I want to start off by thank Net Galley and St. Martin's Press Audio for this advanced audio copy of Diva. This book has been a chance for me to learnI want to start off by thank Net Galley and St. Martin's Press Audio for this advanced audio copy of Diva. This book has been a chance for me to learn about the great Maria Callas. As a Greek-American, I feel like I need to know her more: her background, her work, the persona in general, and what I learned did not disappoint.
Daisy Goodwin gives us VIP access to historical events such as the Kennedy concert which also featured the Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday performance, meeting Greek magnate Aristotle Onassis, dinners in Monte Carlo alongside Grace Kelly and Lee Radziwill, her times on The Christina,.. I was also so engrossed in her relationship with her mother, sister and father, how she kept looking for someone to love her, accept her for who she is. I was amazed by her dedication to respect the voice God has given her. How strict she was with herself (little social events prior to recitals, sticking to a strict diet to maintain the figure that matched her persona, no smoking, the way she was dressing on ang off stage. Overall, I gained so much respect for this woman who, despite her fame and fortune, kept looking for that one thinking missing, and who, I believe never got over the loss of that baby she conceived with Ari.
This audio book was so condensed with cool info and fun gossip that I will for sure listen to it again over the holidays. I cannot praise this book enough and it spiked my curiosity to read more about Callas and Aristotle Onassis, two Greek legends so full of mystery and glamour. And I loved the vocal recordings of La Callas spread throughout the narration which gave us the chance to also learn more about her through her voice.
I also very much appreciated the interview of Daisy Goodwin at the end of the book. A big plus!...more
The Fury was ok. I don't understand why Michaelides uses Hellenic components to tell his stories without ever making his protagonists a Greek or CypriThe Fury was ok. I don't understand why Michaelides uses Hellenic components to tell his stories without ever making his protagonists a Greek or Cypriot. I wish I could hear a main character say Greek words or short lines here and there like it's often done in other languages like French or Spanish. The Greek island used as a setting, and the couple of Greek characters did not bring any Greekness to this story. I couldn't care less about Lana, the American actress who invited her family and friends to her private island, because I feel like I didn't know her. I could not feel the attachment she had toward each character individually. I don't have the patience to dissect this all but, overall I did not connect with the characters because they were not likeable, nor did I love to hate them. The narrator was a fuck-up with zero redeeming qualities. I am giving this book 3 stars though because I enjoyed the writing. The many twists and turns mind numbing....more
Great read teaching you how to optimalize the use of one's brain. Learned how to learn quicker and better Great read teaching you how to optimalize the use of one's brain. Learned how to learn quicker and better ...more
This was a surprisingly good memoi narrated by Paris Hilton herself. In it, she revealed a lot of where she is coming from, how she grew up, the traumThis was a surprisingly good memoi narrated by Paris Hilton herself. In it, she revealed a lot of where she is coming from, how she grew up, the traumas she experienced as a teenager, and how those trauma gave her the hunger to become an influencer way before this term was a a thing. She made me see her under a different light, and I have a lot of respect for her and for the Empire she created around her persona. Bravo Ms. HILTON!...more
Cutesy, simplistic, story too far-fetched, and the graphic sex scenes were the only thing in the story that reminded me that the Leora-Neil couple wasCutesy, simplistic, story too far-fetched, and the graphic sex scenes were the only thing in the story that reminded me that the Leora-Neil couple was not in their teens. Everything else, especially the mothers attitudes toward them hinted at a young teenage couple wanting to have sex while vacationing with their moms who happen to be best friends. I guess I might have enjoyed this book if I were 22.....more
Fantastic book on the roots of poverty, the cause and what causes our society to perpetuate poverty, making it a systemic disease that is criminalize Fantastic book on the roots of poverty, the cause and what causes our society to perpetuate poverty, making it a systemic disease that is criminalize instead of being treated. The audio is great and I will listen to it a couple more times because it contain a mine of valuable information and sub-subjects important to understand our country better. Matthew Desmond includes also a series of solutions to help overcome or make it reach its peak. Smart book!...more
I have always been attracted to books happening in a closed setting, particularly in houses that have a story to tell. I also always enjoyed the lurkiI have always been attracted to books happening in a closed setting, particularly in houses that have a story to tell. I also always enjoyed the lurking feeling of a book taking me into a building inhabited by several occupants and being able to open each door of the building to discover the history being each door. Through Rachel, this is exactly what I did with the Ghosts of Thorwald Place, and then some. Rachel is a secluded widow who ends up being murdered in the elevator of her building. She separates herself from her body and starts roaming the apartments of the building. Helen Power successfully creates this eerie atmosphere as we find ourselves roaming the halls, going up and down the elevator, going in and out of rooms, and witnessing scenes only a ghost can.
I quickly grew attached to Rachel, Melody, Sabrina, and wanted to know what happened to the little girl with the carved-out eyes. I was satisfied with the ending. You can't help but become paranoid of the people living in your building if you happen to live in one like I do. Really cool audio, I highly recommend it!...more
Simone St. James is a master of the mystery genre. The protagonist is 1950s actress Ginette Cox who has a nervous breakdown and gets prescribed "less Simone St. James is a master of the mystery genre. The protagonist is 1950s actress Ginette Cox who has a nervous breakdown and gets prescribed "less excitement" from her physician. So she leaves NYC and moves to suburbia, in a little house on 19 Howard Ave.
She cannot watch TV, throw parties, get out the house, so she spends her time observing her neighbors and make up stories around them. But something is wrong with the house: she hears weird noises coming from the basement and upstairs, she is too scared to enter the kitchen... Until the very end, St. James isn't divulging whether Ginette is cuckoo or the house is really haunted. This is an excellent, fast-paced, mystery audio with some serious Hitchcock vibes and I might listen to it again.
This is only available in audio or digital version. No paper version available (yet)....more
This book was a fabulous as its writer. I have always been a fan of Mariah and always enjoyed her music, but I was totally unaware of her personal hurThis book was a fabulous as its writer. I have always been a fan of Mariah and always enjoyed her music, but I was totally unaware of her personal hurdles and traumas. This book makes me appreciate the diva and her extensive work even more. Come to find out her songs really have a meaning and she wrote many of them as she was going through things. My favorite song being The Roof, I was so pleased to discover its meaning ;-)
I was carried away to a special place thanks to her velvety voice narrating her life and hints of singing and laughing. I have nothing but love for Mariah and this audio book, she so deserves her extraordinary success....more
The only reason I read this book was to gain one more achievement to to my Kindle 2022 Epic Summer Challenge. I had to select an Amazon original Book The only reason I read this book was to gain one more achievement to to my Kindle 2022 Epic Summer Challenge. I had to select an Amazon original Book recommended by their editor. I picked She's Up To No Good because I liked the title. The story and the writing weren't bad, but it's the type of story line that bores me to death: young lady getting dumped by bf or husband, goes on a trip with the grandma, grandma plans her to meet this hot guy from the town she is from while visiting, we also to get to dig up some old family drama,.. same old same old.. ...more
Non, je ne peux vraiment pas.. ca fait un peu plus d'une heure que j'ecoute ca sur Audible mais c'est vraiment pas fait pour moi. Je pense qu'un publiNon, je ne peux vraiment pas.. ca fait un peu plus d'une heure que j'ecoute ca sur Audible mais c'est vraiment pas fait pour moi. Je pense qu'un public plus jeune (8-14 ans) risque d'aimer ce bouquin davantage....more
I am as confused by this story as the protagonist, Janet. I wasn't expecting the fantastic twist at the end and the aNerve-wracking audio performance
I am as confused by this story as the protagonist, Janet. I wasn't expecting the fantastic twist at the end and the audio was exceedingly annoying. Keke Palmer's performance was not made for an audio book, rather for a Disney TV show character.. you know those characters that keep speaking loud and go on and on and you wish you can reach through your TV screen, smack them across the head and tell them to shut the fuck up.
Not interested in reading the rest of the serie....more
I have been a fan of Viola Davis for many years; I love how "full" she always comes across: she's poised, she speaks well, she's humble, funny, put toI have been a fan of Viola Davis for many years; I love how "full" she always comes across: she's poised, she speaks well, she's humble, funny, put together, beautiful, classy, empathetic, smart, talented,.. she is simply perfect. I really became a die-hard fan when I saw her as Annalies Kieting in How To Get Away With Murder. She is so badass and multi-dimentional in this series. She reminds me of me a bit. I wish there more women like her in our world. Now that I know her background, tough childhood, how she is a self-made woman, and the respect she has for her craft, I have mad respect for this woman and I hope she will still appear on the small and silver screen for many more years to come.
This audiobook was amazing. I love all the life lessons included; I will listen to it again and again.
"Daisy Darker's family was as dark as dark could be." - Alice Feeney
This quote pretty much sums it all up. This book is not my favorite Feeney book, b"Daisy Darker's family was as dark as dark could be." - Alice Feeney
This quote pretty much sums it all up. This book is not my favorite Feeney book, but it was alright. I felt like the secrets and the buildup were far-fetched, but the ending was alright. A tiny bit disappointing and simplistic but I am still giving it an average rating. I listed to the audio. Just like the rest, the audio experience was average. The one thing I truly enjoyed in this book were the rhymes that were summing up certain situations, that were describing characters delectably. I might give the book version a try soon because I believe I will enjoy the book version better. ...more
Livre tres original de Michel Onfray, auteur et philisophe tragique que j'admire enormement.
Ce livre reprend un article par jour de l'annee 2020. ChaqLivre tres original de Michel Onfray, auteur et philisophe tragique que j'admire enormement.
Ce livre reprend un article par jour de l'annee 2020. Chaque article represente bien la "nef de fous" dans laquelle notre societe occidentale vit. Le Bas-Empire. Periode historique catastrophique ou le transhumanisme prime. Ce livre reprend tous les sujets qui m'horripilent et Onfray m'a permis de realiser que ce n'est pas moi le probleme. C'est la societe. On est en train de foncer droit dans le mur.
Excellent bouquin que je conseille a tous ceux qui veulent essayer de comprendre pourquoi notre monde va mal, et comment gerer ces conversations insupportables avec les etroits d'esprits et autres debiles.
I never heard of Brandon Leake as I seldomly watch TV. I very much enjoyed his audio of Unraveling. I really enjoyed his flow, his rhythmic, the way hI never heard of Brandon Leake as I seldomly watch TV. I very much enjoyed his audio of Unraveling. I really enjoyed his flow, his rhythmic, the way he lived his words, his passion was contagious, and I was able to connect with all poems. A beautiful collection of modern poetry, reflective of today's society. A very nice gift idea or coffee table book.
I recommend this to anyone looking for life inspiration or those in love with words.
Thank you Net Galley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this audio ARC in exchange of my honest opinion....more
Thank you, dear Dave, for having taken the time to share your story with the world. Not only did I adore his narration full of passion and emotion, buThank you, dear Dave, for having taken the time to share your story with the world. Not only did I adore his narration full of passion and emotion, but its content took me on a roller coaster of emotions, alternating between laughs and tears, smiles, giggles, and oohs by feeling humbled to be able to be given a seat front and center to his most unique rock'n'roll memories.
What a large gesture of generosity to share such intimate moments as his struggle to make it as a musician, ("fake it till you make it"), the loss of Kurt Cobain, his many friendships, rubbing elbows with so many monsters of the music industry,.. Man, what a life he got!! I admire him as a father too. He definitely broke this stereotype I had of fathers in the entertainment business being absent from their children's lives due to their many recordings and world tours. Dave Grohl did none of that. His wife and daughters are number 1 in his life. And the way he talks about his mother.. I am getting teary-eyed just writing about it.
A great man, a great book, a great life. May God bless us with his presence and talent for many more years to come....more
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