The Power of Parting by Eamon Dolan (audiobook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, May 29, 2025
REVIEW - Accidentally on Purpose (audiobook)
Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
I used to watch Top Chef and was rooting for Kristen when she won season 10! She was my favorite from the season opener, but most especially when she won Last Chance Kitchen five times in a row! She was talented, gutsy, and amazing!
While browsing the Libby application on my cell phone, I stumbled upon her memoir! I immediately knew that I would want to listen to this as an audiobook. It did not disappoint!
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
The writing is strong, emotional, raw, and real. Kristen writes from the heart, and it shows!
It appears that she wrote this on her own without a ghost writer, BRAVA, Kristen!
Narration: 5.0 stars
Kristen narrated this book, even though she is not a professional narrator; she did a fantastic job. On a few occasions, she became emotional, but it added to the power of this memoir.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main character is, of course, Kristen. She details her life from her first picture in the United States (as she is an adoptee from South Korea) to her recent hosting job on Top Chef. It is told chronologically, which is the format that I prefer.
Kristen shares her life journey as an adoptee, an Asian-American, and part of the LGBT+ community, and a chef. She takes great pride in all of the groups that she represents and understands the power of representation.
She shares how she was raised in Michigan with an older non-biological brother. Kristen has incredibly loving parents who supported her choices to leave college and pursue a culinary degree. She shares her confusion about being LGBT+ and her coming out. Add that she is a female, Asian American chef when there were not many women or Asian-American chefs when she was starting out, period. She shares working in restaurants, opening her first restaurant, being on food/travel television shows, and finally becoming the host of Top Chef. Finally, she shares meeting the love of her life, Bianca, and getting married.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
For me, one of the biggest takeaways was finding joy. We cannot qualify or quantify it, but we know it when we see it. Kristen focuses on finding joy in her life both individually and as part of a married couple.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
As a mom of a hapa (Asian-American/Northern European) daughter, Kristen is a strong role model. But, I also found her endearing, real, and so accessible that the mom in me adored her and her memoir.
I would so love to cook or dine with Kristen! I know that she would make it a fun time!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Great photograph.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Very appropriate.
HIGHLY recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish
10 hours, 28 minutes
Little, Brown & Company
Release date: 4/22/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Cursing, drug use, alcohol use, racism, sexism, pandemic
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
REVIEW - The One That Got Away (ebook/short story)
The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle (ebook/short story)
OVERVIEW
This was the additional short story provided with Amazon First Reads for April 2025. I had never read anything by Mike Gayle, who is a British author.
I somewhat liked this story, but it wasn't one of my favorites offered by the Amazon First Reads program. It was something to read while I waited for my daughter to shop at Costco.
OVERALL REVIEW: 3.0 stars
Writing: 3.0 stars
Mike writes beautifully. I have no issues with the quality of the writing at all.
Character development: 3.0 stars
There was fairly good character development, but I didn't like either of the primary characters. They were both selfish jerks.
The primary characters are Reuben and Beth, who were a couple.
The secondary characters are Leo (Beth's fiancé) and the assorted friends of Reuben, Beth, and Leo. As an aside, Reuben has incredible friends that he doesn't deserve!
The tertiary characters are Alan (Reuben's dad), Anne (Reuben's stepmother), and some minor characters.
Storyline: 3.0 stars
This short story is told in a dual timeline with "Then" and "Now" chapters.
Basically, Reuben and Beth have been broken up for about six months, and she is getting married. Beth calls Reuben on the morning of the wedding, and nothing but chaos ensues.
The main location is southern England.
Memorable/Informative: 3.0 stars
The premise of Reuben and Beth's relationship, their issues, and why they break up is just ridiculous.
Book cover: 3.5 stars
Meh.
Book title: 3.0 stars
True, but trite.
LUKEWARM recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Amazon First Reads - ebook/short story
The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle
100 pages
Amazon Original Stories
Release date of 5/1/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Infidelity, alcohol
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Monday, May 26, 2025
My next ebook is ...
The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle (ebook - short story)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - The Bookstore Family (ebook/ short story)
The Bookstore Family (Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #4) by Alice Hoffman (ebook/short story)
OVERVIEW
This was a special treat! I had no idea Alice Hoffman had written a fourth short story in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories. I am hoping for a fifth short story in this series. Yes, I am being so greedy!
This was another great short story by the amazing Alice Hoffman. This is the fourth and final (say it isn't so!) short story in The Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories about a family bookstore on the fictional island of Brinkley's Island, Maine. I so love this sweet and lovely series.
Caveat: Please read the first three short stories before reading this one.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Alice Hoffman is my favorite author, period. Her writing is beautifully spectacular, poetic, and brilliant. This fourth short story was another great addition to this lovely series.
Character development: 5.0 stars
As always, there is good character development! This short story is primarily about Violet (Sophie's daughter), who is living an unhappy life as a pastry chef in Paris.
The secondary characters are Sophie (Violet's mother), Isabel (Violet's aunt), and Remy (Violet's friend in Paris).
The tertiary characters are Johnny (Isabel's husband), David (Sophie's husband), and Suzy (Johnny and Isabel's young daughter).
Storyline: 5.0 stars
This short story concerns family, loss, grief, and unconditional love, as in the first three short stories.
Violet leaves Paris to return home to the island. Sadly, her mother, Sophie, has had a recurrence of her cancer. The family rallies to help Sophie meet all of the tasks on her bucket list.
We receive a lovely, bittersweet ending (maybe not) to this wonderful short story series!
The main location is the fictional Brinkley's Island, Maine.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
This is another beautiful short story in a short story series. Alice Hoffman could write her grocery list, and I would read it!
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Gorgeous.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfect!
HIGHLY recommend
BOOK INFORMATION
Purchased Kindle digital copy
The Bookstore Family (Once Upon a Time Bookshop Stories #4) by Alice Hoffman
43 pages
Amazon Original Stories
Release date of 5/13/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Death of a parent, terminal illness
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - The List (eARC/ebook)
The List by Steve Berry (eARC/ebook)
OVERVIEW
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is the twentieth or so book by Steve Berry I have read. I have read nearly all of the published books in the Cotton Malone series (thrillers with a historical bent) I immensely enjoy. But this is one of the few stand-alone books by Steve I have read that is unrelated to the Cotton Malone franchise.
This was a perfect book for the long weekend! It was a fresh new book from Steve, and I really enjoyed the difference in the storytelling.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
Steve writes so very well. This book was quite different without the historical aspect with most of his books, but I enjoyed it.
My only issue is that I found the descriptions of the mill, the paper process, and the operations uninteresting.
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main characters were Brent (a lawyer returning to his hometown), Hank (the electricians' union head), the fictional Southern Republic Pulp and Paper mill, and the three greedy shareholders/owners, Bozin, Lee, and Hughes.
The secondary characters are Brent and Hank's friends and family, the various mill workers, and the townspeople.
The tertiary character is greed, and the incredible lengths that some will go to protect and increase their wealth.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
This is a contemporary thriller and was quite mind-boggling. But nothing that corporations do anymore shocks or surprises me.
Brent and Hank unwittingly stumble into some horrible and criminal activities by the three owners/shareholders of the mill. By finding out this information, they put themselves and their families in danger. It then gets off and running, and the suspense doesn't stop until the end.
As Steve indicated in his Writer's Note, this book was inspired by his law practice in a town similar to the fictional Concord.
The location was primarily the fictional Concord, Georgia.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
I had no idea that these paper mills existed in the South. With access to water, trees, and a relatively inexpensive labor force, they thrived in the 19th and 20th centuries. Now, with the advent of the digital age, paper isn't used nearly as frequently, which has helped cause the demise of these mills.
Book cover: 4.0 stars
Okay, but meh.
Book title: 4.5 stars
Short and sweet!
STRONG recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
The List by Steve Berry
384 pages
Grand Central Publishing
FUTURE release date: 7/22/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Murder, gun violence, pregnancy, physical abuse, sexual situations, mild cursing, infidelity, terminal illnesses, gore, and blood
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
My next audiobook is ...
Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish (audiobook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Review - Where You Are Is Not Who You Are (audiobook)
Where You Are Is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
Malcolm Gladwell mentioned Ursula in his book, "Revenge of the Tipping Point". I wanted to know more about her (and do my own research), so I found her memoir.
I thoroughly enjoyed, but didn't love, this memoir. Ursula mentions she is best one-on-one, and I know I would enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine with her! She reminds me of my late friend, Robin, who also came from New York.
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars
Writing: 4.0 stars
The writing is strong, emotional, and personal.
But, there was so much "Xerox speak". Ursula is also a mechanical engineer, so she is very technical (like my electrical engineer husband).
Narration: 4.0 stars
Ursula seemed uncomfortable and tentative reading the book. Narration is not her forte.
I recommend reading this book as either a digital or physical copy instead of an audiobook.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main character is Ursula, as it is her memoir. But there are other important people in her life, especially her mother, Olga, with the book title and many chapters named after her mother's sayings.
Ursula grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side, living in public housing. She used education to improve her life and is a true American success story. But that doesn't mean she didn't encounter racism, sexism, and classism.
Ursula presents the good, the bad, and the ugly in this memoir. She discusses her strengths and weaknesses candidly.
Finally, the memoir is in fairly chronological order, which makes it easy to follow her life trajectory.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
As the first Black woman CEO to run a Fortune 500 company, she was a trailblazer. But the biggest takeaway was that she was technically proficient, mentored by the top leaders in the country, and exceedingly qualified for the position.
It caused a lot of drama when she was announced as the Xerox CEO, but would the same have happened if she had been a white man? I think not, so that is definitely something to remember and consider.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
Ursula mentions impactful capitalism and believes the United States would be better off following this model. This business theory sounds fascinating and a real opportunity for positive change.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Great photograph.
Book title: 5.0 stars
Perfectly stated.
STRONG recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: audiobook
Where You Are Is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns
7 hours, 39 minutes
HarperAudio
Release date: 6/15/2021
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Mild swearing, drug addiction, medical content, classism, racism, sexism, pandemic
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Friday, May 23, 2025
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