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mkduds's reviews
732 reviews
Western Lane by Chetna Maroo
3.0
Audiobook review. This was an interesting book and I know there would be more to glean with more times through it. At the heart seems to be pain within a family and how that affects the lives of those in it.
Madonna: A Rebel Life by Mary Gabriel
Another moment that stuck out:
5.0
Audiobook review. Wow, this was comprehensive. It’s very long but there’s so much that’s memorable about it (especially listening to it). What an impressive feat to write this book and to live this life. It paints a very clear picture of Madonna as a cutting edge artist and someone who was always destined for an artist’s life given her passions and work ethic.
Three interesting moments:
Girls are usually advised what not to do in order to protect themselves. Boys are told what they can do to get ahead. (I believe this is the author’s idea and not a quote.)
This difference is of course touched on a bit in Madonna’s “What It Feels Like For A Girl,” but it’s also explored by many female artists. Beyoncé has “If I Were A Boy” and Taylor Swift has “The Man.”
Three interesting moments:
Girls are usually advised what not to do in order to protect themselves. Boys are told what they can do to get ahead. (I believe this is the author’s idea and not a quote.)
This difference is of course touched on a bit in Madonna’s “What It Feels Like For A Girl,” but it’s also explored by many female artists. Beyoncé has “If I Were A Boy” and Taylor Swift has “The Man.”
Another moment that stuck out:
Madonna began hanging out New York with Sandra Bernhard and Jennifer Grey. She was taking refuge in the company of women while working on a play surrounded by men where she was playing the victim. After the tabloids had exhausted the Madonna/Bernhard rumors, they seized on Grey as her new paramour. “‘It became a question of whatever female I had a close relationship with who is an outspoken girl, which Jennifer is, then I must be sleeping with her,’ Madonna explained.” As a Taylor Swift fan, this sounded very familiar. When people see a celebrity as someone who dates a lot or has a lot of relationships, they seem to feel that speculation of *any* of the public relationships is fair game.
Finally, there was talk of overexposure a few times throughout the decades. I hear this a lot with Taylor Swift and some say that she “succumbed” to overexposure in 2016 and the public turned on her. But, I also have heard it mentioned regarding Michael Jackson in the 80’s (“The Biggest Night in Pop”). I would love to read “A History of Overexposure.”
Finally, there was talk of overexposure a few times throughout the decades. I hear this a lot with Taylor Swift and some say that she “succumbed” to overexposure in 2016 and the public turned on her. But, I also have heard it mentioned regarding Michael Jackson in the 80’s (“The Biggest Night in Pop”). I would love to read “A History of Overexposure.”
The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright
2.0
Audiobook review. I just couldn’t get into this and felt like I missed something that would bring it all together.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
5.0
Audiobook review. This was so so beautiful. The events and how they interact with each other were so powerful. And I love a book about sisters. I was bawling off and on for the second half. I won’t soon forget this one.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
4.0
Audiobook review. While this isn’t my favorite Patchett book, I am always amazed by the characters she develops. This book is no different and the characters are so different than her other books. And the ending is gutting.
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
4.0
I read this to my kids (6 and 8) and enjoyed it. It was a little old for my younger child but I would definitely read the others in the series at some point. It was a nice story about community and growing up. And elephants are awesome.
60 Songs That Explain the ‘90s by Rob Harvilla
5.0
Audiobook review. I assume that I am in target audience for this book, but I can’t begin to say how much I loved it. Harvilla presents a stream-of-consciousness but also detailed and historical romp through the 90’s. Within the first 15 minutes, I was smiling ear to ear. Warning: you might plan to stop and listen to the songs he mentioned as he goes and rock out like you did in high school. I guess I’ll have to continue my enjoyment with the podcast of the same name.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
4.0
Audiobook review. Another wonderful family tale from Patchett. There were just so many details that were so captivating: how to make a drink for a drunk, capturing the feeling of being in an empty school, and the devotion you have to your family.
All-Of-A-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
5.0
I read this to my two girls and we all enjoyed it. It was fun to read about Jewish traditions in the early 1900s and what remains the same. And there’s very little that I needed to censor due to times changing.
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
3.0
Audiobook review. Many years ago, someone gave me this book. A dog chewed the cover and maybe some pages and I never read it. Reading it now, I wonder why someone gave it to me. I really don’t like books like this. This one is very well written, but you have to like suspense and people doing the wrong thing.