You Will Hear Thunder by Anna Akhmatova

 

The Myth of the Self-Made Man by Rubén Reyes

 

The Myth of the Self-Made Man by Rubén Reyes is a short story I listened to in audio format, which I downloaded for FREE from Audible and is approximately 51 minutes in length. 

Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Myth of the Self-Made Man by Rubén Reyes.

I enjoyed listening to The Myth of the Self-Made Man by Rubén Reyes. This short story is well narrated by Inés del Castillo, Eric Yves Garcia, and Christian Barillas. I liked that The Myth of the Self-Made Man combines the genres of science fiction with some elements of mystery. I also found The Myth of the Self-Made Man to be a fascinating read as I wanted to know the truth about Felipe's life and the other cyborgs.

Below is the summary for The Myth of the Self-Made Man by Rubén Reyes from Audible:

From a stunning new Latino voice, Myth of the Self-Made Man is a wildly inventive story - part sci-fi, with echoes of Get Out - that plunges us into a brave new American landscape.

More than a hundred years into the future, as the US approaches its 400th anniversary, Tomas, a young graduate student, searches for the real identity of one of the cyborgs that maintained American homes. He has been haunted for years by an audio clip of a cyborg named Felipe and is intent on writing Felipe’s biography. In the clip, Felipe can only recite that he was made in America, but Tomas must find out: Where was the Self-made Man really from?

In the National Archives, Tomas uncovers a trove of articles, depositions, and interviews about many other cyborgs, boys from El Salvador and Guatemala kidnapped, detained, and reengineered at a monolithic New England company.

As we follow Tomas’ determined investigation into these lives, their voices echo through our own past, present, and future with unsettling clarity.

I am giving The Myth of the Self-Made Man by Rubén Reyes a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next, post happy reading!

35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden

 

I read 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden, which is short nonfiction book at 96 pages in length. 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story gives writing advice on how to write flash fiction or flash nonfiction.

35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden is a very quick read with VERY LARGE PRINT!! I have mixed feelings about this book. It's short and to the point, which is a good thing. However, the first 35% of this book didn't resonate well with me in helping to write flash fiction with confidence. I think there is some good stuff in the remainder of this book that may be helpful for writing flash fiction and flash nonfiction.

Below is the summary for 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden from Goodreads:

A step by step guide with prompts on how to write a successful fiction or nonfiction flash story.

I am giving 35 Tips For Writing A Brilliant Flash Story by Kaye Linden a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

 

I received an advance reader's paperback edition of Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda through the Goodreads Giveaway program earlier this year. Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda will be released later this year on July 13, 2021.

Below is my honest, unbiased review of Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda.

To the best of my recollection, Such A Quiet Place is the first novel I've read by Megan Miranda. I'll readily admit that I was drawn to the plot summary for Such A Quiet Place as who wouldn't be drawn to a contemporary thriller with an interesting storyline? 

This novel centers around Ruby Fletcher who had been convicted of murdering two of her neighbors, then released from prison over a year later on a technicality only to return to the neighborhood/community she left and tries to mesh back in with her neighbors. 

No one knows why Ruby has returned and moved back in with her former friend and roommate, Harper Nash... Even Harper Nash is surprised by Ruby's return and isn't comfortable with Ruby's presence back in the neighborhood or in her home... But Harper can't bring herself to confront Ruby with the answers she needs and wants or ask Ruby to leave... There is a sense of fear, concern, guilt, and not truly knowing if Ruby Fletcher is innocent or guilty as charged. Ruby's return sets off a lot of uncertainty and fear for the resident's within the neighborhood of Hollow's Edge.

Initially, I liked the this novel at the very beginning, but things quickly went south fast for me. I didn't like the character of Harper Nash as she was spineless and seemed to be easily manipulated by others. In fact, I didn't care for many of the other characters in this novel either. Too much drama as well as a cloak and dagger feeling for me to enjoy this book. Chapter 25, one of the last chapters of Such A Quiet Place, felt like a soap opera to me and not very realistic. I also found it rather unbelievable that Harper was able to piece together what really happened all on her on as she seemed an unlikely candidate for this task at the start of this novel.

I also didn't like the author's writing. I felt like Megan Miranda was too busy trying to manipulate the reader by trying to get them to feel a certain way or creating a certain atmosphere that felt forced to me. This feeling left me wanting to ditch the novel several times, but I carried onward hoping for a satisfying ending that didn't come.

Below is the plot summary for Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda from Goodreads:

We had no warning that she’d come back.

Hollow’s Edge used to be a quiet place. A private and idyllic neighborhood where neighbors dropped in on neighbors, celebrated graduation and holiday parties together, and looked out for one another. But then came the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. A year and a half later, Hollow’s Edge is simmering. The residents are trapped, unable to sell their homes, confronted daily by the empty Truett house, and suffocated by their trial testimonies that implicated one of their own. Ruby Fletcher. And now, Ruby’s back.

With her conviction overturned, Ruby waltzes right back to Hollow’s Edge, and into the home she once shared with Harper Nash. Harper, five years older, has always treated Ruby like a wayward younger sister. But now she’s terrified. What possible good could come of Ruby returning to the scene of the crime? And how can she possibly turn her away, when she knows Ruby has nowhere to go?

Within days, suspicion spreads like a virus across Hollow’s Edge. It’s increasingly clear that not everyone told the truth about the night of the Truett’s murders. And when Harper begins receiving threatening notes, she realizes she has to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the killer’s next victim.

I am giving Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci

I enjoyed listening to A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci and narrated by Amanda Ronconi. 

Listening time for A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci is 1 hour, 40 minutes.

I was able to download A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci for FREE to my iPad from Audible. Below is my honest, unbiased review of A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci.

I think A Vineyard Valentine is a cute, fun, romantic short story with a good ending! I liked the characters, the writing, and the narration for this short story.

Below is the plot summary for A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci from Audible:

The annual Valentine’s Day singles soiree is always a big money-maker for Eloisa Giordono’s winery. What could be more romantic than looking for love at a quaint family vineyard on the most romantic night of year? Well, just about anything as far as Eloisa is concerned. She’s a Valentine’s Day Grinch who thinks it’s the lamest, most clichéd holiday ever invented.

Fortunately, she’ll get to hang out with like-minded folks this year by hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day party on the same night. She’ll just need to alternate between events to keep them both running and she’ll be raking in the profits. But Eloisa is thrown for a loop when a sexy, self-described hopeless romantic shows up at the singles soiree and keeps her captivated. Will he change her mind about the holiday...and about love?

I am giving A Vineyard Valentine by Nina Bocci a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz and narrated by Rachel Boston & Daniel di Tomasso.

Listening time for The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz is 1 hour, 10 minutes.

I was able to download The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz to my iPad for FREE from Audible. Below is my honest, unbiased review of The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz.

I enjoyed listening to The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz. It's like listening to a radio talk show where a couple discusses their love life from it's inception to current state. The couple is Sam & Miles and they have know each other for most of their lives. They are in love... However every five years something happens that causes them to break up and move on to greener pastures before reuniting once again... Hence, the five year hitch. 

The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz is a cute, engaging story. I enjoyed learning about Sam and Miles and their love life. The narration was also good.

Below is the plot summary for The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz from Audible:

When Harry Met Sally meets One Day, The Five-Year Hitch is the story of two friends who have known each other all their lives - falling in and out of love. Sam and Miles belong together, except every five years, there’s a hitch and they don’t end up together. Now, as they tell their story to a reporter at a momentous occasion, will they finally break the five-year curse? Can these two friends and lovers find their happily ever after?

I am giving The Five Year Hitch by Melissa de la Cruz a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Victoria Chang reads her poem, “OBIT, Caretakers”.

 Victoria Chang is a new to me poet! Listen to her read her poem, “OBIT, Caretakers”.

Upon Reflection by Sting

I remember during my middle school days that the music band, The Police, were extremely popular. Sting was, of course, the lead singer of The Police before he went on to a solo musical career. 

So, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Upon Reflection by Sting to hear him talk about his life and hear him sing. I learned a lot about his life... much of the information I didn't know previously. Plus, found it fun to listen to Sting's songs I hadn't heard in years. Overall, Upon Reflection was a good listen.

Listening time for Upon Reflection by Sting is 1 hour, 26 minutes.

I was able to download Upon Reflection by Sting for FREE from Audible. Above is my unbiased opinion/review of Upon Reflection by Sting.

I am giving Upon Reflection by Sting a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein

I listened to the unabridged audio version of You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein and narrated by the author. 

Listening time for You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein is 3 hours, 32 minutes.

I loved this self-help audiobook!! I love the 6 different messages and exercises to use to help one through difficult times. It would have been extremely helpful to have access to this audiobook at the start of 2020 when the Covid-19 global pandemic first took off, along with the social isolation/shelter at home orders in place, and the social distancing began. 

I personally found 2020 to be an extremely stressful year with the all the uncertainty surrounding the novel Coronavirus, the lack of information, and the onslaught of Covid-19 cases, rising death toll and hospital emergency rooms and ICUs on overload due to Covid-19 outbreak.

Nonetheless, I am glad I discovered You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein last month. I look forward to putting the strategies set forth by the author into action to help overcome any anxiety, worry, doubt, fear, etc. in the future. The messages Gabrielle Bernstein has given is all about empowerment.

Below is a summary for You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein from Amazon:

You Are the Guru: 6 Messages to Move You Through Difficult Times with Certainty and Faith

Whether you’re having a moment of minor overwhelm or find yourself in a state of panic, you can turn to this Audible Original for solutions and support.

These six messages are simple, reliable, spiritual solutions that will free you from fear and inner turmoil. In order to show up for life and all its challenges, we must be able to regulate our nervous system, calm our mind, and trust our inner wisdom to give us clear direction. This Audible Original will teach you how to guide yourself back to peace at any moment.

Let the number one New York Times best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein show you how to be your own guide, tapping in to a deeply unifying awareness and empathy you may not realize you possess.

Gabrielle will impart the six simple, memorable messages that will illuminate the spiritual solution inside each of us and guide us through tumultuous times:

See through the lens of love.
Surrender to creative solutions.
Inspired action clears the path.
In stillness, we receive.
Compassion creates connection.
You are the guru.

Filled with personal, illustrative examples and warm, practical encouragement, You Are the Guru is the guide for finding your compass in challenging times.

I am giving You Are the Guru by Gabrielle Bernstein a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!