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Tuesday, June 3, 2025

My next ebook read AND review - Abscond (ebook/Kindle short story)

 


Abscond by Abraham Verghese (ebook/Kindle short story)


OVERVIEW

This is a short story by Abraham Verghese, who also wrote Cutting for Stone, which I adored. This short story was offered as an Amazon First Reads FREE short story for June 2025. If you have Amazon Prime, you can also get this short story HERE


OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars


Writing: 5.0 stars

Abraham is an amazing writer. He writes so passionately, beautifully, and descriptively in this short story. 


Character development: 5.0 stars

There was fantastic character development! This short story is primarily about Ravi, a thirteen-year-old Indian-American who is enjoying the last few days of his 1967 summer vacation.   

The secondary characters are Rekha (Ravi's mother), Ramesh (Ravi's father), Billy (Ravi's best friend), and McGilicutty (a loyal friend and neighbor).   

The tertiary characters are the neighbors and the Indian aunties and uncles.


Storyline:  5.0 stars

What a lovely story of friendship, family, and community. 

It is a normal summer day for Ravi and Billy as they practice tennis together. Then everything changes when they come home, and Ravi must change too.  

Please note that I am being careful here as I don't want to spoil this beautiful short story. 

The main location is New Jersey 


Memorable/Informative:  5.0 stars

What a love letter to Indian-American culture! So much is explained about Hinduism that I did not know. 


Book cover: 5.0 stars

Perfect! It is actually from an oil painting. 


Book title: 5.0 stars 

So appropriate!  


HIGHLY recommend


BOOK INFORMATION

Amazon First Reads ebook Kindle short story 

Abscond by Abraham Verghese

39 pages 

Amazon Original Stories

Release date of 7/1/2025


INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Abraham Verghese

Goodreads review

The Storygraph review

Amazon Original Stories


TRIGGER WARNINGS:

Death of a parent, grief, alcohol, graphic cremation scene, cursing


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜



DNF - Modern Herstory (ebook)


 Modern Herstory by Blair Imani (ebook)


I will not be finishing this book. I originally thought the audiobook was the problem. The real issue is the short snippets of each woman and non-binary person when I want in-depth history, biography, and back story.  

There is nothing wrong with this book, and it will work well for others who like quick and easy reads. 


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

DNF - The Hundred Loves of Juliet (ebook)


 The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye (ebook)


I will not be finishing this book. This is a magical realism book of "Romeo and Juliet" meeting again and again throughout time. It just didn't work for me. 

There was nothing wrong with the book - it just wasn't my type of book and would appeal to others!


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜


Monday, June 2, 2025

booksbydorothea - The Storygraph May 2025 Monthly Recap

 

Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!

In January 2025, I started using The Storygraph LINK. If you are curious, click the link, which will take you to the sign-in/sign-up page (hint, hint). 

After five months of using both The Storygraph and Goodreads, there is no comparison in terms of quality or quantity. But most of my author friends (hint, hint) or personal friends (hint, hint) are only using Goodreads. So I will continue using Goodreads, but The Storygraph is my primary book-tracking site. 

The FREE book statistics are beautiful, creative, and fascinating. You can also sign up for more on the monthly Plus plan. Currently, the free account works well for me. 

If you are curious, the entire May 2025 booksbydorothea statistics are HERE, or the profile is HERE

Come on over, please be my "friend" (hint, hint) on The Storygraph!

Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜


Sunday, June 1, 2025

June 2025 - Amazon First Reads

 



Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!

A perk of your Amazon Prime Membership is a FREE monthly Kindle book (and sometimes a short story)! The program is called Amazon First Reads, and you can find out more HERE

The June email for Amazon First Reads came out TODAY! There is a choice of one free Kindle book out of eight, and one Kindle short story. 

My TWO choices for June 2025 are:


Abscond by Abraham Verghese (short story)




Lighting in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann (ebook)



Both of these choices sound so very good to me. Have you decided what you are picking? 

Don't forget to "buy" AND download the freebies from Amazon! You can't read a book or a short story that hasn't been downloaded! 


Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜


booksbydorothea - May 2025 - Monthly Wrap-up


Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!

May 2025 was another crazy month for our family (isn’t it always?), but much better than April. My best friend was in town for a long weekend, semester finals (daughter), Mother’s Day, and my hubby semi-retiring (what a lot of work to retire).

Ever since November 2024, I have been living in a bubble by avoiding the news and social media (except book-related accounts). My best personal advice is to delete social media from your cell phone! Additionally, talk therapy and anti-anxiety medication have helped my mental health so much. #MentalHealthCareIsHealthcare

May was another strong reading month with SIXTEEN books read. I am still on a reading roll.

In May, there were ten five-star books: seven ebooks, three audiobooks, and no physical books. This was another fantastic reading month!

 

BEST BOOKS FOR MAY 2025 (plus previous months)

 

ebooks 2025

JANUARY (10)

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman

The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis

What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange

More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova

Paris Undercover by Matthew Goodman

The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman

Come Fly with Me by Camille Di Maio

The Memory of Cotton by Ann K. Howley

The Secret History of Audrey Jones by Heather Marshall

Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall


FEBRUARY (4)

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly

 

MARCH (4)

This One Life by Amanda Prowse

Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner

Isola by Allegra Goodman

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

 

APRIL (7)

The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

Where the Rivers Merge by Mary Alice Monroe

Marsha by Tourmaline

Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan

The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi

The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly



 MAY (7)

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs

The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams

 

Audiobooks 2025

JANUARY (2)

Me by Elton John

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen


FEBRUARY (3)

Never by Rick Astley

Unlovable by Darren Hayes

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan

 

MARCH (0)

-NONE-


APRIL (4)

Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

The Next Day by Melinda French Gates

Time to Thank by Steve Guttenberg

Change the Recipe by José Andrés



MAY (3)

Medicine River by Mary Annette Pember

Read This to Get Smarter by Blair Imani

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish

 

Physical books

JANUARY-FEBRUARY; APRIL-MAY -NONE-

MARCH (1)

This One Life by Amanda Prowse

 

2025 READING GOAL

My goal is to read 101 books in 2025. As of May 31st, I have read 76 books, or 75.2% of my goal.

  

MAY 2025 STATISTICS

16 total books

10 ebooks; 6 audiobooks; 0 physical books

5 books - ARC (Advanced Reader Copy)

8 books - Library

1 book – Purchased

1 book - Amazon First Reads

0 books - Book Club Girl

0 books – author gifted

0 books – friend gifted

 

Audio listening time in May 2025: 52 hours, 42 minutes

Pages read in May 2025: 3,103 pages

Average review rating: 4.53 stars

 

MAY 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS 

 

ebooks 2025

5.0-star ebooks

The Library of Lost Dollhouses by Elise Hooper LINK

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen LINK

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie LINK

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor LINK

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs LINK

The Bookstore Family by Alice Hoffman LINK

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams LINK


4.5-star ebooks

The List by Steve Berry LINK


3.5-star ebooks

The Secrets of Lovelace Academy by Marie Benedict/Courtney Sheinmel LINK

 

3.0-star ebooks

The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle LINK


NOTE: No 4.0-star ebooks this month.


Audiobooks 2025 

5.0-star audiobooks

Medicine River by Mary Annette Pember LINK

Read This to Get Smarter by Blair Imani LINK

Accidentally on Purpose by Kristen Kish LINK

 

4.5-star audiobooks

Revenge of the Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell LINK

Where You Are Is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns LINK


4.0-star audiobooks

The Measure by Nikki Erlick LINK

 

NOTE: No 3.5-star or 3.0-star audiobooks this month. 


Physical books 2025

NOTE: No physical books were read this month.


If you want to read my full review of any of these books, there are individual review links for each ebook or audiobook next to the book title and author (under MAY 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS just above). Click on the specific book link to get to that book review.

 

May has been another amazing reading month! Do you have any "must-read" book recommendations for me? Thank you in advance!

  

Happy reading!

Dorothea ðŸ’œ


P.S. For additional helpful tools on booksbydorothea, check out:

Book Rating Legend: LINK

Glossary: LINK


booksbydorothea social media: 

My next ebook is ...

 


The Hundred Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye (ebook)


Yes, I am reading TWO ebooks at a time! Both are completely different genres, so it should be easy-peasy to compartmentalize!


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

My next audiobook is ...


 The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles (audiobook)



Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜

My next ebook is ...


 Modern Herstory by Blair Imani (ebook)


YEAH! The digital copy was available at the library! 


Happy reading, 

Dorothea 💜


Switching from audiobook to ebook - Modern Herstory

 


Modern Herstory by Blair Imani (audiobook)


I am really enjoying this audiobook, but I wish that Blair had narrated it herself. With all the interesting women and non-binary people in this audiobook, I want to enjoy and savor it as an ebook later. So I will return this audiobook to the library and check it out as an ebook later. 



Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜

DNF - Jane Austen: The Biography (eARC/eBOOK)

 


Jane Austen: The Biography by Elizabeth Jenkins (eARC/eBOOK)


I will not be finishing this book. This is a reissue of a book written in 1938, in honor of Jane Austen's 250th anniversary of her birthday. The book is more scholarly with dated language and writing. It is not a contemporary biography as I expected. 

Happy 250th Birthday, Jane!


Happy reading,

Dorothea 💜