We’ve all heard of Sunset Strip. But how much do you know about the Chateau Marmont, the iconic hotel overlooking the strip? I knew very little but thWe’ve all heard of Sunset Strip. But how much do you know about the Chateau Marmont, the iconic hotel overlooking the strip? I knew very little but the subtitle of Love, Art, and Scandal piqued my interest and I was not disappointed.
The book details how the Chateau was built in 1929 to replicate the Chateau d’Amboise, a royal retreat in France’s Loire Valley. The hotel somehow survived through the Depression and the ups and downs of the economy, and because of the unparalleled privacy provided to its guests, it became the home and playground of the most famous Hollywood personalities. The history these walls contain boggles the mind.
From the 1930’s to the present, the list of celebrities and the scandalous stories that took place at Chateau Marmont are titillating and addictively readable. From the glamorous Golden Days of Hollywood (my favorite!) to the present, the book is filled with juicy details of the stars of film, music, and other celebrities. There are far too many personalities to list here, but even a partial list reads like a Who’s Who: Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Coco Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, Anthony Perkins, James Dean, Paul Newman, Robert DeNiro, Jim Morrison, Led Zeppelin, and many, many more.
The short, sad life of Jean Harlow, the night leading up to John Belushi’s death in a bungalow at the Marmont, and the fateful decision of Sharon Tate, who was 8 months pregnant, to move out and rent a home so her baby’s home wouldn’t be in a hotel, are among the many stories I won’t soon forget.
I am as far from a fan of celebrity gossip as you can get but I could not put this book down and finished it in two days with my phone and laptop by my side to google the pictures and the stories. Kudos to the author for compiling an incredible amount of research into such a fascinating narrative.
*many thanks to Doubleday and Edelweiss for a copy of the book for review * this was a buddy read with Marialyce, one we both enjoyed and highly recommend For our duo review of this and other books please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
Merged review:
We’ve all heard of Sunset Strip. But how much do you know about the Chateau Marmont, the iconic hotel overlooking the strip? I knew very little but the subtitle of Love, Art, and Scandal piqued my interest and I was not disappointed.
The book details how the Chateau was built in 1929 to replicate the Chateau d’Amboise, a royal retreat in France’s Loire Valley. The hotel somehow survived through the Depression and the ups and downs of the economy, and because of the unparalleled privacy provided to its guests, it became the home and playground of the most famous Hollywood personalities. The history these walls contain boggles the mind.
From the 1930’s to the present, the list of celebrities and the scandalous stories that took place at Chateau Marmont are titillating and addictively readable. From the glamorous Golden Days of Hollywood (my favorite!) to the present, the book is filled with juicy details of the stars of film, music, and other celebrities. There are far too many personalities to list here, but even a partial list reads like a Who’s Who: Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Coco Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, Anthony Perkins, James Dean, Paul Newman, Robert DeNiro, Jim Morrison, Led Zeppelin, and many, many more.
The short, sad life of Jean Harlow, the night leading up to John Belushi’s death in a bungalow at the Marmont, and the fateful decision of Sharon Tate, who was 8 months pregnant, to move out and rent a home so her baby’s home wouldn’t be in a hotel, are among the many stories I won’t soon forget.
I am as far from a fan of celebrity gossip as you can get but I could not put this book down and finished it in two days with my phone and laptop by my side to google the pictures and the stories. Kudos to the author for compiling an incredible amount of research into such a fascinating narrative.
*many thanks to Doubleday and Edelweiss for a copy of the book for review * this was a buddy read with Marialyce, one we both enjoyed and highly recommend For our duo review of this and other books please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres......more
2.5 I forgot to add this book when I read it a couple months ago. I won't write a full review, just say that I thought it was OK. The premise is inte2.5 I forgot to add this book when I read it a couple months ago. I won't write a full review, just say that I thought it was OK. The premise is interesting if you enjoy time travel books, but the execution and writing style wasn't to my taste....more
I’m a Midwesterner, and I know these women intimately. They are my grandmothers, my mother, and my aunts. Women who had their share of heartache and tI’m a Midwesterner, and I know these women intimately. They are my grandmothers, my mother, and my aunts. Women who had their share of heartache and troubles but rose above their setbacks and carried on without complaint. They have all since passed away, but they were the embodiment of stoicism and grit. They didn’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves or bemoaning their fate. And neither did the women in this book.
Adversity can break you or it can make you strong. The author follows three of these strong women, Helen, her sister Edith, and Diana, Edith’s granddaughter, through decades of adversity, joys, and triumphs. And he does it with a lot of heart, warmth, and humor.
I’m a wine gal, and the author took me into a world I knew little about, the world of craft beer. He didn’t bog it down with too much detail I didn’t want to know, and I now appreciate the skill and knowledge that goes into beer-making. Making it even more palatable, underlying the beer-making talk were themes that made the reader care about what happened. I loved that these women broke into what was exclusively a man’s club and through hard work and determination succeeded. They are the embodiment of feminism, showing they can compete in a male-dominated field and do it well.
The author’s talent is not just in telling a compelling story, but making the reader fall in love with the characters. I fell hard for these women and I closed the last page with a warm heart and a tear in my eye.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce and we both agree that next up is Kitchens of the Great Midwest. We hope the author is hard at work on his next book because we can’t wait to see what he writes next.
*I received a copy of the book via Edelweiss for review. All opinions are my own....more
I just realized I read this back in July and didn't add it. This is the review I left on EW, but now, months later, I don't remember a single thing abI just realized I read this back in July and didn't add it. This is the review I left on EW, but now, months later, I don't remember a single thing about it. Forgettable.
This was a pleasant enough read but I grew frustrated with the character who pined away for her married lover, who was clearly a cad. It took too long to show growth and change and I was bored.
I'm not a musician and couldn't connect with that part of the story line. For musical enthusiasts, this part of the book might work well.
*many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for a copy of the book for review....more
I read this back in October for book club and while I appreciate learning about Elizabeth Keckley and her amazing accomplishments after buying her freI read this back in October for book club and while I appreciate learning about Elizabeth Keckley and her amazing accomplishments after buying her freedom from slavery, it wasn't enough save the book. The writing style and the insertion of very long passages of the Civil War battles that read like a history textbook made it a slog.
The character of Ms Keckley was written as saintly, with no nuances to her character. I would have liked to have read about the prejudices she endured, yet, based on this book, there were none. It was a lot of telling, very little showing.
I think my time would have been better spent reading Ms Keckley's memoir. I was so bored that would have DNF'd if it had not been a book club selection. However, we had a good discussion, mainly because we all looked up the true story of Elizabeth and Mary Todd Lincoln....more
I love that Peter Heller featured a woman of a certain age who is whip smart and accomplished, with many skills in her tool belt. Celine is a4.5 stars
I love that Peter Heller featured a woman of a certain age who is whip smart and accomplished, with many skills in her tool belt. Celine is a 68-year old private investigator and artist who lives in NYC. She’s from an elite old money East coast family who can quote classic literature but is also an expert marksman. To anyone who thinks this character is unrealistic, know that Heller based the character on his mother, who was also a detective and artist in NYC.
In this story, a young woman seeks out Celine to help her find her father, who’s been missing for decades, so Celine and her husband, Pete, head to Yellowstone National Park. This is as much a character study as a mystery and I fell in love with Celine. She and Pete are opposites and this not only creates an interesting relationship but their strengths and weaknesses complement each other. What a great team they were! It was refreshing to see a husband/wife team working so well with each other. It was a joy to spend time with these characters.
There’s quite a bit of subtle snarky humor (my favorite!) to lighten the mood. The setting of Yellowstone contributed to the atmosphere. The descriptions of nature are woven into the story seamlessly and never bog the story down. I loved everything about this book and highly recommend!
Out of the three Peter Heller books I’ve read this was by far my favorite. I prefer his books on audio. His prose makes for excellent listening....more
3.5 stars Hig has survived the flu pandemic, although he’s lost his wife and everyone he holds dear. He now lives in an airport hangar with his dog Ja3.5 stars Hig has survived the flu pandemic, although he’s lost his wife and everyone he holds dear. He now lives in an airport hangar with his dog Jasper and has an odd relationship/friendship with Bangley, who has survival skills as well as a cache of weapons. Bangley protects their perimeter from marauders and doesn’t hesitate to use his guns. He and Hig are as different as night and day but they need each other.
Hig lives mostly inside his head, out of necessity. He recalls memories of happier days, and he deals with the harsh reality of his current circumstances.
The writing style is one of no quotation marks and sentence fragments. This would drive me crazy if reading the print book but on audio it worked perfectly.
A post-apocalyptic book that is grim but not without hope and beauty. I enjoyed this book but of the three Peter Heller books I recently read this was my least favorite. This says more about me than the book. And even thought it was my least favorite of the 3 I read I still enjoyed it very much....more
Wynn and Jack couldn’t be more different but because of their shared love of the outdoors and reading they become fast friends as freshmen in college Wynn and Jack couldn’t be more different but because of their shared love of the outdoors and reading they become fast friends as freshmen in college. They decide to take a relaxing leisurely canoe trip down a river in Canada.
The first part of this slim book meanders along at a leisurely pace. The author is a travel and adventure writer and it shows. Normally I’ll put down a book with descriptive writing, but in this book it works. As with the other two books I’ve read by this author the audio version works particularly well with his writing style.
At the halfway mark, the boys smell smoke and along with the danger from the fire, they come across a woman in need and some unsavory campers. The tension ramps up and this turns into a tension-filled adventure survival story that tests their skills and their friendship in unexpected ways. It kept me riveted.
I came to know and care about these boys and wanted the story to end well, despite the odds. I loved that the book focused on a healthy male friendship, something we don’t often see in books.
Sophie Kinsella delivers the perfect Christmas book. This was such a fun read. Becky is back and is hosting Christmas for her family for the first timSophie Kinsella delivers the perfect Christmas book. This was such a fun read. Becky is back and is hosting Christmas for her family for the first time. As expected, things go hilariously awry. Most women will laugh in recognition of the challenges in trying to pull off the perfect Christmas while dealing with the demands and special requests of family and friends. Vegan turkey anyone?
Mishaps and chaos ensues with hilarity as well as a lot of heart. I have the ARC but listened to the audio. British narrators are my favorite and this one was excellent.
Charming and hilarious, this is the perfect book to brighten the season and make you smile.
* I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review...more
4.5 stars It’s been a long time since I read a book where the story and the characters took hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go. Anyone who has follow4.5 stars It’s been a long time since I read a book where the story and the characters took hold of my heart and wouldn’t let go. Anyone who has followed my reviews for any amount of time knows that I don’t typically like child narrators. This is the exception. It’s a stunning piece of storytelling. I love a story that delves into psychological issues, and how one heals from unbearable tragedy is the ultimate psychological challenge. I had the pleasure of buddy reading this with my good friend Marialyce, and it’s a book we both loved and tore through in record time.
Edward, his brother, and his parents board a plane to start a new life in California. They don’t make it, as the plane crashes midflight. 191 die while Edward is miraculously the only survivor.
Edward’s emotional struggles with the loss of his beloved family, the burden of survivor’s guilt, as well as his sudden notoriety as the “miracle boy”, is dealt with in such a compassionate and authentic way that I wondered more than once as I read if the author has experience with grief. She knows you never get over a loss, and there is no timeline or “closure”. But there is life after loss, although it’s a different life.
After Edward heals from his physical injuries he goes to live with his aunt and uncle, and does the hard work of learning how to live again. How do you move forward when you’ve lost everything, including yourself, the person you were before the loss? He befriends Shay, the 12 year old girl next door, and it is one of the most delightful friendships I’ve had the pleasure of reading.
All of the adults in Edward’s life, from his aunt and uncle, to the school personnel and his therapist have a part to play in his recovery and all were incredibly knowledgeable and insightful, even when dealing with their own struggles. They were all terrific characters that felt realistic. But Edward still struggles until he makes a discovery that, along with Shay’s help, serves as the catalyst for his healing.
The story alternates between Edward’s chapters and chapters that highlights the other passengers on the flight, from the quirky to the serious. Learning their backstories put the losses into perspective but thankfully the author doesn’t manipulate the reader into an emotional response. They simply add interest and depth to the story.
This sounds unbearably sad but it is a beautiful, heartfelt story that is never maudlin or manipulative. The ending brought tears through my smiles. This is a book that is ultimately hopeful, a story that restores faith in the human spirit, and one that will stay with me a long time to come. Highly recommended! 5 stars for how this book made me feel.
• I received a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review • For our duo review of this book and others please visit https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres......more
Sally Field is a favorite actress of mine, and we now know her persona as happy and bubbly was a façade to cover deep pain. The pain she tapped to porSally Field is a favorite actress of mine, and we now know her persona as happy and bubbly was a façade to cover deep pain. The pain she tapped to portray such characters as Sybil, Norma Rae, and Mary Todd Lincoln. All those pieces, as painful as they were, came together to form Sally Field, the serious, accomplished actress we all know today.
I appreciated her sharing her life with her fans, as well as the honesty and openness with which she shared the most painful parts of her past. She narrates the audio and hearing the story in her own voice was very powerful. This is not a Hollywood tell-all, although there is a little of that. But it’s an important story that needed to be told, and a cautionary tale of how deeply a troubled childhood can affect self-esteem and color every subsequent relationship.
I hope by writing this book she has gained a bit of peace and come to terms with her past. Mostly I hope she knows that we, her fans, “really do like her”....more
I’ve only read one Lisa Jewell book before this one, Watching You, and it was one I enjoyed so I highly anticipated this one. Despite having the ARC I I’ve only read one Lisa Jewell book before this one, Watching You, and it was one I enjoyed so I highly anticipated this one. Despite having the ARC I decided to listen to it. The audio was well-done with multiple narrators, which helped keep the characters straight, despite an overly complicated and meandering plot.
However, I would have liked some characters to be more fully developed, especially David who held such power over the inhabitants of the house. Unfortunately, I found most of the characters to be quite vile. Unlikability is not a deal breaker but in this case I found neither the characters or the story to be pleasurable to read, and the ending a letdown.
I will definitely give her next book a try and will dip into her backlist to read more, but this was a miss for me. I’m the outlier so do read other reviews as most people seemed to love it.
• Many thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review ...more
4.5 It takes a lot of skill for an author to write a book about children bursting into flames and do it in a way that makes it not only believable, bu4.5 It takes a lot of skill for an author to write a book about children bursting into flames and do it in a way that makes it not only believable, but endearing. I absolutely loved this quirky, funny, and sweet story.
Lillian hears from Madison, her old friend and roommate, asking for a favor. The two have a checkered history, with Madison being blessed with beauty and wealth, while Lillian, having neither, does Madison’s bidding, getting nothing in return. This time the favor is asking Lillian to be a governess to her husband Jasper’s 10-year-old twins, Roland and Bessie. The one tiny problem? The children have a tendency to erupt into flames. The children’s unusual tendency could derail Jasper’s political aspirations so Lillian’s job is to keep them out of sight and out of trouble.
Wickedly funny and heartwarming, I fell in love with Bessie and Roland. Anyone who has children can agree that bursting into flames is an excellent metaphor to describe what happens when children become overwhelmed by strong emotions.
I felt for these children and for Lillian. All three have been damaged by life and what they build together is utterly charming. Lillian is a refreshing character and I loved the way she interacted with the children. She sees something of herself in them. I loved her voice and self-deprecating demeanor. She needs the children as much as they need her.
I found the first 25% a bit slow but once the children appear the story took off. There’s much to say here about family, money, power, friendship, and politics but the themes were delivered with a lot of humor and heart. This was a fun read with substance, one Marialyce and I enjoyed.
Highly recommended!
A caveat: If you are offended by the f-bomb be aware that according to a kindle search, it’s dropped 211 times in 272 pages. I felt it was so overused it became tiresome. But yet. These characters wormed their way into my heart in a way I won’t soon forget.
3.5 stars In this remarkable debut, most of the earth is covered by water after years of devastating flooding. Livable land is minimal and raider ships3.5 stars In this remarkable debut, most of the earth is covered by water after years of devastating flooding. Livable land is minimal and raider ships, along with breeding ships, are a constant danger. Civilization has collapsed and there are no basic amenities. Myra and her daughter Pearl survive by fishing and trading for basic necessities. When Myra hears her older daughter, Row, who was taken from her 7 years ago, was seen alive in a northern community, they leave on a dangerous journey by sea to search for her. After running into trouble, Myra combines forces with the crew of a larger ship, and she will stop at nothing in order to find her daughter, regardless of the danger or consequences.
This is an adventure tale of survival I won’t soon forget. The world building was well-crafted and the image of this new world was terrifying. Yet this book is so much more than a survival story. It’s a story of survival, but also a story about grief and holding onto hope against all the odds. It’s about strength of character and sacrificing for those you love. It’s about opening up and trusting people when your life normally depends on the mistrust of people.
I did enjoy this story but it is a bleak one and is overly long with some repetitiveness. This novel will appeal to those who don’t require their characters to be likable. There are moral ambiguities and I was left with much to ponder after I turned the last page.
Marialyce and I deviated from our usual genres with this post-apocalyptic book and there was much to discuss.
What a clever homage to the classic murder mystery! The author’s love shines through in these pages. Don’t come expecting a police procedural with4.5
What a clever homage to the classic murder mystery! The author’s love shines through in these pages. Don’t come expecting a police procedural with the latest in forensic science. But come expecting to be thoroughly entertained. I have a particular love for the mystery authors of old like Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and Ruth Rendell, and I binge-read most of them in my 20s. But modern day mystery authors, such as Donna Tartt, gets a nod too, so this book ticked all my boxes.
What could be more perfect than a mystery bookstore owner with an in-house cat named Nero (Nero Wolf)? There are literary references throughout the book, which made me want to drop what I was doing and read (or re-read) every book mentioned. I have a list.
Speaking of lists....Mal, the bookstore owner, is a widower who lost his wife in an unfortunate accident, and spends his evenings alone drinking craft beer and reading. His life is upended when he is contacted by the FBI, who suspects that a serial murderer is using his blog post, Eight Perfect Murders, which lists the eight perfect murders in fiction, as a blueprint for a killing spree.
As Mal becomes entwined in the investigation it becomes clear there is quite a tangled web to unweave. Along the way we learn bits and pieces of Mal’s life and backstory. There was a moment where I thought the story was going in a direction I couldn’t get behind but the author was clever enough to fool me and the ending was perfection.
This was a buddy read with my friend, Marialyce, and we enjoyed our discussion, especially of the ending.
I loved this clever, fun book and highly recommend it for avid fans of the mystery genre. I think those who have a true love for the craft will love this book. I closed the last page with a better knowledge and appreciation for classic murder/crime books.
I loved the author's book, The Kind Worth Killing. This book has once again made me a fan of Peter Swanson.
3.5 stars Told from three points of view, this is a multi-layered plot that will have you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Gabe’s wife3.5 stars Told from three points of view, this is a multi-layered plot that will have you flipping the pages to find out what happens next. Gabe’s wife, Jenny, and their young daughter, Izzy, were murdered in their home three years ago but Gabe is convinced that Izzy is still alive after he sees her in the back of a car. Despite no one believing him, and a father-in-law who identified the bodies of his wife and daughter, he has devoted his life to searching for her. The second POV is a woman and her daughter who are on the run from an unnamed threat. And finally, we have the waitress who often waits on Gabe at the restaurant where she works.
All three characters are dealing with grief and loss. Their stories will come together and intersect in surprising ways. I won’t ruin the fun for readers by giving away any more of the plot. It's best discovered on your own.
Readers who enjoy complicated plots, a fair bit of coincidence, and who don’t have a problem with suspending disbelief will find much to enjoy. Be aware there are some supernatural elements, but it was a minor element. This was a buddy read with Marialyce and one we both enjoyed. We both agree that C.J. Tudor writes very well and the different plot lines came together quite nicely.
While I loved that the author dedicated the book to Murderinos (a term coined for fans of the podcast My Favorite Murder), and the protagonist is a faWhile I loved that the author dedicated the book to Murderinos (a term coined for fans of the podcast My Favorite Murder), and the protagonist is a fan of true crime, the book was still not for me.
I think this would work well for those readers looking for a campy B movie type thriller. You know, the kind where you totally suspend disbelief and spend the entire movie yelling at the amateur sleuth MC for doing stupid things. But you love it anyway. And you can accept ghosts. A lot of ghosts. That everyone can see.
Some readers love this type of book so this is a case of me being the wrong reader.
* I received a free digital copy of the book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review....more
History comes alive through the stories of those who lived it. Most of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on 9/11. It’s foreHistory comes alive through the stories of those who lived it. Most of us can remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on 9/11. It’s forever burned into our memories. But my memories and the hours and hours of TV coverage didn’t prepare me for hearing the stories within these pages, stories that often brought me to tears.
There’s an entire generation who has come of age since then, a generation that has no memory of that day. Thankfully, for them, and for us, this book serves as a record of memories. The author doesn’t look into the why of 9/11 but tells us the stories of those who lived through that day, and, sadly, those that didn’t. This is a unique and intimate perspective that is often difficult to read, but it’s important that we do so, so we never forget.
The narrative begins the night of Sept 10, an ordinary day, the last ordinary day for all of them. The individual stories of the passengers, the crew, the people who worked in the towers, the residents of Shanksville, PA, the Pentagon staff, as well as the first responders are told within these pages.
This is narrative non-fiction at it’s best and the suspense builds because, although we know the fate of the airplane passengers and crew, we don’t learn the fate of all the others until the story unfolds. The result is a vivid account of history, putting human faces and personal stories to a tragedy before it simply becomes an event relegated to the history books.
A powerful must read. I highly recommend the audio. It’s riveting....more
Fans of the hit show, The Killing, will find some common elements in the Chestnut Man, the debut from Danish screenwriter Soren Sveistrup. As a fan ofFans of the hit show, The Killing, will find some common elements in the Chestnut Man, the debut from Danish screenwriter Soren Sveistrup. As a fan of the TV show, I appreciated the similarities, from the gloomy atmosphere to the flawed detective duo of Hess and Thulin.
The two are paired up when the murder of a young woman has links to the disappearance of a young girl a year earlier. When the cases are linked to other grisly murders, it’s clear there is a serial murderer on the loose in Copenhagen. The one defining characteristic, other than details of the actual killings, is the murderer leaves a calling card of a handmade chestnut doll at the scene. Chestnut dolls are apparently a thing in Denmark, and there is even a song: “Chestnut man, Chestnut man please come in…”
The story is a well-written, chilling, character-driven police procedural and the short chapters made for a tense page-turner that had me holding my breath and on the edge of my seat more than once. However, at slightly over 500 pages, the book would have been made even better had 100-150 pages been cut. Still, despite a few flaws, the story held my attention and I will definitely be in line for the author’s next book.
• Netflix has plans to adapt the book into a series. Production is planned to begin in 2020
• Recommended for fans of strong character-driven police procedurals such as those written by Tana French.
The time is 1648, not an easy time to be a woman, especially a woman without a husband. Alinor is left a single mother of two when her husband goes ouThe time is 1648, not an easy time to be a woman, especially a woman without a husband. Alinor is left a single mother of two when her husband goes out to sea and never returns. She ekes out a living as a midwife and herbalist, in a time when those activities were viewed with suspicion and accusations of witchcraft were common.
The country is in the midst of a civil war between the King and his supporters and Parliament. Alinor’s path crosses with James, a young priest and a Royalist. She helps him find safe passage and their relationship forms the crux of the story.
Meanwhile, Alinor’s children are presented with opportunities that will save them from a life of menial work and poverty. Alinor is like all mothers everywhere who wants a better life for herself and her children. I admired her hard work, ambition and determination. But their good fortune only fuels the suspicions of the townspeople.
As with all the author’s books, this is hefty at 448 pages, and as it is the first book in a series, much time is spent setting up the background and life in the Tidelands. I listened to this on audio, which I highly recommend, as the narrator is excellent. Listening while multi-tasking made even the political maneuverings palatable. I appreciate the author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy, and it certainly made me appreciate my good fortune to live in the current times.
The last half of the book moves along at a fast pace and the ending was a shocker. After so much time spent in the Tidelands, I’m looking forward to seeing where the next book in the series takes us.
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