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vanessagrausam's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use
oddskyla's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Abortion
gerikrempa1's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Slow beginning, some tough relationships in this especially the Mom and the abusive boyfriend Tom. Strong female role of Mindy. Distant relationship with mom and daughters and a lot of abandonment issues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, and Drug use
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Such a difficult book to read, and surprising twists along the way. So many reasons to hate the Donnelly women and to pass judgment on them. But the writer does a good job of explaining why the women are as they are and itβs hard to hate them because of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Infidelity, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Violence, War, Abandonment, and Physical abuse
kelly_e's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Title: California Golden
Author: Melanie Benjamin
Genre: Historical Ficton
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: August 8, 2023
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Nostalgic β’ Complicated β’ Atmospheric
π S Y N O P S I S
Southern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky A-Go-Go. In an era when women are expected to be housewives, Carol Donnelly is breaking the mold as a legendary female surfer struggling to compete in a male-dominated sport--and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of her unconventional lifestyle.
The Donnelly sisters grow up enduring their mother's absence--physically, when she's at the beach, and emotionally, the rare times she's at home. To escape questions about Carol's whereabouts--and chase their mom's elusive affection--they cut school to spend their days in the surf. From her first time on a board, Mindy shows a natural talent, but Ginger, two years younger, feels out of place in the water.
As they grow up and their lives diverge, Mindy and Ginger's relationship ebbs and flows. Mindy finds herself swept up in celebrity, complete with beachside love affairs, parties at the Playboy Club, and USO tours to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ginger--desperate for a community of her own--is tugged into the vibrant counterculture of drugs and cults. Through it all, their sense of duty to each other survives, as the girls are forever connected by the emotional damage they carry from their unorthodox childhood.
π T H O U G H T S
I was initially drawn to California Golden because of the stunning cover, yet it was the synopsis that truly hooked me. I'd yet to read anything else by Melanie Benjamin before, so wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I came away pleasantly surprised.
What I liked:
β’ the time period. Set during the 1960s, there is just something about the time period that intrigues me. Against the back drop of an ever changing America, the author did a wonderful job detailing life during this time.
β’ the setting. The Southern California beaches, the sun, the sand, and the surf were all brought to life brilliantly. Having recently visited the surrounding area, I really felt like I was there taking it all in.
β’ the surf culture. Surfing has never been something that had garnered my attention, yet the author completely captivated me with her vivid descriptions. I also enjoyed learning more about the roots and culture of the sport as a whole.
What I did not like:
β’ some side plots. Some of the side plots really went nowhere and I was left wondering why they were even included.
β’ the pacing. Mainly character driven, this novel unfolds incredibly slowly, to the point that at times it felt like it wasn't really going anywhere.
California Golden explores family relationships, mother/daughter dynamics, surf culture, women in a male dominated sport and self-discovery. There is a lot of hurting and healing, which all felt very believable and I am definitely inclined to discover more of this author's work in the future and will be keeping my eye out for any future projects.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ readers who like complicated mother/daughter relationships
β’ fans of the coming-of-age story
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"Never fall in love with someone who doesn't need you."
Author: Melanie Benjamin
Genre: Historical Ficton
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: August 8, 2023
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Nostalgic β’ Complicated β’ Atmospheric
π S Y N O P S I S
Southern California, 1960s: endless sunny days surfing in Malibu, followed by glittering neon nights at Whisky A-Go-Go. In an era when women are expected to be housewives, Carol Donnelly is breaking the mold as a legendary female surfer struggling to compete in a male-dominated sport--and her daughters, Mindy and Ginger, bear the weight of her unconventional lifestyle.
The Donnelly sisters grow up enduring their mother's absence--physically, when she's at the beach, and emotionally, the rare times she's at home. To escape questions about Carol's whereabouts--and chase their mom's elusive affection--they cut school to spend their days in the surf. From her first time on a board, Mindy shows a natural talent, but Ginger, two years younger, feels out of place in the water.
As they grow up and their lives diverge, Mindy and Ginger's relationship ebbs and flows. Mindy finds herself swept up in celebrity, complete with beachside love affairs, parties at the Playboy Club, and USO tours to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Ginger--desperate for a community of her own--is tugged into the vibrant counterculture of drugs and cults. Through it all, their sense of duty to each other survives, as the girls are forever connected by the emotional damage they carry from their unorthodox childhood.
π T H O U G H T S
I was initially drawn to California Golden because of the stunning cover, yet it was the synopsis that truly hooked me. I'd yet to read anything else by Melanie Benjamin before, so wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I came away pleasantly surprised.
What I liked:
β’ the time period. Set during the 1960s, there is just something about the time period that intrigues me. Against the back drop of an ever changing America, the author did a wonderful job detailing life during this time.
β’ the setting. The Southern California beaches, the sun, the sand, and the surf were all brought to life brilliantly. Having recently visited the surrounding area, I really felt like I was there taking it all in.
β’ the surf culture. Surfing has never been something that had garnered my attention, yet the author completely captivated me with her vivid descriptions. I also enjoyed learning more about the roots and culture of the sport as a whole.
What I did not like:
β’ some side plots. Some of the side plots really went nowhere and I was left wondering why they were even included.
β’ the pacing. Mainly character driven, this novel unfolds incredibly slowly, to the point that at times it felt like it wasn't really going anywhere.
California Golden explores family relationships, mother/daughter dynamics, surf culture, women in a male dominated sport and self-discovery. There is a lot of hurting and healing, which all felt very believable and I am definitely inclined to discover more of this author's work in the future and will be keeping my eye out for any future projects.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ readers who like complicated mother/daughter relationships
β’ fans of the coming-of-age story
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"Never fall in love with someone who doesn't need you."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Racial slurs, Drug use, Xenophobia, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Grief, Sexism, and Trafficking
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, War, and Chronic illness
poverty, drug traffickinganeyrey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
amandas_bookshelf's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Chronic illness, Antisemitism, Xenophobia, Hate crime, Grief, Sexism, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion
awebofstories's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Grade: C+
Everything about the title and description of this book screams summer, so it made sense that I would pick it up for a summer read. What could be more fitting than a trip back to the 60s and California surf culture?
Melanie Benjamin is an established historical fiction writer, but this is the first of her books that I've read. There was plenty to like about this book. Benjamin brought the world of surfers, beach movies, hippies, and communes to vivid color. This era was slightly before my time, so the picture I had in my mind was the Brady Bunch special where they went to Hawaii. I don't think Benjamin changed my view much, but she made it more interesting.
Surfing has never been an activity that garnered much of my attention. However, the way Benjamin describes it, made me take notice. She describes the feel of the boards, the tension of the water, and even refers to a wave as a dragon; I found this an incredibly effective metaphor. While this didn't tempt me to try the sport, it kept me interested in the story.
I really enjoyed Mindy as a main character (and not just because we share a name). I understood her desire to be important to her mother and her feelings of responsibility regarding her sister. I rooted for her, even when she repeatedly got the short end of the stick from others.
But, as much as I enjoyed Mindy, I had problems with Ginger and an even stronger aversion to Carol. I didn't find Ginger believable. I could see how she hungered to be wanted and loved. However, the way it is expressed in this book made no sense. Many other destructive behaviors would have fit the bill and wouldn't have required some suspension of disbelief. However, what happens in the book was a disconnect between her experience and what she said she wanted.
Then we get to Carol. I get the inner conflict of wanting one life and then finding yourself a mother and a wife and that life out of reach. However, that isn't an accurate description of Carol's situation. Plainly, Carol is a sociopath. I don't say that because she resented motherhood and the sacrifice of her own wishes. I say that because she lacked any sort of empathy towards anyone else. I found her deeply disturbing, yet that wasn't the nail in the coffin for me. Unsurprisingly, Benjamin attempts to, if not redeem, at least excuse Carol's behavior. That not only fell flat, but I found myself angry at Benjamin and this book that the attempt was even made.
I can't hide the fact that I was disappointed with this book. It had the elements to be an excellent summer read, but its flaws just ruined my experience reading it. While the successes of this book keep the possibility of reading more from Benjamin open, I do not feel that I can recommend this book.
I received an electronic copy of the book from Delacorte Press through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Everything about the title and description of this book screams summer, so it made sense that I would pick it up for a summer read. What could be more fitting than a trip back to the 60s and California surf culture?
Melanie Benjamin is an established historical fiction writer, but this is the first of her books that I've read. There was plenty to like about this book. Benjamin brought the world of surfers, beach movies, hippies, and communes to vivid color. This era was slightly before my time, so the picture I had in my mind was the Brady Bunch special where they went to Hawaii. I don't think Benjamin changed my view much, but she made it more interesting.
Surfing has never been an activity that garnered much of my attention. However, the way Benjamin describes it, made me take notice. She describes the feel of the boards, the tension of the water, and even refers to a wave as a dragon; I found this an incredibly effective metaphor. While this didn't tempt me to try the sport, it kept me interested in the story.
I really enjoyed Mindy as a main character (and not just because we share a name). I understood her desire to be important to her mother and her feelings of responsibility regarding her sister. I rooted for her, even when she repeatedly got the short end of the stick from others.
But, as much as I enjoyed Mindy, I had problems with Ginger and an even stronger aversion to Carol. I didn't find Ginger believable. I could see how she hungered to be wanted and loved. However, the way it is expressed in this book made no sense. Many other destructive behaviors would have fit the bill and wouldn't have required some suspension of disbelief. However, what happens in the book was a disconnect between her experience and what she said she wanted.
Then we get to Carol. I get the inner conflict of wanting one life and then finding yourself a mother and a wife and that life out of reach. However, that isn't an accurate description of Carol's situation. Plainly, Carol is a sociopath. I don't say that because she resented motherhood and the sacrifice of her own wishes. I say that because she lacked any sort of empathy towards anyone else. I found her deeply disturbing, yet that wasn't the nail in the coffin for me. Unsurprisingly, Benjamin attempts to, if not redeem, at least excuse Carol's behavior. That not only fell flat, but I found myself angry at Benjamin and this book that the attempt was even made.
I can't hide the fact that I was disappointed with this book. It had the elements to be an excellent summer read, but its flaws just ruined my experience reading it. While the successes of this book keep the possibility of reading more from Benjamin open, I do not feel that I can recommend this book.
I received an electronic copy of the book from Delacorte Press through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and War
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