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
TRIGGER WARNINGS
"Potty humor", death, cursing, medical content, blood
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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
TRIGGER WARNING: Violence, torture, death of a parent, death of a child, sexual situations, gore, abandonment, execution
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Hi, everyone!
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
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Drug abuse, alcohol abuse, graphic sexual situations, cursing, pregnancy, abortion, death, overdose, underage sexual situations
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
