEW - A Kid from Marlboro Road (audioBOOK)

 A Kid from Marlboro Road by Edward Burns (audioBOOK)

OVERVIEW

This audiobook is a work of fiction but loosely based on Edward Burns's life growing up in Long Island, New York. It is about the summer that the narrator, Kneenie, turns from twelve to thirteen during the 1970s in his Irish-American and Italian-American, Roman Catholic community. 

This is the first book of three. So there will be more about Kneenie and it will interesting to learn what specific time in Kneenie's life is next! 

OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars

Writing: 4.5 stars

The writing was perfect for an audiobook, but I am unsure if it would translate well as a written book. Plus, Edward beautifully captures the writing of an almost thirteen-year-old boy in the 1970s which could be off-putting to some readers. 

This is not supposed to be a perfect book with a perfect writer - it is told from a kid's perspective. That is why I really enjoyed this book! The perspective was fun and fresh!

Narration: 5.0 stars

The narration was by Edward and perfect! He captured all the nuances, emotions, and feelings of a boy becoming a teenager! Plus, he has Irish accents down pat!

Character Arc: 4.5 stars

The audiobook is chronological with explanatory asides for things readers may not know about. I loved the asides!  

The book opens with the wake of his beloved Pop (grandfather) and ends the day before the start of school. It is a lovely arc telling all of the wild and crazy as well as bittersweet and beautiful events that happened that summer. 

There are a lot of characters including Kneenie's parents, brother, relatives, neighbors, classmates, and even a maple tree! 

It was a short audiobook at 4 hours and 45 minutes, so more detail or additional stories would have been nice. I would have enjoyed more about the immediate family dynamic and Kneenie! 

Memorable:  4.5 stars

Kneenie's family was similar to many in the 1970s, especially in the suburbs. The mothers felt stuck at housekeeping and if they worked, they had two jobs! Something that hasn't changed in fifty years. The fathers didn't understand their wives and didn't really try to do so. It was a vicious circle and still is!  

The stories about Kneenie's extended family are fascinating! I loved the stories the elders told although they may be true or may not be. But these stories have been told so many times they are officially family lore! 

 

Entertaining:   5.0 stars

The story about the poem, the maple tree, and Jesus is hysterical and the best of the book! Although, many of the stories in the book are also very funny or poignant! 

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect.        

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

Excellent choice.   

 

STRONG recommend

 

STATISTICS

Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audioBOOK

A Kid from Marlboro Road by Edward Burns

Blackstone Publishing

4 hours, 45 minutes

Release date of 9/10/2024

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Edward Burns

My Goodreads review

My StoryGraph review

Blackstone Publishing

Los Angeles Public Library

TRIGGER WARNINGS

"Potty humor", death, cursing, medical content, blood

 

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next book is...

 A Woman of Firsts by Kimberly Heckler (physical book)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

REVIEW - Isola (eBOOK)

 Isola by Allegra Goodman (eBOOK)

OVERVIEW

What a story and what a book! This historical novel is based on the life of Marguerite de La Rocque de Roberval, a French noblewoman. 

This novel kept showing up on reading lists and I dismissed it as another popular, fluffy book. I. WAS. SO. WRONG! 

Alegra has written six previous novels and I look forward to reading them and anything else she chooses to write!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

 

Writing: 5.0 stars

Allegra made this unbelievable story come to life. The descriptions were beautifully detailed from the gory parts to the mundane tasks necessary to fully tell the story. The descriptions of the time on the uninhabited island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence during all seasons were sheer poetry and so gorgeous.    

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

Character development: 5.0 stars

The main character is Marguerite, an orphaned woman of noble blood who was marooned as an adult on an inhospitable and uninhabited island in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.  

The secondary characters are Roberval (Marguerite's guardian), Auguste (Roberval's secretary and Marguerite's friend), and Damienne (Marguerite's servant). 

The tertiary characters are Claire (Marguerite's friend) and Madame D'Artois (Claire's mother and Marguerite's friend). The island that Marguerite was abandoned on is also a character unto itself. 

Many characters, including ones in France, New France (Canada), and the shipboard journeys on the Atlantic Ocean, add depth to the story.   

 

Storyline:  5.0 stars

Six sections in this book make up the novel: Périgord, La Rochelle, At Sea, The Isle, The Isle, and At Sea, La Rochelle, Périgord. This historical fiction novel covers 1531-1544 in France, New France, and at sea on the Atlantic Ocean. That may be a short period of only thirteen years, but so much happens to the characters. 

The story is of Marguerite who is orphaned and whose wealth and control are given to her social-climbing cousin Roberval. He uses her estate for his enrichment and power. Eventually, Roberval takes Marguerite on an ocean voyage to New France. She is left on an island until her rescue and return to France. 

The locations were Périgord and La Rochelle, France; time at sea; and an island in New France.   

 

Memorable/Informative:   5.0 stars

I never knew how early France sent explorers like Cartier and Roberval to find the non-existent northwest passage. Also, I was unaware of the difficulty and violence between the French settlers and the Native peoples in Quebec. Ultimately, the French founded Quebec about the same time the English founded Jamestown with similar difficulties for both settlements. 

Also, in 16th century France, a French woman's rights and estate were lost when her parents or husband died then either her husband, close male relative, or son inherited instead of the woman. The subjugation of women was terrifying, horrifying, and demeaning. Sadly, some of this still persists today.  

Book cover: 5.0 stars

Beautiful!

 

Book title: 5.0 stars 

On point!     

 

HIGHLY recommend

Los Angeles County Library (LAC) borrow: eBOOK

Isola by Allegra Goodman

368 pages 

The Dial Press

Release date: 2/5/2025

 

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Allegra Goodman

My Goodreads review

My StoryGraph review

The Dial Press

Los Angeles County Library

TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, torture, death of a parent, death of a child, sexual situations, gore, abandonment, execution

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next audioBOOK is...

 A Kid from Marlboro Road by Edward Burns (audioBOOK)

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

Switching from audioBOOK to eBOOK

 

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Hi, everyone!

I am really enjoying this audioBOOK! But with its strong and powerful messages, it would be better as an eBOOK. So I will return this audioBOOK to the library and read the eBOOK I already have! Oops! 

I will read this eBOOK once I catch up on my library holds!!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next audioBOOK is...

 Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (audioBOOK)

Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

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 💜