Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman

Yes, to FINALLY listening to the unabridged audio version of Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman and nicely narrated by Andrea Gallo. I've wanted to read this nonfiction book for quite sometime now as I'm fascinated by the lives of the first two women judges on the Supreme Court.

I am so happy that I listened to Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman. This book is packed to the gills with information about not only the early lives of both Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, their education and early legal careers, and eventual rise to becoming the first, two female judges on the Supreme Court, but it also discusses each woman's decisions pertaining to critical legal cases that helped shape our world as we know it today. In addition to this, we also learn more about the inner workings of the Supreme Court and about the other members of the Supreme Court during each woman's tenure as a Supreme Court Justice. I found all of the information to be fascinating despite becoming a bit overwhelmed at certain times regarding the amount of information provided by Linda R. Hirschman in some sections of her book.

Below is the publisher's summary for Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman, which I found on Chirp's website:

The author of the celebrated Victory tells the fascinating story of the intertwined lives of Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first and second women to serve as Supreme Court justices.

The relationship between Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg—Republican and Democrat, Christian and Jew, western rancher’s daughter and Brooklyn girl—transcends party, religion, region, and culture. Strengthened by each other’s presence, these groundbreaking judges, the first and second to serve on the highest court in the land, have transformed the Constitution and America itself, making it a more equal place for all women.

Linda Hirshman’s dual biography includes revealing stories of how these trailblazers fought for their own recognition in a male-dominated profession—battles that would ultimately benefit every American woman. She also makes clear how these two justices have shaped the legal framework of modern feminism, including employment discrimination, abortion, affirmative action, sexual harassment, and many other issues crucial to women’s lives.

Sisters-in-Law combines legal detail with warm personal anecdotes that bring these very different women into focus as never before. Meticulously researched and compellingly told, it is an authoritative account of our changing law and culture, and a moving story of a remarkable friendship.

I am giving Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda R. Hirshman a rating of 4 stars our of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

2024 Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge and Readathon

I do like reading holiday themed books! Seasons of Reading is hosting both a reading challenge and read-a-thon beginning November 25th through December 31st, 2024.

You can participate in both the reading challenge and the read-a-thon or only one or the other. It's your choice!

I am going to participate in both the reading challenge and the read-a-thon. I plan to read only one holiday themed book for the reading  challenge, which falls into the Candy Cane level.

There's even a bingo reading challenge!! Plus, there's even prizes!!

Click on the above link to learn more about Seasons of Reading 2024 Yuletide Spirit Reading Challenge and Readathon.

Happy High Five A Librarian Day!!!

 

Circus of the Dead: Book 1 by Kimberly Loth

 

I recently listened to the unabridged audio version of Circus of the Dead: Book 1 by Kimberly Loth, which was well narrated by Sarah Puckett. 

Circus of the Dead is a young adult novel, which deals with the supernatural, horror, and fantasy genres all mixed together in one novel. I liked the concept for this novel, but it didn't play out very well... Or at least, as good as I hoped it would play out.

Callie, the main character, is a teenager sent by her mother to live with her Uncle Luke for the summer. Luke is Callie's mother's brother. Callie and Luke have never met before. In fact, Luke has no idea that Callie is coming all the way from California to the Louisiana Bayou to work at the circus. Things go wrong from the start of this novel and things continue to go from bad to worse rather quickly. Callie is almost killed by a tiger when she is locked inside the tiger's cage. Then Callie visits the fortune teller at the circus for a tarot reading. Callie draws two tarot cards that seal her fate. Callie's fate is that she will be stuck on the island where the circus is held, unable to escape forever, and that she'll fall in love. 

Throughout the remainder of the novel, Callie tries to escape the island numerous times without success. Callie is almost killed a few times... And the mysterious Samuel, the ringmaster, has strange powers/control over the permanent residents of the island. Samuel isn't who he seems to be, yet Callie is attracted to him. Stranger still is the fact that Callie's parent's won't rescue her despite several pleas on Callie's part to come home. Nor do Callie's parents believe she is in any sort of danger.

Circus of the Dead: Book 1 by Kimberly Loth starts out pretty well and the ending is decent enough. However, the middle of the novel is a lot of action that doesn't move the storyline along substantially... Sure, we learn a little more about some of the islanders and the circus itself. But I felt like the plot didn't explain enough about the mysteries concerning the circus itself, or enough about Callies's Uncle Luke and her parents, or even much regarding the mysterious, Samuel, and his backstory. I will skip the ret of the Circus of the Dead series.

Below is the plot summary for Circus of the Dead: Book 1 by Kimberly Loth found on the Goodreads website:

There are many ways to die at the Circus of the Dead. You’re invited to witness them all.

Mom sent me all the way across the country to the Louisiana bayou to join the circus and help my uncle for the summer. Except, there is something not quite right on this swampy cursed island, and after having my fortune told, I can’t leave. I try to escape, but Benny, an all too charming ghost gangster, tries to kill me by feeding me to a tiger.

Thankfully, I’m rescued by Samuel, the incredibly hot ringmaster who can’t be a day over 20. Can he?

In addition to avoiding the human scorpion, staying away from the big cats, and having trouble figuring out who’s dead and who’s alive, I have to find a way to escape this horror show.

Will I get out of the circus alive, or will I join their army of ghosts and become a murderer myself?

I am giving Circus of the Dead: Book 1 by Kimberly Loth a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

5 Audiobooks Receive 2024 Grammy Nominations

I largely forget about the fact that audiobooks are nominated for a Grammy Award!! I recently came across the following Kirkus Review article titled, 5 Audiobooks Receive 2024 Grammy Nominations by Michael Schaub.

In the article mentioned above, I learned that the following five books have been nominated for a Grammy Award:

1. My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand

2. Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration by Jimmy Carter

3. Behind The Seams: My Life In Rhinestones by Dolly Parton

4. ...And Your Ass Will Follow: Words + Music by George Clinton

5. All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words: Unpublished, Unvarnished, and Told by The Beatles and Their Inner Circle by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines

Seems like we have a top heavy celebrity selection of nominees for the Grammy Awards! I think Dolly Parton's book sounds the most intriguing, especially since she narrates her own book. The winners will be selected on February 2, 2025. Good luck!!

The Vampire's Last Dance by Deanna Chase

 
Generally, I like reading paranormal romances as low key, fun reads, which is one of the reasons why I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Vampire's Last Dance by Deanna Chase and well narrated by Traci Odom. I also chose this novel because it's narrated by Traci Odom and I like listening to books she narrates. It's also a very short read and I wanted to give another novel written by Deanna Chase a try.

Traci Odom's narration is probably the best thing I can say about my experience with The Vampire's Last Dance by Deanna Chase. I didn't care for the writing/storyline/plot development for The Vampire's Last Dance... It's was not very interesting or engaging. I didn't like the characters very much either. With that said, I think I will ditch out on reading any other novelss written by Deanna Chase in the future.

Below is the plot summary for The Vampire's Last Dance by Deanna Chase I discovered on the author's website:

She’s a witch who carries a family curse, destined to never get her happily ever after. Felicia Patterson has come to terms with the fact that she’ll never get to be with her one true love… whoever he happens to be. But when the sexiest vampire she’s ever seen walks onto Witch Island, she can’t help her fluttering heart.

He’s a vampire who’s been burned before, destined to never love again. Christoph Parks has sworn off relationships. In the century that he’s walked the earth, he’s only known heartbreak and disappointment. But one smile from the island’s sassy florist has his icy heart melting. And now that the pair have been thrown together to save their loved ones’ wedding from imploding, can they also overcome a brutal curse, find a way to trust, and finally get the love that they deserve?

I am giving The Vampire's Last Dance by Deanna Chase a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Top Ten Tuesday - Destination Titles

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Below are ten different books with a destination in its title!

1. Louisiana Longshot: A Miss Fortune Mystery by Jana Deleon

2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

3. Kentucky On The Rocks by Gwendolyn Grace

4. Death At Greenway by Lori Rader-Day

5. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

6. The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

7. The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel

8. Peril In Pensacola by Lucy Quinn

9. Sara in Montana by Morris Fenris

10. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Have you read any of the books I've listed above?

Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash, which was well narrated by Walker Williams and Marina Barrett. This was my first read for November 2024!

After listening to nine audiobooks in October, I decided to make my first read for November an easy peasy, quick read! Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash is a contemporary romance novel and fit perfectly for my need for a quick read and change of pace from what I'd read the previous month.

Although, I enjoyed Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash with its dual narrators, I found it to be a typical, formulaic, romance read... That doesn't mean it wasn't a good read, it just means that it follows the standard romance formula that's so pervasive. Plus, too fairytale-lish in many respects to make it a perfect read.

I enjoyed the storyline and characters overall for Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash and the narrators were good. Camden and Layla have been best friends since sophomore year of high school. Camden has always been in love with Layla since day one, but there's always been something that prevented Camden from making his feels for Layla known. Layla got engaged and married to a creep, while Camden and his music band became big. Camden and Layla reunited and eventually started a romance after Layla left her abusive husband... There's tons of drama surrounding that relationship.

Below is the publisher's summary for Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash from Goodread's website:

A Single Mom, Rock Star Romance

Camden

I’ve been in love with my best friend since high school.
My biggest regret? Walking away without telling her.
I planned to. But then catastrophe struck, making us part ways without a word.
She left for Boston with her fiancé, while I left for L.A. with my band–Raging Chaos.
For the next five years, I lived and breathed music, trying to forget the beautiful girl who shattered my heart without even knowing it.
Until I see her again…
I walked away once, and I've learned my lesson.
Layla is my forever, not another item in my pile of regrets.
And she's about to find that out.

Layla

The moment I saw Camden on stage, something inside me came to life.
His tragic song of unrequited love was a confession that had me questioning everything.
Five years might’ve changed who we are—he’s a rock star and I’m a single mom—but my feelings for him are as strong as ever.
His lyrics make falling in love seem easy. For him—maybe it is.
Only I’ve learned the hard way that real life isn’t as simple as writing a love song.

I am giving Controlled Chaos (Love and Lyrics #1) by Nikki Ash a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick

I have never seen the movie version of 'The Ghost and Mrs. Muir', but I never knew the movie was based on a novel until recently!! With this new bit of information, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick, which was well narrated by Elizabeth Jasicki.

I enjoyed The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick!! What a fun read!! I enjoyed the storyline and characters for this novel and the writing too. Lucy Muir, is the main character, and she is a strong, confident woman for during the time period in which this novel was set. She's a widow with two young children and she sets out to start life over in a new town where she can afford to live. The house she moves into is apparently haunted and no one has rented it. But Lucy takes the rental and moves into the home with her children. Yes, there's a ghost, but Lucy and the ghost, sea Captain Daniel Gregg, form a special kinship with each other. I adored reading about their relationship! I also enjoyed reading about Lucy's life in general and her relationship's with others during a time period that held different views and conventions on what was expected of women.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick found on Amazon's website:

The basis for Joseph L. Mankiewicz's cinematic romance starring Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison.

Burdened by debt after her husband's death, Lucy Muir insists on moving into the very cheap Gull Cottage in the quaint seaside village of Whitecliff, despite multiple warnings that the house is haunted. Upon discovering the rumors to be true, the young widow ends up forming a special companionship with the ghost of handsome former sea captain Daniel Gregg. Through the struggles of supporting her children, seeking out romance from the wrong places, and working to publish the captain's story as a book, Blood and Swash, Lucy finds in her secret relationship with Captain Gregg a comfort and blossoming love she never could have predicted.

Originally published in 1945, made into a movie in 1947, and later adapted into a television sitcom in 1968, this romantic tale explores how love can develop without boundaries, both in this life and beyond.

I am giving The Ghost and Mrs. Muir by R. A. Dick a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!