tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46618764083537743212024-03-13T09:02:32.202-05:00A Page Before BedtimeMelyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793705635445829864noreply@blogger.comBlogger30413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661876408353774321.post-64093770997725628232024-03-03T10:00:00.000-06:002024-03-04T10:52:16.118-06:00Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDorRhlnbdkgahtXGzE7LlwVu8zoYcBWkUx81QUd5dRJEhaKUQWfa_8qBmxN1jBi3qTyTZKWyCRzH0PPTdHVFLuUAldwkfirJtGDqpoiOBDQt-UUqbZ_4SrQUQ62PVdU2rwwwVaQvRx4CTH_BmzPLRTCRmW99ale4teM0Mgf7FWBx8de3u1CbfwpF1Kc/s315/tafaic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="315" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDorRhlnbdkgahtXGzE7LlwVu8zoYcBWkUx81QUd5dRJEhaKUQWfa_8qBmxN1jBi3qTyTZKWyCRzH0PPTdHVFLuUAldwkfirJtGDqpoiOBDQt-UUqbZ_4SrQUQ62PVdU2rwwwVaQvRx4CTH_BmzPLRTCRmW99ale4teM0Mgf7FWBx8de3u1CbfwpF1Kc/s1600/tafaic.jpeg" width="315" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsKzccpUPRE/Wl1PH81A78I/AAAAAAAAByI/0N4g2U-9trMU3XYTP5NHSHg0tE0tQH5hwCPcBGAYYCw/s620/my-review-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="620" height="154" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsKzccpUPRE/Wl1PH81A78I/AAAAAAAAByI/0N4g2U-9trMU3XYTP5NHSHg0tE0tQH5hwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h154/my-review-header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Rating: 4 of 5 stars</span> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Duration: 04:36:00</span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Published: November 2016</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #082d4a;"><br /></span></b></div>Last year one of my (much) younger co-workers told me about <i>Gilmore Girls</i> and explained her fascination with the series. During the fall and holiday season I began binge watching the entire series. While I was not familiar with the show, I was familiar with Lauren Graham, who I adored in <i>Parenthood,</i> and I had also read her fiction book, <i>Someday, Someday, Maybe</i> several years ago. I enjoyed the TV series as mindless entertainment and decided to listen to Graham's audiobook, <i>Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls</i> as a nice way to round out my experience. <div><br /></div><div>While many people believe that her earlier work, <i>Someday, Someday, Maybe</i> is autobiographical (She emphatically explains that it is not in this work.), <i>Talking as Fast as I Can</i> is, indeed, an autobiographical account of her time on the series and the subsequent Netflix reboot limited series. The audiobook is narrated by Graham, and I found her just as endearing in telling her story as she was playing the character Lorelai Gilmore. She presented each little story as an essay and in a comical way that made the overall book both engaging and entertaining. Additionally, it was fascinating to get a sneak peak into the behind the scenes of her life. </div><div><br /></div><div>My only criticism has to do with the medium I chose to consume this book. Graham references certain photos and images as she tells her story, and it was hard to enjoy those while listening as most of my listening is done in the car (read: I was driving.) These graphics were found in an accompanying PDF that had to be downloaded from Audible. So, I would say to fully appreciate this book, it might be better to pick up a physical copy and perhaps listen while reading along. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Recommendation</span></b>: This was a nice, light read to start the new year, and I'd highly recommend it to fans of the actress. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><br /></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Until next time ... Read on!<br /><br />
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. </em></div></div>Melyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793705635445829864noreply@blogger.com0Godley, TX 76044, USA32.449029 -97.52668864.1387951638211575 -132.6829386 60.759262836178848 -62.3704386tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661876408353774321.post-47921141261592114992023-12-27T18:41:00.106-06:002024-01-16T19:16:16.705-06:00The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7ik2Z7X2IxFKaJsrqP_7n4XRxcwih190uJodYl53ylCXbNyWcs8ugLdlqXpSDklJKv2Uw3ns7JrLjgoKhbGeJDpGZ2aCFgmjqiriNwhZhWgiuTzYfbAhIVowe8vWINgvsXqdLMN4agBRQRmWr46vxH0qivYwEk4WvXOf1JQiYTWddhmnM3o09bG3NSY/s3104/the-leftover-woman-jean-kwok.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3104" data-original-width="2676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO7ik2Z7X2IxFKaJsrqP_7n4XRxcwih190uJodYl53ylCXbNyWcs8ugLdlqXpSDklJKv2Uw3ns7JrLjgoKhbGeJDpGZ2aCFgmjqiriNwhZhWgiuTzYfbAhIVowe8vWINgvsXqdLMN4agBRQRmWr46vxH0qivYwEk4WvXOf1JQiYTWddhmnM3o09bG3NSY/s320/the-leftover-woman-jean-kwok.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsKzccpUPRE/Wl1PH81A78I/AAAAAAAAByI/0N4g2U-9trMU3XYTP5NHSHg0tE0tQH5hwCPcBGAYYCw/s620/my-review-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="620" height="154" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsKzccpUPRE/Wl1PH81A78I/AAAAAAAAByI/0N4g2U-9trMU3XYTP5NHSHg0tE0tQH5hwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h154/my-review-header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Rating: 5 of 5 stars</span> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Pages: 288 pages</span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Published: October 2023</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anne Bogel of the <a href="https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club</a> raved about <i>The Leftover Woman</i> by Jean Kwok during her 2023 Fall Book Preview event. I thought the synopsis sounded intriguing, so when <a href="https://www.bookofthemonth.com/all-hardcovers/the-leftover-woman-1473" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book of the Month</a> offered it as a selection I chose it for my monthly subscription box. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In short, the novel tells a believable yet fictional tale of a young woman, Jasmine, who escapes her abusive husband in China in search of her daughter who she believed to have died during childbirth. Her husband told her this horrible tale because of China's One Child Policy. Because of his position in the government, he only wanted - and could only afford - a male descendant. Jasmine learns her daughter has been adopted by a white American couple - Brandon and Rebecca - living in New York. So, she puts herself into impossible-to-overcome debt and absconds to the U.S. in search of the daughter she never knew with plans to recover her and for them to make a life of their own together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each chapter is told either from Jasmine's first-person perspective or from the third-person perspective when developing and defining Rebecca's character. Both women are as different in personality and socioeconomic status as in the way their stories are presented. I struggled for most of the book with this, not fully understanding the change in perspective. However, later in the book, a plot twist is revealed that adds clarity to this incongruent approach. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, the story is relatively short - just shy of 300 pages, but there are so many details offered up with such beautiful prose that one cannot rush reading this book. My favorite thing about reading, especially fiction, is a beautifully-constructed sentence, and Kwok peppers these thought-provoking passages throughout her novel resulting in an engaging story that captures, commands and captivates the reader's attention. Some of my favorites are: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR24Zs6LHBwE5Nx_2dA3G20pZFtsqTP4Bi4qYnNi0vTjd4KpctIB79YA3EUdsXN44NRAu2Oap5ap07alTF1uJcmb5bWkzafAi3v608wsDSn0263Dela2GZY2Yz-9WP5mnd2I6S2aFzTf4uREzhHgb86cjfTCV1snrzRlzNxC3YX5lEQGn17v-wq6I21U/s620/notable-quotable-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="620" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJR24Zs6LHBwE5Nx_2dA3G20pZFtsqTP4Bi4qYnNi0vTjd4KpctIB79YA3EUdsXN44NRAu2Oap5ap07alTF1uJcmb5bWkzafAi3v608wsDSn0263Dela2GZY2Yz-9WP5mnd2I6S2aFzTf4uREzhHgb86cjfTCV1snrzRlzNxC3YX5lEQGn17v-wq6I21U/w640-h154/notable-quotable-header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i><blockquote><br />Why was it that women had to pay the price for men’s desires? -p. 85<br /> </blockquote><blockquote>I was trying to hold on to the illusion that I could work in a place like this and do it on my own terms, but I already knew, deep inside, that Opium was going to infiltrate my skin, soak into my pores until I wouldn't be able to tell where I ended, and it began. Walk often enough by the river's edge and your shoes will get wet. -p. 126<br /><br /><br />In China, I’d seen posters warning girls of the danger of becoming leftover women, women that no one wanted. Leftover like scraps on a table, uneaten food, both sacrilege and wasteful, something that should have nourished our country squandered and turned into rubbish: unwanted, purposeless, of no use to anyone. -p. 167-168<br /><br /><br />When you love the house, you just love the crows on the roof as well. -p. 211</blockquote></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Recommendation</span></b>: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. In hindsight, I would not have read it near Christmas as it was sad in its themes, but it did provide a ray of hope in the uplifting, but not totally neatly-packaged, ending. This is a book you read not for a highly actionable plot, although there was some of that, but the journey in following the characters and their storylinles. I'd highly recommend this book for the lone reader or for invigorating discussing with a book club. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><br /></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Until next time ... Read on!<br /><br />
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. </em></div>Melyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793705635445829864noreply@blogger.com0Godley, TX 76044, USA32.449029 -97.52668864.1387951638211575 -132.6829386 60.759262836178848 -62.3704386tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4661876408353774321.post-34619915978786020312023-12-12T19:05:00.038-06:002024-01-15T19:41:14.770-06:00In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_REna6Q6EGOCMzrx-lcH4IV4qa3z36c0AqTia87EvQP1fM3GwLhPVWrY_z2FX5Lo731XIczY6bQI2LaTyyuymrNIiQm9Qbo7YUzM2j8OSHv0z3svhOaLg4OB8tyil9_0e9VBLtfjzpBc0dJ5LveRgp1cXzwoScmpeaGoMw8C1suh6FfPq5Li173OgtA/s3035/in-the-likely-event-yarros.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3035" data-original-width="2473" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_REna6Q6EGOCMzrx-lcH4IV4qa3z36c0AqTia87EvQP1fM3GwLhPVWrY_z2FX5Lo731XIczY6bQI2LaTyyuymrNIiQm9Qbo7YUzM2j8OSHv0z3svhOaLg4OB8tyil9_0e9VBLtfjzpBc0dJ5LveRgp1cXzwoScmpeaGoMw8C1suh6FfPq5Li173OgtA/s320/in-the-likely-event-yarros.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsKzccpUPRE/Wl1PH81A78I/AAAAAAAAByI/0N4g2U-9trMU3XYTP5NHSHg0tE0tQH5hwCPcBGAYYCw/s620/my-review-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="620" height="154" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hsKzccpUPRE/Wl1PH81A78I/AAAAAAAAByI/0N4g2U-9trMU3XYTP5NHSHg0tE0tQH5hwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h154/my-review-header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars</span> </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Pages: 348 pages</span></b><br /><b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Published: August 2023</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I snagged a digital copy of <i>In the Likely Event</i> by Rebecca Yarros from Amazon through the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/firstreads/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">First Reads</a> Kindle program. Because my husband exclusively shops at Amazon and is a Prime member, I get his benefit of free books through First Reads. As luck would have it, several months later my work book club selected this novel as a book of discussion. The premise seemed interesting, which is probably why I selected this book in the first place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The primary characters, Izzy and Nate meet on a plane and shortly after takeoff the plane crashes in the Missouri River. Forever bound by this tragedy, the two develop a romantic relationship where timing never seems to align so that it can develop into anything more than the occasional hook-up. (As an aside, I feel like Keanu Reeves's Jack and Sandra Bullock's Annie on the movie <i>Speed</i> told us everything we need to know about this: "Relationships that start under intense circumstances never last." But I digress.) About a decade later, Izzy has started a career in politics and travels to Afghanistan where Nate happens to be serving in the military special forces during a volatile time. When she arrives, he is charged with serving as Izzy's security detail. This encounter forces them to deal with their past and address their future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The story was fairly predictable. The alternating perspectives of each of the main characters revealed a bit of relevant background leading up to an interesting, although not completely germane, plot twist. All of their romantic chatter and sexual tension is set on the backdrop of a war-torn country. And like many reviewers have mentioned, this seemed a little ... privileged. Why are they focused on "does s/he love me?" when there are way more important things going on ... like people literally dying. I think this book could have easily been set in the U.S., but perhaps the author thought the international setting would make the story more interesting. I don't think it's ever OK to use other people's true suffering as a prop for a fictional novel. But that's just me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've said this before, and I'll say it again, I'm not really intrigued by reading the play-by-play of sexually explicit scenes. It just doesn't do it for me. Overall, I found most of the dialogue to be superficial, and the characters lacked depth. The premise was promising, but it fell flat in the end. I pushed through because I try to complete book club books so I can actively participate in the discussion. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #082d4a;">Recommendation</span></b>: I'm glad I got this book for free. I've heard Yarros' latest book, Fourth Wing, is super good, but this one kind of tainted her for me. I wouldn't recommend this book and highly doubt I'll be picking up her latest. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Until next time ... Read on!<br /><br />
Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful. </em></div>Melyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13793705635445829864noreply@blogger.com0Godley, TX 76044, USA32.449029 -97.52668864.1387951638211575 -132.6829386 60.759262836178848 -62.3704386