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thathappyreader's Reviews (833)
Some of us are lucky enough to have siblings which we love. We appreciate the bond that’s been created since we first were introduced and we are able to share happy memories. But this isn’t always the case. For some, the bond is dysfunctional and comes with hurt and betrayal. The latter is the case when we are introduced to Abby and Ellie.
Abby is the older of the two sisters. She has been an extremely hard-working and goal-oriented woman who has recently retired from her job as a business analyst. She is also a newlywed and living with Matteo on the Italian island of Elba. Ellie, on the other hand, has spent much of her childhood ill with mysterious, undiagnosed symptoms. She missed much of her younger school days and has always felt she had to catch up and never could. Her motto is to seize the day and worry about tomorrow later - a philosophy which has her deep into financial debt. Abby resents Ellie for being the more beautiful of the two women, and for always being their mother Susanna’s favourite. Ellie is jealous of Abby’s rich lifestyle and gorgeous new husband.
Abby invites Ellie to her home for a visit and to give Ellie a holiday. Abby also wants to share a secret with Ellie about her childhood. Before she has a chance to do so, Susanna arrives unexpectedly making it difficult for Abby to speak with Ellie privately. Then, an accident occurs which has Abby and Ellie fleeing the island for a road trip with only each other to trust and rely upon.
I was entertained by this book and found I was engaged throughout. The characters have been well developed and for the most part likeable. The theme of this book to me reflects the importance of experiences during our childhood years in shaping the adults we become. The book also highlights the importance of resolving conflict before relationships become irreparable. I appreciated reading about the adventure of this road trip and the insight that the sisters gleamed of themselves and each other during this time. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys General Fiction and/or Mysteries & Thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publishers Group Canada/ PanMacMillan for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Abby is the older of the two sisters. She has been an extremely hard-working and goal-oriented woman who has recently retired from her job as a business analyst. She is also a newlywed and living with Matteo on the Italian island of Elba. Ellie, on the other hand, has spent much of her childhood ill with mysterious, undiagnosed symptoms. She missed much of her younger school days and has always felt she had to catch up and never could. Her motto is to seize the day and worry about tomorrow later - a philosophy which has her deep into financial debt. Abby resents Ellie for being the more beautiful of the two women, and for always being their mother Susanna’s favourite. Ellie is jealous of Abby’s rich lifestyle and gorgeous new husband.
Abby invites Ellie to her home for a visit and to give Ellie a holiday. Abby also wants to share a secret with Ellie about her childhood. Before she has a chance to do so, Susanna arrives unexpectedly making it difficult for Abby to speak with Ellie privately. Then, an accident occurs which has Abby and Ellie fleeing the island for a road trip with only each other to trust and rely upon.
I was entertained by this book and found I was engaged throughout. The characters have been well developed and for the most part likeable. The theme of this book to me reflects the importance of experiences during our childhood years in shaping the adults we become. The book also highlights the importance of resolving conflict before relationships become irreparable. I appreciated reading about the adventure of this road trip and the insight that the sisters gleamed of themselves and each other during this time. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys General Fiction and/or Mysteries & Thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Publishers Group Canada/ PanMacMillan for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
As she approaches her fiftieth birthday, Carla Sullivan’s life undergoes a lot of change. Her mother passes away, and she learns her husband is having yet another affair. After finding an envelope containing a letter from her mother, as well as the need to get away, Carla escapes to the South of France to the home of her Tante Josette to hand deliver the letter.
Carla barely remembers her Tante Josette and has not seen her in many years. As the two women get to know one another, many secrets from the past are revealed including why Carla has not seen Josette for many years. Carla becomes enamoured with Antibes and soon has made plans to return to begin a new life.
The book not only explores the relationship between Carla and Josette, but it is also a story of personal growth, forgiveness and moving on. To say Carla is thrown more than enough change for a lifetime is an understatement. She is a survivor and adapts better than most to what challenges lay ahead.
I enjoyed this book and the character development of Carla and Josette. I felt the story moved a little slow at times, but it maintained my engagement throughout. I loved the setting for this book-perfect for reading as we head into winter. There is one relationship from Josette’s past which felt a little distasteful to me. Having said that, I felt compassion for both of these women and appreciated the growing bond between them as the book progressed. I am a big fan of strong women and these two have it in spades.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Julia Franklin who gives a good performance. I enjoyed her performance of Carla, but did find it a little challenging at times to understand the French accent of Josette. I appreciated the fact that the narrator had an age appropriate voice for these characters and was expressive throughout the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books UK Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Carla barely remembers her Tante Josette and has not seen her in many years. As the two women get to know one another, many secrets from the past are revealed including why Carla has not seen Josette for many years. Carla becomes enamoured with Antibes and soon has made plans to return to begin a new life.
The book not only explores the relationship between Carla and Josette, but it is also a story of personal growth, forgiveness and moving on. To say Carla is thrown more than enough change for a lifetime is an understatement. She is a survivor and adapts better than most to what challenges lay ahead.
I enjoyed this book and the character development of Carla and Josette. I felt the story moved a little slow at times, but it maintained my engagement throughout. I loved the setting for this book-perfect for reading as we head into winter. There is one relationship from Josette’s past which felt a little distasteful to me. Having said that, I felt compassion for both of these women and appreciated the growing bond between them as the book progressed. I am a big fan of strong women and these two have it in spades.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Julia Franklin who gives a good performance. I enjoyed her performance of Carla, but did find it a little challenging at times to understand the French accent of Josette. I appreciated the fact that the narrator had an age appropriate voice for these characters and was expressive throughout the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books UK Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Having read over two dozen of her books, Elin Hilderbrand is one of my favourite authors. My local library has recently purchased several of her older audiobooks, and I jumped on the chance to read The Blue Bistro.
The book is set in the author’s home of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The story is told from the point of view of both Adrienne Dealey and Thatcher Smith. Adrienne is in her late twenties and has recently fled a toxic relationship. She arrives on the island seeking employment and a place to stay. She meets Thatcher, co-owner of the Blue Bistro, who offers her a position in this highly sought after restaurant. Now thirty-five, Thatcher has owned the restaurant for more than a decade. The restaurant will be closing at the end of the summer season. Despite having no previous working experience in the restaurant business and only limited, generalized information provided by Thatcher, Adrienne soon learns the inner workings of the business. She becomes Intrigued by the food and the culture of the restaurant.
Much of the book discusses the workings of the restaurant, and the impact of the restaurant on Adrienne. She has led a transient life for many years - one initiated by her father after the death of her beloved mother and one she has continued into adulthood. Thatcher’s business partner and life long friend is also the restaurant’s chef, Fiona. There is a shroud of secrecy surrounding Fiona who, despite her popularity and accomplishments, has never given an interview. Indeed, no one except for staff are allowed in the kitchen.
Adrienne and Thatcher become romantically involved, but there is always a mysterious connection between Thatcher and Fiona. Adrienne eventually learns why, and learns to accept this. For the first time in many years, Adrienne feels the security and happiness she hasn’t felt since her mother’s death. As the end of the summer looms, will this new found contentment last?
I really enjoyed this book and the detailed character development which the author employs. I loved the information that is shared on the restaurant business and the descriptions of the food offered. I could feel the deep grief that Adrienne carried, and the impact of this loss on her life. I also appreciated the heart-warming relationship between Thatcher and Fiona, and the consequences that this relationship has had on Thatcher. I did, however, feel that the detailed background to this relationship felt a little too late in the story. As a result, I felt this part of the book felt to be an add-on to an already finished story. Having said that, the book is a beautiful read and one I certainly recommend.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Christina Delaine. I listened to this book at my usual 1.25x speed. This is one of my favourite performances of the past several years and I commend Ms Delaine for her compassionate delivery and realistic portrayal of both Adrienne and Thatcher. I highly recommend the audiobook version of the book to those who enjoy this format.
The book is set in the author’s home of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The story is told from the point of view of both Adrienne Dealey and Thatcher Smith. Adrienne is in her late twenties and has recently fled a toxic relationship. She arrives on the island seeking employment and a place to stay. She meets Thatcher, co-owner of the Blue Bistro, who offers her a position in this highly sought after restaurant. Now thirty-five, Thatcher has owned the restaurant for more than a decade. The restaurant will be closing at the end of the summer season. Despite having no previous working experience in the restaurant business and only limited, generalized information provided by Thatcher, Adrienne soon learns the inner workings of the business. She becomes Intrigued by the food and the culture of the restaurant.
Much of the book discusses the workings of the restaurant, and the impact of the restaurant on Adrienne. She has led a transient life for many years - one initiated by her father after the death of her beloved mother and one she has continued into adulthood. Thatcher’s business partner and life long friend is also the restaurant’s chef, Fiona. There is a shroud of secrecy surrounding Fiona who, despite her popularity and accomplishments, has never given an interview. Indeed, no one except for staff are allowed in the kitchen.
Adrienne and Thatcher become romantically involved, but there is always a mysterious connection between Thatcher and Fiona. Adrienne eventually learns why, and learns to accept this. For the first time in many years, Adrienne feels the security and happiness she hasn’t felt since her mother’s death. As the end of the summer looms, will this new found contentment last?
I really enjoyed this book and the detailed character development which the author employs. I loved the information that is shared on the restaurant business and the descriptions of the food offered. I could feel the deep grief that Adrienne carried, and the impact of this loss on her life. I also appreciated the heart-warming relationship between Thatcher and Fiona, and the consequences that this relationship has had on Thatcher. I did, however, feel that the detailed background to this relationship felt a little too late in the story. As a result, I felt this part of the book felt to be an add-on to an already finished story. Having said that, the book is a beautiful read and one I certainly recommend.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Christina Delaine. I listened to this book at my usual 1.25x speed. This is one of my favourite performances of the past several years and I commend Ms Delaine for her compassionate delivery and realistic portrayal of both Adrienne and Thatcher. I highly recommend the audiobook version of the book to those who enjoy this format.
This book is set in 1938 in Reno, Nevada - a state where women could stay for six weeks and obtain a “no questions asked” divorce which was quite unusual in the day. This book describes the relationships formed at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch which hosted many wealthy women who fled to Reno in order to dissolve their marriages.
Told from the perspective of a retired physician, Ward reflects about his time working at the ranch at the age of 24. He particularly recalls two women Nina, a St. Louis heiress and amateur pilot at the ranch to obtain her third divorce, and Emily whose most courageous act to date was to drive herself to the ranch from San Francisco. These two women share a suite at the ranch and they develop a special bond. Not only do their personalities complement one another, but they bring out the best in one another as well. The story also demonstrates the difference in social class, aspirations and gender in 1938 - some of which have not improved much over the past eighty years.
While the book was entertaining, I did not feel connected to these characters. Moreover, I felt the book lacked emotion which was not only disappointing, but a must for me to enjoy a book. Having said that, the stories and antics from the ranch were amusing - just not often enough to keep me fully engaged. I enjoyed the bit of romance in the story, which provided insight into the personalities, and differences, of the characters involved. I recommend this book to those that enjoy literary fiction.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by David Aaron Baker who had a good performance. Reminiscent of listening to a cowboy telling stories of his past, I appreciated this quality which brought some authenticity to the book. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed which was perfect for me. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Told from the perspective of a retired physician, Ward reflects about his time working at the ranch at the age of 24. He particularly recalls two women Nina, a St. Louis heiress and amateur pilot at the ranch to obtain her third divorce, and Emily whose most courageous act to date was to drive herself to the ranch from San Francisco. These two women share a suite at the ranch and they develop a special bond. Not only do their personalities complement one another, but they bring out the best in one another as well. The story also demonstrates the difference in social class, aspirations and gender in 1938 - some of which have not improved much over the past eighty years.
While the book was entertaining, I did not feel connected to these characters. Moreover, I felt the book lacked emotion which was not only disappointing, but a must for me to enjoy a book. Having said that, the stories and antics from the ranch were amusing - just not often enough to keep me fully engaged. I enjoyed the bit of romance in the story, which provided insight into the personalities, and differences, of the characters involved. I recommend this book to those that enjoy literary fiction.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by David Aaron Baker who had a good performance. Reminiscent of listening to a cowboy telling stories of his past, I appreciated this quality which brought some authenticity to the book. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed which was perfect for me. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
The story unfolds in a series of letters between Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina Lopez. The story begins in Cuba in 1936 with Estelita’s family struggling following the Cuban Revolution. Growing up with a group of sisters who loved to sing and dance, Estelita is discovered in a nightclub in Havana as a young girl and arrives in the U.S. at age 15 to sing at the Copacabana in New York City. Nina is the result of a marriage to actor Chu Chu Martinez, the first of her four husbands. As was the often the case during this time in history, Chu Chu forbade his wife from performing. Estelita leaves the marriage and is discovered in Hollywood, beginning an acting career and appearing in movies such as Rio Bravo with John Wayne and Dean Martin.
Nina’s relationship to her mother remained strong, despite many horrific events that fell upon the two. Upon her mother’s mysterious death in 1966, Nina finds her self on a journey, reflecting on memories of her mother’s life and all that she endured to find her American dream.
The story would not be complete without the mention of the one constant in both Estelita and Nina’s lives- Estelita’s mother. A strong woman herself, she encourages Estelita to follow her dreams to Hollywood and becomes a stabilizing figure for Nina. The book really shines to me in the depth and sacrifice of all three women to create a good life independent of having to be someone’s wife. Therefore, I find it interesting that Estelita married so often in her 37 years.
I found this book to be a very interesting read. It provides the reader with an immersion into the Cuban Revolution. It also is demonstrates the way women have historically experienced injustice and atrocities as they strived to be something more. As a warning to more sensitive readers, this book has elements of physical abuse, misogyny and rape. It is a difficult read at times because of this, but an important one to completely understand the story.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Marisol Ramirez and Frankine Corzo. Their performances were very good, and provided a sense of realism to the story. Their voices were articulate and expressive. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x which provided a comfortable experience. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Nina’s relationship to her mother remained strong, despite many horrific events that fell upon the two. Upon her mother’s mysterious death in 1966, Nina finds her self on a journey, reflecting on memories of her mother’s life and all that she endured to find her American dream.
The story would not be complete without the mention of the one constant in both Estelita and Nina’s lives- Estelita’s mother. A strong woman herself, she encourages Estelita to follow her dreams to Hollywood and becomes a stabilizing figure for Nina. The book really shines to me in the depth and sacrifice of all three women to create a good life independent of having to be someone’s wife. Therefore, I find it interesting that Estelita married so often in her 37 years.
I found this book to be a very interesting read. It provides the reader with an immersion into the Cuban Revolution. It also is demonstrates the way women have historically experienced injustice and atrocities as they strived to be something more. As a warning to more sensitive readers, this book has elements of physical abuse, misogyny and rape. It is a difficult read at times because of this, but an important one to completely understand the story.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Marisol Ramirez and Frankine Corzo. Their performances were very good, and provided a sense of realism to the story. Their voices were articulate and expressive. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x which provided a comfortable experience. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook version of the book to those that enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
All The Acorns on the Forest Floor is one of the most interesting books I’ve read this year. It is a collection of interconnected short stories which are not only captivating on their own, but also provide additional context to the other stories in the book.
The book is an honest take on the often difficult challenges of conceiving and the risks associated with the perinatal period, addressing difficult subjects such as a terminal inherited disease, infertility, perinatal loss, rape and unwanted pregnancy. The author has done so with respect and compassion resulting in an extremely moving book.
I very much enjoyed this book. Each story is just the right length and heartfelt. These memorable stories have allowed me to gain some insight into the difficulties, and tragedies, of those around me. This book is not Women’s Fiction as some might think. This is a book that creates empathy and understanding and should be read by both men and women alike. I kept notes while listening to the book which allowed me to see the interconnectedness of the stories and found this to be extremely helpful.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Hillary Huber who gives a strong performance. Her words are articulate and well paced and demonstrated the underlying feeling of compassion in the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
The book is an honest take on the often difficult challenges of conceiving and the risks associated with the perinatal period, addressing difficult subjects such as a terminal inherited disease, infertility, perinatal loss, rape and unwanted pregnancy. The author has done so with respect and compassion resulting in an extremely moving book.
I very much enjoyed this book. Each story is just the right length and heartfelt. These memorable stories have allowed me to gain some insight into the difficulties, and tragedies, of those around me. This book is not Women’s Fiction as some might think. This is a book that creates empathy and understanding and should be read by both men and women alike. I kept notes while listening to the book which allowed me to see the interconnectedness of the stories and found this to be extremely helpful.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Hillary Huber who gives a strong performance. Her words are articulate and well paced and demonstrated the underlying feeling of compassion in the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Lisa Hodges is a woman in her early 50’s who owns a large, waterfront home she can no longer afford. Following the death of her husband, she learned that the nest egg she believed to be there was gone: the consequence of her husband’s secret gambling addiction. Lisa has not worked in thirty years and is considered unemployable. When a friend gives her the idea of running a bed and breakfast in her home, she decides to pursue this as a way of staying in close proximity to her four grown children.
Kate is Lisa’s eldest daughter, along with her twin Kristen. Kate is a writer for a fashion magazine in Boston engaged to a photographer. Her life is upended when the magazine is sold and she learns more about her fiancee. Kristen is a local Nantucket artist who is in a relationship with a man who claims to be estranged from his wife. Chase is Lisa’s only son and he owns and operates his own construction business. Anna is Lisa’s youngest and is married to Jeff, her high school sweetheart. The couple has experienced problems with infertility.
The book also introduces the reader to several other business operators and friends, setting the stage for additional books in the series. At the time of writing, there are five books already published in the series, with a sixth book publishing later this month.
I enjoyed this book and the cozy feeling I had while reading it. The characters are likeable and the story engaging. I appreciated getting to know Lisa’s family which focused more on the women in the story rather than Chase, whose character will likely be more developed in the further books in the series. I appreciate personal growth in characters and this book is full of it. I recommend this book for those that enjoy a sweet, and sometimes predictable, read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Karissa Vacker. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance which was articulate and expressive. She does a great job of providing believable male voices which is always appreciated. I am happy to see that she also narrated other books in the series. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed, and this was comfortable. I have no problem recommending the audiobook version of this book for those who appreciate this format.
Kate is Lisa’s eldest daughter, along with her twin Kristen. Kate is a writer for a fashion magazine in Boston engaged to a photographer. Her life is upended when the magazine is sold and she learns more about her fiancee. Kristen is a local Nantucket artist who is in a relationship with a man who claims to be estranged from his wife. Chase is Lisa’s only son and he owns and operates his own construction business. Anna is Lisa’s youngest and is married to Jeff, her high school sweetheart. The couple has experienced problems with infertility.
The book also introduces the reader to several other business operators and friends, setting the stage for additional books in the series. At the time of writing, there are five books already published in the series, with a sixth book publishing later this month.
I enjoyed this book and the cozy feeling I had while reading it. The characters are likeable and the story engaging. I appreciated getting to know Lisa’s family which focused more on the women in the story rather than Chase, whose character will likely be more developed in the further books in the series. I appreciate personal growth in characters and this book is full of it. I recommend this book for those that enjoy a sweet, and sometimes predictable, read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Karissa Vacker. I thoroughly enjoyed her performance which was articulate and expressive. She does a great job of providing believable male voices which is always appreciated. I am happy to see that she also narrated other books in the series. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed, and this was comfortable. I have no problem recommending the audiobook version of this book for those who appreciate this format.
The Divines are the girls of St. John the Divines, an elite English boarding school. The Divines were famous for their hair flipping, chain smoking and harassment of teachers. Josephine, now in her thirties, spent five years at the school and receives an invitation to the upcoming reunion of former students of the institution that was closed in disgrace with her graduating class. Now married with a daughter of her own and living in California, Josephine is undecided on whether or not to attend. She hasn’t even spoken to any of her former classmates in fifteen years. The invitation evokes a strong need, however, to reflect upon her time as a Divine. The story is told from multiple timeframes - as a student, as a newlywed and the present. As the memories surface , Josephine’s life begins to change: she begins having difficulties with her marriage, she can’t concentrate on her work and most importantly her self identity is challenged.
I enjoyed reading this book. The character development was excellent. I appreciated the insight Josephine gleamed from others when they spoke of how she was perceived while at school. Where the book excels to me, however, is in observing Josephine’s personal insight into her true identity as the book progresses. On a more critical note, while I found the antics of The Divines were at times humorous, there was also evidence that some of these girls could be unkind to the point of bullying. The way they treated the staff and town’s residents was abhorrent, strongly suggestive of a pretentious upbringing likely fuelled by their time at the school. As a result, I found the characters were not likeable - a must have for me in order to be fully invested in a book. Additionally, the story felt a little long in parts and I found myself wanting to return to Josephine’s current storyline.
I listened to the audiobook edition of the book which was narrated by Imogen Church who gives a very good performance. I appreciated her ability to voice several characters and found her pacing to be excellent. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed which I found to be comfortable. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook format to those readers who enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
I enjoyed reading this book. The character development was excellent. I appreciated the insight Josephine gleamed from others when they spoke of how she was perceived while at school. Where the book excels to me, however, is in observing Josephine’s personal insight into her true identity as the book progresses. On a more critical note, while I found the antics of The Divines were at times humorous, there was also evidence that some of these girls could be unkind to the point of bullying. The way they treated the staff and town’s residents was abhorrent, strongly suggestive of a pretentious upbringing likely fuelled by their time at the school. As a result, I found the characters were not likeable - a must have for me in order to be fully invested in a book. Additionally, the story felt a little long in parts and I found myself wanting to return to Josephine’s current storyline.
I listened to the audiobook edition of the book which was narrated by Imogen Church who gives a very good performance. I appreciated her ability to voice several characters and found her pacing to be excellent. I listened to the book at my usual 1.25x speed which I found to be comfortable. I would not hesitate to recommend the audiobook format to those readers who enjoy this format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Audio for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Darren is a twenty-two year old Starbuck’s barista living in New York with his mother. Although he was class victorian, he hasn’t lived up to his potential or even attended college. One day while at work he takes a chance with a customer and is invited to interview for a sales position at a hot tech startup called Sumwun.
Upon receiving the position, he starts training in a week-long mental and emotional bootcamp aimed at leading him to sales success. Now nicknamed Buck from his previous work, Darren feels the wrath of racism during this make or break week, but he digs deep and completes this initial training. Not only is Darren successful, but he begins to climb the corporate ladder with the company quite quickly. The only problem is, as Darren invests more and more of his time working, he becomes unrecognizable to his Mom and friends. Indeed, his values had changed so much that he misses the mark completely when a succession of tragedies unfold.
The book reads as part memoir and part how to sell anything manual. Labelled as a satire, the book only shows glimpses of this including the fact that every white person notes that he resembles a different famous black man.
I really appreciated Black Buck and was entertained by the style it was written in. The book is also an emotional read, as the reader reflects upon all that Darren encounters over a very short time. What I found to be hopeful for Darren is that although he had transitioned away from his values, he was somewhat on the return to these when the story concludes. The character development for Darren was excellent and I couldn’t help but cheer him on despite some of the decisions he made.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Zeno Robinson who was perfectly cast as the voice of Darren. His voice was full of animation and expression in just the right places and he had me hooked to the story right from the very beginning. Having listened to hundreds of audiobooks, this performance was a standout for me. I definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book to those who appreciate this format.
Thanks to libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Upon receiving the position, he starts training in a week-long mental and emotional bootcamp aimed at leading him to sales success. Now nicknamed Buck from his previous work, Darren feels the wrath of racism during this make or break week, but he digs deep and completes this initial training. Not only is Darren successful, but he begins to climb the corporate ladder with the company quite quickly. The only problem is, as Darren invests more and more of his time working, he becomes unrecognizable to his Mom and friends. Indeed, his values had changed so much that he misses the mark completely when a succession of tragedies unfold.
The book reads as part memoir and part how to sell anything manual. Labelled as a satire, the book only shows glimpses of this including the fact that every white person notes that he resembles a different famous black man.
I really appreciated Black Buck and was entertained by the style it was written in. The book is also an emotional read, as the reader reflects upon all that Darren encounters over a very short time. What I found to be hopeful for Darren is that although he had transitioned away from his values, he was somewhat on the return to these when the story concludes. The character development for Darren was excellent and I couldn’t help but cheer him on despite some of the decisions he made.
I listened to the audiobook version of the book which was narrated by Zeno Robinson who was perfectly cast as the voice of Darren. His voice was full of animation and expression in just the right places and he had me hooked to the story right from the very beginning. Having listened to hundreds of audiobooks, this performance was a standout for me. I definitely recommend the audiobook version of this book to those who appreciate this format.
Thanks to libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.