The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper (ebook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, April 28, 2025
REVIEW - A Clean Mess (eARC/ebook)
A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins (eARC/eBOOK)
OVERVIEW
This is the first book by Tiffany Jenkins that I have read. However, this is the second book she has written about her life with drug addiction. From what I understand, this second book begins where the last one stopped after she got out of prison, rehab, and finally a sober-living home.
I have not read many books about drug addiction because it has not directly affected me, nor have I had a close friend or family member addicted to drugs. I am very fortunate in that regard.
I liked this book as it was an easy read about a difficult topic. I will not be reading her first book, as this second book was enough for me. I liked this book, but didn't love it! It just didn't connect with me.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars.
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing was okay, but it wasn't a book of great literature, and that was not the intent. For the subject matter, the writing was on point.
As a side note, the overuse of "dude" and f-bombs was a bit much.
Character development: 4.0 stars
The main characters are Tiffany and Colin, who met at her cousin's recovery graduation event. Both were in recovery and had not yet achieved a year of sobriety. The book is told from Tiffany's viewpoint.
The secondary characters are Tiffany's dad, Frank, and Tiffany's sister, Lanie. Additionally, her close female friends from recovery are also secondary characters.
The tertiary character who is the most insidious is addiction. It is scary, horrifying, and humiliating.
Storyline: 4.0 stars
The storyline starts when Tiffany enters a women's sober living home. When she meets Colin, all hell breaks loose, and the rollercoaster begins.
The main location was Florida.
Memorable/Informative: 4.0 star
This memoir is very graphic and honest about how hard it is to stay sober with a drug addiction. Addiction is evil, vindictive, and manipulative. This explains why so many folks go to rehab several times before it sticks. But, sadly, many never get clean and sober and die from overdoses.
What I would have loved is information, from an addict's perspective, on how to help keep kids off drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. This would have been helpful, or maybe it will be another book.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Pretty!
Book title: 4.0 stars
Very appropriate.
DEFINITE recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
A Clean Mess by Tiffany Jenkins
304 pages
Harmony
FUTURE release date: 6/3/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNING: Drug use, infidelity, pregnancy, drug addiction, recovery, death of a parent, mental illness, heavy cursing
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - Change the Recipe (audiobook)
Change the Recipe by José Andrés (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
This was a beautiful memoir filled with so much good life advice. It may be my new gift for college graduates, as this was the book I needed when I started adulting!
However, I would have enjoyed it more as a physical or digital book instead of listening to it as an audiobook. There was just so much material that I would have absorbed it all better visually rather than verbally.
Full disclosure: The charity, World Central Kitchen (WCK), that José co-founded, is one of two charities our family regularly supports. WCK was in Southern California almost immediately after the January 2025 fires and fed many people I know in Altadena and Pasadena.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing was passionate, powerful, and real. It was completely from José's heart. There was a ghostwriter, but it didn't affect Jose's message.
Narration: 5.0 stars
José is not a professional actor or speaker, but he read this audiobook with so much emotion.
Of course, I am sure some people will complain that José has a Spanish accent on the audiobook, making it difficult to understand. I call bullshit! I have a Southern California accent - we all have accents!
The best thing to do is to read or listen to this book. It is an important book!
Character development: 5.0 stars
There were no main characters per se. It is all about José, cooking, and WCK. José believes in good food, food that tells a story, and food for all. All three are beautifully interwoven throughout the book.
José's family of origin, his own family, WCK family, and extended chef networks play prominent roles throughout the book. Additionally, the customers who pay in his restaurants or folks helped by WCK are treated with grace, care, and hospitality.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
For me, José takes way too much heat for feeding both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian war. Both sides are hungry and thirsty.
His altruistic work of feeding the hungry is what José is passionate about. He has tried to stay out of the political drama, but it keeps rearing its ugly head. José's focus is getting food and water where it is needed quickly and efficiently while cutting through the idiotic red tape.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
José hits the mark when he talks about endless wasteful meetings, while agencies wait instead of reacting to help after disasters. This is the same issue in the U.S. with our businesses and government - we talk too much about doing without doing anything at all.
José and WCK get it done because they are creative, forward-thinking, and on the ground quickly. They assess the needs, speak to the helpers already there, and use the available resources at the disaster site. This is much better than waiting for supplies to arrive!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Appropriate!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect, especially with the subtitle.
HIGHLY recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
Change the Recipe by José Andrés
4 hours, 36 minutes
Harper Audio
Release date: 4/22/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNING: Mild cursing, classism, colonialism, war, violence, lack of food and water, xenophobia
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 💜
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