The Salty Rose by Beth M. Caruso

January 21, 2021 By 11 Comments


The Salty Rose by Beth M. Caruso
Publisher: Lady Slipper Press
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rated: 3.5 stars
Review by Rose

Marie du Trieux, a tavern keeper with a salty tongue and a heart of gold, struggles as she navigates love and loss, Native wars, and possible banishment by authorities in the unruly trading port of New Amsterdam, an outpost of the Dutch West India Company.

In New England, John Tinker, merchant and assistant to a renowned alchemist and eventual leader of Connecticut Colony, must come to terms with a family tragedy of dark proportions, all the while supporting his mentor’s secret quest to find the Northwest Passage, a desired trading route purported to mystically unite the East with the West.

As the lives of Marie and John become intertwined through friendship and trade, a search for justice of a Dutch woman accused of witchcraft in Hartford puts them on a collision course affecting not only their own destinies but also the fate of colonial America.

The story starts off slowly, with first person chapters from Marie du Trieux telling her granddaughter about her life (my favorite part of the story) and chapters in third person describing the relationship and mentorship between John Tinker and John Winthrop Jr. There was a lot of detail given to Tinker and Winthrop and, at times, I felt lost and wondered where the actual story was going.

However, once the author got into the heart of the story – the witchcraft trial – the pacing picked up. I am not very familiar with the witch trials in Salem, and this was an interesting look at the same period. This middle section was my favorite part of the book. I wasn’t familiar with the telling of this purported witch’s story, so I was anxious to learn her fate and how John Tinker and Marie played a part in the trial.

Can I first say that I loved the character of Marie. She made the book for me. It was interesting to read the author’s notes at the end of the book and discover that she, along with the other major players, were actual people. The author did a good job of taking the historical facts of the characters’ lives and creating an interesting story about witchcraft in the early colonies.


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Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart by Dion Leonard

January 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart by Dion Leonard
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction, Animals
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Finding Gobi is the miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner who crosses paths with a stray dog while competing in a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains and across massive sand dunes, keeping pace with him for 77 miles.

As Dion witnessed the incredible determination and heart of this small animal, he found his own heart undergoing a change as well. Whereas in the past these races were all about winning and being the best, his goal now was to make sure he and Gobi’s friendship continued well after the finish line.

However, before he could take her home, Gobi went missing in the sprawling Chinese city where she was being kept. Dion, with the help of strangers and a viral outpouring of assistance on the internet, set out to track her down, and reunite with the dog that changed his life.

Read this inspiring story and discover how miracles truly are possible—and find your own heart changing as well.

This little dog is truly amazing.

Having just lost my dog, I wasn’t sure I’d want to read anything about dogs or animals, but I picked this one up a while back and decided to give it a try. Gobi is a real trip of a dog. She managed to run along for almost 70 miles while Dion, her eventual owner, ran an endurance race. There is a lot about racing and running, so if that’s something that interests you, this might be a draw. There is a lot about the relationship between Dion and Gobi, as well as Dion and his wife, who helped him really decide he’d take Gobi home. He meets Gobi in the Gobi Desert and can’t leave the little dog in China. There is a huge chunk dedicated to getting Gobi to the UK and how hard it is to move a pet between countries. I had no idea how hard it would be. This book also showed me the depths of human meanness, too. I hated that Dion and his wife had to deal with the nastiness from the internet because the dog they weren’t able to bring home and had decided to retrieve, had gone missing. I know, it seems crazy. Just read the book.

If you’re looking for a book about the bond between people and dogs, then this is the book for you. It’s a great read.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Home Work by Julie Andrews

January 14, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Home Work by Julie Andrews
Publisher: Hachette Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In Home, the number one New York Times international bestseller, Julie Andrews recounted her difficult childhood and her emergence as an acclaimed singer and performer on the stage.

With this second memoir, Home Work: A Memoir of My Hollywood Years, Andrews picks up the story with her arrival in Hollywood and her phenomenal rise to fame in her earliest films — Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Andrews describes her years in the film industry — from the incredible highs to the challenging lows. Not only does she discuss her work in now-classic films and her collaborations with giants of cinema and television, she also unveils her personal story of adjusting to a new and often daunting world, dealing with the demands of unimaginable success, being a new mother, the end of her first marriage, embracing two stepchildren, adopting two more children, and falling in love with the brilliant and mercurial Blake Edwards. The pair worked together in numerous films, including Victor/Victoria, the gender-bending comedy that garnered multiple Oscar nominations.

Cowritten with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, and told with Andrews’s trademark charm and candor, Home Work takes us on a rare and intimate journey into an extraordinary life that is funny, heartrending, and inspiring.

It’s a jolly holiday with Julie!

There is so much to know about Julie Andrews. Honestly, I had no idea what kind of life she’s lived or if she had kids. Why? I just knew her from her movies and never bothered to check out her backstory. I saw this book on a list of must-read stories for 2020, so I knew I wanted to read it. I’m glad I did.

This book reads like talking to a friend. Just a nice conversation about life between friends. It flows well and I was drawn right in. There are notes about her movies and preparations for those movies, but also about her private life–getting married, having a daughter, having relationship issues, divorce and finding love again. She’s a relatable person and it shows on each page.

I loved the silly story about the lilacs the most. You’ll have to read the book to learn more. I’m not giving away the secrets, but it’s funny.

If you’re looking for a good memoir book that will keep you reading and wanting to know more, then this is the one you should check out!

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The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember by Fred Rogers

January 11, 2021 By Leave a Comment


The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember by Fred Rogers
Publisher: Hachette
Genre: Non-Fiction, Inspirational
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A timeless collection of wisdom on love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty from the beloved PBS series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

There are few personalities who evoke such universal feelings of warmth as Fred Rogers. An enduring presence in American homes for over 30 years, his plainspoken wisdom continues to guide and comfort many. The World According to Mister Rogers distills the legacy and singular worldview of this beloved American figure. An inspiring collection of stories, anecdotes, and insights–with sections devoted to love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty, The World According to Mister Rogers reminds us that there is much more in life that unites us than divides us.

Culled from Fred Rogers’ speeches, program transcripts, books, letters, and interviews, along with some of his never-before-published writings, The World According to Mister Rogers is a testament to the legacy of a man who served and continues to serve as a role model to millions.

Sometimes a book that’s uplifting is just what the neighbor ordered.

This book is by Fred Rogers, AKA Mister Rogers, and his wife, Joanne. I have to admit that because this book was published after Mr. Rogers passed. His wife helped compile his words into a cute book meant to uplift whoever reads it. It really does.

There are tidbits from how he grew up, how he learned to be kind and how he kept a positive attitude throughout his life. I liked how he reminds everyone that emotions and feelings are valid. Don’t try to stuff your feelings in, but let them out and talk about them. It might seem like platitudes, but in this period of time, it’s nice to read something that makes the heart happy. Plus, reading his words reminded me of being a kid and looking forward to watching the show.

If you’re looking for something that will make you happy and might even get you thinking, then this is the book for you.

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The Whistler by John Grisham

December 3, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Whistler by John Grisham
Publisher: Dell
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

We expect our judges to be honest and wise. Their integrity is the bedrock of the entire judicial system. We trust them to ensure fair trials, to protect the rights of all litigants, to punish those who do wrong, and to oversee the flow of justice. But what happens when a judge bends the law or takes a bribe?

Lacy Stoltz is an investigator for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct. It is her job to respond to complaints dealing with judicial misconduct. After nine years with the Board, she knows that most problems are caused by incompetence, not corruption.

But a corruption case eventually crosses her desk. A previously disbarred lawyer is back in business, and he claims to know of a Florida judge who has stolen more money than all other crooked judges combined. And not just crooked judges in Florida. All judges, from all states, and throughout United States history. And now he wants to put a stop to it. His only client is a person who knows the truth and wants to blow the whistle and collect millions under Florida law. When the case is assigned to Lacy, she immediately suspects that this one could be dangerous. Dangerous is one thing. Deadly is something else.

Nothing is ever as easy as it seems and there are always layers.

I admit it. I love John Grisham’s books. I do. I got into this one thinking it would be one thing and was pleasantly surprised the book became more. The writing is sharp, but like talking to a friend and sucked me right in.

Lacy isn’t the character I thought she’d be. Then again, this wasn’t the book I thought it’d be. I expected something more straightforward, but the story is layered and complex. There is always more than meets the eye. Lacy comes across rather simplistic, but through the story she grows and it was nice to see it. I hated what she had to go through, but the struggle was worth it.

If you’re looking for a story where there’s a bad guy, some not so bad, but not so good guys and lots of good guys, then this might be the one you’re looking for. Give it a shot.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Woman Who Wouldn’t by Gene Wilder

December 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Woman Who Wouldn’t by Gene Wilder
Publisher: Griffin
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The beloved actor and screenwriter’s second novel, set in 1903, stars a young concert violinist named Jeremy Webb, who one day goes from accomplished adagios with the Cleveland Orchestra to having a complete breakdown on stage. If he hadn’t poured a glass of water down the throat of a tuba, maybe he wouldn’t have been sent to a health resort in Badenweiler, Germany. But it’s in that serene place that Jeremy meets Clara Mulpas, whom he tries his hardest to seduce.

Clara is so beautiful that Jeremy finds it impossible to keep from trying to find a chink in her extraordinary reserve and elegance. He finds himself reflexively flirting to get a reaction―after all, a tease and a wink have always worked before, with women back home. But flirting probably isn’t the best way to appeal to a woman who was married to a dumb brute and doesn’t want to have anything more to do with men. Jeremy isn’t sure how to press his case―but he won’t give up.

Wilder’s prose is elegant, spare and affecting. But it’s his romantic’s eye for the intense emotions that animate a real love story that makes The Woman Who Wouldn’t an unforgettable book.

A love that could move mountains and a man with a glass of water dumped in a tuba.

Intrigued? I was.

I like the writing of Gene Wilder. It’s like comfort food. I know I’m going to enjoy myself and it’ll be filling. Now this story is quick in pace, but light on description, it’s true. This isn’t a very long story. But the length wasn’t a deterrent for me. I liked the quick clip.

I also liked the characters. Clara is delicate and sweet. She’s not what I expected at all. I liked the way she grew through the story and how she wasn’t a wilting flower–not all the time. The surprise at the end was great, too. Jeremy left a little to be desired. Initially, I thought I wasn’t going to find out why he’d dumped the glass of water in the tuba, but all is well.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance that’s out of the norm and reads a little like a screenplay, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,

Let’s Spend the Night Together by Pamela Des Barres

December 1, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Let’s Spend the Night Together by Pamela Des Barres
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

This intimate account of 24 legendary groupies reveals what went on behind the closed doors of rock stars from Elvis to Marilyn Manson. Consisting of Pamela Des Barres’s revealing interviews with and profiles of other supergroupies, this book offers firsthand glimpses into the backstage world of rock stars and the women who loved them. The groupies—such as Tura Satana, Miss Japan Beautiful, who taught Elvis how to dance; Cassandra Peterson (Mistress of the Dark), who tangled with Tom Jones in Sin City; Cynthia Plaster Caster, who redefined the art of Jimi Hendrix; and Miss B., who revealed Kurt Cobain’s penchant for lip gloss and panty hose—tell tales that go well beyond an account of a one-night stand to become a part of music history.

There are those who attend to see the band and those who want to see the music. These girls and a guy want to feel it.

Okay, I can see how the title of this book and the general theme might seem naughty. I’m sure there are more than a few naughty moments. They’re described in the book! But this book isn’t all scandal and naughty. I promise. This is the collection of stories of people who didn’t just follow the band because they liked the music or they wanted to bed a star. These are the ones who wanted to help make the band who they ended up being.

I can see where this might be seen as a smoothed-over way to describe these people. They’re groupies, so they must want to do everything with the star. I’m sure they do, but each story proves there is more to the story than just getting down with it. There are people who genuinely love the music and want the band to be their best. They want the band at ease.

And there might have been plaster involved.

Shrugs.

It’s still a fun read and good for an afternoon when it’s chilly outside. Give this one a shot. I recommend it.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Shrill by Lindy West

November 26, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Shrill by Lindy West
Publisher: Hachette Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Shrill is an uproarious memoir, a feminist rallying cry in a world that thinks gender politics are tedious and that women, especially feminists, can’t be funny.

Coming of age in a culture that demands women be as small, quiet, and compliant as possible — like a porcelain dove that will also have sex with you — writer and humorist Lindy West quickly discovered that she was anything but.

From a painfully shy childhood in which she tried, unsuccessfully, to hide her big body and even bigger opinions; to her public war with stand-up comedians over rape jokes; to her struggle to convince herself, and then the world, that fat people have value; to her accidental activism and never-ending battle royale with Internet trolls, Lindy narrates her life with a blend of humor and pathos that manages to make a trip to the abortion clinic funny and wring tears out of a story about diarrhea.

With inimitable good humor, vulnerability, and boundless charm, Lindy boldly shares how to survive in a world where not all stories are created equal and not all bodies are treated with equal respect, and how to weather hatred, loneliness, harassment, and loss, and walk away laughing. Shrill provocatively dissects what it means to become self-aware the hard way, to go from wanting to be silent and invisible to earning a living defending the silenced in all caps.

There is beauty in pain and healing. There is beauty in blunt honesty. This book has all three and so much more.

Lindy West is a big girl. She makes no bones about the fact she’s not small and will never will be. I liked her blunt honesty. It was nice to read a book where the heroine isn’t apologizing for being big. She’s just herself. The writing flowed well and kept my interest. I wanted to keep reading even when I had other things that needed to be done.

Now be warned, there is a section on rape and rape jokes. This won’t be for everyone. It won’t be. But she’s explaining her view and her thoughts. Comedy and jokes are in the eye of the beholder. She simply holds up the mirror to what some of us think is normal and whatever and to what other of us think are just wrong. I liked that she was willing to discuss the difference.

This book had funny moments, too–like when she’s talking about trying to fit in the airplane seats–not that she can’t fit, but the struggle being real and how she deals with it. There are moments that are just gut-wrenching–like when she defends herself against those who feel rape jokes are funny and should be told. She tries to get those finding the humor to see another side of the argument. Unfortunately, she ends up being the victim of internet trolls. I like how it empowered her. Many of us have been trolled and some want to hide. She doesn’t. She doesn’t take each one head-on, but she doesn’t let them win, either. It was refreshing, while being sad, too.

If you’re looking for a very meta book, then this might be the one for you.

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Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector

November 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector
How I Survived Mascara Miniskirts and Madness, or My Life as a Fabulous Ronette
Publisher: Words in Edgewise
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Pop legend Ronnie Spector reveals the story of her dreamlike rise from the streets of Harlem to the pinnacle of rock stardom as lead singer of the Ronettes, and her nightmare descent into madness as the wife of Phil Spector, the pop hitmaker who kept her a virtual prisoner behind the locked doors of his darkened Beverly Hills mansion. Ronnie’s escape from that ordeal, and her subsequent struggle to regain her voice, her career, and her sanity, provide an emotional climax to this smart, funny, and inspiring autobiography, named by Rolling Stone as one of “The Top 25 Rock Memoirs of All Time.”

Now available for the first time as an eBook, this new digital edition of Be My Baby is a fan’s dream come true. Featuring 75 stunning black and white and color photographs from Ronnie’s personal collection—many appearing in print for the first time—this fully indexed eBook also includes a thoroughly updated discography with the most complete survey of Ronnie’s recording career ever published.

Talk about going through the fire and coming out the other side.

Ronnie Spector is so much more than a Ronette, but until I read this book, I had no idea. First, this book is very much in Ronnie’s hand. It reads like talking to her personally. It’s unpretentious and honest. It feels like talking to a friend. Plus, it zips right along.

The author discusses her marriage to the famed Phil Spector, the way he treated her, his methods for keeping her in line and how he tried to manipulate her to stick around. I liked her honesty and her admittance that she was in over her head.

She also talks about her alcoholism and struggles with depression. Again, she’s blunt and honest about them. There were times when I thought, gee, this woman is lost. The baby situation comes to mind or her reliance on others is another, but the best part had to be how she managed to come back. She doesn’t totally let her issues get her down. She’s a survivor.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you gasp, cheer, tear up a bit and smile, then this might be the story for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Face It: A Memoir by Debbie Harry

November 9, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Face It: A Memoir by Debbie Harry
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Genre: Contemporary, Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

BRAVE, BEAUTIFUL AND BORN TO BE PUNK

Musician, actor, activist, and the iconic face of New York City cool, Debbie Harry is the frontwoman of Blondie, a band that forged a new sound that brought together the worlds of rock, punk, disco, reggae and hip-hop to create some of the most beloved pop songs of all time. As a muse, she collaborated with some of the boldest artists of the past four decades. The scope of Debbie Harry’s impact on our culture has been matched only by her reticence to reveal her rich inner life—until now.

In an arresting mix of visceral, soulful storytelling and stunning visuals, Face It upends the standard music memoir while delivering a truly prismatic portrait. With all the grit, grime, and glory recounted in intimate detail, Face It re-creates the downtown scene of 1970s New York City, where Blondie played alongside the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Aesthetically dazzling, and including never-before-seen photographs, bespoke illustrations and fan art installations, Face It brings Debbie Harry’s world and artistic sensibilities to life.
Following her path from glorious commercial success to heroin addiction, the near-death of partner Chris Stein, a heart-wrenching bankruptcy, and Blondie’s breakup as a band to her multifaceted acting career in more than thirty films, a stunning solo career and the triumphant return of her band, and her tireless advocacy for the environment and LGBTQ rights, Face It is a cinematic story of a woman who made her own path, and set the standard for a generation of artists who followed in her footsteps—a memoir as dynamic as its subject.

Debbie Harry is blunt and this book showcases her at her best.

I have to admit I picked up this book because of the art in the middle. Yes, art. Debbie Harry showcases fan art in this book and it’s very cool to see how the fans interpreted her. Some are kid drawings and others are by adults. She’s a multifaceted person and this book shows it.
Once I poured through the art, I got down to reading. Debbie Harry is seen as one of the queens of punk and this book showcases that. She’s blunt and honest in her retellings of her life. This woman has been through a lot. She was adopted as a baby and always wondered about her parents. The story wasn’t pretty and rather depressing. At least she had a decent childhood. But still, she’s a rebel and seems like she always was. I liked how she managed to get herself through school, college and navigate the punk scene while being an independent and true to herself. She proves that you can do what you want and get what you want if you’re willing to do the work.

She talks about her relationships and her current state of affairs in plain and blunt terms that makes one feel like she’s talking to me. Like a conversation between friends. I liked it.

If you’re looking for a rock biography that’s out of the norm and breaks the rules, then this is the one to read.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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