The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

Title:  The Great Gatsby

Author:  F. Scott Fitzgerald

Narrated by:  Sean Astin

Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC

Length: Approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes

Source: Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library through Hoopla.  Thank-you!

What is your favorite party scene in a book or movie?  Whenever I think of a rip-roaring party scene, I think of The Great Gatsby and his Roaring 1920’s parties.

Jay Gatsby is a very wealthy man, but his love, Daisy, married another while he was stationed overseas during WWI.  His one obsessions is winning back Daisy’s love.  By chance, Daisy’s cousin Nick is staying in a home next door to Gatsby.  As Nick gets involved in their lives, he realizes that not everything is better with wealth.  Will Gatsby win back Daisy’s love?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The writing in this novel is so beautiful and descriptive.  It is F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece.

·       The audiobook narration was excellent.  Sean Astin was an expressive narrator with difference voices depending on the character.

·       I read this in September for the Back to the Classics Book Club pick for the Kewaunee Public Library.  We had a fun discussion the book which ranged from bootlegging to Robert Redford as Gatsby.  We are going to watch the 1974 movie at the end of this month as a tribute to the late Robert Redford.

·       We also discussed how The Great Gatsby became popular as it was sent by the War Department to soldiers in WWII.  It harkened back to happier times in the 1920s, discussed the American dream, and also pointed out that even rich people have problems.

·       The parties at Gatsby’s house are just crazy.  The book describes the roaring 20’s excess perfectly.

·       Gatsby was the American dream.  He reinvented himself from his humble American beginnings.  He did all he could to amass great wealth.  He dreamed of the beautiful Southern girl with a voice “full of money.”  He very nearly had it all, before it all came crashing down.

·       The plot really showed how money drives society.

·       I read this for class in high school and twice in college, but I still love it every time I reread it.

·       I enjoyed how the book has the mystery of Nick finding out who Jay Gatsby truly was and where he came from as well as a slight murder mystery at the end as well.  It was an interesting story.

There are so many great quotes in this book.  A few of my favorites include:

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning-- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”

“So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.”

Overall, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald has an engaging and unique plot with vividly drawn characters.  This book is a classic for a reason.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

 

Title:  The Scarlet Pimpernel

Author:  Baroness Orczy

Narrated by:  Bill Homewood

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 54 minutes

Source: Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library through Hoopla.  Thank-you!

Who is your favorite action hero/heroine?  I have always liked Wonder Woman.  The Scarlet Pimpernel is an early action hero and the basis for many modern action heroes with secret identities.

During the French Revolution, one man from Britain in helping French men, women, and children to escape the guillotine.  He evades capture and is known as the Scarlet Pimpernel.  French agent Chauvelin is on the case and will do anything to hunt him down.  Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel, and will he escape?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this in September.  I was running behind as it was the August pick for the What the Dickens Book Club and there was a great discussion about it on Facebook.

·       This novel was published it 1905.  It was originally a successful play and then the author made it into a book. 

·       I loved the adventure in this novel and the great romance between husband and wife.

·       The audiobook narrator was excellent.  He did great voices and accents for all the characters.  I loved it.

·       Towards the end of the book, a Jewish character comes in and is not treated that well.  He is called all sorts of slurs. It was uncomfortable reading. 

·       I love my 1960s classic paperback.  I bought it many years ago at the Kalamazoo Michigan Public Library and book sale.

·       I didn’t realize this was a series!  I need to continue reading more in the series.

·       I had watched and enjoyed a couple of the movies in my teens.  I need to rewatch them.

·       This was a great adventure novel   I loved the hero and heroine.  I also loved all the Scarlet Pimpernels disguises.

·       The romance was unique.  Can an estranged married couple learn to understand each other and fall in love?

·       Marguerite is the smartest woman in Europe, but is married to dull, foppish, but extremely rich Sir Percy Blakeney.  Chauvelin blackmails her to help him look for the Scarlet Pimpernel or his brother will be excited.  I love her character.

Overall, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy is an excellent historical fiction novel full of romance and adventure.  I highly recommend it if you haven’t read it!

At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie

 

Title:  At Bertram’s Hotel

Author:  Agatha Christie

Narrated by:  Stephanie Cole

Publisher: HarperAudio

Length: Approximately 6 hours and 44 minutes

Source: Purchased from Audible

Do you have a favorite hotel or place to stay for vacation or a place that you would like to stay?  I have always wanted to stay at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

I am participating in the #ReadChristie2025 Challenge.  The challenge this year is exploring Agatha Christie’s works through her characters and their careers.  The theme for September was religious figures.  The missing man in this story is Canon Pennyfather, a scholarly clergyman who is staying at the Bertram Hotel.

Miss Marple is staying at Bertram’s Hotel in London for a vacation.  Her nephew Raymond has gifted her the trip.  When Canon Penny father goes missing, will Miss Marple be able to help find him?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This novel had a great setting.  It set up the scene perfectly at the start of the book.  It is a very English hotel that Americans like to stay at for the ambience.  English patrons are given discounts to have them stay there to be a part of the ambience.  It is old fashioned, but with modern amenities that Americans like such as showers, toilets, and central heating.

·       Miss Marple wants to visit the hotel as she hasn’t been there since she was a girl, and she has very fond memories of the hotel.

·       Betram’s Hotel is thought to be inspired by Brown’s Hotel in London which was a favorite of Agatha Christie’s.

·       This novel was first published in 1965 and has a fabulous 60’s setting.

·       I did not guess the ending of this one.

·       I enjoyed all the different characters such as the forgetful Canon Pennyfather, Chief Inspector Davy, flamboyant Bess Sedwick,  her daughter Elvira, and many more.

·       This was a more character driven story.  Miss Marple turned out to be a secondary character with Chief Inspector Davy driving the investigation.  The murder did not take place until well into the story.

·       This was a good cozy mystery to listen to on audiobook.

Overall, At Bertram’s Hotel by Agatha Christie is an interesting cozy mystery that is perfect for fall with a great setting.

Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks

 

Title:  Counting Miracles

Author:  Nicholas Sparks

Narrated by:  Holter Graham, Nicholas Sparks

Publisher: Random House Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 45 minutes

Source: Checked out from the Kewaunee Public Library through Libby.  Thank-you!

What has been a good book that you have read through a book club this year?

Tanner Hughes was raised by his grandparents and spent his life in the military and on pursuits afterwards that had him traveling around the world.  He has never settled down anywhere or had a long-term relationship.  He takes time out of his travels to care for his Grandma when she is dying.  She tells him his father’s name and where to locate him.  After her death, he travels to Asheboro, Northa Carolina to look for his Dad.  Through a series of events, he meets Kaitlyn Cooper, a doctor and single mother.  They instantly connect, but can a man who has never settled down, settle down?  Will he find his father?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I read this book in August for the Page-turners Book Club at the Kewaunee Public Library.  We had a great discussion on the book.

·       I like how the story was of a mature romance between two people in their forties.

·       Jasper is an elderly man who lives alone in a cabin with his faithful dog, Arlo.  He has lived a sad life that mimics that of Job in the Bible.

·       The story was told through Tanner, Kaitlyn and Jaspers points of view.

·       I guessed the ending of this novel almost immediately, but I enjoyed the journey along the way.

·       The characters were very realistically written, including the teenagers.  Sparks writes good characters who seem true to life.

·       This was excellent on audiobook.

·       I like how the three main characters had to find where they belonged.

·       It was suspenseful at the end of the novel. I don’t want to ruin it with details – but it was excellent.

·       A mysterious white deer appears in the wood which brings out nefarious people.

·       Arlo the dog has his own moments of heroism.

·       I liked the references to faith and the Bible verses.

·       There was a great quote/section in the text about what marriage really means that stood out to myself and many of my fellow book club members.

Overall, Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks was a great story about family, faith, and finding yourself.

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman

 

What is one of your favorite books you’ve read so far this year?  The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman was my favorite read of August and is sure to be in my top ten books for 2025.

Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and her twin sister Julia are in their forties and firmly on the shelf in Regency England.  They put their minds and hearts to good use by protecting vulnerable women and children.  When Lord Evan, a highwayman that captured Gus’s heart in Book 1 needs help hiding his sister Hester from his evil brother, Gus and Julia are on the case. Will they be able to hide both Lord Evan and Hester from those that pursue them?  Will they be able to clear Lord Evan’s name?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved this book and couldn’t put it down!

·       This was one of the JASNA Northwoods Book Club selections for August.  We all enjoyed it!

·       This novel picks up right where the first book ended.

·       There was a great romance between Lady Augusta and Lord Evan.  It was a kisses only romance but looks between them mean everything.

·       There was a great look at social issues of the day.  It had a feminist spin on historical fiction.

·       There was a lot of action and adventure.

·       It most have been very hard for educated and ambitious women to live during such a time and to be under the control of men who didn’t appreciate them and unable to challenge themselves intellectually.

·       I would recommend reading this series in order as I think you are missing a lot if you just pick up book 2 without reading book 1.

·       Gus and Julia make an excellent pair of twin sisters to work through their adventures.  Gus is more than flamboyant and ready to plunge into adventures.  She does not care much for the feelings of others.  Julia is quieter and much more in tune with people’s feelings.  I like how they both have slow burn romance in this novel.

·       This novel has both humor and suspense.

·       I loved the character of Beau Brummel.  It’s fun to have a real person as a character in a novel.  I like how he used his societal power for good and was an ally.  I liked the silent conversations between characters.

·       I enjoyed the detailed authors note at the end of the novel.

·       I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Overall, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman is an excellent novel with great characters, romance, and adventure all with a feminist spin.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com.

The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial for the review copy of The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey.

What is your favorite book, story, or movie that features a governess?  I love Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and the movie Mary Poppins.  I felt like the Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey channeled a bit of both in this new and unique story.

Miss Lada Cassidy is a Scottish governess that has taken a post in Singapore.  She is the governess to a young girl, Sarah Jane, who has recently lost her mother and six siblings.  Her father seems not quite himself.  Miss Cassidy utilizes her special skills and realizes that Captain Bendemeer is being sapped of his energy by a vampire spirit.  As she helps them out, she meets the widower Mr. Kay who also has his own problems.  Will she also be able to help Mr. Kay and his family?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved this book and the rare and fun story.

·       This is a historical fantasy novel.

·       I enjoyed the Singapore setting.  I was intrigued by the setting and enjoyed when Miss Cassidy ventures out into Singapore and meets new people

·       I loved the character of Miss Cassidy.  She is quirky and smart.  I enjoyed how she solved the supernatural mysteries of what is going on.  She is an unusual being herself.  I liked learning more about her as the story progressed and I can’t wait to learn more.

·       This story is told in three parts.

·       This is the first book in a new series.  I can’t wait to read the next book.

·       The story takes place from 1895 to 1904.

·       I adored the old-fashioned chapter titles.

·       I appreciated the romance.

·       The story incorporated Singapore and Scottish folklore.

Overall, The Formidable Miss Cassidy by Meihan Boey was a unique and charming history fantasy novel.  It had great characters, setting, and supernature elements.

Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates

 

Title:  Cruel Summer

Author:  Maisey Yates

Narrated by:  Nancy Peterson

Publisher: Harlequin Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 38 minutes

Source: Thank you @netgalley for the review copy. 

What is your favorite song of the summer?  I do love the song “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama so this title caught my eye.  I finished this book up at the start of last week, which is perfect with summer coming to an official end today.  Our weather in Northeast Wisconsin also warmed back up this week so we have more summer weather.

Samantha Parker has a comfortable life with marriage to her high school sweetheart, Will, and three kids. They are ready to start on their empty nest phase when Samantha is blindsided by Will stating that he wants an open marriage.   She proposes that they have a summer apart with no contact to determine how they want to move forward.  Samantha wants to spend summer finding herself.  Will’s best friend, Logan, asks her to go with him to deliver restored class cars across the country as a part time summer job.  Will Samantha find herself?  Will she and Will reunite?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       The audiobook was good.  The Narrator was pleasant to listen to and the story was engaging.  I just had a hard time listening to it at the end when it took a turn into steamy romance.

·       This was not a breezy summer book as it tackled many hard topics.

·       I can’t imagine my husband coming home one day and asking for an open marriage.  What a shock – especially are they are just coming empty nesters with more time to spend together.

·       It was really Will wanting cake and to eat it too.  He didn’t want a divorce, but wanted to screw around since they married so young and never had another relationship.

·       I had a hard time with the romance.  On her adventures with Logan, it comes out that Logan has loved her since high school and she was attracted to him too.  How does this work?

·       Overall, in the book, Samantha is working on finding herself and what she wants in life instead of trying to please everyone else.

·       I love vintage cars so the descriptions of the cars and taking them cross country was fun for me.

·       This book had spicy scenes, forced proximity, 2^nd chance romance, and opposites attract.

Overall, Cruel Summer by Maisey Yates was an interesting summer read that tackled a lot of hard topics.

Queen of All Mayhem: The Blood-Soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr the Most Dangerous Woman in the West by Dane Huckelbridge

 

Do you like to read about outlaws?  If so, who are some of your favorite outlaws?  I have always found outlaws of the old west to be intriguing such as Belle Star, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Cole Younger, etc.

In 1889, Belle Starr was murdered only a few miles from home at the age of 41.  Belle Starr is an infamous Western outlaw, but what does one really know about her?  This biography fills in the details. 

My thoughts on this book:

·       I haven’t read a book about Belle Starr since I was a teen reading about the Old West.  I learned so much in the book.

·       The book does a great job of detailing the tumultuous times that Belle Starr grew up in.

·       In 1848, the year Belle Starr was born, there was a large influx of German and Irish immigrants fleeing their homelands and looking for refuge in the United States.  There was a refugee crisis unlike anything the world had ever seen. There was hatred and violence by American born citizens against these immigrants.

·       Missouri had a terrible time in the Civil War.  Instead of being able to join the Confederate army, teens and young adults were roving bands of marauders.  They weren’t given amnesty after the war as they were not part of the regular Confederate Army.  This started many lives of crime.

·       Belle is linked with Cole Younger and her first husband outlaw Jim Reed. A later husband was Sam Starr of the Cherokee Tribe.  Sam and Belle continued the life of crime.

·       Belle was a criminal and participated in stealing horses and other crimes.  Author Dane Huckelbridge tries to present facts as they are known and sort through the many legends that have grown up over time about Belle Starr.

·       It was interesting that Belle grew up in wealthier than normal family and was educated.  The Civil War changed the course of her life.  Her beloved brother was killed, her town annihilated and many of her friends and family were now outlaws.

·       The “wild west” of Belle Starr was Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

·       Belle was sent to prison at one point to Detroit Michigan, which is hard to believe.  It was one of the only female penitentiaries at the time.

·       The hardcover book has a great section of pictures and an informative index at the end.  As I flipped through the pictures and saw the picture of Cole Younger and Belle’s daughter Pearl, I decided I think they were more than friends.

Favorite Quotes:

“But as much as we may wring our hands or clutch our pearls while lamenting the discord of modern American life, the truth of the matter is thing:  the climate-controlled, cable-news-watching country of today is a pale and placid shadow of the brutal dystopia that stretched and burned between these two oceans in the middle years of the nineteenth century.”

“Exact figures are unknown, but scientific and historical studies have consistently reached the conclusion that around 90 percent of the total Indigenous population of the Americas died from Eurasian diseases in the decades that followed first contact.”  - This is horrifying to contemplate.

“Nearly as long as the legend of Belle Starr has circulated throughout the American consciousness, there have also been naysayers and detractors who have sought to diminish her criminal reputation.”

Overall, Queen of all Mayhem by Dane Huckelbridge is a fascinating look into the life of one of America’s most infamous outlaws as well an intriguing look into America at the time.  I highly recommend it.

A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly (Austenprose PR Book Tour)

 

What is your favorite Christmas novel or short story?  A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of my favorites and I read it most years for Christmas.

Set in the Christmas of 1851, Catherine Dickens is struggling as she hosts Christmas parties, raises eight children, mourns the loss of a child, and is expecting another child.  She feels she has lost the spirit of Christmas.  She talks with a cook who reminds her that Christmas can be a time of miracles and magic.  Afterwards, she finds herself living through Christmases of the past to once again rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.  Will she rediscover her faith and love for Christmas?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was a short, quick read.

·       It included beautiful Victorian illustrations.  I loved them and it really added to the ambiance of the book.

·       I loved the descriptions of food and entertaining during Victorian times.

·       The character of Charles Dickens was fantastically drawn.

·       I really liked the faith message with the true meaning of Christmas – Christ’s birth.  It was a good reminder for us all in the hustle and bustle of Christmas to remember the true meaning of the season.

·       This is a perfect story for anyone that loves a good historical Christmas novel or has enjoyed watching The Man who Invented Christmas, A Christmas Carol, or Victoria.

Overall, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens by Rebecca Connolly is a delightful holiday read that reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @author.rebecca.connolly @shadowmountainpub @austenprose for a review copy of this novel as part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. 

Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television by Todd S. Purdum

 

Title:  Desi Arnaz:  The Man Who Invented Television

Author:  Todd S. Purdum

Narrated by:  Todd S. Purdum

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Length: Approximately 9 hours and 24 minutes

Source: Thank you #DesiArnazBook #HistoryBuffsBookClub @History_In_Five for the physical book review copy.  I purchased the audiobook copy on Audible.

Do you enjoy classic television shows?  If so, what are some of your favorites?  One of my favorite classic TV shows is I Love Lucy.  I watched the reruns a lot while I was growing up.

Desi Arnaz:  The Man Who Invented Television by Todd S. Purdum is a riveting biography that tells the story of Desi Arnaz from his childhood as a Cuban aristocrat to his groundbreaking artistic and business drive that made I Love Lucy a success, to his downfall.

My thoughts on this book:

·       Desi was raised in a wealthy and elite family in Santiago, Cuba.  After a revolution, his family fled to Miami and lived in fair different circumstances.

·       It seemed like Desi had a great personality and got along with a lot of people.

·       Desi faced racism that kept his career down.  He kept being called the “Mexican,” even though he was Cuban.

·       Ricardo Montalban arrived in Hollywood during Desi’s time as a young actor and received the types of roles that Desi really wanted.

·       Desi was the behind-the-scenes force who got the I Love Lucy show off the ground.

·       He was the first Latino to star in Network primetime TV.  He is also still the only Latino to be a studio head still sixty years later. 

·       He rose to great heights in the entertainment world and with his skill was able to diffuse the “Lucy is red” problem.

·       This biography was interesting and sad.  I teared up a few times while listening to the audiobook.

·       It was excellent on audiobook and kept me riveted while doing chores.  I liked that the author narrated the book.

·       Great research was involved in putting this book together.  The author used unpublished interviews, letters, journals, and other materials.  The Arnaz kids provided access to a lot of material.

·       Desi Arnaz was always underestimated due to his accent and being from Cuba, but he had a great sense for what the public wanted to see on television.

·       It was interested that he couldn’t read music, but he made it as a musician!

·       I was sad that Desi’s demons tore apart his relationship with Lucy.  It’s sad to love a real-life married couple on TV and find out that the husband was a serial cheater.

Overall, Desi Arnaz:  The Man Who Invented Television by Todd S. Purdum is a fascinating look into the life of Desi Arnaz and the many ways that he created the items we take for granted as a part of television today.