A great read except for so many introductions to new characters towards the end. All well developed characters, but some side characters Read in 2022:
A great read except for so many introductions to new characters towards the end. All well developed characters, but some side characters I didn’t care for especially those who wrecked the party with their intent to vandal. I loved that there were details of how June’s parents were like as well as Mick’s parents. No wonder people often say, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.� I enjoyed reading about June and Mick’s life as well as the lives of their children. I loved the family story and the siblings stories. I liked how the ending wrapped up the beginning about fire in California. Nina’s a great eldest sister role model because she took it upon herself to take care of the family. I liked how Nina’s marriage almost ended up like her mom’s. It’s good to be reminded that not everyone get everything they wanted and how everyone feel regret after it’s too late. I felt bad for June’s life especially when she regretted her choice as a teen that created events for the future.
This book started with how wildfires occurred in California just like tornadoes occurred in the Midwest and hurricanes occurred in the Gulfs. One night in 1983, there was a big house party and the next morning, Malibu, CA’s wildfire broke out. Then the story began with Nina, 25. The morning before the fire broke out, she’s delaying waking up because she’s sad that her pro tennis husband Brandon left her for his pro tennis mistress Carrie. The second view was Jay, Nina’s brother and surfer champion. He and youngest sister Kit, 20 came by to invite Nina out to surf with them. All three siblings has a famous father, Mick. They met up with Seth who went to school with Jay at the beach. Jay was uncomfortable that Seth was checking out Kit. The third view was Hud (Hudson), 23, half brother of Nina, Jay, and Kit. He’s dating Ashley, ex-girlfriend of Jay. Hud took pictures of almost twin brother Jay as he surf. The story was told in two parts and alternate between 1983 and 1956 and onward. In 1956, the story was about how their parents, Mick and June, met. Mick was 23 and June was 17. Mick came out to Malibu to make it big with his singing career while June helping her parents with their struggling restaurant dreamed of a glamorous life beyond the restaurant. They started dating and he asked her to get married. There were background stories of Mick’s parents, June’s parents, and of the siblings growing up. The story was organized in 24 hours from 7am to 7am the next day.
Malibu Rising was well written and a fast paced read. During the group read, everyone complimented the author’s two previous books: Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones. I’m excited to read them. The author wrote well developed characters and I cried for them at some parts. This story could be considered as rags to riches and maybe some luck. Nina worked hard for her money. She and her siblings basically lived off the land. They surf because they enjoyed it and it’s free by their house. They practiced and became good at it and then they turned it into a money making machine. It’s good to read how Nina had to eat tomato slices instead of fries to keep her figure. Staying skinny is definitely hard because one have to give up delicious foods! This book reminded me how people behave in different ways for a reason. It was mostly how they were raised. This is my first read from the author and it will not be my last. I do recommend everyone to read this book!...more
Fantastic read! Loved it. This story followed the twins, Desiree and Stella, each in their own view. They lived in a small town that doesnRead in 2022
Fantastic read! Loved it. This story followed the twins, Desiree and Stella, each in their own view. They lived in a small town that doesn't even existed on the map. The town has colored people who were light skinned, light enough that they could pretend to be white and get away with it. Desiree has always wanted to live away from this small town but have never up and left. When they were 17, Desiree asked her twin sister Stella to go. Surprisingly Stella agreed. Stella experienced a few unhappy events at her hometown that made her decided to go. They struggled at first, being truthful and colored would reject them of any jobs even if they were qualified for it. One day they were broke so Stella went along with a suggestion Desiree made. In Stella's new life, things were easier and soon she up and left her sister. Desiree went on and lived her life without her sister by her side but later returned home to her mom with a daughter named Jude. Years later, Jude grown up and went away for college. She met the love of her life unexpectedly. Her love life hadn't been great. Her years growing up in her mom's hometown wasn't a happy one either. Later through some chance she got a glimpse of her aunt Stella. Later on Jude by some chance met up with the girl she saw before and realized that she must be her cousin. The cousins kept in touch without their mom knowing after Jude attempted to get to know her aunt but was rejected.
I enjoyed reading about all of the characters. Fantastic idea. Early's a great supporting character. He's upbeat despite his upbringing. I enjoyed the multigenerational story from grandma to daughters to granddaughters. Great twists and suspense.
I read this book because it was recommended on the 17 Month Planner/Calendar written and published by the americanlibraryassociation and sourcebooks ...more
Thank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook!
For the most part, an enjoyable audiobook. The main character has a secret. The reveal was not thatThank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook!
For the most part, an enjoyable audiobook. The main character has a secret. The reveal was not that exciting. A quick blurt before the doctor drugged her up. All that information just tumbled out. The courtroom transcript was okay, can be skipped. The ghost story was okay. Would have been great if there was a view of the serial killer. A good glimpse into the lives of the wealthy. We usually think they have it all, but they only have money and nothing else.
This book is told through a timeline, past vs present difference by 40 years. In the present, Shay who is an admin at the doctor's office during the day and a blogger who is obsessed with cold cases at night. One day she saw a patient coming in to the doctor's office looking vaguely familiar. Then she learned who that is and followed her out after her appointment. Shay asked to have an interview. The patient was a famous murder suspect from 40 years ago. 40 years ago, there were two murders with a written note at each crime scene. They called it The Lady Killer. This lady who was in her early 20s at the time. She was wealthy, beautiful and single. No one cared that she was grieving for her parents' recent passing. They accused her of the murders. But she wasn't found guilty. Now Shay is going through the case again and interviewing this woman at her house. While at the house, she experienced some unexplained activities that she's still figuring out what it is.. especially since she doesn't believe in ghosts.. but when she saw with her own eyes she couldn't kidding herself..
Read through my Book of the Month purchase....more
I loved reading graphic novels. The illustrations are excellent and the read are quick. Reading graphic novels doesn’t require a lot of imagination eiI loved reading graphic novels. The illustrations are excellent and the read are quick. Reading graphic novels doesn’t require a lot of imagination either because it’s all happening in the illustrations. This book followed Scarlet Hart out hunting monsters with her family’s butler named Napoleon as her getaway driver. Her parents died 4 years ago from the same career. She wanted him to take pictures of her in capturing a monster so that she can collect the reward money. The first monster she lost to other hunter because she had to rescue a civilian who was caught by the monster. It happened a few times with other monsters too and then she found out why this other hunter always seemed to know where she was and arrived a little bit before her....more
I read it for my daughter’s bedtime but halfway through I read it to myself to the end. I loved the story. Tom was a clever boy. He knew how to get ouI read it for my daughter’s bedtime but halfway through I read it to myself to the end. I loved the story. Tom was a clever boy. He knew how to get out of work by tricking others to do it for him. The gum sharing was funny as well as the me-yow calling. Tom was a naughty boy and often received whippings. He’s innovative and often came up with something to do. That part with the dead cat was really out of this world. I’m surprised that Huckleberry Finn was in this story. I haven’t read his story yet. But it’s cool that two well known classic characters were in this story. I admire Tom and his cleverness, even at the end where he got Huckleberry Finn to do something he didn’t want to do. This book has illustrations so it was helpful in seeing where the story was going.
One day I’ll read the normal version, but this time I happened to read a young readers version. It was excellent....more
I was invited to join a group read via Instagram. A great read except for so many introductions to new characters towards the end. All well developed I was invited to join a group read via Instagram. A great read except for so many introductions to new characters towards the end. All well developed characters, but some side characters I didn’t care for especially those who wrecked the party with their intent to vandal. I loved that there were details of how June’s parents were like as well as Mick’s parents. No wonder people often say, “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.� I enjoyed reading about June and Mick’s life as well as the lives of their children. I loved the family story and the siblings stories. I liked how the ending wrapped up the beginning about fire in California. Nina’s a great eldest sister role model because she took it upon herself to take care of the family. I liked how Nina’s marriage almost ended up like her mom’s. It’s good to be reminded that not everyone get everything they wanted and how everyone feel regret after it’s too late. I felt bad for June’s life especially when she regretted her choice as a teen that created events for the future.
This book started with how wildfires occurred in California just like tornadoes occurred in the Midwest and hurricanes occurred in the Gulfs. One night in 1983, there was a big house party and the next morning, Malibu, CA’s wildfire broke out. Then the story began with Nina, 25. The morning before the fire broke out, she’s delaying waking up because she’s sad that her pro tennis husband Brandon left her for his pro tennis mistress Carrie. The second view was Jay, Nina’s brother and surfer champion. He and youngest sister Kit, 20 came by to invite Nina out to surf with them. All three siblings has a famous father, Mick. They met up with Seth who went to school with Jay at the beach. Jay was uncomfortable that Seth was checking out Kit. The third view was Hud (Hudson), 23, half brother of Nina, Jay, and Kit. He’s dating Ashley, ex-girlfriend of Jay. Hud took pictures of almost twin brother Jay as he surf. The story was told in two parts and alternate between 1983 and 1956 and onward. In 1956, the story was about how their parents, Mick and June, met. Mick was 23 and June was 17. Mick came out to Malibu to make it big with his singing career while June helping her parents with their struggling restaurant dreamed of a glamorous life beyond the restaurant. They started dating and he asked her to get married. There were background stories of Mick’s parents, June’s parents, and of the siblings growing up. The story was organized in 24 hours from 7am to 7am the next day.
Malibu Rising was well written and a fast paced read. During the group read, everyone complimented the author’s two previous books: Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones. I’m excited to read them. The author wrote well developed characters and I cried for them at some parts. This story could be considered as rags to riches and maybe some luck. Nina worked hard for her money. She and her siblings basically lived off the land. They surf because they enjoyed it and it’s free by their house. They practiced and became good at it and then they turned it into a money making machine. It’s good to read how Nina had to eat tomato slices instead of fries to keep her figure. Staying skinny is definitely hard because one have to give up delicious foods! This book reminded me how people behave in different ways for a reason. It was mostly how they were raised. This is my first read from the author and it will not be my last. I do recommend everyone to read this book!
I enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked the dual narrator even though each person read one chapter at a time instead of switching off for femalI enjoyed listening to this audiobook. I liked the dual narrator even though each person read one chapter at a time instead of switching off for female voice and male voices. I also liked the Adam's narrator when he sang the singing part of the story. In other books, I think narrators only read. So that's pretty cool. The female narrator is good too. Her long pauses and accent are great. I enjoyed her rant at the part about wanting to have kids and about her husband making money by making sh*t up. Good humor at times.
I started this story knowing that there will be twists but didn't know where to expect. So I was surprised when it happened again and again. Multiple times. I feel like the ending is open for a sequel. I happened to be listening to the ending at night before bed and honestly I was a bit freaked out.
This story followed Amelia, Adam, and Robin. Adam's a screenwriter. He idolized a horror writer named Henry Winter. He has face blindness. I heard about this health issue when I read Hello Stranger. Adam's married and each year they gift each other gifts based on a special system. His wife started writing him a letter but not for him to read it at each anniversary. She's brutally honest in the letter. All characters have secrets even the famous writer Henry Winter.
This is my second read of the author's books. Still a lot to catch up.
Glad to finish another book from my TBR shelf!...more
Disney’s Treasury of Children’s Classics was an excellent read! So many stories (22 stories to be exact) collected into one book. Took me many months Disney’s Treasury of Children’s Classics was an excellent read! So many stories (22 stories to be exact) collected into one book. Took me many months to finish reading it for my daughter. Each story ended with how Disney made the story into an animated movie. It’s definitely cool to read about the animated movie making processes. The Bambi story, artists were sent into the woods for a month to study the animals� movements and how they are in their element so that artists could draw them. Many animators had to take drawing classes to learn how to draw animals. The number of pictures they have to draw per movie was staggering so it made sense that each movie requires many people who can draw. Even though I was reading these children’s classics for my daughter, I was personally enjoying them. It’s good to read them again every once in a while....more
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