Mini Reviews: 2 Audiobook Memoirs

  

Here are two small reviews of two audiobook memoirs that I listened to:

Still Foolin' 'Em written and read by Billy Crystal

This was a fun memoir to listen to! Billy Crystal narrated his story through the different decades in his life. He talked about getting into comedy and getting into Hollywood. He was honest with his feelings; they were both touching and hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud many times when he talked about getting old, I was fascinated to hear his experience in making his movies, and I teared up when he talked about the close people in his life. What made this audiobook production interesting was how some chapters were recorded in front of a live audience while others were in a studio. I really enjoyed the ones he did in front of the audience because the audience's laughter added to the humorous tone of what Billy was reading. Billy Crystal is a either a hit or a miss for some people, but he was a hit for me. I rate this audiobook: 4 stars. 

Mini Reviews: All things yellow

 

Here are two small reviews of two books that happen to have yellow covers:

The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell'Antonia

(This is a TBR book)

This was a tale of two restaurant rivalries that began with one family. I enjoyed reading how the restaurants evolved, learning the truth behind the rivalries, how the Food Network was involved, and learning about the behind the scenes of food shows. This story centered around two sisters that have grown apart and could not get along. Their sibling rivalry was realistic but yet at times annoying. If only they swallowed their pride and talked to each other! Things would have worked out way differently! Though the ending was pretty abrupt, it was still a good ending to bring the sisters together. I rate this book: 3 stars. 

His and Her Audiobook Review: Fool

Time to catch up with reviews. Here's the first book of 2021!

By Christopher Moore

Read by Euan Morton

Duration: 8 hours 40 minutes

(TBR book--I owned the physical copy for over 5 years)

Christopher Moore, much beloved scrivener and peerless literary jester, now takes on no less than the legendary Bard himself (with the utmost humility and respect) with a twisted and insanely funny tale of a moronic monarch and his deceitful daughters, as seen through the eyes of a man wearing a codpiece and bells on his head.

Pocket has been Lear's cherished fool for years. So naturally Pocket is at his brainless, elderly liege's side when Lear demands that his kids swear to him their undying love and devotion. Of course Goneril and Regan are only too happy to brownnose Dad. But Cordelia believes that her father's request is kind of...well...stupid, and her blunt honesty ends up costing her her rightful share of the kingdom and earns her a banishment to boot.

Well now the bangers and mash have really hit the fan. And the only person who can possibly make things right . . . is Pocket. Now he's going to have do some very fancy maneuvering: cast some spells, start a war or two - the usual stuff - to get Cordelia back into Daddy Lear's good graces, to derail the fiendish power plays of Cordelia's twisted sisters, and to shag every lusciously shaggable wench who's amenable to shagging along the way.

Pocket may be a fool...but he's definitely not an idiot.

Goodreads 

Bout of Books Wrap-Up

 

I did my best to participate in the Bout of Books readathon. I was really hoping to start off the year with a bang! Did I meet my goals? Well, yes and no. My main goal was to actually read one physical book from my bookshelf but subconsciously I wanted to read two. Well... I read one, but I did listen to two audiobooks and started an e-book.

Here were my reads:

Physical book

Author Event: Marie Benedict

With Lauren Willig

Presented by Strand Book Store

Hola! I attended my first author virtual event of the year on Monday and it was a good one! I was excited for this event because I highly enjoyed Marie Benedict's book, The Other Einstein, and I love the Strand, an independent book store in New York. 

This was a fascinating event as both Marie Benedict and Lauren Willig discussed Agatha Christie. For instance, I had no idea that Mrs. Christie disappeared for eleven days nor did I know that she wrote a collection of romance books under the name Mary Westmascott. All of the information that was shared during the event really peaked my interest in Mary Benedict's book, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie. I have now added it to my wish list. 

Though this event was centered on Marie Benedict's book, I got a glimpse of Lauren Willig's work. She too is a historical fiction writer. I'll have to keep an eye on her books. 

Audiobook Review: Waiting for Tom Hanks

Written by Kerry Winfrey

Read by Rachel L. Jacobs

Duration: 8 hours 33 minutes

A rom-com-obsessed romantic waiting for her perfect leading man learns that life doesn’t always go according to a script in this delightfully charming and funny novel. 

Annie Cassidy dreams of being the next Nora Ephron. She spends her days writing screenplays, rewatching Sleepless in Seattle, and waiting for her movie-perfect meet-cute. If she could just find her own Tom Hanks—a man who’s sweet, sensitive, and possibly owns a houseboat—her problems would disappear and her life would be perfect. But Tom Hanks is nowhere in sight.

When a movie starts filming in her neighborhood and Annie gets a job on set, it seems like a sign. Then Annie meets the lead actor, Drew Danforth, a cocky prankster who couldn’t be less like Tom Hanks if he tried. Their meet-cute is more of a meet-fail, but soon Annie finds herself sharing some classic rom-com moments with Drew. Her Tom Hanks can’t be an actor who’s leaving town in a matter of days...can he?

Goodreads

It's 2021!

 

Happy New Year! I hope you are all continuing to stay safe and are surrounded by books (and loved ones). I took a break from technology the first few days of this new year and it felt great! It gave me a chance to reflect what my priorities are, especially since we are still in a pandemic. 

Like many, I created goals for this year that I really hope to stick with. I tried to make them as realistic as possible. 

Personal goals:

• Start dancing again--try to belly dance an hour a week and increase it during my vacation time. 
• Study for the BCLAD--Bilingual Authorization
• Continue to hike (safely of course)
• Continue to find ways to be more green

Book goals: