Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller (audiobook)
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Saturday, July 5, 2025
REVIEW - The Women at Ocean's End
The Women at Ocean's End by Faith Hogan (ebook)
OVERVIEW
This is the sixth book by Faith Hogan that I have read. I have a one-word summation of them all - LOVELY!
I love that this book was based on a fictional island off the coast of Ireland. Apparently, there are many uninhabited and inhabited islands, so adding to my bucket list!
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.5 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
Faith writes so beautifully. It is so descriptive that I can picture it all in my mind while I am reading it! That is the best writing for any reader!
Character development: 4.5 stars
The main characters are Constance and Dotty (best friends), Heather (Dotty's daughter), and Ros (park ranger).
The secondary characters are Maggie (Constance's mother), as well as Norman and Sylvie (Dotty's parents).
The tertiary characters are all the various people, including friends and family, primarily on the fictional Pin Hill Island. It is a large cast of characters!
The character development was strong. I just always want more. Most especially about the secondary characters.
Storyline: 4.5 stars
The storyline is told in two main storylines with a lot of overlapping of different times, also told in flashbacks. But, basically, Constance and Dotty are best friends. Constance and her mom move to Pin Hill Island, and Dotty and her mom join the move. Time continues to pass until secrets are revealed and discovered.
The locations were fictional Pin Hill Island, Dublin, and London.
Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars
It was wonderful to learn about the islands off the coast of Western Island.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Faith ALWAYS has beautiful covers!
Book title: 4.5 stars
There appears to be confusion as to the correct title on various book sites. Either one is perfect!
Strong Recommend
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) borrow: ebook
The Women at Ocean's End by Faith Hogan
401 pages
Aria
Release date: 6/5/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Alcohol, alcoholism, death of a parent, grief, cancer, medical content, death of an animal, and mild cursing.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
REVIEW - Walking with Ghosts
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Walking with Ghosts by Gabriel Byrne (audiobook)
OVERVIEW
This is a beautiful, albeit difficult, memoir to read. It primarily focuses on Gabriel's childhood and young adulthood, with important life experiences in his adulthood sprinkled throughout.
I knew there was a difference between an autobiography and a memoir. But this link puts it succinctly, "A memoir is a nonfiction narrative in which the author shares their memories from a specific time period or reflects upon a string of themed occurrences throughout their life. An autobiography is a factual and historical account of one’s entire life from beginning to end." The more you know, LINK.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars
Writing: 5.0 stars
Gabriel's writing is so poetic, lyrical, and beautiful. This is a very personal, real, and raw memoir - he spills all of his secrets, and it appears to have been cathartic for him. He has a gift for writing and should write more books, seriously.
There are very few mentions of famous people or name-dropping, so if you are looking for that, this is not the book for you. Additionally, there are many triggers, so please be aware.
Narration: 5.0 stars
The narration was done by Gabriel, and it was perfection. He read the truly horrific parts with raw emotion and sincerity.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main character is Gabriel.
The secondary characters are Gabriel's friends and family in Ireland, England, and the U.S.
There are many Catholic priests and nuns, as they were at the heart of the Irish community at the time Gabriel was growing up. Also, some Hollywood hangers-on once Gabriel became a "name".
The character development was incredible for Gabriel, specifically. The secondary and tertiary characters don't really change or grow much.
Memorable: 5.0 stars
I was shocked at the ubiquity of alcoholism and depression in Ireland. It seems that the local pub is the heart and soul of the community, like the parish church.
Entertaining/Educational: 5.0 stars
The abuse by Catholic clergy was horrifying. It included emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, which created shame and humiliation for Gabriel and all of the other boys involved.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect - loved the black and white picture.
Book title: 5.0 stars
On point.
Highly recommend
California Bookshelf borrow: audiobook
Walking with Ghosts by Gabriel Byrne
6 hours, 57 minutes
Recorded Books, Inc.
Release date: 1/12/2021
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Death, grief, death of parent, medical content, medical trauma, mental illness, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, child-adult relationships, alcoholism, sexual content, cursing, drug use.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Thursday, July 3, 2025
DNF - These Memories Do Not Belong To Us (eARC/ebook)
These Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming Ma (eARC/ebook)
I will not be finishing this book.
This book is set in a dystopian future where every citizen is equipped with a "Mindbank" that controls their memories. China is the victor of a war and now controls the U.S. There is no back story as the book is told in random memory vignettes.
There was nothing wrong with the book - it just wasn't my type of book and may appeal to others!
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
July 2025 - Amazon First Reads
Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!
One of the perks 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 July email for Amazon First Reads was delivered, July 1st! There is a choice of two free Kindle books out of eight book choices (no short story this month). But, this was an easy month to choose my two picks to read!
My two free Kindle book choices for July 2025 are:
The Fourth Daughter by Lyn Liao Butler (Kindle eARC, ebook)
The Women of Arlinton Hall by Jane Healey (Kindle eARC, ebook)
Also, "buy" AND download the freebies from Amazon! You can't read a book that hasn't been downloaded! I am going to download them both NOW!
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
booksbydorothea - The Storygraph May 2025 Monthly Recap
Hi, booksbydorothea blog friends!
After using both The Storygraph and Goodreads in tandem for six months, there is no comparison in terms of quality or quantity. You can check out my profile, booksbydorothea, HERE.
The FREE book statistics are beautiful, creative, and wildly informative. You can also sign up for more comparative statistics with the monthly Plus plan. Currently, the free account works well for me. Click here for the free statistics that I get HERE.
Come on over, please be my "friend" as I really want all of my friends (thank you, Chelsea for joining me!) on The Storygraph, as it is so superior to the "other site"! Click the LINK, which will direct you to the sign-in/sign-up page.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
California's Bookshelf and the Palace Project
If you didn't know, Californians now have access to more library books! If you didn't know, no worries. I didn't find out until last night, and this program has been active since March 26, 2025!
"Every Californian with an email address and an internet connection can now visit California’s Bookshelf and access more than 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks."
To learn more about this program, including the Palace project used to access the books, click HERE.
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
booksbydorothea - June 2025 - Monthly Wrap-up
Hi, book blog friends!!
June 2025 is in the books! It was another busy and fun month for our family! My husband’s cousin celebrated his 90th birthday, my husband celebrated HIS birthday and Father’s Day, along with lunches with friends, movies, and school break for our daughter, and it is getting hot in Southern California (with high fire danger, already).
As you probably know from reading my blog, since November 2024, I have been living in a bubble by avoiding the news and social media (except book-related accounts). However, due to the chaos in my beloved city of Los Angeles, I was using my personal Instagram account, but I am tapering off again. I am still not watching the news or using Facebook (as it doesn’t work for me anymore). My best advice is to use social media judiciously, as it is a time vampire and a mental health destroyer.
June was a fabulous reading month with seventeen books (audiobooks and ebooks; no physical books).
In June, there were eight five-star books: seven ebooks, one audiobook, and no physical books.
BEST BOOKS FOR JUNE 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
Abscond by Abraham Verghese
Lightening
in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann
The Eights by Joanna Miller
Smoke on
the Wind by Kelli Estes
The Names by Florence Knapp
A
Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan
The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman
YTD TOTAL: 39
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
Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen
Physical books
JANUARY-FEBRUARY; APRIL-JUNE (0)
MARCH
(1)
This
One Life by
Amanda Prowse
YTD TOTAL: 1
2025 READING GOAL
My goal is to read 101
books in 2025. As of June 30th, I have read 93 books, or 92.0% of my goal.
JUNE 2025 STATISTICS
17 total books
12 ebooks; 5 audiobooks; 0
physical books
4 books - ARC (Advanced
Reader Copy)
13 books - Library
0 books – Purchased
1 book - Amazon First
Reads
2 books - Book Club Girl
0 books – author gifted
0 books – friend gifted
JUNE 2025 BOOK RATINGS
with BOOK COVERS
ebooks 2025
5.0-star ebooks
Abscond by Abraham Verghese LINK
Lightening in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann LINK
The Eights by Joanna Miller LINK
Smoke on the Wind by Kelli Estes LINK
The Names by Florence Knapp LINK
A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan LINK
The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman LINK
3.5-star ebooks
The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson LINK
The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin LINK
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick LINK
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig LINK
3.0-star ebooks
25 Alive by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
*PLEASE NOTE: There were no 4.5 or 4.0-star ebooks this month.
Audiobooks 2025
5.0-star audiobooks
Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen LINK
4.5-star audiobooks
We Might Just Make It After All by Elyce Arons LINK
4.0-star audiobooks
The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles LINK
3.5-star audiobooks
Eternal Flame by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike LINK
*PLEASE NOTE: There were no 3.0-star audiobooks this month.
Physical books 2025
There were no physical books 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 JUNE 2025 BOOK RATINGS with BOOK COVERS just above). Click on the specific book link to get to that book review.
What are the books you are reading by the pool, or audiobooks you are listening to on your vacation drive, or physical books you are reading at the beach? Please share!
Happy reading!
Dorothea 💜
P.S. For
additional helpful tools on my blog, check out:
Book Rating Legend: LINK
Glossary: LINK
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