A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins (eARC/ebook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, April 27, 2025
REVIEW - The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club (eARC/ebook)
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly (eARC/ebook)
OVERVIEW
This is the second book I have read by Martha Hall Kelly. But there was something so personal about this novel due to the presence of book clubs, book lovers, and book readers! Plus, the magical setting of Martha's Vineyard during WWII created a perfect combination for a historical fiction novel!
Yes, of course, this is another WWII book! With books at the center of this novel, how could I resist reading another WWII historical fiction novel?!?!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
Martha writes beautifully, vividly, and descriptively. She is a writer who helps you use all of your senses to imagine exactly what takes place in this novel.
Character development: 5.0 stars
This was a dual timeline story with 1942 main characters of friends/sisters on Martha's Vineyard during WWII: Cadence (older sister), Briar (younger sister), and Besse (friend). The 2016 main characters were Mari (a young painter) and Mrs. Devereaux (a famous painter).
The secondary characters are Gram (Cadence and Briar's grandmother), Tom (Cadence and Briar's brother), and Margaret (another friend).
The tertiary characters are the extended friends, family, tourists, visitors, Army officers and soldiers, and "Islanders" on Martha's Vineyard (a beautiful character in its own right).
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is typical of what so many American families endured during WWII. Their child(ren) went off to fight for our freedoms in Europe, Africa, or Asia. The main communication was the radio, with little detail about specific individuals, so the families worried yet had to carry on at the home front. I cannot imagine the fear and anxiety!
The locations were: Martha's Vineyard, almost exclusively.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I had no idea that German U-boats were so flagrant, visible, and close to our shores during WWII. My family lived on the West Coast in Los Angeles and had rationing and blackouts, but nothing as terrifying as Martha's Vineyard!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Lovely!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Great title!
HIGHLY recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
336 pages
Ballantine Books
FUTURE release date: 5/27/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNING: War, sexual situations, mild cursing, classism, pregnancy, medical content, death, gun violence
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
REVIEW - Time to Thank (audiobook)
Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
Oh, my! This is the most beautiful tribute of a memoir to a parent. Steve Guttenberg wrote and narrated this amazing story of caregiving for his beloved father. Interestingly, both Steve's dad and mine passed away from the same insidious disease: renal failure (and heart issues).
The organization of this memoir was unique and perfect. Steve writes about his regular weekly (and sometimes more) road trips from Los Angeles to Phoenix to help care for his dad as the base for this book.
NOTE: I always knew I liked Steve as an actor, but after this memoir and his actions during the recent Palisades fire, I adore him as a beautiful human.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Steve heartfully writes with emotion, passion, and love for mom, siblings, but most especially his dad. I loved this tribute memoir so very much!
Narration: 5.0 stars
I don't know how Steve could narrate such difficult, heartbreaking, and personal parts of his relationship with his family without crying. I was in tears, and I rarely cry when reading books.
Character Arc: 5.0 stars
The character arc is organized quite differently, but I loved it! Steve would start each chapter with a story about a portion of the drive to Arizona; an update on his dad; and then ends with a remembrance of when he was young, when he moved to Los Angeles, and/or when he was an established actor with a dad anecdote.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
Steve and his dad's relationship is what we all want to have. We all want our dads to be our heroes. With his service as an Army Ranger in Korea and as an NYPD police officer, Steve's dad was an actual hero. Thank you for your service, Mr. Guttenberg.
But the biggest takeaway is that any relationship takes work. Steve and his dad put in the work!
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
Although parental caregiving is not an easy topic, Steve manages to make it entertaining and educational. The Guttenberg family is not perfect, and the imperfections are what make them real, accessible, and funny!
I also learned about end-stage kidney disease and dialysis treatment. It sounds horrible, but Steve's dad made it to the end with his heart and soul intact.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Absolutely on point!
HIGHLY recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg
Tantor Audio
7 hours, 7 minutes
Release date of 9/17/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Terminal illness, medical content, blood, death, death of a parent
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
My next eARC/ebook is ...
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly (eARC/ebook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - The True Happiness Company (eARC/ebook)
The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi (eARC/ebook)
OVERVIEW
I will think about this memoir for a very long time. Veena writes about her slow descent into a cult and how she came out the other side. I grew up in what I personally believe is a cult: Jehovah's Witnesses. There are so many similarities and so many differences for me to unwrap. My biggest question is this: Can an "organized religion be a cult?"
This book may not appeal to everyone because of the subject matter, but it worked for me. YMMV.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
Veena writes so beautifully. The writing changes somewhat depending on where she is in the "cult cycle". She writes from the heart and soul.
My only issue is that it could have been edited more, but Veena is purposeful in all aspects of this memoir, as she indicates in her Endnote.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main characters were Veena (a teenager suffering from situational depression), Bob (a pseudo-therapist), and Charlie (her boyfriend). They are fully fleshed out individually and together (as it is a triangle relationship).
Veena's family is the secondary characters: Amma, Nanna, and Venkat (mother, father, and brother).
The tertiary characters are the extended friends, family, therapists, the Mormon church, and the True Happiness Company cult.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
The storyline is so scary. Veena is a driven, first-generation daughter in an immigrant family who lives in a town with a reputation for teenage death by suicide. She is surrounded by semi-regular deaths by suicide. Veena half-heartedly tries to die by suicide, and then the chaos, misdiagnosis, and mind-games begin. Horrible!
Additionally, this book is told in real-time chronological order, which could be confusing, but it does pay off in the end!
The locations were: Connecticut, New York City, Georgia, and California.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
It is terrifying how easily Veena and her family got sucked into an unhealthy and dangerous cult. They were looking for answers and help for her, but instead, things became much worse.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Beautiful!
Book title: 5.0 stars
So on point!
HIGHLY recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi
320 pages
Random House
FUTURE release date: 5/20/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNING: Cursing, infidelity, classism, sexual abuse, cult, drug use, forced institutionalism, pregnancy, mental health issues, gaslighting
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
DNF - Sisters in Science (audiobook)
Sisters in Science by Olivia Campbell (audiobook)
I will not be finishing this book. It was about four women physicists who escape Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, I missed the terms physicists and WWII.
Life is too short and there are too many other books to read!
This book will definitely work for another audience - just not me!
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, April 20, 2025
REVIEW - The Next Day (audiobook)
The Next Day by Melinda French Gates (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
This is the second audiobook by Melinda French Gates that I have listened to. This is very emotional, real, and personal. It is a short but powerful book.
This book really showcases how emotionally aware Melinda really is. She gets that she came from privilege and was fortunate to have the opportunities in her life. Interestingly, she is very spiritual as a lapsed Roman Catholic, and she shares poems, quotes, and inspirations from her favorite writers (including Malala's father) throughout the book. Some of it worked for me, and some didn't. But it was motivational and beautiful.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Melinda writes beautifully with a rawness and personal depth that is just spectacular.
Narration: 5.0 stars
Melinda is an excellent narrator. I prefer that memoirs be read by the person who wrote the book; she does an incredible job narrating her life.
Character Arc: 5.0 stars
The character arc is told fairly chronologically, starting with her childhood and ending post-divorce and post-COVID.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
The story of her best friend, John, passing away was so powerful and beautiful. What a friendship.
She shared the "ring theory" to best assist those in a life crisis due to illness, death, or another life challenge. It is brilliant.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
Melinda shares personal stories that are so touching and beautiful, such as the "nail polish incident", "a good enough parent", and becoming a grandmother.
She discusses the difficult breakup of her marriage and subsequent divorce. If you expect her to "spill the tea", this is not the book for you.
The best takeaway from Melinda is to always trust your inner voice. If you don't hear your inner voice, find it! Also, after an event (good, bad, or ugly), start your focus on the next day. It is a way to stay in the present!
Yes, Melinda, you are on point!
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Boring.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect!
HIGHLY recommend
STATISTICS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
The Next Day by Melinda French Gates
Macmillan Audio
3 hours, 44 minutes
Release date of 4/15/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Death, pregnancy, divorce, infidelity, cancer
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Saturday, April 19, 2025
My next read is ...
The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi (eARC/ebook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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