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cdenisen

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  • 21
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Not Crazy About This One

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-26-24

I have a difficult time with books where I don't like most of the characters. Elinor was the only one that I could stand, and I thought she deserved better.

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Interesting History -Not for the those with attention deficits.

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-12-24

I found the book interesting and engaging, and the narrator was great, but the problem with this type of historical work was that many of the people had the same or similar names, and sometimes they married into each other's families. In addition, the author had to set the stage, so there is a lot of moving back and forth in time. I stayed lost for a good while as she introduced the story and the characters. I just focused on what was happening instead of who it was happening too. It eventually came together. I felt this was an honest history, and a very thoroughly researched telling of the history.

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A Childhood Favorite

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-07-24

I listened to this book to see why I liked it so much as a child. I can see that Ellen and I had much of the same luck and experiences, so I must have felt a connection to her. Narrator was a good Ellen and Otis. Austine and the rest of the characters sounded like 40 yo men with colds. As much as I hate to criticize, those voices were awful. But overall I enjoyed the story.

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Not for Stopped after chapter 4.

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-04-24

I heard about this book on a morning news show, and I purchased it right away although I don't usually read modern fiction. It started off very much like a romance novel, and and was more explicit than what I generally read, but I tried to give it a chance. I was waiting for it to turn the corner into something else, but it took too long. I started chapter 5, and it seemed much the same, so I gave up.

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Anticlimactic!

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-02-24

First I want to say that Anna Fields was an Excellent narrator. I found myself laughing at my self when a new character was introduced because I began to visualize them, but then I would remember that this was all the same woman! As an African American, I am extremely disappointed in the book. This had the makings of a fabulous story, but I don't think the main characters were developed enough, especially Dorothy. And I didn't like the representation of all black people as either the "loyal Negro" of the "Uppity N,...". I really hated the very unsympathetic representation of Dorothy's children who to me had the most interesting and unique experience and the greatest story line potential. Kept waiting for that, but never happened.

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Childhood Favorite

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-20-24

I read this as a young girl almost 50 years ago and loved it. I wanted to read it again to see what the appeal was and to get a glimpse into my younger self. I realized that my love of Southern Fiction started way back. Also, Queenie was a "Shero" to me, and now I know that part of the reason is that she reminds me so much of my mother. It remains a favorite. The narration was okay. Many of the characters, including Queenie, didn't sound like I thought they should, but it wasn't necessarily wrong. The southern accent was believable and not overly done in a way to make caricatures or of the characters.

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It was "Aight

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 08-25-23

I enjoyed the book, but I was somewhat disappointed. It was a good story. but I couldn't identify with the characters. I never read Little Women as a child, even though it was on every reading list that I could remember. I was never really drawn to it spite of the fact that my family had four girls of the same approximate ages. Decades into my adulthood, I decided to read it after it popped up as a recommendation after listening to another book, and my instincts were right. Mrs. Alcott is a good story teller, but it was not for me. I couldn't see me or my sisters in any of the characters. Narrator was excellent on every character, but Jo. I couldn't stand it. In addition, it sometimes changed from chapter to chapter, and I often got confused as to who was speaking.

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Probably should have stopped after the first read!

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-16-23

I didn't love it as much this time. I've grown too logical. Still good though.

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To BAN or not to BAN! That is the question!!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 05-25-23

I first read this book when I was about 16 or 17 years old. I t was a book fair purchase that had been in the shelf for a couple of years before I read it. When I finally started, I completed it in four days one summer because I could NOT put it down. Being from the south, I had been educated by many Lost Cause sympathizers who romanticized slavery, slave holding and the Civil War. In addition, I didn't know real history, so my focus was on the romance and Southern charm, and I just completely ignored the vile things and glorification of evil in the book . You could say that I was "Asleep". This time, the romance was the last thing on my mind. This book made me THINK! It also made me question many things like why was this book so popular and even made into a movie? How could people ever have been okay with this? Yes, Margaret Mitchell is an excellent story teller, but one (I'll speak for myself) - I had to suspend believe, stiffen my resolve and practically chew my tongue off to stand it. HOW COULD PEOPLE EVER SEE THIS AS A CHARMING STORY ABOUT THE SOUTH! So many racist tropes am stereotypes!! So much glorification of evil. However, sometimes I got the feeling that MM was really making an indictment against all the that because several statements and passages seemed so contradictory as to be ludicrous. Some things the characters said made them look absolutely foolish, and I wondered, "Was this intentional?" I've never researched her, but I am curious. There are several other historical events and people that I want investigate as well. That is why I believe that books should NOT be banned. People need the opportunity to THINK. We need real history and the opportunity to think. Also, the story telling was great , but ALL the characters were HORRIBLE-even Melly who was my favorite character in my original reading and in the movie. I could not STAND anyone in the book! So you could definitely say that this time, I am "WOKE"! Finally, As a hopeless romantic, this was the first time in my life that I did not root for the couple to get together. Looking at the story though a mature and more spiritual lens, I could definitely see that glaring fatal flaw of discontentment and wanting something you can't have, and then hating it when you get it. So I don't think they could ever been happy together. I feel bad for both characters, but I still didn't believe much had changed for them.

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Thoroughly Enjoyed This Book!

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-01-22

Doll Baby was a good book. Only a couple of things annoyed me or required me to suspend disbelief, but they didn't take too much away from the story. Besides the story was good enough to press through the annoying parts. I'm just now realizing how much I love Southern Fiction. And I must give HUGE PROPS to JANUARY LAVOY! As I was listening, I had to remind myself that there was only ONE READER and not 20! Every character had a distinct and consistent voice and each voice was quite convincing. It is tricky to do the voices of African Americans who speak the language and dialect created by enslaved ancestors without sounding disrespectful or condescending, but she did and EXCELLENT and honorable job. Queenie's voice reminded me so much of people I have known that have long gone, and I just smiled! JL should get 10 stars!

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